<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-25-022784.txt : 20250207
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-25-022784.hdr.sgml : 20250207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250207170051
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-25-022784
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-2
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		4
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250207

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160864
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		IRS NUMBER:				522346891
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-2
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-10543
		FILM NUMBER:		25602740

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		888-825-2257

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19809

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160864
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		IRS NUMBER:				522346891
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-2
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-284785
		FILM NUMBER:		25602739

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		888-825-2257

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19809
<IS-FILER-A-NEW-REGISTRANT>N
<IS-FILER-A-WELL-KNOWN-SEASONED-ISSUER>N
<FILED-PURSUANT-TO-GENERAL-INSTRUCTION-A2>Y
<IS-FUND-24F2-ELIGIBLE>N
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-2
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d925963dn2.htm
<DESCRIPTION>BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST N-2
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>BlackRock Core Bond Trust N-2</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE" STYLE="line-height:Normal">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February&nbsp;7, 2025 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Securities Act File No.&nbsp;333- </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Investment Company Act File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;811-10543</FONT> </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registration Statement </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>under </I></B></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B><I>the Securities Act of 1933</I></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B></B>&#9746;<B></B><B></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-Effective</FONT> Amendment No. &#8195;</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B></B>&#9744;<B></B><B></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>Post-Effective Amendment No. &#8195;</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B></B>&#9744;<B></B><B></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-size:10pt"><B>and/or</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-size:18pt"><B>Registration Statement</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B><I>Under the Investment Company Act of 1940</I></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B></B>&#9746;<B></B><B></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B><I>Amendment No.&nbsp;7</I></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B></B>&#9746;<B></B><B></B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BlackRock Core Bond Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified In Charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>100 Bellevue
Parkway </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Wilmington, Delaware 19809 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052</FONT> </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>John M. Perlowski, President </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BlackRock Core Bond Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>50 Hudson Yards </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New
York, New York 10001 </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name and Address of Agent For Service) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>Copies of information to: </I></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Margery K. Neale, Esq. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Elliot J. Gluck, Esq. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Willkie Farr&nbsp;&amp; Gallagher LLP </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>787 Seventh Avenue </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New
York, New York 10019 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering:</B> From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement. </P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box&#8194;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous
basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (&#147;Securities Act&#148;), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box&#8194;&#9746; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto, check the following box&#8194;&#9746; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box&#8194;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a
registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box&#8194;&#9744; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box): </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">when declared effective pursuant to Section&nbsp;8(c) of the Securities Act </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If appropriate, check the following box: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective
amendment] [registration statement]. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: <U>&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</U>. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: <U>&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</U>. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: <U>&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</U>. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9746;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Registered <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(closed-end</FONT> company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the &#147;Investment Company Act&#148;)). </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Business Development Company <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(closed-end</FONT> company that intends or has
elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act). </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Interval Fund (Registered <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund or a Business Development
Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">23c-3</FONT> under the Investment Company Act). </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9746;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">12b-2</FONT> under the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934). </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended
transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months
preceding this filing). </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS
EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE. </P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <DIV STYLE="position:relative; overflow:visible; width:651pt; height:30pt; transform-origin:bottom left; transform: rotate(-90deg) translate(-100%, 100%) translateX(30pt);">
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Arial Narrow" ALIGN="justify"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>The information in this Preliminary Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. BlackRock Core Bond Trust may not sell
these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Preliminary Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. </B></FONT></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="position:relative; overflow:visible; margin-left:48pt; margin-right:48pt; transform: translateY(-30pt);">
<p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY&nbsp;7,
2025 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" ALIGN="right">


<IMG SRC="g925963g15a01.jpg" ALT="LOGO" STYLE="width:2.1609in;height:0.310058in;">
 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><U>PRELIMINARY BASE PROSPECTUS </U></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>18,000,000 Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:22pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BlackRock Core Bond Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Rights to Purchase Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust (the &#147;Trust,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us&#148; or &#147;our&#148;) is a diversified, <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company. The Trust&#146;s investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to 18,000,000 of our common shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.001 per share (&#147;common shares&#148;). We may also offer subscription rights to purchase our common shares. Common shares may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each, a
&#147;Prospectus Supplement&#148;). You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Our common shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, including existing shareholders in a rights offering,
through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our common shares, and will set forth
any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of
rights will set forth the number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right (or number of rights) and the other terms of such rights offering. We may not sell any of our common shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without
delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our common shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Our
common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE&#148;) under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; The last reported sale price of our common shares, as reported by the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 was $[&#9679;] per common share. The net asset
value of our common shares at the close of business on [&#9679;], 2025 was $[&#9679;] per common share. Rights issued by the Trust may also be listed on a securities exchange. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Investing in the Trust&#146;s common shares involves certain risks that are described in the &#147;<A HREF="#toc925963_19">Risks</A>&#148; section beginning on page 27 of this Prospectus. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Shares of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. The Trust&#146;s common shares have traded at a discount to net asset value, including during recent periods.
If the Trust&#146;s common shares trade at a discount to their net asset value, the risk of loss may increase for purchasers in a public offering. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;) nor any state securities commission has approved or
disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using the &#147;shelf&#148; registration
process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer, from time to time, separately or together in one or more </P></DIV> <p STYLE="clear:both; font-size:1pt; height:0">&nbsp;</p>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
offerings, the securities described in this Prospectus. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this Prospectus. This Prospectus provides you
with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this Prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The Prospectus
Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. This Prospectus, together with any Prospectus Supplement, sets forth concisely the information about the Trust that a prospective investor should know before
investing. You should read this Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in the common shares. You should retain the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement for future
reference. A Statement of Additional Information (&#147;SAI&#148;), dated [&#9679;], 2025, containing additional information about the Trust, has been filed with the SEC and, as amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference in its entirety
into this Prospectus. You may call (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052,</FONT> visit the Trust&#146;s website (http://www.blackrock.com) or write to the Trust to obtain, free of charge, copies of the SAI and the Trust&#146;s semi-annual
and annual reports, as well as to obtain other information about the Trust or to make shareholder inquiries. The SAI, as well as the Trust&#146;s semi-annual and annual reports, are also available for free on the SEC&#146;s website
(http://www.sec.gov). You may also <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">e-mail</FONT> requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov. Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Trust&#146;s website is not part of this Prospectus.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your
own professional advisors as to the legal, tax, financial or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The Trust&#146;s common shares do not represent a deposit or an obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any
bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Prospectus dated [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc"></A>TABLE OF CONTENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B><U>Page </U></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="97%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_11">PROSPECTUS SUMMARY</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_12">SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_13">FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">7</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_14">USE OF PROCEEDS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_15">THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_16">DESCRIPTION OF SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_17">THE TRUST&#146;S INVESTMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_18">LEVERAGE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">24</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_19">RISKS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">27</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_110">HOW THE TRUST MANAGES RISK</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">34</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_111">MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">35</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_112">NET ASSET VALUE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">38</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_113">DISTRIBUTIONS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">41</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_114">DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_115">RIGHTS OFFERINGS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_116">TAX MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">43</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_117">TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_118">CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AND
BYLAWS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_119"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CLOSED-END</FONT> FUND
STRUCTURE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">51</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_120">REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_121">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_122">INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">53</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_123">PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">54</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Prospectus
and any related Prospectus Supplement in making your investment decisions. The Trust has not authorized any person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on
it. The Trust is not making an offer to sell the common shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement is accurate only as of the dates on
their covers. The Trust&#146;s business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since the date of its description in this Prospectus or the date of its description in any Prospectus Supplement. </B></P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_11"></A>PROSPECTUS SUMMARY </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>This is only a summary of certain information relating to BlackRock Core Bond Trust. This summary may not contain all of the information
that you should consider before investing in our common shares. You should consider the more detailed information contained in the Prospectus and in any related Prospectus Supplement and in the Statement of Additional Information (&#147;SAI&#148;)
before purchasing common shares. </I></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>The Trust</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management
investment company. Throughout this Prospectus, we refer to BlackRock Core Bond Trust simply as the &#147;Trust&#148; or as &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us&#148; or &#147;our.&#148; See &#147;The Trust.&#148;</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s common shares are listed for trading on
the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE&#148;) under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; As of [&#9679;], 2025, the net assets of the Trust were $[&#9679;], the total assets of the Trust were $[&#9679;] and the Trust had [&#9679;] common shares
outstanding<I>. </I>The last reported sale price of the Trust&#146;s common shares, as reported by the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 was $[&#9679;] per common share. The net asset value (&#147;NAV&#148;) of the Trust&#146;s common shares at the close of
business on [&#9679;], 2025 was $[&#9679;] per common share. See &#147;Description of Capital Stock.&#148; Rights issued by the Trust may also be listed on a securities exchange.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>The Offering</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to 18,000,000 of our common shares on terms to be
determined at the time of the offering<I>. </I>We may also offer subscription rights to purchase our common shares<I>. </I>The common shares may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more Prospectus Supplements<I>. </I>You
should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our common shares<I>. </I>Our common shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by us, or
to or through underwriters or dealers<I>. </I>The offering price per common share will not be less than the NAV per common share at the time we make the offering, exclusive of any underwriting commissions or discounts, provided that rights offerings
that meet certain conditions may be offered at a price below the then current NAV<I>. </I>See &#147;Rights Offerings.&#148; The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of
our common shares, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated<I>. </I>See
&#147;Plan of Distribution.&#148; The Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of rights will set forth the number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right (or number of rights) and the other terms of such rights offering<I>.
</I>We may not sell any of our common shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our common shares.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Use of Proceeds</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The net proceeds from the issuance of common shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with our
investment objective and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to be substantially completed in approximately three months from the date on which the proceeds from an offering are received by the Trust;
however, the identification of appropriate investment opportunities pursuant to the Trust&#146;s investment style or changes in market conditions could result in the Trust&#146;s anticipated investment period extending to as long as six months<I>.
</I>See &#147;Use of Proceeds.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
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 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">1 </P>


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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Investment Objective and Policies</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Please refer to the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">section
 of the Trust&#146;s most recent annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> entitled &#147;Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks&#151;BlackRock Core Bond Trust&#148;</A>, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a
discussion of the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="3"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Leverage</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="3"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust uses leverage to seek to achieve its investment objective. The Trust&#146;s use of leverage may
increase or decrease from time to time in its discretion and the Trust may, in the future, determine not to use leverage. The Trust currently utilizes leverage for investment purposes primarily by entering into reverse repurchase agreements. As of
[&#9679;], this leverage represented approximately [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets (approximately [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s net assets). The Trust currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred
shares. The Trust is, however, permitted to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its Managed Assets (50% of its net assets), and issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net
assets). &#147;Managed Assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Trust&#146;s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment
purposes). Although it has no present intention to do so, the Trust reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions
would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares. See &#147;Leverage.&#148;</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The use of leverage is subject to numerous risks. When
leverage is employed, the Trust&#146;s NAV, the market price of the common shares and the yield to holders of common shares will be more volatile than if leverage were not used. For example, if short-term interest rates continue to rise, they may
reach a level at which those rates exceed the return earned on securities purchased with leverage, which would result in a reduced yield and cause the Trust&#146;s NAV to decline more than if the Trust had not used leverage. A reduction in the
Trust&#146;s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of the Trust&#146;s common shares.</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust cannot assure you that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Trust&#146;s common shares. Any leveraging strategy
the Trust employs may not be successful.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Investment Advisor</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the &#147;Advisor&#148;) is the Trust&#146;s investment adviser. The Advisor receives an annual
fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.50% of the average weekly value of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets (as defined above). BlackRock International Limited (&#147;BIL&#148;) and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (&#147;BSL&#148; and together
with BIL, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Sub-Advisors&#148;</FONT> and collectively with the Advisor, the &#147;Advisors&#148;) serve as the Trust&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisers.</FONT> For that portion of the Trust
for which each <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> acts as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-adviser,</FONT> the Advisor, and not the Trust, pays to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> an annual <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> fee equal to a percentage of the management fee received by the Advisor from the Trust with respect to the average daily value of the Managed Assets of the Trust allocated to <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">such&nbsp;Sub-Advisor.</FONT> See &#147;Management of the Trust&#151;Investment Advisor and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors.&#148;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="3"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Distributions</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust intends to make regular monthly cash distributions of all or a portion of its net investment income
to holders of the Trust&#146;s common shares. Net capital gains, if any, will be distributed at least annually to holders of the Trust&#146;s common shares. The Trust&#146;s net investment income consists of all interest income accrued on portfolio
assets less all expenses of the Trust. The Trust is required to allocate net capital gains and other taxable income, if any, received by the Trust among its shareholders on a pro rata basis in the year for which such capital gains and other income
is realized.</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Various factors will affect the level of
the Trust&#146;s net investment income, such as its asset mix, portfolio turnover, performance of its investments, level of retained earnings, the amount of leverage utilized by the Trust and the effects thereof, the costs of such leverage, the
movement of interest rates for municipal bonds and general market conditions. To permit the Trust to maintain more stable monthly distributions and to the extent consistent with the distribution requirements imposed on regulated investment companies
by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &#147;Code&#148;), the Trust may from time to time distribute less than the entire amount earned in a particular period. The income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a
result, the distributions paid by the Trust for any particular month may be more or less than the amount actually earned by the Trust during that month. Undistributed earnings will increase the Trust&#146;s NAV and, correspondingly, distributions
from undistributed earnings and from capital, if any, will reduce the NAV.</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Shareholders will automatically have all dividends and distributions reinvested in common shares of the Trust in
accordance with the Trust&#146;s dividend reinvestment plan, unless an election is made to receive cash by contacting the Reinvestment Plan Agent (as defined herein), at (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">699-1236.</FONT> See &#147;Dividend
Reinvestment Plan.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Listing</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Trust&#146;s common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; See &#147;Description of
Shares&#151;Common Shares.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Custodian and Transfer Agent</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Trust&#146;s custodian, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves
as the Trust&#146;s transfer agent.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Administrator</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Trust&#146;s administrator and fund accountant.</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Market Price of Shares</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Common shares of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment companies frequently trade at prices
lower than their NAV. The Trust cannot assure you that its common shares will trade at a price higher than or equal to NAV. See &#147;Use of Proceeds.&#148; The Trust&#146;s common shares trade in the open market at market prices that are a function
of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection for portfolio securities, portfolio credit quality, liquidity, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of the common shares in
the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. See &#147;Leverage,&#148; &#147;Risks,&#148; &#147;Description of Shares&#148; and &#147;Repurchase of Common Shares.&#148; The common shares are designed primarily for long-term
investors and you should not purchase common shares of the Trust if you intend to sell them shortly after purchase.</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><B>Special Risk Considerations</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">An investment in common shares of the Trust involves risk. Please refer to the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">section
 of the Trust&#146;s most recent annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> entitled</A></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
</div></div>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">3 </P>


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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="3"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">&#147;Investment
 Objectives, Policies and Risks&#151;Risk Factors&#148;</A>, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the risks of investing in the Trust. You should carefully consider those risks, which are described in more detail under &#147;Risks&#148;
 beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus, along with additional risks relating to investments in the Trust.</P></TD></TR>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_12"></A>SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Shareholder Transaction Expenses</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[1.00</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Offering expenses borne by the Trust (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[0.02</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan fees</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$<BR><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top"></SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0.02<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&nbsp;per&nbsp;share&nbsp;for&nbsp;open-market</FONT><BR>purchases of common shares<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><BR><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top"></SUP>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="91%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>

<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan sale transaction fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[2.50</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Estimated Annual Expenses</B> (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common
shares)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Management Fees<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(3)(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[0.77</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Interest Payments on Borrowed
Funds<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(5)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[2.82</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Other Expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[0.10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[3.69</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fee Waivers and/or Expense
Reimbursements<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">&#151;&#8194;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[3.69</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">If the common shares are sold to or through underwriters, the Prospectus Supplement will set forth any
applicable sales load and the estimated offering expenses<I>. </I>Trust shareholders will pay all offering expenses involved with an offering. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Reinvestment Plan Agent&#146;s (as defined below under &#147;Dividend Reinvestment Plan&#148;) fees for
the handling of the reinvestment of dividends will be paid by the Trust. However, you will pay a $0.02 per share fee incurred in connection with open-market purchases, which will be deducted from the value of the dividend. You will also be charged a
$2.50 sales fee and pay a $0.15 per share fee if you direct the Reinvestment Plan Agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions the Reinvestment Plan Agent is
required to pay. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust currently pays the Advisor a monthly fee at an annual contractual investment management fee rate of
0.50% of its average weekly managed assets. For purposes of calculating these fees, &#147;managed assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the
Trust&#146;s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have entered into a fee waiver agreement (the &#147;Fee Waiver Agreement&#148;),
pursuant to which the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Trust&#146;s assets attributable to investments in any equity and fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds
(&#147;ETFs&#148;) managed by the Advisor or its affiliates that have a contractual management fee, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. In addition, pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by
the amount of investment advisory fees the Trust pays to the Advisor indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by the Advisor or its affiliates, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be terminated at any
time, without the payment of any penalty, only by the Trust (upon the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not &#147;interested persons&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the &#147;Investment Company
Act&#148;), of the Trust (the &#147;Independent Trustees&#148;)) or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust), upon 90 days&#146; written notice by the Trust to the Advisor. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Assumes the use of leverage in the form of reverse repurchase agreements representing [35.5]% of managed
assets at an annual interest expense to the Trust of [5.12]%, which is based on market conditions during the year ended December&nbsp;31, [2023]. The actual amount of interest expense borne by the Trust will vary over time in accordance with the
level of the Trust&#146;s use of reverse repurchase agreements and variations in market interest rates. Interest expense is required to be treated as an expense of the Trust for accounting purposes. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following example illustrates the expenses (including the sales load of $[10.00] and offering costs of $[0.22]) that you
would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (i)&nbsp;total net annual expenses of [3.69]% of net assets attributable to common shares, and (ii)&nbsp;a 5% annual return: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="57%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>One&nbsp;Year</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Three&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Five&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Ten&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total expenses incurred</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[47</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[122</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[199</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[400</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The
example assumes that the estimated &#147;Other Expenses&#148; set forth in the Estimated Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed.
Moreover, the Trust&#146;s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. </B></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_13"></A>FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Trust&#146;s financial performance for the periods
presented. Certain information reflects financial results for a single common share of the Trust. The information for the fiscal years or periods, as applicable, ended December&nbsp;31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 and August&nbsp;31, 2019 has
been audited by [<U>&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</U>], independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. The report of [<U>&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</U>] is included in the Trust&#146;s December&nbsp;31, 2024 annual report, is
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and SAI and can be obtained by shareholders. The information in the table below for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2019 and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is
derived from the Trust&#146;s financial statements for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2019<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">1</SUP>. The Trust&#146;s financial statements are included in the Trust&#146;s annual report and <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">semi-annual</FONT> report and are incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">1</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Following the Trust&#146;s fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, the Trust changed its fiscal year end from
August 31 to December 31. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(For a share outstanding throughout each period) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><I>[Financial highlights to be added by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pre-effective</FONT> amendment] </I></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_14"></A>USE OF PROCEEDS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The net proceeds from the issuance of common shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment
objective and policies as stated below. We currently anticipate that we will be able to invest all of the net proceeds in accordance with our investment objective and policies within approximately three months from the date on which the proceeds
from an offering are received by the Trust. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> or taxable investment grade securities or in high quality,
short-term money market instruments. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_15"></A>THE TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act. The Trust was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on October&nbsp;12, 2001 pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Trust filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Trust&#146;s principal office is located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, and its telephone number is (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust commenced operations on November&nbsp;27, 2001, upon the initiation of an initial public offering of 28,750,000 of
its common shares. The proceeds of such offering were approximately $410.981&nbsp;million after the payment of organizational offering expenses. The Trust&#146;s common shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_16"></A>DESCRIPTION OF SHARES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Common Shares </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust
is a statutory trust formed under the laws of Delaware and governed by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated as of October&nbsp;12, 2001 (the &#147;Agreement and Declaration of Trust&#148;).&nbsp;The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited
number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share. Each common share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this offering, will be fully paid and, under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act,
the purchasers of the common shares will have no obligation to make further payments for the purchase of the common shares or contributions to the Trust solely by reason of their ownership of the common shares, except that the Trustees shall have
the power to cause shareholders to pay certain expenses of the Trust by setting off charges due from shareholders from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed the shareholders and/or by reducing the number of common shares owned by each
respective shareholder. When preferred shares are outstanding, the holders of common shares will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Trust unless all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions and unless certain other requirements imposed by any rating agencies rating the preferred shares have been met.
See &#147;Description of Shares&#151;Preferred Shares&#148; in the SAI. All common shares are equal as to dividends, assets and voting privileges and have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. The Trust will send annual and
semi-annual reports, including financial statements, to all holders of its shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Unlike
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> funds, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds like the Trust do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy
additional common shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading through a broker on the NYSE or otherwise. Shares of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment companies frequently trade on an exchange
at prices lower than NAV. Shares of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment companies like the Trust have during some periods traded at prices higher than NAV and during other periods have traded at prices lower than NAV.
Because the market value of the common shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection on its portfolio securities, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, the Trust&#146;s
NAV, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Trust, the Trust cannot assure you that its common shares will trade at a price equal to or higher
than NAV in the future. The common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors and you should not purchase the common shares if you intend to sell them soon after purchase. See &#147;Repurchase of Common Shares&#148; below and
&#147;Repurchase of Common Shares&#148; in the SAI. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">8 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s outstanding common shares are, and when issued, the common
shares offered by this Prospectus will be, publicly held and listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; The Trust determines its NAV on a daily basis. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the highest and
lowest daily closing prices on the NYSE per common share, and the NAV per common share and the premium to or discount from NAV, on the date of each of the high and low market prices. The table also sets forth the number of common shares traded on
the NYSE during the respective quarters. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="50%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="6" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>NYSE&nbsp;Market<BR>Price&nbsp;Per<BR>Common&nbsp;Share</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="6" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>NAV&nbsp;per&nbsp;Common<BR>Share&nbsp;on&nbsp;Date&nbsp;of<BR>Market&nbsp;Price</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="6" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Premium/<BR>(Discount)&nbsp;on<BR>Date&nbsp;of&nbsp;Market<BR>Price</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Trading</B><br><B>Volume</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>During Quarter Ended</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>High</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Low</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>High</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Low</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>High</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Low</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">December&nbsp;31, 2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">12.03</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.39</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.08</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.31</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8.57</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0.78</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">9,289,850</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">September&nbsp;30, 2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">12.06</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.55</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.15</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.46</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8.16</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0.86</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10,186,620</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">June&nbsp;30, 2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.86</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.23</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.71</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.24</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1.35</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(0.10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8,354,790</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">March&nbsp;31, 2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.00</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.37</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.02</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.61</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(0.18</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(2.26</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11,686,607</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">December&nbsp;31, 2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.97</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">9.14</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">9.70</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(1.17</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(5.77</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">13,106,334</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">September&nbsp;30, 2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.90</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">9.85</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.89</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.12</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0.09</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(2.67</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8,953,910</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">June&nbsp;30, 2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.06</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.21</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.19</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.75</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(1.16</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(5.02</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10,749,339</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">March&nbsp;31, 2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.68</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10.51</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.77</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11.01</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(0.76</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">(4.54</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">)%&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">11,040,096</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As of [&#9679;], 2025, the NAV per common share of the Trust was $[&#9679;] and the market
price per common share was $[&#9679;], representing a [discount/premium] to NAV of [&#9679;]%. Common shares of the Trust have historically traded at both a premium and discount to NAV. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As of [&#9679;], 2025, the Trust has outstanding [&#9679;] common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Preferred Shares </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the &#147;Board&#148;) may authorize and issue preferred shares, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the holders
of the common shares. Holders of common shares have no preemptive right to purchase any preferred shares that might be issued. The Trust does not currently intend to issue preferred shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under the Investment Company Act, the Trust is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance
the value of the Trust&#146;s total assets is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (<I>i.e.</I>, the liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the Trust&#146;s total assets). In addition, the Trust is not
permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its common shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Trust&#146;s total assets is at least 200% of such liquidation value. If the Trust issues preferred shares,
it may be subject to restrictions imposed by the guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Trust. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are
more stringent than those imposed on the Trust by the Investment Company Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede the Advisors from managing the Trust&#146;s portfolio in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment
objective and policies. Please see &#147;Description of Shares&#148; in the SAI for more information. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">9 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Authorized Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table provides the Trust&#146;s authorized shares and common shares outstanding as of January&nbsp;31, 2025. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="84%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="55%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Title of Class</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Amount<BR>Authorized</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Amount<BR>Held&nbsp;by&nbsp;Trust&nbsp;or<BR>for&nbsp;its&nbsp;Account</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Amount<BR>Outstanding<BR>Exclusive&nbsp;of<BR>Amount&nbsp;held<BR>by&nbsp;Trust</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Shares</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Unlimited</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">54,120,397</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_17"></A>THE TRUST&#146;S INVESTMENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Objective and Policies </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">section
 of the Trust&#146;s most recent annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> entitled &#147;Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks&#151;Investment Objectives and Policies&#151;BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK)&#148;</A>,
which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Portfolio Contents and Techniques
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in the following instruments and use the following investment techniques, subject to any
limitations set forth herein. There is no guarantee the Trust will buy all of the types of securities or use all of the investment techniques that are described herein and in the SAI. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Corporate Bonds </U></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust may invest in corporate bonds. The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest on the security and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall
inversely with interest rates. The market value of a corporate bond also may be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation&#146;s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the market place. There is a risk that the
issuers of the securities may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by corporations. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Collateral
used for secured debt includes real property, machinery, equipment, accounts receivable, stocks, bonds or notes. If a bond is unsecured, it is known as a debenture. Bondholders, as creditors, have a prior legal claim over common and preferred
stockholders as to both income and assets of the corporation for the principal and interest due them and may have a prior claim over other creditors if liens or mortgages are involved. Interest on corporate bonds may be fixed or floating, or the
bonds may be zero coupons. Interest on corporate bonds is typically paid semi-annually and is fully taxable to the bondholder. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk. The market value of a corporate bond
generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and may also be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation&#146;s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. Corporate bonds
usually yield more than government or agency bonds due to the presence of credit risk. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>U.S. Government Debt Securities </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
including: (1)&nbsp;U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, such as U.S. Treasury bills (maturity of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturity of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury
bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years), including the principal components or the interest components issued by the U.S. Government under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities program (i.e.,
&#147;STRIPS&#148;), all of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States; and (2)&nbsp;obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, including
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">10 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
government guaranteed mortgage-related securities, some of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, some of which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow
from the U.S. government and some of which are backed only by the credit of the issuer itself. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Mortgage-Related Securities </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are a form of security collateralized by pools
of commercial (&#147;CMBS&#148;) or residential (&#147;RMBS&#148;) mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans and mortgage-backed loans, such as mezzanine loans, are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental, government-related
and private organizations. These securities include complex instruments such as collateralized mortgage obligations, stripped mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities, interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits,
adjustable rate mortgages, real estate investment trusts (&#147;REITs&#148;), including debt and preferred stock issued by REITs, as well as other real estate-related securities. The mortgage-related securities in which the Trust may invest include
those with fixed, floating or variable interest rates, those with interest rates that change based on multiples of changes in a specified reference interest rate or index of interest rates and those with interest rates that change inversely to
changes in interest rates, as well as those that do not bear interest. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Interests in pools of mortgage-related securities
differ from other forms of fixed-income securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which
consists of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a &#147;pass-through&#148; of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer
or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs that may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities
(such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (&#147;GNMA&#148;)) are described as &#147;modified pass-through.&#148; These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the
mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may
have the effect of shortening or extending the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. To the extent that unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase in the effective maturity of
a mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to increase. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The yield and maturity
characteristics of mortgage-related securities differ from traditional debt securities. A major difference is that the principal amount of the obligations may normally be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) generally may
be prepaid at any time. The relationship between prepayments and interest rates may give some mortgage-related securities less potential for growth in value than conventional fixed-income securities with comparable maturities. In addition, in
periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to increase. During such periods, the reinvestment of prepayment proceeds by the Trust will generally be at lower rates than the rates that were carried by the obligations that have
been prepaid. Because of these and other reasons, a mortgage-related security&#146;s total return and maturity may be difficult to predict precisely. To the extent that the Trust purchases mortgage-related securities at a premium, prepayments (which
may be made without penalty) may result in loss of the Trust&#146;s principal investment to the extent of premium paid. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mortgage-related securities come in different classes that have different risks. The Trust may invest in lower, or junior,
classes of mortgage-related securities which may have a rating below investment grade and therefore are riskier investments than higher rated securities. Junior classes of mortgage-related securities protect the senior class investors against losses
on the underlying mortgage loans by taking the first loss if there are liquidations among the underlying loans. Junior classes generally receive principal and interest payments only after all required payments have been made to more senior classes.
Because the Trust may invest in junior classes of mortgage-related securities, it may not be able to recover all of its investment in the securities it purchases. In addition, if the underlying mortgage portfolio has been overvalued, or if mortgage
values subsequently decline, the Trust may suffer significant losses. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">11 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investments in mortgage-related securities, especially lower rated securities,
involve the risks of interruptions in the payment of interest and principal (delinquency) and the potential for loss of principal if the property underlying the security is sold as a result of foreclosure on the mortgage (default). These risks
include the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as the effects of general and local economic conditions on real estate values, the conditions of specific industry segments, the ability of tenants to make lease payments and
the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants, which in turn may be affected by local market conditions such as oversupply of space or a reduction of available space, the ability of the owner to provide adequate maintenance and insurance,
energy costs, government regulations with respect to environmental, zoning, rent control and other matters, and real estate and other taxes. The risks associated with the real estate industry will be more significant for the Trust to the extent that
it invests in mortgage-related securities. These risks are heightened in the case of mortgage-related securities related to a relatively small pool of mortgage loans. If the underlying borrowers cannot pay their mortgage loans, they may default and
the lenders may foreclose on the property. Finally, the ability of borrowers to repay mortgage loans underlying mortgage-related securities will typically depend upon the future availability of financing and the stability of real estate values. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For mortgage loans not guaranteed by a government agency or other party, the only remedy of the lender in the event of a
default is to foreclose upon the property. If borrowers are not able or willing to pay the principal balance on the loans, there is a good chance that payments on the related mortgage-related securities will not be made. Certain borrowers on
underlying mortgages may become subject to bankruptcy proceedings, in which case the value of the mortgage-related securities may be hurt. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Stripped
Mortgage-Backed Securities </U></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Stripped mortgage-backed securities (&#147;MBS&#148;) are derivative multi-class mortgage
securities. Stripped MBS are created by segregating the cash flows from underlying mortgage loans or mortgage securities to create two or more new securities, each receiving a specified percentage of the underlying security&#146;s principal or
interest payments. Mortgage securities may be partially stripped so that each investor class receives some interest and some principal. When securities are completely stripped, however, all of the interest is distributed to holders of one type of
security, known as an interest-only security (or &#147;IO&#148;), and all of the principal is distributed to holders of another type of security, known as a principal-only security (or &#147;PO&#148;). Strips can be created in a pass-through
structure or as tranches of a CMO. The yields to maturity on IOs and POs are very sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater
than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Trust may not fully recoup its initial investment in IOs. Conversely, if the underlying mortgage assets experience less than anticipated prepayments of principal, the yield on POs could be materially
and adversely affected. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Lower Grade Securities </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest up to 25% of its total managed assets in bonds that are rated, at the time of investment, Ba/BB or below
by Moody&#146;s Investors Service, Inc. (&#147;Moody&#146;s&#148;), S&amp;P Global Ratings (&#147;S&amp;P&#148;), Fitch Ratings (&#147;Fitch&#148;) or another nationally recognized rating agency or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable
quality by the Advisor. Bonds of below investment grade quality are commonly referred to as &#147;junk bonds.&#148; Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the
issuer&#146;s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The values of lower grade securities often reflect individual
corporate developments and have a high sensitivity to economic changes to a greater extent than do higher rated securities. Issuers of lower grade securities are often in the growth stage of their development and/or involved in a reorganization or
takeover. The companies are often highly leveraged (have a significant amount of debt relative to shareholders&#146; equity) and may not have available to them more traditional financing methods, thereby increasing the risk associated with acquiring
these types of securities. In some cases, obligations with respect to lower grade securities are subordinated to the prior repayment of senior indebtedness, which will potentially limit the Trust&#146;s ability to fully recover principal or to
receive interest payments when senior securities are in default. Thus, investors in lower grade securities have a lower degree of protection with respect to principal and interest payments than do investors in higher rated securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">During an economic downturn, a substantial period of rising interest rates or a recession, issuers of lower grade securities
may experience financial distress possibly resulting in insufficient revenues to meet their principal and </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">12 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing. An economic downturn could also disrupt the market for lower-rated securities and adversely
affect the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest. If the issuer of a security held generally by the Trust defaults, the Trust may not receive full interest and principal payments due to it and could incur additional expenses if it
chose to seek recovery of its investment.&nbsp;Under certain economic and/or market conditions, the Trust may have difficulty disposing of certain lower grade securities due to the limited number of investors in that sector of the market. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The secondary market for lower grade securities may be less liquid than that of higher rated securities. Adverse conditions
could make it difficult at times for the Trust to sell certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in calculating the Trust&#146;s NAV. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">An illiquid secondary market may adversely affect the market price of the lower grade securities, which may result in
increased difficulty selling the particular issue and obtaining accurate market quotations on the issue when valuing the Trust&#146;s assets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The high yield markets may react strongly to adverse news about an issuer or the economy, or to the perception or expectation
of adverse news, whether or not it is based on fundamental analysis. Additionally, prices for lower grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. These developments could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s net asset
value and investment practices, the secondary market for lower grade securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the value and liquidity of outstanding lower grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market. For
example, federal legislation requiring the divestiture by federally insured savings and loan associations of their investments in lower grade securities and limiting the deductibility of interest by certain corporate issuers of lower grade
securities adversely affected the lower grade securities market in the past. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When the secondary market for lower grade
securities becomes more illiquid, or in the absence of readily available market quotations for such securities, the relative lack of reliable objective data makes it more difficult to value the Trust&#146;s securities, and judgment plays a more
important role in determining such valuations. Increased illiquidity in the junk bond market, in combination with the relative youth and growth of the market for such securities, also may affect the ability of the Trust to dispose of such securities
at a desirable price. Additionally, if the secondary markets for lower grade securities contract due to adverse economic conditions or for other reasons, certain of the Trust&#146;s liquid securities may become illiquid and the proportion of the
Trust&#146;s assets invested in illiquid securities may significantly increase. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The prices of fixed income securities
generally are inversely related to interest rate changes; however, the price volatility caused by fluctuating interest rates of securities also is inversely related to the coupons of such securities. Accordingly, below investment grade securities
may be relatively less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher quality securities of comparable maturity because of their higher coupon. The investor receives this higher coupon in return for bearing greater credit risk. The higher credit
risk associated with below investment grade securities potentially can have a greater effect on the value of such securities than may be the case with higher quality issues of comparable maturity. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The ratings of Moody&#146;s, S&amp;P and other rating agencies represent their opinions as to the quality of the obligations
which they undertake to rate. Ratings are relative and subjective and, although ratings may be useful in evaluating the safety of interest and principal payments, they do not evaluate the market value risk of such obligations. Although these ratings
may be an initial criterion for selection of portfolio investments, the Advisors also will independently evaluate these securities and the ability of the issuers of such securities to pay interest and principal. To the extent that the Trust invests
in lower grade securities that have not been rated by a rating agency, the Trust&#146;s ability to achieve its investment objective will be more dependent on the Advisor&#146;s credit analysis than would be the case when the Trust invests in rated
securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Foreign Securities </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest up to 10% of its total managed assets in bonds issued in foreign currencies. The value of the Trust&#146;s
investments may be adversely affected by changes in political or social conditions, diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, or imposition of (or change in) exchange
control or tax regulations in those foreign countries. In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">13 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
depreciation of Trust securities and could favorably or unfavorably affect the Trust&#146;s operations. Furthermore, the economies of individual foreign nations may differ from the U.S. economy,
whether favorably or unfavorably, in areas such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. It may also be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment
against a foreign issuer. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to foreign issuers than is available with respect to U.S. companies. Most foreign companies are also not subject to the uniform accounting and financial
reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States. Any foreign investments made by the Trust must be made in compliance with U.S. and foreign currency restrictions and tax laws restricting the amounts and types of foreign
investments. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Some foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Similarly, there is less volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets than in the United States and, at times, greater price volatility than in the United States. Foreign securities may trade on days when the common shares are not priced
or traded. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because foreign securities generally are denominated and pay dividends or interest in foreign currencies, and
the Trust may hold various foreign currencies from time to time, the value of the net assets of the Trust as measured in U.S. dollars will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in exchange rates. Generally, the Trust&#146;s currency
exchange transactions will be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market. The cost of the Trust&#146;s currency exchange transactions will generally be the difference between the bid and offer
spot rate of the currency being purchased or sold. In order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange, the Trust is authorized to enter into certain foreign currency exchange transactions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may also invest in issuers located in emerging market countries. Investment in securities of issuers based in
underdeveloped emerging markets entails all of the risks of investing in securities of foreign issuers outlined in the above section to a heightened degree. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New
Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. These issuers may be subject to risks that do not apply to issuers in larger, more developed countries. These risks are more pronounced to the extent the Trust invests significantly in one
country. Less information about <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> issuers or markets may be available due to less rigorous disclosure and accounting standards or regulatory practices. Many
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets. In a changing market, the Advisors may not be able to sell the Trust&#146;s portfolio securities in amounts and at prices they
consider reasonable. The U.S. dollar may appreciate against <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies or an emerging market government may impose restrictions on currency conversion or trading. The economies of <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> countries may grow at a slower rate than expected or may experience a downturn or recession. Economic, political and social developments may adversely affect <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT>
securities markets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition to brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in
emerging markets are generally more expensive than in the United States. Such markets have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. The inability of the Trust to make
intended securities purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Trust to miss attractive investment opportunities. An inability to dispose of a security due to settlement problems could result in losses to the Trust due to subsequent
declines in the value of the security. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Strategic Transactions and Other Management Techniques </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may use a variety of other investment management techniques and instruments.&nbsp;The Trust may purchase and sell
futures contracts, enter into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currency or currency futures
and swap contracts (including, but not limited to, credit default swaps) and may purchase and sell (or write) exchange-listed and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-the-counter</FONT></FONT> put and call options
on securities and swap contracts, financial indices and futures contracts and use other derivative instruments or management techniques (collectively, &#147;Strategic Transactions&#148;).&nbsp;Strategic Transactions may be used for duration
management and other investment and risk management purposes, including to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of the Trust&#146;s portfolio resulting from trends in the debt securities markets and changes in interest
rates or to protect the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">14 </P>


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Trust&#146;s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to establish a position in the securities markets as a
temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities or to enhance income or gain. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is no particular strategy
that requires use of one technique rather than another as the decision to use any particular strategy or instrument is a function of market conditions and the composition of the portfolio. The use of Strategic Transactions to enhance current income
may be speculative. The ability of the Trust to use Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisors&#146; ability to predict pertinent market movements as well as sufficient correlation among the instruments, which cannot be assured.
The use of Strategic Transactions may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may require the Trust to sell or purchase portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may limit the amount
of appreciation the Trust can realize on an investment or may cause the Trust to hold a security that it might otherwise sell. The SAI contains further information about the characteristics, risks and possible benefits of Strategic Transactions and
the Trust&#146;s other policies and limitations (which are not fundamental policies) relating to Strategic Transactions. Certain provisions of the Code may restrict or affect the ability of the Trust to engage in Strategic Transactions.&nbsp;In
addition, the use of certain Strategic Transactions may give rise to taxable income and have certain other consequences.</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Swaps. </I>The Trust may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate and index swap agreements. Swap agreements are
two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few days to more than one year. In a standard &#147;swap&#148; transaction, two parties agree to exchange the value(s) or cash flow(s) of one asset for
another over a certain period of time. The gross returns to be exchanged or &#147;swapped&#148; between the parties are calculated with respect to a &#147;notional amount,&#148; i.e., the dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a
particular foreign currency, or in a &#147;basket&#148; of securities representing a particular index. The &#147;notional amount&#148; of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap
agreement have agreed to exchange. The Trust&#146;s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each
party to the agreement (the &#147;net amount&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Whether the Trust&#146;s use of swap agreements will be successful
in furthering its investment objectives will depend on the Advisors&#146; ability to correctly predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, the Trust bears the risk of loss of
the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. Swap agreements also bear the risk that the Trust will not be able to meet its payment obligations to the
counterparty. Restrictions imposed by the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies may limit the Trust&#146;s ability to use swap agreements. It is possible that developments in the swap market, including government regulation, could
adversely affect the Trust&#146;s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Swaptions.</I> A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new
swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The Trust may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. Depending on the terms of the particular
option agreement, the Trust will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Trust purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid
should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Trust writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Trust will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement, and the Trust could be exposed to
losses in excess of the amount of premium it received from the purchaser of the swaption. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Credit Default Swaps.</I>
The Trust may enter into credit default swap agreements. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Trust. The protection &#147;buyer&#148; in a credit default
contract may be obligated to pay the protection &#147;seller&#148; an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event on the reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the
seller generally must pay the buyer the &#147;par value&#148; (full notional amount) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or if the swap is cash settled the seller
may be required to deliver the related net cash amount (the difference between the market value of the reference obligation and its par value). The Trust may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Trust is a buyer and no credit
event occurs, the Trust will generally receive no payments from its </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">15 </P>


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counterparty under the swap if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional amount of the swap in
exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity, the value of which may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Trust generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of
the swap, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the seller must pay the buyer the full notional amount of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of
deliverable obligations of the reference entity, the value of which may have significantly decreased. As the seller, the Trust would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its Managed Assets, the Trust would be subject to
investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap in excess of any premium and margin required to establish and maintain the position. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Credit default swap agreements involve greater risks than if the Trust had taken a position in the reference obligation
directly (either by purchasing or selling) since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risks. A buyer generally will also lose its upfront payment or any periodic
payments it makes to the seller counterparty and receive no payments from its counterparty should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received
by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. A seller of a credit default swap or similar instrument is
exposed to many of the same risks of leverage since, if a credit event occurs, the seller generally will be required to pay the buyer the full notional amount of the contract net of any amounts owed by the buyer related to its delivery of
deliverable obligations. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, the credit derivatives market is subject to a changing regulatory environment. It
is possible that regulatory or other developments in the credit derivatives market could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s ability to successfully use credit derivatives. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Total Return Swaps.</I> Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to
another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed
or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such
market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to the Trust&#146;s portfolio because, in addition to its Managed Assets (as defined in the prospectus), the Trust would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of
the swap in excess of any premium and margin required to establish and maintain the position. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Total return swap
agreements are subject to market risk as well as the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations to the Trust thereunder. Swap agreements also bear the risk that the Trust will not be able to meet its obligation to the
counterparty. Generally, the Trust will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted against one another with the Trust receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Interest Rate Transactions</I>. The Trust may enter into interest rate swaps and purchase or sell interest rate caps and
floors. The Trust expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Trust anticipates purchasing at a later date and/or to hedge against increases in the Trust&#146;s costs associated with any leverage strategy. The Trust will ordinarily use these transactions as a hedge or for duration and risk
management although it is permitted to enter into them to enhance income or gain. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate
payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal). The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that the level of a specified interest rate exceeds a predetermined interest rate (i.e., the
strike price), to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that the level of a specified interest rate
falls below a predetermined interest rate (i.e., the strike price), to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For example, if the Trust holds a debt instrument with an interest rate that is
reset only once each year, it may swap the right to receive interest at this fixed rate for the right to receive interest at a rate that is reset every week. This would enable the Trust to offset a decline in the value of the debt instrument due to
rising interest rates but would also limit its ability to benefit from falling interest rates. Conversely, if the Trust holds a debt instrument with an interest rate that is reset every week and it would like to lock in what it believes to be a high
interest rate for one year, it may swap the right to receive interest at this variable weekly rate for the right to receive interest at a rate that is fixed for one year. Such a swap would protect the Trust from a reduction in yield due to falling
interest rates and may permit the Trust to enhance its income through the positive differential between one week and one year interest rates, but would preclude it from taking full advantage of rising interest rates. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may hedge both its assets and liabilities through interest rate swaps, caps and floors. Usually, payments with
respect to interest rate swaps will be made on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out) with the Trust receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments on the payment dates. If there is a default by
the other party to an uncleared interest rate swap transaction, generally the Trust will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. With respect to interest rate swap transactions cleared through a central
clearing counterparty, a clearing organization will be substituted for the counterparty and will guaranty the parties&#146; performance under the swap agreement. However, there can be no assurance that the clearing organization will satisfy its
obligation to the Trust or that the Trust would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Trust&#146;s clearing broker. Certain
U.S. federal income tax requirements may limit the Trust&#146;s ability to engage in interest rate swaps. Distributions attributable to transactions in interest rate swaps generally will be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Foreign Currency Transactions</I>. The Trust&#146;s common shares are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by
the Trust to common shareholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a portion of the Trust&#146;s assets may be denominated in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies and the income received by the Trust from such securities will
be paid in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies. The Trust also may invest in or gain exposure to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies for investment or hedging purposes. The Trust&#146;s investments in
securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies will be subject to currency risk, which is the risk that fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies
may negatively affect an investment. The Trust may (but is not required to) hedge some or all of its exposure to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currencies through the use of derivative strategies, including forward foreign currency
exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Trust will engage
in such transactions at any given time or from time to time when they would be beneficial. Although the Trust has the flexibility to engage in such transactions, the Advisors may determine not to do so or to do so only in unusual circumstances or
market conditions. These transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for the Trust to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies. The Trust may also, to the extent applicable, use derivatives contracts for
purposes of increasing exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Foreign Exchange Transactions</I>. The Trust may engage in spot and forward foreign exchange transactions and currency
swaps, purchase and sell options on currencies and purchase and sell currency futures and related options thereon (collectively, &#147;Currency Instruments&#148;). Such transactions could be effected with respect to hedges on foreign dollar
denominated securities owned by the Trust, sold by the Trust but not yet delivered, or committed or anticipated to be purchased by the Trust. As an illustration, the Trust may use such techniques to hedge the stated value in U.S. dollars of an
investment in a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">yen-denominated</FONT> security. In such circumstances, for example, the Trust may purchase a foreign currency put option enabling it to sell a specified amount of yen for dollars at a specified price
by a future date. To the extent the hedge is successful, a loss in the value of the yen relative to the dollar will tend to be offset by an increase in the value of the put option. To offset, in whole or in part, the cost of acquiring such a put
option, the Trust may also sell a call option which, if exercised, requires it to sell a specified amount of yen for dollars at a specified price by a future date (a technique called a &#147;straddle&#148;). By selling such a call option in this
illustration, the Trust gives up the opportunity to profit without limit from increases in the relative value of the yen to the dollar. &#147;Straddles&#148; of the type that may be used by the Trust are considered to constitute hedging
transactions. The Trust may not attempt to hedge any or all of its foreign portfolio positions. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Forward Foreign Currency Contracts</I>. The Trust may enter into forward
currency contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign currency. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any
fixed number of days (term) from the date of the forward currency contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time the forward currency contract is entered into. Forward currency contracts are traded directly between currency traders
(usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The Trust may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Trust intends to acquire. The Trust may sell a forward
currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security or a dividend or interest payment denominated in a foreign currency. The Trust may also, to the extent applicable, use forward currency
contracts to shift the Trust&#146;s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate changes from one currency to another. For example, if the Trust owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisors believe that currency will decline
relative to another currency, the Trust might enter into a forward currency contract to sell the appropriate amount of the first foreign currency with payment to be made in the second currency. The Trust may also, to the extent applicable, purchase
forward currency contracts to enhance income when the Advisors anticipate that the foreign currency will appreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities. The Trust may also use
forward currency contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in a foreign currency. Such a hedge would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in
security values caused by other factors. The Trust could also hedge the position by entering into a forward currency contract to sell another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Trust&#146;s existing investments are
denominated. This type of transaction could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield or efficiency, but may not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a simple forward currency transaction to sell U.S. dollars. This type of transaction may result
in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated. The Trust may also use forward currency contracts in one currency or a basket of currencies to attempt to hedge
against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency if the Advisors anticipate that there will be a correlation between the two currencies. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The cost to the Trust of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length
of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. When the Trust enters into a forward currency contract, it
relies on the counterparty to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of some or all of any expected benefit of the transaction. Secondary
markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that
the Trust will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity. In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Trust might be unable to close out a forward currency contract. In
either event, the Trust would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in securities denominated in the foreign currency or to designate cash or liquid assets on its
books and records. The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the
forward currency contract has been established. Thus, the Trust might need to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward currency contracts. The projection of
short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Call Options</I>. The Trust may purchase call options on any of the types of securities or instruments in which it may
invest. A purchased call option gives the Trust the right to buy, and obligates the seller to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price at any time during the option period. The Trust also may purchase and sell call options on indices.
Index options are similar to options on securities except that, rather than taking or making delivery of securities underlying the option at a specified price upon exercise, an index option gives the holder the right to receive cash upon exercise of
the option if the level of the index upon which the option is based is greater than the exercise price of the option. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust may write (i.e., sell) covered call options on the securities or instruments it holds and enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to certain of such options. A covered call option is an option in which the Trust,
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">18 </P>


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in return for a premium, gives another party a right to buy specified securities owned by the Trust at a specified future date and price set at the time of the contract. The principal reason for
writing covered call options is the attempt to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the securities alone. Writing covered call options also serves as a partial hedge against declines in the price of
the underlying security, to the extent of the premium received. By writing covered call options, the Trust gives up the opportunity, while the option is in effect, to profit from any price increase in the underlying security above the option
exercise price. In addition, the Trust&#146;s ability to sell the underlying security will be limited while the option is in effect unless the Trust enters into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction cancels out the
Trust&#146;s position as the writer of an option by means of an offsetting purchase of an identical option prior to the expiration of the option it has written. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may write (i.e., sell) uncovered call options on securities or instruments in which it may invest but that are not
currently held by the Trust. The principal reason for writing uncovered call options is to realize income without committing capital to the ownership of the underlying securities or instruments. When writing uncovered call options, the Trust must
deposit and maintain sufficient margin with the broker-dealer through which it made the uncovered call option as collateral to ensure that the securities can be purchased for delivery if and when the option is exercised. During periods of declining
securities prices or when prices are stable, writing uncovered calls can be a profitable strategy to increase the Trust&#146;s income with minimal capital risk. Uncovered calls are riskier than covered calls because there is no underlying security
held by the Trust that can act as a partial hedge. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and the potential for loss is unlimited. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Trust must purchase the underlying security to meet its call
obligation. There is also a risk, especially with less liquid preferred and debt securities, that the securities may not be available for purchase. If the purchase price exceeds the exercise price, the Trust will lose the difference. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Put Options</I>. The Trust may purchase put options. By buying a put option, the Trust acquires a right to sell such
underlying securities or instruments at the exercise price, thus limiting the Trust&#146;s risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the securities or instruments until the put option expires. The amount of any appreciation in the value
of the underlying securities or instruments will be partially offset by the amount of the premium paid for the put option and any related transaction costs. Prior to its expiration, a put option may be sold in a closing sale transaction and profit
or loss from the sale will depend on whether the amount received is more or less than the premium paid for the put option plus the related transaction costs. A closing sale transaction cancels out the Trust&#146;s position as the purchaser of an
option by means of an offsetting sale of an identical option prior to the expiration of the option it has purchased. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust also may write (i.e., sell) put options on securities or instruments in which it may invest but that the Trust does not currently have a corresponding short position or has not deposited cash equal to the exercise value of the put option with
the broker-dealer through which it made the uncovered put option as collateral. The principal reason for writing such put options is to receive premium income and to acquire such securities or instruments at a net cost below the current market
value. The Trust has the obligation to buy the securities or instruments at an agreed upon price if the securities or instruments decrease below the exercise price. If the securities or instruments price increases during the option period, the
option will expire worthless and the Trust will retain the premium and will not have to purchase the securities or instruments at the exercise price. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In selling puts, there is&nbsp;a risk that the Trust may be required to buy the underlying security at a price higher than the
current market price. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Financial Futures Transactions and Options</I>. The Trust is authorized to purchase and sell
certain exchange traded financial futures contracts (&#147;financial futures contracts&#148;) in order to hedge its investments against declines in value, and to hedge against increases in the cost of securities it intends to purchase or to seek to
enhance the Trust&#146;s return. However, any transactions involving financial futures or options (including puts and calls associated therewith) will be in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment policies and limitations. A financial futures
contract obligates the seller of a contract to deliver and the purchaser of a contract to take delivery of the type of financial instrument covered by the contract, or in the case of index-based futures contracts to make and accept a cash
settlement, at a specific future time for a specified price. To hedge its portfolio, the Trust may take an investment position in a futures contract which will move in the opposite direction from the portfolio position being hedged. A sale of
financial futures contracts may provide a hedge against a decline in the value of portfolio securities because such depreciation may be </P>
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offset, in whole or in part, by an increase in the value of the position in the financial futures contracts. A purchase of financial futures contracts may provide a hedge against an increase in
the cost of securities intended to be purchased because such appreciation may be offset, in whole or in part, by an increase in the value of the position in the futures contracts. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Distributions, if any, of net long term capital gains from certain transactions in futures or options are taxable at long term
capital gains rates for U.S. federal income tax purposes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Futures Contracts</I>. A futures contract is an agreement
between two parties to buy and sell a security or, in the case of an index-based futures contract, to make and accept a cash settlement for a set price on a future date. A majority of transactions in futures contracts, however, do not result in the
actual delivery of the underlying instrument or cash settlement, but are settled through liquidation, i.e., by entering into an offsetting transaction. Futures contracts have been designed by boards of trade which have been designated
&#147;contracts markets&#148; by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the &#147;CFTC&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The purchase or sale of
a futures contract differs from the purchase or sale of a security in that no price or premium is paid or received. Instead, an amount of cash or securities acceptable to the broker and the relevant contract market&nbsp;must be deposited with the
broker. This amount is known as &#147;initial margin&#148; and represents a &#147;good faith&#148; deposit assuring the performance of both the purchaser and seller under the futures contract. Subsequent payments to and from the broker, called
&#147;variation margin,&#148; are required to be made on a daily basis as the price of the futures contract fluctuates making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as &#147;marking
to&nbsp;market.&#148; At any time prior to the settlement date of the futures contract, the position may be closed out by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate the position in the futures contract. A final determination of
variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid to or released by the broker and the purchaser realizes a loss or gain. In addition, a&nbsp;commission is paid on each completed sale transaction. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may also purchase and sell financial futures contracts on U.S. Government securities as a hedge against adverse
changes in interest rates as described below. The Trust may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts on U.S. Government securities in connection with its hedging strategies. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust also may engage in other futures contracts transactions such as futures contracts on municipal bond indices that may
become available if the Advisors should determine that there is normally a sufficient correlation between the prices of such futures contracts and securities in which the Trust invests to make such hedging appropriate. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Futures Strategies</I>. The Trust may sell a financial futures contract (i.e., assume a short position) in anticipation of
a decline in the value of its investments resulting from an increase in interest rates or otherwise. The risk of decline could be reduced without employing futures as a hedge by selling investments and either reinvesting the proceeds in securities
with shorter maturities or by holding assets in cash. This strategy, however, entails increased transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads and typically would reduce the average yield of the Trust&#146;s portfolio securities as a result of the
shortening of maturities. The sale of futures contracts provides an alternative means of hedging against declines in the value of its investments. As such values decline, the value of the Trust&#146;s positions in the futures contracts will tend to
increase, thus offsetting all or a portion of the depreciation in the market value of the Trust&#146;s investments that are being hedged. While the Trust will incur commission expenses in selling and closing out futures positions, commissions on
futures transactions are typically lower than transaction costs incurred in the purchase and sale of the Trust&#146;s investments being hedged. In addition, the ability of the Trust to trade in the standardized contracts available in the futures
markets may offer a more effective defensive position than a program to reduce the average maturity of the portfolio securities due to the unique and varied credit and technical characteristics of the instruments available to the Trust. Employing
futures as a hedge also may permit the Trust to assume a defensive posture without reducing the yield on its investments beyond any amounts required to engage in futures trading. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When the Trust intends to purchase a security, the Trust may purchase futures contracts as a hedge against any increase in the
cost of such security resulting from a decrease in interest rates or otherwise, that may occur before such purchase can be effected. Subject to the degree of correlation between such securities and futures contracts, subsequent increases in the cost
of such securities should be reflected in the value of the futures held by the Trust. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">20 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
As such purchases are made, an equivalent amount of futures contracts will be closed out. Due to changing market conditions and interest rate forecasts, however, a futures position may be
terminated without a corresponding purchase of portfolio securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Call Options on Futures Contracts</I>. The Trust
may also purchase and sell exchange traded call and put options on financial futures contracts. The purchase of a call option on a futures contract is analogous to the purchase of a call option on an individual security. Depending on the pricing of
the option compared to either the futures contract upon which it is based or the price of the underlying securities, it may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or underlying securities. Like the purchase of a futures
contract, the Trust may purchase a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a market advance when the Trust is not fully invested. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of the securities
which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration is below the exercise price, the Trust will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have
occurred in the Trust&#146;s portfolio holdings. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Put Options on Futures Contracts</I>. The purchase of a put option on
a futures contract is analogous to the purchase of a protective put option on portfolio securities. The Trust may purchase a put option on a futures contract to hedge the Trust&#146;s portfolio against the risk of rising interest rates. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The writing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against increasing prices of the securities
which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration is higher than the exercise price, the Trust will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the
price of securities which the Trust intends to purchase. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to
deposit initial and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an option will be included in initial margin. The writing of an option on a futures contract
involves risks similar to those relating to futures contracts. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Additional Information About Options.</I>&nbsp;In the
case of either put or call options that it has purchased, if the option expires without being sold or exercised, the Trust will experience a loss in the amount of the option premium plus any commissions paid by the Trust. When the Trust sells put
and call options, it receives a premium as the seller of the option. The premium that the Trust receives for selling the option will serve as a partial and limited (to the dollar amount of the premium) hedge, in the amount of the option premium,
against changes in the value of the securities in its portfolio. During the term of the option, however, a covered call seller has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price
of the option if the value of the underlying security increases, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. Conversely, a put seller retains the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying
security decline below the exercise price of the option, less the premium received on the sale of the option. The Trust may purchase and sell exchange-listed options and
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-the-counter</FONT></FONT> options (&#147;OTC options&#148;) which are privately negotiated with the counterparty.&nbsp;Listed options are issued by the Options Clearing
Corporation (&#147;OCC&#148;), which acts as the central counterparty to the parties to such options. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s
ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an exchange-listed put or call option is dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option exchanges. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary
market on an exchange are: (i)&nbsp;insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)&nbsp;restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii)&nbsp;trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular
classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv)&nbsp;interruption of the normal operations on an exchange; (v)&nbsp;inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi)&nbsp;a decision by one or
more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on
that exchange that had been listed by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. OTC options are purchased from or sold to dealers, financial institutions or other
counterparties which have entered into direct agreements with the Trust. With uncleared OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">21 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
upon between the Trust and the counterparty, without the intermediation of a third party such as the OCC. If the counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the securities underlying an option
it has written, or otherwise settle the transaction in accordance with the terms of that option as written, the Trust would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction.&nbsp;OTC options and assets used
to cover OTC options written by the Trust may be illiquid. The illiquidity of such options or assets may prevent a successful sale of such options or assets, result in a delay of sale, or reduce the amount of proceeds that might otherwise be
realized. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded
or the hours of trading relevant to the determination of an index or other reference level. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
underlying markets that cannot immediately be reflected in the option markets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Hybrid Instruments</I>. A hybrid
instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional bond, stock or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a
hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a &#147;benchmark&#148;). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities)
the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest
with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil. Hybrids can be used as an efficient
means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark
and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily
foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional,
U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes the Trust to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant
fluctuations in the NAV of the Trust&#146;s common shares if the Trust invests in hybrid instruments. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>New
Products</I>. The financial markets continue to evolve and financial products continue to be developed. The Trust reserves the right to invest in new financial products as they are developed or become more widely accepted. As with any new financial
product, these products will entail risks, including risks to which the Trust currently is not subject. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The principal
risks relating to the use of futures contracts and other Strategic Transactions are: (i)&nbsp;less than perfect correlation between the prices of the instrument and the market value of the securities in the Trust&#146;s portfolio; (ii)&nbsp;possible
lack of a liquid secondary market for closing out a position in such instruments; (iii)&nbsp;losses resulting from interest rate or other market movements not anticipated by the Advisors; and (iv)&nbsp;the obligation to meet additional variation
margin or other payment requirements, all of which could result in the Trust being in a worse position than if such transactions had not been used. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain provisions of the Code may restrict or affect the ability of the Trust to engage in Strategic Transactions. See
&#147;Tax Matters.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued basis and may purchase or sell securities on a &#147;forward
commitment&#148; basis (including on a &#147;TBA&#148; (to be announced) basis) or on a &#147;delayed delivery&#148; basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the
commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. When-issued securities and forward commitments may be sold prior to the settlement date. If the Trust disposes of the right to acquire a when-issued security
prior to its acquisition or disposes of its right to deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it might incur a gain or loss. Pursuant to recommendations of the Treasury Market Practices Group,
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">22 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
which is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board of New York, the Trust or its counterparty generally is required to post collateral when entering into certain forward-settling transactions,
including without limitation TBA transactions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is always a risk that the securities may not be delivered and that
the Trust may incur a loss. A default by a counterparty may result in the Trust missing the opportunity of obtaining a price considered to be advantageous. The value of securities in these transactions on the delivery date may be more or less than
the Trust&#146;s purchase price. The Trust may bear the risk of a decline in the value of the security in these transactions and may not benefit from an appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period. Settlements in the
ordinary course are not treated by the Trust as when-issued or forward commitment transactions and accordingly are not subject to the foregoing restrictions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The market value of the securities underlying a commitment to purchase securities, and any subsequent fluctuations in their
market value, is taken into account when determining the NAV of the Trust starting on the day the Trust agrees to purchase the securities. The Trust does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and
delivered on the settlement date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment
Company Act permits the Trust to enter into when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including TBA commitments, and dollar rolls) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT>
cycle securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section&nbsp;18 of the Investment Company Act, provided that the Trust intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35
days of its trade date (the &#147;Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision&#148;). If a when-issued, forward-settling <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">or&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle security does not satisfy the Delayed-Settlement
Securities Provision, then it is treated as a derivatives transaction under <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4.&nbsp;See</FONT> &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Derivatives&#151;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;Under</FONT> the Investment Company Act&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Other Investment Companies
</U></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest up to 10% of its total managed assets in securities of other investment companies (including
ETFs, business development companies and money market funds, including other investment companies managed by the Advisor or its affiliates), subject to applicable regulatory limits, that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Trust
may invest directly. The Trust generally expects to invest in other investment companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as the period shortly after the Trust receives the proceeds of the offering of its
common shares (or preferred shares, should the Trust determine to issue preferred shares in the future), or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive fixed income securities available in the market. As a shareholder in an investment
company, the Trust would bear its ratable share of that investment company&#146;s expenses and will remain subject to payment of the Trust&#146;s advisory and other fees and expenses with respect to assets so invested. Holders of common shares will
therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Trust invests in other investment companies (except that it will not be subject to duplicate advisory fees with respect to other investment companies managed by the Advisor or its
affiliates). The Advisors will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available fixed-income securities investments. In addition, the securities of other investment
companies may be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks to which the Trust is subject to the extent it employs a leverage strategy. The net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the
yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investment companies
may have investment policies that differ from those of the Trust. In addition, to the extent the Trust invests in other investment companies that are not managed by the Advisor or its affiliates, the Trust will be dependent upon the investment and
research abilities of persons other than the Advisor. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in ETFs, which are investment companies that
typically aim to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are typically passively managed and their shares are traded on a national exchange or The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. ETFs do not sell individual
shares directly to investors and only issue their shares in large blocks known as &#147;creation units.&#148; The investor purchasing a creation unit may sell the individual shares on a secondary market. Therefore, the liquidity of ETFs depends on
the adequacy of the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">23 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
secondary market. There can be no assurance that an ETF&#146;s investment objective will be achieved, as ETFs based on an index may not replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative
weightings of securities in the index. ETFs are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities. The Trust, as a holder of the securities of the ETF, will bear its pro rata portion of the ETF&#146;s expenses, including advisory fees
(except that it will not be subject to duplicate advisory fees with respect to ETFs managed by the Advisor or its affiliates). These expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the Trust&#146;s own operations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust treats its investments in other investment companies that invest substantially all of their assets in fixed-income
securities as investments in fixed income securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_18"></A>LEVERAGE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust currently utilizes leverage for investment purposes in the form of reverse repurchase agreements. The Trust may
also, but does not currently intend to, use leverage by borrowing funds from banks or other financial institutions, by issuing preferred shares or by any other means permitted under the Investment Company Act. The Trust is permitted to borrow money
or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its Managed Assets (50% of its net assets), and issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net assets). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The use of leverage, including investments in reverse repurchase agreements, can create risks. When leverage is employed, the
NAV and market price of the common shares and the yield to holders of common shares will be more volatile than if leverage were not used. Changes in the value of the Trust&#146;s portfolio, including securities bought with the proceeds of leverage,
will be borne entirely by the holders of common shares. If there is a net decrease or increase in the value of the Trust&#146;s investment portfolio, leverage will decrease or increase, as the case may be, the NAV per common share to a greater
extent than if the Trust did not utilize leverage. A reduction in the Trust&#146;s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of its shares. During periods in which the Trust is using leverage, the fee paid to the Advisor for advisory services
will be higher than if the Trust did not use leverage, because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets, which includes the proceeds from leverage. The Trust&#146;s leveraging strategy may not be successful.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain types of leverage the Trust may use may result in the Trust being subject to covenants relating to asset coverage
and portfolio composition requirements. The Trust may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by one or more lenders or by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for any short-term debt securities or
preferred shares issued by the Trust. The terms of any borrowings or rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the Investment Company Act. The Advisors do
not believe that these covenants or guidelines will impede them from managing the Trust&#146;s portfolio in accordance with its investment objective and policies if the Trust were to utilize leverage. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under the Investment Company Act, the Trust is not permitted to issue senior securities if, immediately after the issuance of
such senior securities, the Trust would have an asset coverage ratio (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of less than 300% with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the
Trust is required to have at least three dollars of assets) or less than 200% with respect to senior securities representing preferred shares (i.e., for every dollar of preferred shares outstanding, the Trust is required to have at least two dollars
of assets). The Investment Company Act also provides that the Trust may not declare distributions or purchase its stock (including through tender offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage ratio of less than 300% or 200%,
as applicable. Under the Investment Company Act, certain short-term borrowings (such as for cash management purposes) are not subject to these limitations if (i)&nbsp;repaid within 60 days, (ii)&nbsp;not extended or renewed, and (iii)&nbsp;not in
excess of 5% of the total assets of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Effects of Leverage </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Assuming that leverage will represent approximately [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets and that the Trust will bear
expenses relating to that leverage at an average annual rate of [&#9679;]%, the income generated by the Trust&#146;s portfolio (net of estimated expenses) must exceed [&#9679;]% in order to cover the expenses specifically related to the Trust&#146;s
use of leverage. Of course, these numbers are merely estimates used for illustration. Actual leverage expenses will vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above.</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">24 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the SEC. It is
designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on common share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Trust&#146;s portfolio) of (10)%, (5)%, 0%, 5% and 10%.
These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Trust. The table further reflects the use of leverage
representing [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets and an assumed annual cost of leverage of [&#9679;]%. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Assumed Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000" ALIGN="right">(10)%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000" ALIGN="right">(5)%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000" ALIGN="right">0%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000" ALIGN="right">5%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000" ALIGN="right">10%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Share Total Return</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">([&#9679;])%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">([&#9679;])%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">([&#9679;])%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Common share total return is composed of two elements: the common share dividends paid by the
Trust (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Trust after paying for any leverage used by the Trust) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Trust owns. As required by SEC rules, the table
assumes that the Trust is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0% the Trust must assume that the interest it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses in the
value of those securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Preferred Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is permitted to leverage its portfolio by issuing preferred shares. Under the Investment Company Act, the Trust is
not permitted to issue preferred shares if, immediately after such issuance, the liquidation value of the Trust&#146;s outstanding preferred shares exceeds 50% of its assets (including the proceeds from the issuance) less liabilities other than
borrowings (<I>i.e.</I>, the value of the Trust&#146;s assets must be at least 200% of the liquidation value of its outstanding preferred shares). In addition, the Trust would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on
its common shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Trust&#146;s assets less liabilities other than borrowings is at least 200% of such liquidation value. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust expects that preferred shares, if issued, will pay adjustable rate dividends based on shorter-term interest rates,
which would be redetermined periodically by a fixed spread or remarketing process, subject to a maximum rate which would increase over time in the event of an extended period of unsuccessful remarketing. The adjustment period for preferred share
dividends could be as short as one day or as long as a year or more. Preferred shares, if issued, could include a liquidity feature that allows holders of preferred shares to have their shares purchased by a liquidity provider in the event that sell
orders have not been matched with purchase orders and successfully settled in a remarketing. The Trust expects that it would pay a fee to the provider of this liquidity feature, which would be borne by common shareholders of the Trust. The terms of
such liquidity feature could require the Trust to redeem preferred shares still owned by the liquidity provider following a certain period of continuous, unsuccessful remarketing, which may adversely impact the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If preferred shares are issued, the Trust may, to the extent possible, purchase or redeem preferred shares from time to time
to the extent necessary in order to maintain asset coverage of any preferred shares of at least 200%. In addition, as a condition to obtaining ratings on the preferred shares, the terms of any preferred shares issued are expected to include asset
coverage maintenance provisions which will require the redemption of the preferred shares in the event of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-compliance</FONT> by the Trust and may also prohibit dividends and other distributions on the common
shares in such circumstances. In order to meet redemption requirements, the Trust may have to liquidate portfolio securities. Such liquidations and redemptions would cause the Trust to incur related transaction costs and could result in capital
losses to the Trust. Prohibitions on dividends and other distributions on the common shares could impair the Trust&#146;s ability to qualify as a RIC under the Code. If the Trust has preferred shares outstanding, two of the Directors will be elected
by the holders of preferred shares voting separately as a class. The remaining Directors will be elected by holders of common shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class. In the event the Trust failed to pay dividends on preferred
shares for two years, holders of preferred shares would be entitled to elect a majority of the Directors. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust
issues preferred shares, the Trust expects that it will be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Trust. These
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">25 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
guidelines are expected to impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Trust by the Investment Company Act. It is not anticipated
that these covenants or guidelines would impede the Advisors from managing the Trust&#146;s portfolio in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Credit Facility </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust is permitted to leverage its portfolio by entering into one or more credit facilities. If the Trust enters into a credit facility, the Trust may be required to prepay outstanding amounts or incur a penalty rate of interest upon the occurrence
of certain events of default. The Trust would also likely have to indemnify the lenders under the credit facility against liabilities they may incur in connection therewith. In addition, the Trust expects that any credit facility would contain
covenants that, among other things, likely would limit the Trust&#146;s ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change certain of its investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and
consolidations, and require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the Investment Company Act. The Trust may be required to pledge its assets and to maintain a portion of its assets in cash or high-grade securities as a reserve
against interest or principal payments and expenses. The Trust expects that any credit facility would have customary covenant, negative covenant and default provisions. There can be no assurance that the Trust will enter into an agreement for a
credit facility or one on terms and conditions representative of the foregoing, or that additional material terms will not apply. In addition, if entered into, a credit facility may in the future be replaced or refinanced by one or more credit
facilities having substantially different terms or by the issuance of preferred shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reverse Repurchase Agreements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Borrowings may be made by the Trust through reverse repurchase agreements under which the Trust sells portfolio securities to
financial institutions, such as banks and broker-dealers, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon date and price. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the Investment Company Act. The Trust may utilize reverse repurchase
agreements when it is anticipated that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the transaction. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In accordance with Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">18f-4</FONT> under the Investment Company Act, when the Trust engages
in reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, the Trust may either (i)&nbsp;maintain asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii)&nbsp;treat such
transactions as &#147;derivatives transactions&#148; and comply with Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">18f-4</FONT> with respect to such transactions. See &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and
Derivatives&#151;Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">18f-4</FONT> Under the Investment Company Act&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Derivatives </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may enter into derivative transactions that have leverage embedded in them. Derivative transactions that the Trust
may enter into and the risks associated with them are described elsewhere in this Prospectus and are also referred to as &#147;Strategic Transactions.&#148; The Trust cannot assure you that investments in derivative transactions that have leverage
embedded in them will result in a higher return on its common shares. Under Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">18f-4</FONT> under the Investment Company Act, among other things, the Trust must either use derivatives in a limited manner or comply
with an outer limit on fund leverage risk based on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">value-at-risk.</FONT></FONT> See &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and Derivatives&#151;Rule
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">18f-4</FONT> Under the Investment Company Act&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Temporary Borrowings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may also borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of
dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Trust securities. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">26 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_19"></A>RISKS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The NAV and market price of, and dividends paid on, the common shares will fluctuate with and be affected by, among other
things, the risks of investing in the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>General Risks </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">section
 of the Trust&#146;s most recent annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> entitled &#147;Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks&#151;Risk Factors&#148;</A>, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of
the general risks of investing in the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>Other Risks </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Risk Associated with Recent Market Events </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">While interest rates have been historically low in recent years in the United States and abroad, inflation rates have recently
risen significantly and the Federal Reserve and other central banks have recently begun raising interest rates to address inflation which, among other factors, has led to markets experiencing high volatility. A significant increase in interest rates
may cause a further decline in the market for equity securities and could lead to a recession. Further, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may contribute to price volatility. The impact of inflation and the recent actions of the
Federal Reserve have led to market volatility and may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the Trust and result in a negative impact on the Trust&#146;s performance. See &#147;&#151;Inflation Risk.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Political and diplomatic events within the United States, including a contentious domestic political environment, changes in
political party control of one or more branches of the U.S. government, the U.S. government&#146;s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, the threat of a U.S. government shutdown, and disagreements over, or
threats not to increase, the U.S. government&#146;s borrowing limit (or &#147;debt ceiling&#148;), as well as political and diplomatic events abroad, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the
broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. A downgrade of the ratings of U.S. government debt obligations, or concerns about the U.S. government&#146;s credit quality in general, could have a substantial negative effect on the
U.S. and global economies. For example, concerns about the U.S. government&#146;s credit quality may cause increased volatility in the stock and bond markets, higher interest rates, reduced prices and liquidity of U.S. Treasury securities, and/or
increased costs of various kinds of debt. Moreover, although the U.S. government has honored its credit obligations, there remains a possibility that the United States could default on its obligations. The consequences of such an unprecedented event
are impossible to predict, but it is likely that a default by the United States would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the Trust&#146;s investments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In recent years, some countries, including the United States, have adopted and/or are considering the adoption of more
protectionist trade policies. A rise in protectionist trade policies, and the possibility of changes to some international trade agreements, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
In addition, geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks, may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly
interconnected. As a result, whether or not the Trust invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic, political and/or financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Trust&#146;s
investments may be negatively affected by such events. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">An outbreak of an infectious
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">coronavirus&nbsp;(COVID-19)&nbsp;that</FONT> was first detected in December 2019 developed into a global pandemic that has resulted in numerous disruptions in the market and has had significant economic impact
leaving general concern and uncertainty. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of the pandemic and its effects cannot be predicted with certainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other
epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">27 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reference Rate Replacement Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London
Interbank Offered Rate (&#147;LIBOR&#148;) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The United Kingdom&#146;s Financial Conduct Authority (&#147;FCA&#148;), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all
LIBOR settings. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings would continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September&nbsp;30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts. After September&nbsp;30, 2024, the
remaining synthetic LIBOR settings ceased to be published, and all LIBOR settings have permanently ceased. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (&#147;SOFR&#148;) is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S.
Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement (&#147;repo&#148;) market and has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR,
benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in certain financial contracts. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Neither the effect of the LIBOR
transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be
significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the
willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition
regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Trust may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The occurrence of events similar to those in recent years, such as the aftermath of the war in Iraq, instability in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Syria and the Middle East, international war or conflict (including the Israel-Hamas war), new and ongoing epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases and other global health events, natural/environmental
disasters, terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world, social and political discord, debt crises (such as the Greek crisis), sovereign debt downgrades, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, increasingly strained relations between the
United States and a number of foreign countries, including historical adversaries, such as North Korea, Iran, China and Russia, and the international community generally, new and continued political unrest in various countries, such as Venezuela and
Spain, the exit or potential exit of one or more countries from the EU or the EMU, and continued changes in the balance of political power among and within the branches of the U.S. government, among others, may result in market volatility, may have
long term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets, and may cause further economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February&nbsp;24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action,
resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions, including declines in its stock markets and the value of the ruble against the U.S. dollar, in the region are impossible to predict, but could be significant. Any such disruptions caused
by Russian military action or other actions (including cyberattacks and espionage) or resulting actual and threatened responses to such activity, including purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts or changes in consumer or purchaser
preferences, sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the Russian government, Russian companies or Russian individuals, including politicians, could have a severe adverse effect on Russia and the European region, including significant negative impacts
on the Russian economy, the European economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, and may likely have collateral impacts on such sectors globally as well as other sectors. How long such military action
and related events will last cannot be predicted. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">China and the United States have each imposed tariffs on the other
country&#146;s products. These actions may cause a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments
of China&#146;s export industry, </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">28 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
which could have a negative impact on the Trust&#146;s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be
particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and
the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">On January&nbsp;31, 2020, the United Kingdom (&#147;UK&#148;) officially withdrew from the EU (commonly known as
&#147;Brexit&#148;). The UK and EU reached a preliminary trade agreement, which became effective on January&nbsp;1, 2021, regarding the terms of their future trading relationship relating principally to the trading of goods rather than services,
including financial services; however, negotiations are ongoing for matters not covered by the trade agreement, such as the trade of financial services. Due to uncertainty of the current political environment, it is not possible to foresee the form
or nature of the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU. In the short term, financial markets may experience heightened volatility, particularly those in the UK and Europe, but possibly worldwide. The UK and Europe may be less stable
than they have been in recent years, and investments in the UK and EU may be difficult to value or subject to greater or more frequent volatility. The longer term economic, legal, political and social framework to be put in place between the UK and
the EU remains unclear and the ongoing political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the UK and in wider European markets may continue for some time. In particular, Brexit may lead to a call for similar referendums
in other European jurisdictions which may cause increased economic volatility in the European and global markets and may destabilize some or all of the other EU member countries. This uncertainty may have an adverse effect on the economy generally
and on the ability of the Trust and its investments to execute their respective strategies, to receive attractive returns and/or to exit certain investments at an advantageous time or price. In particular, currency volatility may mean that the
returns of the Trust and its investments are adversely affected by market movements and may make it more difficult, or more expensive, if the Trust elects to execute currency hedges. Potential decline in the value of the British Pound and/or the
Euro against other currencies, along with the potential downgrading of the UK&#146;s sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of portfolio companies or investments located in the UK or Europe. In light of the above, no
definitive assessment can currently be made regarding the impact that Brexit will have on the Trust, its investments or its organization more generally. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Cybersecurity incidents affecting particular companies or industries may adversely affect the economies of particular
countries, regions or parts of the world in which the Trust invests. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The occurrence of any of these above events could
have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Trust&#146;s portfolio. The Trust does not know how long the securities markets may be affected by similar events and cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future
on the U.S. economy and securities markets. There can be no assurance that similar events and other market disruptions will not have other material and adverse implications. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Regulation and Government Intervention Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect
the regulation of the issuers in which the Trust invests in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Trust is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Trust&#146;s
ability to achieve its investment objective. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In light of popular, political and judicial focus on finance related
consumer protection, financial institution practices are also subject to greater scrutiny and criticism generally. In the case of transactions between financial institutions and the general public, there may be a greater tendency toward strict
interpretation of terms and legal rights in favor of the consuming public, particularly where there is a real or perceived disparity in risk allocation and/or where consumers are perceived as not having had an opportunity to exercise informed
consent to the transaction. In the event of conflicting interests between retail investors holding common shares of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment company such as the Trust and a large financial institution, a court
may similarly seek to strictly interpret terms and legal rights in favor of retail investors. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">29 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may be affected by governmental action in ways that are not
foreseeable, and there is a possibility that such actions could have a significant adverse effect on the Trust and its ability to achieve its investment objective. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Investment Company Act Regulations </I></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a registered <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company and as such is
subject to regulations under the Investment Company Act. Generally speaking, any contract or provision thereof that is made, or where performance involves a violation of the Investment Company Act or any rule or regulation thereunder is
unenforceable by either party unless a court finds otherwise. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Regulation as a &#147;Commodity Pool&#148; </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The CFTC subjects advisers to registered investment companies to regulation by the CFTC if a fund that is advised by the
investment adviser either (i)&nbsp;invests, directly or indirectly, more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in CFTC-regulated futures, options and swaps (&#147;CFTC Derivatives&#148;), or (ii)&nbsp;markets itself as providing
investment exposure to such instruments. To the extent the Trust uses CFTC Derivatives, it intends to do so below such prescribed levels and will not market itself as a &#147;commodity pool&#148; or a vehicle for trading such instruments.
Accordingly, the Advisor has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term &#147;commodity pool operator&#148; under the CEA pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA. The Advisor is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a
&#147;commodity pool operator&#148; under the CEA in respect of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Failures of Futures Commission Merchants and Clearing Organizations Risk
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is required to deposit funds to margin open positions in cleared derivative instruments (both
futures&nbsp;and swaps) with a clearing broker registered as a &#147;futures commission merchant&#148; (&#147;FCM&#148;). The CEA requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders&nbsp;for the purchase or sale
of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the FCM&#146;s proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each FCM to hold in a separate secure account all funds received from customers with&nbsp;respect to any orders for the purchase
or sale of foreign futures contracts and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by an FCM from its customers are held by an FCM on a commingled
basis in an omnibus account and amounts in excess of assets posted to the clearing organization may be invested by an FCM in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulation. There is a risk that assets deposited by the Trust with any
FCM as margin for futures contracts or commodity options may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Trust&#146;s FCM. In addition, the assets of the Trust posted as margin against both swaps and futures
contracts may not be fully protected in the event of the FCM&#146;s bankruptcy. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur that may have material adverse effects on the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to RICs, the Trust must, among other things,
derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and distribute for each taxable year at least 90% of its &#147;investment company taxable income&#148; (generally, ordinary income plus the excess, if any,
of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss). If for any taxable year the Trust does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income for that year (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates
without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Trust&#146;s current and accumulated earnings and profits. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The current presidential administration has called for significant changes to U.S. fiscal, tax, trade, healthcare,
immigration, foreign, and government regulatory policy. In this regard, there is significant uncertainty with respect to legislation, regulation and government policy at the federal level, as well as the state and local levels. Recent events have
created a climate of heightened uncertainty and introduced new and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">difficult-to-quantify</FONT></FONT> macroeconomic and political risks with potentially <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">far-reaching</FONT> implications. There has been a corresponding </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">30 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
meaningful increase in the uncertainty surrounding interest rates, inflation, foreign exchange rates, trade volumes and fiscal and monetary policy. To the extent the U.S. Congress or the current
presidential administration implements changes to U.S. policy, those changes may impact, among other things, the U.S. and global economy, international trade and relations, unemployment, immigration, corporate taxes, healthcare, the U.S. regulatory
environment, inflation and other areas. Although the Trust cannot predict the impact, if any, of these changes to the Trust&#146;s business, they could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s business, financial condition, operating results and cash
flows. Until the Trust knows what policy changes are made and how those changes impact the Trust&#146;s business and the business of the Trust&#146;s competitors over the long term, the Trust will not know if, overall, the Trust will benefit from
them or be negatively affected by them. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review
by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations of these laws could adversely affect the tax consequences of your investment.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Advisor, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> and Others </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The investment activities of the Advisor, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> and their affiliates
(including BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the &#147;Affiliates&#148;)), and their respective directors, officers or employees, in managing their own accounts and other accounts, may present conflicts of interest that could
disadvantage the Trust and its shareholders. The Advisor and its Affiliates may engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and other funds that have investment objectives similar to those of the Trust and/or that engage in and compete for
transactions in the same or similar types of securities, currencies and other assets as are held by the Trust. Subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act, the Advisor and its Affiliates intend to engage in such activities and may
receive compensation from third parties for their services. Neither the Advisor nor any Affiliate is under any obligation to share any investment opportunity, idea or strategy with the Trust. As a result, an Affiliate may compete with the Trust for
appropriate investment opportunities. The results of the Trust&#146;s investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of an Affiliate and of other accounts managed by an Affiliate. It is possible that the Trust could sustain losses during
periods in which one or more Affiliates and other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible. The Advisor has adopted policies and procedures designed to address potential
conflicts of interest. For additional information about potential conflicts of interest and the way in which BlackRock addresses such conflicts, please see &#147;Conflicts of Interest&#148; and &#147;Management of the Trust&#151;Portfolio
Management&#151;Potential Material Conflicts of Interest&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Defensive Investing Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For defensive purposes, the Trust may allocate assets into cash or short-term fixed-income securities without limitation. In
doing so, the Trust may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective. Further, the value of short-term fixed-income securities may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in credit ratings of
the investments. If the Trust holds cash uninvested it will be subject to the credit risk of the depository institution holding the cash. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Decision-Making Authority Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investors have no authority to make decisions or to exercise business discretion on behalf of the Trust, except as set forth in
the Trust&#146;s governing documents. The authority for all such decisions is generally delegated to the Board, which in turn, has delegated the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">day-to-day</FONT></FONT> management of
the Trust&#146;s investment activities to the Advisor, subject to oversight by the Board. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Management Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Advisors and the individual
portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Trust, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The Trust may be subject to a relatively high level of
management risk because the Trust may invest in derivative instruments, which may be highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with equities and bonds. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">31 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Valuation Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is subject to valuation risk, which is the risk that one or more of the securities in which the Trust invests are
valued at prices that the Trust is unable to obtain upon sale due to factors such as incomplete data, market instability or human error. The Advisors may use an independent pricing service or prices provided by dealers to value securities at their
market value. Because the secondary markets for certain investments may be limited, such instruments may be difficult to value. See &#147;Net Asset Value.&#148; When market quotations are not available, the Advisors may price such investments
pursuant to a number of methodologies, such as computer-based analytical modeling or individual security evaluations. These methodologies generate approximations of market values, and there may be significant professional disagreement about the best
methodology for a particular type of financial instrument or different methodologies that might be used under different circumstances. In the absence of an actual market transaction, reliance on such methodologies is essential, but may introduce
significant variances in the ultimate valuation of the Trust&#146;s investments. Technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers may also impact the Trust&#146;s ability to value its investments and the
calculation of the Trust&#146;s NAV. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When market quotations are not readily available or are believed by the Advisor to
be unreliable, the Advisor will fair value the Trust&#146;s investments in accordance with its policies and procedures. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. The fair value of an asset or liability
held by the Trust is the amount the Trust might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or the cost to extinguish that liability in an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">arm&#146;s-length</FONT> transaction. Fair value pricing
may require determinations that are inherently subjective and inexact about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value priced assets will not result in future adjustments to the prices of
securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect a price that the Trust is able to obtain upon sale, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or
published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset. For example, the Trust&#146;s NAV could be adversely
affected if the Trust&#146;s determinations regarding the fair value of the Trust&#146;s investments were materially higher than the values that the Trust ultimately realizes upon the disposal of such investments. Where market quotations are not
readily available, valuation may require more research than for more liquid investments. In addition, elements of judgment may play a greater role in valuation in such cases than for investments with a more active secondary market because there is
less reliable objective data available. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because of overall size, duration and maturities of positions held by the Trust,
the value at which its investments can be liquidated may differ, sometimes significantly, from the interim valuations obtained by the Trust. In addition, the timing of liquidations may also affect the values obtained on liquidation. Securities held
by the Trust may routinely trade with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">bid-offer</FONT> spreads that may be significant. There can be no guarantee that the Trust&#146;s investments could ultimately be realized at the Trust&#146;s valuation of such
investments. In addition, the Trust&#146;s compliance with the asset diversification tests applicable to regulated investment companies depends on the fair market values of the Trust&#146;s assets, and, accordingly, a challenge to the valuations
ascribed by the Trust could affect its ability to comply with those tests or require it to pay penalty taxes in order to cure a violation thereof. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s NAV per common share is a critical component in several operational matters including computation of advisory
and services fees. Consequently, variance in the valuation of the Trust&#146;s investments will impact, positively or negatively, the fees and expenses shareholders will pay. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reliance on the Advisor and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is dependent upon services and resources provided by the Advisors, and therefore the Advisors&#146; parent,
BlackRock. The Advisors are not required to devote their full time to the business of the Trust and there is no guarantee or requirement that any investment professional or other employee of the Advisors will allocate a substantial portion of his or
her time to the Trust. The loss of one or more individuals involved with the Advisors could have a material adverse effect on the performance or the continued operation of the Trust. For additional information on the Advisors and BlackRock, see
&#147;Management of the Trust&#151;Investment Advisor and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors.&#148;</FONT> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">32 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reliance on Service Providers Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust must rely upon the performance of service providers to perform certain functions, which may include functions that
are integral to the Trust&#146;s operations and financial performance. Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Trust in accordance with the terms of its appointment, to exercise due care and skill or to perform its
obligations to the Trust at all as a result of insolvency, bankruptcy or other causes could have a material adverse effect on the Trust&#146;s performance and returns to shareholders.&nbsp;The termination of the Trust&#146;s relationship with any
service provider, or any delay in appointing a replacement for such service provider, could materially disrupt the business of the Trust and could have a material adverse effect on the Trust&#146;s performance and returns to shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Information Technology Systems Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is dependent on the Advisors for certain management services as well as back-office functions.&nbsp;The Advisors
depend on information technology systems in order to assess investment opportunities, strategies and markets and to monitor and control risks for the Trust.&nbsp;It is possible that a failure of some kind which causes disruptions to these
information technology systems could materially limit the Advisors&#146; ability to adequately assess and adjust investments, formulate strategies and provide adequate risk control.&nbsp;Any such information technology-related difficulty could harm
the performance of the Trust.&nbsp;Further, failure of the back-office functions of the Advisors to process trades in a timely fashion could prejudice the investment performance of the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Operational Risk </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust is exposed to operational risks arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human errors, processing and communication errors, errors of the Trust&#146;s service providers, counterparties or other third parties, failed or
inadequate internal or external processes, and technology or systems failures. The use of certain investment strategies that involve manual or additional processing, such
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">as&nbsp;over-the-counter&nbsp;derivatives,</FONT></FONT> increases these risks. While service providers are required to have appropriate operational risk management policies and
procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from those of the Trust in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. The Trust and the Advisor seek to reduce these
operational risks through controls, procedures and oversight. However, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Trust or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence or
effects of such failures. The Trust, including its performance and continued operation, and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Cyber Security Risk </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">With
the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Trust is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events.
Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through &#147;hacking&#148; or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or
causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">denial-of-service</FONT></FONT>
attacks on websites (<I>i.e.</I>, efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber security failures by or breaches of the Advisors and other service providers (including, but not limited to, fund accountants, custodians,
transfer agents and administrators), and the issuers of securities in which the Trust invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Trust&#146;s
ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs,
or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Trust has established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent,
such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Trust cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by service
providers to the Trust and issuers in which the Trust invests. As a result, the Trust or its shareholders could be negatively impacted. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">33 </P>


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<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Misconduct of Employees and of Service Providers Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Misconduct or misrepresentations by employees of the Advisors or the Trust&#146;s service providers could cause significant
losses to the Trust.&nbsp;Employee misconduct may include binding the Trust to transactions that exceed authorized limits or present unacceptable risks and unauthorized trading activities, concealing unsuccessful trading activities (which, in any
case, may result in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses) or making misrepresentations regarding any of the foregoing.&nbsp;Losses could also result from actions by the Trust&#146;s service providers, including, without limitation, failing to
recognize trades and misappropriating assets.&nbsp;In addition, employees and service providers may improperly use or disclose confidential information, which could result in litigation or serious financial harm, including limiting the Trust&#146;s
business prospects or future marketing activities.&nbsp;Despite the Advisors&#146; due diligence efforts, misconduct and intentional misrepresentations may be undetected or not fully comprehended, thereby potentially undermining the Advisors&#146;
due diligence efforts.&nbsp;As a result, no assurances can be given that the due diligence performed by the Advisors will identify or prevent any such misconduct. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Portfolio Turnover Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a given year. Portfolio
turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Trust. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by
the Trust. High portfolio turnover may result in an increased realization of net short-term capital gains by the Trust which, when distributed to common shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. Additionally, in a declining market, portfolio
turnover may create realized capital losses. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Anti-Takeover Provisions Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other
entities or persons to acquire control of the Trust or convert the Trust to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> status or to change the composition of the Board. Such provisions could limit the ability of shareholders to sell their
shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Trust. See &#147;Certain Provisions in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_110"></A>HOW THE TRUST MANAGES RISK </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Limitations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit investment risk. Some of these limitations are
fundamental and thus may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares. See &#147;Investment Objective and Policies&#151;Investment Restrictions&#148; in the SAI. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The restrictions and other limitations set forth throughout this Prospectus and in the SAI apply only at the time of purchase
of securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of the acquisition of securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Management of Investment Portfolio and Capital Structure to Limit Leverage Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may take certain actions if short-term interest rates increase or market conditions otherwise change (or the Trust
anticipates such an increase or change) and any leverage the Trust may have outstanding begins (or is expected) to adversely affect common shareholders. In order to attempt to offset such a negative impact of any outstanding leverage on common
shareholders, the Trust may shorten the average maturity of its investment portfolio (by investing in short-term securities) or may reduce any indebtedness that it may have incurred. The success of any such attempt to limit leverage risk depends on
the Advisors&#146; ability to accurately predict interest rate or other market changes. Because of the difficulty of making such predictions, the Trust may never attempt to manage its capital structure in the manner described in this paragraph. </P>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">34 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If market conditions suggest that employing additional leverage would be
beneficial, the Trust may enter into one or more credit facilities, sell preferred shares or engage in additional leverage transactions, subject to the restrictions of the Investment Company Act. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Strategic Transactions </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may use certain Strategic Transactions designed to limit the risk of price fluctuations of securities and to preserve
capital. These Strategic Transactions include using swaps, financial futures contracts, options on financial futures or options based on either an index of long-term securities, or on securities whose prices, in the opinion of the Advisors,
correlate with the prices of the Trust&#146;s investments. There can be no assurance that Strategic Transactions will be used or used effectively to limit risk, and Strategic Transactions may be subject to their own risks. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_111"></A>MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Trustees and Officers </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Trust, including supervision of the duties performed by the
Advisors. There are ten Trustees. A majority of the Trustees are Independent Trustees of the Trust. The name and business address of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five
years are set forth under &#147;Management of the Trust&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Advisor and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT>
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisor is responsible for the management of the Trust&#146;s portfolio and provides the necessary personnel,
facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operation of the Trust. BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited serve as the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Trust&#146;s&nbsp;sub-advisors&nbsp;and</FONT>
perform certain of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">the&nbsp;day-to-day&nbsp;investment</FONT></FONT> management of the Trust. The Advisor, located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, BlackRock
International Limited, located at Exchange Place One, 1 Semple Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BL, United Kingdom, and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, located at 20 Anson <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Road&nbsp;#18-01,&nbsp;079912</FONT>
Singapore,&nbsp;and are wholly-owned subsidiaries of BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock is one of the world&#146;s largest
publicly-traded investment management firms. As of December&nbsp;31, 2024, BlackRock&#146;s assets under management were approximately $11.6 trillion. BlackRock has over 30 years of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">experience&nbsp;managing&nbsp;closed-end&nbsp;products&nbsp;and,</FONT> as of December&nbsp;31, 2024, advised <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">a&nbsp;registered&nbsp;closed-end&nbsp;family&nbsp;of</FONT> 51 active
exchange-traded funds with approximately $45&nbsp;billion in managed assets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock is independent in ownership and
governance, with no single majority shareholder and a majority of independent directors. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Philosophy </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock&#146;s investment decision-making process for the municipal security sector is subject to the same discipline,
oversight and investment philosophy that the firm applies to other sectors of the fixed-income market. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock uses a
relative value strategy that evaluates the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">trade-off</FONT> between risk and return to seek to achieve the Trust&#146;s investment objective. This strategy is combined with disciplined risk control techniques and
applied in sector, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-sector</FONT> and individual security selection decisions. BlackRock&#146;s extensive personnel and technology resources are the key drivers of the investment philosophy. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">35 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Portfolio Managers </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The members of the portfolio management team who are primarily responsible for the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">day-to-day</FONT></FONT> management of the Trust&#146;s portfolio are as follows: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Scott
MacLellan</I>, CFA, CMT, Managing Director, is a portfolio manager in BlackRock&#146;s Global Fixed Income Group. He is the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">co-lead</FONT> portfolio manager of BlackRock&#146;s Low Duration Bond Fund, BGF USD Short
Duration Bond Fund and the iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR). As a lead portfolio manager on the USD short duration fixed income platform, he also focuses on managing a large number of multi sector fixed income separate accounts.
Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan is also named as the sole lead portfolio manager for the BlackRock Target Allocation Shares Series P Fund. He is also the lead portfolio manager for four multi-sector BlackRock closed end funds, the BlackRock Core Bond Trust,
BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust and Enhanced Government Fund. During his career in multi-sector fixed income he also served on BlackRock&#146;s Obsidian hedge fund team. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan serves in number of capacities with regard to ESG investing in the Fundamental Fixed Income Team, including
as a member of the Global Fixed Income ESG Leadership Committee and a member of the ESG Advisory Group to the Fundamental Fixed Income Executive Committee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Prior to assuming his current responsibilities in 2012, Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan was an account manager in the Global Client Group,
covering clients in Asia and the Middle East. He also served as a product specialist for short duration fixed income products. Previously, Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan spent four years with Nomura BlackRock Asset Management (NBAM), a former joint venture
between BlackRock and Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd, in Tokyo as an account manager. Prior to joining NBAM in 2001, Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan spent a year in the Global Finance and Investment Department of Industrial Bank of Japan Leasing in Tokyo
investing in emerging markets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan earned a BA degree, with combined honors, in economics and
international development studies from King&#146;s College, Dalhousie University in Canada. Mr.&nbsp;MacLellan attended the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego and Tohoku
University in Japan. He has received both the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Market Technician designations. He is proficient in Japanese. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Akiva</I><I></I><I>&nbsp;Dickstein</I>, Managing Director, is Head of Customized Multi-Sector, US Short Duration, and <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">co-Head</FONT> of Global Inflation Linked Portfolios within BlackRock&#146;s Global Fixed Income (GFI) group, and a member of the Global Fixed Income executive team. He is also a portfolio manager of BlackRock&#146;s Core
Bond and Short Duration Bond Funds. Prior to taking on his current responsibilities, Mr.&nbsp;Dickstein was the lead portfolio manager on BlackRock&#146;s mortgage portfolios. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Before joining BlackRock in 2009, Mr.&nbsp;Dickstein spent eight years at Merrill Lynch, where he served as Managing Director
and head of the U.S. Rates&nbsp;&amp; Structured Credit Research Group. He was responsible for the team that produced MBS, ABS, CMBS, Treasuries, swaps, and interest rate derivatives research. Mr.&nbsp;Dickstein&#146;s publications on MBS strategy
included the weekly Mortgage Investor as well as numerous lengthier articles on topics such as optimal loan modifications, the valuation of credit-sensitive MBS and ABS, and the pricing of mortgage derivatives, options, and pass-throughs. In
addition, he developed Merrill&#146;s prepayment models for fixed rate and hybrid MBS. From 1993 to 2001, Mr.&nbsp;Dickstein was with Lehman Brothers, most recently as a Senior Vice President in Mortgage Derivatives Trading. In this role, he traded
mortgage derivatives and developed Lehman&#146;s credit default model. He joined Lehman as a mortgage and asset-backed securities analyst and was named to Institutional Investor&#146;s All American Fixed Income Research Team in pass-throughs, <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> mortgages, and asset-backed securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mr.&nbsp;Dickstein earned a BA
degree in economics, summa cum laude, from Yale University in 1990, and an MA degree in physics from Princeton University in 1993. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager&#146;s compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio management team and the ownership of the Trust&#146;s securities by each portfolio manager. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">36 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Management Agreement </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Advisor and the Trust (the &#147;Investment Management
Agreement&#148;), the Trust has agreed to pay the Advisor a monthly management fee at an annual rate equal to 0.50% of the average weekly value of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets. &#147;Managed Assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust
(including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Trust&#146;s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisor has entered into a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> agreement with each <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor,</FONT> each an affiliate of BlackRock. For that portion of the Trust for which each <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> acts as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-adviser,</FONT> the Advisor,
and not the Trust, pays to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> an annual <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> fee equal to a percentage of the management fee received by the Advisor from the Trust with respect to
the average daily value of the Managed Assets of the Trust allocated to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Investment Management Agreement and the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> agreement between the Advisor and each <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> by the Board is available in the Trust&#146;s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2024. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Except as otherwise described in this Prospectus, the Trust pays, in addition to the fees paid to the
Advisor, all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Trustees (other than those affiliated with the Advisor), custodian, leveraging expenses, transfer and dividend disbursing agent expenses, legal fees, rating
agency fees, listing fees and expenses, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies and
taxes, if any. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have entered into the Fee Waiver Agreement, pursuant to which the Advisor has
contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Trust&#146;s assets attributable to investments in any equity and fixed-income mutual funds and ETFs managed by the Advisor or its affiliates that have a contractual
management fee, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. In addition, pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment advisory fees the Trust pays to the Advisor indirectly
through its investment in money market funds advised by the Advisor or its affiliates, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be continued from year to year thereafter, provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the
Advisor and the Trust (including by a majority of the Trust&#146;s Independent Trustees). Neither the Advisor nor the Trust is obligated to extend the Fee Waiver Agreement. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment
of any penalty, only by the Trust (upon the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust), upon 90 days&#146; written notice by the Trust to the Advisor. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Administration and Accounting Services </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">State Street Bank and Trust Company provides certain administration and accounting services to the Trust pursuant to an
Administration and Trust Accounting Services Agreement (the &#147;Administration Agreement&#148;). Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, State Street Bank and Trust Company provides the Trust with, among other things, customary fund accounting
services, including computing the Trust&#146;s NAV and maintaining books, records and other documents relating to the Trust&#146;s financial and portfolio transactions, and customary fund administration services, including assisting the Trust with
regulatory filings, tax compliance and other oversight activities. For these and other services it provides to the Trust, State Street Bank and Trust Company is paid a monthly fee from the Trust at an annual rate ranging from 0.0075% to 0.015% of
the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets, along with an annual fixed fee ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 for the services it provides to the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Custodian
and Transfer Agent </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The custodian of the assets of the Trust is State Street Bank and Trust Company, whose principal
business address is One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016. The custodian is responsible for, among other things, receipt of and disbursement of funds from the Trust&#146;s accounts, establishment of segregated accounts as
necessary, and transfer, exchange and delivery of Trust portfolio securities. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">37 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Computershare Trust Company, N.A., whose principal business address is 150 Royall
Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, serves as the Trust&#146;s transfer agent with respect to the common shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;], whose principal business address is [&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;], is
the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust and is expected to render an opinion annually on the financial statements of the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_112"></A>NET ASSET VALUE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The NAV of the Trust&#146;s common shares will be computed based upon the value of the Trust&#146;s portfolio securities and
other assets. NAV per common share will be determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE on each business day on which the NYSE is open for trading. The Trust calculates NAV per common share by subtracting the Trust&#146;s
liabilities (including accrued expenses, dividends payable and any borrowings of the Trust), and the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares of the Trust from the Trust&#146;s total assets (the value of the securities the Trust holds
plus cash or other assets, including interest accrued but not yet received) and dividing the result by the total number of common shares of the Trust outstanding. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Valuation of securities held by the Trust is as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Equity Investments</I>. Equity securities traded on a recognized securities exchange (e.g., NYSE), on separate trading
boards of a securities exchange or through a market system that provides contemporaneous transaction pricing information (each, an &#147;Exchange&#148;) are valued using information obtained via independent pricing services generally at the Exchange
closing price or if an Exchange closing price is not available, the last traded price on that Exchange prior to the time as of which the assets or liabilities are valued. However, under certain circumstances, other means of determining current
market value may be used. If an equity security is traded on more than one Exchange, the current market value of the security where it is primarily traded generally will be used. In the event that there are no sales involving an equity security held
by the Trust on a day on which the Trust values such security, the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price, if available, will be used as the value of such security. If the Trust holds both long and short positions in the same
security, the last bid price will be applied to securities held long and the last ask price will be applied to securities sold short. If no bid or ask price is available on a day on which the Trust values such security, the prior day&#146;s price
will be used, unless the Advisors determine that such prior day&#146;s price no longer reflects the fair value of the security, in which case such asset would be treated as a Fair Value Asset (as defined below). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Fixed-Income Investments.</I> Fixed-income securities for which market quotations are readily available are generally
valued using such securities&#146; current market value.&nbsp;The Trust values fixed-income portfolio securities using the last available bid prices or current market quotations provided by dealers or prices (including evaluated prices) supplied by
the Trust&#146;s approved&nbsp;independent third-party pricing services, each in accordance with the Advisor&#146;s policies and procedures (the &#147;Valuation Procedures&#148;).&nbsp;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), credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information and by other
methods, which may include consideration of: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; general market conditions; and/or other factors and assumptions.&nbsp;Pricing
services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but the Trust may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes.&nbsp;Odd lots may trade at lower prices than
institutional round lots.&nbsp;The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with 60 days or less remaining to maturity unless such method does not represent fair value. Certain fixed-income investments,
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 issuer, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the
benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Options, Futures, Swaps and Other Derivatives.</I>
Exchange-traded equity options for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices as quoted on the exchange or the board of trade on which such options are traded. In the event that there is no
mean price available for an exchange traded equity </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">38 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
option held by the Trust on a day on which the Trust values such option, the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price, if available, will be used as the value of such option. If
no bid or ask price is available on a day on which the Trust values such option, the prior day&#146;s price will be used, unless the Advisors determine that such prior day&#146;s price no longer reflects the fair value of the option, in which case
such option will be treated as a fair value asset. OTC derivatives may be valued using a mathematical model which may incorporate a number of market data factors. Financial futures contracts and options thereon, which are traded on exchanges, are
valued at their last sale price or settle price as of the close of such exchanges. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the Valuation
Procedures. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Underlying Funds.</I> Shares of underlying <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> funds
(including money market funds) are valued at NAV. Shares of underlying exchange-traded <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds and ETFs will be valued at their most recent closing price. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>General Valuation Information </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In determining the market value of portfolio investments, the Trust may employ independent third party pricing services, which
may use, without limitation, a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indexes, matrices, yield curves and other specified inputs and assumptions. This may result in the assets being valued at a price different from the price
that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used. The price the Trust could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Trust&#146;s valuation of the investment, particularly for
assets that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service.&nbsp;As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value
ascribed by the Trust, and the Trust could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment.&nbsp;The Trust&#146;s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or
errors by pricing services or other third party service providers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">All cash, receivables and current payables are carried
on the Trust&#146;s books at their fair value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Prices obtained from independent third party pricing services,
broker-dealers or market makers to value the Trust&#146;s securities and other assets and liabilities are based on information available at the time the Trust values its assets and liabilities. In the event that a pricing service quotation is
revised or updated subsequent to the day on which the Trust valued such security, the revised pricing service quotation generally will be applied prospectively. Such determination will be made considering pertinent facts and circumstances
surrounding the revision. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In the event that application of the methods of valuation discussed above result in a price for
a security which is deemed not to be representative of the fair market value of such security, the security will be valued by, under the direction of or in accordance with a method approved by the Advisor, the Trust&#146;s valuation designee, as
reflecting fair value. All other assets and liabilities (including securities for which market quotations are not readily available) held by the Trust (including restricted securities) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the
Advisor pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. Any assets and liabilities which are denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S.&nbsp;dollars at the prevailing market rates. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain of the securities acquired by the Trust may be traded on foreign exchanges or OTC markets on days on which the
Trust&#146;s NAV is not calculated. In such cases, the NAV of the Trust&#146;s common shares may be significantly affected on days when investors can neither purchase nor sell shares of the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Fair Value.</I> When market quotations are not readily available or are believed by the Advisor to be unreliable, the
Trust&#146;s investments are valued at fair value (&#147;Fair Value Assets&#148;). Fair Value Assets are valued by the Advisor in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. Pursuant to Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT> under the
Investment Company Act, the Board of Trustees has designated the Advisor as the valuation designee for the Trust. The Advisor may reasonably conclude that a market quotation is not readily available or is unreliable if, among other things, a
security or other asset or liability does not have a price source due to its complete lack of trading, if the Advisor believes a market quotation from a broker-dealer or other source is unreliable (e.g., where it varies significantly from a recent
trade, or no longer reflects the fair value of the security or other asset or liability subsequent to the most recent market quotation), or </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">39 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
where the security or other asset or liability is only thinly traded or due to the occurrence of a significant event subsequent to the most recent market quotation. For this purpose, a
&#147;significant event&#148; is deemed to occur if the Advisor determines, in its reasonable business judgment, that an event that has occurred after the close of trading for an asset or liability but prior to or at the time of pricing the
Trust&#146;s assets or liabilities, is likely to cause a material change to the last exchange closing price or closing market price of one or more assets or liabilities held by the Trust. On any day the NYSE is open and a foreign market or the
primary exchange on which a foreign asset or liability is traded is closed, such asset or liability will be valued using the prior day&#146;s price, provided that the Advisor is not aware of any significant event or other information that would
cause such price to no longer reflect the fair value of the asset or liability, in which case such asset or liability would be treated as a Fair Value Asset. For certain foreign assets, a third-party vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value
pricing based upon the movement of a proprietary multi-factor model after the relevant foreign markets have closed. This systematic fair value pricing methodology is designed to correlate the prices of foreign assets following the close of the local
markets to the price that might have prevailed as of the Trust&#146;s pricing time. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisor&#146;s Rule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT> Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving methodologies by investment type and significant inputs used in the fair valuation of Trust assets or liabilities. In addition, the Trust&#146;s accounting
agent assists the Advisor by periodically endeavoring to confirm the prices it receives from all third party pricing services, index providers and broker-dealers. The Advisor regularly evaluates the values assigned to the securities and other assets
and liabilities of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When determining the price for a Fair Value Asset, the Advisor will seek to determine the
price that the Trust might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or liability in an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">arm&#146;s-length</FONT> transaction on the date on which the asset or liability is being valued, and
does not seek to determine the price the Trust might reasonably expect to receive for selling an asset or liability at a later time or if it holds the asset or liability to maturity. Fair value determinations will be based upon all available factors
that the Advisor deems relevant at the time of the determination, and may be based on analytical values determined by the Advisor using proprietary or third party valuation models. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. When determining the fair value of an
investment, one or more fair value methodologies may be used (depending on certain factors, including the asset type). For example, the investment may be initially priced based on the original cost of the investment or, alternatively, using
proprietary or third-party models that may rely upon one or more unobservable inputs. Prices of actual, executed or historical transactions in the relevant investment (or comparable instruments) or, where appropriate, an appraisal by a third-party
experienced in the valuation of similar instruments, may also be used as a basis for establishing the fair value of an investment. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The fair value of one or more assets or liabilities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets or liabilities
could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining the Trust&#146;s NAV. As a result, the Trust&#146;s sale or repurchase of its shares at NAV, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair
value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s
annual audited financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (&#147;US GAAP&#148;), follow the requirements for valuation set forth in Financial Accounting
Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, &#147;Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures&#148; (&#147;ASC 820&#148;), which defines and establishes a framework for measuring fair value under US&nbsp;GAAP and expands financial
statement disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Generally, ASC 820 and other accounting rules
applicable to funds and various assets in which they invest are evolving. Such changes may adversely affect the Trust. For example, the evolution of rules governing the determination of the fair market value of assets or liabilities, to the extent
such rules become more stringent, would tend to increase the cost and/or reduce the availability of third-party determinations of fair market value. This may in turn increase the costs associated with selling assets or affect their liquidity due to
the Trust&#146;s inability to obtain a third-party determination of fair market value. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">40 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_113"></A>DISTRIBUTIONS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust intends to make regular monthly cash distributions of all or a portion of its net investment income to holders of
the Trust&#146;s common shares. Net capital gains, if any, will be distributed at least annually to holders of the Trust&#146;s common shares. The Trust&#146;s net investment income consists of all interest income accrued on portfolio assets less
all expenses of the Trust. The Trust is required to allocate net capital gains and other taxable income, if any, received by the Trust among its shareholders on a pro rata basis in the year for which such capital gains and other income is realized.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has adopted a plan to support a level distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital (the
&#147;Distribution Plan&#148;). The Distribution Plan has been approved by the Board and is consistent with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies. The fixed amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the
Board. The Trust is currently not relying on any exemptive relief from Section&nbsp;19(b) of the Investment Company Act. Under its Distribution Plan, the Trust will distribute all available investment income to its shareholders as required by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &#147;Code&#148;). If sufficient income (inclusive of net investment income and short-term capital gains) is not earned on a monthly basis, the Trust will distribute long-term capital gains and/or
return of capital to shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital distribution may involve a return of the shareholder&#146;s original investment. Though not currently taxable, such a distribution may lower a
shareholder&#146;s basis in the Trust, thus potentially subjecting the shareholder to future tax consequences in connection with the sale of Trust&#146;s shares, even if sold at a loss to the shareholder&#146;s original investment. Each monthly
distribution to shareholders is expected to be at the fixed amount established by the Board; however, the Trust may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if
required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the Investment Company Act. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Trust&#146;s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the
Distribution Plan. The Trust&#146;s total return performance on NAV will be presented in its financial highlights table, which will be available in the Trust&#146;s shareholder reports, every&nbsp;six months. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Plan without prior notice if it deems such actions to be in the
best interests of the Trust or its shareholders. The suspension or termination of the Distribution Plan could have the effect of creating a trading discount (if the Trust&#146;s stock is trading at or above NAV) or widening an existing trading
discount. The Trust is subject to risks that could have an adverse impact on its ability to maintain level distributions. Examples of potential risks include, but are not limited to, economic downturns impacting the markets, decreased market
volatility, companies suspending or decreasing corporate dividend distributions and changes in the Code. Please see &#147;Risks&#148; for a more complete description of the Trust&#146;s risks. The Trust reserves the right to change its distribution
policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time and may do so without prior notice to shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The tax treatment and characterization of the Trust&#146;s distributions may vary significantly from time to time because of
the varied nature of the Trust&#146;s investments. The ultimate tax characterization of the Trust&#146;s distributions made in a fiscal year cannot finally be determined until after the end of that fiscal year. As a result, there is a possibility
that the Trust may make total distributions during a fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the Trust&#146;s earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such situations, the amount by which the Trust&#146;s total distributions
exceed earnings and profits would generally be treated as a return of capital reducing the amount of a shareholder&#146;s tax basis in such shareholder&#146;s shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of shares.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Various factors will affect the level of the Trust&#146;s net investment income, such as its asset mix, portfolio
turnover, performance of its investments, level of retained earnings, the amount of leverage utilized by the Trust and the effects thereof, the costs of such leverage, the movement of interest rates for municipal bonds and general market conditions.
To permit the Trust to maintain more stable monthly distributions and to the extent consistent with the distribution requirements imposed on regulated investment companies by the Code, the Trust may from time to time distribute less than the entire
amount earned in a particular period. The income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Trust for any particular month may be more or less than the amount actually earned by the Trust during
that month. Undistributed earnings will increase the Trust&#146;s NAV and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed earnings and from capital, if any, will reduce the Trust&#146;s NAV. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">41 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Shareholders will automatically have all dividends and distributions reinvested
in common shares of the Trust in accordance with the Trust&#146;s dividend reinvestment plan, unless an election is made to receive cash by contacting the Reinvestment Plan Agent (as defined herein), at (800)
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">699-1236.</FONT> See &#147;Dividend Reinvestment Plan.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_114"></A>DIVIDEND
REINVESTMENT PLAN </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312524060505/d632386dncsr.htm">section
 of the Trust&#146;s most recent annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> entitled &#147;Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan&#148;</A>, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Trust&#146;s
dividend reinvestment plan. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_115"></A>RIGHTS OFFERINGS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may in the future, and at its discretion, choose to make offerings of rights to its shareholders to purchase common
shares. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with a rights offering to shareholders, we would distribute
certificates or other documentation (<I>i.e.</I>, rights cards distributed in lieu of certificates) evidencing the rights and a Prospectus Supplement to our shareholders as of the record date that we set for determining the shareholders eligible to
receive rights in such rights offering. Any such future rights offering will be made in accordance with the Investment Company Act. Under the laws of Delaware, the Board is authorized to approve rights offerings without obtaining shareholder
approval. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The staff of the SEC has interpreted the Investment Company Act as not requiring shareholder approval of a
transferable rights offering to purchase common shares at a price below the then current NAV so long as certain conditions are met, including: (i)&nbsp;a good faith determination by a fund&#146;s board that such offering would result in a net
benefit to existing shareholders; (ii)&nbsp;the offering fully protects shareholders&#146; preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional rights); (iii) management uses its
best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such rights; and (iv)&nbsp;the ratio of a transferable rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The applicable Prospectus Supplement would describe the following terms of the rights in respect of which this Prospectus is
being delivered: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the period of time the offering would remain open; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the underwriter or distributor, if any, of the rights and any associated underwriting fees or discounts
applicable to purchases of the rights; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the title of such rights; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the exercise price for such rights (or method of calculation thereof); </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the number of such rights issued in respect of each share; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the number of rights required to purchase a single share; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the extent to which such rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are
transferable; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance
or exercise of such rights; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the date on which the right to exercise such rights will commence, and the date on which such right will
expire (subject to any extension); </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">42 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the extent to which such rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities
and the terms of such over-subscription privilege; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">termination rights we may have in connection with such rights offering. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A certain number of rights would entitle the holder of the right(s) to purchase for cash such number of common shares at such
exercise price as in each case is set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the rights offered thereby. Rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such
rights set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights would become void. Upon expiration of the rights offering and the receipt of payment and the rights certificate or other
appropriate documentation properly executed and completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent, or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the common shares purchased as a result of such exercise will
be issued as soon as practicable. To the extent permissible under applicable law, we may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a
combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_116"></A>TAX MATTERS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Trust and the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Trust&#146;s common shares. A more detailed discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Trust and its common shareholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.
Except as otherwise noted, this discussion assumes you are a taxable U.S. holder (as defined below) and that you hold your common shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, assets held for investment). This discussion
is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service, possibly
with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Trust and its common shareholders.<B></B>&nbsp;The Trust has not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal
Revenue Service regarding any matters discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to those set forth below. This summary does not discuss any
aspects of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.,</FONT> state or local tax.<B> The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific U.S.
federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them of investing in the Trust.</B> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, no attempt is made
to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as without limitation, a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, regulated investment company, individual retirement account, other <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Trust as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or straddle transaction, trader in securities that has elected the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market</FONT></FONT> method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investor with &#147;applicable
financial statements&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;451(b) of the Code, or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and
former&nbsp;long-term&nbsp;residents); </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over
its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, whose status as a U.S. person is not overridden by an applicable tax treaty. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Taxation of the Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Trust must,
among other things, satisfy certain requirements relating to the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and distribution of its income to its shareholders. First, the Trust must derive at least 90% of its annual gross income from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts)
derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in &#147;qualified publicly traded partnerships&#148; (as defined in the Code) (the &#147;90% gross income test&#148;).
Second, the Trust must diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i)&nbsp;at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and
other securities, with such other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Trust&#146;s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer,
and (ii)&nbsp;not more than 25% of the market value of the total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, any two or more issuers controlled by the Trust and engaged
in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or any one or more &#147;qualified publicly traded partnerships.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As long as the Trust qualifies as a RIC, the Trust will generally not be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on
income and gains that it distributes each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that in such taxable year it distributes at least 90% of the sum of (i)&nbsp;its net <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> interest income, if any, and
(ii)&nbsp;its &#147;investment company taxable income&#148; (which includes, among other items, dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in
excess of net long-term capital loss, and any other taxable income other than &#147;net capital gain&#148; (as defined below) and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid. The Trust may retain
for investment its net capital gain (which consists of the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). However, if the Trust retains any net capital gain or any investment company taxable income, it will be
subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the
Trust to the extent the Trust does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i)&nbsp;98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii)&nbsp;98.2% of its capital
gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-year</FONT> period generally ending on October&nbsp;31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the Trust&#146;s
fiscal year). In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. For
purposes of the excise tax, the Trust will be deemed to have distributed any income on which it paid U.S. federal income tax. While the Trust intends to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4%
nondeductible excise tax, there can be no assurance&nbsp;that sufficient amounts of the Trust&#146;s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the imposition of the excise tax. In that event, the Trust will be liable for
the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If in any taxable
year the Trust should fail to qualify under Subchapter M of the Code for tax treatment as a RIC, the Trust would incur a regular corporate U.S. federal income tax upon all of its taxable income for that year, and all distributions to its
shareholders (including distributions of net capital gain) would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Trust&#146;s earnings and profits. Provided that certain holding period
and other requirements were met, such dividends would be eligible (i)&nbsp;to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii)&nbsp;for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate
shareholders.&nbsp;In addition, to qualify again to be taxed as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Trust would be required to distribute to shareholders its earnings and profits attributable to non-</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">44 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
RIC years. In addition, if the Trust failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, then, in order to qualify as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Trust would be required
to elect to recognize and pay tax on any net <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">built-in</FONT> gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Trust had been liquidated) or,
alternatively, be subject to taxation on such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">built-in</FONT> gain recognized for a period of five years. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Trust qualifies for taxation as a RIC. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>The Trust&#146;s Investments.</I> Certain of the Trust&#146;s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S.
federal income tax provisions (including <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market,</FONT></FONT> constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules) that may, among other things,
(i)&nbsp;disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii)&nbsp;convert lower taxed long-term capital gains or qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income,
(iii)&nbsp;convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv)&nbsp;cause the Trust to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v)&nbsp;adversely affect the time as to
when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi)&nbsp;adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii)&nbsp;produce income that will not be &#147;qualified&#148; income for purposes of
the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. These U.S. federal income tax provisions could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to common shareholders. The Trust intends to monitor its transactions and may
make certain tax elections and may be required to dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these provisions and prevent disqualification of the Trust as a RIC. Additionally, the Trust may be required to limit its activities in derivative
instruments in order to enable it to maintain its RIC status. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest a portion of its net assets in below
investment grade securities. Investments in these types of securities may present special tax issues for the Trust. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Trust may cease to accrue interest, original issue
discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether modifications or
exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues could affect the Trust&#146;s ability to distribute sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC or to avoid the imposition of U.S. federal
income or excise tax. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain debt securities acquired by the Trust may be treated as debt securities that were
originally issued at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount is treated as interest income and is included in taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Trust in order to qualify as a RIC and avoid U.S. federal
income tax or the 4% excise tax on undistributed income) over the term of the security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust purchases a debt security on a secondary market at a price lower than its adjusted issue price, the excess of the
adjusted issue price over the purchase price is &#147;market discount.&#148; Unless the Trust makes an election to accrue market discount on a current basis, generally, any gain realized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal
on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the &#147;accrued market discount&#148; on the debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily
installments. If the Trust ultimately collects less on the debt instrument than its purchase price plus the market discount previously included in income, the Trust may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in preferred securities or other securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be
clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by the Trust, it could affect the timing or
character of income recognized by the Trust, potentially requiring the Trust to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Gain or loss on the sale of securities by the Trust will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the securities have
been held by the Trust for more than one year. Gain or loss on the sale of securities held for one year or less will be short-term capital gain or loss. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">45 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because the Trust may invest in foreign securities, its income from such
securities may be subject to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> taxes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Foreign currency gain or loss on
foreign currency exchange contracts, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> dollar-denominated securities contracts, and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> dollar-denominated futures contracts, options and forward contracts
that are not section 1256 contracts (as defined below) generally will be treated as ordinary income and loss. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Income from
options on individual securities written by the Trust will generally not be recognized by the Trust for tax purposes until an option is exercised, lapses or is subject to a &#147;closing transaction&#148; (as defined by applicable regulations)
pursuant to which the Trust&#146;s obligations with respect to the option are otherwise terminated. If the option lapses without exercise, the premiums received by the Trust from the writing of such options will generally be characterized as
short-term capital gain. If the Trust enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the premiums received and the amount paid by the Trust to close out its position will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. If an
option written by the Trust is exercised, thereby requiring the Trust to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security, and the character of any gain on such sale of the underlying security
as short-term or long-term capital gain will depend on the holding period of the Trust in the underlying security. Because the Trust will not have control over the exercise of the options it writes, such exercises or other required sales of the
underlying securities may cause the Trust to realize gains or losses at inopportune times. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Index options that qualify as
&#147;section 1256 contracts&#148; will generally be <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;marked-to-market&#148;</FONT></FONT> for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust will generally recognize
gain or loss on the last day of each taxable year equal to the difference between the value of the option on that date and the adjusted basis of the option. The adjusted basis of the option will consequently be increased by such gain or decreased by
such loss. Any gain or loss with respect to options on indices and sectors that qualify as &#147;section 1256 contracts&#148; will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40% of such gain or loss and long-term capital gain or
loss to the extent of 60% of such gain or loss. Because the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market</FONT></FONT> rules may cause the Trust to recognize gain in advance of the receipt of cash, the Trust may
be required to dispose of investments in order to meet its distribution requirements. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Mark-to-market&#148;</FONT></FONT> losses may be suspended or otherwise limited if such
losses are part of a straddle or similar transaction. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Taxation of Common Shareholders </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will either distribute or retain for reinvestment all or part of its net capital gain. If any such gain is retained,
the Trust will be subject to a corporate income tax on such retained amount. In that event, the Trust expects to report the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its common shareholders, each of whom, if subject to U.S.
federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i)&nbsp;will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as long-term capital gain its share of such undistributed amounts, (ii)&nbsp;will be entitled to credit its
proportionate share of the tax paid by the Trust against its U.S. federal income tax liability and to claim refunds to the extent that the credit exceeds such liability and (iii)&nbsp;will increase its basis in its common shares by the amount of
undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder&#146;s income less the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Distributions paid to you by the Trust from its net capital gain, if any, that the Trust properly reports as capital gain
dividends (&#147;capital gain dividends&#148;) are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your common shares. All other dividends paid to you by the Trust (including dividends from net short-term capital gains or <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> interest, if any) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (&#147;ordinary income dividends&#148;) are generally subject to tax as ordinary income. Provided that certain holding period and
other requirements are met, ordinary income dividends (if properly reported by the Trust) may qualify (i)&nbsp;for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders to the extent that the Trust&#146;s income consists of dividend
income from U.S. corporations, and (ii)&nbsp;in the case of individual shareholders, as &#147;qualified dividend income&#148; eligible to be taxed at long-term capital gains rates to the extent that the Trust receives qualified dividend income.
Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations (e.g., generally, foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries
with a qualifying comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or whose stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States).&nbsp;The Trust does not expect that a
significant portion of its distributions will consist of qualified dividend income or be eligible for the dividends received deduction. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">46 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any distributions you receive that are in excess of the Trust&#146;s current and
accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, and thereafter as capital gain from the sale of common shares. The amount of any Trust distribution that is
treated as a return of capital will reduce your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, thereby increasing your potential gain or reducing your potential loss on any subsequent sale or other disposition of your common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Common shareholders may be entitled to offset their capital gain dividends with capital losses. The Code contains a number of
statutory provisions affecting when capital losses may be offset against capital gain, and limiting the use of losses from certain investments and activities. Accordingly, common shareholders that have capital losses are urged to consult their tax
advisers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to you even though they are reinvested in additional
common shares of the Trust. Dividends and other distributions paid by the Trust are generally treated under the Code as received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is made. If, however, the Trust pays you a dividend in January that was
declared in the previous October, November or December to common shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such dividend will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as being paid by the Trust and received by you
on December&nbsp;31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of the Trust&#146;s taxable year may be &#147;spilled back&#148; and treated as paid by the Trust (except for purposes
of the 4% nondeductible excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, you will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The price of common shares purchased at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing common
shares just prior to the record date of a distribution will receive a distribution which will be taxable to them even though it represents, economically, a return of invested capital. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will send you information after the end of each year setting forth the amount and tax status of any distributions
paid to you by the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The sale or other disposition of common shares will generally result in capital gain or loss to
you and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held such common shares for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or other disposition of common shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term
capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by you with respect to such common shares. Any loss you recognize on a sale or other disposition of common
shares will be disallowed if you acquire other common shares (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">61-day</FONT> period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after your
sale or exchange of the common shares. In such case, your tax basis in the common shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust liquidates, shareholders generally will realize capital gain or loss upon such liquidation in an amount equal to
the difference between the amount of cash or other property received by the shareholder (including any property deemed received by reason of its being placed in a liquidating trust) and the shareholder&#146;s adjusted tax basis in its common shares.
Any such gain or loss will be long-term if the shareholder is treated as having a holding period in the Trust shares of greater than one year, and otherwise will be short-term. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Current U.S. federal income tax law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable
to ordinary income. For <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-corporate</FONT> taxpayers, short-term capital gain is currently taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income while long-term capital gain generally is taxed at a reduced maximum rate. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain U.S. holders who are individuals,
estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their &#147;net investment income,&#148; which includes dividends received from the Trust and capital gains from the
sale or other disposition of the Trust&#146;s common shares. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">47 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A common shareholder that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign
corporation (a &#147;foreign investor&#148;) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or possibly a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty) on ordinary income dividends (except as discussed below). In
general, U.S. federal withholding tax and U.S. federal income tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a foreign investor in respect of any distribution of net capital gain (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain
dividend) or upon the sale or other disposition of common shares of the Trust. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign investor is engaged in a trade or business in the United States or, in the case of an individual, is present in the
United States for 183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of investing in the Trust&#146;s common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Ordinary income dividends properly reported by a RIC are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they
(i)&nbsp;are paid in respect of the RIC&#146;s &#147;qualified net interest income&#148; (generally, its U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the
RIC is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii)&nbsp;are paid in respect of the RIC&#146;s &#147;qualified short-term capital gains&#148; (generally, the excess of the RIC&#146;s net short-term
capital gain over its long-term capital loss for such taxable year). Depending on its circumstances, the Trust may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term
capital gains, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a foreign investor needs to comply with applicable certification
requirements relating to its <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">W-8BEN,</FONT>
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">W-8BEN-E</FONT></FONT> or substitute Form). In the case of common shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may have withheld tax even if the Trust reported the payment as
qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Foreign investors should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts. There can be no assurance&nbsp;as to what portion of the
Trust&#146;s distributions would qualify for favorable treatment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gains. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition,&nbsp;withholding at a rate of 30% will apply to dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Trust held by
or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, and accounts maintained by, the
institution to the extent such shares or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments.
Accordingly, the entity through which common shares of the Trust are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Trust held by an investor that is a <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-financial</FONT> foreign entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i)&nbsp;certifies that such entity does not have any
&#147;substantial United States owners&#148; or (ii)&nbsp;provides certain information regarding the entity&#146;s &#147;substantial United States owners,&#148; which the Trust or applicable withholding agent will in turn provide to the Secretary of
the Treasury. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. The Trust will not pay any additional amounts to common
shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Foreign investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in the Trust&#146;s common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">U.S. federal backup withholding tax may be required on dividends, distributions and sale proceeds payable to certain <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-exempt</FONT> common shareholders who fail to supply their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, generally, their social security number) or to make required certifications, or who are
otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that you timely furnish the required
information to the Internal Revenue Service. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends, and gain from the sale or
other disposition of common shares of the Trust also may be subject to state, local, and/or foreign taxes. Common shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions about U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences to them of investing in the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of certain
provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations currently in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Trust and its common shareholders. </B></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">48 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>
These provisions are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. A more detailed discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Trust and its
common shareholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Common shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income or other
taxes. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information. You are urged to consult your tax adviser. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_117"></A>TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of a right will not be includible in the income of a common shareholder at the time the right is issued. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The basis of a right issued to a common shareholder will be zero, and the basis of the share with respect to which the
subscription right was issued (the old share) will remain unchanged, unless either (a)&nbsp;the fair market value of the right on the date of distribution is at least 15% of the fair market value of the old share, or (b)&nbsp;such shareholder
affirmatively elects (in the manner set out in Treasury regulations under the Code) to allocate to the subscription right a portion of the basis of the old share. If either (a)&nbsp;or (b)&nbsp;applies, then except as described below such
shareholder must allocate basis between the old share and the right in proportion to their fair market values on the date of distribution. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The basis of a right purchased in the market will generally be its purchase price. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The holding period of a right issued to a common shareholder will include the holding period of the old share. No gain or loss will be
recognized by a common shareholder upon the exercise of a right. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">No loss will be recognized by a common shareholder if a
right distributed to such common shareholder expires unexercised because the basis of the old share may be allocated to a right only if the right is exercised. If a right that has been purchased in the market expires unexercised, there will be a
recognized loss equal to the basis of the right. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any gain or loss on the sale of a right will be a capital gain or loss
if the right is held as a capital asset (which in the case of rights issued to common shareholders will depend on whether the old share of beneficial interest is held as a capital asset), and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the holding
period is deemed to exceed one year. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_118"></A>CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AND
BYLAWS </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability
of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Trust or to change the composition of the Board. This could have the effect of depriving shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by
discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control over the Trust. Such attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Trust and disrupting the normal operation of the Trust. The Board is divided into three classes. At each
annual meeting of shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof the term of only one class of Trustees expires and only the Trustees in that one class stand for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-election.</FONT> Trustees standing for election at
an annual meeting of shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof are elected to a three-year term. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. A Trustee may be removed from office for cause only,
and not without cause, and only by the action of a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by a vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares then entitled to vote for the election of the respective Trustee. A trustee elected by all of the
holders of shares may be removed only by action of such holders, and a trustee elected by the holders of preferred shares may be removed only by action of such holders of preferred shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s outstanding preferred shares voting together as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other
securities and classes of shares of the Trust, are entitled to elect two Trustees at any annual meeting in which Trustees are elected. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, the Trust&#146;s Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote or consent of a majority of the
Board followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series outstanding of the Trust, voting separately as a class or series, to approve, adopt or authorize certain
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">49 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
transactions with 5% or greater holders of a class or series of shares and their associates, unless 80% of the Trustees by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such holders
with respect to and substantially consistent with such transaction, in which case approval by &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust will be the only vote of the
shareholders required. These voting requirements are in addition to any regulatory relief required from the SEC with respect to such transaction. For purposes of these provisions, a 5% or greater holder of a class or series of shares (a
&#147;Principal Shareholder&#148;) refers to any corporation, person or other entity, who, whether directly or indirectly and whether alone or together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of all
outstanding classes or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The 5% holder transactions subject to these
special approval requirements are: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal
Shareholder; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant to any
automatic dividend reinvestment plan); </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal
Shareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period; or
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust, in exchange for securities of the
Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions
within a twelve-month period. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may merge or consolidate with any other corporation,
association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust&#146;s property, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">by&nbsp;two-thirds&nbsp;of</FONT> the Trust&#146;s Trustees and approved by &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust&#146;s shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If any plan of reorganization (as such term is used under the Investment Company Act) adversely affects the Trust&#146;s
preferred shares, then such plan of reorganization will require the approval of &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the holders of such preferred shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To convert the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company, the Trust&#146;s Agreement and
Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of a majority of the Board followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of shares of the Trust, voting separately as a class
or series, unless such conversion has been approved by at least 80% of the Trustees, in which case &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust shall be required. The foregoing
vote would satisfy a separate requirement in the Investment Company Act that any conversion of the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company be approved by the shareholders. If approved in the foregoing manner,
we anticipate conversion of the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company might not occur until 90 days after the shareholders&#146; meeting at which such conversion was approved and would also require at least
30 days&#146; prior notice to all shareholders. Conversion of the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company would require the redemption of any outstanding preferred shares, which could eliminate or alter the
leveraged capital structure of the Trust with respect to the common shares. Following any such conversion, it is also possible that certain of the Trust&#146;s investment policies and strategies would have to be modified to assure sufficient
portfolio liquidity, including in order to comply with Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">22e-4</FONT> under the Investment Company Act. In the event of conversion, the common shares would cease to be listed on the NYSE or other national
securities exchanges or market systems and the Trust&#146;s preferred shares would be redeemed. Shareholders of an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time, except
in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the Investment Company Act, at their NAV, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. The Trust expects </P>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">50 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
to pay all such redemption requests in cash, but reserves the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors
may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Trust were converted to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> fund, it is likely that new shares would be sold at NAV plus a sales load. The Board believes,
however, that the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> structure is desirable in light of the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies. Therefore, you should assume that it is not likely that the Board would vote to convert the
Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> fund. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To dissolve the Trust, the Trust&#146;s Agreement and
Declaration of Trust requires the approval of a resolution by a majority of the Board followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of the Trust, voting separately as a class
or series, unless such resolution has been approved by at least 80% of the Trustees, in which case &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust shall be required. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For the purposes of calculating &#147;a majority of the outstanding voting securities&#148; under the Trust&#146;s Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, each class or series of the Trust shall vote together as a single class, except to the extent required by the Investment Company Act or the Trust&#146;s Agreement and Declaration of Trust with respect to any class or series
of shares. If a separate class vote is required, the applicable proportion of shares of the class or series, voting as a separate class or series, also will be required. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board has determined that provisions with respect to the Board and the shareholder voting requirements described above,
which voting requirements are greater than the minimum requirements under Delaware law or the Investment Company Act, are in the best interests of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust on file
with the SEC for the full text of these provisions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s Bylaws generally require that advance notice be
given to the Trust in the event a shareholder desires to nominate a person for election to the Board or to transact any other business at an annual meeting of shareholders. Notice of any such nomination or business must be delivered to or received
at the principal executive offices of the Trust not less than 120 calendar days nor more than 150 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year&#146;s annual meeting (subject to certain exceptions). Any notice by a shareholder must
be accompanied by certain information as provided in the Bylaws. Reference should be made to the Bylaws on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_119"></A><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CLOSED-END</FONT> FUND STRUCTURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company (commonly
referred to as a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> fund). <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-end</FONT> funds differ from <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> funds (which are generally referred to as mutual funds)
in that <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange and do not redeem their shares at the request of the shareholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> fund you must trade them on the stock exchange like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In a mutual fund, if the shareholder wishes to sell shares of the fund, the mutual fund
will redeem or buy back the shares at NAV. Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to new investors and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds generally do not. The continuous inflows and outflows of
assets in a mutual fund can make it difficult to manage the fund&#146;s investments. By comparison, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds are generally able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their
investment objective and also have greater flexibility to make certain types of investments and to use certain investment strategies, such as financial leverage and investments in illiquid securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Shares of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. Because of
this possibility and the recognition that any such discount may not be in the interest of shareholders, the Board might consider from time to time engaging in open-market repurchases, tender offers for shares or other programs intended to reduce the
discount. We cannot guarantee or assure, however, that the Board will decide to engage in any of these actions. Nor is there any guarantee or assurance that such actions, if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close to
the NAV. See &#147;Repurchase of Common Shares&#148; below and &#147;Repurchase of Common Shares&#148; in the SAI. The Board might also consider converting the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> mutual fund, which would
also require a vote of the shareholders of the Trust. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">51 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_120"></A>REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Shares of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment companies often trade at a discount to their NAVs and
the Trust&#146;s common shares may also trade at a discount to their NAV, although it is possible that they may trade at a premium above NAV. The market price of the Trust&#146;s common shares will be determined by such factors as relative demand
for and supply of such common shares in the market, the Trust&#146;s NAV, general market and economic conditions, market sentiment and other factors beyond the control of the Trust. See &#147;Net Asset Value&#148; and &#147;Description of Capital
Stock&#151;Common Shares.&#148; Although the Trust&#146;s common shareholders will not have the right to redeem their common shares, the Trust may take action to repurchase common shares in the open market or make tender offers for its common
shares. This may have the effect of reducing any market discount from NAV. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is no assurance that, if action is
undertaken to repurchase or tender for common shares, such action will result in the common shares&#146; trading at a price which approximates their NAV. Although share repurchases and tender offers could have a favorable effect on the market price
of the Trust&#146;s common shares, you should be aware that the acquisition of common shares by the Trust will decrease the capital of the Trust and, therefore, may have the effect of increasing the Trust&#146;s expense ratio and decreasing the
asset coverage with respect to any borrowings or preferred shares outstanding. Any share repurchases or tender offers will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and the principal stock exchange
on which the common shares are traded. For additional information, see &#147;Repurchase of Common Shares&#148; in the SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_121"></A>PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">We may sell common shares, including to existing shareholders in a rights offering, through
underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers (including existing shareholders in a rights offering), through agents, to or through underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The applicable
Prospectus Supplement will identify any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of our common shares, any sales loads, discounts, commissions, fees or other compensation paid to any underwriter, dealer or agent, the offering price, net
proceeds and use of proceeds and the terms of any sale. In the case of a rights offering, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the number of our common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right and the other terms of such rights
offering. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The distribution of our common shares may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed
price or prices, which may be changed, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Sales of our common shares may be made in transactions that are deemed to be
&#147;at the market&#148; as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">We may sell our common shares directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be
underwriters as defined in the Securities Act for any resales of the securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered securities directly. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In connection with the sale of our common shares, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell our common shares to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the
purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of our common shares may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions they receive from us
and any profit realized by them on the resale of our common shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such compensation received from us will
be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The maximum amount of compensation to be received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed eight percent for the sale of any securities
being offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">52 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, we may grant the underwriters an option
to purchase additional common shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, to cover any over-allotments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our common
shares may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of
business. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will ourselves, or will authorize underwriters or
other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase our common shares from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contacts may be made include
commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us. The obligation of any purchaser under any such
contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the common shares shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not
have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the commission payable
for solicitation of such contracts. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers and receive fees in connection with the execution of our portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject
to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A Prospectus and accompanying Prospectus
Supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for
Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our common shares offered hereby will be sold in
such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_122"></A>INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. We are allowed to
&#147;incorporate by reference&#148; the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. We incorporate by reference into this Prospectus the documents listed
below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including any filings on or after the date of this Prospectus from the date of filing (excluding any information furnished, rather than
filed), until we have sold all of the offered securities to which this Prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this
Prospectus. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be automatically modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1)&nbsp;this Prospectus or (2)&nbsp;any other subsequently filed
document that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents incorporated by reference herein include: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Trust&#146;s SAI, dated [&#9679;], 2025, filed with this Prospectus; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">our annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> for the fiscal year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2024, filed with the SEC on [&#9679;], 2025; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">53 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000095017201501127/s563119.txt">description of the Trust&#146;s
common shares</A> contained in our Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-A</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;001-16777)</FONT> filed with the SEC on November&nbsp;14, 2001, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description prior to the termination of the offering registered hereby. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered,
upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should direct requests for documents by calling: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Client Services Desk </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(800) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust makes available this Prospectus, SAI and the Trust&#146;s annual and
semi-annual reports, free of charge, at http://www.blackrock.com. You may also obtain this Prospectus, the SAI, other documents incorporated by reference and other information the Trust files electronically, including reports and proxy statements,
on the SEC website (http://www.sec.gov) or with the payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov. Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Trust&#146;s website is not incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus and should not be considered to be part of this Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc925963_123"></A>PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE TRUST </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is committed to maintaining the privacy of shareholders and to
safeguarding their <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Trust collects, how we protect that information, and why in
certain cases we may share such information with select other parties. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust does not receive any <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> personal information relating to its shareholders who purchase shares through their broker-dealers. In the case of shareholders who are record holders of the Trust, the Trust receives personal <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> information on account applications or other forms. With respect to these shareholders, the Trust also has access to specific information regarding their transactions in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust does not disclose any <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> personal information about its shareholders
or former shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service our shareholders&#146; accounts (for example, to a transfer agent). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust restricts access to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> personal information about its shareholders
to BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. The Trust maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> personal information of our
shareholders. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">54 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>18,000,000 Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Rights to Purchase Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PROSPECTUS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <DIV STYLE="position:relative; overflow:visible; width:651pt; height:30pt; transform-origin:bottom left; transform: rotate(-90deg) translate(-100%, 100%) translateX(30pt);">
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Arial Narrow" ALIGN="justify"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>The information in this Prospectus Supplement is not complete and may be changed. BlackRock Core Bond Trust may not sell
these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus Supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. </B></FONT></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="position:relative; overflow:visible; margin-left:48pt; margin-right:48pt; transform: translateY(-30pt);">
<p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED
[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(To Prospectus dated [&#9679;], 2025) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)([&#9679;]) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">Registration Statement No.&nbsp;333-[&#9679;] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Up to [</B>&#9679;<B>] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</B> </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust (the &#147;Trust,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us&#148; or &#147;our&#148;) is offering for sale
[&#9679;] of our common shares of beneficial interest (&#147;common shares&#148;). Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE&#148;) under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; As of the close of business on [&#9679;], 2025, the
last reported net asset value per share of our common shares was $<B>[</B>&#9679;<B>]</B> and the last reported sales price per share of our common shares on the NYSE was $<B>[</B>&#9679;<B>]</B>. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the &#147;Investment Company Act&#148;). The Trust&#146;s investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation. The Trust&#146;s investment adviser is BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the
&#147;Advisor&#148;). BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited serve as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisers</FONT> to the Trust (each, a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Sub-Advisor&#148;).</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Sales of our common shares, if any, under this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus may be made in negotiated
transactions or transactions that are deemed to be &#147;at the market&#148; as defined in Rule&nbsp;415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or
through a market maker other than on an exchange. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Investing in the Trust&#146;s common shares involves certain risks
that are described in the &#147;Risks&#148; section beginning on page 26 of the accompanying Prospectus.</B> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>NEITHER
THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.</B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;], 2025 </P></DIV> <p STYLE="clear:both; font-size:1pt; height:0">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement, together with the accompanying Prospectus, sets forth
concisely the information about the Trust that a prospective investor should know before investing. You should read this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in
the common shares. You should retain the accompanying Prospectus and this Prospectus Supplement for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information (&#147;SAI&#148;), dated [&#149;], 2025, containing additional information about the Trust,
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;) and, as amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. This Prospectus Supplement,
the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI are part of a &#147;shelf&#148; registration statement filed with the SEC. This Prospectus Supplement describes the specific details regarding this offering, including the method of distribution. If
information in this Prospectus Supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying Prospectus or the SAI, you should rely on this Prospectus Supplement. You may call (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052,</FONT> visit the Trust&#146;s website
(http://www.blackrock.com) or write to the Trust to obtain, free of charge, copies of the SAI and the Trust&#146;s semi-annual and annual reports, as well as to obtain other information about the Trust or to make shareholder inquiries. The SAI, as
well as the Trust&#146;s semi-annual and annual reports, are also available for free on the SEC&#146;s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">e-mail</FONT> requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov.
Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Trust&#146;s website is not part of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus as legal, tax or financial
advice. You should consult with your own professional advisors as to the legal, tax, financial or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The common shares do not represent a deposit or an obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other
insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.</B> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-2 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. Neither the Trust nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Trust is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction
where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus, respectively. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. In this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, unless otherwise indicated,
&#147;Trust,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; &#147;our&#148; and &#147;we&#148; refer to BlackRock Core Bond Trust, a Delaware statutory trust.</B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Prospectus Supplement </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B><U>Page </U></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="96%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_11">CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-4</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_12">PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-5</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_13">SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-5</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_14">USE OF PROCEEDS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-7</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_15">CAPITALIZATION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-7</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_16">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-7</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_17">LEGAL MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-7</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp1925963_18">ADDITIONAL INFORMATION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-7</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Prospectus </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B><U>Page
</U></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="97%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_11">PROSPECTUS SUMMARY</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_12">SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_13">FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">7</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_14">USE OF PROCEEDS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_15">THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_16">DESCRIPTION OF SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_17">THE TRUST&#146;S INVESTMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_18">LEVERAGE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">24</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_19">RISKS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">27</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_110">HOW THE TRUST MANAGES RISK</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">34</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_111">MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">35</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_112">NET ASSET VALUE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">38</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_113">DISTRIBUTIONS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">41</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_114">DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_115">RIGHTS OFFERINGS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_116">TAX MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">43</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_117">TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_118">CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AND
BYLAWS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_119"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CLOSED-END</FONT> FUND
STRUCTURE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">51</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_120">REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_121">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_122">INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">53</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_123">PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">54</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-3 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_11"></A>CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI contain &#147;forward-looking statements.&#148;
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words &#147;may,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; &#147;intend,&#148; &#147;expect,&#148; &#147;estimate,&#148; &#147;continue,&#148; &#147;plan,&#148; &#147;anticipate,&#148; and similar terms and the
negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this Prospectus Supplement as well as in the accompanying Prospectus. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results
could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the price at which our shares will trade
in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the SEC. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although we believe that the
expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as
any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the &#147;Risks&#148; section of the accompanying Prospectus. All forward-looking statements contained or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus are made as of the date of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal
securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI are excluded from the safe
harbor protection provided by Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Currently known risk factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the &#147;Risks&#148; section of the accompanying Prospectus. We urge you to review carefully those sections for a more detailed
discussion of the risks of an investment in our common shares. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-4 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_12"></A>PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information included elsewhere in this Prospectus
Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus and in the SAI. </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>The Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company. The Trust&#146;s investment
objective is to provide current income exempt from regular federal income taxes. There can be no assurance that the Trust&#146;s investment objective will be achieved or that the Trust&#146;s investment program will be successful. The Trust&#146;s
common shares are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Advisor </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Advisors, LLC (previously defined as the &#147;Advisor&#148;) is the Trust&#146;s investment adviser. The Advisor receives an annual
fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.50% of the average weekly value of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets. &#147;Managed Assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment
purposes) minus the sum of the Trust&#146;s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). BlackRock International Limited (&#147;BIL&#148;) and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (&#147;BSL&#148;) serve as <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisers</FONT> to the Trust (each, previously defined as a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Sub-Advisor&#148;).</FONT> For that portion of the Trust for which each
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> acts as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-adviser,</FONT> the Advisor, and not the Trust, pays to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> an annual <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> fee equal to a percentage of the management fee received by the Advisor from the Trust with respect to the average daily value of the Managed Assets of the Trust allocated to such <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor.</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>The Offering </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[The provisions of the Investment Company Act generally require that the public offering price of common shares (less any underwriting
commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the net asset value per share of a company&#146;s common shares (calculated within 48 hours of pricing). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Sales of our common shares, if any, under this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus may be made in negotiated transactions or
transactions that are deemed to be &#147;at the market&#148; as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Use of Proceeds </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">We currently anticipate
that we will be able to invest all of the net proceeds of any sales of common shares pursuant to this Prospectus Supplement in accordance with our investment objective and policies as described in the accompanying Prospectus under &#147;The
Trust&#146;s Investments&#148; within approximately [three months] of the receipt of such proceeds. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in [short-term, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> or
taxable investment grade securities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments]. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Depending on market conditions and
operations, a portion of the cash held by the Trust, including any proceeds raised from the offering, may be used to pay distributions in accordance with the Trust&#146;s distribution policy and may be a return of capital. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_13"></A>SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table and example are intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses directly or
indirectly associated with investing in our common shares. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="94%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Shareholder Transaction Expenses</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="80%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Offering expenses borne by the Trust (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1) </SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan fees</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;<BR><BR><BR> <P STYLE="margin-bottom:1pt; margin-top:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]&nbsp;per&nbsp;share&nbsp;for<BR>open-market<BR>purchases&nbsp;of<BR> <P STYLE="margin-bottom:1pt; margin-top:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">common&nbsp;shares<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><BR>&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR> <P STYLE="margin-bottom:1pt; margin-top:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan sale transaction fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Estimated Annual Expenses </B>(as a percentage of net assets attributable to common
shares)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Management fees<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(3)(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Interest Payments on Borrowed
Funds<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(5)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Other Expenses<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(6)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fee Waivers and/or Expense
Reimbursements<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">&#151;&#8194;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">%&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Trust shareholders will pay all offering expenses involved with this offering. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Computershare Trust Company, N.A.&#146;s (the &#147;Reinvestment Plan Agent&#148;) fees for the handling of
the reinvestment of dividends will be paid by the Trust. However, you will pay a $0.02 per share fee incurred in connection with open-market purchases, which will be deducted from the value of the dividend. You will also be charged a $2.50 sales fee
and pay a $0.15 per share fee if you direct the Reinvestment Plan Agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions the Reinvestment Plan Agent is required to pay.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust currently pays the Advisor a monthly fee at an annual contractual investment management fee rate of
0.50% of its average weekly managed assets. For purposes of calculating these fees, &#147;managed assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed) minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other
than money borrowed for investment purposes). </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have entered into a fee waiver agreement (the &#147;Fee Waiver Agreement&#148;),
pursuant to which the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Trust&#146;s assets attributable to investments in any equity and fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds managed by
the Advisor or its affiliates that have a contractual management fee, through June&nbsp;30, [2026]. In addition, pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment
advisory fees the Trust pays to the Advisor indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by the Advisor or its affiliates, through June&nbsp;30, [2026]. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment
of any penalty, only by the Trust (upon the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not &#147;interested persons&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust), upon
90 days&#146; written notice by the Trust to the Advisor. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Assumes the use of leverage in the form of reverse repurchase agreements representing [&#9679;]% of managed
assets at an annual interest expense to the Trust of [&#149;]%, which is based on current market conditions. The actual amount of interest expense borne by the Trust will vary over time in accordance with the level of the Trust&#146;s use of reverse
repurchase agreements and variations in market interest rates. Interest expense is required to be treated as an expense of the Trust for accounting purposes. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(6)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">[Other expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.] </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Example </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following example
illustrates the expenses (including the sales load of $[10.00] and offering costs of $[&#9679;]) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (i)&nbsp;total net annual expenses of [&#9679;]% of net assets attributable to
common shares and (ii)&nbsp;a 5% annual return: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="64%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>1&nbsp;Year</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>3&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>5&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>10&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total expenses incurred</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The example assumes that the
estimated &#147;Other Expenses&#148; set forth in the Estimated Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the
Trust&#146;s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. </B></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_14"></A>USE OF PROCEEDS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">We estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be $[&#9679;], based on the public offering price of $[&#9679;] per
share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The net
proceeds from the issuance of common shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies as set forth in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We currently anticipate that we
will be able to invest all of the net proceeds in accordance with our investment objective and policies within approximately [three] months of the receipt of such proceeds. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be
invested in [short-term, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> or taxable investment grade securities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments]. Depending on market conditions and operations, a portion of the cash held by
the Trust, including any proceeds raised from the offering, may be used to pay distributions in accordance with the Trust&#146;s distribution policy and may be a return of capital. A return of capital is a return to investors of a portion of their
original investment in the Trust. In general terms, a return of capital would involve a situation in which a Trust distribution (or a portion thereof) represents a return of a portion of a shareholder&#146;s investment in the Trust, rather than
making a distribution that is funded from the Trust&#146;s earned income or other profits. Although return of capital distributions may not be currently taxable, such distributions would decrease the basis of a shareholder&#146;s shares, and
therefore, may increase a shareholder&#146;s tax liability for capital gains upon a sale of shares, even if sold at a loss to the shareholder&#146;s original investments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_15"></A>CAPITALIZATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table sets forth the unaudited capitalization of the Trust as of [&#9679;], 2025 and its adjusted capitalization
assuming the common shares available in the offering discussed in this Prospectus Supplement had been issued. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[To be
provided.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_16"></A>PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[To be provided.] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_17"></A>LEGAL MATTERS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain legal matters in connection with the common shares will be passed upon for the Trust by Willkie Farr&nbsp;&amp;
Gallagher LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Trust. Willkie Farr&nbsp;&amp; Gallagher LLP may rely as to certain matters of Delaware law on the opinion of [&#9679;]. [Certain legal matters will be passed on by [&#9679;] as special counsel to
the Underwriters in connection with the offering.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp1925963_18"></A>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus constitute part of a Registration Statement filed by the Trust with
the SEC under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act. This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus omit certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Trust and the common shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained
from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC&#146;s website (http://www.sec.gov). </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="font-size:60pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:60pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND
TRUST </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:72pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:60pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Until
[&#8195;], 2025 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus Supplement), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the common shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the
dealers&#146; obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Arial Narrow" ALIGN="justify"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>The information in this Prospectus Supplement is not complete and may be
changed. BlackRock Core Bond Trust may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus Supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and is not
soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. </B></FONT></P> <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(To Prospectus dated
[&#9679;], 2025) </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)([&#9679;]) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">Registration Statement <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-[&#9679;]</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B>] Rights for [</B>&#9679;<B>] Shares of Beneficial Interest</B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Issuable Upon the Exercise of </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Transferrable Subscription Rights to Acquire Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust (the &#147;Trust,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us&#148; or &#147;our&#148;) is issuing transferrable
subscription rights (the &#147;Rights&#148;) to our common shareholders (the &#147;Common Shareholders&#148;) to subscribe for an aggregate of [&#9679;] common shares of beneficial interest (each, a &#147;Common Share&#148; and collectively, the
&#147;Common Shares&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Trust&#146;s investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation. The Trust&#146;s investment adviser is BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the
&#147;Advisor&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE&#148;) under the symbol
&#147;BHK.&#148; Common Shareholders of record on [&#9679;], 2025 (the &#147;Record Date&#148;) will receive [&#9679;] Right for each Common Share held. These Rights are transferable and will allow the holders thereof to purchase additional Common
Shares. The Rights will be listed for trading on the [&#9679;] under the symbol &#147;[&#9679;]&#148; during the course of the Rights offering. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights entitle their holders to purchase [&#9679;] new Common Share for every [&#9679;] Rights held. Any Common
Shareholder who owns fewer than [&#9679;] Common Shares as of the close of business on the Record Date may subscribe for [&#9679;] full Common Share. Common Shareholders as of the close of business on the Record Date who fully exercise all Rights
initially issued to them (other than those Rights that cannot be exercised because they represent the right to acquire less than one Common Share) will be entitled to subscribe for additional Common Shares that remain unsubscribed as a result of any
unexercised Rights. This over-subscription privilege is subject to a number of limitations and subject to allotment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
subscription price per Common Share (the &#147;Subscription Price&#148;) will be determined based upon a formula equal to [&#9679;]% of the average of the last reported sales price of a Common Share on the NYSE on the date on which the Rights
offering expires, as such date may be extended from time to time, and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)]&nbsp;preceding trading days (the &#147;Formula Price&#148;). If, however, the Formula Price is less than [&#9679;]% of the net asset value
(&#147;NAV&#148;) per Common Share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the Expiration Date (as defined below), then the Subscription Price will be [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s NAV per Common Share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the
Expiration Date. All offering expenses, including sales commissions, will be borne by the Advisor, and not the Trust or any Common Shareholders. The Rights offering will expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on [&#9679;], 2025, unless extended as
described in this Prospectus Supplement (the &#147;Expiration Date&#148;). </P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">On [&#9679;], 2025 (the last trading date prior to the Common Shares trading <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">ex-Rights),</FONT> the last reported net asset value per share of the Common Shares was $[&#9679;] and the last reported sales price per share of Common Shares on the NYSE was $[&#9679;], representing a [premium] to net
asset value of [&#9679;]%. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement, together with the accompanying Prospectus, sets forth concisely
the information about the Trust that a prospective investor should know before investing. You should read this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in the
Common Shares. You should retain the accompanying Prospectus and this Prospectus Supplement for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information (&#147;SAI&#148;), dated [&#9679;], 2025, containing additional information about the Trust, has
been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;) and, as amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. This Prospectus Supplement, the
accompanying Prospectus and the SAI are part of a &#147;shelf&#148; registration statement filed with the SEC. This Prospectus Supplement describes the specific details regarding this offering, including the method of distribution. If information in
this Prospectus Supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying Prospectus or the SAI, you should rely on this Prospectus Supplement. You may call (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052,</FONT> visit the Trust&#146;s website
(http://www.blackrock.com) or write to the Trust to obtain, free of charge, copies of the SAI and the Trust&#146;s semi-annual and annual reports, as well as to obtain other information about the Trust or to make shareholder inquiries. The SAI, as
well as the Trust&#146;s semi-annual and annual reports, are also available for free on the SEC&#146;s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">e-mail</FONT> requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov.
Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Trust&#146;s website is not part of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus. Common Shareholders please call toll-free at [&#9679;] (banks and brokers please call
[&#9679;]) or please send written requests to [&#9679;]. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Investing in Common Shares through Rights involves certain
risks, including risks of leverage, that are described in the &#147;Special Characteristics and Risks of the Rights Offering&#148; section of this Prospectus Supplement. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT FULLY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS MAY, AT THE COMPLETION OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING, OWN A SMALLER
PROPORTIONAL INTEREST IN THE TRUST THAN IF THEY EXERCISED THEIR RIGHTS. AS A RESULT OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING YOU MAY EXPERIENCE SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION OF THE AGGREGATE NET ASSET VALUE OF YOUR COMMON SHARES DEPENDING UPON WHETHER THE TRUST&#146;S NET
ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE IS ABOVE OR BELOW THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. RIGHTS EXERCISED BY A SHAREHOLDER ARE IRREVOCABLE. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>THE TRUST HAS DECLARED MONTHLY DISTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE ON [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 WITH A RECORD DATE OF
[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025. ANY COMMON SHARES ISSUED AS A RESULT OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING WILL NOT BE RECORD DATE SHARES FOR THE TRUST&#146;S MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION TO BE PAID ON [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 AND WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE SUCH
DISTRIBUTION. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="76%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="70%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Per<BR>Common&nbsp;Share</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Total<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Estimated subscription price of Common Shares to shareholders exercising Rights<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Underwriting discounts and commissions</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Estimated proceeds, before expenses, to the
Trust<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(3) (4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Assumes that all Rights are exercised at the estimated Subscription Price (as described below). All of the
Rights may not be exercised, and the estimated Subscription Price may be higher or lower than the actual Subscription Price. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The estimated Subscription Price to the public is based upon [&#9679;]% of the last reported sales price of
the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)]&nbsp;preceding trading days. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering&#151;Subscription Price.&#148; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Before deduction of expenses related to the Rights offering, which are estimated approximately at $[&#9679;].
Any offering expenses are paid indirectly by shareholders. Such fees and expenses will immediately reduce the net asset value per share of each Common Share purchased by an investor in the Rights offering. The indirect expenses of the offering that
shareholders will pay are estimated to be $[&#9679;] in the aggregate and $[&#9679;] per share. The amount of proceeds to the Trust net of any fees and expenses of the offering are estimated to be $[&#9679;] in the aggregate and $[&#9679;] per
share. Shareholders will not directly bear any offering expenses. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Funds received by check prior to the final due date of the Rights offering will be deposited into a
segregated account pending proration and distribution of Common Shares. The Subscription Agent (as defined in this Prospectus Supplement) may receive investment earnings on the funds deposited into such account. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Common Shares are expected to be ready for delivery in book-entry form through the [insert depository name] on or about
[&#9679;], 2025 [, unless extended. If the offering is extended, the Common Shares are expected to be ready for delivery in book-entry form through the [&#9679;] on or about [&#9679;], 2025.] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus as legal, tax or financial
advice. You should consult with your own professional advisors as to the legal, tax, financial or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>The Trust&#146;s Common Shares do not represent a deposit or an obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any
bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>The date of this Prospectus Supplement is [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025.</B> </P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Trust is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is
not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus,
respectively. This Prospectus Supplement will be amended to reflect material changes to the information contained herein and will be delivered to shareholders. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since those dates. In this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, &#147;Trust,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; &#147;our&#148; and &#147;we&#148; refer to BlackRock Core Bond Trust, a Delaware statutory trust.
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Prospectus Supplement </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="94%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Page</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_1">CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_2">SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_3">DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-5</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_4">SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-14</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_5">USE OF PROCEEDS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_6">CAPITALIZATION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_7">SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_8">TAXATION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-18</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_9">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-19</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_10">LEGAL MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-21</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_11">FINANCIAL STATEMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-21</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#prosupp2925963_12">ADDITIONAL INFORMATION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">R-21</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Prospectus </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="94%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Page</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_11">PROSPECTUS SUMMARY</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">1</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_12">SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_13">FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">7</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_14">USE OF PROCEEDS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_15">THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_16">DESCRIPTION OF SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">8</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_17">THE TRUST&#146;S INVESTMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">10</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_18">LEVERAGE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">24</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_19">RISKS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">27</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_110">HOW THE TRUST MANAGES RISK</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">34</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_111">MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">35</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_112">NET ASSET VALUE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">38</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_113">DISTRIBUTIONS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">41</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_114">DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_115">RIGHTS OFFERINGS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">42</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_116">TAX MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">43</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_117">TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_118">CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AND
BYLAWS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">49</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_119"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CLOSED-END</FONT> FUND
STRUCTURE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">51</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_120">REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_121">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">52</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_122">INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">53</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#toc925963_123">PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">54</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_1"></A>CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI contain &#147;forward-looking statements.&#148;
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words &#147;may,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; &#147;intend,&#148; &#147;expect,&#148; &#147;estimate,&#148; &#147;continue,&#148; &#147;plan,&#148; &#147;anticipate,&#148; and similar terms and the
negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this Prospectus Supplement as well as in the accompanying Prospectus and in the SAI. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and
actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the price at which our
shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the SEC. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although we
believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of
operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the &#147;Risks&#148; section of the accompanying Prospectus and &#147;Special
Characteristics and Risks of the Rights Offering&#148; in this Prospectus Supplement. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus, or in the SAI, are made as of
the date of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus or SAI, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking
statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;Securities Act&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our
expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the &#147;Risks&#148; section of the accompanying Prospectus as well as in the &#147;Special Characteristics and Risks of the Rights Offering&#148; section of this Prospectus
Supplement. We urge you to review carefully those sections for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in the Common Shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_2"></A>SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Purpose of the Rights Offering</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[To come.]</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Terms of the Rights Offering</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#9679;] transferable subscription right (a &#147;Right&#148;) will be issued for each common share of the Trust (each, a
&#147;Common Share,&#148; and collectively, the &#147;Common Shares&#148;) held on the Record Date (as defined below). Rights are expected to trade on the [&#9679;] under the symbol &#147;[&#9679;].&#148; The Rights will allow Common Shareholders to
subscribe for new Common Shares of the Trust. [&#9679;] Common Shares of the Trust are outstanding as of [&#9679;], 2025. [&#9679;] Rights will be required to purchase one Common Share. Shares of the Trust, as a
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> fund, can trade at a discount to net asset value (&#147;NAV&#148;). Upon exercise of the Rights offering, Trust shares are expected to be issued at a price below NAV per Common Share. [An
over-subscription privilege will be offered, [subject to the right of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the &#147;Board&#148;) to eliminate the over-subscription privilege.] [&#9679;] Common Shares of the Trust will be issued if all Rights are
exercised. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering.&#148;</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has declared monthly distributions payable on [&#9679;], 2025 with a record date of [&#9679;], 2025. Any Common Shares issued as a
result of the Rights offering will not be record date shares for the Trust&#146;s monthly distribution to be paid on [&#9679;], 2025 and will not be entitled to receive such distribution.</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The exercise of Rights by a Rights holder is
irrevocable.</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-1 </P>


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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Title</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Subscription Rights to Acquire Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><B>Subscription Price</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The final subscription price per Common Share (the &#147;Subscription Price&#148;) will be determined based upon a formula
equal to [&#9679;]% of the average of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE &#148;) on the Expiration Date (as defined below) and each of the [&#9679;] preceding trading days (the
&#147;Formula Price&#148;). If, however, the Formula Price is less than [&#9679;]% of the NAV per Common Share of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares at the close of trading on the NYSE on the Expiration Date, then the Subscription Price will be
[&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s NAV per Common Share at the close of trading on the NYSE on that day. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Record Date</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Rights will be issued to Common Shareholders of record as of the close of business on [&#9679;], 2025 (the &#147;Record
Date&#148;). See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Number of Rights Issued</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">[&#9679;] Right will be issued in respect of each Common Share of the Trust outstanding as of the close of business on the
Record Date. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Number of Rights Required to Purchase One Common Share</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">A holder of Rights may purchase [&#9679;] Common Share of the Trust for every [&#9679;] Rights exercised. The number of
Rights to be issued to a shareholder as of the close of business on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest number of Rights evenly divisible by [&#9679;]. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Over-Subscription Privilege</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Common Shareholders as of the close of business on the Record Date (&#147;Record Date Shareholders&#148;) who fully
exercise all Rights initially issued to them (other than those Rights that cannot be exercised because they represent the right to acquire less than one Common Share) generally are entitled, subject to the limitations described herein, to buy those
Common Shares, referred to as &#147;primary over-subscription shares,&#148; that were not purchased by other Rights holders at the same Subscription Price. If enough primary over-subscription shares are available, all such requests will be honored
in full. If the requests for primary over-subscription shares exceed the primary over-subscription shares available, the available primary over-subscription shares will be allocated pro rata among those fully exercising Record Date Shareholders who
over-subscribe based on the number of Rights originally issued to them by the Trust. Common Shares acquired pursuant to the primary over-subscription privilege are subject to allotment. <I>Holders of</I> <I>Rights acquired in the secondary market
may not participate in the primary over-subscription privilege.</I></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">[In addition, the Trust, in its sole discretion, may determine to issue additional Common Shares at the same Subscription
Price in an amount of up to [&#9679;]% of the shares issued pursuant to the primary subscription, referred to as &#147;secondary over-subscription shares.&#148; Should the Trust determine to issue some or all of the secondary over-subscription
shares, they will be allocated only among Record Date Shareholders who submitted over-subscription requests. Secondary over-subscription shares will be allocated pro rata among those fully exercising Record Date Shareholders who over-subscribe based
on the number of Rights originally issued to them by the Trust. <I>Rights acquired in the secondary</I> <I>market may not participate in the secondary over-subscription privilege.</I>]</P></TD></TR></TABLE>

</div></div>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-2 </P>


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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD ROWSPAN="2" VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Notwithstanding the above, the Board has the right in its absolute discretion to eliminate the primary
over-subscription privilege and/or secondary over-subscription privilege (together, the &#147;over-subscription privilege&#148;) if it considers it to be in the best interest of the Trust to do so. The Board may make that determination at any time,
without prior notice to Rights holders or others, up to and including the fifth day following the Expiration Date (as defined below). See &#147;Over-Subscription Privilege.&#148;</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the over-subscription
privilege will be shares registered under the Prospectus.</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Transfer of Rights</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Rights will be transferable. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering,&#148; &#147;Sale of Rights&#148; and &#147;Method
of Transferring Rights.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Subscription Period</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Rights may be exercised at any time after issuance and prior to expiration of the Rights (the &#147;Subscription
Period&#148;), which will be [5:00 PM Eastern Time] on [&#9679;], 2025 (the &#147;Expiration Date&#148;), unless otherwise extended. See &#147;Terms of the Rights Offering&#148; and &#147;Method of Exercise of Rights.&#148; The Rights offering may
be terminated [or extended] by the Trust at any time for any reason before the Expiration Date. If the Trust terminates the Rights offering, the Trust will issue a press release announcing such termination and will direct the Subscription Agent
(defined below) to return, without interest, all subscription proceeds received to such shareholders who had elected to purchase Common Shares.</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Distribution Arrangements</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">[&#9679;]</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Offering Expenses</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The expenses of the Rights offering are expected to be approximately $[&#9679;] and will be borne by holders of the
Trust&#146;s Common Shares. See &#147;Use of Proceeds.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Sale of Rights</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights are transferable until the completion of the Subscription Period and will be admitted for trading on
the [&#9679;] under the symbol &#147;[&#9679;]&#148;. Although no assurance can be given that a market for the Rights will develop, trading in the Rights on the [&#9679;] is expected to begin two Business Days prior to the Record Date and may be
conducted until the close of trading on the last [&#9679;] trading day prior to the Expiration Date. For purposes of this Prospectus Supplement, a &#147;Business Day&#148; shall mean any day on which trading is conducted on the [&#9679;].</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of the Rights, if any, will be reflected by
their market price on the [&#9679;]. Rights may be sold by individual holders through their broker or financial advisor or may be submitted to the Subscription Agent (defined below) for sale. Any Rights submitted to the Subscription Agent for sale
must be received by the Subscription Agent prior to [5:00 PM, Eastern Time], on or before [&#9679;], 2025, [&#9679;] Business Days prior to the Expiration Date (or, if the Subscription Period is extended, prior to [5:00 PM, Eastern Time], on the
[&#9679;] Business Day prior to the extended Expiration Date).</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
</TABLE>
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 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-3 </P>


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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Rights that are sold will not confer any right to
acquire any Common Shares in any over-subscription, and any Record Date Shareholder who sells any Rights will not be eligible to participate in the over-subscription privilege, if any.</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Trading of the Rights on the [&#9679;] will be conducted
on a when-issued basis until and including the date on which the Subscription Certificates (as defined below) are mailed to Record Date Shareholders of record and thereafter will be conducted on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">regular-way</FONT>
basis until and including the last [&#9679;] trading day prior to the completion of the Subscription Period. The shares are expected to begin trading <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">ex-Rights</FONT> one Business Day prior to the Record Date.</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Subscription Agent receives Rights for sale in a
timely manner, the Subscription Agent will use its best efforts to sell the Rights on the [&#9679;]. The Subscription Agent will also attempt to sell any Rights attributable to shareholders of record whose addresses are outside the United States, or
who have an APO or FPO address. See &#147;Foreign Restrictions.&#148; The Subscription Agent will attempt to sell such Rights, including by first offering such Rights to the Dealer Manager (defined below) for purchase by the Dealer Manager at the
then-current market price on the [&#9679;]. The Subscription Agent will offer Rights to the Dealer Manager before attempting to sell them on the [&#9679;].</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any commissions will be paid by the selling Rights holders. Neither the Trust nor the Subscription Agent will be responsible if Rights cannot
be sold and neither has guaranteed any minimum sales price for the Rights. If the Rights can be sold, sales of these Rights will be deemed to have been effected at the weighted average price received by the Subscription Agent on the day such Rights
are sold, less any applicable brokerage commissions, taxes and other expenses (<I>i.e.</I>, costs incidental to the sale of Rights).</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For a discussion of actions that may be taken by [&#9679;] (the &#147;Dealer Manager&#148;) to seek to facilitate the trading market for Rights
and the placement of Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Rights, including the purchase of Rights and the sale during the Subscription Period by the Dealer Manager of Common Shares acquired through the exercise of Rights and the terms on which
such sales will be made, see &#147;Plan of Distribution.&#148;</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Shareholders are urged to obtain a recent trading price for the Rights on the [&#9679;] from their broker, bank, financial advisor or the
financial press.</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Banks, broker-dealers and trust
companies that hold shares for the accounts of others are advised to notify those persons that purchase Rights in the secondary market that such Rights will not participate in any over-subscription privilege. See &#147;Terms of the Rights
Offering.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="7"><B>Use of Proceeds</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="7">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="7"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Trust estimates the net proceeds of the Rights offering to be approximately $[&#9679;]. This figure is
based on the Subscription Price per Common Share of $[&#9679;] ([&#9679;]% of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)] preceding trading days) and assumes all
new Common Shares offered are sold and that the expenses related to the Rights offering estimated at approximately $[&#9679;] are paid.</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR></TABLE>
</div></div>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-4 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<div style ="BORDER-BOTTOM:1.00pt solid #000000;BORDER-LEFT:1.00pt solid #000000;BORDER-RIGHT:1.00pt solid #000000;BORDER-TOP:1.00pt solid #000000;MARGIN-LEFT:0px; MARGIN-RIGHT:0px;max-width:100%"><div style="width:97%; margin-top:1.5%; margin-bottom:1.5%; margin-left:1.5%; margin-right:-1.25%">


<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>

<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD ROWSPAN="2" VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ROWSPAN="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisor anticipates that investment
of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to be substantially completed in approximately [three] months; however, the
identification of appropriate investment opportunities pursuant to the Trust&#146;s investment style or changes in market conditions may cause the investment period to extend as long as [six] months. Pending such investment, the proceeds will be
held in [short-term, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> or taxable investment grade securities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments].</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Depending on market conditions and operations, a portion
of the cash held by the Trust, including any proceeds raised from the offering, may be used to pay distributions in accordance with the Trust&#146;s distribution policy and may be a return of capital. A return of capital is a return to investors of
a portion of their original investment in the Trust. In general terms, a return of capital would involve a situation in which a Trust distribution (or a portion thereof) represents a return of a portion of a shareholder&#146;s investment in the
Trust, rather than making a distribution that is funded from the Trust&#146;s earned income or other profits. Although return of capital distributions may not be currently taxable, such distributions would decrease the basis of a shareholder&#146;s
shares, and therefore, may increase a shareholder&#146;s tax liability for capital gains upon a sale of shares, even if sold at a loss to the shareholder&#146;s original investments. See &#147;Use of Proceeds.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Taxation/ERISA</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">See &#147;Taxation&#148; and &#147;Employee Benefit Plan and IRA Considerations.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Subscription Agent</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">[&#9679;]. See &#147;Subscription Agent.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Information Agent</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">[&#9679;]. See &#147;Information Agent.&#148;</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_3"></A>DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Terms of the Rights Offering </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is issuing to Record Date Shareholders Rights to subscribe for Common Shares of the Trust. Each Record Date
Shareholder is being issued one transferable Right for each Common Share owned on the Record Date. The Rights entitle the holder to acquire, at a subscription price per Common Share (the &#147;Subscription Price&#148;) determined based upon a
formula equal to [&#9679;]% of the average of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on the Expiration Date (as defined below) and each of the [&#9679;] preceding trading days (the &#147;Formula Price&#148;),
[&#9679;] new Common Shares for each [&#9679;] Rights held. If, however, the Formula Price is less than [&#9679;]% of the NAV per share of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares at the close of trading on the NYSE on the Expiration Date, then the
Subscription Price will be [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s NAV per Common Share at the close of trading on the NYSE on that day. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The estimated Subscription Price to the public of $[&#9679;] is based upon [&#9679;]% of the last reported sales price of the
Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025. Fractional shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the Rights. Accordingly, Common Shares may be purchased only pursuant to the exercise of Rights in integral multiples of [&#9679;].
The number of Rights to be issued to a Record Date Shareholder will be rounded up to the nearest number of Rights evenly divisible by [&#9679;]. In the case of Common Shares held of record by Cede&nbsp;&amp; Co. (&#147;Cede&#148;), as nominee
</P>
</div></div>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
for the Depository Trust Company (&#147;DTC&#148;), or any other depository or nominee, the number of Rights issued to Cede or such other depository or nominee will be adjusted to permit rounding
up (to the nearest number of Rights evenly divisible by [&#9679;]) of the Rights to be received by beneficial owners for whom it is the holder of record only if [insert nominee name] or such other depository or nominee provides to the Trust on or
before the close of business on [&#9679;], 2025 written representation of the number of Rights required for such rounding. Rights may be exercised at any time during the period (the &#147;Subscription Period&#148;) which commences on [&#9679;],
2025, and ends at [5:00 PM Eastern Time] on [&#9679;], 2025 (the &#147;Expiration Date&#148;), unless otherwise extended. Shares of the Trust, as a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> fund, can trade at a discount to NAV. Upon
exercise of the Rights offering, Trust shares may be issued at a price below NAV per Common Share. The right to acquire one Common Share for each [&#9679;] Rights held during the Subscription Period (or any extension of the Subscription Period) at
the Subscription Price will be referred to in the remainder of this Prospectus Supplement as the &#147;Rights offering.&#148; <I>Rights will expire on the Expiration Date and thereafter may not be exercised. </I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has declared monthly distributions payable on [&#9679;], 2025 with a record date of [&#9679;], 2025. <B><I>Any
Common Shares issued as a result of the Rights offering will not be Record Date shares for the Trust&#146;s monthly distribution to be paid on </I></B>[&#9679;]<B><I>, 2025 and will not be entitled to receive such distribution.</I></B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has entered into a dealer manager agreement with [&#9679;] (the &#147;Dealer Manager&#148;) that allows the Dealer
Manager to take actions to seek to facilitate the trading market for Rights and the placement of Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Rights. Those actions are expected to involve the Dealer Manager purchasing and exercising Rights during the
Subscription Period at prices determined at the time of such exercise, which are expected to vary from the Subscription Price. See &#147;Plan of Distribution&#148; for additional information. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Rights may be evidenced by subscription certificates or may be uncertificated and evidenced by other appropriate documentation
(<I>i.e.</I>, a rights card distributed to registered shareholders in lieu of a subscription certificate) (&#147;Subscription Certificates&#148;). The number of Rights issued to each holder will be stated on the Subscription Certificate delivered to
the holder. The method by which Rights may be exercised and Common Shares paid for is set forth below in &#147;Method of Exercise of Rights,&#148; &#147;Payment for Shares&#148; and &#147;Plan of Distribution.&#148; A holder of Rights will have no
right to rescind a purchase after [&#9679;] (the &#147;Subscription Agent&#148;) has received payment. See &#147;Payment for Shares&#148; below. It is anticipated that the Common Shares issued pursuant to an exercise of Rights will be listed on the
[&#9679;]. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Holders of Rights [who are Record Date Shareholders] are entitled to subscribe for additional Common Shares
at the same Subscription Price pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, subject to certain limitations, allotment and the right of the Board to eliminate the primary over-subscription privilege [or secondary] over-subscription privilege. See
&#147;Over-Subscription Privilege&#148; below.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For purposes of determining the maximum number of Common Shares that may
be acquired pursuant to the Rights offering, broker-dealers, trust companies, banks or others whose shares are held of record by Cede or by any other depository or nominee will be deemed to be the holders of the Rights that are held by Cede or such
other depository or nominee on their behalf. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights are transferable until the completion of the Subscription Period
and will be admitted for trading on the [&#9679;] under the symbol &#147;[&#9679;].&#148; Assuming a market exists for the Rights, the Rights may be purchased and sold through usual brokerage channels and also sold through the Subscription Agent.
Although no assurance can be given that a market for the Rights will develop, trading in the Rights on the [&#9679;] is expected to begin two Business Days prior to the Record Date and may be conducted until the close of trading on the last
[&#9679;] trading day prior to the Expiration Date. Trading of the Rights on the [&#9679;] is expected to be conducted on a when-issued basis until and including the date on which the Subscription Certificates are mailed to Record Date Shareholders
of record and thereafter is expected to be conducted on a regular way basis until and including the last [&#9679;] trading day prior to the Expiration Date. The method by which Rights may be transferred is set forth below under &#147;Method of
Transferring Rights.&#148; The Common Shares are expected to begin trading <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">ex-Rights</FONT> one Business Day prior to the Record Date as determined and announced by the [&#9679;]. The Rights offering may be
terminated or extended by the Trust at any time for any reason before the Expiration Date. If the Trust terminates the Rights offering, the Trust will issue a press release announcing such termination and will direct the Subscription Agent to
return, without interest, all subscription proceeds received to such shareholders who had elected to purchase Common Shares. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Nominees who hold the Trust&#146;s Common Shares for the account of others, such
as banks, broker-dealers, trustees or depositories for securities, should notify the respective beneficial owners of such shares as soon as possible to ascertain such beneficial owners&#146; intentions and to obtain instructions with respect to the
Rights. If the beneficial owner so instructs, the nominee should complete the Subscription Certificate and submit it to the Subscription Agent with proper payment. In addition, beneficial owners of the Common Shares or Rights held through such a
nominee should contact the nominee and request the nominee to effect transactions in accordance with such beneficial owner&#146;s instructions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Participants in the Trust&#146;s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;) will be issued Rights in respect of the
Common Shares held in their accounts in the Plan. Participants wishing to exercise these Rights must exercise the Rights in accordance with the procedures set forth in &#147;Method of Exercise of Rights&#148; and &#147;Payment for Shares.&#148;]
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Conditions of the Rights Offering </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights offering is being made in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the &#147;Investment
Company Act&#148;), without shareholder approval. The staff of the SEC has interpreted the Investment Company Act as not requiring shareholder approval of a transferable rights offering to purchase common shares at a price below the then current NAV
so long as certain conditions are met, including: (i)&nbsp;a good faith determination by a fund&#146;s board that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; (ii)&nbsp;the offering fully protects shareholders&#146;
preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional rights); (iii) management uses its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the rights for use by shareholders who
do not exercise such rights; and (iv)&nbsp;the ratio of a transferable rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Important Dates to Remember </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Please note
that the dates in the table below may change if the Rights offering is extended.] </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Event</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Record Date</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Subscription Period</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025 through&nbsp;[&#9679;], 2025&#134;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Final Date Rights Will Trade</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Expiration Date*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025&#134;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Payment for Common Shares and Subscription Certificate or Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
Due*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025&#134;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Issuance Date</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025&#134;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Confirmation Date</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">[&#9679;], 2025&#134;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">A shareholder exercising Rights must deliver to the Subscription Agent by [5:00 PM Eastern Time] on
[&#149;], 2025 (unless the Rights offering is extended) either (a)&nbsp;a Subscription Certificate and payment for Common Shares or (b)&nbsp;a notice of guaranteed delivery and payment for Common Shares. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#134;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Unless the Rights offering is extended. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>[Over-Subscription Privilege </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Rights holders [who are Record Date Shareholders and who fully exercise all Rights initially issued to them (other than those
Rights that cannot be exercised because they represent the right to acquire less than one Common Share)] are entitled to subscribe for additional Common Shares at the same Subscription Price pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, subject to
certain limitations and subject to allotment. The Board has the right in its absolute discretion to eliminate the over-subscription privilege with respect to primary over-subscription shares and secondary over-subscription shares if it considers it
to be in the best interest of the Trust to do so. The Board may make that determination at any time, without prior notice to Rights holders or others, up to and including the fifth day following the Expiration Date. If the primary over-subscription
privilege is not eliminated, it will operate as set forth below. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Record Date Shareholders who fully exercise all Rights initially issued to them
(other than those Rights that cannot be exercised because they represent the right to acquire less than one Common Share)] are entitled to buy those Common Shares, referred to as &#147;primary over-subscription shares,&#148; that were not purchased
by other holders of Rights at the same Subscription Price. If enough primary over-subscription shares are available, all such requests will be honored in full. If the requests for primary over-subscription shares exceed the primary over-subscription
shares available, the available primary over-subscription shares will be allocated pro rata among those fully exercising [Record Date Shareholders] who over-subscribe based on the number of Rights originally issued to them by the Trust. <B><I>Common
Shares acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege are subject to allotment.</I></B> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[In addition, the Trust, in
its sole discretion, may determine to issue additional Common Shares at the same Subscription Price in an amount of up to [ ]% of the shares issued pursuant to the primary subscription, referred to as &#147;secondary over-subscription shares.&#148;
Should the Trust determine to issue some or all of the secondary over-subscription shares, they will be allocated only among Record Date Shareholders who submitted over-subscription requests. Secondary over-subscription shares will be allocated pro
rata among those fully exercising Record Date Shareholders who over-subscribe based on the number of Rights originally issued to them by the Trust. <B><I>Holders of Rights acquired in the secondary market may not participate in the over-subscription
privilege</I></B><I>. </I>In the event that the Subscription Price is lower than the Trust&#146;s NAV per share, any secondary over-subscription shares issued by the Trust will not result in the ratio of the Rights offering exceeding one new share
for each three Rights.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Record Date Shareholders who are fully exercising their Rights during the Subscription Period
should indicate, on the Subscription Certificate that they submit with respect to the exercise of the Rights issued to them, how many Common Shares they are willing to acquire pursuant to the over-subscription privilege. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent sufficient Common Shares are not available to fulfill all over-subscription requests, unsubscribed Common Shares
(the &#147;Excess Shares&#148;) will be allocated pro rata among those Record Date Shareholders who over-subscribe based on the number of Rights issued to them by the Trust. The allocation process may involve a series of allocations in order to
assure that the total number of Common Shares available for over-subscriptions is distributed on a pro rata basis. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
formula to be used in allocating the Excess Shares is as follows: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="68%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="padding-bottom:4pt ;BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">Shareholder&#146;s Record Date Position</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="padding-bottom:4pt ;">X&#8195;&nbsp;Excess&nbsp;Shares&nbsp;Remaining</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Total Record Date Position of All Over-Subscribers</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Banks, broker-dealers, trustees and other nominee holders of Rights will be required to
certify to the Subscription Agent, before any over-subscription privilege may be exercised with respect to any particular beneficial owner, as to the aggregate number of Rights exercised during the Subscription Period and the number of Common Shares
subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege by such beneficial owner and that such beneficial owner&#146;s subscription was exercised in full. Nominee holder over-subscription forms and beneficial owner certification forms will be
distributed to banks, broker-dealers, trustees and other nominee holders of Rights with the Subscription Certificates. [Nominees should also notify holders purchasing Rights in the secondary market that such Rights may not participate in the
over-subscription privilege.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will not otherwise offer or sell any Common Shares that are not subscribed for
pursuant to the primary subscription, the primary over-subscription privilege or the secondary over-subscription privilege pursuant to the Rights offering.] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>[Dealer Manager </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#9679;] (previously defined as the &#147;Dealer Manager&#148;), a registered broker-dealer, may also act on behalf of its
clients to purchase or sell Rights in the open market and may receive commissions from its clients for such services. Holders of Rights attempting to sell any unexercised Rights in the open market through a broker-dealer other than the Dealer
Manager may be charged a different commission and should consider the commissions and fees charged by the broker-dealer prior to selling their Rights on the open market. The Dealer Manager is not expected to purchase Rights as principal for its own
account in order to seek to facilitate the trading market for Rights or otherwise. See &#147;Plan of Distribution&#148; for additional information.] </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-8 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Sale of Rights </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights are transferable and will be admitted for trading on the [&#9679;] under the symbol &#147;[&#9679;].&#148; Although
no assurance can be given that a market for the Rights will develop, trading in the Rights on the [&#9679;] is expected to begin two Business Days prior to the Record Date and may be conducted until the close of trading on the last [&#9679;] trading
day prior to the Expiration Date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of the Rights, if any, will be reflected by the market price. Rights may be
sold by individual holders through their broker or other financial intermediary. Holders of Rights attempting to sell any unexercised Rights in the open market through their broker or financial advisor may be charged a commission or incur other
transaction expenses and should consider the commissions and fees charged prior to selling their Rights on the open market. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Rights that are sold will not confer any right to acquire any Common Shares in any primary over-subscription privilege or
secondary over-subscription privilege, if any, and any Record Date Shareholder who sells any Rights will not be eligible to participate in the primary over-subscription privilege or secondary over-subscription privilege, if any.] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Trading of the Rights on the [&#9679;] will be conducted on a when-issued basis until and including the date on which the
Subscription Certificates are mailed to Record Date Shareholders of record and thereafter will be conducted on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">regular-way</FONT> basis until and including the last [&#9679;] trading day prior to the Expiration
Date. The Common Shares are expected to begin trading <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">ex-Rights</FONT> one Business Day prior to the Record Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Shareholders are urged to obtain a recent trading price for the Rights on the [&#9679;] from their broker, bank, financial
advisor or the financial press. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Holders of Rights who are unable or do not wish to exercise any or all of their Rights
may contact the Subscription Agent to facilitate the sale of any unexercised Rights. The Subscription Agent will contact the Dealer Manager or other brokers in order to assist Rights holders whose Rights are not currently held at a broker-dealer or
other applicable financial intermediary to facilitate the sale of the Rights. Shareholders of record whose addresses are outside the United States, or who have an APO or FPO address, are encouraged to contact the Subscription Agent to facilitate the
sale of their Rights if they are otherwise unable or unwilling to exercise the Rights. The selling Rights holder will pay all applicable brokerage commissions incurred. There can be no assurance that the Subscription Agent will be able to facilitate
the sale of any of Rights and neither the Trust nor the Subscription Agent has guaranteed any minimum sales price for the Rights. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Method of
Transferring Rights </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Rights evidenced by a single Subscription Certificate may be transferred in whole by endorsing
the Subscription Certificate for transfer in accordance with the accompanying instructions. A portion of the Rights evidenced by a single Subscription Certificate (but not fractional Rights) may be transferred by delivering to the Subscription Agent
a Subscription Certificate properly endorsed for transfer, with instructions to register the portion of the Rights evidenced thereby in the name of the transferee (and to issue a new Subscription Certificate to the transferee evidencing the
transferred Rights). In this event, a new Subscription Certificate evidencing the balance of the Rights will be issued to the Rights holder or, if the Rights holder so instructs, to an additional transferee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Holders wishing to transfer all or a portion of their Rights (but not fractional Rights) should promptly transfer such Rights
to ensure that: (i)&nbsp;the transfer instructions will be received and processed by the Subscription Agent, (ii)&nbsp;a new Subscription Certificate will be issued and transmitted to the transferee or transferees with respect to transferred Rights,
and to the holder with respect to retained Rights, if any, and (iii)&nbsp;the Rights evidenced by the new Subscription Certificates may be exercised or sold by the recipients thereof prior to the Expiration Date. Neither the Trust nor the
Subscription Agent shall have any liability to a transferee or holder of Rights if Subscription Certificates are not received in time for exercise or sale prior to the Expiration Date. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-9 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Except for the fees charged by the Subscription Agent (which will be paid by the
Trust as described below), all commissions, fees and other expenses (including brokerage commissions and transfer taxes) incurred in connection with the purchase, sale, transfer or exercise of Rights will be for the account of the holder of the
Rights, and none of these commissions, fees or expenses will be borne by the Trust or the Subscription Agent. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust
anticipates that the Rights will be eligible for transfer through, and that the exercise of the Rights may be effected through, the facilities of [insert depository] (Rights exercised through [insert depository] are referred to as &#147;[insert
depository] Exercised Rights&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Subscription Agent </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Subscription Agent is [&#9679;]. The Subscription Agent will receive from the Trust an amount estimated to be $[&#9679;],
comprised of the fee for its services and the reimbursement for certain expenses related to the Rights offering. The shareholders of the Trust will indirectly pay such amount. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Information Agent </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">INQUIRIES BY ALL HOLDERS OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: THE INFORMATION AGENT, [&#9679;]; HOLDERS PLEASE CALL TOLL-FREE AT
[&#9679;]; BANKS AND BROKERS PLEASE CALL [&#9679;]. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Method of Exercise of Rights </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Rights may be exercised by completing and signing the Subscription Certificate and delivering the completed and signed
Subscription Certificate to the Subscription Agent, together with payment for the Common Shares as described below under &#147;Payment for Shares.&#148; Rights may also be exercised through the broker of a holder of Rights, who may charge the holder
of Rights a servicing fee in connection with such exercise. See &#147;Plan of Distribution&#148; for additional information regarding the purchase and exercise of Rights by the Dealer Manager. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Completed Subscription Certificates and payment must be received by the Subscription Agent prior to [5:00 PM Eastern Time], on
the Expiration Date (unless payment is effected by means of a notice of guaranteed delivery as described below under &#147;Payment for Shares&#148;). Your broker, bank, trust company or other intermediary may impose a deadline for exercising Rights
earlier than [5:00 PM, Eastern Time], on the Expiration Date. The Subscription Certificate and payment should be delivered to the Subscription Agent at the following address: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If By Mail: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#9679;] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If
By Overnight Courier: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#9679;] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Payment for
Shares </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Holders of Rights who acquire Common Shares in the Rights offering may choose between the following methods of payment: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">A holder of Rights can send the Subscription Certificate, together with payment in the form of a check
(which must include the name of the shareholder on the check) for the Common Shares subscribed for in the Rights offering and, if eligible, for any additional Common Shares subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, to the
Subscription Agent based on the Subscription Price. To be accepted, </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-10 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
the payment, together with the executed Subscription Certificate, must be received by the Subscription Agent at one of the addresses noted above prior to [5:00 PM Eastern Time] on the Expiration
Date. The Subscription Agent will deposit all share purchase checks received by it prior to the final due date into a segregated account pending proration and distribution of Common Shares. The Subscription Agent will not accept cash as a means of
payment for Common Shares. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Alternatively, a subscription will be accepted by the Subscription Agent if, prior to [5:00 PM Eastern Time]
on the Expiration Date, the Subscription Agent has received a written notice of guaranteed delivery by mail or email from a bank, trust company, or a NYSE member, guaranteeing delivery of a properly completed and executed Subscription Certificate.
In order for the notice of guarantee to be valid, full payment for the Common Shares at the Subscription Price must be received with the notice. The Subscription Agent will not honor a notice of guaranteed delivery unless a properly completed and
executed Subscription Certificate is received by the Subscription Agent by the close of business on the [second] Business Day after the Expiration Date. The notice of guaranteed delivery must be emailed to the Subscription Agent at [&#9679;] or
delivered to the Subscription Agent at one of the addresses noted above. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A PAYMENT PURSUANT TO THIS
METHOD MUST BE IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS BY CHECK (WHICH MUST INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE SHAREHOLDER ON THE CHECK) DRAWN ON A BANK LOCATED IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, MUST BE PAYABLE TO BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST AND MUST ACCOMPANY AN EXECUTED
SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE TO BE ACCEPTED. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The method and timing of payment for Common Shares acquired by the Dealer
Manager through the exercise of Rights is described under &#147;Plan of Distribution.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If a holder of Rights who
acquires Common Shares pursuant to the subscription makes payment of an insufficient amount, the Trust reserves the right to take any or all of the following actions: (i)&nbsp;reallocate such subscribed and
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">unpaid-for</FONT> Common Shares to Record Date Shareholders exercising the over-subscription privilege who did not receive the full over-subscription requested; (ii)&nbsp;apply any payment actually received by it
toward the purchase of the greatest whole number of Common Shares which could be acquired by such holder upon exercise of the Rights or any over-subscription privilege; and (iii)&nbsp;exercise any and all other rights or remedies to which it may be
entitled, including, without limitation, the right to set off against payments actually received by it with respect to such subscribed Common Shares (in other words, retain such payments) and to enforce the exercising Rights holder&#146;s relevant
payment obligation. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any payment required from a holder of Rights must be received by the Subscription Agent prior to
[5:00 PM Eastern Time] on the Expiration Date. Issuance and delivery of the Common Shares purchased are subject to collection of checks. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Within [&#9679;] Business Days following the Expiration Date (the &#147;Confirmation Date&#148;), a confirmation will be sent
by the Subscription Agent to each holder of Rights (or, if the Common Shares are held by [insert nominee name] or any other depository or nominee, to [insert nominee name] or such other depository or nominee), showing (i)&nbsp;the number of Common
Shares acquired pursuant to the subscription, (ii)&nbsp;the number of Common Shares, if any, acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, and (iii)&nbsp;the per share and total purchase price for the Common Shares. Any payment required from
a holder of Rights must be received by the Subscription Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date. Any excess payment to be refunded by the Trust to a holder of Rights, or to be paid to a holder of Rights as a result of sales of Rights on its behalf
by the Subscription Agent, will be mailed by the Subscription Agent to the holder within [&#9679;] Business Days after the Expiration Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A holder of Rights will have no right to rescind a purchase after the Subscription Agent has received payment either by means
of a notice of guaranteed delivery or a check, which must include the name of the shareholder on the check. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Upon
acceptance of a subscription, all funds received by the Subscription Agent shall be held by the Subscription Agent as agent for the Trust and deposited in one or more bank accounts. Such funds may be invested by the Subscription Agent in: bank
accounts, short-term certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements, and disbursement accounts with commercial banks meeting certain standards. The Subscription Agent may receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such
deposits or investments. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-11 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Holders, such as broker-dealers, trustees or depositories for securities, who
hold Common Shares for the account of others, should notify the respective beneficial owners of the Common Shares as soon as possible to ascertain such beneficial owners&#146; intentions and to obtain instructions with respect to the Rights. If the
beneficial owner so instructs, the record holder of the Rights should complete Subscription Certificates and submit them to the Subscription Agent with the proper payment. In addition, beneficial owners of Common Shares or Rights held through such a
holder should contact the holder and request that the holder effect transactions in accordance with the beneficial owner&#146;s instructions. <B>[Banks, broker-dealers, trustees and other nominee holders that hold Common Shares of the Trust for the
accounts of others are advised to notify those persons that purchase Rights in the secondary market that such Rights may not participate in any over-subscription privilege offered.]</B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATES SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY AND FOLLOWED IN DETAIL. DO NOT SEND
SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATES TO THE TRUST. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATES AND PAYMENT OF THE
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE TO THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT WILL BE AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE RIGHTS HOLDERS, BUT IF SENT BY MAIL IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CERTIFICATES AND PAYMENTS BE SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, AND THAT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF DAYS BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE DELIVERY TO THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT AND CLEARANCE OF PAYMENT PRIOR TO [5:00 PM EASTERN TIME], ON THE EXPIRATION DATE BECAUSE UNCERTIFIED PERSONAL CHECKS MAY TAKE AT LEAST FIVE
BUSINESS DAYS TO CLEAR. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">All questions concerning the timeliness, validity, form and eligibility of any exercise of Rights
will be determined by the Trust, whose determinations will be final and binding. The Trust in its sole discretion may waive any defect or irregularity, or permit a defect or irregularity to be corrected within such time as it may determine, or
reject the purported exercise of any Right. Subscriptions will not be deemed to have been received or accepted until all irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as the Trust determines in its sole discretion. Neither the Trust nor
the Subscription Agent will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in connection with the submission of Subscription Certificates or incur any liability for failure to give such notification. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Foreign Restrictions </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Offering documents, including Subscription Certificates, will not be mailed to Record Date Shareholders whose addresses are
outside the United States (for these purposes, the United States includes the District of Columbia and the territories and possessions of the United States) or who have an APO or FPO address (the &#147;Foreign Shareholders&#148;) if such mailing
cannot be made into the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> jurisdiction without additional registration and incurring other expense that the Board has determined is not in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders. In such
cases, unless determined to be not in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders in accordance with the previous sentence, the Subscription Agent will send a letter via regular mail to Foreign Shareholders who own Common Shares directly
(&#147;Direct Foreign Shareholders&#148;), as opposed to in &#147;street name&#148; with a broker or other financial intermediary, to notify them of the Rights offering. Direct Foreign Shareholders who wish to exercise their Rights should contact
the Information Agent, as described above under &#147;Information Agent,&#148; to facilitate the exercise of such Rights and for instructions or any other special requirements that may apply in order for such Direct Foreign Shareholder to exercise
its Rights. Direct Foreign Shareholders who wish to sell their Rights should contact the Subscription Agent and follow the procedures described above under &#147;Sale of Rights.&#148; Direct Foreign Shareholders are encouraged to contact the Trust
or the Subscription Agent as far in advance of the Expiration Date as possible to ensure adequate time for their Rights to be exercised or sold. Foreign Shareholders who own Common Shares in &#147;street name&#148; through a broker or other
financial intermediary should contact such broker or other financial intermediary with respect to any exercise or sale of Rights. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-12 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Employee Benefit Plan and IRA Considerations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Holders of Rights that are employee benefit plans subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the &#147;Code&#148;), such as employee plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (&#147;ERISA&#148;), Keogh Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (&#147;IRA&#148;) (each a &#147;Benefit Plan&#148;
and collectively, &#147;Benefit Plans&#148;), should be aware that the use of additional contributions of cash outside of the Benefit Plan to exercise Rights may be treated as additional contributions to the Benefit Plan. When taken together with
contributions previously made, such deemed additional contributions may be in excess of tax limitations and subject the Rights holder to excise taxes for excess or nondeductible contributions. In the case of Benefit Plans qualified under
Section&nbsp;401(a) of the Code, additional contributions could cause the maximum contribution limitations of Section&nbsp;415 of the Code or other qualification rules to be violated. Benefit Plans contemplating making additional contributions to
exercise Rights should consult with their legal and tax counsel prior to making such contributions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Benefit Plans and
other tax exempt entities, including governmental plans, should also be aware that if they borrow to finance their exercise of Rights, they may become subject to the tax on unrelated business taxable income (&#147;UBTI&#148;) under Section&nbsp;511
of the Code. If any portion of an IRA is used as security for a loan, the portion so used may also be treated as distributed to the IRA depositor. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A Benefit Plan may also be subject to laws, such as ERISA, that impose certain requirements on the Benefit Plan and on those
persons who are fiduciaries with respect to the Benefit Plans. Such requirements may include prudence and diversification requirements and require that investments be made in accordance with the documents governing the Benefit Plan. The exercise of
Rights by a fiduciary for a Benefit Plan should be considered in light of such fiduciary requirements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, ERISA
and the Code prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of a Benefit Plan and certain persons (referred to as &#147;parties in interest&#148; for purposes of ERISA and &#147;disqualified persons&#148; for purposes of the Code) having certain
relationships to such Benefit Plans, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is applicable to the transaction. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a nonexempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and
other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code (or with respect to certain Benefit Plans, such as IRAs, a prohibited transaction may cause the Benefit Plan to lose its <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> status). In this
regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions (&#147;PTCEs&#148;) that may apply to the exercise of the Rights and holding of the Common Shares. These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">84-14</FONT> respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">90-1</FONT> respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">91-38</FONT> respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">95-60</FONT> respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">96-23</FONT>
respecting transactions determined by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">in-house</FONT> asset managers, PTCE <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">84-24</FONT> governing purchases of shares in investment companies) and PTCE
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">75-1</FONT> respecting sales of securities. In addition, Section&nbsp;408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section&nbsp;4975(d)(20) of the Code each provides a limited exemption, commonly referred to as the &#147;service provider
exemption,&#148; from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section&nbsp;4975 of the Code for certain transactions between a Benefit Plan and a person that is a party in interest and/or a disqualified person (other than a fiduciary or
an affiliate that, directly or indirectly, has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment advice with respect to the assets of any Benefit Plan involved in the transaction) solely by reason of providing services to
the Benefit Plan or by relationship to a service provider, provided that the Benefit Plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than adequate consideration. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions or any other
exemption will be satisfied at the time that the Rights are exercised, or thereafter while the Common Shares are held, if the facts relied upon for utilizing a prohibited transaction exemption change. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties for noncompliance, fiduciaries of Benefit Plans should consult with
their legal and tax counsel regarding the consequences of their exercise of Rights under ERISA, the Code and other similar laws.] </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-13 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_4"></A>SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table and example are intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses directly or
indirectly associated with investing in our Common Shares as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares. Amounts are for the current fiscal year after giving effect to anticipated net proceeds of the Rights offering. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="92%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="68%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Shareholder Transaction Expenses</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Offering expenses borne by the Trust (as a percentage of offering price)<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan fees</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;<BR></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">$[&#9679;]&nbsp;per&nbsp;share&nbsp;for&nbsp;open-market</FONT><BR>purchases&nbsp;of&nbsp;common&nbsp;shares<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Dividend reinvestment plan sale transaction fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Estimated Annual Expenses </B>(as a percentage of net assets attributable to common
shares)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Management fees<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(3) (4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Interest Payments on Borrowed
Funds<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(5)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Other Expenses<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(6)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fee Waivers and/or Expense
Reimbursements<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">&#151;&#8194;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total Annual Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(4)</SUP></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[&#9679;]%</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:3.00px double #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Trust shareholders will pay all offering expenses involved with this offering. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Computershare Trust Company, N.A.&#146;s (in such capacity, the &#147;Reinvestment Plan Agent&#148;) fees
for the handling of the reinvestment of dividends will be paid by the Trust. However, you will pay a $0.02 per share fee incurred in connection with open-market purchases, which will be deducted from the value of the dividend. You will also be
charged a $2.50 sales fee and pay a $0.15 per share fee if you direct the Reinvestment Plan Agent to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions the Reinvestment Plan
Agent is required to pay. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust currently pays the Advisor a monthly fee at an annual contractual investment management fee rate
of 0.50% of its average weekly managed assets. For purposes of calculating these fees, &#147;managed assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed) minus the sum of its accrued liabilities
(other than money borrowed for investment purposes). </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have entered into a fee waiver agreement (the &#147;Fee Waiver Agreement&#148;),
pursuant to which the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Trust&#146;s assets attributable to investments in any equity and fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds managed by
the Advisor or its affiliates that have a contractual management fee, through June&nbsp;30, [2026]. In addition, pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fees by the amount of investment
advisory fees the Trust pays to the Advisor indirectly through its investment in money market funds managed by the Advisor or its affiliates, through June&nbsp;30, [2026]. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment
of any penalty, only by the Trust (upon the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not &#147;interested persons&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Trust) or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust), upon
90 days&#146; written notice by the Trust to the Advisor. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Assumes the use of leverage in the form of reverse repurchase agreements representing [&#9679;]% of managed
assets at an annual interest expense to the Trust of [&#9679;]%, which is based on current market conditions. The actual amount of interest expense borne by the Trust will vary over time in accordance with the level of the Trust&#146;s use of
reverse repurchase agreements and variations in market interest rates. Interest expense is required to be treated as an expense of the Trust for accounting purposes. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(6)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Other expenses are estimated assuming net proceeds of the Rights offering to be approximately $[&#9679;],
based on the estimated Subscription Price per Common Share of $[&#9679;] ([&#9679;]% of the average of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)] preceding
trading days), assuming all new Common Shares offered are sold and that the expenses related to the Rights offering estimated at approximately $[&#9679;] are paid. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The purpose of the table above and the examples below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a holder of Common Shares,
would bear directly or indirectly. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-14 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Example </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following example illustrates the expenses (including the sales load of $[&#9679;] and offering costs of $[&#9679;]) that
you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (i)&nbsp;total net annual expenses of [&#9679;]% of net assets attributable to common shares, and (ii)&nbsp;a 5% annual return: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>1&nbsp;Year</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>3&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>5&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>10&nbsp;Years</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total expenses incurred</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">$[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The example assumes that the
estimated &#147;Other expenses&#148; set forth in the Estimated Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Trust&#146;s
actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_5"></A>USE OF PROCEEDS </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust estimates the net proceeds of the Rights offering to be approximately $[&#9679;], based
on the estimated Subscription Price per Common Share of $[&#9679;] ([&#9679;]% of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)]&nbsp;preceding trading days),
assuming all new Common Shares offered are sold and that the expenses related to the Rights offering estimated at approximately $[&#9679;] are paid. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The net proceeds from the Rights offering hereunder will be invested in accordance with the Trust&#146;s investment objective
and policies as set forth in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We currently anticipate that we will be able to invest all of the net proceeds in accordance with our investment objective and policies within approximately
[three] months of the receipt of such proceeds. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in [short-term, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> or taxable investment grade securities]. Depending on
market conditions and operations, a portion of the cash held by the Trust, including any proceeds raised from the offering, may be used to pay distributions in accordance with the Trust&#146;s distribution policy and may be a return of capital. A
return of capital is a return to investors of a portion of their original investment in the Trust. In general terms, a return of capital would involve a situation in which a Trust distribution (or a portion thereof) represents a return of a portion
of a shareholder&#146;s investment in the Trust, rather than making a distribution that is funded from the Trust&#146;s earned income or other profits. Although return of capital distributions may not be currently taxable, such distributions would
decrease the basis of a shareholder&#146;s shares, and therefore, may increase a shareholder&#146;s tax liability for capital gains upon a sale of shares, even if sold at a loss to the shareholder&#146;s original investments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_6"></A>CAPITALIZATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table sets forth the unaudited capitalization of the Trust as of [&#9679;], 2025 and its adjusted capitalization
assuming the Common Shares available in the Rights offering discussed in this Prospectus Supplement had been issued. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[To
be provided.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_7"></A>SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE RIGHTS OFFERING </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Risk is inherent in all investing. Therefore, before investing in the Common Shares you should consider the risks associated
with such an investment carefully. See &#147;Risks&#148; in the Prospectus. The following summarizes some of the matters that you should consider before investing in the Trust through the Rights offering: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Dilution</I>. Record Date Shareholders who do not fully exercise their Rights will, at the completion of the Rights
offering, own a smaller proportional interest in the Trust than owned prior to the Rights offering. The completion of the Rights offering will result in immediate voting dilution for such shareholders. [Further, both the sales load and the expenses
associated with the Rights offering will immediately reduce the NAV of each outstanding Common Share.] In addition, if the Subscription Price is less than the NAV per Common Share as of the Expiration Date, the
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-15 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
completion of this Rights offering will result in an immediate dilution of the NAV per Common Share for all existing Common Shareholders (<I>i.e.</I>, will cause the NAV per Common Share to
decrease). As a result, existing Common Shareholders may experience immediate dilution even if they fully exercise their Rights. Such dilution, if any, is not currently determinable because it is not known how many Common Shares will be subscribed
for, what the NAV per Common Share or market price of the Common Shares will be on the Expiration Date or what the Subscription Price per Common Share will be. If the Subscription Price is substantially less than the current NAV per Common Share,
this dilution could be substantial. The Trust will pay expenses associated with the Rights offering, estimated at approximately $[&#9679;]. In addition, the Trust has agreed to pay a dealer manager fee (sales load) equal to [&#9679;]% of the
Subscription Price per Common Share issued pursuant to the exercise of Rights (including pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege). The Trust, not investors, pays the sales load, which is ultimately borne by all Common Shareholders. All of the
costs of the Rights offering will be borne by the Trust&#146;s Common Shareholders. See &#147;Table of Fees and Expenses&#148; in this Prospectus Supplement and &#147;Summary of Trust Expenses&#148; in the accompanying Prospectus for more
information. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">You will experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate NAV per Common Share if you do not participate in
the Rights offering and will experience a reduction in the NAV per Common Share whether or not you exercise your Rights, if the Subscription Price is below the Trust&#146;s NAV per Common Share on the Expiration Date, because: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the offered Common Shares are being sold at less than their current NAV; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">you will indirectly bear the expenses of the Rights offering; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the number of Common Shares outstanding after the Rights offering will have increased proportionately more
than the increase in the amount of the Trust&#146;s net assets. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">On the other hand, if the Subscription
Price is above the Trust&#146;s NAV per Common Share on the Expiration Date, you may experience an immediate accretion of the aggregate NAV per share of your Common Shares even if you do not exercise your Rights and an immediate increase in the NAV
per Common Share whether or not you participate in the Rights offering, because: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the offered Common Shares are being sold at more than their current NAV after deducting the expenses of the
Rights offering; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the number of Common Shares outstanding after the Rights offering will have increased proportionately less
than the increase in the amount of the Trust&#146;s net assets. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Furthermore, if you do not participate
in the secondary over-subscription, if it is available, your percentage ownership will also be diluted.] The Trust cannot state precisely the amount of any dilution because it is not known at this time what the NAV per Common Share will be on the
Expiration Date or what proportion of the Rights will be exercised or what the Subscription Price per Common Share will be. The impact of the Rights offering on NAV per Common Share is shown by the following examples, assuming the Rights offering is
fully subscribed and the estimated Subscription Price of $[&#9679;]: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="95%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>[Scenario 1: (assumes NAV per share is above Subscription Price)(1)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NAV(2)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Subscription Price(3)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Reduction in NAV ($)(4)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Reduction in NAV (%)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="95%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>[Scenario 2: (assumes NAV per share is below Subscription Price)(1)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NAV(2)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Subscription Price(3)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Increase in NAV ($)(4)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-16 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD WIDTH="95%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>

<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Increase in NAV (%)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">[&#9679;]]</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Both examples assume the full primary subscription [and secondary over-subscription privilege] are
exercised. Actual amounts may vary due to rounding. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">For illustrative purposes only. It is not known at this time what the NAV per Common Share will be on the
Expiration Date. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">For illustrative purposes only; reflects an estimated Subscription Price of $[&#9679;] based upon [&#9679;]%
of the last reported sales price of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares on the NYSE on [&#9679;], 2025 and each of the [&#9679; (&#9679;)] preceding trading days. It is not known at this time what the Subscription Price will be on the Expiration Date.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Assumes $[&#9679;] in estimated offering expenses. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If you do not wish to exercise your Rights, you should consider selling them as set forth in this Prospectus Supplement. Any
cash you receive from selling your Rights may serve as partial compensation for any possible dilution of your interest in the Trust. The Trust cannot give assurance, however, that a market for the Rights will develop or that the Rights will have any
marketable value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[The Trust&#146;s largest shareholders could increase their percentage ownership in the Trust through
the exercise of the primary subscription and over-subscription privilege.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Risks of Investing in Rights.</I> Shares of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds such as the Trust frequently trade at a discount to NAV. The Subscription Price may be greater than the market price of a Common Share on the Expiration Date. If that is the case, the Rights
will have no value, and a person who exercises Rights will experience an immediate loss of value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Leverage.
</I>Leverage creates a greater risk of loss, as well as a potential for more gain, for the Common Shares than if leverage were not used. Following the completion of the Rights offering, the Trust&#146;s amount of leverage outstanding will decrease.
The leverage of the Trust as of [&#9679;], 2025 was approximately [&#9679;]% of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets. After the completion of the Rights offering, the amount of leverage outstanding is expected to decrease to approximately [&#9679;]% of
the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets. The use of leverage for investment purposes creates opportunities for greater total returns but at the same time increases risk. When leverage is employed, the NAV and market price of the Common Shares and the yield
to holders of Common Shares may be more volatile. Any investment income or gains earned with respect to the amounts borrowed in excess of the interest due on the borrowing will augment the Trust&#146;s income. Conversely, if the investment
performance with respect to the amounts borrowed fails to cover the interest on such borrowings, the value of the Trust&#146;s Common Shares may decrease more quickly than would otherwise be the case, and distributions on the Common Shares could be
reduced or eliminated. Interest payments and fees incurred in connection with such borrowings will reduce the amount of net income available for distribution to holders of the Common Shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because the fee paid to the Advisor is calculated on the basis of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets, which include the proceeds
of leverage, the dollar amount of the management fee paid by the Trust to the Advisor will be higher (and the Advisor will be benefited to that extent) when leverage is used. The Advisor will use leverage only if it believes such action would result
in a net benefit to the Trust&#146;s shareholders after taking into account the higher fees and expenses associated with leverage (including higher management fees). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s leveraging strategy may not be successful. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Increase in Share Price Volatility; Decrease in Share Price. </I>The Rights offering may result in an increase in trading
of the Common Shares, which may increase volatility in the market price of the Common Shares. The Rights offering may result in an increase in the number of shareholders wishing to sell their Common Shares, which would exert downward price pressure
on the price of Common Shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Under-Subscription. </I>It is possible that the Rights offering will not be fully
subscribed. Under-subscription of the Rights offering would have an impact on the net proceeds of the Rights offering and whether the Trust achieves any benefits. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-17 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_8"></A>TAXATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following is a general summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Rights offering to Record Date
Shareholders who are U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The following summary supplements the discussion set forth in the accompanying Prospectus and SAI and is subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth therein. The
discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of investing in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[Please refer to the &#147;Tax Matters&#148; sections in the Trust&#146;s Prospectus and SAI for a description of the
consequences of investing in the Trust&#146;s Common Shares. Special tax considerations relating to this Rights offering are summarized below: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The value of a Right will not be includible in the income of a Common Shareholder at the time the subscription
Right is issued. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The basis of a Right issued to a Common Shareholder will be zero, and the basis of the share with respect to
which the Right was issued (the old share) will remain unchanged, unless either (a)&nbsp;the fair market value of the Right on the date of distribution is at least 15% of the fair market value of the old share, or (b)&nbsp;such Common Shareholder
affirmatively elects (in the manner set out in Treasury regulations under the Code) to allocate to the Right a portion of the basis of the old share. If either (a)&nbsp;or (b) applies, such Common Shareholder must allocate basis between the old
share and the Right in proportion to their fair market values on the date of distribution. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The basis of a Right purchased in the market will generally be its purchase price. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The holding period of a Right issued to a Common Shareholder will include the holding period of the old share.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">No loss will be recognized by a Common Shareholder if a Right distributed to such Common Shareholder expires
unexercised because the basis of the old share may be allocated to a Right only if the Right is exercised. If a Right that has been purchased in the market expires unexercised, there will be a recognized loss equal to the basis of the Right.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Any gain or loss on the sale of a Right will be a capital gain or loss if the Right is held as a capital asset
(which in the case of a Right issued to Record Date Shareholders will depend on whether the old share is held as a capital asset), and will be a long term capital gain or loss if the holding period is deemed to exceed one year.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">No gain or loss will be recognized by a Common Shareholder upon the exercise of a Right, and the basis of any
Common Share acquired upon exercise (the new Common Share) will equal the sum of the basis, if any, of the Right and the subscription price for the new Common Share. The holding period for the new Common Share will begin on the date when the Right
is exercised (or, in the case of a Right purchased in the market, potentially the day after the date of exercise).] </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations in effect as
they directly govern the taxation of the Trust and holders of its Common Shares, with respect to U.S. federal income taxation only. Other tax issues such as state and local taxation may apply. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to
determine the tax consequences of investing in the Trust. These provisions are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive.</I> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-18 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_9"></A>PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>[Distribution Arrangements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#9679;] will act as Dealer Manager for this Rights offering. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the
Dealer Manager Agreement among the Dealer Manager, the Trust and the Advisor, the Dealer Manager will provide financial structuring and solicitation services in connection with the Rights offering and will solicit the exercise of Rights and
participation in the over-subscription privilege. The Rights offering is not contingent upon any number of Rights being exercised. The Dealer Manager will also be responsible for forming and managing a group of selling broker-dealers (each, a
&#147;Selling Group Member&#148; and collectively, the &#147;Selling Group Members&#148;), whereby each Selling Group Member will enter into a Selling Group Agreement with the Dealer Manager to solicit the exercise of Rights and to sell Common
Shares purchased by the Selling Group Member from the Dealer Manager. In addition, the Dealer Manager will enter into a Soliciting Dealer Agreement with other soliciting broker-dealers (each, a &#147;Soliciting Dealer&#148; and collectively, the
&#147;Soliciting Dealers&#148;) to solicit the exercise of Rights. See &#147;&#151;Compensation to Dealer Manager&#148; for a discussion of fees and other compensation to be paid to the Dealer Manager, Selling Group Members and Soliciting Dealers in
connection with the Rights offering. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have each agreed to indemnify the Dealer Manager for
losses arising out of certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Dealer Manager Agreement also provides that the Dealer Manager will not be subject to any liability to the Trust in rendering the services contemplated by
the Dealer Manager Agreement except for any act of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Dealer Manager or reckless disregard by the Dealer Manager of its obligations and duties under the Dealer Manager Agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In order to seek to facilitate the trading market in the Rights for the benefit of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-exercising</FONT> shareholders, and the placement of the Common Shares to new or existing investors pursuant to the exercise of the Rights, the Dealer Manager Agreement provides for special arrangements with the
Dealer Manager. Under these arrangements, the Dealer Manager is expected to purchase Rights on the [&#9679;], as well as Rights received by the Subscription Agent for sale by Record Date Shareholders and offered to the Dealer Manager and unexercised
Rights of Record Date Shareholders whose record addresses are outside the United States that are held by the Subscription Agent and for which no instructions are received. The number of rights, if any, purchased by the Dealer Manager will be
determined by the Dealer Manager in its sole discretion. The Dealer Manager is not obligated to purchase Rights or Common Shares as principal for its own account to facilitate the trading market for Rights or for investment purposes. Rather, its
purchases are expected to be closely related to interest in acquiring Common Shares generated by the Dealer Manager through its marketing and soliciting activities. The Dealer Manager intends to exercise Rights purchased by it during the
Subscription Period but prior to the Expiration Date. The Dealer Manager may exercise those Rights at its option on one or more dates, which are expected to be prior to the Expiration Date. The Subscription Price for the Common Shares issued through
the exercise of Rights by the Dealer Manager prior to the Expiration Date will be the greater of [&#9679;]% of the last reported sale price of a Common Share on the NYSE on the date of exercise or [&#9679;]% of the last reported NAV of a Common
Share on the date prior to the date of exercise. The price and timing of these exercises are expected to differ from those described herein for the Rights offering. The Subscription Price will be paid to the Trust and the dealer manager fee with
respect to such proceeds will be paid by the Trust on the applicable settlement date(s) of such exercise(s). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In
connection with the exercise of Rights and receipt of Common Shares, the Dealer Manager intends to offer those Common Shares for sale to the public and/or through a group of selling members it has established. The Dealer Manager may set the price
for those Common Shares at any price that it determines, in its sole discretion. The Dealer Manager has advised that the price at which such Common Shares are offered is expected to be at or slightly below the closing price of the Common Shares on
the NYSE on the date the Dealer Manager exercises Rights. No portion of the amount paid to the Dealer Manager or to a Selling Group Member from the sale of Common Shares in this manner will be paid to the Trust. If the sales price of the Common
Shares is greater than the Subscription Price paid by the Dealer Manager for such Common Shares plus the costs to purchase Rights for the purpose of acquiring those Common Shares, the Dealer Manager will receive a gain. Alternatively, if the sales
price of the Common Shares is less than the Subscription Price for such Common Shares plus the costs to purchase Rights for the purpose of acquiring those Common Shares, the Dealer Manager will incur a loss. The Dealer Manager will pay a concession
to Selling Group Members in an amount equal to approximately [2.50]% of the aggregate price of the Common Shares sold by the respective Selling Group Member. Neither the Trust nor the Advisor has a role in setting the
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-19 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
terms, including the sales price, on which the Dealer Manager offers for sale and sells Common Shares it has acquired through purchasing and exercising Rights or the timing of the exercise of
Rights or sales of Common Shares by the Dealer Manager. Persons who purchase Common Shares from the Dealer Manager or the selling group will purchase shares at a price set by the Dealer Manager, which may be more or less than the Subscription Price,
and at a time set by the Dealer Manager, which is expected to be prior to the Expiration Date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Dealer Manager may
purchase Rights as principal or act as agent on behalf of its clients for the resale of such Rights. The Dealer Manager may realize gains (or losses) in connection with the purchase and sale of Rights and the sale of Common Shares, although such
transactions are intended by the Dealer Manager to facilitate the trading market in the Rights and the placement of the Common Shares to new or existing investors pursuant to the exercise of the Rights. Any gains (or losses) realized by the Dealer
Manager from the purchase and sale of Rights and the sale of Common Shares is independent of and in addition to its fee as Dealer Manager. The Dealer Manager has advised that any such gains (or losses) are expected to be immaterial relative to its
fee as Dealer Manager. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Since neither the Dealer Manager nor persons who purchase Common Shares from the Dealer Manager or
members of the selling group were Record Date Shareholders, they would not be able to participate in the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-subscription</FONT> privilege. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Persons who purchase Common Shares from the Dealer Manager or the selling group will not purchase shares at the Subscription
Price based on the formula price mechanism through which Common Shares will be sold in the Rights offering. Instead, those persons will purchase Common Shares at a price set by the Dealer Manager, which may be more or less than the Subscription
Price, and will not have the uncertainty of waiting for the determination of the Subscription Price on the Expiration Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is no limit on the number of Rights the Dealer Manager can purchase or exercise. Common Shares acquired by the Dealer
Manager pursuant to the exercise of Rights acquired by it will reduce the number of Common Shares available pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, perhaps materially, depending on the number of Rights purchased and exercised by the Dealer
Manager. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the Dealer Manager can seek to facilitate the trading market for Rights as described above, investors
can acquire Common Shares at the Subscription Price by acquiring Rights on the [&#9679;] and exercising them in the method described above under &#147;Description of the Rights&#151;Method of Exercise of Rights&#148; and &#147;Description of the
Rights&#151;Payment for Shares.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In the ordinary course of their businesses, the Dealer Manager and/or its
affiliates may engage in investment banking or financial transactions with the Trust, the Advisor and their affiliates. In addition, in the ordinary course of their businesses, the Dealer Manager and/or its affiliates may, from time to time, own
securities of the Trust or its affiliates. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The principal business address of the Dealer Manager is [&#9679;]. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Compensation to Dealer Manager </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Trust has agreed to pay the Dealer Manager a fee for its financial structuring
and solicitation services equal to [&#9679;]% of the Subscription Price per Common Share for each Common Share issued pursuant to the exercise of Rights, including the over-subscription privilege. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Dealer Manager will reallow to Selling Group Members in the selling group to be formed and managed by the Dealer Manager
selling fees equal to [&#9679;]% of the Subscription Price for each Common Share issued pursuant to the Rights offering or the over-subscription privilege as a result of their selling efforts. In addition, the Dealer Manager will reallow to
Soliciting Dealers that have executed and delivered a Soliciting Dealer Agreement and have solicited the exercise of Rights, solicitation fees equal to [&#9679;]% of the Subscription Price for each Common Share issued pursuant to the exercise of
Rights as a result of their soliciting efforts, subject to a maximum fee based on the number of Common Shares held by such Soliciting Dealer through [insert depository] on the Record Date. Fees will be paid to the broker-dealer designated on the
applicable portion of the subscription certificates or, in the absence of such designation, to the Dealer Manager. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-20 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, the Trust, has agreed to pay the Dealer Manager an amount up to
$[&#9679;] as a partial reimbursement of its expenses incurred in connection with the Rights offering, including reasonable <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">out-of-pocket</FONT></FONT> fees and expenses, if any and
not to exceed $[&#9679;], incurred by the Dealer Manager, Selling Group Members, Soliciting Dealers and other brokers, dealers and financial institutions in connection with their customary mailing and handling of materials related to the Rights
offering to their customers. No other fees will be payable by the Trust or the Advisor to the Dealer Manager in connection with the Rights offering. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_10"></A>LEGAL MATTERS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Trust by Willkie Farr&nbsp;&amp;
Gallagher LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Trust. Willkie Farr&nbsp;&amp; Gallagher LLP may rely as to certain matters of Delaware law on the opinion of [&#9679;]. [Certain legal matters will be passed on by [&#9679;] as special counsel to
the Dealer Manager in connection with the Rights offering.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_11"></A>FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The audited annual financial statements of the Trust for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 202[&#9679;] [and the
unaudited financial statements for the six months ended June&nbsp;30, 202[&#9679;]] are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the SAI. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="prosupp2925963_12"></A>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus constitute part of a Registration Statement filed by the Trust with
the SEC under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act. This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus omit certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Trust and the common shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained
from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC&#146;s website (http://www.sec.gov). </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R-21 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="font-size:60pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:60pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND
TRUST </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>] Rights for [</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:72pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Subscription Rights to Acquire Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights to Subscribe for </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Such Common Shares of Beneficial Interest </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>[</B>&#9679;<B></B><B>], 2025 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Until [&#8195; ], 2025 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus Supplement), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the common shares,
whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers&#146; obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters.</B> </P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" ALIGN="center">


<IMG SRC="g925963g15a01.jpg" ALT="LOGO" STYLE="width:2.1609in;height:0.310058in;">
 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY
BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>Subject to
Completion </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><FONT COLOR="#de1a1e"><B>Dated February&nbsp;7, 2025 </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BlackRock Core Bond Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Core Bond Trust (the &#147;Trust&#148;) is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT>
management investment company. This Statement of Additional Information (&#147;SAI&#148;) relating to the Trust&#146;s common shares of beneficial interest (&#147;common shares&#148;) does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in
conjunction with the prospectus relating thereto dated [&#9679;], 2025 and any related prospectus supplement. This SAI, which is not a prospectus, does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing common
shares, and investors should obtain and read the Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement prior to purchasing such shares. A copy of the Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement may be obtained without charge by calling (800) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052.</FONT> You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the Securities and Exchange Commission&#146;s (the &#147;SEC&#148;) website (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">References to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
&#147;Investment Company Act&#148;), or other applicable law, will include any rules promulgated thereunder and any guidance, interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, including court
interpretations, and exemptive, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">no-action</FONT> or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>This Statement of Additional Information is dated </B>[&#9679;]<B>, 2025.</B> </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:18pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="96%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Page</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_11">THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_12">INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_13">INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-3</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_14">OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-17</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_15">ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-20</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_16">MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-46</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_17">PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-54</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_18">POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-58</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_19">DESCRIPTION OF SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-68</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_110">REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-69</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_111">TAX MATTERS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-70</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_112">CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-77</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_113">INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-77</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_114">CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-77</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_115">INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-77</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_116">FINANCIAL STATEMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-78</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_117">APPENDIX A&#151;RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">A-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><A HREF="#saitoc925963_118">APPENDIX B&#151; PROXY VOTING POLICY</A></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">B-1</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_11"></A>THE TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a diversified, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act. The Trust was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on October&nbsp;12, 2001 pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust and the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and is governed by pursuant to the Trust&#146;s Agreement and Declaration of Trust which is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust&#146;s investment adviser is BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the &#147;Advisor&#148;). BlackRock
International Limited (&#147;BIL&#148;) and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (&#147;BSL&#148; and together with BIL, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Sub-Advisors&#148;</FONT> and collectively with the Advisor, the &#147;Advisors&#148;) serve
as the Trust&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisers.</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The common shares of the Trust are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange (&#147;NYSE&#148;) under the symbol &#147;BHK.&#148; As of January 31, 2025, the Trust has 54,120,397 common shares outstanding. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_12"></A>INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Restrictions </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust has adopted restrictions and policies relating to the investment of the Trust&#146;s assets and its activities.
Certain of the restrictions are fundamental policies of the Trust and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Trust&#146;s outstanding voting securities (which for this purpose and under the Investment Company Act
means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares of each class of shares are represented or (ii)&nbsp;more than 50% of the outstanding shares). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Fundamental Investment Restrictions</I>. Under these fundamental investment restrictions, the Trust may not: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">1.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Invest 25% or more of the value of its total managed assets in any one industry. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">2.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">With respect to 75% of its total managed assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total managed
assets in the securities of any single issuer or purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">3.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Issue senior securities or borrow money other than as permitted by the Investment Company Act or pledge its
assets other than to secure such issuances or in connection with hedging transactions, short sales, when-issued and forward commitment transactions and similar investment strategies. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">4.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Make loans of money or property to any person, except through loans of portfolio securities, the purchase of
fixed income securities consistent with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies or the entry into repurchase agreements. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">5.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Underwrite the securities of other issuers, except to the extent that in connection with the disposition of
portfolio securities or the sale of its own securities the Trust may be deemed to be an underwriter. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">6.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein other than municipal securities secured by real estate or
interests therein, provided that the Trust may hold and sell any real estate acquired in connection with its investment in portfolio securities. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">7.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts for any purposes except as, and to the extent, permitted
by applicable law without the Trust becoming subject to registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the &#147;CFTC&#148;) as a commodity pool. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (1)&nbsp;above, securities of the U.S.&nbsp;Government, any
state government or their respective agencies, or instrumentalities and securities backed by the credit of any federal or state governmental entity are not considered to represent industries. However, obligations backed only by the assets and
revenues of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-governmental</FONT> issuers may for this purpose be deemed to be issued by such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-governmental</FONT> issuers. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-1 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (2)&nbsp;above,
the Trust will regard each state and each political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of such state and each multi-state agency of which such state is a member and each public authority which issues securities on behalf of a private entity as a
separate issuer, except that if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-government</FONT> entity then the entity with the ultimate responsibility for the payment of interest and principal may
be regarded as the sole issuer. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under the Investment Company Act, the Trust may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company at the time such
shares are purchased. The Trust may invest a greater percentage of its assets in money market funds to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act or the Securities and Exchange Commission. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Fundamental</FONT> Investment Restrictions. </I>Additional investment restrictions
adopted by the Trust, which may be changed by the Trust&#146;s Board of Trustees (the &#147;Board&#148;) without shareholder approval, provide that the Trust may not: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">A.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Make any short sale of securities except in conformity with applicable laws, rules and regulations and
unless after giving effect to such sale, the market value of all securities sold short does not exceed 25% of the value of the Trust&#146;s total managed assets and the Trust&#146;s aggregate short sales of a particular class of securities does not
exceed 25% of the then outstanding securities of that class. The Trust may also make short sales &#147;against the box&#148; without respect to such limitations. In this type of short sale, at the time of the sale, the Trust owns or has the
immediate and unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost the identical security. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">B.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Purchase securities of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> or
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment companies except in compliance with the Investment Company Act or any regulations promulgated or exemptive relief obtained thereunder. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">C.</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Purchase securities of companies for the purpose of exercising control. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-fundamental</FONT> policy, under normal market conditions, the Trust invests at
least 80% of its assets in bonds. Bonds held by the Trust may take the form of bonds, notes, bills, debentures, convertible securities, warrants attached to bonds, bank debt obligations, loan participations and assignments, trust preferred
securities and securities issued by entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of securities. The Trust has adopted a policy to provide shareholders of the Trust at least 60 days prior notice of
any change in this investment policy. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at the time
of purchase of securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of the acquisition of securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The percentage limitations applicable to the Trust&#146;s portfolio described herein apply only at the time of investment, and
the Trust will not be required to sell securities due to subsequent changes in the value of securities it owns. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In
addition, to comply with Federal tax requirements for qualification as a &#147;regulated investment company,&#148; the Trust&#146;s investments will be limited in a manner such that at the close of each quarter of each taxable year, (a)&nbsp;no more
than 25% of the value of the Trust&#146;s total assets are invested in the securities (other than United States government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer or two or more issuers controlled by the
Trust and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses and (b)&nbsp;with regard to at least 50% of the Trust&#146;s total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities (other than United States government
securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer and such securities do not represent more than 10&nbsp;percent of the voting securities of such issuer. These <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-related</FONT>
limitations may be changed by the trustees to the extent appropriate in light of changes to applicable tax requirements. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-2 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_13"></A>INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following information supplements the discussion of the Trust&#146;s investment objective, policies and techniques that
are described in the Prospectus. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may make significant investments in residential and commercial mortgage-related securities issued by governmental
entities and private issuers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The yield and maturity characteristics of mortgage-related and other asset-backed
securities differ from traditional debt securities. A major difference is that the principal amount of the obligations may normally be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) generally may be prepaid at any time. In
calculating the average weighted maturity of the Trust, the maturity of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Trust will be based on estimates of average life which take prepayments into account. The average life of a
mortgage-related instrument, in particular, is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools underlying the securities as the result of scheduled principal payments and mortgage prepayments. In general, the
collateral supporting <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-mortgage</FONT> asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments. Like other fixed-income securities, when interest
rates rise the value of an asset-backed security generally will decline; however, when interest rates decline, the value of an asset-backed security with prepayment features may not increase as much as that of other fixed-income securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The relationship between prepayments and interest rates may give some high-yielding mortgage-related and asset-backed
securities less potential for growth in value than conventional bonds with comparable maturities. In addition, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to increase. During such periods, the reinvestment of prepayment
proceeds by the Trust will generally be at lower rates than the rates that were carried by the obligations that have been prepaid. Because of these and other reasons, mortgage-related and asset-backed security&#146;s total return and maturity may be
difficult to predict precisely. To the extent that the Trust purchases mortgage-related and asset-backed securities at a premium, prepayments (which may be made without penalty) may result in loss of the Trust&#146;s principal investment to the
extent of premium paid. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Mortgage-Backed Securities</I>. Mortgage-backed securities (&#147;MBS&#148;) include
structured debt obligations collateralized by pools of commercial (&#147;CMBS&#148;) or residential (&#147;RMBS&#148;) mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans and mortgage-backed loans, such as mezzanine loans, are assembled as securities for sale to
investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations. MBS include complex instruments such as collateralized mortgage obligations (&#147;CMOs&#148;), stripped MBS, mortgage pass-through securities and interests in Real
Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (&#147;REMICs&#148;). The MBS in which the Trust may invest include those with fixed, floating or variable interest rates, those with interest rates that change based on multiples of changes in a specified
reference interest rate or index of interest rates and those with interest rates that change inversely to changes in interest rates, as well as those that do not bear interest. The Trust may invest in RMBS and CMBS issued by governmental entities
and private issuers, including subordinated MBS and residual interests. The Trust may invest in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-prime</FONT> mortgages or MBS that are backed by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-prime</FONT> mortgages. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In general, losses on a mortgaged property securing a mortgage loan included in a securitization will be borne first by the
equity holder of the property, then by a cash reserve fund or letter of credit, if any, then by the holder of a mezzanine loan or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">B-Note,</FONT> if any, then by the &#147;first loss&#148; subordinated security holder
(generally, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;B-Piece&#148;</FONT> buyer) and then by the holder of a higher rated security.&nbsp;The Trust may invest in any class of security included in a securitization. In the event of default and the
exhaustion of any equity support, reserve fund, letter of credit, mezzanine loans or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">B-Notes,</FONT> and any classes of securities junior to those in which the Trust invests, the Trust will not be able to recover all
of its investment in the MBS it purchases. MBS in which the Trust invests may not contain reserve funds, letters of credit, mezzanine loans and/or junior classes of securities. The prices of lower credit quality securities are generally less
sensitive to interest rate changes than more highly rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic downturns or individual issuer developments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Mortgage Pass-Through Securities</I>. Interests in pools of mortgage-related securities differ from other forms of bonds,
which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists of both interest
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-3 </P>


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<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a &#147;pass-through&#148; of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of
any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs which may be incurred. Some
mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the &#147;Government National Mortgage Association,&#148; or &#147;GNMA&#148;) are described as&nbsp;modified pass-through. These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and
principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may
have the effect of shortening or extending the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. To the extent that unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase the effective maturity of a
mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to increase. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mortgage-backed securities that
are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to the Trust&#146;s industry concentration restrictions, set forth in &#147;Investment Objective and Policies&#151;Investment Restrictions&#148; in
this SAI, by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. government securities. In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities, the Trust takes the position that mortgage-related securities do not represent interests in
any particular &#147;industry&#148; or group of industries. The assets underlying such securities may be represented by a portfolio of first lien residential mortgages (including both whole mortgage loans and mortgage participation interests) or
portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, the Federal National Mortgage Association (&#147;FNMA&#148;) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (&#147;FHLMC&#148;). Mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-related
security may in turn be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (the &#147;FHA&#148;) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (the &#147;VA&#148;). In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities whose underlying assets
are neither U.S. government securities nor U.S. government-insured mortgages, to the extent that real properties securing such assets may be located in the same geographical region, the security may be subject to a greater risk of default than other
comparable securities in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments that may affect such region and, ultimately, the ability of residential homeowners to make payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>RMBS</I>. RMBS are securities the payments on which depend primarily on the cash flow from residential mortgage loans
made to borrowers that are secured, on a first priority basis or second priority basis, subject to permitted liens, easements and other encumbrances, by residential real estate <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(one-</FONT> to four-family
properties), the proceeds of which are used to purchase real estate and purchase or construct dwellings thereon or to refinance indebtedness previously used for such purposes. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-agency</FONT> residential mortgage
loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by residential property is dependent upon the income or assets of the
borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair a borrower&#146;s ability to repay its loans. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><U>Agency RMBS</U>. The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly owned United
States Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued
by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the FHA, or guaranteed by the VA.&nbsp;MBS issued by GNMA include GNMA Mortgage Pass-Through
Certificates (also known as &#147;Ginnie Maes&#148;) which are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA and such guarantees are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA certificates also are
supported by the authority of GNMA to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments under its guarantee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government) include the FNMA and the
FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation the common stock of which is owned entirely by private stockholders. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of
approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA (also known as &#147;Fannie
Maes&#148;) are guaranteed as to timely payment of </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-4 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
principal and interest by FNMA, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of
mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation that issues FHLMC Guaranteed Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (also known as &#147;Freddie Macs&#148; or &#147;PCs&#148;), which are pass-through securities, each
representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (&#147;FHFA&#148;) placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. FNMA and FHLMC are
continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remains liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its MBS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder,
officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC
pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury would purchase up to an aggregate of $100&nbsp;billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants that severely limit each
enterprise&#146;s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1&nbsp;billion of each enterprise&#146;s senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise&#146;s common stock. In
February 2009, the U.S. Treasury doubled the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200&nbsp;billion. The U.S. Treasury&#146;s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite
period of time for a maximum amount of $200&nbsp;billion per enterprise. The U.S. Treasury also announced the creation of a new secured lending facility that is available to FNMA and FHLMC as a liquidity backstop and announced the creation of a
temporary program to purchase mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under the Federal Housing Finance
Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the &#147;Reform Act&#148;), which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to
FHFA&#146;s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA&#146;s or
FHLMC&#146;s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver. FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has
no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of FNMA or FHLMC because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for
FNMA or FHLMC, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability
could be satisfied only to the extent of FNMA&#146;s or FHLMC&#146;s assets available therefor. In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of FNMA or FHLMC MBS would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in
the mortgage loan groups related to such MBS are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by
such mortgage-backed security holders. Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it
has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC MBS would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and
would be exposed to the credit risk of that party. In addition, certain rights provided to holders of MBS issued by FNMA and FHLMC under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such
rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for FNMA and FHLMC MBS may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided)
that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of FNMA or FHLMC, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such MBS have the right to replace FNMA or FHLMC as trustee if the
requisite percentage of MBS holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development set forth a plan to
reform America&#146;s housing finance market, which would reduce the role of and eventually </P>
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eliminate FNMA and FHLMC. Notably, the plan did not propose similar significant changes to GNMA, which guarantees payments on mortgage related securities backed by federally insured or guaranteed
loans. The report also identified three proposals for Congress and the administration to consider for the long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of FNMA and FHLMC, including implementing: (i)&nbsp;a privatized
system of housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of creditworthy <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-</FONT> and moderate-income borrowers; (ii)&nbsp;a privatized system with a government backstop mechanism that
would allow the government to insure a larger share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis; and (iii)&nbsp;a privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of certain highly rated mortgage related
securities insured by private insurers and would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage insurers were insolvent. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><U><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Agency</FONT> RMBS</U>.&nbsp;Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private
mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying
mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-governmental</FONT> issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related
pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including
individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit, which may be issued by governmental entities, private insurers or the mortgage poolers. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and
the mortgage poolers. Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets the Trust&#146;s investment quality standards. There can be no assurance
that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. No insurance or guarantee covers the Trust or the price of the Trust&#146;s shares. RMBS issued by nongovernmental issuers
generally offer a higher rate of interest than government agency and government-related securities because there are no direct or indirect government guarantees of payment.&nbsp;The Trust may buy mortgage-related securities without insurance or
guarantees if, through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originator/servicers and poolers, the Advisors determine that the securities meet the Trust&#146;s quality standards. Although the market for such securities is
becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>CMOs
and REMICs</I>.&nbsp;The Trust may invest in multiple class pass-through securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (&#147;CMOs&#148;) and real estate mortgage investment conduit (&#147;REMIC&#148;) pass-through or participation
certificates (&#147;REMIC Certificates&#148;). These multiple class securities may be issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, including FNMA and FHLMC, or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans.
In general, CMOs and REMICs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by, and multiple class pass-through securities represent direct ownership interests in, a pool of residential or commercial mortgage loans or mortgage
pass-through securities (the &#147;Mortgage Assets&#148;), the payments on which are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple pass-through securities. Investors may purchase beneficial interests in CMOs and REMICs, which are known as
&#147;regular&#148; interests or &#147;residual&#148; interests. The residual in a CMO or REMIC structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making required payments of principal of and interest on the CMOs or
REMICs, as well as the related administrative expenses of the issuer. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Residual interests generally are junior to, and may
be significantly more volatile than, &#147;regular&#148; CMO and REMIC interests. The Trust does not currently intend to purchase residual interests. The markets for CMOs and REMICs may be more illiquid than those of other securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Each class of CMOs or REMIC Certificates, often referred to as a &#147;tranche,&#148; is issued at a specific adjustable or
fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets underlying the CMOs or REMIC Certificates may cause some or all of the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates to be
retired substantially earlier than their final distribution dates. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates on a monthly basis. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates
in various ways. In certain structures (known as &#147;sequential pay&#148; CMOs or REMIC Certificates), payments of principal, including any principal prepayments, on the Mortgage Assets generally are
</P>
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applied to the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made on any class of sequential pay CMOs or
REMIC Certificates until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Additional
structures of CMOs or REMIC Certificates include, among others, &#147;parallel pay&#148; CMOs and REMIC Certificates. Parallel pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates are those which are structured to apply principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage
Assets to two or more classes concurrently on a proportionate or disproportionate basis. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A wide variety of REMIC Certificates may be issued in the parallel pay&nbsp;or sequential pay structures. These securities
include accrual certificates (also known as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Z-Bonds&#148;),</FONT> which only accrue interest at a specified rate until all other certificates having an earlier final distribution date have been retired and are
converted thereafter to an interest-paying security, and planned amortization class (&#147;PAC&#148;) certificates, which are parallel pay REMIC Certificates which generally require that specified amounts of principal be applied on each payment date
to one or more classes of REMIC Certificates (the &#147;PAC Certificates&#148;), even though all other principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets are then required to be applied to one or more other classes of the Certificates. The
scheduled principal payments for the PAC Certificates generally have the highest priority on each payment date after interest due has been paid to all classes entitled to receive interest currently. Shortfalls, if any, are added to the amount
payable on the next payment date. The PAC Certificate payment schedule is taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class of PAC. In order to create PAC tranches, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb
most of the volatility in the underlying Mortgage Assets. These tranches tend to have market prices and yields that are much more volatile than the PAC classes. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">FNMA REMIC Certificates are issued and guaranteed as to timely distribution of principal and interest by FNMA. In addition,
FNMA will be obligated to distribute on a timely basis to holders of FNMA REMIC Certificates required installments of principal and interest and to distribute the principal balance of each class of REMIC Certificates in full, whether or not
sufficient funds are otherwise available. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For FHLMC REMIC Certificates, FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest,
and also guarantees the ultimate payment of principal as payments are required to be made on the underlying PCs. PCs represent undivided interests in specified level payment, residential mortgages or participations therein purchased by FHLMC and
placed in a PC pool. With respect to principal payments on PCs, FHLMC generally guarantees ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans without offset or deduction.&nbsp;FHLMC also guarantees timely payment of principal on
certain PCs, referred to as &#147;Gold PCs.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities</I>.&nbsp;Commercial
mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. The market for commercial mortgage-backed securities developed more recently and in terms of total outstanding
principal amount of issues is relatively small compared to the market for residential single-family mortgage-backed securities. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect&nbsp;the risks of investing in the real
estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Other Mortgage-Related Securities</I>.&nbsp;Other mortgage-related securities include securities other than those described
above that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property, including mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals or stripped mortgage-backed securities (&#147;SMBS&#148;). Other
mortgage-related securities&nbsp;may be equity or bonds issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage
banks, commercial banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>CMO
Residuals</I>. CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.&nbsp;government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage
banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is
applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining
after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other
things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on
CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (&#147;IO&#148;) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities. See &#147;Mortgage-Related Securities&#151;Stripped
Mortgage-Backed Securities.&#148; In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index
upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances the Trust may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as
brokers or dealers. The CMO residual market has only very recently developed and CMO residuals currently may not have the liquidity of other more established securities trading in other markets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities</I>.&nbsp;SMBS are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBS may be issued by
agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the
foregoing.&nbsp;SMBS are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and
most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the &#147;IO&#148; class), while the
other class will receive all of the principal (the principal- only or &#147;PO&#148; class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage
assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Trust&#146;s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Trust
may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the security has received the highest rating from one or more nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Asset-Backed Securities</I>. Asset-backed securities are generally issued as pass-through certificates, which represent
undivided fractional ownership interests in an underlying pool of assets, or as debt instruments, which are also known as collateralized obligations, and are generally issued as the debt of a special purpose entity organized solely for the purpose
of owning such assets and issuing such debt. Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-mortgage</FONT> asset-backed securities involve risks that are not presented by
mortgage-related securities. Primarily, these securities do not have the benefit of the same security interest in the underlying collateral. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured, and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number
of state and Federal consumer credit laws which give debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the servicers to retain possession of the
underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related automobile receivables. In addition, because of the
large number of vehicles involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have an effective security interest in all of the obligations backing such
receivables. Therefore, there is a possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be able to support payments on these securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>U.S. Government Obligations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may purchase obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies and
instrumentalities. Obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. </P>
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Treasury; and still others are supported only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial
support to U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law. Certain U.S. Treasury and agency securities may be held by trusts that issue participation certificates (such as Treasury Income Growth Receipts
(&#147;TIGRs&#148;) and Certificates of Accrual on Treasury certificates (&#147;CATs&#148;)). The Trust may purchase these certificates, as well as Treasury receipts and other stripped securities, which represent beneficial ownership interests in
either future interest payments or the future principal payments on U.S. government obligations. These instruments are issued at a discount to their &#147;face value&#148; and may (particularly in the case of stripped mortgage-backed securities)
exhibit greater price volatility than ordinary debt securities because of the manner in which their principal and interest are returned to investors. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Examples of the types of U.S. government obligations which the Trust may hold, include, but are not limited to, U.S. Treasury
bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds and the obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States,
the Small Business&nbsp;administration, FNMA, GNMA, the General Services Administration, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, FHLMC, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Maritime Administration, the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the &#147;World Bank&#148;), the Asian-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may purchase (i)&nbsp;debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S.
government, including bills, notes and bonds, and (ii)&nbsp;obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, including FNMA, Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Housing Administration. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Investment</FONT> Grade Securities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade or &#147;high yield&#148; fixed income or
convertible securities commonly known to investors as &#147;junk bonds.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">High yield securities are bonds that are
issued by a company whose credit rating (based on rating agencies&#146; evaluation of the likelihood of repayment) necessitates offering a higher coupon and yield on its issues when selling them to investors who may otherwise be hesitant in
purchasing the debt of such a company. While generally providing greater income and opportunity for gain, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade debt securities may be subject to greater risks than securities which have higher
credit ratings, including a higher risk of default, and their yields will fluctuate over time. High yield securities will generally be in the lower rating categories of recognized rating agencies (rated &#147;Ba&#148; or lower by Moody&#146;s
Investors Service, Inc. or &#147;BB&#148; or lower by S&amp;P Global Ratings) or will be <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-rated.</FONT> The credit rating of a high yield security&nbsp;does not necessarily address its market value risk, and
ratings may from time to time change, positively or negatively, to reflect developments regarding the issuer&#146;s financial condition. High yield securities are considered to be speculative with respect to the capacity of the issuer to timely
repay principal and pay interest or dividends in accordance with the terms of the obligation and may&nbsp;have more credit risk than higher rated securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The rating assigned by a rating agency evaluates the safety of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade
security&#146;s principal and interest payments, but does not address market value risk. Because such ratings of the ratings agencies may not always reflect current conditions and events, in addition to using recognized rating agencies and other
sources, the Advisors perform their own analysis of the issuers whose <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade securities the Trust holds. Because of this, the Trust&#146;s performance may depend more on the Advisors&#146; own
credit&nbsp;analysis than in the case of mutual funds investing in higher-rated securities. For a description of these ratings, see Appendix A to this SAI. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In selecting <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade securities, the Advisors consider factors such as
those relating to the creditworthiness of issuers, the ratings and performance of the securities, the protections afforded the securities and the diversity of the Trust. The Advisors continuously monitor the issuers of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade securities held by the Trust for their ability to make required principal and interest payments, as well as in an effort to control the liquidity of the Trust so that it can make
distributions. If a security&#146;s rating is reduced below the minimum credit rating that is permitted for the Trust, the Advisors will consider whether the Trust should continue to hold the security. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The costs attributable to investing in the high yield markets are usually higher
for several reasons, such as higher investment research costs and higher commission and transaction costs. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The lowest
rated bonds in which the Trust may invest are securities rated in the category &#147;C&#148; or determined by the Advisors to be of comparable quality. Securities rated &#147;C&#148; are considered highly speculative and may be used to cover a
situation where the issuer has filed a bankruptcy petition but debt service payments are continued. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, those are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposure to
adverse conditions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Short-Term Fixed Income Securities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, the Trust may invest up to 100% of its managed assets
in cash equivalents and short-term fixed income securities. The Trust may also invest in these instruments to achieve its investment objective. Short-term fixed income investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(1)&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;Government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that
are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S.&nbsp;Treasury or by U.S.&nbsp;Government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S.&nbsp;Government securities include securities issued by (a)&nbsp;the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home
Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United&nbsp;States, Small Business Administration, and Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b)&nbsp;the Federal Home
Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S.&nbsp;Treasury; (c)&nbsp;the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are
supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S.&nbsp;Government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d)&nbsp;the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the
U.S.&nbsp;Government provides financial support to such U.S.&nbsp;Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S.&nbsp;Government, its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(2)&nbsp;Certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates
are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon.
Certificates of deposit purchased by the Trust may not be fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(3)&nbsp;Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. At the time the Trust purchases securities
pursuant to a repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Trust
during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Trust to invest temporarily available cash. The Trust may enter into
repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S.&nbsp;Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers&#146; acceptances in which the Trust may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans
to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to the Trust is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Trust is
entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase
price, the Trust could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The Advisors monitor the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The Advisors do so in an effort
to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Trust. If the seller were to be subject to a Federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Trust to liquidate the
collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">(4)&nbsp;Commercial paper,
which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Trust and a corporation.
There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-10 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
redeemable by the Trust at any time. The Advisors will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously
monitor the corporation&#146;s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Trust&#146;s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper will be
limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Variable and Floating Rate Instruments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may purchase rated and unrated variable and floating rate instruments. These instruments may include variable amount
master demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. The Trust may invest up to 5% of their total managed assets in leveraged inverse floating rate debt
instruments (&#147;inverse floaters&#148;). The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which it is indexed.&nbsp;An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent
that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Issuers of
unrated variable and floating rate instruments must satisfy the same criteria as set forth above for the Trust. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to particular variable and floating rate instruments,&nbsp;however, could make it
difficult for the Trust to dispose of a variable or floating rate instrument if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods when the Trust is not entitled to exercise its demand rights. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">With respect to purchasable variable and floating rate instruments, the Advisors will consider the earning power, cash flows
and liquidity ratios of the issuers and guarantors of such instruments and, if the instruments are subject to a demand feature, will monitor their financial status to meet payment on demand. Such instruments may include variable amount master demand
notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to particular variable and floating rate instruments could make it
difficult for the Trust to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that the Trust is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and the Trust could, for these or other reasons,
suffer a loss with respect to such instruments. In determining average-weighted portfolio maturity, an instrument will be deemed to have a maturity equal to either the period remaining until the next interest rate adjustment or the time the Trust
involved can recover payment of principal as specified in the instrument, depending on the type of instrument involved. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Short Sales </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may make short sales of municipal securities and other securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Trust
sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. The Trust may make short sales to hedge positions, for duration and risk management, in order to maintain portfolio flexibility or to enhance
income or gain. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When the Trust makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the
broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Trust may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is often obligated to pay over any payments
received on such borrowed securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by
collateral deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S.&nbsp;Government securities or other liquid securities. The Trust will also be required to designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the extent, if any,
necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times at least equal to the current market value of the security sold short. Depending on arrangements made with the broker-dealer from which it borrowed the security regarding payment over
of any payments received by the Trust on such security, the Trust may not receive any payments (including interest) on its collateral deposited with such broker-dealer. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Trust replaces the
borrowed security, the Trust will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Trust will realize a gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. Although the Trust&#146;s gain is limited
to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-11 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will not make a short sale if, after giving effect to such sale, the
market value of all securities sold short exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets or the Trust&#146;s aggregate short sales of a particular class of securities exceeds 25% of the outstanding securities of that class. The Trust may also make
short sales &#147;against the box&#148; without respect to such limitations. In this type of short sale, at the time of the sale, the Trust owns or has the immediate and unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost the identical security.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust must comply with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act
with respect to its short sale borrowings, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Rule. See &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;Derivatives&#151;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;Under</FONT> the Investment Company Act&#148; below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>When-Issued and
Forward Commitment Securities </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may purchase bonds on a &#147;when-issued&#148; basis and may purchase or sell
bonds on a &#147;forward commitment&#148; basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a
later date. If the Trust disposes of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or disposes of its right to deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it can incur a gain or loss. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">At the time the Trust enters into a transaction on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, it will designate on its books
and records or segregate with a custodian cash or liquid assets with a value not less than the value of the when-issued or forward commitment securities. The value of these assets will be monitored daily to ensure that their marked to market value
will at all times equal or exceed the corresponding obligations of the Trust. Pursuant to recommendations of the Treasury Market Practices Group, which is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board of New York, the Trust or its counterparty generally is
required to post collateral when entering into certain forward-settling transactions, including without limitation transactions on a to be announced basis (TBA transactions). Any collateral posted by the Trust will be held on a segregated basis in
the name of the Trust by its qualified custodian. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is always a risk that the securities may not be delivered and
that the Trust may incur a loss. Settlements in the ordinary course are not treated by the Trust as when-issued or forward commitment transactions and accordingly are not subject to the foregoing restrictions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act permits the Trust to enter into
when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including TBA commitments, and dollar rolls) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle securities notwithstanding the
limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section&nbsp;18 of the Investment Company Act, provided that the Trust intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the
&#147;Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision&#148;). If a when-issued, forward-settling <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">or&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle security does not satisfy the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision, then
it is treated as a derivatives transaction under <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4.&nbsp;See</FONT> &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Derivatives&#151;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;Under</FONT> the Investment Company Act&#148; below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Dollar Roll Transactions
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To take advantage of attractive opportunities in the bond market and to enhance current income, the Trust may enter
into dollar roll transactions. A dollar roll transaction involves a sale by the Trust of a mortgage-backed or other security concurrently with an agreement by the Trust to repurchase a similar security at a later date at an agreed-upon price. The
securities that are repurchased will bear the same interest rate and stated maturity as those sold, but pools of mortgages collateralizing those securities may have different prepayment histories than those sold. During the period between the sale
and repurchase, the Trust will not be entitled to receive interest and principal payments on the securities sold. Proceeds of the sale will be invested in additional instruments for the Trust, and the income from these investments will generate
income for the Trust. If such income does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment
performance of the Trust compared with what the performance would have been without the use of dollar rolls. At the time the Trust enters into a dollar roll transaction,&nbsp;it will designate on its books and records or segregate with a custodian
cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid assets having a value equal to the repurchase price (including accrued interest) and will subsequently monitor the account to ensure that its value is maintained. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-12 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities
the Trust is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities. The Trust&#146;s right to purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted. Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon the
investment manager&#146;s ability to correctly predict interest rates and prepayments. There is no assurance that dollar rolls can be successfully employed. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act permits the Trust to enter into
when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., dollar rolls and firm and standby commitments, including TBA commitments) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle securities notwithstanding the limitation
on the issuance of senior securities in Section&nbsp;18 of the Investment Company Act, provided that the transaction meets the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision (as defined above under &#147;&#151;When-Issued and Forward Commitment
Securities&#148;). If a when-issued, forward-settling <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">or&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle security does not satisfy the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision, then it is treated as a derivatives
transaction under <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4.&nbsp;See</FONT> &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Derivatives&#151;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;Under</FONT> the
Investment Company Act&#148; below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pay-in-Kind</FONT></FONT> Bonds </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pay-in-kind,</FONT></FONT> or
&#147;PIK,&#148; bonds. PIK bonds are bonds which pay interest through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities. Similar to zero coupon obligations, PIK bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no
cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Trust may obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of PIK bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater
extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities which pay interest in cash. Additionally, current federal tax law requires the holder of certain PIK bonds to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the
receipt of cash payments. To maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid liability for federal income and excise taxes, the Trust may be required to distribute income accrued with respect to these securities and may have
to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Brady
Bonds </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s emerging market debt securities may include emerging market governmental debt obligations
commonly referred to as Brady Bonds. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Brady Bonds are debt securities, generally denominated in U.S. dollars, issued under
the framework of the Brady Plan as a means for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external indebtedness. In restructuring its external debt under the Brady Plan framework, a debtor nation negotiates with its existing bank lenders as
well as multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (the &#147;IMF&#148;). The Brady Plan framework, as it has developed, contemplates the exchange of external commercial bank debt for newly issued bonds
known as &#147;Brady Bonds.&#148; Brady Bonds may also be issued in respect of new money being advanced by&nbsp;existing lenders in connection with the debt restructuring. The World Bank and/or the IMF support the restructuring by providing funds
pursuant to loan agreements or other arrangements which enable the debtor nation to collateralize the new Brady Bonds or to repurchase outstanding bank debt at a discount. Under these arrangements with the World Bank and/or the IMF, debtor nations
have been required to agree to the implementation of certain domestic monetary and fiscal reforms. Such reforms have included the liberalization of trade and foreign investment, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and the setting of targets
for public spending and borrowing. These policies and programs seek to promote the debtor country&#146;s economic growth and development. Investors should also recognize that the Brady Plan only sets forth general guiding principles for economic
reform and debt reduction, emphasizing that solutions must be negotiated on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis between debtor nations and their creditors. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Brady Bonds involve various risk factors described elsewhere associated with investing in foreign securities, including the
history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds. In light of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of defaults, investments in Brady Bonds are
considered speculative. There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds in which the Trust may invest will not be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Trust to suffer a loss of interest or principal on
any of its holdings. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-13 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A significant amount of the Brady Bonds that the Trust may purchase have no or
limited collateralization, and the Trust will be relying for payment of interest and (except in the case of principal collateralized Brady Bonds) principal primarily on the willingness and ability of the foreign government to make payment in
accordance with the terms of the Brady Bonds. A substantial portion of the Brady Bonds and other sovereign debt securities in which the Trust may invest are likely to be acquired at a discount. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Collateralized Bond Obligations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in collateralized bond obligations (&#147;CBOs&#148;), which are structured products backed by a
diversified pool of high yield public or private fixed income securities. The pool of high yield securities is typically separated into tranches representing different degrees of credit quality. The top tranche of CBOs, which represents the highest
credit quality in the pool, has the greatest collateralization and pays the lowest interest rate. Lower CBO tranches represent lower degrees of credit quality and pay higher interest rates to compensate for the attendant risks. The bottom tranche
specifically receives the residual interest payments (i.e., money that is left over after the higher tiers have been paid) rather than a fixed interest rate. The return on the bottom tranche of CBOs is especially sensitive to the rate of defaults in
the collateral pool. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Mezzanine Investments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in certain high yield securities known as mezzanine investments, which are subordinated debt securities
which are generally issued in private placements in connection with an equity security (e.g., with attached warrants). Such mezzanine investments may be issued with or without registration rights. Similar to other high yield securities, maturities
of mezzanine investments are typically seven to ten years, but the expected average life is significantly shorter at three to five years. Mezzanine investments are usually unsecured and subordinate to other obligations of the issuer.&nbsp;However,
mezzanine loans rank senior to common and preferred equity in a borrower&#146;s capital structure. Mezzanine debt is often used in leveraged buyout and real estate finance transactions. Typically, mezzanine loans have elements of both debt and
equity instruments, offering the fixed returns in the form of interest payments associated with senior debt, while providing lenders an opportunity to participate in the capital appreciation of a borrower, if any, through an equity interest. This
equity interest typically takes the form of warrants. Due to their higher risk profile and often less restrictive covenants as compared to senior loans, mezzanine loans generally earn a higher return than senior secured loans. The warrants
associated with mezzanine loans are typically detachable, which allows lenders to receive repayment of their principal on an agreed amortization schedule while retaining their equity interest in the borrower. Mezzanine loans also may include a
&#147;put&#148; feature, which permits the holder to sell its equity interest back to the borrower at a price determined through an agreed-upon formula. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Loan Participations and Assignments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in fixed and floating rate loans (&#147;Loans&#148;) arranged through private negotiations between a
corporation or foreign government and one or more financial institutions (&#147;Lenders&#148;). The Trust&#146;s investments in Loans are expected in most instances to be in the form of participations in Loans (&#147;Participations&#148;) and
assignments of all or a portion of Loans (&#147;Assignments&#148;) from third parties. Participations typically will result in the Trust having a contractual relationship only with the Lender not the borrower. The&nbsp;Trust will have the right to
receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the Participation and the Trust and only upon receipt by the Lender of the payments by the borrower. In connection with purchasing
Participations, the Trust generally has no direct right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the Loan (&#147;Loan Agreement&#148;), nor any rights of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">set-off</FONT>
against the borrower, and the Trust may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, the Trust will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the Lender that is selling
the Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Lender selling a Participation, the Trust may be treated as a general creditor of the Lender and may not benefit from any <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">set-off</FONT> between the Lender and
the borrower. The Trust will only acquire Participations if the Lender selling the Participation, and any other persons interpositioned between the Trust and the borrower, are believed by the Investment Advisor to be creditworthy at the time they
enter into such transactions. When the Trust purchases Assignments from Lenders, the Trust will acquire direct rights against the borrower on the Loan. However, since Assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees
and assignors, the rights and obligations acquired by the Trust as the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Lender. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-14 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may have difficulty disposing of Assignments and Participations.
Because there is no liquid market for such securities, the Trust anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market will have an adverse impact on the value of
such securities and on the Trust&#146;s ability to dispose of particular Assignments or Participations when necessary to meet the Trust&#146;s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the
creditworthiness of the borrower. The lack of a liquid secondary market for Assignments and Participations also may make it more difficult for the Trust to assign a value to those securities for purposes of valuing the Trust&#146;s portfolio and
calculating its net asset value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Structured Investments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest a portion of its assets in interests in entities organized and operated solely for the purpose of
restructuring the investment characteristics of securities. This type of restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or a trust, of specified instruments and the issuance by that entity of one or more
classes of securities (&#147;Structured Investments&#148;) backed by, or representing interests in the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued Structured Investments to create
securities with different investment characteristics such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of the payments made with respect to Structured Investments is dependent on the extent of the cash flow
on the underlying instruments. Because Structured Investments of the type in which the Trust anticipates it will invest typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying
instruments.&nbsp;The Trust is permitted to invest in a class of Structured Investments that is either subordinated or not subordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated Structured Investments typically have higher yields and
present greater risks than unsubordinated Structured Investments.&nbsp;Certain issuers of Structured Investments may be deemed to be &#147;investment companies&#148; as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Trust&#146;s investment in these
Structured Investments may be limited by the restrictions contained in the 1940 Act. Structured Investments are typically sold in private placement transaction, and there currently is no active trading market for Structured Investments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">While structured instruments may offer the potential for a favorable rate of return from time to time, they also entail
certain risks. Structured instruments may be less liquid than other securities and the price of structured instruments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on the terms of the embedded index, a structured instrument may provide that the
principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured instruments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. Structured instruments may also be illiquid. Like other sophisticated strategies,
the Trust&#146;s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Convertible Securities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other
security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles
the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to
nonconvertible fixed-income securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities. The
value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an
effect on the convertible security&#146;s investment value. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation&#146;s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Convertible securities may
be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security&#146;s governing instrument. The Trust will treat investments in convertible debt securities as debt securities for purposes of its investment
policies. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Warrants </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may acquire warrants for equity securities and debt securities that are acquired as units with debt securities.
Warrants are securities permitting, but not obligating, their holder to subscribe for other securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to
purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants may be </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-15 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and a warrant
ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Project Loans </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in project loans, which are fixed income securities of issuers whose revenues are primarily derived from
mortgage loans to multi-family, nursing home and other real estate development projects. The principal payments on these mortgage loans will be insured by agencies and authorities of the U.S. government. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Stripped, Zero Coupons and Deferred Payment Obligations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent consistent with its investment objective, the Trust may purchase Treasury receipts and other &#147;stripped&#148;
securities that evidence ownership in either the future interest payments or the future principal payments on U.S. government and other obligations. These participants, which may be issued by the U.S. government (or a U.S. government agency or
instrumentality) or by private issuers such as banks and other institutions, are issued at a discount to their &#147;face value,&#148; and may include stripped mortgage-backed securities (&#147;SMBS&#148;). Stripped securities, particularly SMBS,
may exhibit greater price volatility than ordinary debt securities because&nbsp;of the manner in which their principal and interest are returned to investors, and they are often illiquid. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">SMBS are usually structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal
distributions from a pool of mortgage-backed obligations. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving all of the interest (&#147;IO&#148; or interest only), while the other class receives all of the principal (&#147;PO&#148; or principal
only). However, in some cases, one class will receive some of the interest and most of the principal while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. If the underlying obligations experience greater than
anticipated prepayments of principal, the Trust may fail to fully recoup its initial&nbsp;investment. The market value of SMBS can be extremely volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on a class of SMBS that receives all or
most of the interest are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other mortgage-related obligations because their cash flow patterns are also more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">zero-coupon</FONT> bonds, which are normally issued at a
significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. Zero-coupon bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than similar maturity debt obligations which provide for regular interest payments.
Additionally, current federal tax law requires the holder of certain <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">zero-coupon</FONT> bonds to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. To maintain its qualification as
a&nbsp;regulated investment company and to potentially avoid liability for federal income and excise taxes, the Trust may be required to distribute income accrued with respect to these securities and may have to dispose of Trust securities under
disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest
in Deferred Payment Securities. Deferred Payment Securities are securities that remain Zero-Coupon Securities until a predetermined date, at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals.
Deferred Payment Securities are subject to greater fluctuations in value and may have lesser liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities paying cash interest at regular interest payment periods. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Environmental, Social and Governance (&#147;ESG&#148;) Integration </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the Trust does not seek to implement a specific ESG, impact or sustainability strategy, Trust management will consider
ESG characteristics as part of the investment process for actively managed funds such as the Trust. These considerations will vary depending on a fund&#146;s particular investment strategies and may include consideration of third-party research as
well as consideration of proprietary research of the Advisors across the ESG risks and opportunities regarding an issuer. Trust management will consider those ESG characteristics it deems relevant or additive when making investment decisions for the
Trust. The ESG characteristics utilized in the Trust&#146;s investment process are anticipated to evolve over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible for investment. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-16 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">ESG characteristics are not the sole considerations when making investment
decisions for the Trust. Further, investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. As a result, the Trust may invest in issuers that do not reflect the beliefs and values with respect to ESG of any
particular investor. ESG considerations may affect the Trust&#146;s exposure to certain companies or industries and the Trust may forego certain investment opportunities. While Trust management views ESG considerations as having the potential to
contribute to the Trust&#146;s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_14"></A>OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Restricted and Illiquid Investments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in investments that lack an established secondary trading market or otherwise are considered illiquid.
Liquidity of an investment relates to the ability to dispose easily of the investment and the price to be obtained upon disposition of the investment, which may be less than would be obtained for a comparable more liquid investment. Illiquid
investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments. Investment of the Trust&#146;s assets in illiquid investments may restrict the ability of the Trust to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and for a fair price
as well as its ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity will be particularly acute where the Trust&#146;s operations require cash, such as when the Trust pays dividends, and could result in the Trust
borrowing to meet short-term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on the sale of illiquid investments. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust
may invest in securities that are not registered under the Securities Act (&#147;restricted securities&#148;). Restricted securities may be sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may be neither listed on an
exchange nor traded in other established markets. In many cases, privately placed securities may not be freely transferable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or due to contractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a
public trading market, privately placed securities may be less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. To the extent that privately placed securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized
from the sales, due to illiquidity, could be less than those originally paid by the Trust or less than their fair market value. In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor
protection requirements that may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If any privately placed securities held by the Trust are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold,
the Trust may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Where registration is required for restricted securities, a considerable time period may elapse between the time the Trust decides to sell the security and the time it is actually
permitted to sell the security under an effective registration statement. If during such period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Trust might obtain less favorable pricing terms than when it decided to sell the security. Transactions
in restricted securities may entail other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in unrestricted securities. Certain of the Trust&#146;s investments in private placements may consist of direct investments and may include
investments in smaller, less seasoned issuers, which may involve greater risks. These issuers may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. In making investments in such
securities, the Trust may obtain access to material nonpublic information, which may restrict the Trust&#146;s ability to conduct portfolio transactions in such securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reverse Repurchase Agreements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio investments subject to the investment
restrictions set forth herein and in the Prospectus. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Trust with an agreement by the Trust to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price, date and interest payment. At
the time the Trust enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may designate on its books and records liquid instruments having a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). If the Trust establishes and maintains such a
segregated account, a reverse repurchase agreement will not be considered a borrowing by the Trust; however, under certain circumstances in which the Trust does not establish and maintain such a segregated account, such reverse repurchase agreement
will be considered a borrowing for the purpose of the Trust&#146;s limitation on borrowings. The use by the Trust of reverse repurchase agreements involves many of the same risks of leverage since the proceeds derived from such reverse repurchase
agreements may be invested in additional securities. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities acquired in </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-17 </P>


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connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline below the price of the securities the Trust has sold but is obligated to repurchase. Also, reverse repurchase agreements involve the
risk that the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by the Trust in connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline in price. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its
trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Trust&#146;s obligation to repurchase the securities, and the Trust&#146;s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted
pending such decision. Also, the Trust would bear the risk of loss to the extent that the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement are less than the value of the securities subject to such agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In accordance with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act, when the
Trust engages in reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, the Trust may either (i)&nbsp;maintain asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii)&nbsp;treat
such transactions as &#147;derivatives transactions&#148; and comply with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;with</FONT> respect to such transactions. See &#147;Additional Risk Factors&#151;Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions
and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Derivatives&#151;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;Under</FONT> the Investment Company Act&#148; below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Repurchase Agreements
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As temporary investments, the Trust may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contractual
agreement whereby the seller of securities agrees to repurchase the same security at a specified price on a future date agreed upon by the parties. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Trust&#146;s holding period.
Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The Trust will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks
that, in the opinion of the Advisors, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Trust is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral
at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be
sold but the Trust might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to
the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Trust may be delayed or limited. The Advisors will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the
repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, the Advisors will demand additional collateral
from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Borrowings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust reserves the right to borrow funds to the extent permitted as described under the above caption &#147;Investment
Restrictions.&#148; The proceeds of borrowings may be used for any valid purpose including, without limitation, liquidity, investments and repurchases of shares of the Trust. Borrowing is a form of leverage and, in that respect, entails risks
comparable to those associated with the issuance of Preferred Shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Securities Lending </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may lend portfolio securities to certain borrowers determined to be creditworthy by the Advisors, including to
borrowers affiliated with the Advisors. The borrowers provide collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. No securities loan will be made on behalf of the Trust if, as a result, the
aggregate value of all securities loans of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Trust&nbsp;exceeds&nbsp;one-third&nbsp;of&nbsp;the</FONT> value of the Trust&#146;s total assets (including the value of the collateral received). The Trust may
terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return of the securities loaned. The Trust receives the value of any interest or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">cash&nbsp;or&nbsp;non-cash&nbsp;distributions&nbsp;paid</FONT> on the loaned securities.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower may be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount
of cash collateral. The Trust is compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, the Trust is compensated by a fee paid by
the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-18 </P>


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cash collateral received by the Trust for such loans, and uninvested cash, may be invested, among other things, in a private investment company managed by an affiliate of the Advisors or in
registered money market funds advised by the Advisors or their affiliates; such investments are subject to investment risk. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust conducts its securities lending pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC permitting it to lend portfolio
securities to borrowers affiliated with the Trust and to retain an affiliate of the Trust as lending agent. To the extent that the Trust engages in securities lending, BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (&#147;BIM&#148;), an affiliate of the
Advisors, acts as securities lending agent for the Trust, subject to the overall supervision of the Advisors. BIM administers the lending program in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent that the Trust engages in securities lending, the Trust retains a portion of securities lending income and
remits a remaining portion to BIM as compensation for its services as securities lending agent. Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral (and excludes collateral investment expenses as
defined below), and any fees or other payments to and from borrowers of securities. As securities lending agent, BIM bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending. The Trust is responsible for expenses in connection with the
investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the &#147;collateral investment expenses&#148;). The cash collateral is invested in a private investment company managed by the Advisor or its affiliates. However, BIM has agreed to cap
the collateral investment expenses of the private investment company to an annual rate of 0.04%. In addition, in accordance with the exemptive order, the investment adviser to the private investment company will not charge any advisory fees with
respect to shares purchased by the Trust. Such shares also will not be subject to a sales load, distribution fee or service fee. If the private investment company&#146;s weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets, BIM, as managing
member of the private investment company, is permitted at any time, if it determines it to be in the best interests of the private investment company, to impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value of units withdrawn or impose a redemption gate
that temporarily suspends the right of withdrawal out of the private investment company. In addition, if the private investment company&#146;s weekly liquid assets fall below 10% of its total assets at the end of any business day, the private
investment company will impose a liquidity fee in the default amount of 1% of the amount withdrawn, generally effective as of the next business day, unless BIM determines that a higher (not to exceed 2%) or lower fee level or not imposing a
liquidity fee is in the best interests of the private investment company. The shares of the private investment company purchased by the Trust would be subject to any such liquidity fee or redemption gate imposed. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under the securities lending program, the Trust is categorized into a specific asset class. The determination of the
Trust&#146;s asset class category (fixed income, domestic equity, international equity, or fund of funds), each of which may be subject to a different fee arrangement, is based on a methodology agreed to between the Trust and BIM. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement: (i)&nbsp;if the Trust were to engage in securities lending, the Trust
retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses), and (ii)&nbsp;this amount can never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment expenses. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income earned across the
BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex in a calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Trust, pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, will receive for the remainder of that calendar year securities lending income as follows: (i)&nbsp;if
the Trust were to engage in securities lending, 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment expenses); and (ii)&nbsp;this amount can never be less than 70% of the sum of securities lending income plus collateral investment
expenses. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-19 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_15"></A>ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Risk Factors in Strategic Transactions and Derivatives </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. There are significant risks that apply generally to derivatives transactions, including: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Correlation Risk</I>&#151;the risk that changes in the value of a derivative will not match the changes in
the value of the portfolio holdings that are being hedged or of the particular market or security to which the Trust seeks exposure. There are a number of factors which may prevent a derivative instrument from achieving the desired correlation (or
inverse correlation) with an underlying asset, rate or index, such as the impact of fees, expenses and transaction costs, the timing of pricing, and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for such derivative instrument. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Counterparty Risk</I>&#151;the risk that the counterparty in a derivative transaction will be unable to
honor its financial obligation to the Trust. In particular, derivatives traded in OTC markets often are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation and often do not require payment of margin, and to the extent that the Trust has unrealized
gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its counterparties the Trust is at risk that its counterparties will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor their obligations. The Trust will typically attempt to minimize counterparty
risk by engaging in OTC derivatives transactions only with creditworthy entities that have substantial capital or that have provided the Trust with a third-party guaranty or other credit support. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Credit Risk</I>&#151;the risk that the reference entity in a credit default swap or similar derivative will
not be able to honor its financial obligations. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Currency Risk</I>&#151;the risk that changes in the exchange rate between two currencies will adversely
affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Illiquidity Risk</I>&#151;the risk that certain securities or instruments may be difficult or impossible to
sell at the time or at the price desired by the counterparty in connection with payments of margin, collateral, or settlement payments. There can be no assurance that the Trust will be able to unwind or offset a derivative at its desired price, in a
secondary market or otherwise. It may, therefore, not be possible for the Trust to unwind its position in a derivative without incurring substantial losses (if at all). The absence of liquidity may also make it more difficult for the Trust to
ascertain a market value for such instruments. Although both OTC and exchange-traded derivatives markets may experience a lack of liquidity, certain derivatives traded in OTC markets, including swaps and OTC options, involve substantial illiquidity
risk. The Trust will, therefore, acquire illiquid OTC derivatives (i)&nbsp;if the agreement pursuant to which the instrument is purchased contains a formula price at which the instrument may be terminated or sold, or (ii)&nbsp;for which the Advisor
anticipates the Trust can receive on each business day at least two independent bids or offers, unless a quotation from only one dealer is available, in which case that dealer&#146;s quotation may be used. The illiquidity of the derivatives markets
may be due to various factors, including congestion, disorderly markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, and technical and operational or system failures. In addition,
the liquidity of a secondary market in an exchange-traded derivative contract may be adversely affected by &#147;daily price fluctuation limits&#148; established by the exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in an exchange-traded contract
price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open positions. Prices have in the past moved beyond the daily
limit on a number of consecutive trading days. If it is not possible to close an open derivative position entered into by the Trust, the Trust would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin in the event of adverse
price movements. In such a situation, if the Trust has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.<I> </I> </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-20 </P>


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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Index Risk</I>&#151;if the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the
risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Trust could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below the price that the Trust paid for such derivative.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Legal Risk</I>&#151;the risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of
counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Leverage Risk</I>&#151;the risk that the Trust&#146;s derivatives transactions can magnify the Trust&#146;s
gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Market Risk</I>&#151;the risk that changes in the value of one or more markets or changes with respect to
the value of the underlying asset will adversely affect the value of a derivative. In the event of an adverse movement, the Trust may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain its position or the Trust&#146;s returns may be
adversely affected. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Operational Risk</I>&#151;the risk related to potential operational issues, including documentation issues,
settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Valuation Risk</I>&#151;the risk that valuation sources for a derivative will not be readily available in
the market. This is possible especially in times of market distress, since many market participants may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt"><I>Volatility Risk</I>&#151;the risk that the value of derivatives will fluctuate significantly within a short
time period. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When a derivative is used as a hedge against a position that the Trust holds, any loss
generated by the derivative generally should be substantially offset by gains on the hedged investment, and vice versa. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect
matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Trust&#146;s hedging transactions will be effective. The Trust could also suffer losses related to its derivative positions as a result of
unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. The Advisors may not be able to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors, which could cause the Trust&#146;s derivatives
positions to lose value. In addition, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of the
Trust to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose the Trust to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Trust to value accurately. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When engaging in a hedging transaction, the Trust may determine not to seek to establish a perfect correlation between the
hedging instruments utilized and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such an imperfect correlation may prevent the Trust from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Trust to a risk of loss. The Trust may also determine not to hedge against a
particular risk because it does not regard the probability of the risk occurring to be sufficiently high as to justify the cost of the hedge or because it does do not foresee the occurrence of the risk. It may not be possible for the Trust to hedge
against a change or event at attractive prices or at a price sufficient to protect the assets of the Trust from the decline in value of the portfolio positions anticipated as a result of such change. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge at
all against certain risks. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust invests in a derivative instrument it could lose more than the principal amount
invested. Moreover, derivatives raise certain tax, legal, regulatory and accounting issues that may not be presented by investments in securities, and there is some risk that certain issues could be resolved in a manner that could adversely impact
the performance of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is not required to use derivatives or other portfolio strategies to seek to
increase return or to seek to hedge its portfolio and may choose not to do so. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-21 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Trust will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. Although the Advisors seek to use
derivatives to further the Trust&#146;s investment objective, there is no assurance that the use of derivatives will achieve this result. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Options Risk.</I> There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and indexes. For example,
there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objective. In addition, a liquid secondary market for
particular options, whether traded OTC or on a recognized securities exchange (e.g., NYSE), separate trading boards of a securities exchange or through a market system that provides contemporaneous transaction pricing information (an
&#147;Exchange&#148;) may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an Exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading
halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an Exchange; the facilities of an
Exchange or the OCC may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or one or more Exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular
class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that Exchange would
continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Futures Transactions and Options Risk.</I> The primary
risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options are (a)&nbsp;the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Trust and the price of the futures contract or option; (b)&nbsp;possible lack of
a liquid secondary market for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures contract when desired; (c)&nbsp;losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d)&nbsp;the Advisor&#146;s inability
to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; and (e)&nbsp;the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investment in futures contracts involves the risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures
contract and the price of the security being hedged. The hedge will not be fully effective when there is imperfect correlation between the movements in the prices of two financial instruments. For example, if the price of the futures contract moves
more or less than the price of the hedged security, the Trust will experience either a loss or gain on the futures contract which is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. To compensate for imperfect correlations,
the Trust may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contracts. Conversely, the Trust may
purchase or sell fewer futures contracts if the volatility of the price of the hedged securities is historically lower than that of the futures contracts. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The particular securities comprising the index underlying a securities index financial futures contract may vary from the
securities held by the Trust. As a result, the Trust&#146;s ability to hedge effectively all or a portion of the value of its securities through the use of such financial futures contracts will depend in part on the degree to which price movements
in the index underlying the financial futures contract correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Trust. The correlation may be affected by disparities in the average maturity, ratings, geographical mix or structure of the
Trust&#146;s investments as compared to those comprising the securities index and general economic or political factors. In addition, the correlation between movements in the value of the securities index may be subject to change over time as
additions to and deletions from the securities index alter its structure. The correlation between futures contracts on U.S. Government securities and the securities held by the Trust may be adversely affected by similar factors and the risk of
imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of such futures contracts and the prices of securities held by the Trust may be greater. The trading of futures contracts also is subject to certain market risks, such as inadequate trading
activity, which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate existing positions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may liquidate
futures contracts it enters into through offsetting transactions on the applicable contract market. There can be no assurance, however, that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may
not be possible to close out a futures position. In the event of adverse price movements, the Trust would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In such </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-22 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
situations, if the Trust has insufficient cash, it may be required to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The
inability to close out futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Trust&#146;s ability to hedge effectively its investments in securities. The liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be adversely affected by
&#147;daily price fluctuation limits&#148; established by commodity exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be
entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open futures positions. Prices have in the past moved beyond the daily limit on a number of consecutive trading days. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The successful use of transactions in futures and related options also depends on the ability of the Advisors to forecast
correctly the direction and extent of interest rate movements within a given time frame. To the extent interest rates remain stable during the period in which a futures contract or option is held by the Trust or such rates move in a direction
opposite to that anticipated, the Trust may realize a loss on the Strategic Transaction which is not fully or partially offset by an increase in the value of portfolio securities. As a result, the Trust&#146;s total return for such period may be
less than if it had not engaged in the Strategic Transaction. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because of low initial margin deposits made upon the
opening of a futures position, futures transactions involve substantial leverage. As a result, relatively small movements in the price of the futures contracts can result in substantial unrealized gains or losses. There is also the risk of loss by
the Trust of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with which the Trust has an open position in a financial futures contract. Because the Trust will engage in the purchase and sale of futures contracts for hedging purposes or to
seek to enhance the Trust&#146;s return, any losses incurred in connection therewith may, if the strategy is successful, be offset in whole or in part by increases in the value of securities held by the Trust or decreases in the price of securities
the Trust intends to acquire. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The amount of risk the Trust assumes when it purchases an option on a futures contract is
the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs. In addition to the correlation risks discussed above, the purchase of an option on a futures contract also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract
will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>General Risk Factors in Hedging Foreign
Currency</I>. Hedging transactions involving Currency Instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation risk. While the Trust&#146;s use of Currency Instruments to effect hedging strategies is intended to reduce the volatility of the NAV
of the Trust&#146;s common shares, the NAV of the Trust&#146;s common shares will fluctuate. Moreover, although Currency Instruments may be used with the intention of hedging against adverse currency movements, transactions in Currency Instruments
involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted and that the Trust&#146;s hedging strategies will be ineffective. To the extent that the Trust hedges against anticipated currency movements that do not occur, the
Trust may realize losses and decrease its total return as the result of its hedging transactions. Furthermore, the Trust will only engage in hedging activities from time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in
currency exchange rates occur. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">It may not be possible for the Trust to hedge against currency exchange rate movements,
even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i)&nbsp;the currency exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Trust is not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii)&nbsp;the currency exchange rate
movement relates to a market with respect to which Currency Instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging. The cost to the Trust of engaging in foreign currency transactions varies with such
factors as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Since transactions in foreign currency exchange usually are conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Foreign Currency Forwards Risk</I>. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts do not eliminate fluctuations in the value
of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-U.S.</FONT> Securities (as defined in the Prospectus) but rather allow the Trust to establish a fixed rate of exchange for a future point in time. This strategy can have the effect of reducing returns and
minimizing opportunities for gain. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-23 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In connection with its trading in forward foreign currency contracts, the Trust
will contract with a foreign or domestic bank, or foreign or domestic securities dealer, to make or take future delivery of a specified amount of a particular currency. There are no limitations on daily price moves in such forward contracts, and
banks and dealers are not required to continue to make markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for such forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide
spread between the price at which the bank or dealer is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell. Governmental imposition of credit controls might limit any such forward contract trading. With respect to its trading of forward
contracts, if any, the Trust will be subject to the risk of bank or dealer failure and the inability of, or refusal by, a bank or dealer to perform with respect to such contracts. Any such default would deprive the Trust of any profit potential or
force the Trust to cover its commitments for resale, if any, at the then market price and could result in a loss to the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may also engage in proxy hedging transactions to reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing
or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which the Trust is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a forward contract to sell a
currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be linked to a currency or currencies in which some or all of the Trust&#146;s securities are, or are expected to be, denominated, and to buy U.S. dollars. Proxy hedging involves some of
the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Trust if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. In
addition, there is the risk that the perceived linkage between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that the Trust is engaging in proxy hedging. The Trust may also cross-hedge currencies by entering
into forward contracts to sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which the Trust has or in which the Trust expects to have portfolio exposure. For example, the Trust may hold both Canadian
government bonds and Japanese government bonds, and the Advisors may believe that Canadian dollars will deteriorate against Japanese yen. The Trust would sell Canadian dollars to reduce its exposure to that currency and buy Japanese yen. This
strategy would be a hedge against a decline in the value of Canadian dollars, although it would expose the Trust to declines in the value of the Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Some of the forward <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> currency contracts entered into by the Trust may be
classified as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-deliverable</FONT> forwards (&#147;NDFs&#148;). NDFs are cash-settled, short-term forward contracts that may be thinly traded or are denominated in
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-convertible</FONT> foreign currency, where the profit or loss at the time at the settlement date is calculated by taking the difference between the agreed upon exchange rate and the spot rate at the time of
settlement, for an agreed upon notional amount of funds. All NDFs have a fixing date and a settlement date. The fixing date is the date at which the difference between the prevailing market exchange rate and the agreed upon exchange rate is
calculated. The settlement date is the date by which the payment of the difference is due to the party receiving payment. NDFs are commonly quoted for time periods of one month up to two years, and are normally quoted and settled in U.S. dollars.
They are often used to gain exposure to and/or hedge exposure to foreign currencies that are not internationally traded. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Currency Futures Risk.</I> The Trust may also seek to hedge against the decline in the value of a currency or to enhance
returns through use of currency futures or options thereon. Currency futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts while forward foreign exchange transactions are traded
in the OTC market. Currency futures involve substantial currency risk, and also involve leverage risk. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Currency
Options Risk.</I> The Trust may also seek to hedge against the decline in the value of a currency or to enhance returns through the use of currency options. Currency options are similar to options on securities. For example, in consideration for an
option premium the writer of a currency option is obligated to sell (in the case of a call option) or purchase (in the case of a put option) a specified amount of a specified currency on or before the expiration date for a specified amount of
another currency. The Trust may engage in transactions in options on currencies either on exchanges or OTC markets. Currency options involve substantial currency risk, and may also involve credit, leverage or illiquidity risk. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Currency Swaps Risk.</I> The Trust may enter into currency swaps, which are transactions in which one currency is
simultaneously bought for a second currency on a spot basis and sold for the second currency on a forward basis. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-24 </P>


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Currency swaps involve the exchange of the rights of the Trust and another party to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire
principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Because currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency, the
entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Over-the-Counter</FONT></FONT> Trading Risk.</I> The
derivative instruments that may be purchased or sold by the Trust may include instruments not traded on an exchange. The risk of nonperformance by the counterparty to an instrument may be greater than, and the ease with which the Trust can dispose
of or enter into closing transactions with respect to an instrument may be less than, the risk associated with an exchange traded instrument. In addition, significant disparities may exist between &#147;bid&#148; and &#147;asked&#148; prices for
derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange. The absence of liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for the Trust to sell such instruments promptly at an acceptable price. Derivative instruments not traded on exchanges also are
not subject to the same type of government regulation as exchange traded instruments, and many of the protections afforded to participants in a regulated environment may not be available in connection with the transactions. Because derivatives
traded in OTC markets generally are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation and generally do not require payment of margin, to the extent that the Trust has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its
counterparties the Trust is at risk that its counterparties will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Dodd-Frank Act Risk.</I> The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (&#147;Dodd-Frank&#148;), enacted in
July 2010, includes provisions that comprehensively regulate the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-the-counter</FONT></FONT> (&#147;OTC&#148;) derivatives markets for the first time. While the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (&#147;CFTC&#148;) and other U.S. regulators have adopted many of the required Dodd-Frank regulations, certain regulations have only recently become effective and other regulations remain to be adopted. The full impact of
Dodd-Frank on the Trust remains uncertain. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">OTC derivatives dealers are now required to register with the CFTC as
&#147;swap dealers&#148; and will ultimately be required to register with the SEC as &#147;security-based swap dealers&#148;. Registered swap dealers are subject to various regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, margin,
recordkeeping, reporting, transparency, position limits, limitations on conflicts of interest, business conduct standards, minimum capital requirements and other regulatory requirements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The CFTC requires that certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps must be executed in regulated markets and
be submitted for clearing to regulated clearinghouses. The SEC is also expected to impose similar requirements on certain security-based derivatives in the future. OTC derivatives trades submitted for clearing are subject to minimum initial and
variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse, as well as margin requirements mandated by the CFTC, SEC and/or federal prudential regulators. In addition, futures commission merchants (&#147;FCMs&#148;), who act as clearing members
on behalf of customers for cleared OTC derivatives and futures contracts, also have discretion to increase the Trust&#146;s margin requirements for these transactions beyond any regulatory and clearinghouse minimums subject to any restrictions on
such discretion in the documentation between the FCM and the customer. These regulatory requirements may make it more difficult and costly for the Trust to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions, potentially rendering certain
investment strategies impossible or not economically feasible. If the Trust decides to execute and clear cleared OTC derivatives and/or futures contracts through execution facilities, exchanges or clearinghouses, either indirectly through an
executing broker, clearing member FCM or as a direct member, the Trust would be required to comply with the rules of the execution facility, exchange or clearinghouse and other applicable law. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">With respect to cleared OTC derivatives and futures contracts and options on futures, the Trust will not face a clearinghouse
directly but rather will do so through a FCM that is registered with the CFTC and/or SEC and that acts as a clearing member. The Trust may face the indirect risk of the failure of another clearing member customer to meet its obligations to its
clearing member. Such scenario could arise due to a default by the clearing member on its obligations to the clearinghouse simultaneously with a customer&#146;s failure to meet its obligations to the clearing member. <B></B> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-25 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Clearing member FCMs are required to post initial margin to the clearinghouses
through which they clear their customers&#146; cleared OTC derivatives and futures contracts, instead of using such initial margin in their businesses, as was widely permitted before Dodd-Frank. While an FCM may require its customer to post initial
margin in excess of clearinghouse requirements, and certain clearinghouses may share a portion of their earnings on initial margin with their clearing members, some portion of the initial margin that is passed through to the clearinghouse does not
generate earnings for the FCM. The inability of FCMs to earn the same levels of returns on initial margin for cleared OTC derivatives as they could earn with respect to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-cleared</FONT> OTC derivatives may cause
FCMs to charge higher fees, or provide less favorable pricing on cleared OTC derivatives than swap dealers will provide for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-cleared</FONT> OTC derivatives. Furthermore, customers, including the Trust, are subject
to additional fees payable to FCMs with respect to cleared OTC derivatives, which may raise the cost to the Trust of clearing as compared to trading <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-cleared</FONT> OTC derivatives bilaterally. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">With respect to uncleared swaps, swap dealers are required to collect variation margin from the Trust and may be required by
applicable regulations to collect initial margin from the Trust. Both initial and variation margin may be comprised of cash and/or securities, subject to applicable regulatory haircuts. Shares of investment companies (other than certain money market
funds) may not be posted as collateral under applicable regulations. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The CFTC and the U.S. commodities exchanges impose
limits on the maximum net long or net short speculative positions that any person may hold or control in any particular futures or options contracts traded on U.S. commodities exchanges. For example, the CFTC has historically imposed speculative
position limits on a number of agricultural commodities (e.g., corn, oats, wheat, soybeans and cotton) and United States commodities exchanges currently impose speculative position limits on many other commodities. The Trust could be required to
liquidate positions it holds in order to comply with position limits or may not be able to fully implement trading instructions generated by its trading models, in order to comply with position limits. Any such liquidation or limited implementation
could result in substantial costs to the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Dodd-Frank significantly expanded the CFTC&#146;s authority to impose
position limits with respect to agricultural commodities and other physical commodity futures contracts, options on these futures contracts and economically equivalent swaps. In October 2020, the CFTC adopted a new set of speculative position limit
rules with respect to agricultural commodities and other physical commodity futures contracts, options on these futures contracts (&#147;core referenced futures contracts&#148;) and economically equivalent swaps.&nbsp;An economically equivalent swap
is a swap with identical material contractual specifications, terms and conditions to a core referenced futures contract, disregarding differences with respect to any of the following: (1)&nbsp;lot size specifications or notional amounts,
(2)&nbsp;post-trade risk management arrangements and (3)&nbsp;delivery dates for physically-settled swaps as long as these delivery dates diverge by less than one calendar day from the referenced contract&#146;s delivery date (or, for natural gas,
two calendar days). A cash-settled swap could only be deemed to be economically equivalent to a cash-settled referenced contract, and a physically-settled swap could only be deemed to be economically equivalent to a physically-settled referenced
contract. However, a cash-settled swap that initially did not qualify as economically equivalent due to the fact that there was no corresponding cash-settled core referenced futures contract could subsequently become an economically equivalent swap
if a cash-settled futures contract market were to subsequently be developed. The CFTC&#146;s new position limits rules include an exemption from limits for bona fide hedging transactions or positions. A bona fide hedging transaction or position may
exceed the applicable federal position limits if the transaction or position: (1)&nbsp;represents a substitute for transactions or positions made or to be made at a later time in a physical marketing channel; (2)&nbsp;is economically appropriate to
the reduction of price risks in the conduct and management of a commercial enterprise; and (3)&nbsp;arises from the potential change in value of (A)&nbsp;assets which a person owns, produces, manufactures, processes or merchandises, or anticipates
owning, producing, manufacturing, processing or merchandising; (B)&nbsp;liabilities which a person owes or anticipates incurring; or (C)&nbsp;services that a person provides or purchases, or anticipates providing or purchasing. The CFTC&#146;s new
position rules set forth a list of enumerated bona fide hedges for which a market participant is not required to request prior approval from the CFTC in order to hold a bona fide hedge position above the federal position limit. However, a market
participant holding an enumerated bona fide hedge position still would need to request an exemption from the relevant exchange for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">exchange-set</FONT> limits. For
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-enumerated</FONT> bona fide hedge positions, a market participant may request CFTC approval which must be granted prior to exceeding the applicable federal position limit, except where there is a demonstrated
sudden or unforeseen increase in bona fide hedging needs (in which case the application must be submitted within five business days after the market participant exceeds the applicable limit). The compliance dates for the CFTC&#146;s new
</P>
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federal speculative position limits are January&nbsp;1, 2022 for the core referenced futures contracts and January&nbsp;1, 2023 for economically equivalent swaps. While the ultimate effect of the
final position limit rules are not yet known, these limits will likely restrict the ability of many market participants to trade in the commodities markets to the same extent as they have in the past. These rules may, among other things, reduce
liquidity, increase market volatility, limit the size and duration of positions available to market participants, and increase costs in these markets, which could adversely affect the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">These new regulations and the resulting increased costs and regulatory oversight requirements may result in market
participants being required or deciding to limit their trading activities, which could lead to decreased market liquidity and increased market volatility. In addition, transaction costs incurred by market participants are likely to be higher due to
the increased costs of compliance with the new regulations. These consequences could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s returns. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Legal and Regulatory Risk</I>. Regulatory bodies outside the U.S. have also passed, proposed, or may propose in the future,
legislation similar to Dodd-Frank or other legislation that could increase the costs of participating in, or otherwise adversely impact the liquidity of, participating in the commodities markets. For example, the European Market Infrastructure
Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 648/2012) (&#147;EMIR&#148;) introduced certain requirements in respect of OTC derivatives including:(i) the mandatory clearing of OTC derivative contracts declared subject to the clearing obligation; (ii)&nbsp;risk
mitigation techniques in respect of uncleared OTC derivative contracts, including the mandatory margining of uncleared OTC derivative contracts; and (iii)&nbsp;reporting and recordkeeping requirements in respect of all derivatives contracts. By way
of further example, the European Union Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/65/EU) and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 600/2014) (together &#147;MiFID II&#148;), which have applied since
January&nbsp;3, 2018, govern the provision of investment services and activities in relation to, as well as the organized trading of, financial instruments such as shares, bonds, units in collective investment schemes and derivatives. In particular,
MiFID II requires European Union Member States to apply position limits to the size of a net position a person can hold at any time in commodity derivatives traded on European Union trading venues and in &#147;economically equivalent&#148; OTC
contracts. If the requirements of EMIR and MiFID II apply, the cost of derivatives transactions is expected to increase. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, regulations adopted by global prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain prudentially regulated
entities and certain of their affiliates and subsidiaries (including swap dealers) to include in their derivatives contracts and certain other financial contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties (such as the Trust) to
terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the prudentially regulated entity and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or
insolvency proceedings. Similar regulations and laws have been adopted in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> jurisdictions that may apply to the Trust&#146;s counterparties located in those jurisdictions. It is possible that these new
requirements, as well as potential additional related government regulation, could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s ability to terminate existing derivatives contracts, exercise default rights or satisfy obligations owed to it with collateral
received under such contracts. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Rule</I><I></I><I><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&nbsp;18f-4</FONT></I><I></I><I>&nbsp;Under the Investment Company
Act.</I><I></I><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&nbsp;Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act permits the Trust to enter into Derivatives Transactions (as defined below) and certain other transactions notwithstanding the
restrictions on the issuance of &#147;senior securities&#148; under Section&nbsp;18 of the Investment Company Act. Section&nbsp;18 of the Investment Company Act, among other things,
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">prohibits&nbsp;closed-end&nbsp;funds,</FONT> including the Trust, from issuing or selling any &#147;senior security&#148; representing indebtedness (unless the fund maintains 300% &#147;asset coverage&#148;) or any
senior security representing stock (unless the fund maintains 200% &#147;asset coverage&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4,&nbsp;&#147;Derivatives</FONT> Transactions&#148; include the following: (1)&nbsp;any swap, security-based swap (including a contract for differences), futures contract, forward contract, option (excluding
purchased options), any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which the Trust is or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early
termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; (2)&nbsp;any short sale borrowing; (3)&nbsp;reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;non-recourse&nbsp;tender</FONT> option bonds, and borrowed bonds), if the Trust elects to treat these transactions as Derivatives Transactions under
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4;&nbsp;and</FONT> (4)&nbsp;when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments,
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">including&nbsp;to-be-announced&nbsp;(&#147;TBA&#148;)</FONT></FONT> commitments, </P>
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and dollar rolls) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">and&nbsp;non-standard&nbsp;settlement</FONT> cycle securities, unless such transactions meet the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision (as
defined above under &#147;Investment Policies and Techniques&#151;When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Unless the Trust is relying on the Limited Derivatives User Exception (as defined below), the Trust must comply with <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;with</FONT> respect to its Derivatives Transactions. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4,&nbsp;among</FONT> other things, requires the Trust to adopt and implement a comprehensive written
derivatives risk management program (&#147;DRMP&#148;) and comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">on&nbsp;value-at-risk&nbsp;(&#147;VaR&#148;).</FONT></FONT> The DRMP is administered by a &#147;derivatives risk manager,&#148; who is appointed by the Trust&#146;s Board of Trustees
(the &#147;Board&#148;), including a majority of the Trustees who are not &#147;interested persons&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) (the &#147;Independent Trustees&#148;), and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4&nbsp;provides</FONT> an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain
other requirements if the Trust&#146;s &#147;derivatives exposure&#148; is limited to 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;18f-4)&nbsp;and</FONT> the Trust adopts and implements written
policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risks (the &#147;Limited Derivatives User Exception&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Second Lien Loans
Risk </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans.
Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be
insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for subordinated unsecured loans or debt, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific
collateral. Second lien loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Second lien loans share the same risks as other below investment grade securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Mezzanine Investment Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Mezzanine securities generally are rated below investment grade and frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks
as senior loans, second lien loans and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-investment</FONT> grade bonds. However, unlike senior loans and second lien loans, mezzanine securities are not a senior or secondary secured obligation of the related
borrower. They typically are the most subordinated debt obligation in an issuer&#146;s capital structure. Mezzanine securities also may often be unsecured. Mezzanine securities therefore are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the
related borrower and the property securing the loan may be insufficient to repay the scheduled principal after giving effect to any senior obligations of the related borrower. Mezzanine securities are also expected to be a highly illiquid
investment. Mezzanine securities will be subject to certain additional risks to the extent that such loans may not be protected by financial covenants or limitations upon additional indebtedness. Investment in mezzanine securities is a highly
specialized investment practice that depends more heavily on independent credit analysis than investments in other types of debt obligations. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>PIK
Bonds Risks </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">PIK bonds are bonds that pay interest through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities.
Similar to zero coupon obligations, PIK bonds also carry additional risk as holders of these types of securities realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Trust may
obtain no return at all on its investment. The market price of PIK bonds is affected by interest rate changes to a greater extent, and therefore tends to be more volatile, than that of securities that pay interest in cash. Additionally, current
federal tax law requires the holder of certain PIK bonds to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. To maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid liability for federal income and excise taxes, the
Trust may be required to distribute income accrued with respect to these securities and may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Inflation-indexed securities are subject to the effects of changes in market interest rates caused by factors other than
inflation (real interest rates). In general, the value of an inflation-indexed security, including TIPs, tends to decrease </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-28 </P>


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when real interest rates increase and can increase when real interest rates decrease. Thus generally, during periods of rising inflation, the value of inflation-indexed securities will tend to
increase and during periods of deflation, their value will tend to decrease. Interest payments on inflation-indexed securities are unpredictable and will fluctuate as the principal and interest are adjusted for inflation. There can be no assurance
that the inflation index used (e.g., the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed debt security
will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though the Trust will not receive the principal until maturity. In order to receive the special treatment accorded to RICs and their shareholders under the Code and to avoid U.S. federal income and/or
excise taxes at the Trust level, the Trust may be required to distribute this income to shareholders in the tax year in which the income is recognized (without a corresponding receipt of cash). Therefore, the Trust may be required to pay out as an
income distribution in any such tax year an amount greater than the total amount of cash income the Trust actually received and to sell portfolio securities, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, to obtain cash needed for these
income distributions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues
inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (&#147;CPI&#148;) accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible
that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Trust purchased an
inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months was 1%, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mid-year</FONT> par value of the bond would be
$1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year&#146;s inflation equaling 3%, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">end-of-year</FONT></FONT> par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted
downward, and, consequently, the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the
case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. The Trust may also invest in other inflation related bonds that may or may not
provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. In addition, if the Trust purchases inflation-indexed bonds offered by
foreign issuers, the rate of inflation measured by the foreign inflation index may not be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates,
in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of
inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. There can be no assurance, however, that the value
of inflation-indexed bonds will be directly correlated to changes in interest rates. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">While these securities are expected
to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in
these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond&#146;s inflation measure. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In general, the measure used to determine the periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is the Consumer Price Index
for Urban Consumers <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(&#147;CPI-U&#148;),</FONT> which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CPI-U</FONT> is a measurement of changes in the cost of living,
made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance
that the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">CPI-U</FONT> or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign
country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be
considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Structured Investments Risks </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in structured products. Holders of structured products bear risks of the underlying investments, index or
reference obligation and are subject to counterparty risk. The Trust may have the right to receive payments only from the structured product and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be
securitized. While certain structured products enable the investor to acquire interests in a pool of securities without the brokerage and other expenses associated with directly holding the same securities, investors in structured products generally
pay their share of the structured product&#146;s administrative and other expenses. Although it is difficult to predict whether the prices of indices and securities underlying structured products will rise or fall, these prices (and, therefore, the
prices of structured products) will be influenced by the same types of political and economic events that affect issuers of securities and capital markets generally. If the issuer of a structured product uses shorter term financing to purchase
longer term securities, the issuer may be forced to sell its securities at below market prices if it experiences difficulty in obtaining such financing, which may adversely affect the value of the structured products owned by the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Structured Notes Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investments in structured notes involve risks, including credit risk and market risk. Where the Trust&#146;s investments in
structured notes are based upon the movement of one or more factors, including currency exchange rates, interest rates, referenced bonds and stock indices, depending on the factor used and the use of multipliers or deflators, changes in interest
rates and movement of the factor may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the reference instrument or security may cause the interest rate on the structured note to be reduced to zero and any further changes in the
reference instrument may then reduce the principal amount payable on maturity. Structured notes may be less liquid than other types of securities and more volatile than the reference instrument or security underlying the note. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Event-Linked Securities Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Event-linked securities are a form of derivative issued by insurance companies and insurance-related special purpose vehicles
that apply securitization techniques to catastrophic property and casualty damages. Unlike other insurable <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-severity,</FONT> high-probability events, the insurance risk of which can be diversified by writing large
numbers of similar policies, the holders of a typical event-linked securities are exposed to the risks from high-severity, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-probability</FONT> events such as that posed by major earthquakes or hurricanes. If a
catastrophe occurs that &#147;triggers&#148; the event-linked security, investors in such security may lose some or all of the capital invested. In the case of an event, the funds are paid to the bond sponsor&#151;an insurer, reinsurer or
corporation&#151;to cover losses. In return, the bond sponsors pay interest to investors for this catastrophe protection. Event-linked securities can be structured to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pay-off</FONT> on three types of
variables&#151;insurance-industry catastrophe loss indices, insure-specific catastrophe losses and parametric indices based on the physical characteristics of catastrophic events. Such variables are difficult to predict or model, and the risk and
potential return profiles of event-linked securities may be difficult to assess. Catastrophe-related event-linked securities have been in use since the 1990s, and the securitization and risk-transfer aspects of such event-linked securities are
beginning to be employed in other insurance and risk-related areas. No active trading market may exist for certain event-linked securities, which may impair the ability of the Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such
assets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Mortgage-Related Securities Risks </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">MBS generally are classified as either RMBS or CMBS, each of which are subject to certain specific risks as further described
below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>RMBS Risk</I>.&nbsp;RMBS are securities the payments on which depend primarily on the cash flow from
residential mortgage loans made to borrowers that are secured by residential real estate. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-agency</FONT> residential mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or
guaranteed by any other person or entity. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by residential property is dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, acts of God,
terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair a borrower&#146;s ability to repay its loans. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-30 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Agency RMBS Risks</I>. MBS issued by FNMA or FHLMC are guaranteed as to timely
payment of principal and interest by FNMA or FHLMC, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.&nbsp;In 2008, FHFA placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns
while in conservatorship and each remains liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its MBS.&nbsp;As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of
any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into an agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC that contains
various covenants that severely limit each enterprise&#146;s operations. There is no assurance that the obligations of such entities will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Agency</FONT> RMBS Risks</I>. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-agency</FONT> RMBS
are securities issued by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-governmental</FONT> issuers. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-agency</FONT> RMBS have no direct or indirect government guarantees of payment and are subject to various risks as
described herein. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Borrower Credit Risk</I>. Credit-related risk on RMBS arises from losses due to delinquencies and
defaults by the borrowers in payments on the underlying mortgage loans and breaches by originators and servicers of their obligations under the underlying documentation pursuant to which the RMBS are issued.
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-agency</FONT> residential mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. The rate of delinquencies and defaults on
residential mortgage loans and the aggregate amount of the resulting losses will be affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions, particularly those in the area where the related mortgaged property is located, the level of
the borrower&#146;s equity in the mortgaged property and the individual financial circumstances of the borrower. If a residential mortgage loan is in default, foreclosure on the related residential property may be a lengthy and difficult process
involving significant legal and other expenses. The net proceeds obtained by the holder on a residential mortgage loan following the foreclosure on the related property may be less than the total amount that remains due on the loan. The prospect of
incurring a loss upon the foreclosure of the related property may lead the holder of the residential mortgage loan to restructure the residential mortgage loan or otherwise delay the foreclosure process. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Legal Risks</I>. Legal risks associated with RMBS can arise as a result of the procedures followed in connection with the
origination of the mortgage loans or the servicing thereof, which may be subject to various federal and state laws (including, without limitation, predatory lending laws), public policies and principles of equity that regulate interest rates and
other charges, require certain disclosures, require licensing of originators, prohibit discriminatory lending practices, regulate the use of consumer credit information and debt collection practices and may limit the servicer&#146;s ability to
collect all or part of the principal of or interest on a residential mortgage loan, entitle the borrower to a refund of amounts previously paid by it or subject the servicer to damages and sanctions. Specifically, provisions of federal predatory
lending laws, such as the federal <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Truth-in-Lending</FONT></FONT> Act (as supplemented by the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994) and Regulation Z, and various recently
enacted state predatory lending laws provide that a purchaser or assignee of specified types of residential mortgage loans (including an issuer of RMBS) may be held liable for violations by the originator of such mortgage loans. Under such assignee
liability provisions, a borrower is generally given the right to assert against a purchaser of its mortgage loan any affirmative claims and defenses to payment that such borrower could assert against the originator of the loan or, where applicable,
the home improvement contractor that arranged the loan. Liability under such assignee liability provisions could, therefore, result in a disruption of cash flows allocated to the holders of RMBS where either the issuer of such RMBS is liable for
damages or is unable to enforce payment by the borrower. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In most but not all cases, the amount recoverable against a
purchaser or assignee under such assignee liability provisions is limited to amounts previously paid and still owed by the borrower. Moreover, sellers of residential mortgage loans to an issuer of RMBS typically represent that the loans have been
originated in accordance with all applicable laws and in the event such representation is breached, the seller typically must repurchase the offending loan. Notwithstanding these protections, an issuer of RMBS may be exposed to an unquantifiable
amount of potential assignee liability because, first, the amount of potential assignee liability under certain predatory lending laws is unclear and has yet to be litigated, and, second, in the event a predatory lending law does not prohibit class
action lawsuits, it is possible that an issuer of RMBS could be liable for damages for more than the original principal amount of the offending loans held by it. In such circumstances the issuer of RMBS may be forced to seek contribution from other
parties, who may no longer exist or have adequate funds available to fund such contribution. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-31 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, structural and legal risks of RMBS include the possibility that, in
a bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving the originator or the servicer (often the same entity or affiliates), the assets of the issuer could be treated as never having been truly sold by the originator to the issuer and could be substantively
consolidated with those of the originator, or the transfer of such assets to the issuer could be voided as a fraudulent transfer. Challenges based on such doctrines could result also in cash flow delays and losses on the related issue of RMBS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Mortgage Loan Market Risk</I>. In the recent past, the residential mortgage market in the United States experienced
difficulties that adversely affected the performance and market value of certain mortgages and mortgage related securities. Delinquencies and losses on residential mortgage loans (especially <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-prime</FONT> and
second lien mortgage loans) generally increased during this period and declines in or flattening of housing values in many housing markets were generally viewed as exacerbating such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with ARMs are more sensitive to
changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">At any one time, a portfolio of RMBS may be backed by residential mortgage loans that are highly concentrated in only a few
states or regions. As a result, the performance of such residential mortgage loans may be more susceptible to a downturn in the economy, including in particular industries that are highly represented in such states or regions, natural calamities and
other adverse conditions affecting such areas.</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Another factor that may contribute to, and may in the future result in,
higher delinquency and default rates is the increase in monthly payments on ARMs.&nbsp;Any increase in prevailing market interest rates, which are currently near historical lows, may result in increased payments for borrowers who have
ARMs.&nbsp;Moreover, with respect to hybrid mortgage loans (which are mortgage loans combining fixed and adjustable rate features) after their initial fixed rate period or other adjustable-rate mortgage loans, interest-only products or products
having a lower rate, and with respect to mortgage loans with a negative amortization feature which reach their negative amortization cap, borrowers may experience a substantial increase in their monthly payment even without an increase in prevailing
market interest rates. Increases in payments for borrowers may result in increased rates of delinquencies and defaults on residential mortgage loans underlying the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> RMBS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As a result of rising concerns about increases in delinquencies and defaults on residential mortgage loans (particularly on <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-prime</FONT> and adjustable-rate mortgage loans) and as a result of increasing concerns about the financial strength of originators and servicers and their ability to perform their obligations with respect <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">to&nbsp;non-agency&nbsp;RMBS,</FONT> there may be an adverse change in the market sentiments of investors about the market values and volatility and the degree of risk of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT>
RMBS generally. Some or all of the underlying residential mortgage loans in an issue of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> RMBS may have balloon payments due on their respective maturity dates. Balloon residential mortgage loans
involve a greater risk to a lender than fully amortizing loans, because the ability of a borrower to pay such amount will normally depend on its ability to obtain refinancing of the related mortgage loan or sell the related mortgaged property at a
price sufficient to permit the borrower to make the balloon payment, which will depend on a number of factors prevailing at the time such refinancing or sale is required, including, without limitation, the strength of the local or national
residential real estate markets, interest rates and general economic conditions and the financial condition of the borrower. If borrowers are unable to make such balloon payments, the related issue of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> RMBS may experience losses. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">RMBS backed by collateral pools of
mortgage loans that have been originated using underwriting standards that are less restrictive than those used in underwriting &#147;prime mortgage loans&#148; and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Alt-A</FONT> mortgage loans&#148; include
mortgage loans made to borrowers having imperfect or impaired credit histories, mortgage loans where the amount of the loan at origination is 80% or more of the value of the mortgage property, mortgage loans made to borrowers with low credit scores,
mortgage loans made to borrowers who have other debt that represents a large portion of their income and mortgage loans made to borrowers whose income is not required to be disclosed or verified and are commonly referred to as <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;sub-prime&#148;</FONT> mortgage loans. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-prime</FONT> mortgage loans have in recent periods experienced increased rates of delinquency, foreclosure, bankruptcy and loss, and they
are likely to continue to experience delinquency, foreclosure, bankruptcy and loss rates that are higher, and that may be substantially higher, than those experienced by mortgage loans underwritten in a more traditional manner.</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-32 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the United States economy has been slowly improving in recent years, if
the economy of the United States begins to deteriorate again the incidence of mortgage foreclosures, especially <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-prime</FONT> mortgages, could begin to increase again, which could adversely affect the value of any
RMBS owned by the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Legislation and Regulation Risk</I>. The rise in the rate of foreclosures of properties in
certain states or localities has resulted in legislative, regulatory and enforcement action in such states or localities seeking to prevent or restrict foreclosures, particularly in respect of residential mortgage loans. Actions have also been
brought against issuers and underwriters of residential mortgage-related securities collateralized by such residential mortgage loans and investors in such residential mortgage-related securities. Legislative or regulatory initiatives by federal,
state or local legislative bodies or administrative agencies, if enacted or adopted, could delay foreclosure or the exercise of other remedies, provide new defenses to foreclosure, or otherwise impair the ability of the loan servicer to foreclose or
realize on a defaulted residential mortgage loan included in a pool of residential mortgage loans backing such residential mortgage-related securities. While the nature or extent of limitations on foreclosure or exercise of other remedies that may
be enacted cannot be predicted, any such governmental actions that interfere with the foreclosure process could increase the costs of such foreclosures or exercise of other remedies in respect of residential mortgage loans which collateralize
mortgage-related securities held by the Trust, delay the timing or reduce the amount of recoveries on defaulted residential mortgage loans which collateralize mortgage-related securities held by the Trust, and consequently, could adversely impact
the yields and distributions the Trust may receive in respect of its ownership of mortgage-related securities collateralized by residential mortgage loans. For example, the&nbsp;Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 authorizes bankruptcy
courts to assist bankrupt borrowers by restructuring residential mortgage loans secured by a lien on the borrower&#146;s primary residence. Bankruptcy judges are permitted to reduce the interest rate of the bankrupt borrower&#146;s residential
mortgage loan, extend its term to maturity to up to 40 years or take other actions to reduce the borrower&#146;s monthly payment. As a result, the value of, and the cash flows in respect of, the mortgage-related securities collateralized by these
residential mortgage loans may be adversely impacted, and, as a consequence, the Trust&#146;s investment in such mortgage-related securities could be adversely impacted. Other federal legislation, including the Home Affordability Modification
Program (&#147;HAMP&#148;), encourages servicers to modify residential mortgage loans that are either already in default or are at risk of imminent default. Furthermore, HAMP provides incentives for servicers to modify residential mortgage loans
that are contractually current. This program, as well as other legislation and/or governmental intervention designed to protect consumers, may have an adverse impact on servicers of residential mortgage loans by increasing costs and expenses of
these servicers while at the same time decreasing servicing cash flows. Such increased financial pressures may have a negative effect on the ability of servicers to pursue collection on residential mortgage loans that are experiencing increased
delinquencies and defaults and to maximize recoveries on the sale of underlying residential mortgaged properties following foreclosure. Other legislative or regulatory actions include insulation of servicers from liability for modification of
residential mortgage loans without regard to the terms of the applicable servicing agreements. The foregoing legislation and current and future governmental regulation activities may have the effect of reducing returns to the Trust to the extent it
has invested in mortgage-related securities collateralized by these residential mortgage loans. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>CMBS
Risk</I>.&nbsp;CMBS are, generally, securities backed by obligations (including certificates of participation in obligations) that are principally secured by mortgages on real property or interests therein having a multifamily or commercial use,
such as regional malls, other retail space, office buildings, industrial or warehouse properties, hotels, nursing homes and senior living centers. The market for CMBS developed more recently and, in terms of total outstanding principal amount of
issues, is relatively small compared to the market for single-family RMBS. CMBS are subject to particular risks, including lack of standardized terms, shorter maturities than residential mortgage loans and payment of all or substantially all of the
principal only at maturity rather than regular amortization of principal. Additional risks may be presented by the type and use of a particular commercial property. Special risks are presented by hospitals, nursing homes, hospitality properties and
certain other property types. Commercial property values and net operating income are subject to volatility, which may result in net operating income becoming insufficient to cover debt service on the related mortgage loan. The repayment of loans
secured by income-producing properties is typically dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project rather than upon the liquidation value of the underlying real estate. Furthermore, the net operating income from and value
of any commercial property is subject to various risks, including changes in general or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments; the solvency of the related tenants; declines in real estate values; declines in rental or occupancy
rates; increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses; changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies; acts of God; terrorist threats and attacks and social
</P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
unrest and civil disturbances. Consequently, adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances are more likely to have an adverse impact on MBS secured by loans on commercial properties
than on those secured by loans on residential properties. In addition, commercial lending generally is viewed as exposing the lender to a greater risk of loss than <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-</FONT> to four- family residential lending.
Commercial lending, for example, typically involves larger loans to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers than residential <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-</FONT> to four- family mortgage loans. In addition, the repayment of loans
secured by income producing properties typically is dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project and the cash flow generated therefrom. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The exercise of remedies and successful realization of liquidation proceeds relating to CMBS is also highly dependent on the
performance of the servicer or special servicer. In many cases, overall control over the special servicing of related underlying mortgage loans will be held by a &#147;directing certificate holder&#148; or a &#147;controlling class
representative,&#148; which is appointed by the holders of the most subordinate class of CMBS in such series. The Trust may not have the right to appoint the directing certificate holder. In connection with the servicing of the specially serviced
mortgage loans, the related special servicer may, at the direction of the directing certificate holder, take actions with respect to the specially serviced mortgage loans that could adversely affect the Trust&#146;s interests. There may be a limited
number of special servicers available, particularly those that do not have conflicts of interest. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subordinated CMBS are
issued or sponsored by commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private mortgage insurance companies and other <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-governmental</FONT> issuers.&nbsp;Subordinated CMBS have no governmental
guarantee and are subordinated in some manner as to the payment of principal and/or interest to the holders of more senior CMBS arising out of the same pool of mortgages. Subordinated CMBS are often referred to as
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;B-Pieces.&#148;</FONT> The holders of Subordinated CMBS typically are compensated with a higher stated yield than are the holders of more senior CMBS. On the other hand, Subordinated CMBS typically subject the
holder to greater risk than senior CMBS and tend to be rated in a lower rating category (frequently a substantially lower rating category) than the senior CMBS issued in respect of the same mortgage pool. Subordinated CMBS generally are likely to be
more sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates and the market for such securities may be less liquid than is the case for traditional income securities and senior CMBS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Credit Risk Associated with Originators and Servicers of Mortgage Loans</I>. A number of originators and servicers of
residential and commercial mortgage loans, including some of the largest originators and servicers in the residential and commercial mortgage loan market, have experienced serious financial difficulties, including some that are now or were subject
to federal insolvency proceedings. These difficulties have resulted from many factors, including increased competition among originators for borrowers, decreased originations by such originators of mortgage loans and increased delinquencies and
defaults on such mortgage loans, as well as from increases in claims for repurchases of mortgage loans previously sold by them under agreements that require repurchase in the event of breaches of representations regarding loan quality and
characteristics. Such difficulties may affect the performance of MBS backed by mortgage loans. Furthermore, the inability of the originator to repurchase such mortgage loans in the event of loan representation breaches or the servicer to repurchase
such mortgage loans upon a breach of its servicing obligations also may affect the performance of related MBS. Delinquencies and losses on, and, in some cases, claims for repurchase by the originator of, mortgage loans originated by some mortgage
lenders have recently increased as a result of inadequate underwriting procedures and policies, including inadequate due diligence, failure to comply with predatory and other lending laws and, particularly in the case of any &#147;no
documentation&#148; or &#147;limited documentation&#148; mortgage loans that may support <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> RMBS, inadequate verification of income and employment history. Delinquencies and losses on, and claims for
repurchase of, mortgage loans originated by some mortgage lenders have also resulted from fraudulent activities of borrowers, lenders, appraisers, and other residential mortgage industry participants such as mortgage brokers, including misstatements
of income and employment history, identity theft and overstatements of the appraised value of mortgaged properties. Many of these originators and servicers are very highly leveraged. These difficulties may also increase the chances that these
entities may default on their warehousing or other credit lines or become insolvent or bankrupt and thereby increase the likelihood that repurchase obligations will not be fulfilled and the potential for loss to holders of <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> MBS and subordinated security holders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The servicers of <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-agency</FONT> MBS are often the same entities as, or affiliates of, the originators of these mortgage loans. Accordingly, the financial risks relating to originators of MBS described immediately above also may affect
the servicing of MBS. In the case of such servicers, and other servicers, financial difficulties may have a negative effect on the ability of servicers to pursue collection on mortgage loans that are experiencing increased delinquencies and defaults
and to maximize recoveries on sale of underlying properties following foreclosure. In recent years, a number of lenders specializing in residential mortgages have sought bankruptcy protection, shut down or been refused further financings from their
lenders. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">MBS typically provide that the servicer is required to make advances in respect
of delinquent mortgage loans. However, servicers experiencing financial difficulties may not be able to perform these obligations or obligations that they may have to other parties of transactions involving these securities. Like originators, these
entities are typically very highly leveraged. Such difficulties may cause servicers to default under their financing arrangements. In certain cases, such entities may be forced to seek bankruptcy protection. Due to the application of the provisions
of bankruptcy law, servicers who have sought bankruptcy protection may not be required to advance such amounts. Even if a servicer were able to advance amounts in respect of delinquent mortgage loans, its obligation to make such advances may be
limited to the extent that it does not expect to recover such advances due to the deteriorating credit of the delinquent mortgage loans or declining value of the related mortgaged properties. Moreover, servicers may overadvance against a particular
mortgage loan or charge too many costs of resolution or foreclosure of a mortgage loan to a securitization, which could increase the potential losses to holders of MBS. In such transactions, a servicer&#146;s obligation to make such advances may
also be limited to the amount of its servicing fee. In addition, if an issue of MBS provides for interest on advances made by the servicer, in the event that foreclosure proceeds or payments by borrowers are not sufficient to cover such interest,
such interest will be paid to the servicer from available collections or other mortgage income, thereby reducing distributions made on the MBS and, in the case of senior-subordinated MBS described below, first from distributions that would otherwise
be made on the most subordinated MBS of such issue. Any such financial difficulties may increase the possibility of a servicer termination and the need for a transfer of servicing and any such liabilities or inability to assess such liabilities may
increase the difficulties and costs in affecting such transfer and the potential loss, through the allocation of such increased cost of such transfer, to subordinated security holders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There can be no assurance that originators and servicers of mortgage loans will not continue to experience serious financial
difficulties or experience such difficulties in the future, including becoming subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, or that underwriting procedures and policies and protections against fraud will be sufficient in the future to prevent
such financial difficulties or significant levels of default or delinquency on mortgage loans. Because the recent financial difficulties experienced by such originators and servicers is unprecedented and unpredictable, the past performance of the
residential and commercial mortgage loans originated and serviced by them (and the corresponding performance of the related MBS) is not a reliable indicator of the future performance of such residential mortgage loans (or the related MBS). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In some cases, servicers of MBS have been the subject of legal proceedings involving the origination and/or servicing
practices of such servicers. Large groups of private litigants and states&#146; attorneys general have brought such proceedings. Because of the large volume of mortgage loans originated and serviced by such servicers, such litigation can cause
heightened financial strain on servicers. In other cases, origination and servicing practices may cause or contribute to such strain, because of representation and warranty repurchase liability arising in MBS and mortgage loan sale transactions. Any
such financial strain could cause servicers to service below required standards, causing delinquencies and losses in any related MBS transaction to rise, and in extreme cases could cause the servicer to seek the protection of any applicable
bankruptcy or insolvency law. In any such proceeding, it is unclear whether the fees that the servicer charges in such transactions would be sufficient to permit that servicer or a successor servicer to service the mortgage loans in such transaction
adequately. If such fees had to be increased, it is likely that the most subordinated security holders in such transactions would be effectively required to pay such increased fees. Finally, these entities may be the subject of future laws designed
to protect consumers from defaulting on their mortgage loans. Such laws may have an adverse effect on the cash flows paid under such MBS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, certain lenders who service and/or issue MBS have recently announced that they are being investigated by or have
received information requests from U.S. federal and/or state authorities, including the SEC. As a result of such investigations and other similar investigations and general concerns about the adequacy or accuracy of disclosure of risks to borrowers
and their understanding of such risks, U.S. financial regulators have recently indicated that they may propose new guidelines for the mortgage industry. Guidelines, if introduced, together with the other factors described herein, may make it more
difficult for borrowers with weaker credit to refinance, which may lead to further increases in delinquencies, extensions in duration and losses in mortgage related assets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Adjustable Rate Mortgage Risk</I>. ARMs contain maximum and minimum rates beyond which the mortgage interest rate may not
vary over the lifetime of the security. In addition, many ARMs provide for additional limitations on the </P>
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maximum amount by which the mortgage interest rate may adjust for any single adjustment period. Alternatively, certain ARMs contain limitations on changes in the required monthly payment. In the
event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on an ARM, any excess interest is added to the principal balance of the mortgage loan, which is repaid through future monthly payments. If the monthly payment for such an
instrument exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable mortgage interest rate and the principal payment required at such point to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess is used to
reduce the then-outstanding principal balance of the ARM. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, certain ARMs may provide for an initial fixed,
below-market or &#147;teaser&#148; interest rate. During this initial fixed rate period, the payment due from the related mortgagor may be less than that of a traditional loan. However, after the &#147;teaser&#148; rate expires, the monthly payment
required to be made by the mortgagor may increase dramatically when the interest rate on the mortgage loan adjusts. This increased burden on the mortgagor may increase the risk of delinquency or default on the mortgage loan and in turn, losses on
the MBS into which that loan has been bundled.&nbsp;This risk may be increased as increases in prevailing market interest rates, which are currently near historical lows, may result in increased payments for borrowers with ARMs. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>CMO Risk</I>.&nbsp;There are certain risks associated specifically with CMOs. CMOs are debt obligations collateralized by
mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. The average life of a CMO is determined using mathematical models that incorporate prepayment assumptions and other factors that involve estimates of future economic and market conditions. Actual
future results may vary from these estimates, particularly during periods of extreme market volatility. Further, under certain market conditions, such as those that occurred during the recent downturn in the mortgage markets, the weighted average
life of certain CMOs may not accurately reflect the price volatility of such securities. For example, in periods of supply and demand imbalances in the market for such securities and/or in periods of sharp interest rate movements, the prices of CMOs
may fluctuate to a greater extent than would be expected from interest rate movements alone. CMOs issued by private entities are not obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and are not guaranteed by
any government agency, although the securities underlying a CMO may be subject to a guarantee. Therefore, if the collateral securing the CMO, as well as any third party credit support or guarantees, is insufficient to make payments when due, the
holder could sustain a loss. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Inverse floating rate CMOs are typically more volatile than fixed or floating rate tranches
of CMOs. Many inverse floating rate CMOs have coupons that move inversely to a multiple of an index. The effect of the coupon varying inversely to a multiple of an applicable index creates a leverage factor. Inverse floaters based on multiples of a
stated index are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and loss of principal. The market for inverse floating rate CMOs with highly leveraged characteristics
at times may be very thin. The Trust&#146;s ability to dispose of its positions in such securities will depend on the degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities. It is impossible to predict the amount of trading interest that may exist
in such securities, and therefore the future degree of liquidity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may also invest in REMICs, which are CMOs
that qualify for special tax treatment under the Code and invest in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Additional Risks of Mortgage Related Securities</I>.&nbsp;Additional risks associated with investments in MBS include: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Interest Rate Risk</I>.&nbsp;In addition to the interest rate risks described under &#147;Additional Risk
Factors&#151;Interest Rate Risk,&#148; certain MBS may be subject to additional risks as the rate of interest payable on certain MBS may be set or effectively capped at the weighted average net coupon of the underlying mortgage loans themselves,
often referred to as an &#147;available funds cap.&#148; As a result of this cap, the return to the holder of such MBS is dependent on the relative timing and rate of delinquencies and prepayments of mortgage loans bearing a higher rate of interest.
In general, early prepayments will have a greater negative impact on the yield to the holder of such MBS. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Structural
Risk</I>. Because MBS generally are ownership or participation interests in pools of mortgage loans secured by a pool of properties underlying the mortgage loan pool, the MBS are entitled to payments provided for in the underlying agreement only
when and if funds are generated by the underlying mortgage loan pool. This likelihood of the return of interest and principal may be assessed as a credit matter. However, the holders of MBS do not have the legal status of secured creditors, and
cannot accelerate a claim for payment on their securities, or force a sale of the mortgage loan pool in the event that insufficient funds exist to pay such amounts on any date designated for such payment. The holders of MBS do not typically have any
right to remove a servicer solely as a result of a failure of the mortgage pool to perform as expected. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Subordination Risk</I>.&nbsp;MBS may be subordinated to one or more other
senior classes of securities of the same series for purposes of, among other things, offsetting losses and other shortfalls with respect to the related underlying mortgage loans. For example, in the case of certain MBS, no distributions of principal
will generally be made with respect to any class until the aggregate principal balances of the corresponding senior classes of securities have been reduced to zero. As a result, MBS may be more sensitive to risk of loss, writedowns, the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-fulfillment</FONT> of repurchase obligations, overadvancing on a pool of loans and the costs of transferring servicing than senior classes of securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Prepayment, Extension and Redemption Risks</I>.&nbsp;MBS may reflect an interest in monthly payments made by the borrowers
who receive the underlying mortgage loans. Although the underlying mortgage loans are for specified periods of time, such as 20 or 30 years, the borrowers can, and historically have paid them off sooner. When a prepayment happens, a portion of the
MBS which represents an interest in the underlying mortgage loan will be prepaid. A borrower is more likely to prepay a mortgage which bears a relatively high rate of interest. This means that in times of declining interest rates, a portion of the
Trust&#146;s higher yielding securities are likely to be redeemed and the Trust will probably be unable to replace them with securities having as great a yield. In addition to reductions in the level of market interest rates and the prepayment
provisions of the mortgage loans, repayments on the residential mortgage loans underlying an issue of RMBS may also be affected by a variety of economic, geographic and other factors, including the size difference between the interest rates on the
underlying residential mortgage loans (giving consideration to the cost of refinancing) and prevailing mortgage rates and the availability of refinancing.&nbsp;Prepayments can result in lower yields to shareholders.&nbsp;The increased likelihood of
prepayment when interest rates decline also limits market price appreciation of MBS. This is known as prepayment risk. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Except in the case of certain types of RMBS, the mortgage loans underlying RMBS generally do not contain prepayment penalties
and a reduction in market interest rates will increase the likelihood of prepayments on the related RMBS. In the case of certain home equity loan securities and certain types of RMBS, even though the underlying mortgage loans often contain
prepayment premiums, such prepayment premiums may not be sufficient to discourage borrowers from prepaying their mortgage loans in the event of a reduction in market interest rates, resulting in a reduction in the yield to maturity for holders of
the related RMBS.&nbsp;RMBS typically contain provisions that require repurchase of mortgage loans by the originator or other seller in the event of a breach of a representation or warranty regarding loan quality and characteristics of such loan.
Any repurchase of a mortgage loan as a result of a breach has the same effect on the yield received on the related issue of RMBS as a prepayment of such mortgage loan. Any increase in breaches of representations and the consequent repurchases of
mortgage loans that result from inadequate underwriting procedures and policies and protections against fraud will have the same effect on the yield on the related RMBS as an increase in prepayment rates. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Risk of prepayment may be reduced for commercial real estate property loans containing significant prepayment penalties or
prohibitions on principal payments for a period of time following origination. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">MBS also are subject to extension risk.
Extension risk is the possibility that rising interest rates may cause prepayments to occur at a slower than expected rate. This particular risk may effectively change a security which was considered short or intermediate term into a long-term
security. The values of long-term securities generally fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates than short or intermediate-term securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, MBS may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer. If an MBS held by the Trust is called for
redemption, the Trust will be required to permit the issuer to redeem or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;pay-off&#148;</FONT> the security, which could have an adverse effect on the Trust&#146;s ability to achieve its investment objective.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Spread Widening Risk</I>. The prices of MBS may decline substantially, for reasons that may not be attributable to any
of the other risks described in this Prospectus. In particular, purchasing assets at what may appear to be &#147;undervalued&#148; levels is no guarantee that these assets will not be trading at even more &#147;undervalued&#148; levels at a time of
valuation or at the time of sale. It may not be possible to predict, or to protect against, such &#147;spread widening&#148; risk. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Liquidity Risk</I>. The liquidity of MBS varies by type of security; at
certain times the Trust may encounter difficulty in disposing of such investments. Because MBS have the potential to be less liquid than other securities, the Trust may be more susceptible to liquidity risks than funds that invest in other
securities. In the past, in stressed markets, certain types of MBS suffered periods of illiquidity when disfavored by the market. Due to increased instability in the credit markets, the market for some MBS has experienced reduced liquidity and
greater volatility with respect to the value of such securities, making it more difficult to value such securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Senior Loans Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Senior loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the issuing entity, are typically secured with
specific collateral and typically have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. The Trust&#146;s investments in senior loans are typically below
investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuer.&nbsp;The risks associated with senior loans are similar to the risks of below investment grade fixed income securities, although senior loans are typically
senior and secured in contrast to other below investment grade fixed income securities, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior loans&#146; higher standing has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a
corporate reorganization. In addition, because their interest payments are typically adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, investments in senior loans generally have less interest rate risk than other below investment grade fixed income
securities, which may have fixed interest rates. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior
loans than is the case for many other types of securities. As a result, the Trust is particularly dependent on the analytical abilities of the Advisor. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Senior loans rated below investment grade are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Such
companies are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust, and such defaults could reduce the Trust&#146;s NAV and income distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-payment</FONT> rate and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely
affect the senior loan&#146;s value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the
ability of the Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and may make it difficult to value senior loans. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded senior loans, meaning that the
Trust may not be able to sell them quickly at a fair price. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain senior loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement
periods. Illiquid securities are also difficult to value. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the senior loans in which the Trust will invest
generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower&#146;s obligation in the event of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-payment</FONT> of scheduled interest or
principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the Trust could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a senior
loan. If the terms of a senior loan do not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the value of the already pledged collateral, the Trust will be exposed to the risk that the value of the collateral will not
at all times equal or exceed the amount of the borrower&#146;s obligations under the senior loans. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of
the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized and under-collateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss. Some senior loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate
the senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to lenders, including the Trust. Such court action could under certain circumstances include invalidation of senior loans. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Senior loans are subject to legislative risk. If legislation or state or federal regulations impose additional requirements or
restrictions on the ability of financial institutions to make loans, the availability of senior loans for investment by the Trust may be adversely affected. In addition, such requirements or restrictions could reduce or eliminate sources of
financing for certain borrowers. This would increase the risk of default. If legislation or federal or state regulations require financial institutions to increase their capital requirements this may cause financial institutions to dispose of senior
loans that are considered highly levered transactions. Such sales could result in </P>
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prices that, in the opinion of the Investment Advisor, do not represent fair value. If the Trust attempts to sell a senior loan at a time when a financial institution is engaging in such a sale,
the price the Trust could receive for the senior loan may be adversely affected. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust&#146;s investments in senior
loans may be subject to lender liability risk.&nbsp;Lender liability refers to a variety of legal theories generally founded on the premise that a lender has violated a duty of good faith, commercial reasonableness and fair dealing or a similar duty
owed to the borrower, or has assumed an excessive degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of its investments, the Trust may
be subject to allegations of lender liability.&nbsp;In addition, under common law principles that in some cases form the basis for lender liability claims, a court may elect to subordinate the claim of the offending lender or bondholder to the
claims of the disadvantaged creditor or creditors. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Bank Loans Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and the Trust may have difficulty selling them.&nbsp;These investments are
subject to both interest rate risk and credit risk. These investments expose the Trust to the credit risk of both the financial institution and the underlying borrower. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>CDO Risks </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition to
the general risks associated with fixed income securities discussed herein, CDOs carry additional risks, including: (i)&nbsp;the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments;
(ii)&nbsp;the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii)&nbsp;the possibility that the CDO securities are subordinate to other classes; and (iv)&nbsp;the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time
of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The credit quality of CDOs
depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. The underlying assets (e.g., securities or loans) of CDOs may be subject to prepayments, which would shorten the weighted
average maturity and may lower the return of the CDO. If a credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The transaction documents relating to the
issuance of CDOs may impose eligibility criteria on the assets of the issuing SPV, restrict the ability of the investment manager to trade investments and impose certain portfolio-wide asset quality requirements.&nbsp;These criteria, restrictions
and requirements may limit the ability of the SPV&#146;s investment manager to maximize returns on the CDOs. In addition, other parties involved in structured products, such as third party credit enhancers and investors in the rated tranches, may
impose requirements that have an adverse effect on the returns of the various tranches of CDOs. Furthermore, CDO transaction documents generally contain provisions that, in the event that certain tests are not met (generally interest coverage and
over-collateralization tests at varying levels in the capital structure), require that proceeds that would otherwise be distributed to holders of a junior tranche must be diverted to pay down the senior tranches until such tests are satisfied.
Failure (or increased likelihood of failure) of a CDO to make timely payments on a particular tranche will have an adverse effect on the liquidity and market value of such tranche. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Payments to holders of CDOs may be subject to deferral. If cash flows generated by the underlying assets are insufficient to
make all current and, if applicable, deferred payments on the CDOs, no other assets will be available for payment of the deficiency and, following realization of the underlying assets, the obligations of the issuer to pay such deficiency will be
extinguished. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of CDO securities also may change because of changes in the market&#146;s perception of the
creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or fund providing the credit support or enhancement. Furthermore, the leveraged nature of each subordinated class may magnify the adverse
impact on such class of changes in the value of the assets, changes in the distributions on the assets, defaults and recoveries on the assets, capital gains and losses on the assets, prepayment on the assets and availability, price and interest
rates of the assets. CDOs are limited recourse, may not be paid in full and may be subject to up to 100% loss. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">CDOs are typically privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under
the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Trust as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist which would allow such securities to be considered liquid in some circumstances. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Zero Coupon Securities Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Zero coupon securities are securities that are sold at a discount to par value and do not pay interest during the life of the
security. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound over the period until maturity at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. Upon maturity, the holder
of a zero coupon security is entitled to receive the par value of the security. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">While interest payments are not made on
zero coupon securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income (&#147;phantom income&#148;) annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments that do not make current interest
payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at a fixed rate eliminates the risk of being
unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder&#146;s ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, some of these securities may be
subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently. Longer term zero coupon bonds are more exposed to interest rate risk than shorter term
zero coupon bonds. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust accrues income with respect to these securities for Federal income tax and accounting purposes prior to the receipt
of cash payments. Zero coupon securities may be subject to greater fluctuation in value and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities that pay cash interest at regular intervals. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Further, to maintain its qualification for pass-through treatment under the Federal tax laws, the Trust is required to
distribute income to its shareholders and, consequently, may have to dispose of other, more liquid portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances or may have to leverage itself by borrowing in order to generate the cash to satisfy these
distributions. The required distributions may result in an increase in the Trust&#146;s exposure to zero coupon securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition to the above-described risks, there are certain other risks related to investing in zero coupon securities. During
a period of severe market conditions, the market for such securities may become even less liquid. In addition, as these securities do not pay cash interest, a Fund&#146;s investment exposure to these securities and their risks, including credit
risk, will increase during the time these securities are held in the Trust&#146;s portfolio. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Insolvency Considerations with Respect to Issuers of
Indebtedness </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Various laws enacted for the protection of creditors may apply to indebtedness in which the Trust
invests.&nbsp;The information in this and the following paragraph is applicable with respect to U.S. issuers subject to U.S. federal bankruptcy law.&nbsp;Insolvency considerations may differ with respect to other issuers.&nbsp;If, in a lawsuit
brought by an unpaid creditor or representative of creditors of an issuer of indebtedness, a court were to find that the issuer did not receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for incurring the indebtedness and that, after giving
effect to such indebtedness, the issuer (i)&nbsp;was insolvent, (ii)&nbsp;was engaged in a business for which the remaining assets of such issuer constituted unreasonably small capital or (iii)&nbsp;intended to incur, or believed that it would
incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, such court could determine to invalidate, in whole or in part, such indebtedness as a fraudulent conveyance, to subordinate such indebtedness to existing or future creditors of such
issuer, or to recover amounts previously paid by such issuer in satisfaction of such indebtedness. The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary.&nbsp;Generally, an issuer would be considered insolvent at a particular time if the
sum of its debts was then greater than all of its property at a fair valuation, or if the present fair saleable value of its assets was then less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts as they
became absolute and matured.&nbsp;There can be no assurance as to what standard a court would apply in order to determine whether the issuer was &#147;insolvent&#148; after giving effect to the incurrence of the indebtedness in which the Trust
invested or that, regardless of the method of valuation, a court would not determine that the issuer was &#147;insolvent&#148; upon giving effect to such incurrence.&nbsp;In addition, in the event of the insolvency of an
</P>
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issuer of indebtedness in which the Trust invests, payments made on such indebtedness could be subject to avoidance as a &#147;preference&#148; if made within a certain period of time (which may
be as long as one year) before insolvency. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust does not anticipate that it will engage in conduct that would form
the basis for a successful cause of action based upon fraudulent conveyance, preference or equitable subordination.&nbsp;There can be no assurance, however, as to whether any lending institution or other party from which the Trust may acquire such
indebtedness engaged in any such conduct (or any other conduct that would subject such indebtedness and the Trust to insolvency laws) and, if it did, as to whether such creditor claims could be asserted in a U.S. court (or in the courts of any other
country) against the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Indebtedness consisting of obligations of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT>
issuers may be subject to various laws enacted in the countries of their issuance for the protection of creditors.&nbsp;These insolvency considerations will differ depending on the country in which each issuer is located or domiciled and may differ
depending on whether the issuer is a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-sovereign</FONT> or a sovereign entity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Equity Securities Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Stock markets are volatile, and the price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company&#146;s financial
condition and overall market and economic conditions.&nbsp;Although common stocks have historically generated higher average total returns than fixed income securities over the long-term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more
volatility in those returns and, in certain periods, have significantly under-performed relative to fixed income securities. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock held by the
Trust. A common stock may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. The value of a particular common stock held
by the Trust may decline for a number of other reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, the issuer&#146;s historical and prospective earnings, the value of its assets and reduced demand for its
goods and services. Also, the price of common stocks is sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks to which the Trust has exposure. Common stock prices fluctuate for
several reasons, including changes in investors&#146; perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common
stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Common equity securities are structurally subordinated to preferred stock, bonds and other debt instruments in a
company&#146;s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and are therefore inherently more risky than preferred stock or debt instruments of such issuers. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Municipal Securities Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Municipal securities involve certain risks. The municipal market is one in which dealer firms make markets in securities on a
principal basis using their proprietary capital, and during the recent market turmoil these firms&#146; capital was severely constrained. As a result, some firms were unwilling to commit their capital to purchase and to serve as a dealer for
municipal securities. Municipal securities are generally not registered with the SEC or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available about the municipal
securities to which the Trust is economically exposed is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Trust may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Investment Advisor. The
secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade securities to which the Trust may be economically exposed, also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely
affect the Trust&#146;s ability to sell such securities at prices approximating those at which the Trust may currently value them. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, many state and municipal governments that issue securities are under significant economic and financial stress
and may not be able to satisfy their obligations. The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal,
state and local governments. The taxing power of any governmental entity may be limited by provisions of state constitutions or laws and an entity&#146;s credit will depend on many factors, including the entity&#146;s tax base, the extent to which
the entity relies on federal or state aid and other factors which are beyond the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-41 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
entity&#146;s control. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other
constraints on enforcement of such obligations or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, holders of municipal
securities could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and such holders may not be able to collect all principal and interest to which they are entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or
repayment of principal, or both, the Trust may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer&#146;s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Trust&#146;s operating expenses. Any income derived from the Trust&#146;s
ownership or operation of such assets could jeopardize the Trust&#146;s status as a RIC under the Code. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Revenue bonds
issued by state or local agencies to finance the development of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-income,</FONT> multi-family housing involve special risks in addition to those associated with municipal securities generally, including that the
underlying properties may not generate sufficient income to pay expenses and interest costs. Such securities are generally <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-recourse</FONT> against the property owner, may be junior to the rights of others with an
interest in the properties, may pay interest that changes based in part on the financial performance of the property, may be prepayable without penalty and may be used to finance the construction of housing developments which, until completed and
rented, do not generate income to pay interest. Increases in interest rates payable on senior obligations may make it more difficult for issuers to meet payment obligations on subordinated bonds. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Municipal leases and certificates of participation involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or
revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property
and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. Such debt issuance limitations are usually deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;non-appropriation&#148;</FONT> clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate
legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to temporary abatement of payments in the event the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or
utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-appropriation</FONT> or foreclosure might prove
difficult, time consuming and costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover ownership of the assets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certificates of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged pools of municipal leases or installment contracts,
involve the same risks as the underlying municipal leases. In addition, the Trust may be dependent upon the municipal authority issuing the certificate of participation to exercise remedies with respect to the underlying securities. Certificates of
participation also entail a risk of default or bankruptcy, both of the issuer of the municipal lease and also the municipal agency issuing the certificate of participation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Municipal securities, like other debt obligations, are subject to the risk of nonpayment. The ability of issuers of municipal
securities to make timely payments of interest and principal may be adversely impacted in general economic downturns and as relative governmental cost burdens are allocated and reallocated among federal, state and local governmental units. Such
nonpayment would result in a reduction of income to the Trust and could result in a reduction in the value of the municipal security experiencing nonpayment and a potential decrease in the NAV of the Trust. A decline in income could affect the
Trust&#146;s ability to pay dividends on the common shares. The risks and special considerations involved in investment in municipal securities vary with the types of instruments being acquired. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The value of municipal securities generally may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal markets as a result of
legislation or litigation, including legislation or litigation that changes the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal security holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such
bankruptcies are unclear. Further, the application of state law to municipal security issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal security issuers within a state. These uncertainties could have a significant impact on
the prices of the municipal securities in which the Trust invests. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The U.S. economy may be in the process of
&#147;deleveraging,&#148; with individuals, companies and municipalities reducing expenditures and paying down borrowings. In such event, the number of municipal borrowers and the amount of outstanding municipal securities may contract, potentially
without corresponding reductions in investor demand for municipal securities. As a result, the Trust may have fewer investment alternatives, may invest in securities that it previously would have declined and may concentrate its investments in a
smaller number of issuers. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Equity-Linked Notes Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Equity-linked notes are hybrid securities with characteristics of both fixed income and equity securities. An equity-linked
note is a debt instrument, usually a bond, that pays interest based upon the performance of an underlying equity, which can be a single stock, basket of stocks or an equity index. The interest payment on an equity-linked note may in some cases be
leveraged so that, in percentage terms, it exceeds the relative performance of the market. Equity-linked notes generally are subject to the risks associated with the securities of equity issuers, default risk and counterparty risk. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Credit-Linked Securities Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A credit-linked security is a derivative instrument. It is a synthetic obligation between two or more parties where the payment
of principal and/or interest is based on the performance of some obligation (a reference obligation). In addition to the credit risk of the reference obligations and interest rate risk, the buyer/seller of the credit-linked security is subject to
counterparty risk. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>EMU and Redenomination Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As the European debt crisis has progressed the possibility of one or more Eurozone countries exiting the EMU, or even the
collapse of the Euro as a common currency, has arisen, creating significant volatility at times in currency and financial markets generally. The effects of the collapse of the Euro, or of the exit of one or more countries from the EMU, on the U.S.
and global economy and securities markets are impossible to predict and any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Trust&#146;s portfolio. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have
significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Trust&#146;s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the Euro as its primary currency, the Trust&#146;s investments in such
countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject
to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in Euros. To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">EMU-related</FONT> investments, or should the Euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of.
The Trust may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Sovereign Government and Supranational Debt Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investments in sovereign debt involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that
control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of
the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity&#146;s willingness to meet the terms of its debt obligations, are of considerable significance. The ability of a foreign sovereign issuer, especially an emerging market
country, to make timely payments on its debt obligations will also be strongly influenced by the sovereign issuer&#146;s balance of payments, including export performance, its access to international credit facilities and investments, fluctuations
of interest rates and the extent of its foreign reserves. The cost of servicing external debt will also generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates, as many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are
adjusted based upon international interest rates. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under
commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted and the Trust may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign
investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceeds of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at
times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt and increase the costs and expenses of the Trust. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Defensive Investing Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For defensive purposes, the Trust may allocate assets into cash or short-term fixed income securities without limitation. In
doing so, the Trust may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective. Further, the value of short-term fixed income securities may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in credit ratings of
the investments. If the Trust holds cash uninvested it will be subject to the credit risk of the depository institution holding the cash. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Inverse
Floater and Related Securities Risk </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investments in inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar
instruments expose the Trust to the same risks as investments in fixed income securities and derivatives, as well as other risks, including those associated with leverage and increased volatility. An investment in these securities typically will
involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Distributions on inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments will typically bear an inverse relationship to short term interest rates and typically
will be reduced or, potentially, eliminated as interest rates rise. Inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. Inverse
floaters may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that their interest rates vary by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in a reference rate of interest (typically a short term interest rate). The leverage inherent in inverse
floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Investments in inverse floaters, residual interest tender option bonds and similar instruments that have fixed income securities underlying them will expose the Trust to the
risks associated with those fixed income securities and the values of those investments may be especially sensitive to changes in prepayment rates on the underlying fixed income securities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Repurchase Agreements Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subject to its investment objective and investment policies, the Trust may invest in repurchase agreements for leverage or
investment purposes. Repurchase agreements typically involve the acquisition by the Trust of fixed income securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the
Trust will sell the securities back to the institution at a fixed time in the future. The Trust does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under its repurchase obligation. In the event of
the bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase agreement, the Trust could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses, including possible decline in the value of the underlying security during the period
in which the Trust seeks to enforce its rights thereto; possible lack of access to income on the underlying security during this period; and expenses of enforcing its rights. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in fixed income securities, the Trust follows procedures approved by the Board that are designed to minimize such risks. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the
repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Trust generally will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of the
Trust&#146;s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Trust could suffer a loss.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Securities Lending Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may lend securities to financial institutions.&nbsp;Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including
operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process), &#147;gap&#148; risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees the Trust has agreed to
pay a borrower), and credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. If a securities lending counterparty were to default, the Trust would be subject to the risk of a possible delay in receiving collateral or in recovering the loaned securities, or to
a possible loss of rights in the collateral. In the event a borrower does not return the Trust&#146;s securities as agreed, the Trust may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral do not at least equal the value of
the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated, plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities. This event could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Trust. The Trust could lose money if its short-term
investment of the collateral declines in value over the period of the loan. Substitute payments for dividends received by the Trust for securities loaned out by the Trust will not be considered qualified dividend income. The securities lending agent
will take the tax effects on shareholders of this difference into account in connection with the Trust&#146;s securities lending program.&nbsp;Substitute payments received on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> securities loaned out
will not be <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> income. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-44 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Short Selling Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Short-selling involves selling securities which may or may not be owned and borrowing the same securities for delivery to the
purchaser, with an obligation to replace the borrowed securities at a later date. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Trust replaces the borrowed security, the Trust will incur a
loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Trust will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss will be increased, by the transaction costs incurred by the Trust, including the costs associated with providing collateral to
the broker-dealer (usually cash and liquid securities) and the maintenance of collateral with its custodian. Although the Trust&#146;s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Short-selling necessarily involves certain additional risks. However, if the short seller does not own the securities
sold short (an uncovered short sale), the borrowed securities must be replaced by securities purchased at market prices in order to close out the short position, and any appreciation in the price of the borrowed securities would result in a loss.
Uncovered short sales expose the Trust to the risk of uncapped losses until a position can be closed out due to the lack of an upper limit on the price to which a security may rise. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself
cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. There is the risk that the securities borrowed by the Trust in connection with a short-sale must be returned to the securities lender on short notice. If a request for
return of borrowed securities occurs at a time when other short-sellers of the security are receiving similar requests, a &#147;short squeeze&#148; can occur, and the Trust may be compelled to replace borrowed securities previously sold short with
purchases on the open market at the most disadvantageous time, possibly at prices significantly in excess of the proceeds received at the time the securities were originally sold short. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In September 2008, in response to spreading turmoil in the financial markets, the SEC temporarily banned short selling in the
stocks of numerous financial services companies, and also promulgated new disclosure requirements with respect to short positions held by investment managers. The SEC&#146;s temporary ban on short selling of such stocks has since expired, but should
similar restrictions and/or additional disclosure requirements be promulgated, especially if market turmoil occurs, the Trust may be forced to cover short positions more quickly than otherwise intended and may suffer losses as a result. Such
restrictions may also adversely affect the ability of the Trust to execute its investment strategies generally. Similar emergency orders have also recently been instituted in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> markets in response to
increased volatility. The SEC recently adopted amendments to Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;) that restrict the ability to engage in a short sale at a price that is less than or equal to the
current best bid if the price of the covered security has decreased by 10% or more from the covered security&#146;s closing price as of the end of the prior day. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Inflation Risk </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Inflation
risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future, as inflation decreases the value of money. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including
unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions on those shares can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, interest rates on any borrowings by
the Trust would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to the holders of common shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Deflation Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market
valuation of companies, their assets and their revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Trust&#146;s
portfolio. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Event Risk </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Event risk is the risk that corporate issuers may undergo restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers, or
similar events financed by increased debt. As a result of the added debt, the credit quality and market value of a company&#146;s securities may decline significantly. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-45 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_16"></A>MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Investment Management Agreement </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the Advisor intends to devote such time and effort to the business of the Trust as is reasonably necessary to perform
its duties to the Trust, the services of the Advisor are not exclusive and the Advisor provides similar services to other investment companies and other clients and may engage in other activities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The investment management agreement between the Advisor and the Trust (the &#147;Investment Management Agreement&#148;) also
provides that except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Advisor&#146;s part in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its duties under the Investment Management Agreement, the Advisor is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Advisor or the Trust in connection with
the performance of the Investment Management Agreement. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification by the Trust of the Advisor and each of the Advisor&#146;s directors, officers, employees, agents, associates and
controlling persons, and the directors, partners, members, officers, employees and agents thereof (including any individual who serves at the Advisor&#146;s request as director, officer, partner, member, trustee or the like of another entity) for
liabilities and expenses incurred by them in connection with their services to the Trust, subject to certain limitations and conditions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Investment Management Agreement provides for the Trust to pay a monthly management fee at an annual rate equal to 0.50% of
the average weekly value of the Trust&#146;s Managed Assets. &#147;Managed Assets&#148; means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Trust&#146;s accrued
liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisor have entered into a fee waiver
agreement (the &#147;Fee Waiver Agreement&#148;), pursuant to which the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee with respect to any portion of the Trust&#146;s assets attributable to investments in any equity and fixed-income
mutual funds and ETFs managed by the Advisor or its affiliates that have a contractual management fee, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. In addition, pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fees
by the amount of investment advisory fees the Trust pays to the Advisor indirectly through its investment in money market funds advised by the Advisor or its affiliates, through June&nbsp;30, 2026. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be continued from year
to year thereafter, provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the Advisor and the Trust (including by a majority of the Trustees who are not &#147;interested persons&#148; (as defined in the Investment Company Act) (the
&#147;Independent Trustees&#148;)). Neither the Advisor nor the Trust is obligated to extend the Fee Waiver Agreement. The Fee Waiver Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, only by the Trust (upon the vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust), upon 90 days&#146; written notice by the Trust to the Advisor. Prior to December&nbsp;1, 2019, the agreement to waive a portion of the
Trust&#146;s management fee in connection with the Trust&#146;s investment in affiliated money market funds was voluntary. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided that each continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by both (1)&nbsp;the vote of a majority of the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act) and (2)&nbsp;by the vote of a
majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Investment Management Agreement or &#147;interested persons&#148; (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval. The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated as a whole at any time by the Trust, without the payment of any penalty, upon the vote of a majority of the Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Trust or by the Advisor, on 60 days&#146; written notice by either party to the other which can be waived by the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-terminating</FONT> party. The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically in
the event of its &#147;assignment&#148; (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The table below sets forth information about the total management fees paid by the Trust to the Advisor, and the amounts
waived by the Advisor, for the periods indicated: </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-46 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="76%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="16%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="16%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31,</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Paid&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Advisor</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Waived&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Advisor</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">4,419,678</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,435</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">4,517,988</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,636</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2022</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,512,710</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">6,270</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Investment&nbsp;Advisory</FONT> Agreements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock International Limited and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (previously defined as the &#147;Sub Advisors&#148;), each a
wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, perform certain of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">day-to-day</FONT></FONT> investment management of the Trust pursuant to separate
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-investment</FONT> advisory agreements. The <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> receive a portion of the management fee paid by the Trust to the Advisor. For that portion of the Trust for which
each <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor</FONT> acts as sub-adviser, the Advisor, and not the Trust, pays to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor,</FONT> an annual <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisory</FONT> fee equal
to a percentage of the management fee received by the Advisor from the Trust with respect to the average daily value of the Managed Assets of the Trust allocated to such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-investment</FONT> advisory agreements provide that, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Trust will indemnify the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors,</FONT> their directors, officers, employees, agents, associates and control
persons for liabilities incurred by them in connection with their services to the Trust, subject to certain limitations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> intend to devote such time and effort to the business of the
Trust as is reasonably necessary to perform its duties to the Trust, the services of the Sub-Advisors are not exclusive and the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisors</FONT> provide similar services to other investment companies and other
clients and may engage in other activities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-investment</FONT> advisory
agreements will continue in effect for a period of two years from its effective date, and if not sooner terminated, will continue in effect for successive periods of 12 months thereafter, provided that each continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by both (1)&nbsp;the vote of a majority of the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and (2)&nbsp;by the vote of a majority of the trustees who are
not parties to such agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-investment</FONT> advisory agreements may be terminated as a whole at any time by the Trust without the payment of any penalty, upon the vote of a majority of the Board or a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust or by the Advisor or the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Advisor,</FONT> on 60 days&#146; written notice by either party to the other. The
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-investment&nbsp;advisory&nbsp;agreements</FONT> will also terminate automatically in the event of their assignment (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Biographical Information Pertaining to the Trustees </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board consists of ten individuals (each, a &#147;Trustee&#148;), eight of whom are Independent Trustees. The registered
investment companies advised by the Advisor or its affiliates (the &#147;BlackRock-advised Funds&#148;) are organized into one complex of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-index</FONT> fixed-income funds (the &#147;BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex&#148;), one complex of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> equity, multi-asset, index and money market funds (the &#147;BlackRock
Multi-Asset Complex&#148;) and one complex of exchange-traded funds (each, a &#147;BlackRock Fund Complex&#148;). The Trust is included in the BlackRock Fund Complex referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. The Trustees also oversee as
board members the operations of the other <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> registered investment companies included in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the section of the Trust&#146;s June&nbsp;5, 2024 definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the annual
meeting of the Trust&#146;s shareholders entitled: &#147;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/832327/000119312524155180/d831129ddef14a.htm">Proposal 1&#151;Board Members&#146;/Nominees&#146; Biographical
 Information</A>&#148;, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Trust&#146;s trustees, their principal occupations and other affiliates during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fixed-Income Complex that
they oversee, and other information about them. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-47 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Board Leadership Structure and Oversight </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the sections of the Trust&#146;s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the annual meeting of the
Trust&#146;s shareholders entitled: &#147;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/832327/000119312524155180/d831129ddef14a.htm">Proposal 1&#151;Board Leadership Structure and Oversight</A>&#148; and
&#147;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/832327/000119312524155180/d831129ddef14a.htm">Appendix E&#151;Committees of the Board</A>&#148; which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of
the Board&#146;s leadership structure and oversight. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">During the Trust&#146;s fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024,
the Board&#146;s Audit Committee, Governance Committee, Compliance Committee, Performance Oversight Committee, Discount Committee, Securities Lending Committee and Executive Committee met the following number of times: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="34%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Number of<BR>Audit<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></P></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Governance<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Compliance<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Performance<BR>Oversight<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Discount<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Securities&nbsp;Lending<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number of<BR>Executive<BR>Committee<BR>Meetings</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>8</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>5</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>4</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>4</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>1</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>2</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>1</B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Trustee Share Ownership </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Information relating to each Trustee&#146;s share ownership in the Trust and in all BlackRock-advised Funds that are currently
overseen by the respective Trustee (&#147;Supervised Funds&#148;) as of December&nbsp;31, 2024 is set forth in the chart below. Amounts shown may include shares as to which a Trustee has indirect beneficial ownership, such as through participation
in certain family accounts, 529 college savings plan interests, or similar arrangements where the Trustee has beneficial economic interest but not a direct ownership interest. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="76%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Name of Trustee</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Dollar&nbsp;Range<BR>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Trust*</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Aggregate&nbsp;Dollar&nbsp;Range<BR>in&nbsp;Supervised Funds*</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Independent Trustees</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Cynthia L. Egan</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Lorenzo A. Flores</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Stayce D. Harris</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">J. Phillip Holloman</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">R. Glenn Hubbard</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">$1&nbsp;-&nbsp;10,000</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">W. Carl Kester</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">$10,001&nbsp;-&nbsp;50,000</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Catherine A. Lynch</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Arthur P. Steinmetz</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over&nbsp;$100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="4"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Interested Trustees</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Robert Fairbairn</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over $100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">John M. Perlowski</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">Over $100,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Includes share equivalents owned under the deferred compensation plan in the Supervised Funds by certain
Independent Trustees who have participated in the deferred compensation plan of the Supervised Funds. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-48 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Compensation of Trustees </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Each Independent Trustee is paid an annual retainer of $370,000 per year for his or her services as a Board member of the
BlackRock-advised Funds, including the Trust, together with <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">out-of-pocket</FONT></FONT> expenses in accordance with a Board policy on travel and other business expenses relating to
attendance at meetings. In addition, the Chair of the Board and the Vice Chair of the Board are paid an additional annual retainer of $140,000 and $84,000, respectively. The Chairs of the Audit Committee, Performance Oversight Committee, Compliance
Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Discount Committee and Securities Lending Committee are each paid an additional annual retainer of $55,000, $42,500, $50,000, $42,500, $25,000 and $20,000, respectively. Each of the other members of
the Audit Committee, Compliance Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Discount Committee and Securities Lending Committee are paid an additional annual retainer of $30,000, $25,000, $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, for his or
her service on such committee. An Independent Trustee may receive additional compensation for his or her service as a member or Chair, as applicable, of one or more ad hoc committees of the Board. The Trust will pay a pro rata portion quarterly
(based on relative net assets) of the foregoing Trustee fees paid by the funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Independent Trustees have agreed that a maximum of 50% of each Independent Trustee&#146;s total compensation paid by funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex may be deferred pursuant to the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex&#146;s deferred
compensation plan. Under the deferred compensation plan, deferred amounts earn a return for the Independent Trustees as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex selected by
the Independent Trustees. This has approximately the same economic effect for the Independent Trustees as if they had invested the deferred amounts in such funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. The deferred compensation plan is not funded and
obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of a fund and are recorded as a liability for accounting purposes. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Prior to January&nbsp;1, 2024, the Chair of the Board and the Vice Chair of the Board were paid an additional annual retainer
of $100,000 and $60,000, respectively. The Chairs of the Audit Committee, Performance Oversight Committee, Compliance Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee were paid an additional annual retainer of $45,000, $37,500, $45,000 and
$37,500, respectively. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Trust for the fiscal
year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024, and the aggregate compensation, including deferred compensation amounts, paid to them by all BlackRock-advised Funds for the calendar year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024. Messrs. Fairbairn and Perlowski serve without
compensation from the Trust because of their affiliation with BlackRock, Inc. and the Advisor. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Name(1)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Compensation<BR>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Trust</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Estimated&nbsp;Annual<BR>Benefits&nbsp;upon<BR>Retirement</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Aggregate&nbsp;Compensation&nbsp;from<BR><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">the&nbsp;BlackRock-Advised&nbsp;Funds(2)(3)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Independent Trustees</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Cynthia L. Egan</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">4,875</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">655,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Lorenzo A. Flores</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">3,535</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">420,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Stayce D. Harris</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">3,327</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">395,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">J. Phillip Holloman</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">3,577</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">425,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">R. Glenn Hubbard</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,038</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">600,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">W. Carl Kester</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,513</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">746,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Catherine A. Lynch</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,126</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">695,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Arthur P. Steinmetz(4)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">3,858</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">534,206</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-49 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

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<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>

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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Interested Trustees</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Robert Fairbairn</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">John M. Perlowski</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">None</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">For the number of BlackRock-advised Funds from which each Trustee receives compensation, see the
Biographical Information section beginning on page S-47. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">For the Independent Trustees, this amount represents the aggregate compensation earned from the funds in the
BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex during the calendar year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024. Of this amount, Mr.&nbsp;Flores, Ms.&nbsp;Harris, Mr.&nbsp;Holloman, Dr.&nbsp;Hubbard, Dr.&nbsp;Kester, Ms.&nbsp;Lynch and Mr.&nbsp;Steinmetz deferred $210,000,
$197,500, $212,500, $300,000, $58,641, $34,750 and $266,957, respectively, pursuant to the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex&#146;s deferred compensation plan. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex to Mr.&nbsp;Flores,
Ms.&nbsp;Harris, Mr.&nbsp;Holloman, Dr.&nbsp;Hubbard, Dr.&nbsp;Kester, Ms.&nbsp;Lynch and Mr.&nbsp;Steinmetz is $743,845, $726,494, $773,663, $5,010,835, $2,155,608, $631,953 and $278,737, respectively, as of December&nbsp;31, 2024. Ms.&nbsp;Egan
did not participate in the deferred compensation plan as of December&nbsp;31, 2024. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="justify">Mr. Steinmetz was appointed as a member and Chair of the Performance Oversight Committee effective
January&nbsp;1, 2024 and January&nbsp;19, 2024, respectively, and appointed as a member of the Audit Committee effective January&nbsp;19, 2024. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Independent Trustee Ownership of Securities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As of December&nbsp;31, 2024, none of the Independent Trustees of the Trust or their immediate family members owned
beneficially or of record any securities of BlackRock or any affiliate of any BlackRock person controlling, controlled by or under common control with BlackRock nor did any Independent Trustee of the Trust or their immediate family member have any
material interest in any transaction, or series of similar transactions, during the most recently completed two calendar years involving the Trust BlackRock or any affiliate of any BlackRock person controlling, controlled by or under common control
with the Trust or BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[As of the date of this SAI, the officers and Trustees of the Trust, as a group,
beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding common shares of the Trust.] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Information Pertaining to the Officers </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Please refer to the section of the Trust&#146;s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the annual meeting of the
Trust&#146;s shareholders entitled: &#147;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/832327/000119312524155180/d831129ddef14a.htm">Appendix F &#150; Information Pertaining to the Executive Officers of the Funds</A>&#148;, which is incorporated by reference herein, for certain biographical and other information relating to the officers of the Trust who are not Trustees. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Indemnification of Trustees and Officers </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The governing documents of the Trust generally provide that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trust will
indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless, as to liability to the Trust or its investors, it is finally
adjudicated that they engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in their offices. In addition, the Trust will not indemnify Trustees with respect to any matter as to which Trustees did
not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which Trustees had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.
Indemnification provisions contained in the Trust&#146;s governing documents are subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-end</FONT> funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex, including the Trust, have also
entered into a separate indemnification agreement with the board members of each board of such funds (the &#147;Indemnification Agreement&#148;). The Indemnification Agreement (i)&nbsp;extends the indemnification provisions contained in a
fund&#146;s governing documents to board members who leave that fund&#146;s board and serve on an advisory board of a different fund in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex; (ii)&nbsp;sets in place the terms of the indemnification provisions of a
fund&#146;s governing documents once a board member retires from a board; and (iii)&nbsp;in the case of board members who left the board of a fund in connection with or prior to the board consolidation that occurred in 2007 as a result of the merger
of BlackRock and Merrill Lynch&nbsp;&amp; Co., Inc.&#146;s investment management business, clarifies that such fund continues to indemnify the trustee for claims arising out of his or her past service to that fund. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-50 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Portfolio Management </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Portfolio Manager Assets Under Management</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table sets forth information about funds and accounts other than the Trust for which the portfolio managers are
primarily responsible for the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">day-to-day</FONT></FONT> portfolio management as of December&nbsp;31, 2024: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="5" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>(ii) Number of Other Accounts Managed</B><br><B>and Assets by Account Type</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="5" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>(iii) Number&nbsp;of&nbsp;Other&nbsp;Accounts&nbsp;and</B><br><B>Assets&nbsp;for Which Advisory Fee is</B><br><B>Performance-Based</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>(i)&nbsp;Name&nbsp;of&nbsp;Portfolio&nbsp;Manager</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other</B><br><B>Registered</B><br><B>Investment</B><br><B>Companies</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other&nbsp;Pooled</B><br><B>Investment</B><br><B>Vehicles</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other</B><br><B>Accounts</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other</B><br><B>Registered</B><br><B>Investment</B><br><B>Companies</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other&nbsp;Pooled</B><br><B>Investment</B><br><B>Vehicles</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Other</B><br><B>Accounts</B></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Scott&nbsp;MacLellan</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">10</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">15</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">122</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">3</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$8.88&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$3.02&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$44.78&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$118.3&nbsp;Million</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$1.02&nbsp;Billion</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Akiva&nbsp;Dickstein</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">17</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">21</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">196</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">3</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$20.63&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$6.41&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$85.24&nbsp;Billion</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">$1.02&nbsp;Billion</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The discussion below describes the portfolio managers&#146; compensation as of December&nbsp;31, 2024. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisor&#146;s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path
emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base
salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by the Advisor. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Base Compensation</B>. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Discretionary Incentive Compensation</B>. Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the
performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager&#146;s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm&#146;s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager
relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual&#146;s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the
performance of the Trust or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured. Among other things, BlackRock&#146;s Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio manager&#146;s compensation
based on the performance of the Trust and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pre-tax</FONT> and/or <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">after-tax</FONT> basis over various time periods including <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">1-,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">3-</FONT> and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">5-</FONT> year periods, as applicable.
With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Trust and other accounts are: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>Portfolio Managers</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>Applicable Benchmarks</B></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Scott&nbsp;MacLellan</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate&nbsp;&amp; Government Index, <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">1-3</FONT> Years), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-51 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Akiva&nbsp;Dickstein</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Bloomberg US Aggregate Index, Bloomberg US Universal Index and Bloomberg
Intermediate Aggregate Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation</B>.<B> </B>Discretionary incentive
compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash, deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards, and/or deferred cash awards that notionally track the return of certain BlackRock investment products. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Portfolio managers receive their annual discretionary incentive compensation in the form of cash. Portfolio managers whose
total compensation is above a specified threshold also receive deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards annually as part of their discretionary incentive compensation. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in the form of deferred
BlackRock, Inc. stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year &#147;at risk&#148; based on BlackRock&#146;s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. In some cases, additional deferred BlackRock,
Inc. stock may be granted to certain key employees as part of a long-term incentive award to aid in retention, align interests with long-term shareholders and motivate performance. Deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards are generally granted in the
form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that vest pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan and, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. The portfolio managers of this Trust have deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For certain portfolio managers, a portion of the discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in the form of
deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage, which provides direct alignment of portfolio manager discretionary incentive compensation with investment product results. Deferred cash
awards vest ratably over a number of years and, once vested, settle in the form of cash. Only portfolio managers who manage specified products and whose total compensation is above a specified threshold are eligible to participate in the deferred
cash award program. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><B>Other Compensation Benefits.</B><B></B>&nbsp;In addition to base salary and discretionary
incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Incentive Savings Plans&#151;</I>BlackRock,&nbsp;Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock,
Inc. employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k)&nbsp;plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match
equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">to&nbsp;3-5%&nbsp;of</FONT> eligible compensation up to the Internal Revenue
Service limit ($345,000 for 2024). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds managed by the firm. BlackRock, Inc. contributions follow the investment direction set by
participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into a target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65.&nbsp;The ESPP allows for investment
in BlackRock, Inc. common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date.&nbsp;Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its
fair market value on the purchase date.&nbsp;All of the eligible portfolio managers are eligible to participate in these plans. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Securities Ownership of Portfolio Managers</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As of December&nbsp;31, 2024, the end of the Trust&#146;s most recently completed fiscal year end, the dollar range of
securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager in the Trust is shown below: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="69%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Portfolio Manager</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Dollar&nbsp;Range&nbsp;of&nbsp;Equity<BR>Securities of the Trust</B><br><B>Beneficially Owned</B></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Scott MacLellan</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">$1&nbsp;-&nbsp;$10,000</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Akiva Dickstein</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">$50,001&nbsp;-&nbsp;$100,000</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-52 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Potential Material Conflicts of Interest</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisors have built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems
designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. The Advisors have adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal
trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, the Advisors furnish investment management and advisory services to numerous clients
in addition to the Trust, and the Advisors may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to the Advisors, or in
which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Trust. In addition, BlackRock, Inc., its affiliates and significant shareholders and any officer, director,
shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale the Advisors recommend to the Trust. BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder,
employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Trust by the Advisors with respect to the same securities. Moreover, the Advisors may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning
securities of companies of which any of BlackRock, Inc.&#146;s (or its affiliates&#146; or significant shareholders&#146;) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates
or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> information. Certain portfolio managers also may
manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that Messrs. Dickstein and MacLellan may be managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team
managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Messrs. Dickstein and MacLellan may therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As a fiduciary, the Advisors owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When the Advisors
purchase or sell securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. The Advisors attempt to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account
receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock, Inc. has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide the Advisors with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner
that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Proxy Voting Policies </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board has delegated the voting of proxies for the Trust&#146;s securities to the Advisor pursuant to the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund Proxy Voting Policy. The Advisor has adopted the BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship &#150; Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines (the &#147;BAIS Guidelines&#148;) with respect to certain
funds, including the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Copies of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund Proxy Voting Policy and
the BAIS Guidelines are attached as Appendix B to this SAI. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Information on how the Trust voted proxies relating to
portfolio securities during the most recent <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">12-month</FONT> period ended June&nbsp;30 is available (i)&nbsp;without charge, upon request, by calling (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052,</FONT> (ii) at
www.blackrock.com and (iii)&nbsp;on the SEC&#146;s website at http://www.sec.gov. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Codes of Ethics </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust and the Advisors have adopted codes of ethics pursuant to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;17j-1</FONT>
under the Investment Company Act. These codes permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-53 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
or held by the Trust. These codes may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">551-8090.</FONT> These codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the
SEC&#146;s website (http://www.sec.gov), and copies of these codes may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">e-mail</FONT> address: publicinfo@sec.gov. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Other Information </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock, Inc. is independent in ownership and governance, with no single majority stockholder and a majority of independent
directors.</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_17"></A>PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subject to policies established by the Board, the Advisors are primarily responsible for the execution of the Trust&#146;s
portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage. The Advisors do not execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but seeks to obtain the best net results for the Trust, taking into account such factors as price (including
the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, operational facilities of the firm and the firm&#146;s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While the Advisors generally seek reasonable
trade execution costs, the Trust does not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available, and payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.
Subject to applicable legal requirements, the Advisors may select a broker based partly upon brokerage or research services provided to the Advisors and their clients, including the Trust. In return for such services, the Advisors may cause the
Trust to pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if the Advisors determine in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In selecting brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions, the Advisors seek to obtain the best price and most
favorable execution for the Trust, taking into account a variety of factors including: (i)&nbsp;the size, nature and character of the security or instrument being traded and the markets in which it is purchased or sold; (ii)&nbsp;the desired timing
of the transaction; (iii)&nbsp;the Advisor&#146;s knowledge of the expected commission rates and spreads currently available; (iv)&nbsp;the activity existing and expected in the market for the particular security or instrument, including any
anticipated execution difficulties; (v)&nbsp;the full range of brokerage services provided; (vi)&nbsp;the broker&#146;s or dealer&#146;s capital; (vii)&nbsp;the quality of research and research services provided; (viii)&nbsp;the reasonableness of
the commission, dealer spread or its equivalent for the specific transaction; and (ix)&nbsp;the Advisor&#146;s knowledge of any actual or apparent operational problems of a broker or dealer. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Section&nbsp;28(e) of the Exchange Act (&#147;Section&nbsp;28(e)&#148;) permits an investment adviser and, if applicable,
subject to the restrictions of MiFID II as described below, under certain circumstances, to cause an account to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction that exceeds the amount another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting the same transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by that broker or dealer. This includes commissions paid on riskless principal transactions under certain conditions. Brokerage and research
services include: (1)&nbsp;furnishing advice as to the value of securities, including pricing and appraisal advice, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis, as well as the advisability of investing in, purchasing
or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2)&nbsp;furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the
performance of accounts; and (3)&nbsp;effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental to securities transactions (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). The Advisors believe that access to independent investment research
is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisors, unless prohibited
by applicable law, may participate in client commission arrangements under which the Advisors may execute transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another
firm that provides research to the Advisors. The Advisors believe that research services obtained through soft dollar or commission sharing arrangements enhance its investment decision-making capabilities, thereby increasing the prospects for higher
investment returns. The Advisors will engage only in soft dollar or commission sharing transactions that comply with the requirements of Section&nbsp;28(e) and MiFID II. Under MiFID II, European Union (&#147;EU&#148;) investment managers, including
BIL, pay for any research out of their own resources and not through soft dollars or commission sharing arrangements. The Advisors regularly evaluate the soft dollar products and services utilized, as well as the overall soft dollar and
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-54 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
commission sharing arrangements to ensure that trades are executed by firms that are regarded as best able to execute trades for client accounts, while at the same time providing access to the
research and other services the Advisors view as impactful to its trading results. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisors, unless prohibited by
applicable law, may utilize soft dollars and related services, including research (whether prepared by the broker-dealer or prepared by a third-party and provided to the Advisors by the broker-dealer) and execution or brokerage services within
applicable rules and the Advisors&#146; policies to the extent that such permitted services do not compromise the Advisors&#146; ability to seek to obtain best execution. In this regard, the portfolio management investment and/or trading teams may
consider a variety of factors, including the degree to which the broker-dealer: (a)&nbsp;provides access to company management; (b)&nbsp;provides access to their analysts; (c)&nbsp;provides meaningful/insightful research notes on companies or other
potential investments; (d)&nbsp;facilitates calls on which meaningful or insightful ideas about companies or potential investments are discussed; (e)&nbsp;facilitates conferences at which meaningful or insightful ideas about companies or potential
investments are discussed; or (f)&nbsp;provides research tools such as market data, financial analysis, and other third party related research and brokerage tools that aid in the investment process. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Research-oriented services for which the Advisors, unless prohibited by applicable law, might pay with Trust commissions may
be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies or industries and securities or groups of securities, as well as market, economic, or institutional advice and statistical
information, political developments and technical market information that assists in the valuation of investments. Except as noted immediately below, research services furnished by brokers may be used in servicing some or all client accounts and not
all services may be used in connection with the Trust or account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. In some cases, research information received from brokers by investment company management personnel, or personnel
principally responsible for the Advisor&#146;s individually managed portfolios, is not necessarily shared by and between such personnel. Any investment advisory or other fees paid by the Trust to the Advisors are not reduced as a result of the
Advisors&#146; receipt of research services. In some cases, the Advisors may receive a service from a broker that has both a &#147;research&#148; and a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;non-research&#148;</FONT> use. When this occurs the
Advisors make a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-research</FONT> uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for
with client commissions, while the Advisors will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-research</FONT> purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Advisors face a
potential conflict of interest, but the Advisors believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-research</FONT> uses. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Effective January&nbsp;3, 2018 under MiFID II, investment
managers in the EU, including BIL, are no longer able to use soft dollars to pay for research from brokers. Investment managers in the EU are required to either pay for research out of their own profit and loss or agree with clients to have research
costs paid by clients through research payment accounts that are funded out of execution commissions or by a specific client research charge, provided that the payments for research are unbundled from the payments for execution. MiFID II restricts
the use of soft dollars by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-advisers</FONT> to the Trust located in the EU, such as BIL, if applicable. BIL will pay for any research out of its own resources and not through soft dollars or commission sharing
arrangements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Payments of commissions to brokers who are affiliated persons of the Trust will be made in accordance with
Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">17e-1</FONT> under the Investment Company Act. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">From time to time, the Trust may
purchase new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the broker may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Advisors with research services. The Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the broker will provide research &#147;credits&#148; in these situations at a rate that is higher than that
available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section&nbsp;28(e). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisors do not consider sales of shares of the investment companies it advises as a factor in the selection of brokers or
dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Trust; however, whether or not a particular broker or dealer sells shares of the investment companies advised by the Advisors neither qualifies nor disqualifies such broker or dealer to execute
transactions for those investment companies. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-55 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust anticipates that its brokerage transactions involving foreign
securities generally will be conducted primarily on the principal stock exchanges of the applicable country. Foreign equity securities may be held by the Trust in the form of depositary receipts, or other securities convertible into foreign equity
securities. Depositary receipts may be listed on stock exchanges, or traded in OTC markets in the United States or Europe, as the case may be. American Depositary Receipts, like other securities traded in the United States, will be subject to
negotiated commission rates. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in certain securities traded in the OTC market and intends to deal
directly with the dealers who make a market in the particular securities, except in those circumstances in which better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Under the Investment Company Act, persons affiliated with the Trust and persons who
are affiliated with such affiliated persons are prohibited from dealing with the Trust as principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless a permissive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. Since transactions in the OTC
market usually involve transactions with the dealers acting as principal for their own accounts, the Trust will not deal with affiliated persons in connection with such transactions. However, an affiliated person of the Trust may serve as its broker
in OTC transactions conducted on an agency basis provided that, among other things, the fee or commission received by such affiliated broker is reasonable and fair compared to the fee or commission received by
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-affiliated</FONT> brokers in connection with comparable transactions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">OTC issues,
including most fixed-income securities such as corporate debt and U.S. Government securities, are normally traded on a &#147;net&#148; basis without a stated commission, through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers. The Trust will
primarily engage in transactions with these dealers or deal directly with the issuer unless a better price or execution could be obtained by using a broker. Prices paid to a dealer with respect to both foreign and domestic securities will generally
include a &#147;spread,&#148; which is the difference between the prices at which the dealer is willing to purchase and sell the specific security at the time, and includes the dealer&#146;s normal profit. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Purchases of money market instruments by the Trust are made from dealers, underwriters and issuers. The Trust does not
currently expect to incur any brokerage commission expense on such transactions because money market instruments are generally traded on a &#147;net&#148; basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission. The
price of the security, however, usually includes a profit to the dealer. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Securities purchased in underwritten offerings
include a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter&#146;s concession or discount. When securities are purchased or sold directly from or to an issuer, no commissions or discounts are paid. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Advisors may seek to obtain an undertaking from issuers of commercial paper or dealers selling commercial paper to
consider the repurchase of such securities from the Trust prior to maturity at their original cost plus interest (sometimes adjusted to reflect the actual maturity of the securities), if it believes that the Trust&#146;s anticipated need for
liquidity makes such action desirable. Any such repurchase prior to maturity reduces the possibility that the Trust would incur a capital loss in liquidating commercial paper, especially if interest rates have risen since acquisition of such
commercial paper. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Investment decisions for the Trust and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisors are made
independently of each other in light of differing conditions. The Advisors allocate investments among client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. A variety of factors will be considered in making such allocations. These factors include:
(i)&nbsp;investment objectives or strategies for particular accounts, including sector, industry, country or region and capitalization weightings, (ii)&nbsp;tax considerations of an account, (iii)&nbsp;risk or investment concentration parameters for
an account, (iv)&nbsp;supply or demand for a security at a given price level, (v)&nbsp;size of available investment, (vi)&nbsp;cash availability and liquidity requirements for accounts, (vii)&nbsp;regulatory restrictions, (viii)&nbsp;minimum
investment size of an account, (ix)&nbsp;relative size of account, and (x)&nbsp;such other factors as may be approved by the Advisors&#146; general counsel. Moreover, investments may not be allocated to one client account over another based on any
of the following considerations: (i)&nbsp;to favor one client account at the expense of another, (ii)&nbsp;to generate higher fees paid by one client account over another or to produce greater performance compensation to the Advisors, (iii)&nbsp;to
develop or enhance a relationship with a client or prospective client, (iv)&nbsp;to compensate a client for past services or benefits rendered to the Advisors or to induce future services or benefits to be rendered to the Advisors, or (v)&nbsp;to
manage or equalize investment performance among different client accounts. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-56 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Equity securities will generally be allocated among client accounts within the
same investment mandate on a pro rata basis. This <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pro-rata</FONT> allocation may result in the Trust receiving less of a particular security than if <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pro-ration</FONT> had not
occurred. All allocations of equity securities will be subject, where relevant, to share minimums established for accounts and compliance constraints. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Initial public offerings of securities may be over-subscribed and subsequently trade at a premium in the secondary market.
When the Advisors are given an opportunity to invest in such an initial offering or &#147;new&#148; or &#147;hot&#148; issue, the supply of securities available for client accounts is often less than the amount of securities the accounts would
otherwise take. In order to allocate these investments fairly and equitably among client accounts over time, each portfolio manager or a member of his or her respective investment team will indicate to the Advisors&#146; trading desk their level of
interest in a particular offering with respect to eligible clients&#146; accounts for which that team is responsible. Initial public offerings of U.S. equity securities will be identified as eligible for particular client accounts that are managed
by portfolio teams who have indicated interest in the offering based on market capitalization of the issuer of the security and the investment mandate of the client account and in the case of international equity securities, the country where the
offering is taking place and the investment mandate of the client account. Generally, shares received during the initial public offering will be allocated among participating client accounts within each investment mandate on a pro rata basis. In
situations where supply is too limited to be allocated among all accounts for which the investment is eligible, portfolio managers may rotate such investment opportunities among one or more accounts so long as the rotation system provides for fair
access for all client accounts over time. Other allocation methodologies that are considered by the Advisors to be fair and equitable to clients may be used as well. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because different accounts may have differing investment objectives and policies, the Advisors may buy and sell the same
securities at the same time for different clients based on the particular investment objective, guidelines and strategies of those accounts. For example, the Advisors may decide that it may be entirely appropriate for a growth fund to sell a
security at the same time a value fund is buying that security. To the extent that transactions on behalf of more than one client of the Advisors or their affiliates during the same period may increase the demand for securities being purchased or
the supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price. For example, sales of a security by the Advisors on behalf of one or more of its clients may decrease the market price of such security, adversely impacting other of the
Advisor&#146;s clients that still hold the security. If purchases or sales of securities arise for consideration at or about the same time that would involve the Trust or other clients or funds for which the Advisors or an affiliate act as
investment manager, transactions in such securities will be made, insofar as feasible, for the respective funds and clients in a manner deemed equitable to all. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In certain instances, the Advisors may find it efficient for purposes of seeking to obtain best execution, to aggregate or
&#147;bunch&#148; certain contemporaneous purchases or sale orders of its advisory accounts. In general, all contemporaneous trades for client accounts under management by the same portfolio manager or investment team will be bunched in a single
order if the trader believes the bunched trade would provide each client with an opportunity to achieve a more favorable execution at a potentially lower execution cost. The costs associated with a bunched order will be shared pro rata among the
clients in the bunched order. Generally, if an order for a particular portfolio manager or management team is filled at several different prices through multiple trades, all accounts participating in the order will receive the average price except
in the case of certain international markets where average pricing is not permitted. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as the Trust is concerned, in other cases it could
be beneficial to the Trust. Transactions effected by the Advisors on behalf of more than one of its clients during the same period may increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, causing an adverse
effect on price. The trader will give the bunched order to the broker dealer that the trader has identified as being able to provide the best execution of the order. Orders for purchase or sale of securities will be placed within a reasonable amount
of time of the order receipt and bunched orders will be kept bunched only long enough to execute the order. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust
will not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such securities of which the Advisors or any affiliated person (as defined in the Investment Company Act) thereof is a member except pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Board in accordance with Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">10f-3</FONT> under the Investment Company Act. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Advisors or any affiliated person of
the foregoing entities except as permitted by SEC exemptive order or by applicable law. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-57 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">While the Trust generally does not expect to engage in trading for short-term
gains, it will effect portfolio transactions without regard to any holding period if, in the Advisor&#146;s judgment, such transactions are advisable in light of a change in circumstances of a particular company or within a particular industry or in
general market, economic or financial conditions. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Trust&#146;s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or sales of U.S. Government Securities
and all other securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the year. A high rate of portfolio turnover results in certain tax consequences, such
as increased capital gain dividends and/or ordinary income dividends, and in correspondingly greater transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads and brokerage commissions, which are borne directly by the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Information about the brokerage commissions paid by the Trust, including commissions paid to affiliates, for the last three
fiscal years, is set forth in the following table: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="76%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="41%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Fiscal Year Ended</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Aggregate&nbsp;Brokerage<BR>Commissions&nbsp;Paid</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Commissions&nbsp;Paid&nbsp;to&nbsp;Affiliates</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">December&nbsp;31, 2024</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">47,121</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">December&nbsp;31, 2023</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">55,787</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">December&nbsp;31, 2022</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">55,454</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">For the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024, the brokerage commissions paid to affiliates
by the Trust represented 0% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid and involved 0% of the dollar amount of transactions involving payment of commissions during the year. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following table shows the dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid to brokers for providing third-party research
services and the approximate dollar amount of the transactions involved for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024. The provision of third-party research services was not necessarily a factor in the placement of all brokerage business with
such brokers. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="50%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">
<P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="center"><B>Amount&nbsp;of&nbsp;Commissions&nbsp;Paid&nbsp;to&nbsp;Brokers&nbsp;
for<BR>Providing Research Services</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000">
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Amount&nbsp;of&nbsp;Brokerage&nbsp;Transactions&nbsp;Involved</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As of December&nbsp;31, 2024, the Trust held securities of its &#147;regular brokers or
dealers&#148; (as defined in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;10b-1&nbsp;under</FONT> the Investment Company Act), whose shares were purchased during the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024, as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="76%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Regular Broker or Dealer</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Debt&nbsp;(D)&nbsp;/&nbsp;Equity&nbsp;(E)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Aggregate&nbsp;Holdings&nbsp;(000&#146;s)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Morgan Stanley</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">D</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">5,528</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_18"></A>POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Certain activities of BlackRock, Inc., BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock Fund Advisors and the other subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc.
(collectively referred to in this section as &#147;BlackRock&#148;) and their respective directors, officers or employees, with respect to the Trust and/or other accounts managed by BlackRock, may give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of
interest such as those described below. </I></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-58 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock is one of the world&#146;s largest asset management firms. BlackRock,
its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees, including the business units or entities and personnel who may be involved in the investment activities and business operations of the Trust, are engaged worldwide in
businesses, including managing equities, fixed income securities, cash and alternative investments, and other financial services, and have interests other than that of managing the Trust. These are considerations of which investors in the Trust
should be aware, and which may cause conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Trust and its shareholders. These businesses and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial and other relationships with, or
interests in companies and interests in securities or other instruments that may be purchased or sold by the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock has proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate
accounts and other funds and collective investment vehicles) that have investment objectives similar to those of the Trust and/or that engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Trust. BlackRock is also
a major participant in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed income markets, in each case, for the accounts of clients and, in some cases, on a proprietary basis. As such, BlackRock is or may be actively engaged in transactions in the same
securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Trust invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Trust invests, which could have an adverse impact on the
Trust&#146;s performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of most proprietary accounts or client accounts, will be executed independently of the Trust&#146;s transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or less favorable than
those obtained by the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, the portfolio holdings of certain BlackRock-advised investment vehicles managed
in an identical or substantially similar manner as certain funds are made publicly available on a more timely basis than the applicable Trust. In some cases, such portfolio holdings are made publicly available on a daily basis. While not expected,
it is possible that a recipient of portfolio holdings information for such an investment vehicle could cause harm to the fust that is managed in an identical or substantially similar manner, including by trading ahead of or against such fund based
on the information received. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When BlackRock seeks to purchase or sell the same assets for client accounts, including the
Trust, the assets actually purchased or sold may be allocated among the accounts on a basis determined in its good faith discretion to be equitable. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the size or price of the assets purchased or sold
for the Trust. In addition, transactions in investments by one or more other accounts managed by BlackRock may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of the Trust, particularly, but not
limited to, with respect to small capitalization, emerging market or less liquid strategies. This may occur with respect to BlackRock-advised accounts when investment decisions regarding the Trust are based on research or other information that is
also used to support decisions for other accounts. When BlackRock implements a portfolio decision or strategy on behalf of another account ahead of, or contemporaneously with, similar decisions or strategies for the Trust, market impact, liquidity
constraints, or other factors could result in the Trust receiving less favorable trading results and the costs of implementing such decisions or strategies could be increased or the Trust could otherwise be disadvantaged. BlackRock may, in certain
cases, elect to implement internal policies and procedures designed to limit such consequences, which may cause the Trust to be unable to engage in certain activities, including purchasing or disposing of securities, when it might otherwise be
desirable for it to do so. Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding the Trust may benefit other accounts managed by BlackRock. For example, the sale of a long position or establishment of a short position by the Trust may
impair the price of the same security sold short by (and therefore benefit) BlackRock or its other accounts or funds, and the purchase of a security or covering of a short position in a security by the Trust may increase the price of the same
security held by (and therefore benefit) BlackRock or its other accounts or funds. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock, on behalf of other client
accounts, on the one hand, and the Trust, on the other hand, may invest in or extend credit to different parts of the capital structure of a single issuer. BlackRock may pursue rights, provide advice or engage in other activities, or refrain from
pursuing rights, providing advice or engaging in other activities, on behalf of other clients with respect to an issuer in which the Trust has invested, and such actions (or refraining from action) may have a material adverse effect on the Trust. In
situations in which clients of BlackRock (including the Trust) hold positions in multiple parts of the capital structure of an issuer, BlackRock may not pursue certain actions or remedies that may be available to the Trust, as a result of legal and
regulatory requirements or otherwise. BlackRock addresses these and other potential conflicts of interest based on the facts and circumstances of particular situations. For example, BlackRock may determine to rely on information barriers between
different business units or portfolio management teams. BlackRock may also determine to rely on the actions of similarly situated holders of loans or securities rather than, or in connection with, taking such actions itself on behalf of the Trust.
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-59 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trust may invest its
assets in other funds advised by BlackRock, including funds that are managed by one or more of the same portfolio managers, which could result in conflicts of interest relating to asset allocation, timing of Trust purchases and redemptions, and
increased remuneration and profitability for BlackRock and/or its personnel, including portfolio managers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Third parties,
including service providers to BlackRock or the Trust, may sponsor events (including, but not limited to, marketing and promotional activities and presentations, educational training programs and conferences) for registered representatives, other
professionals and individual investors. There is a potential conflict of interest as such sponsorships may defray the costs of such activities to BlackRock, and may provide an incentive to BlackRock to retain such third parties to provide services
to the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In certain circumstances, BlackRock, on behalf of the Trust, may seek to buy from or sell securities to
another fund or account advised by BlackRock. BlackRock may (but is not required to) effect purchases and sales between BlackRock clients (&#147;cross trades&#148;), including the Trust, if BlackRock believes such transactions are appropriate based
on each party&#146;s investment objectives and guidelines, subject to applicable law and regulation. There may be potential conflicts of interest or regulatory issues relating to these transactions which could limit BlackRock&#146;s decision to
engage in these transactions for the Trust. BlackRock may have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in such transactions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock and its clients may pursue or enforce rights with respect to an issuer in which the Trust has invested, and those
activities may have an adverse effect on the Trust. As a result, prices, availability, liquidity and terms of the Trust&#146;s investments may be negatively impacted by the activities of BlackRock or its clients, and transactions for the Trust may
be impaired or effected at prices or terms that may be less favorable than would otherwise have been the case. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
results of the Trust&#146;s investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by BlackRock for its proprietary accounts or other accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) that it manages or
advises. It is possible that one or more accounts managed or advised by BlackRock and such other accounts will achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than the results achieved by the Trust. Moreover, it is possible
that the Trust will sustain losses during periods in which one or more proprietary or other accounts managed or advised by BlackRock achieve significant profits. The opposite result is also possible. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">From time to time, the Trust may be restricted from purchasing or selling securities, or from engaging in other investment
activities because of regulatory, legal or contractual requirements applicable to BlackRock or other accounts managed or advised by BlackRock, and/or the internal policies of BlackRock designed to comply with such requirements. As a result, there
may be periods, for example, when BlackRock will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which BlackRock is performing services or when position limits have been reached. For
example, the investment activities of BlackRock for its proprietary accounts and accounts under its management may limit the investment opportunities for the Trust in certain emerging and other markets in which limitations are imposed upon the
amount of investment, in the aggregate or in individual issuers, by affiliated foreign investors. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In connection with its
management of the Trust, BlackRock may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by BlackRock. BlackRock will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of the Trust in
accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, BlackRock will not have any obligation to make available any information regarding its proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by
them, for the benefit of the management of the Trust and it is not anticipated that BlackRock will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Trust. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of BlackRock, or the
activities or strategies used for accounts managed by BlackRock or other client accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by BlackRock in managing the Trust. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-60 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may be included in investment models developed by BlackRock for use by
clients and financial advisors. To the extent clients invest in these investment models and increase the assets under management of the Trust, the investment management fee amounts paid by the Trust to BlackRock may also increase. The net asset
value and liquidity of the Trust may be impacted by purchases and sales of the Trust by model-driven investment portfolios, as well as by BlackRock itself and by its advisory clients. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, certain principals and certain employees of the Trust&#146;s investment adviser are also principals or employees
of other business units or entities within BlackRock. As a result, these principals and employees may have obligations to such other business units or entities or their clients and such obligations to other business units or entities or their
clients may be a consideration of which investors in the Trust should be aware. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may enter into transactions and
invest in securities, instruments and currencies on behalf of the Trust in which clients of BlackRock, or, to the extent permitted by the Commission and applicable law, BlackRock, serves as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such
party&#146;s interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Trust, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Trust obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transactions. In addition, the
purchase, holding and sale of such investments by the Trust may enhance the profitability of BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may
also create, write or issue derivatives for clients, the underlying securities, currencies or instruments of which may be those in which the Trust invests or which may be based on the performance of the Trust. Additionally, an affiliate of BlackRock
will create, write or issue options, which may be based on the performance of certain BlackRock-advised funds. BlackRock has entered into an arrangement with Markit Indices Limited, the index provider for underlying fixed-income indexes used by
certain iShares ETFs, related to derivative fixed-income products that are based on such iShares ETFs. Trading activity in these derivative products could also potentially lead to greater liquidity for such products, increased purchase activity with
respect to these iShares ETFs and increased assets under management for BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may, subject to applicable
law, purchase investments that are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by BlackRock and may also enter into transactions with other clients of BlackRock where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Trust. At
times, these activities may cause business units or entities within BlackRock to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of the Trust. To the extent such transactions are permitted, the Trust will
deal with BlackRock on an arms-length basis. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent authorized by applicable law, BlackRock may act as broker,
dealer, agent, lender or adviser or in other commercial capacities for the Trust. It is anticipated that the commissions, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-ups,</FONT> mark-downs, financial advisory fees, underwriting and placement fees, sales
fees, financing and commitment fees, brokerage fees, other fees, compensation or profits, rates, terms and conditions charged by BlackRock will be in its view commercially reasonable, although BlackRock, including its sales personnel, will have an
interest in obtaining fees and other amounts that are favorable to BlackRock and such sales personnel, which may have an adverse effect on the Trust. Index based funds may use an index provider that is affiliated with another service provider of the
Trust or BlackRock that acts as a broker, dealer, agent, lender or in other commercial capacities for the Trust or BlackRock. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subject to applicable law, BlackRock (and its personnel and other distributors) will be entitled to retain fees and other
amounts that they receive in connection with their service to the Trust as broker, dealer, agent, lender, adviser or in other commercial capacities. No accounting to the Trust or its shareholders will be required, and no fees or other compensation
payable by the Trust or its shareholders will be reduced by reason of receipt by BlackRock of any such fees or other amounts. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When BlackRock acts as broker, dealer, agent, adviser or in other commercial capacities in relation to the Trust, BlackRock
may take commercial steps in its own interests, which may have an adverse effect on the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will be required
to establish business relationships with its counterparties based on the Trust&#146;s own credit standing. BlackRock will not have any obligation to allow its credit to be used in connection with the Trust&#146;s establishment of its business
relationships, nor is it expected that the Trust&#146;s counterparties will rely on the credit of BlackRock in evaluating the Trust&#146;s creditworthiness. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-61 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (previously defined as &#147;BIM&#148;) or
BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (&#147;BTC&#148;), as applicable, each an affiliate of BlackRock, pursuant to SEC exemptive relief, acts as securities lending agent to, and receives a share of securities lending revenues from, the Trust.
BlackRock will also receive compensation for managing the reinvestment of the cash collateral from securities lending. There are potential conflicts of interests in managing a securities lending program, including but not limited to:
(i)&nbsp;BlackRock as securities lending agent may have an incentive to, among other things, increase or decrease the amount of securities on loan or to lend particular securities in order to generate additional risk-adjusted revenue for BlackRock
and its affiliates; and (ii)&nbsp;BlackRock as securities lending agent may have an incentive to allocate loans to clients that would provide more revenue to BlackRock. As described further below, BlackRock seeks to mitigate this conflict by
providing its securities lending clients with equal lending opportunities over time in order to approximate pro rata allocation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As part of its securities lending program, BlackRock indemnifies the Trust and certain other clients and/or funds against a
shortfall in collateral in the event of borrower default. On a regular basis, BlackRock calculates the potential dollar exposure of collateral shortfall resulting from a borrower default (&#147;shortfall risk&#148;) in the securities lending
program. BlackRock establishes program-wide borrower limits (&#147;credit limits&#148;) to actively manage borrower-specific credit exposure. BlackRock oversees the risk model that calculates projected collateral shortfall values using loan-level
factors such as loan and collateral type and market value as well as specific borrower credit characteristics. When necessary, BlackRock may adjust securities lending program attributes by restricting eligible collateral or reducing borrower credit
limits. As a result, the management of program-wide exposure as well as BlackRock-specific indemnification exposure may affect the amount of securities lending activity BlackRock may conduct at any given point in time by reducing the volume of
lending opportunities for certain loans (including by asset type, collateral type and/or revenue profile). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may
decline to make a securities loan on behalf of the Trust, discontinue lending on behalf of the Trust or terminate a securities loan on behalf of the Trust for any reason, including but not limited to regulatory requirements and/or market rules,
liquidity considerations, or credit considerations, which may impact the Trust by reducing or eliminating the volume of lending opportunities for certain types of loans, loans in particular markets, loans of particular securities or types of
securities, or for loans overall. In addition, some borrowers may prefer certain BlackRock lenders that provide additional protections against lender default that are favored by their prudential regulation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock uses a predetermined systematic process in order to approximate pro rata allocation over time. In order to allocate
a loan to a portfolio: (i)&nbsp;BlackRock as a whole must have sufficient lending capacity pursuant to the various program limits (i.e. indemnification exposure limit and borrower credit limits); (ii) the lending portfolio must hold the asset at the
time a loan opportunity arrives; and (iii)&nbsp;the lending portfolio must also have enough inventory, either on its own or when aggregated with other portfolios into one single market delivery, to satisfy the loan request. In doing so, BlackRock
seeks to provide equal lending opportunities for all portfolios, independent of whether BlackRock indemnifies the portfolio. Equal opportunities for lending portfolios does not guarantee equal outcomes. Specifically, short and long-term outcomes for
individual clients may vary due to asset mix, asset/liability spreads on different securities, and the overall limits imposed by the firm. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Purchases and sales of securities and other assets for the Trust may be bunched or aggregated with orders for other BlackRock
client accounts, including with accounts that pay different transaction costs solely due to the fact that they have different research payment arrangements. BlackRock, however, is not required to bunch or aggregate orders if portfolio management
decisions for different accounts are made separately, or if they determine that bunching or aggregating is not practicable or required, or in cases involving client direction. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Prevailing trading activity frequently may make impossible the receipt of the same price or execution on the entire volume of
securities purchased or sold. When this occurs, the various prices may be averaged, and the Trust will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Trust.
In addition, under certain circumstances, the Trust will not be charged the same commission or commission equivalent rates in connection with a bunched or aggregated order. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As discussed in the section below entitled &#147;Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage,&#148; BlackRock, unless prohibited by
applicable law, may cause the Trust or account to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-62 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
that exceeds the amount another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the same transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by that broker or
dealer. Under MiFID II, EU investment managers, including BlackRock International Limited, pay for research from brokers and dealers directly out of their own resources, rather than through client commissions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subject to applicable law, BlackRock may select brokers that furnish BlackRock, the Trust, other BlackRock client accounts or
personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with research or other appropriate services which provide, in BlackRock&#146;s view, appropriate assistance to BlackRock in the investment decision-making process (including with respect to
futures, fixed-price offerings and OTC transactions). Such research or other services may include, to the extent permitted by law, research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; proxy
analysis; trade industry seminars; computer data bases; research-oriented software and other services and products. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Research or other services obtained in this manner may be used in servicing any or all of the Trust and other BlackRock client
accounts, including in connection with BlackRock client accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker relating to the research or other service arrangements. Such products and services may disproportionately benefit other BlackRock
client accounts relative to the Trust based on the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Trust and such other BlackRock client accounts. For example, research or other services that are paid for through one client&#146;s commissions may not be
used in managing that client&#146;s account. In addition, other BlackRock client accounts may receive the benefit, including disproportionate benefits, of economies of scale or price discounts in connection with products and services that may be
provided to the Trust and to such other BlackRock client accounts. To the extent that BlackRock uses soft dollars, it will not have to pay for those products and services itself. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock, unless prohibited by applicable law, may endeavor to execute trades through brokers who, pursuant to such
arrangements, provide research or other services in order to ensure the continued receipt of research or other services BlackRock believes are useful in its investment decision-making process. BlackRock may from time to time choose not to engage in
the above described arrangements to varying degrees. BlackRock, unless prohibited by applicable law, may also enter into commission sharing arrangements under which BlackRock may execute transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the
broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to BlackRock. To the extent that BlackRock engages in commission sharing arrangements, many of the same conflicts related to traditional
soft dollars may exist. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may utilize certain electronic crossing networks (&#147;ECNs&#148;) (including, without
limitation, ECNs in which BlackRock has an investment or other interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law) in executing client securities transactions for certain types of securities. These ECNs may charge fees for their services, including
access fees and transaction fees. The transaction fees, which are similar to commissions or markups/markdowns, will generally be charged to clients and, like commissions and markups/markdowns, would generally be included in the cost of the
securities purchased. Access fees may be paid by BlackRock even though incurred in connection with executing transactions on behalf of clients, including the Trust. In certain circumstances, ECNs may offer volume discounts that will reduce the
access fees typically paid by BlackRock. BlackRock will only utilize ECNs consistent with its obligation to seek to obtain best execution in client transactions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock owns a minority interest in, and is a member of, Members Exchange (&#147;MEMX&#148;), a newly created U.S. stock
exchange. Transactions for the Trust may be executed on MEMX if third party brokers select MEMX as the appropriate venue for execution of orders placed by BlackRock traders on behalf of client portfolios. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting
decisions that it makes on behalf of advisory clients, including the Trust, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with BlackRock&#146;s fiduciary obligations to its clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such proxy voting
policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of BlackRock may have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of BlackRock, provided that BlackRock believes such voting decisions to be
in accordance with its fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see &#147;Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures&#148;. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-63 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">It is also possible that, from time to time, BlackRock and/or its advisory
clients (including other funds and separately managed accounts) may, subject to compliance with applicable law, purchase and hold shares of the Trust. Increasing the Trust assets may enhance investment flexibility and diversification and may
contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Trust&#146;s expense ratio. BlackRock reserves the right, subject to compliance with applicable law, to redeem at any time some or all of the shares of the Trust acquired for its own accounts.
A large redemption of shares of the Trust by BlackRock could significantly reduce the asset size of the Trust, which might have an adverse effect on the Trust&#146;s investment flexibility, portfolio diversification and expense ratio. BlackRock
seeks to consider the effect of redemptions on the Trust and other shareholders in deciding whether to redeem its shares but is not obligated to do so and may elect not to do so. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">It is possible that the Trust may invest in securities of, or engage in transactions with, companies in which BlackRock has
significant debt or equity investments or other interests. The Trust may also invest in issuances (such as structured notes) by entities for which BlackRock provides and is compensated for cash management services relating to the proceeds from the
sale of such issuances. In making investment decisions for the Trust, BlackRock is not permitted to obtain or use material <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> information acquired by any unit of BlackRock, in the course of these
activities. In addition, from time to time, the activities of BlackRock may limit the Trust&#146;s flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. As indicated below, BlackRock may engage in transactions with companies in which BlackRock-advised
funds or other clients of BlackRock have an investment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock and its personnel and other financial service providers
may have interests in promoting sales of the Trust. With respect to BlackRock and its personnel, the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of the Trust or other products may be greater than remuneration and profitability
relating to services to and sales of certain funds or other products that might be provided or offered. BlackRock and its sales personnel may directly or indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Trust or its
shareholders. BlackRock and its advisory or other personnel may also benefit from increased amounts of assets under management. Fees and commissions may also be higher than for other products or services, and the remuneration and profitability to
BlackRock and such personnel resulting from transactions on behalf of or management of the Trust may be greater than the remuneration and profitability resulting from other funds or products. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may provide valuation assistance to certain clients with respect to certain securities or other investments and the
valuation recommendations made for such clients&#146; accounts may differ from the valuations for the same securities or investments assigned by the Trust&#146;s pricing vendors, especially if such valuations are based on broker-dealer quotes or
other data sources unavailable to the Trust&#146;s pricing vendors. While BlackRock will generally communicate its valuation information or determinations to the Trust&#146;s pricing vendors and/or fund accountants, there may be instances where the
Trust&#146;s pricing vendors or fund accountants assign a different valuation to a security or other investment than the valuation for such security or investment determined or recommended by BlackRock. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As disclosed in more detail in &#147;Net Asset Value&#148; in the Prospectus, when market quotations are not readily available
or are believed by BlackRock to be unreliable, the Trust&#146;s investments are valued at fair value by BlackRock. BlackRock has been designated as the Trust&#146;s valuation designee pursuant to Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT>
under the Investment Company Act and acts through BlackRock&#146;s Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT> Committee (the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;2a-5</FONT> Committee&#148;), with assistance from other BlackRock pricing
committees and in accordance with BlackRock&#146;s policies and procedures (the &#147;Valuation Procedures&#148;). When determining a &#147;fair value price,&#148; the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT> Committee seeks to determine the
price that the Trust might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or liability in an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">arm&#146;s-length</FONT> transaction. The price generally may not be determined based on what the Trust
might reasonably expect to receive for selling an asset or liability at a later time or if it holds the asset or liability to maturity. While fair value determinations will be based upon all available factors that BlackRock deems relevant at the
time of the determination, and may be based on analytical values determined by BlackRock using proprietary or third party valuation models, fair value represents only a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. The fair value
of one or more assets or liabilities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets or liabilities could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining the Trust&#146;s NAV. As a result, the
Trust&#146;s sale or redemption of its shares at NAV, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued by the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">2a-5</FONT> Committee at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of
existing shareholders and may affect the amount of revenue received by BlackRock with respect to services for which it receives an asset-based fee. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-64 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trust may invest all or some of
its short term cash investments in any money market fund or similarly-managed private fund advised or managed by BlackRock. In connection with any such investments, the Trust, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, may pay its share
of expenses of a money market fund or other similarly-managed private fund in which it invests, which may result in the Trust bearing some additional expenses. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock and its directors, officers and employees, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts
and may have conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on behalf of the Trust. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers and employees of BlackRock that are
the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the Trust. To lessen the possibility that the Trust will be adversely affected by this personal trading, the Trust, BRIL and BlackRock each have adopted a Code of Ethics in
compliance with Section&nbsp;17(j) of the Investment Company Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the Trust&#146;s portfolio
transactions. Each Code of Ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission&#146;s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">e-mail</FONT> at
publicinfo@sec.gov. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock will not purchase securities or other property from, or sell securities or other property
to, the Trust, except that the Trust may in accordance with rules or guidance adopted under the Investment Company Act engage in transactions with another Fund or accounts that are affiliated with the Trust as a result of common officers, directors,
or investment advisers or pursuant to exemptive orders granted to the Trust and/or BlackRock by the Commission. These transactions would be effected in circumstances in which BlackRock determined that it would be appropriate for the Trust to
purchase and another client of BlackRock to sell, or the Trust to sell and another client of BlackRock to purchase, the same security or instrument on the same day. From time to time, the activities of the Trust may be restricted because of
regulatory requirements applicable to BlackRock and/or BlackRock&#146;s internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by BlackRock would not be subject to some
of those considerations. There may be periods when BlackRock may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit its advice in certain securities or instruments issued by or related to companies for which
BlackRock is performing advisory or other services or has proprietary positions. For example, when BlackRock is engaged to provide advisory or risk management services for a company, BlackRock may be prohibited from or limited in purchasing or
selling securities of that company on behalf of the Trust, particularly where such services result in BlackRock obtaining material <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-public</FONT> information about the company (e.g., in connection with
participation in a creditors&#146; committee). Similar situations could arise if personnel of BlackRock serve as directors of companies the securities of which the Trust wishes to purchase or sell. However, if permitted by applicable law, and where
consistent with BlackRock&#146;s policies and procedures (including the necessary implementation of appropriate information barriers), the Trust may purchase securities or instruments that are issued by such companies, are the subject of an advisory
or risk management assignment by BlackRock, or where personnel of BlackRock are directors or officers of the issuer. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that are designed to address potential conflicts that arise in
connection with the advisory services BlackRock provides to the Trust and other clients. Certain BlackRock advisory personnel may take views, and make decisions or recommendations, that are different than or opposite those of other BlackRock
advisory personnel. Certain portfolio management teams within BlackRock may make decisions or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to clients they advise in a manner different than or adverse to the decisions made or the actions taken
(or not taken) by the Trust&#146;s portfolio management teams. The various portfolio management teams may not share information with each other, including as a result of certain information barriers and other policies, and will not have any
obligation or other duty to do so. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock has established certain information barriers and other policies to address
the sharing of information between different businesses within BlackRock, including, effective on or about January&nbsp;21, 2025, with respect to personnel responsible with managing portfolios and voting proxies with respect to certain index equity
portfolios versus those responsible for managing portfolios and voting proxies with respect to all other portfolios. As a result of information barriers, certain units of BlackRock generally will not have access, or will have limited access, to
certain information and personnel, including senior personnel, in other units of BlackRock, and generally will not manage the Trust with the benefit of information possessed by such other units. Therefore, BlackRock may not be able to review
potential investments for the Trust with the benefit of information held by certain areas of BlackRock. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-65 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may determine to move certain personnel, businesses, or business units
from one side of an information barrier to the other side of the information barrier. In connection therewith, BlackRock personnel, businesses, and business units that were moved will no longer have access to the information and personnel from the
side of the information barrier from which they were moved. Information obtained in connection with such changes to information barriers may limit or restrict the ability of BlackRock to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of the
Trust (including purchasing or selling securities that BlackRock may otherwise have purchased or sold for a client in the absence of a change to an information barrier). Information barriers may not have their intended impact due to, for example,
changes in applicable law or inadvertent crossings of the barriers, and actions by personnel on one side of a barrier may impact the potential actions of personnel on the other side of a barrier. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the information barriers are intended to allow for independent portfolio management decision-making and proxy voting
among certain BlackRock businesses, the investment activities of BlackRock for BlackRock clients, as well as BlackRock&#146;s proprietary accounts, may nonetheless limit the investment strategies and rights of other clients (including the Trust). As
BlackRock&#146;s assets under management increases, BlackRock clients may face greater negative impacts due to ownership restrictions and limitations imposed by laws, regulations, rules, regulators, or issuers. For example, in certain circumstances
where a BlackRock client invests in securities issued by companies that operate in certain industries (e.g., banking, insurance, and utilities) or in certain emerging or international markets, or are subject to regulatory or corporate ownership
restrictions (e.g., with mechanisms such as poison pills in place to prevent takeovers), or where a BlackRock client invests in certain futures and derivatives, there may be limits on the aggregate amount invested by BlackRock for its clients and
BlackRock&#146;s proprietary accounts that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate approval, order, consent, relief, waiver or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-disapproval</FONT> or, if exceeded, may
cause BlackRock or its clients to be subject to enforcement actions, disgorgement of share ownership or profits, regulatory restrictions, complex compliance reporting, increased compliance costs or suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. In
light of certain restrictions, BlackRock may also seek to make indirect investments (e.g., using derivatives) on behalf of its clients to receive exposure to certain securities in excess of the applicable ownership restrictions and limitations when
legally permitted that will expose such clients to additional costs and additional risks, including any risks associated with investing in derivatives. There may be limited availability of derivatives that provide indirect exposure to an impacted
security. BlackRock clients can be subject to more than one ownership limitation depending on each client&#146;s holdings, and each ownership limitation can impact multiple securities held by the client. Certain clients or shareholders may have
their own overlapping obligations to monitor their compliance with ownership limitations across their investments. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If
certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached either through the actions of BlackRock or a BlackRock client or as a result of corporate actions by the issuer, the ability of BlackRock on behalf of clients to purchase or dispose of investments,
or exercise rights (including voting) or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by law, regulation, rule, or organizational documents or otherwise impaired. For example, to meet the requirements of an ownership limitation or restriction,
a client may be unable to purchase or directly hold a security the client would otherwise purchase or hold. The limitation or restriction may be based on the holdings of other BlackRock clients instead of the specific client being restricted. For
index funds, this means a fund may not be able to track its index as closely as it would if it was not subject to an ownership limitation or restriction because the fund cannot acquire the amount of the impacted security included in its index.
BlackRock on behalf of its clients may limit purchases, sell existing investments, utilize information barriers, or otherwise restrict, forgo or limit the exercise of rights (including transferring, outsourcing or limiting voting rights or forgoing
the right to receive dividends) when BlackRock, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate in light of potential regulatory or other restrictions on ownership or other consequences resulting from reaching investment thresholds. These types of
restrictions could negatively impact a client&#146;s performance or ability to meet its investment objective. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">When
BlackRock or a BlackRock client is subject to an ownership limitation, BlackRock may in its discretion seek permission from the applicable issuers or regulators to exceed the limitation. However, there is no guarantee that permission will be
granted, or that, once granted, it will not be modified or revoked at a later date with minimal or no notice. The issuer and/or regulator may also require that BlackRock on behalf of itself and its clients take or refrain from taking certain actions
in connection with the approval, order, consent, relief or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-disapproval,</FONT> which BlackRock may accept if it believes the benefits outweigh the costs and may limit BlackRock from taking actions that it
otherwise would take. In those circumstances where ownership thresholds or limitations must be observed, BlackRock seeks to allocate limited investment opportunities equitably among clients, taking into consideration benchmark weight and investment
strategy. BlackRock may adopt certain controls designed to prevent the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-66 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
occurrence of a breach of any applicable ownership thresholds or limits, including, for example, when ownership in certain securities nears an applicable threshold, BlackRock may limit additional
purchases in such securities or, with respect to ETFs, remove such securities from the list of Deposit Securities to be delivered to the Trust in connection with purchases of Creation Units of such Fund. If client holdings of an issuer exceed an
applicable threshold and BlackRock is unable to obtain relief to enable the continued holding of such investments, it may be necessary to reduce these positions to meet the applicable limitations and BlackRock or such client may be subject to
regulatory actions. In these cases, the investments will be sold in a manner that BlackRock deems fair and equitable over time. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Ownership limitations are highly complex. It is possible that, despite BlackRock&#146;s intent to either comply with or be
granted permission to exceed ownership limitations, it may inadvertently breach a limit or violate the corporate or regulatory approval, order, consent, relief or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-disapproval</FONT> that was obtained. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition to the foregoing, other ownership thresholds may trigger reporting requirements to governmental and regulatory
authorities, and such reports may entail the disclosure of the identity of a client or BlackRock&#146;s intended strategy with respect to such security or asset. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may maintain securities indices. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Trust may seek to license and use
such indices as part of their investment strategy. Index based funds that seek to track the performance of securities indices also may use the name of the index or index provider in the fund name. Index providers, including BlackRock (to the extent
permitted by applicable law), may be paid licensing fees for use of their index or index name. In instances where BlackRock charges a unitary management fee, BlackRock may have a financial incentive to use a BlackRock index that is less costly to
BlackRock than a third party index. BlackRock may benefit from the Fund using BlackRock indices by creating increasing acceptance in the marketplace for such indices. BlackRock is not obligated to license its indices to the Trust and the Trust is
under no obligation to use BlackRock indices. Any fund that enters into a license for a BlackRock index cannot be assured that the terms of any index licensing agreement with BlackRock will be as favorable as those terms offered to other licensees.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock may enter into contractual arrangements with third-party service providers to the Trust (e.g., custodians,
administrators and index providers) pursuant to which BlackRock receives fee discounts or concessions in recognition of BlackRock&#146;s overall relationship with such service providers. BlackRock may also enter into contractual arrangements with
such service providers pursuant to which BlackRock incurs additional costs if the service provider&#146;s services are terminated with respect to the Trust. To the extent that BlackRock is responsible for paying service providers out of its fees
that it receives from the Trust, the benefits of lower fees, including any fee discounts or concessions, or any additional savings, may accrue, in whole or in part, to BlackRock, which could result in conflicts of interest relating to the use or
termination of service providers to the Trust. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise with respect to contractual arrangements with third-party service providers to the Trust, or the selection of such providers, particularly in circumstances
where BlackRock is negotiating on behalf of both funds that have a unitary management fee and those that do not or different service providers have different fee structures. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Conflicts of interest may arise as a result of simultaneous investment management of multiple client accounts by the
BlackRock&#146;s investment professionals. For example, differences in the advisory fee structure may create the appearance of actual or potential conflicts of interest because such differences could create pecuniary incentives for BlackRock to
favor one client account over another. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock owns or has an ownership interest in certain trading, portfolio
management, operations and/or information systems used by Trust service providers. These systems are, or will be, used by a Trust service provider in connection with the provision of services to accounts managed by BlackRock and funds managed and
sponsored by BlackRock, including the Trust, that engage the service provider (typically the custodian). The Trust&#146;s service provider remunerates BlackRock for the use of the systems. A Trust service provider&#146;s payments to BlackRock for
the use of these systems may enhance the profitability of BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">BlackRock&#146;s receipt of fees from a service
provider in connection with the use of systems provided by BlackRock may create an incentive for BlackRock to recommend that the Trust enter into or renew an arrangement with the service provider. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-67 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In recognition of a BlackRock client&#146;s overall relationship with BlackRock,
BlackRock may offer special pricing arrangements for certain services provided by BlackRock. Any such special pricing arrangements will not affect Trust fees and expenses applicable to such client&#146;s investment in the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Present and future activities of BlackRock and its directors, officers and employees, in addition to those described in this
section, may give rise to additional conflicts of interest. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_19"></A>DESCRIPTION OF SHARES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Common Shares </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust
intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the common shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Preferred Shares </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
Trust currently does not intend to issue preferred shares. Although the terms of any preferred shares that the Trust might issue in the future, including dividend rate, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the
Board, subject to applicable law and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, it is likely that any such preferred shares issued would be structured to carry a relatively short-term dividend rate reflecting interest rates on short-term debt
securities, by providing for the periodic redetermination of the dividend rate at relatively short intervals through a fixed spread or remarketing procedure, subject to a maximum rate which would increase over time in the event of an extended period
of unsuccessful remarketing. The Trust also believes that it is likely that the liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption provisions of any such preferred shares would be similar to those stated below. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Liquidation Preference.</I> In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Trust, the holders of shares of any outstanding preferred shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends,
whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to holders of beneficial interests. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, it is expected that preferred shareholders
will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Trust. A consolidation or merger of the Trust with or into any other corporation or corporations or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust
will not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Voting Rights</I>. Except as otherwise
indicated in the Prospectus and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of shares of any outstanding preferred shares will have equal voting rights with holders of shares of beneficial interests (one vote per share) and will vote
together with holders of beneficial interests as a single class. In connection with the election of the Trust&#146;s Trustees, holders of shares of any outstanding preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the
Trust&#146;s Trustees, and the remaining Trustees will be elected by all holders of capital stock, voting as a single class. So long as any preferred share is outstanding, it is expected that the Trust will have not less than five Trustees. If at
any time dividends on shares of any outstanding preferred share shall be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years&#146; dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding shares of preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to
elect a majority of the Trust&#146;s Trustees until all dividends in default have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. It is expected that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any outstanding
preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be required to (i)&nbsp;authorize, create or issue any class or series of stock ranking prior to any series of preferred shares with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on
liquidation or (ii)&nbsp;amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely affect any of the contract rights expressly set forth in the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of holders of preferred shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Redemption Provisions</I>. It is anticipated that any outstanding
shares of preferred shares will generally be redeemable at the option of the Trust at a price equal to their liquidation preference plus accumulated but unpaid dividends to the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-68 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
date of redemption plus, under certain circumstances, a redemption premium. Shares of preferred shares will also be subject to mandatory redemption at a price equal to their liquidation
preference plus accumulated but unpaid dividends to the date of redemption upon the occurrence of certain specified events, such as the failure of the Trust to maintain asset coverage requirements for the preferred shares specified by the Investment
Company Act and rating services that issue ratings on the preferred shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify"><I>Liquidity Feature</I>. Preferred shares
may include a liquidity feature that allows holders of preferred shares to have their shares purchased by a liquidity provider in the event that sell orders have not been matched with purchase orders and successfully settled in a remarketing. The
Trust would pay a fee to the provider of this liquidity feature, which would be borne by common shareholders of the Trust. The terms of such liquidity feature may require the Trust to redeem preferred shares still owned by the liquidity provider
following a certain period of continuous, unsuccessful remarketing, which may adversely impact the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The discussion
above describes the possible offering of preferred shares by the Trust. If the Board determines to proceed with such an offering, the terms of the preferred shares may be the same as, or different from, the terms described above, subject to
applicable law and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The Board, without the approval of the holders of common shares, may authorize an offering of preferred shares or may determine not to authorize such an offering, and may fix the terms of
the preferred shares to be offered. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Other Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Board (subject to applicable law and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust) may authorize an offering, without the
approval of the holders of common shares and, depending on their terms, any preferred shares outstanding at that time, of other classes of shares, or other classes or series of shares, as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate,
having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Board sees fit. The Trust currently does not expect to issue any other classes of shares, or series of shares, except for the common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_110"></A>REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust is a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> management investment company and as such its shareholders
will not have the right to cause the Trust to redeem their shares. Instead, the Trust&#146;s common shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by
expenses), NAV, call protection for portfolio securities, dividend stability, liquidity, relative demand for and supply of the common shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV, the Board may consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from NAV in respect of common shares, which
may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares, or the conversion of the Trust to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company. The
Board may decide not to take any of these actions. In addition, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tender offers, if undertaken, will reduce market discount. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Trust has preferred shares outstanding, the Trust may not purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any of its common shares unless (1)&nbsp;all accrued preferred share dividends have been paid and (2)&nbsp;at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the NAV of the Trust&#146;s portfolio (determined after
deducting the acquisition price of the common shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon). Any service
fees incurred in connection with any tender offer made by the Trust will be borne by the Trust and will not reduce the stated consideration to be paid to tendering shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Subject to its investment restrictions, the Trust may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer.
Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Trust in anticipation of share repurchases or tender offers will reduce the Trust&#146;s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or
borrowing that might be approved by the Board would have to comply with the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-69 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Although the decision to take action in response to a discount from NAV will be
made by the Board at the time it considers such issue, it is the Board&#146;s present policy, which may be changed by the Board, not to authorize repurchases of common shares or a tender offer for such shares if: (i)&nbsp;such transactions, if
consummated, would (a)&nbsp;result in the delisting of the common shares from the NYSE, or (b)&nbsp;impair the Trust&#146;s status as a RIC under the Code, (which would make the Trust a taxable entity, causing the Trust&#146;s income to be taxed at
the corporate level in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive dividends from the Trust) or as a registered <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> investment company under the Investment Company Act; (ii)&nbsp;the Trust
would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and consistent with the Trust&#146;s investment objective and policies in order to repurchase shares; or (iii)&nbsp;there is, in the Board&#146;s judgment, any
(a)&nbsp;material legal action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially adversely affecting the Trust, (b)&nbsp;general suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities on the NYSE,
(c)&nbsp;declaration of a banking moratorium by federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by United States or New York banks, (d)&nbsp;material limitation affecting the Trust or the issuers of its portfolio securities by federal or
state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the exchange of foreign currency, (e)&nbsp;commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United
States, or (f)&nbsp;other event or condition which would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Trust or its shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board may in the future modify these conditions in light of
experience. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The repurchase by the Trust of its shares at prices below NAV will result in an increase in the NAV of those
shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tender offers at or below NAV will result in the Trust&#146;s common shares trading at a price equal to their NAV. Nevertheless, the fact that the
Trust&#146;s common shares may be the subject of repurchases or tender offers from time to time, or that the Trust may be converted to an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">open-end</FONT> investment company, may reduce any spread between market price
and NAV that might otherwise exist. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, a purchase by the Trust of its common shares will decrease the
Trust&#146;s net assets which would likely have the effect of increasing the Trust&#146;s expense ratio. Any purchase by the Trust of its common shares at a time when preferred shares are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the
outstanding common shares then remaining. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Before deciding whether to take any action if the common shares trade below
NAV, the Board would likely consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Trust&#146;s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Trust or its shareholders and market
considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Trust&#146;s common shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Trust and its shareholders, no action should be taken. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_111"></A>TAX MATTERS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The following is a description of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to a shareholder of acquiring, holding and
disposing of common shares of the Trust. Except as otherwise noted, this discussion assumes you are a taxable U.S. holder (as defined below). This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
&#147;Code&#148;), the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service, possibly with retroactive effect.
No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Trust and its shareholders, and the discussions set forth here do not constitute tax advice. This discussion assumes that investors hold
common shares of the Trust as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes(generally, assets held for investment). The Trust has not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding any matters discussed herein.
No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to those set forth below. This summary does not discuss any aspects of
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.,</FONT> state or local tax. Prospective investors must consult their own tax advisers as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences (including the alternative minimum tax consequences) of acquiring, holding
and disposing of the Trust&#146;s common shares, as well as the effects of state, local and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> tax laws. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition, no attempt is made to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a
financial institution, REIT, insurance company, regulated investment company, individual retirement account, </P>
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other <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Trust as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or
straddle transaction, trader in securities that has elected the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market</FONT></FONT> method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional
currency is not the U.S. dollar, investor with &#147;applicable financial statements&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;451(b) of the Code, or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not
reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal
income tax purposes: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term
residents); </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over
its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, whose status as a U.S. person is not overridden by an applicable tax treaty. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Taxation of the Trust </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust intends to elect to be treated and to qualify to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to
qualify as a RIC, the Trust must, among other things, satisfy certain requirements relating to the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and distribution of its income to its shareholders. First, the Trust must derive at least 90% of
its annual gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options,
futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in &#147;qualified publicly traded partnerships&#148; (as defined in the Code) (the
&#147;90% gross income test&#148;). Second, the Trust must diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i)&nbsp;at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash, cash items, U.S. Government
securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Trust&#146;s total assets and to not more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii)&nbsp;not more than 25% of the market value of the total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, any two or
more issuers controlled by the Trust and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or any one or more &#147;qualified publicly traded partnerships.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">As long as the Trust qualifies as a RIC, the Trust will generally not be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on
income and gains that it distributes each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that in such taxable year it distributes at least 90% of the sum of (i)&nbsp;its net <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> interest income, if any, and
(ii)&nbsp;its &#147;investment company taxable income&#148; (which includes, among other items, dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in
excess of net long-term capital loss, and any other taxable income other than &#147;net capital gain&#148; (as defined below) and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid. The Trust may retain
for investment its net capital gain (which consists of the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). However, if the Trust retains any net capital gain or any investment company taxable income, it will be
subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the
Trust to the extent the Trust does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i)&nbsp;98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii)&nbsp;98.2% of its capital
gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-year</FONT> period generally ending on October&nbsp;31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use
</P>
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the Trust&#146;s fiscal year). In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or
over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. For purposes of the excise tax, the Trust will be deemed to have distributed any income on which it paid U.S. federal income tax. While the Trust intends to distribute any income and
capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% nondeductible excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Trust&#146;s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the
imposition of the excise tax. In that event, the Trust will be liable for the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If in any taxable year the Trust should fail to qualify under Subchapter M of the Code for tax treatment as a RIC, the Trust
would incur a regular corporate U.S. federal income tax upon all of its taxable income for that year, and all distributions to its shareholders (including distributions of net capital gain) would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend
income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Trust&#146;s earnings and profits. Provided that certain holding period and other requirements were met, such dividends would be eligible (i)&nbsp;to be treated as qualified dividend
income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii)&nbsp;for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders.&nbsp;In addition, to qualify again to be taxed as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Trust would be
required to distribute to shareholders its earnings and profits attributable to <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-RIC</FONT> years. In addition, if the Trust failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, then, in order
to qualify as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Trust would be required to elect to recognize and pay tax on any net <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">built-in</FONT> gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss
that would have been realized if the Trust had been liquidated) or, alternatively, be subject to taxation on such <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">built-in</FONT> gain recognized for a period of five years. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Trust qualifies for taxation as a RIC. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>The Trust&#146;s Investments </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain of the Trust&#146;s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions
(including <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market,</FONT></FONT> constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules) that may, among other things, (i)&nbsp;disallow, suspend or otherwise
limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii)&nbsp;convert lower taxed long-term capital gains or qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii)&nbsp;convert ordinary loss or a deduction
into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv)&nbsp;cause the Trust to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v)&nbsp;adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is
deemed to occur, (vi)&nbsp;adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii)&nbsp;produce income that will not be &#147;qualified&#148; income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described
above. These U.S. federal income tax provisions could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to common shareholders. The Trust intends to monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to
dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these provisions and prevent disqualification of the Trust as a RIC. Additionally, the Trust may be required to limit its activities in derivative instruments in order to enable it to maintain its RIC
status. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade securities, commonly known as
&#147;junk&#148; securities. Investments in these types of securities may present special tax issues for the Trust. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Trust may cease to accrue interest, original issue
discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether modifications or
exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues could affect the Trust&#146;s ability to distribute sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC or to avoid the imposition of U.S. federal
income or excise tax. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain debt securities acquired by the Trust may be treated as debt securities that were
originally issued at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount is treated as interest income and is included in taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Trust in order to qualify as a RIC and avoid U.S. federal
income tax or the 4% excise tax on undistributed income) over the term of the security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust purchases a debt security on a secondary market at a price lower
than its adjusted issue price, the excess of the adjusted issue price over the purchase price is &#147;market discount.&#148; Unless the Trust makes an election to accrue market discount on a current basis, generally, any gain realized on the
disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the &#147;accrued market discount&#148; on the debt security.
Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. If the Trust ultimately collects less on the debt instrument than its purchase price plus the market discount previously included in income, the Trust may not be able to benefit from any
offsetting loss deductions. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust may invest in preferred securities or other securities the U.S. federal income tax
treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by the Trust,
it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Trust, potentially requiring the Trust to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Gain or loss on the sale of securities by the Trust will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the securities
have been held by the Trust for more than one year. Gain or loss on the sale of securities held for one year or less will be short-term capital gain or loss. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Because the Trust may invest in foreign securities, its income from such securities may be subject to <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> taxes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Foreign currency gain or loss on foreign currency exchange contracts, <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> dollar-denominated securities contracts, and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> dollar-denominated futures contracts, options and forward contracts that are not section 1256 contracts (as
defined below) generally will be treated as ordinary income and loss. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Income from options on individual securities
written by the Trust will generally not be recognized by the Trust for tax purposes until an option is exercised, lapses or is subject to a &#147;closing transaction&#148; (as defined by applicable regulations) pursuant to which the Trust&#146;s
obligations with respect to the option are otherwise terminated. If the option lapses without exercise, the premiums received by the Trust from the writing of such options will generally be characterized as short-term capital gain. If the Trust
enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the premiums received and the amount paid by the Trust to close out its position will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. If an option written by the Trust is exercised,
thereby requiring the Trust to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security, and the character of any gain on such sale of the underlying security as short-term or long-term capital gain
will depend on the holding period of the Trust in the underlying security. Because the Trust will not have control over the exercise of the options it writes, such exercises or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the Trust to
realize gains or losses at inopportune times. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Options on indices of securities and sectors of securities that qualify as
&#147;section 1256 contracts&#148; will generally be <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;marked-to-market&#148;</FONT></FONT> for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust will generally recognize
gain or loss on the last day of each taxable year equal to the difference between the value of the option on that date and the adjusted basis of the option. The adjusted basis of the option will consequently be increased by such gain or decreased by
such loss. Any gain or loss with respect to options on indices and sectors that qualify as &#147;section 1256 contracts&#148; will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40% of such&nbsp;gain or loss and long-term capital
gain or loss to the extent of 60% of such gain or loss. Because the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mark-to-market</FONT></FONT> rules may cause the Trust to recognize gain in advance of the receipt of cash, the
Trust may be required to dispose of investments in order to meet its distribution requirements. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#147;Mark-to-market&#148;</FONT></FONT> losses may be suspended or otherwise limited
if such losses are part of a straddle or similar transaction. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Taxation of Common Shareholders </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will either distribute or retain for reinvestment all or part of its net capital gain. If any such gain is retained,
the Trust will be subject to a corporate income tax on such retained amount. In that event, the Trust expects to report the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its common shareholders, each of whom, if subject to U.S.
federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i)&nbsp;will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as long-term capital gain its share of such undistributed amounts, (ii)&nbsp;will be entitled to
</P>
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credit its proportionate share of the tax paid by the Trust against its U.S. federal income tax liability and to claim refunds to the extent that the credit exceeds such liability and
(iii)&nbsp;will increase its basis in its common shares by the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder&#146;s income less the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Distributions paid to you by the Trust from its net capital gain, if any, that the Trust properly reports as capital gain
dividends (&#147;capital gain dividends&#148;) are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your common shares. All other dividends paid to you by the Trust (including dividends from net short-term capital gains or <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">tax-exempt</FONT> interest, if any) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (&#147;ordinary income dividends&#148;), are generally subject to tax as ordinary income. Provided that certain holding period and
other requirements are met, ordinary income dividends (if properly reported by the Trust) may qualify (i)&nbsp;for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders to the extent that the Trust&#146;s income consists of dividend
income from U.S. corporations, and (ii)&nbsp;in the case of individual shareholders, as &#147;qualified dividend income&#148; eligible to be taxed at long-term capital gains rates to the extent that the Trust receives qualified dividend income.
Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations (e.g., generally, foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries
with a qualifying comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or whose stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). The Trust does not expect that a significant
portion of its distributions will consist of qualified dividend income or be eligible for the dividends received deduction. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Any distributions you receive that are in excess of the Trust&#146;s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be
treated as a return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, and thereafter as capital gain from the sale of common shares. The amount of any Trust distribution that is treated as a return of capital will reduce
your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, thereby increasing your potential gain or reducing your potential loss on any subsequent sale or other disposition of your common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Common shareholders may be entitled to offset their capital gain dividends with capital losses. The Code contains a number of
statutory provisions affecting when capital losses may be offset against capital gain, and limiting the use of losses from certain investments and activities. Accordingly, common shareholders that have capital losses are urged to consult their tax
advisers. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to you even though they are reinvested in additional
common shares of the Trust. Dividends and other distributions paid by the Trust are generally treated under the Code as received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is made. If, however, the Trust pays you a dividend in January that was
declared in the previous October, November or December to common shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such dividend will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as being paid by the Trust and received by you
on December&nbsp;31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of the Trust&#146;s taxable year may be &#147;spilled back&#148; and treated as paid by the Trust (except for purposes
of the 4% nondeductible excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, you will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The price of common shares purchased at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing common
shares just prior to the record date for a distribution will receive a distribution which will be taxable to them even though it represents, economically, a return of invested capital. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will send you information after the end of each year setting forth the amount and tax status of any distributions
paid to you by the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The sale or other disposition of common shares will generally result in capital gain or loss to
you and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held such common shares for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or other disposition of common shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term
capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by you with respect to such common shares. Any loss you recognize on a sale or other disposition of common
shares will be disallowed if you acquire other common shares (whether through the automatic reinvestment </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-74 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">
of dividends or otherwise) within a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">61-day</FONT> period beginning 30 days before and ending 30&nbsp;days after your sale or exchange of the common shares. In
such case, your tax basis in the common shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust
conducts a tender offer for its shares, a repurchase by the Trust of a shareholder&#146;s shares pursuant to such tender offer generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the shares by a shareholder provided that either (i)&nbsp;the
shareholder tenders, and the Trust repurchases, all of such shareholder&#146;s shares, thereby reducing the shareholder&#146;s percentage ownership of the Trust, whether directly or by attribution under Section&nbsp;318 of the Code, to 0%,
(ii)&nbsp;the shareholder meets numerical safe harbors under the Code with respect to percentage voting interest and reduction in ownership of the Trust following completion of the tender offer, or (iii)&nbsp;the tender offer otherwise results in a
&#147;meaningful reduction&#148; of the shareholder&#146;s ownership percentage interest in the Trust, which determination depends on a particular shareholder&#146;s facts and circumstances. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If a tendering shareholder&#146;s proportionate ownership of the Trust (determined after applying the ownership attribution
rules under Section&nbsp;318 of the Code) is not reduced to the extent required under the tests described above, such shareholder will be deemed to receive a distribution from the Trust under Section&nbsp;301 of the Code with respect to the shares
held (or deemed held under Section&nbsp;318 of the Code) by the shareholder after the tender offer (a &#147;Section&nbsp;301 distribution&#148;). The amount of this distribution will equal the price paid by the Trust to such shareholder for the
shares sold, and will be taxable as a dividend, <I>i.e.</I>, as ordinary income, to the extent of the Trust&#146;s current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to such distribution, with the excess treated as a return of capital reducing
the shareholder&#146;s tax basis in the shares held after the tender offer, and thereafter as capital gain. Any Trust shares held by a shareholder after a tender offer will be subject to basis adjustments in accordance with the provisions of the
Code. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Provided that no tendering shareholder is treated as receiving a Section&nbsp;301 distribution as a result of
selling shares pursuant to a particular tender offer, shareholders who do not sell shares pursuant to that tender offer will not realize constructive distributions on their shares as a result of other shareholders selling shares in the tender offer.
In the event that any tendering shareholder is deemed to receive a Section&nbsp;301 distribution, it is possible that shareholders whose proportionate ownership of the Trust increases as a result of that tender offer, including shareholders who do
not tender any shares, will be deemed to receive a constructive distribution under Section&nbsp;305(c) of the Code in an amount equal to the increase in their percentage ownership of the Trust as a result of the tender offer. Such constructive
distribution will be treated as a dividend to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to it. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Use of the Trust&#146;s cash to repurchase shares may adversely affect the Trust&#146;s ability to satisfy the distribution
requirements for treatment as a regulated investment company described above. The Trust may also recognize income in connection with the sale of portfolio securities to fund share purchases, in which case the Trust would take any such income into
account in determining whether such distribution requirements have been satisfied. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">If the Trust liquidates, shareholders
generally will realize capital gain or loss upon such liquidation in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash or other property received by the shareholder (including any property deemed received by reason of its being placed in
a liquidating trust) and the shareholder&#146;s adjusted tax basis in its shares. Any such gain or loss will be long-term if the shareholder is treated as having a holding period in Trust shares of greater than one year, and otherwise will be
short-term. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The foregoing discussion does not address the tax treatment of shareholders who do not hold their shares as a
capital asset. Such shareholders should consult their own tax advisors on the specific tax consequences to them of participating or not participating in the tender offer or upon liquidation of the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Current U.S. federal income tax law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable
to ordinary income. For <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-corporate</FONT> taxpayers, short-term capital gain is currently taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income while long-term capital gain generally is taxed at a reduced maximum rate. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-75 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income
exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their &#147;net investment income,&#148; which includes dividends received from the Trust and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of the
Trust&#146;s common shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A common shareholder that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a
&#147;foreign investor&#148;) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or possibly a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty) on ordinary income dividends (except as discussed below). In general, U.S.
federal withholding tax and U.S. federal income tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a foreign investor in respect of any distribution of net capital gain (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) or upon
the sale or other disposition of common shares of the Trust. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign investor is engaged in a trade or business in the United States or, in the case of an individual, is present in the United States for
183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of investing in the Trust&#146;s common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Ordinary income dividends properly reported by the RIC are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they
(i)&nbsp;are paid in respect of the RIC&#146;s &#147;qualified net interest income&#148; (generally, its U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the
RIC is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii)&nbsp;are paid in respect of the RIC&#146;s &#147;qualified short-term capital gains&#148; (generally, the excess of the RIC&#146;s net short-term
capital gain over its long-term capital loss for such taxable year). Depending on its circumstances, the Trust may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term
capital gains, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a foreign investor needs to comply with applicable certification
requirements relating to its <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">W-8BEN,</FONT>
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">W-8BEN-E,</FONT></FONT> or substitute Form). In the case of common shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may have withheld tax even if the Trust reported the payment
as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Foreign investors should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the
Trust&#146;s distributions would qualify for favorable treatment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gains if the provision is extended. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">In addition withholding at a rate of 30% will apply to dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Trust held by or
through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, and accounts maintained by, the
institution to the extent such shares or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-U.S.</FONT> entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments.
Accordingly, the entity through which common shares of the Trust are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Trust held by an investor that is a <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-financial</FONT> foreign entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i)&nbsp;certifies that such entity does not have any
&#147;substantial United States owners&#148; or (ii)&nbsp;provides certain information regarding the entity&#146;s &#147;substantial United States owners,&#148; which the applicable withholding agent will in turn provide to the Secretary of the
Treasury. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. The Trust will not pay any additional amounts to common
shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Foreign investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in the Trust&#146;s common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">U.S. federal backup withholding tax may be required on dividends, distributions and sale proceeds payable to certain <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-exempt</FONT> common shareholders who fail to supply their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, generally, their social security number) or to make required certifications, or who are
otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that you timely furnish the required
information to the Internal Revenue Service. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends, and gain from the sale or
other disposition of common shares of the Trust also may be subject to state, local, and/or foreign taxes. Common shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions about U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences to them of investing in the Trust. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-76 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a common shareholder recognizes a loss with
respect to common shares of $2&nbsp;million or more for an individual shareholder in a single taxable year (or $4&nbsp;million or more in any combination of taxable years in which the transaction is entered into and the five succeeding taxable
years) or $10&nbsp;million or more for a corporate shareholder in any single taxable year (or $20&nbsp;million or more in any combination of taxable years in which the transaction is entered into and the five succeeding taxable years), the
shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Internal Revenue Service Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer&#146;s
treatment of the loss is proper. Common shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">*** </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The
foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of certain provisions of the Code and the Treasury Regulations presently in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Trust and its shareholders. For complete provisions, reference should be
made to the pertinent Code sections and Treasury Regulations. The Code and the Treasury Regulations are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive with respect to Trust transactions. Holders of
common shares are advised to consult their own tax advisers for more detailed information concerning the U.S. federal income taxation of the Trust and the income tax consequences to its holders of common shares. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_112"></A>CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The custodian of the assets of the Trust is State Street Bank and Trust Company, whose principal business address is One
Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The custodian is responsible for, among other things, receipt of and disbursement of funds from the Trust&#146;s accounts, establishment of segregated accounts as necessary, and transfer, exchange and
delivery of Trust portfolio securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">Computershare Trust Company, N.A., whose principal business address is 150 Royall
Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, serves as the Trust&#146;s transfer agent with respect to the common shares. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_113"></A>INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">[&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195; ], whose principal business address
is [&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;], is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust and is expected to render an opinion annually on the financial statements of the Trust. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_114"></A>CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">A control person is a person who beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a
company. As of January&nbsp;31, 2025, the Trust did not know of any person or entity who &#147;controlled&#148; the Trust. As of January&nbsp;31, 2025, to the knowledge of the Trust, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the
outstanding common shares of any class of the Trust. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_115"></A>INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">This SAI is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. We are allowed to &#147;incorporate by
reference&#148; the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. We incorporate by reference into this SAI the documents listed below and any future filings
we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including any filings on or after the date of this SAI from the date of filing (excluding any information furnished, rather than filed), until we have sold all of the
offered securities to which this SAI, the Prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this SAI. Any statement in a document
incorporated by reference into this SAI will be deemed to be automatically modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1)&nbsp;this SAI or (2)&nbsp;any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this
SAI modifies or supersedes such statement. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-77 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The documents incorporated by reference herein include: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The Trust&#146;s Prospectus, dated [&#9679;], 2025, filed with this SAI; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">our annual report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CSR</FONT> for the fiscal year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2024 filed with the SEC on [&#9679;], 2025; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the Trust&#146;s <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/832327/000119312524155180/d831129ddef14a.htm">definitive
 proxy statement on Schedule 14A</A>, filed with the SEC on June&nbsp;5, 2024; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="justify" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">the <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000095017201501127/s563119.txt">description of the Trust&#146;s
common shares</A> contained in our Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-A</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;001-16777)</FONT> filed with the SEC on November&nbsp;14, 2001, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description prior to the termination of the offering registered hereby. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this SAI is delivered, upon
written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this SAI, the Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should direct requests for documents by calling: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Client Services Desk </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(800) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">882-0052</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The Trust makes available the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust&#146;s annual and
semi-annual reports, free of charge, at http://www.blackrock.com. You may also obtain this SAI, the Prospectus, other documents incorporated by reference and other information the Trust files electronically, including reports and proxy statements,
on the SEC website (http://www.sec.gov) or with the payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov. Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Trust&#146;s website is not part of this SAI, the
Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_116"></A>FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="justify">The audited financial statements and financial highlights included in the annual report to the Trust&#146;s shareholders for
the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024 (the &#147;2024 Annual Report&#148;), together with the report of [&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;] on the financial statements and financial highlights included in the Trust&#146;s 2024 Annual Report, are
incorporated herein by reference. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S-78 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_117"></A>APPENDIX A </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description of Bond Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A rating is generally assigned to a fixed-income security at the time of issuance by a credit rating agency designated as a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (&#147;NRSRO&#148;) by the SEC. While NRSROs may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings given to securities at issuance do not necessarily represent
ratings which would be given to these securities on a particular subsequent date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NRSROs may rate specific investments (e.g., bonds),
issuers (e.g., corporations, governments and financial institutions) and/or programs (e.g., commercial paper programs). However, certain types of investments may not be rated by NRSROs, such as certain government/sovereign obligations, US agency
securities, commercial paper, time deposits at financial institutions, and derivative instruments such as credit default swaps. For these types of investments, as well as US Treasury securities (some of which are not rated), where a NRSRO has not
rated the specific investment but has rated the investment&#146;s issuer, program, financial institution or underlying reference asset, BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock Fund Advisors or their respective affiliates (&#147;BlackRock&#148;) may
consider the investment to have the same NRSRO rating as its issuer, program, financial institution or underlying reference asset, as applicable. In the case of municipal securities, where one NRSRO provides multiple ratings for the same security
(e.g., &#147;underlying,&#148; &#147;insured&#148; and/or &#147;enhanced&#148; ratings), BlackRock may consider the security to have the highest of the multiple ratings. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">New issue securities (regardless of type) may not be rated by a NRSRO at the time of their initial offering. Preliminary prospectuses or term
sheets for new issue securities may include an expected rating for the security (as determined by the underwriter and/or issuer) or a NRSRO rating for the issuer of the security. If applicable, when deciding whether to purchase a new issue security
that has not yet been rated by a NRSRO, BlackRock may attribute an expected rating to the security based on: (i)&nbsp;the expected rating of the security set forth in the preliminary prospectus or term sheet for the security; (ii)&nbsp;the
NRSRO&#146;s rating for the issuer of the security set forth in the preliminary prospectus or term sheet for the security; or (iii)&nbsp;with respect to asset-backed securities, the rating of a prior issuance having a similar structure or the same
sponsor. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Where the investment objective of a fund is to track the performance of an index that includes credit ratings eligibility
criteria as part of its index methodology, the fund may purchase any security within the index, such security having been determined by the index provider as meeting its credit ratings eligibility criteria. The credit ratings practices of an index
provider may differ from BlackRock&#146;s practices, as described above. Further, the fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in securities that are not rated by a rating agency or securities with a credit rating that differs from the credit rating
specified in its index methodology in various circumstances, including where a security is downgraded but not yet removed from an index, following the removal of a security from an index prior to its sale by the fund or as a result of a corporate
action or restructuring affecting an issuer of a security held by the fund. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fixed-income securities which are unrated may expose the
investor to risks with respect to capacity to pay interest or repay principal which are similar to the risks of lower-rated speculative bonds. Evaluation of these securities is dependent on BlackRock&#146;s judgment, analysis and experience in the
evaluation of such securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Investors should note that the assignment of a rating to a security by an NRSRO may not reflect the effect
of recent developments on the issuer&#146;s ability to make interest and principal payments or on the likelihood of default. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Securities
deemed to be high yield are rated below Baa3 by Moody&#146;s and below <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">BBB-</FONT> by S&amp;P Global Ratings and Fitch. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The descriptions below relate to general long-term and short-term obligations of an issuer. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-1 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>A Description of Moody&#146;s Investors Service, Inc.&#146;s (&#147;Moody&#146;s&#148;) Global Rating
Scales </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ratings assigned on Moody&#146;s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative
credit risks of financial obligations issued by <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-financial</FONT> corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Moody&#146;s defines credit
risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default or impairment. The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody&#146;s ratings are
those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody&#146;s rating addresses the
issuer&#146;s ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody&#146;s ratings do not address <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-standard</FONT> sources of variation in the amount of the principal
obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both
on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned for obligations with an original maturity of thirteen
months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody&#146;s issues ratings at the issuer level and
instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Moody&#146;s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial
institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at
the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its
current methodologies, however, Moody&#146;s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Moody&#146;s Global Long-Term Rating Scale </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD VALIGN="top">Aaa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Aa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Baa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Ba</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">B</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Caa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Ca</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Note</I>: Moody&#146;s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa.
The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">mid-range</FONT> ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of
that generic rating category. Additionally, a &#147;(hyb)&#148; indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-2 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or
principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator,
the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description
of Moody&#146;s Global Short-Term Rating Scale </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">P-1</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Ratings of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Prime-1</FONT> reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">P-2</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Ratings of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Prime-2</FONT> reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">P-3</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Ratings of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Prime-3</FONT> reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">NP</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Moody&#146;s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Moody&#146;s Short-Term Obligation Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Moody&#146;s uses the global short-term Prime rating scale for commercial paper issued by U.S. municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial
paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer&#146;s self-liquidity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For other
short-term municipal obligations, Moody&#146;s uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (&#147;MIG&#148;) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (&#147;VMIG&#148;) scales discussed below. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Moody&#146;s uses the MIG scale for U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which
typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, Moody&#146;s uses the MIG scale for bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>MIG Scale </U></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top">MIG 1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">MIG 2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">MIG 3</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">SG</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Moody&#146;s Demand Obligation Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the case of variable rate demand obligations (&#147;VRDOs&#148;), a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">two-component</FONT> rating is
assigned. The components are a long-term rating and a short-term demand obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer&#146;s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term demand obligation rating addresses
the ability of </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-3 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
the issuer or the liquidity provider to make payments associated with the purchase-price-upon-demand feature (&#147;demand feature&#148;) of the VRDO. The short-term demand obligation rating uses
the VMIG scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions
of VMIG ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer&#146;s long-term rating drops below investment
grade. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Moody&#146;s typically assigns the VMIG short-term demand obligation rating if the frequency of the demand feature is less than
every three years. If the frequency of the demand feature is less than three years but the purchase price is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the short-term demand obligation rating is &#147;NR&#148;. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>VMIG Scale </U></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top">VMIG&nbsp;1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase
price upon demand.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">VMIG 2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price
upon demand.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">VMIG 3</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of
purchase price upon demand.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">SG</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or
legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>Description of S&amp;P Global Ratings (&#147;S&amp;P&#148;), a Division of S&amp;P Global Inc., Issue Credit Ratings
</I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">An S&amp;P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors,
insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&amp;P&#146;s view of the obligor&#146;s capacity and willingness to meet its
financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations
considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term
obligations. S&amp;P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&amp;P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on
market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&amp;P&#146;s
analysis of the following considerations: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The likelihood of payment&#151;the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on
an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&amp;P imputes; and
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-4 </P>


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<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy,
reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors&#146; rights. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">An
issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in
bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings* </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top">AAA</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;AAA&#146; has the highest rating assigned by S&amp;P. The obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">AA</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;AA&#146; differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;A&#146; is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its
financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">BBB</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;BBB&#146; exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on
the obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">BB, B,<BR>CCC,<BR>CC,<BR>and C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Obligations rated &#145;BB&#146;, &#145;B&#146;, &#145;CCC&#146;, &#145;CC&#146;, and &#145;C&#146; are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. &#145;BB&#146; indicates the least degree of speculation and
&#145;C&#146; the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">BB</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;BB&#146; is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to
the obligor&#146;s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">B</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;B&#146; is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated &#145;BB&#146;, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial,
or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor&#146;s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">CCC</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;CCC&#146; is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event
of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">CC</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;CC&#146; is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The &#145;CC&#146; rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&amp;P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the
anticipated time to default.</TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;C&#146; is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated
higher.</TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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<TD VALIGN="top">D</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">An obligation rated &#145;D&#146; is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-hybrid</FONT> capital instruments, the &#145;D&#146; rating category is used when payments on an obligation
are not made on the date due, unless S&amp;P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The &#145;D&#146; rating
also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to &#145;D&#146;
if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">* Ratings from &#145;AA&#146; to &#145;CCC&#146; may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show
relative standing within the rating categories. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">A-1</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#145;A-1&#146;</FONT> is rated in the highest category by S&amp;P. The obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within
this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">A-2</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#145;A-2&#146;</FONT> is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating
categories. However, the obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">A-3</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&#145;A-3&#146;</FONT> exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an
obligor&#146;s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">B</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated &#145;B&#146; is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties that could lead to the obligor&#146;s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated &#145;C&#146; is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the
obligation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">D</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">A short-term obligation rated &#145;D&#146; is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-hybrid</FONT> capital instruments, the &#145;D&#146; rating category is used when payments on an
obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&amp;P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The &#145;D&#146;
rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to
&#145;D&#146; if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of S&amp;P&#146;s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">An S&amp;P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&amp;P&#146;s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes.
Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&amp;P&#146;s
analysis will review the following considerations: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Amortization schedule &#150; the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will
be treated as a note; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Source of payment &#150; the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it
will be treated as a note. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">S&amp;P&#146;s municipal short-term note rating symbols are as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">SP-1</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">SP-2</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">SP-3</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">D</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">&#145;D&#146; is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual
certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Fitch Ratings&#146; (&#147;Fitch&#146;s&#148;) Credit Ratings Scales </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fitch Ratings publishes opinions on a variety of scales. The most common of these are credit ratings, but the agency also publishes ratings,
scores and other relative opinions relating to financial or operational strength. For example, Fitch also provides specialized ratings of servicers of residential and commercial mortgages, asset managers and funds. In each case, users should refer
to the definitions of each individual scale for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered in each assessment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fitch&#146;s credit
ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to
securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. The
agency&#146;s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign financial, bank, insurance, and public finance entities (including supranational and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-national</FONT> entities) and the securities or
other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The terms
&#147;investment grade&#148; and &#147;speculative grade&#148; have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories &#145;AAA&#146; to &#145;BBB&#146; (investment grade) and &#145;BB&#146; to &#145;D&#146; (speculative
grade). The terms investment grade and speculative grade are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit
risk, while ratings in the speculative categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For
the convenience of investors, Fitch may also include issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated on its web page. Such issues are also denoted as &#145;NR&#146;. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a
specific frequency of default or loss. For information about the historical performance of ratings please refer to Fitch&#146;s Ratings Transition and Default studies which detail the historical default rates and their meaning. The European
Securities and Markets Authority also maintains a central repository of historical default rates. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fitch&#146;s credit ratings do not
directly address any risk other than credit risk. In particular, ratings do not deal with the risk of a market value loss on a rated security due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and other market considerations. However, in terms of payment
obligation on the rated liability, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay upon a commitment. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or
other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of index-linked bonds). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the default
components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-payment</FONT> or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument&#146;s
documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation&#146;s documentation). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The primary credit rating scales can be used to provide a rating of privately issued obligations or certain note issuance programs or for
private ratings. In this case the rating is not published, but only provided to the issuer or its agents in the form of a rating letter. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The primary credit rating scales may also be used to provide ratings for a more narrow scope, including interest strips and return of
principal or in other forms of opinions such as credit opinions or rating assessment services. Credit opinions are either a notch- or category-specific view using the primary rating scale and omit one or more characteristics of a full rating or meet
them to a different standard. Credit opinions will be indicated using a lower case letter symbol combined with either an &#145;*&#146; (e.g. &#145;bbb+*&#146;) or (cat) suffix to denote the opinion status. Credit opinions will be <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">point-in-time</FONT></FONT> typically but may be monitored if the analytical group believes information will be sufficiently available. Rating assessment services are a notch-specific view
using the primary rating scale of how an existing or potential rating may be changed by a given set of hypothetical circumstances. While credit opinions and rating assessment services are <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">point-in-time</FONT></FONT> and are not monitored, they may have a directional watch or outlook assigned, which can signify the trajectory of the credit profile. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Fitch&#146;s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Rating Scales </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ratings of individual securities or financial obligations of a corporate issuer address relative vulnerability to default on an ordinal scale.
In addition, for financial obligations in corporate finance, a measure of recovery given default on that liability is also included in the rating assessment. This notably applies to covered bonds ratings, which incorporate both an indication of the
probability of default and of the recovery given a default of this debt instrument. On the contrary, Ratings of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">debtor-in-possession</FONT></FONT> (&#147;DIP&#148;) obligations
incorporate the expectation of full repayment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The relationship between the issuer scale and obligation scale assumes a generic
historical average recovery. Individual obligations can be assigned ratings higher, lower, or the same as that entity&#146;s issuer rating or issuer default rating (&#147;IDR&#148;), based on their relative ranking, relative vulnerability to default
or based on explicit Recovery Ratings. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As a result, individual obligations of entities, such as corporations, are assigned ratings
higher, lower, or the same as that entity&#146;s issuer rating or IDR, except DIP obligation ratings that are not based off an IDR. At the lower end of the ratings scale, Fitch publishes explicit Recovery Ratings in many cases to complement issuer
and obligation ratings. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fitch long-term obligations rating scales are as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>

<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="91%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">AAA</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Highest Credit Quality. &#145;AAA&#146; ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to
be adversely affected by foreseeable events.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-8 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

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<TD WIDTH="8%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="91%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">AA</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Very High Credit Quality. &#145;AA&#146; ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable
events.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">High Credit Quality. &#145;A&#146; ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or
economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">BBB</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Good Credit Quality. &#145;BBB&#146; ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more
likely to impair this capacity.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">BB</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Speculative. &#145;BB&#146; ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be
available to allow financial commitments to be met.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">B</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Highly Speculative. &#145;B&#146; ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">CCC</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Substantial Credit Risk. &#145;CCC&#146; ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">CC</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Very High Levels of Credit Risk. &#145;CC&#146; ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Exceptionally High Levels of Credit Risk. &#145;C&#146; indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Within rating categories, Fitch may use modifiers. The modifiers &#147;+&#148; or &#147;-&#148; may be
appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For example, the rating category &#145;AA&#146; has three
notch-specific rating levels (&#145;AA+&#146;; &#145;AA&#146;; &#145;AA&#150;&#146;; each a rating level). Such suffixes are not added to &#145;AAA&#146; ratings and ratings below the &#145;CCC&#146; category. For the short-term rating category of
&#145;F1&#146;, a &#145;+&#146; may be appended. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Fitch&#146;s Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers and Obligations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to
the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is
viewed as &#147;short term&#148; based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Fitch short-term ratings are as follows: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">F1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Highest Short-Term Credit Quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added &#147;+&#148; to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">F2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Good Short-Term Credit Quality.<B> </B>Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">F3</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Fair Short-Term Credit Quality.<B> </B>The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">B</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Speculative Short-Term Credit Quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-9 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">C</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">High Short-Term Default Risk.<B> </B>Default is a real possibility.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">RD</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Restricted Default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">D</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-10 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B><A NAME="saitoc925963_118"></A>APPENDIX B </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund Proxy Voting Policy </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">


<IMG SRC="g925963g15a01.jpg" ALT="LOGO" STYLE="width:2.1609in;height:0.310058in;">
 </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>

<TD WIDTH="100%"></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#000000" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #d8d8d8; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #d8d8d8; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #d8d8d8; padding-left:8pt; padding-right:2pt"> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><FONT COLOR="#ffffff"><B><FONT COLOR="#ffffff"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund Proxy Voting Policy</FONT></B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><FONT COLOR="#ffffff"><I><FONT COLOR="#ffffff">Procedures Governing Delegation of Proxy
Voting to Fund Adviser</FONT></I></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #d8d8d8; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #d8d8d8; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #d8d8d8; padding-left:8pt; padding-right:2pt"> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Effective Date: January&nbsp;1, 2025</P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:2.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:3.00pt solid #999999">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="100%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER:1px solid #d8d8d8; padding-left:8pt; padding-right:2pt"> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:11pt; font-family:ARIAL"><B>Applies
to the following types of Funds registered under the 1940 Act:</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Index Equity
Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds</P> <P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Open-End</FONT> Active and Fixed Income Index Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Money Market Funds</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Funds</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Other</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:2.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:3.00pt solid #999999">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Objective and Scope </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Set forth below is the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Closed-End</FONT> Fund Proxy Voting Policy. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Policy / Document Requirements and Statements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Boards of Trustees/Directors (the &#147;Directors&#148;) of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds advised by BlackRock Advisors,
LLC (&#147;BlackRock&#148;), (the &#147;Funds&#148;) have the responsibility for the oversight of voting proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds, and have determined that it is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders
to delegate the responsibility to vote proxies to BlackRock as part of BlackRock&#146;s authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets, all as contemplated by the Funds&#146; respective investment management agreements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock has adopted the BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines (as from time to time amended, the
&#147;Guidelines&#148;) governing proxy voting by accounts managed by BlackRock. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock will cast votes on behalf of each of the Funds covered by
this policy on specific proxy issues in respect of securities held by each such Fund (or may refrain from voting) in accordance with the Guidelines; provided, however, that in the case of underlying <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT>
funds (including business development companies and other similarly-situated asset pools) held by the Funds that have, or are proposing to adopt, a classified board structure, BlackRock will typically (a)&nbsp;vote in favor of proposals to adopt
classification and against proposals to eliminate classification, and (b)&nbsp;not vote against directors as a result of their adoption of a classified board structure. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Conflicts Management </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock Active Investment
Stewardship (&#147;BAIS&#148;) maintains policies and procedures that seek to prevent undue influence on BlackRock&#146;s proxy voting activity and to mitigate material conflicts of interest in the exercise of proxy voting responsibilities.
Potential material conflicts, and the resultant potential for undue influence, might be due to a relationship between the investee company (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) and BlackRock, BlackRock&#146;s affiliates or
employees, or a Fund or a Fund&#146;s affiliates. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-1 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
BlackRock has taken certain steps to mitigate potential conflicts, which are outlined in detail in the Guidelines. In mitigating conflicts, BAIS will adhere to the Guidelines. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In certain instances, BAIS will engage an independent third-party voting service provider to make </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">proxy voting recommendations as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, or as may be
otherwise required by applicable law. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">With respect to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, shares on loan cannot be voted and
BlackRock may determine to recall them for voting, as guided by BlackRock&#146;s fiduciary responsibility to act in clients&#146; financial interests. The Guidelines set forth BlackRock&#146;s approach to recalling securities on loan in connection
with proxy voting. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reports to the Board </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock will report on an annual basis to the Directors on (1)&nbsp;a summary of the proxy voting process as applicable to the Funds covered by this
Policy in the preceding year together with a representation that all votes were in accordance with the Guidelines (as modified pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph), and (2)&nbsp;any material changes to the Guidelines, including material
changes to conflicts management practices, that have not previously been reported. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-2 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="font-size:60pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:60pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:30pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:22.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Effective
as of January 2025 </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-3 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Contents </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:24pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD></TD>
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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_1">Overview</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-5</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_2">Introduction to BlackRock</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-6</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_3">About BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-6</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_4">Our approach to stewardship within active equities</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-7</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_5">Our approach to stewardship within fixed income</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-7</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_6">Boards of Directors</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-8</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_7">Executive compensation</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-11</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_8"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-executive</FONT> director compensation</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-12</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_9">Capital structure</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-13</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_10">Transactions and special situations</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-14</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_11">Corporate reporting, risk management and audit</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-15</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_12">Shareholder rights and protections</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-16</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_13">Shareholder proposals</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-17</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_14">Corporate political activities</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-17</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_15">Sustainability, or environmental and social,
considerations</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-18</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_16">Key stakeholders</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-18</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_17">Climate and decarbonization investment objectives</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-19</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A HREF="#appb925963_18">Appendix 1: How we fulfil and oversee our active investment stewardship
 responsibilities</A></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B>B-20</B></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-4 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_1"></A>Overview </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This document provides high level guidance on how BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship (BAIS) views corporate governance matters that are commonly put to
a shareholder vote, or on which investors engage with issuers. BAIS works in partnership with BlackRock&#146;s investment teams, excluding index equity, providing expertise on investment stewardship, engaging with companies on behalf of those teams
when appropriate, and assisting in recommending, operationalizing and reporting on voting decisions. The guidance informs BAIS&#146; voting recommendations to BlackRock&#146;s active portfolio managers. It applies to active equity holdings in
BlackRock&#146;s fundamental equity, systematic equity and multi-asset solutions strategies. It also may apply to holdings in BlackRock&#146;s index and active fixed income strategies, to the extent those strategies hold voting securities or conduct
issuer engagements. The guidelines are not prescriptive as active portfolio managers have discretion as to how they integrate these guidelines within their investment processes in light of their clients&#146; or funds&#146; investment objectives.
There are separate, independently developed principles and voting policies that are applied to BlackRock&#146;s index equity investments by a distinct and independent function, BlackRock Investment Stewardship. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_2"></A>Introduction to BlackRock </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock&#146;s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. We manage assets on behalf of institutional and individual clients,
across a full spectrum of investment strategies, asset classes, and regions. Our client base includes pension plans, endowments, foundations, charities, official institutions, insurers, and other financial institutions, as well as individuals around
the world. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_3"></A>About BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship (BAIS) is a specialist team within the Portfolio Management Group and manages BlackRock&#146;s stewardship engagement
and voting on behalf of clients invested in active strategies globally. BAIS is also responsible for engagement with issuers in index fixed income strategies, where appropriate. Our activities are informed by these Global Engagement and Voting
Guidelines (&#147;the Guidelines&#148;) and insights from active investment analysts and portfolio managers, with whom we work closely in engaging companies and voting at shareholder meetings. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Engagement with public companies is the foundation of our approach to stewardship within fundamental active investing. Through direct dialogue with company
leadership, we seek to understand their businesses and how they manage risks and opportunities to deliver durable, risk adjusted financial returns. Generally, portfolio managers and stewardship specialists engage jointly on substantive matters. Our
discussions focus on topics relevant to a company&#146;s success over time including governance and leadership, corporate strategy, capital structure and financial performance, operations and sustainability-related risks, as well as macro-economic,
geopolitical and sector dynamics. We aim to be constructive investors and are generally supportive of management teams that have a track record of financial value creation. We aim to build and maintain strong relationships with company leadership
based on open dialogue and mutual respect. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Different active equity strategies may implement these voting guidelines differently, as a result of the
latitude the portfolio manager has to make independent voting decisions aligned with their portfolio objectives and investment strategy. For example, BAIS will generally vote the holdings in Systematic Active Equity portfolios in accordance with
these guidelines. We provide voting recommendations to fundamental equity portfolio managers, who may determine to vote differently based on their portfolio investment objectives and strategy. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">These guidelines discuss corporate governance topics on which we may engage with management teams and board directors<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">1</SUP> and matters that routinely come to a shareholder vote. We recognize that accepted corporate governance norms can differ across markets, and believe these guidelines represent globally applicable
elements of governance that support a company&#146;s ability to manage material risks and opportunities and deliver financial returns to investors. Generally, we believe companies should observe accepted corporate governance norms within their local
markets or, particularly in markets without well-established norms, aspire to widely recognized international best practices. As one of many minority shareholders, BlackRock cannot &#150; and does not try to &#150; direct a company&#146;s strategy
or its implementation. We look to companies to provide disclosures that explain how their approach to corporate governance best aligns with the financial interests of their investors. </P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">1</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">References to the board, board directors or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive</FONT> directors
should be understood to include supervisory boards and their members, where relevant. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_4"></A>Our approach to stewardship within active equities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As shareholders of public companies, BlackRock&#146;s clients have certain fundamental rights, including the right to vote on proposals put forth by a
company&#146;s management or its shareholders. The voting rights attached to these clients&#146; holdings are an important mechanism for investors to express support for, or concern about, a company&#146;s performance. As a fiduciary, BlackRock is
legally required to make proxy voting determinations, on behalf of clients who have delegated voting authority to us, in a manner that is consistent with their investment objectives. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In general, we tend to support the recommendations of the board of directors and management. As indicated below, we may vote against management
recommendations when we have concerns about how companies are serving the financial interests of our clients as their shareholders. We take a globally consistent approach to voting but consider the different corporate governance regulations and
norms in various markets. Votes are determined on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis, in the context of a company&#146;s situation and the investment mandate we have from clients.
Please see page 16 for more information about how we fulfil and oversee BlackRock&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-index</FONT> equity investment stewardship responsibilities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_5"></A>Our approach to stewardship within fixed income </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Although fixed income investors do not have the right to vote at shareholder meetings, issuer engagement is a component of fixed income investment
strategies at BlackRock, particularly those with sustainability objectives in addition to financial objectives. Most corporate governance-related fixed income engagements are undertaken in conjunction with the active investment stewardship team, and
often active equity investors. In addition to the topics listed below, engagement with fixed income investment teams can help inform an issuer&#146;s approach to structuring specialist issuances, such as green bonds, and the standard terms and
information in bond documentation. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_6"></A>Boards of Directors </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Roles and responsibilities </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">There is widespread
consensus that the foundation of good corporate governance is an effective board of directors that is able to advise and supervise management in an independent and objective manner.<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">2</SUP> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We look to the board of directors (hereafter &#145;the board&#146;) to have an oversight role in the establishment and realization of a company&#146;s
strategy, purpose and culture. These constructs are interdependent and, when aligned, can better position a company to be resilient in the face of a changing business environment, help reduce the risks of corporate or employee misconduct, and
attract and retain the caliber of workers necessary to deliver financial performance over time. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In promoting the success of the company, the board
ensures the necessary resources, policies and procedures are in place to help management meet its strategic objectives within an agreed risk tolerance. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">One of the most important responsibilities of the board is to appoint, and remove as necessary, the chief executive officer (CEO). In addition, the board
plays a meaningful role in monitoring the performance of the CEO and other key executives, determining executive compensation, ensuring a rigorous audit, overseeing strategy execution and risk management and engaging with shareholders, and other
stakeholders, as necessary. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Composition and effectiveness </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Appointment process </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A formal and transparent
process for identifying and appointing director candidates is critical to ensuring the board is composed of directors with the appropriate mix of skills and experience. The board or a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-committee</FONT> should
determine the general criteria given the company&#146;s circumstances (e.g., sector, maturity, geographic footprint) and any additional criteria for a specific role being filled (e.g., financial expertise, industry track record). To inform the
process, we encourage companies to review the skills and experience of incumbent directors to identify any gaps and whether a director candidate&#146;s characteristics would be additive. We welcome disclosures that explain how the board considered
different skills, backgrounds and experience to ensure the directors collectively can be effective in fulfilling their responsibilities. We assess a company&#146;s board composition against that of its peer group and local market requirements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Shareholders periodically vote to elect, remove and nominate directors to serve on the board. We may vote against the election of the most senior
independent director, or the chair of the relevant committee, where a company has not demonstrated it has an appointment process that results in a high functioning board with the appropriate complement of skills, backgrounds and experience amongst
the directors to support strong financial performance over time. We may vote against newly nominated directors who do not seem to have the appropriate skills or experience to contribute to the board&#146;s effectiveness. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Independence </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Director independence from management,
significant shareholders or other stakeholders (e.g., government or employees) is of paramount importance to the protection of the interests of minority shareholders such as </P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">2</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">See the Corporate Governance Codes of Germany, Japan, and the UK, as well as the corporate governance
principles of the US Business Roundtable as examples. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-8 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
BlackRock&#146;s clients. At least half of the directors should be independent and free from conflicts of interest or undue influence.<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">3</SUP> This
ensures sufficient independent directors to have appropriately independent board committees. Companies domiciled in markets with a higher threshold for board independence should meet those requirements. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against the election of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-independent</FONT> directors if the board does not have a sufficient balance of
independence. We may also vote against the election of the chair of the committee responsible for board composition if this is a perennial issue. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Independent board leadership </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Practices across
markets differ, as do board structures, but we observe two main approaches to independent board leadership. One is a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive,</FONT> independent chair of the board who is responsible for leading the board in
the effective exercise of its duties. The other is a lead or senior independent director, who is responsible for coordinating with the other <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive</FONT> directors and working closely with the executive chair
on the board agenda and other board procedures. In this case, the executive chair and the lead independent director work together to ensure the board is effectively fulfilling its responsibilities. In our view, the independent leader of the board,
and/or the chair of a relevant committee, should be available to investors to discuss board governance matters such as CEO succession, executive pay, and board performance. We look to boards to explain their independent board leadership model and
how it serves the interests of shareholders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against the election of the chair of the committee responsible for board composition if there
is not an identified independent leader of the board with clear responsibilities for board performance. We may vote against the most senior independent director if the board has a policy of not engaging with shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Tenure and succession </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Boards should establish the
length of time a director would normally be expected to serve, in line with market norms where those exist. In such markets, we find it helpful when companies disclose their approach to director tenure particularly around the contributions of
directors who have served for longer periods than provided for in local practices. In our experience, long-serving directors could become less independent given their relationship with management and involvement in past board decisions. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Succession planning for board roles helps achieve the appropriate cadence of turnover that balances renewal through the regular introduction of directors
with fresh perspectives and expertise with continuity through the retention of directors with long-term knowledge of the board and company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In markets
where there is not specific director tenure guidance, we may vote against the election of the chair of the committee responsible for board composition if there is not a clearly disclosed approach to director tenure and board renewal. We may vote
against the election of directors who have served for longer duration than typical in markets with specific guidance, where the case for their continued service is not evident. </P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">3</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Common impediments to independence may include but are not limited to: current or recent employment at the
company or a subsidiary; being, or representing, a shareholder with a substantial shareholding in the company; interlocking directorships; lengthy tenure, and having any other interest, business, or other relationship which could, or could
reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with a director&#146;s ability to act in the best interests of the company and shareholders. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-9 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Capacity </I></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">To be effective and engaged, directors must commit appropriate time and energy to the role. A board should assess the ability of its members to maintain an
appropriate focus on board matters and the company taking into consideration competing responsibilities. We recognize that board leadership roles vary across markets in responsibilities and required time commitment but note that they are generally
more intensive than a standard directorship. We will take local norms and practices into consideration when making our voting determinations across markets. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against the election of directors who do not seem to have sufficient capacity to effectively fulfil their duties to the board and company. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Director elections </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In support of director
accountability to shareholders, directors should stand for election on a regular basis, ideally annually. A classified board structure may be justified by a company when it needs consistency and stability during a time of transition, or on the basis
of its business model, e.g., a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-operating</FONT> company such as <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">closed-end</FONT> funds. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Shareholders should have the opportunity to evaluate nominated directors individually rather than in bundled slates. We look to companies to provide
sufficient information on each director standing for election so that shareholders can assess their capabilities and suitability. We will not support the election of directors whose names and biographical details have not been disclosed sufficiently
in advance of the shareholder meeting. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Each director&#146;s appointment should be dependent on receiving a simple majority of the votes cast at the
shareholder meeting. Where a company&#146;s practices differ, we look to the board to provide a detailed explanation as to how its approach best serves investors&#146; interests. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote for shareholder or management proposals seeking to establish annual election of directors and/or a simple majority vote standard for director
elections. We may vote against all the directors standing for election as part of a single slate if we have concerns about the profile or performance of an individual director. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Committees </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Many boards establish committees to
focus on specific responsibilities of the board such as audit and risk, governance and human capital, and executive compensation, amongst other matters. We do not prescribe to companies what committees they should establish but we seek to understand
the board&#146;s rationale for the committee structure it determines is appropriate. We note that, in some markets, regulation requires such committees. The responsibilities of each committee should be clear, and the board should ensure that all
critical matters are assigned either to the full board or to one of the committees. The board should disclose to shareholders the structure, membership, proportion of independent directors, and responsibilities of each committee. The
responsibilities we typically see assigned to the three most common committees include: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Audit and risk &#150; oversight responsibilities for the integrity of financial reporting, risk management and
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; may also play an oversight role in relation to the internal audit function and whistleblowing mechanisms. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-10 </P>


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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Nominating, governance and human capital &#150; ensures appropriate corporate governance principles and
practices including the periodic review of board performance; responsible for succession planning for CEO and key board roles, as well as the director appointment process; may also have oversight responsibilities for human capital management
strategies including corporate culture and purpose. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Executive compensation &#150; determines the compensation policies and programs for the CEO and other executive
officers, approves annual awards and payments under the policies; may also have oversight responsibilities for firm-wide compensation policies. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against the election of the chair of the committee or other directors serving as committee members to convey our concerns and provide feedback
on how a committee has undertaken its responsibilities. We may vote against the election of the most senior <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive</FONT> director if there is not a clearly disclosed approach to board committees. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Board and director evaluation </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We consider it best
practice for companies to conduct an annual review of the performance of the board, the committees, the chair and individual directors. Periodically, this review could be undertaken by an independent third party able to bring objective perspectives
to the board on governance and performance. We encourage companies to disclose their approach to and objectives of evaluations, including any changes made to the board&#146;s approach as a result. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Access to independent advice </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">To support the
directors in effectively fulfilling their duties to the company and shareholders, they should have access to independent advice. When circumstances warrant, boards should be able to retain independent third parties to advise on critical matters.
These might include new industry developments such as emergent and disruptive technology, operating events with material consequences for the company&#146;s reputation and/or performance, or significant transactions. Board committees may similarly
retain third parties to advise them on specialist matters such as audit, compensation and succession planning. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_7"></A>Executive
compensation </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Boards should establish compensation arrangements that enable the company to recruit, retain and reward the caliber of executive
management necessary to lead and operate the company to deliver superior financial returns over time. We focus on alignment between variable pay and a company&#146;s financial performance. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Generally, executive compensation arrangements have four components: base salary, annual bonus that rewards performance against short-term metrics,
share-based incentives that reward performance against long-term metrics, and pensions and benefits. In our observation, base salary, pensions and benefits are largely set relative to market norms and benchmarks. The annual bonus and share-based
incentive, or variable pay plans, tend to be tailored to the company, its sector and long-term strategy, as well as the individuals the board is seeking to recruit and motivate. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-11 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Recognizing the unique circumstances of each company, we determine whether to support a company&#146;s approach
to executive compensation on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis. We rely on companies providing sufficient quantitative and qualitative information in their disclosures to enable
shareholders to understand the compensation arrangements and assess the alignment with investors&#146; interests. Features we look for in compensation arrangements include: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Fixed pay components, including base salary, benefits and prerequisites that are appropriate in the context of
the company&#146;s size, sector and market. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Variable pay subject to performance metrics that are closely linked to the company&#146;s short- and long-term
strategic objectives. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Long-term incentives that motivate sustained performance across a multi-year period. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">A balance between fixed and variable pay, short- and long-term incentives, and specific instruments (cash and
equity awards) that promotes pay program durability and seldom necessitates <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-off,</FONT> discretionary payments. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Outcomes that are consistent with the returns to investors over the relevant time period.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Board discretion, if allowed within the variable pay arrangements, to be used sparingly, responsibly and
transparently. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">A requirement, that participants in long-term share-based incentive plans build a meaningful shareholding in
the company within a defined time period, as determined by the board. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Change of control provisions that appropriately balance the interests of executives and shareholders.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Clawback or malus provisions that allow the company to recoup or hold back variable compensation from
individuals whose awards were based on fraudulent activities, misstated financial reports, or executive misconduct. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Severance arrangements that protect the company&#146;s interests but do not cost more than is contractual.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against proposals to introduce new share-based incentives, approve existing policies or plans, or approve the
compensation report where we do not see alignment between executive compensation arrangements and our clients&#146; financial interests. When there is not an alternative, or where there have been multi-year issues with compensation misaligned with
performance, we may vote against the election of the chair of the responsible committee, or the most senior independent director. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_8"></A><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-executive</FONT> director compensation </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Companies generally pay
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive</FONT> directors an annual retainer or fee in cash, shares or a combination of the two. Some companies also pay additional fees for service on board committees or in board leadership roles. We do not
support <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-executive</FONT> directors participating in performance-based incentive plans as doing so may create a conflict of interest and undermine their independence from management, whom they oversee. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-12 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_9"></A>Capital structure </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Boards are responsible for ensuring senior executive leadership has established a capital strategy that achieves appropriate capital allocation and
management in support of long-term financial resilience. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Where company practices diverge from those set out below, we look for companies to disclose
why they view these practices to be aligned with shareholders&#146; interests. We may vote against management proposals seeking capital-related authorities or the election of the most senior independent director if we have concerns about a
company&#146;s approach. We may also support a shareholder proposal seeking conversion of shares with differentiated voting rights to a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-share,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-vote</FONT> standard.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Share</B><I> </I><B>issuance </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We assess
requests for share issuance for particular transactions on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis. We will generally support authorities to issue shares when subject to <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pre-emptive</FONT> rights, and up to 20% absent <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pre-emptive</FONT> rights. Companies should seek regular approval of these authorities to allow shareholders to take into consideration how
prior authorities were used, as well as the current circumstances of the company and the market environment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Share buybacks </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We assess share buyback proposals in the context of the company&#146;s disclosed capital management strategy and management&#146;s determination of the
appropriate balance between investment that supports the long-term growth of the company and returning cash to investors. We also take into consideration the effect of a buyback program on the company&#146;s balance sheet and executive compensation
arrangements and the price at which shares are repurchased relative to market price. Companies should seek regular approval of these authorities to allow shareholders to take into consideration how prior authorities were used, as well as the current
circumstances of the company and the market environment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We would normally expect companies to cancel repurchased shares. If a company plans to retain
them as treasury shares, management should provide a detailed rationale in the context of the disclosed capital management strategy. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Dividends
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We generally defer to management and the board on dividend policy but may engage to seek further clarification where a proposed dividend appears
out of line with the company&#146;s financial position. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Differentiated voting rights </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We prefer companies to adopt a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-share,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">one-vote</FONT> structure for share
classes with the same economic exposure. Certain companies, particularly those new to public markets, could make the case to adopt a differentiated voting rights structure, or dual class stock. In those situations, we encourage companies to evaluate
and seek approval for their capital structure on a periodic basis. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-13 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_10"></A>Transactions and special situations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We monitor developments in transactions and special situations closely and undertake our own detailed analyses of proposals. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Mergers and acquisitions </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We evaluate proposed
mergers or acquisitions by assessing the financial outcome for our clients as minority shareholders. Management should provide an assessment of the proposed transaction&#146;s strategic and financial rationale, along with its execution and
operational risks. We review each transaction independently based on these factors and the degree to which the transaction enhances shareholder value. The board should consider establishing an ad hoc transaction committee to undertake an independent
assessment of a significant merger or acquisition, in advance of making its recommendation to shareholders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We will vote against transactions that, in
our assessment, do not advance our clients&#146; financial interests. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Anti-takeover defenses </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In principle, we do not support companies using anti-takeover defenses, also known as poison pills or shareholder rights plans, as they can entrench
management and boards which have not delivered long-term shareholder value. By exception, a poison pill may be supported if its purpose is to delay a takeover that is considered <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">sub-optimal</FONT> and enable
management to seek an improved offer. Similarly, management could make the case to use a poison pill to block a shareholder activism campaign that may be counter to the interests of other investors. Defense mechanisms introduced in these
circumstances should be limited in term and threshold, and also be closely monitored by the independent members of the board. We look for a shareholder vote for any mechanisms expected to be in place for more than 12 months. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Shareholder activism </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">When companies are the focus
of an activism campaign, we may engage with the activist to understand their analysis and objectives, once they have gone public. We will also engage with company management and possibly board members, especially those the activist may be seeking to
replace. In our assessment, we evaluate various factors, including the concerns raised by the activist and the case for change; the quality of both the activist&#146;s and management&#146;s plans; and the qualifications of each party&#146;s
candidates. We evaluate each contested situation by assessing the potential financial outcome for our clients as minority shareholders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may support
board candidates nominated by a shareholder activist if the activist has demonstrated that their case for change enhances shareholder value, or if the incumbent board members do not demonstrate the relevant skills and expertise or have a poor track
record of protecting shareholders&#146; interests. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Significant shareholders and related party transactions </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Boards of companies with affiliated shareholders or directors should be able to demonstrate that the interests of all shareholders are given equitable
consideration. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Transactions with related parties, such as significant shareholders or companies connected with the public company, should be disclosed
in detail and conducted on terms similar to what would objectively have been agreed with a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-related</FONT> party. Such transactions should be reviewed and approved by the independent members of the board, and if
voted on, only disinterested shareholders should vote. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-14 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_11"></A>Corporate reporting, risk management and audit </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Investors depend on corporate reporting, both regulatory and voluntary, to understand a company&#146;s strategy, its implementation and financial
performance, as well as to assess the quality of management and operations and potential for the company to create shareholder value over time. The board should oversee corporate reporting and the policies and procedures underpinning the internal
audit function and external audit. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A company&#146;s financial reporting should provide decision-useful information for investors and other stakeholders
on its financial performance and position. It should provide an accurate and balanced assessment of the risks and opportunities the company faces in realizing its long-term strategy. Accordingly, the assumptions made by management and reviewed by
the auditor in preparing the financial statements should be reasonable and justified. Financial statements should be prepared in accordance with globally developed reporting standards and any divergence from generally accepted accounting principles
should be explained in detail and justified. Accounting restatements should be explained in detail and any remedial actions, and the implications of these, disclosed. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In this context, audit committees play a vital role in a company&#146;s financial reporting system by providing independent oversight of the accounts,
material financial and, where appropriate to the jurisdiction, nonfinancial information, internal control frameworks and Enterprise Risk Management systems. In our view, effective audit committee oversight strengthens the quality and reliability of
a company&#146;s financial statements and provides an important level of reassurance to shareholders. Audit committees should have a procedure in place for assessing the independence of the auditor and the quality of the external audit process
annually. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Similarly, material sustainability-related factors that are integral to how a company manages risks or generates revenue should be disclosed.
In our view, the standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board, can be helpful to companies in preparing such reports.<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">
</SUP><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">4</SUP> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Companies should establish robust risk management and internal control processes
appropriate to the company&#146;s business, risk tolerance, and regulatory environment. A credible whistleblowing system for employees, and potentially other stakeholders, can be a useful mechanism for ensuring that senior management and the board
are aware of potential misconduct or breaches in risk management and internal control processes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A comprehensive audit conducted by an independent
audit firm contributes to investor confidence in the quality of corporate reporting. It is helpful when the audit report gives some insight into the scope and focus of the audit, as well as any critical audit matters identified and how these were
resolved. A comprehensive and effective audit is time and resource intensive, and the audit fee should be commensurate. Fees paid to the audit firm for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-audit</FONT> consulting should not exceed the audit fee to a
degree that may prompt concerns about the independence of the audit. The audit committee should explain its position on auditor tenure and how it confirmed that the auditor remained independent. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against the election of the responsible directors if corporate reporting is insufficient or there are material misstatements in financial
reports. In markets where relevant, we may vote against a proposal to </P> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">4</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">The objective of IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information is
to require an entity to disclose information about its sustainability-related risks and opportunities that is useful to primary users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity. The
objective of IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures is to require an entity to disclose information about its climate-related risks and opportunities that is useful to primary users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to
providing resources to the entity. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-15 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
approve the financial statements or the discharge of the board when we are concerned about the quality of the reporting or the audit. We may vote against proposals to appoint the auditor, ratify
the audit report, or approve the audit fee if we are concerned about the auditor&#146;s independence, the quality of the audit, or there are material misstatements in financial reports and the board has not established reasonable remediation plans.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_12"></A>Shareholder rights and protections </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>General shareholder meetings </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Companies normally
have an annual general meeting of shareholders at which routine and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-routine</FONT> items of business are discussed and voted on by shareholders in attendance or submitting proxy votes. Companies should disclose
materials relevant to the shareholder meeting sufficiently in advance so that shareholders can take them into consideration in their voting decisions. Many companies offer shareholders the option of participating in the meeting virtually which,
whilst welcome, should not limit the rights of shareholders to participate as they would during an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">in-person</FONT> meeting. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against directors when materials related to the business of the shareholder meeting are not provided in a timely manner or do not provide
sufficient information for us to take an informed voting decision. We may vote against directors if the format of the shareholder meeting does not accommodate reasonable shareholder participation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Bylaw amendments </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We review bylaw amendments
proposed by management on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis and will generally support those that are aligned with the interests of minority shareholders. Any material changes to the
bylaws should be explained in detail and put to a shareholder vote. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against bylaw amendments that reduce shareholder rights and
protections. We may vote against directors if material changes are made to the bylaws without shareholder approval. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If not provided for in the relevant
corporate law, company bylaws should allow shareholders, individually or as a group, with a meaningful shareholding the right to call a special meeting of shareholders. The shareholding required to exercise this right should balance its utility with
the cost to the company of holding special meetings.&#8195; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If not provided for in the relevant corporate law, company bylaws should allow
shareholders, individually or as a group, with a meaningful shareholding the right to nominate directors to the company&#146;s board. The threshold for this right should be set so that shareholders can exercise it without being unduly disruptive to
the board&#146;s own nomination process. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Whilst we would not use either of these rights ourselves, we see them as important accountability mechanisms.
We may vote for a shareholder proposal seeking the addition of either of these provisions to a company&#146;s bylaws. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-16 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Change of domicile </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We generally defer to management on proposals to change a company&#146;s domicile as long as the rationale for doing so is consistent with the
company&#146;s long-term strategy and business model and the related costs are immaterial. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against directors or a proposal to change a
company&#146;s domicile where it does not seem aligned with our clients&#146; financial interests. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Changes to a company&#146;s purpose or the nature
of its business </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Plans to materially change the nature of a company&#146;s business or its purpose should be disclosed and explained in the context
of long-term strategy and business dynamics. Such changes may significantly alter an investor&#146;s views on the suitability of a company for their investment strategy or portfolio. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Where relevant, we may vote against proposals to change a company&#146;s purpose or the nature of its business if the board has not provided a credible
argument for change. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_13"></A>Shareholder proposals </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Shareholders in many markets, who meet certain eligibility criteria, have the right to submit proposals to the general shareholder meeting asking a company
to take a particular course of action subject to the proposal being supported by a majority of votes cast at the meeting. The topics raised address a range of governance, social and environmental matters that may be relevant to a company&#146;s
business. Shareholder proposals are considered by many investors to be an escalation tool when a company is unresponsive to their engagement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We vote
on these proposals on a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis. We assess the relevance of the topic raised to a company&#146;s business and its current approach, whether the actions sought
are consistent with shareholders&#146; interests, and what impact the proposal being acted upon might have on financial performance. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Our general
approach where we have concerns about a company&#146;s governance, disclosures or performance is to engage to understand the apparent difference in perspective. If we continue to believe the company is not acting in shareholders&#146; financial
interests, we may vote against the election of directors. We may support a relevant shareholder proposal if doing so reinforces the points made in our engagement or is aligned with our clients&#146; financial interests. We generally do not support
shareholder proposals that are legally binding on the company, seek to alter a company&#146;s strategy or direct its operations, or are unrelated to how a company manages risk or generates financial returns. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock is subject to legal and regulatory requirements in the U.S. that place restrictions and limitations on how we can interact with the companies in
which we invest on behalf of our clients, including our ability to submit shareholder proposals. We can vote on behalf of clients who authorize us to do so, on proposals put forth by others. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_14"></A>Corporate political activities </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We seek to understand how companies ensure that their direct and indirect engagement in the policy making process is consistent with their public statements
on policy matters important to the company&#146;s long-term strategy. The board should be aware of the approach taken to corporate political activities as there can be </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-17 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
reputational risks arising from inconsistencies. Companies should, as a minimum, meet all regulatory disclosure requirements on political activities, and ideally, provide accessible and clear
disclosures to shareholders on policy positions, public policy engagement activities and political donations. To mitigate the risk of inconsistencies, companies can usefully assess the alignment between their policy priorities and the policy
positions of the trade associations of which they are active members and any engagements undertaken by trade associations on behalf of members. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Generally, this is an engagement matter, although we may support a relevant shareholder proposal, or vote against directors, where a company&#146;s
disclosures are insufficient, or it becomes public that there is a material contradiction in a company&#146;s public policy positions and its policy engagement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_15"></A>Sustainability, or environmental and social, considerations </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We seek to understand how companies manage the risks and opportunities inherent in their business operations. In our experience, sustainability-related
factors<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">5</SUP> that are relevant to a company&#146;s business or material to its financial performance, are generally operational considerations embedded into <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">day-to-day</FONT></FONT> management systems. Certain sustainability issues may also inform long-term strategic planning, for example, investing in product innovation in anticipation of changing consumer demand or adapting
supply chains in response to changing regulatory requirements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We recognize that the specific sustainability-related factors that may be financially
material or business relevant will vary by company business model, sector, key markets, and time horizon, amongst other considerations. From company disclosures and our engagement, we aim to understand how management is identifying, assessing and
integrating material sustainability-related risks and opportunities into their business decision-making and practices. Doing so helps us undertake a more holistic assessment of a company&#146;s potential financial performance and the likely
risk-adjusted returns of an investment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">We may vote against directors or support a relevant shareholder proposal if we have concerns about how a
company is managing or disclosing its approach to material sustainability-related risks that may impact financial returns. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_16"></A>Key stakeholders </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In our
view, companies should understand and take into consideration the interests of the various parties on whom they depend for their success over time. It is for each company to determine their key stakeholders based on what is material to their
business and long-term financial performance. For many companies, key stakeholders include employees, business partners (such as suppliers and distributors), clients and consumers, regulators, and the communities in which they operate. Companies
that appropriately balance the interests of investors and other stakeholders are, in our experience, more likely to be financially resilient over time. </P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">5</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">By material sustainability-related risks and opportunities, we mean the drivers of risk and financial value
creation in a company&#146;s business model that have an environmental or social dependency or impact. Examples of environmental issues include, but are not limited to, water use, land use, waste management, and climate risk. Examples of social
issues include, but are not limited to, human capital management, impacts on the communities in which a company operates, customer loyalty, and relationships with regulators. It is our view that well-managed companies will effectively evaluate and
manage material sustainability-related risks and opportunities relevant to their businesses. Governance is the core means by which boards can oversee the creation of durable financial value over time. Appropriate risk oversight of business-relevant
and material sustainability-related considerations is a component of a sound governance framework. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-18 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_17"></A>Climate and decarbonization investment objectives </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Certain active BlackRock funds have climate and decarbonization objectives in addition to financial objectives. Consistent with the objectives of those
investment strategies, our stewardship activity in relation to the holdings in those funds differs in some respects from BAIS&#146; benchmark guidelines, which are described above. Specifically, for those funds&#146; holdings, we look to investee
companies to demonstrate that they are aligned with a decarbonization pathway that means their business model would be viable in a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-carbon</FONT> economy, i.e., one in which global temperature rise is limited to
1.5&deg;C above <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">pre-industrial</FONT> levels. This approach is only taken following BlackRock receiving the explicit approval from the applicable fund board. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The decarbonization stewardship guidelines focus on companies which produce goods and services that contribute to real world decarbonization or have a
carbon intensive business model and face outsized impacts from the low carbon transition, based on reported and estimated scopes 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. These companies should provide disclosures that set out their governance,
strategy, risk management processes and metrics and targets relevant to decarbonization. These disclosures should include an explanation of the decarbonization scenarios a company is using in its near- and long-term planning, as well as its scope 1,
scope 2 and material scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduction targets for scope 1 and 2 emissions. As with the BAIS benchmark policies, we consider the climate-risk reporting standard issued by the International Sustainability Standards
Board, IFRS S2, a useful reference for such reporting. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Under these climate- and decarbonization-specific guidelines, BAIS may recommend a vote against
directors or support for a relevant shareholder proposal if a company does not appear to be adequately addressing or disclosing material climate-related risks. We may recommend supporting shareholder proposals seeking information relevant to a
company&#146;s stated <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">low-carbon</FONT> transition strategy and targets that the company does not currently provide and that would be helpful to investment decision-making. As under the BAIS benchmark approach, the
active portfolio managers are ultimately responsible for voting consistent with their investment mandate and fund objectives. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-19 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><A NAME="appb925963_18"></A>Appendix 1: How we fulfil and oversee our active investment stewardship
responsibilities </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Oversight </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Global Head
of BAIS has primary oversight of and responsibility for the team&#146;s activities, including voting in accordance with the BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines (&#147;the Guidelines&#148;), which require
the application of professional judgment and consideration of each company&#146;s unique circumstances, as well as input from active investors. BAIS is independent from BlackRock Investment Stewardship in our engagement and voting activities,
reporting lines, and oversight. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Active Investment Stewardship Oversight Committee, comprised of senior representatives of the active investment,
legal and risk teams, reviews and advises on amendments to BAIS&#146; Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines. The Committee also considers developments in corporate governance, related public policy, and market norms and how these might influence
BAIS&#146; policies and practices. The Committee does not determine voting decisions, which are the responsibility of BAIS and the relevant active equity investors. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In addition, there is a standing advisory group of senior active investors who counsel BAIS on complex or high-profile votes before a recommendation is
finalized and escalated to the portfolio managers with holdings in the company under consideration. This group also formally reviews any revisions to the Engagement and Voting Guidelines proposed by BAIS as part of its annual review. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BAIS carries out engagement with companies in collaboration with active investment colleagues, executes proxy votes, and conducts vote operations (including
maintaining records of votes cast) in a manner consistent with the Guidelines. BAIS also conducts research on corporate governance issues and participates in industry discussions to contribute to and keep abreast of important developments in the
corporate governance field. BAIS may use third parties for certain of the foregoing activities and performs oversight of those third parties (see &#147;Use and oversight of third-party vote services providers&#148; below). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Voting guidelines and vote execution </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock
votes on proxy issues when our clients authorize us to do so. We carefully consider the voting items submitted to funds and other fiduciary account(s) (Fund or Funds) for which we have voting authority. BlackRock votes (or refrains from voting) for
each Fund for which we have voting authority based on our evaluation of the alignment of the voting items with the long-term economic interests of our clients, in the exercise of our independent business judgment, and without regard to the
relationship of the issuer (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) to the Fund, the Fund&#146;s affiliates (if any), BlackRock or BlackRock&#146;s affiliates, or BlackRock employees (see &#147;Conflicts management policies and
procedures,&#148; below). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">When exercising voting rights, BAIS will normally vote on specific proxy issues in accordance with the Guidelines, although
portfolio managers have the right to vote differently on their holdings if they determine doing so is more aligned with the investment objective and financial interests of clients invested in the funds they manage. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. BAIS applies the Guidelines on a
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">case-by-case</FONT></FONT> basis, in the context of the individual circumstances of each company and the specific issue under review. As such, the Guidelines do not indicate how BAIS
will vote in every instance. Rather, they reflect our view about corporate governance issues generally, and provide insight into how we typically approach issues that commonly arise </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-20 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
on corporate ballots. The Guidelines are reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in market practices, developments in corporate governance and feedback from companies and
clients. In this way, BAIS aims to maintain policies that explain our approach to governance practices most aligned with clients&#146; long-term financial interests. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In certain markets, proxy voting involves logistical issues which can affect BAIS&#146; ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting
such proxies. These issues include, but are not limited to: i) untimely notice of shareholder meetings; ii) restrictions on a foreigner&#146;s ability to exercise votes; iii) requirements to vote proxies in person; iv) &#147;share-blocking&#148;
(requirements that investors who exercise their voting rights surrender the right to dispose of their holdings for some specified period in proximity to the shareholder meeting); v) potential difficulties in translating the proxy; vi) regulatory
constraints; and vii) requirements to provide local agents with unrestricted powers of attorney to facilitate voting instructions. We are not supportive of impediments to the exercise of voting rights such as share-blocking or overly burdensome
administrative requirements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock votes proxies in these situations on a &#147;best-efforts&#148; basis. In addition, BAIS may determine that it
is generally in the interests of BlackRock&#146;s clients not to vote proxies (or not to vote our full allocation) if the costs (including but not limited to opportunity costs associated with share-blocking constraints) associated with exercising a
vote are expected to outweigh the benefit the client would derive by voting on the proposal. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Voting Choice </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock offers <U>Voting Choice</U>, a program that provides eligible clients with more opportunities to participate in the proxy voting process where
legally and operationally viable. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Voting Choice is currently available for eligible clients invested in certain institutional pooled funds in the U.S.,
UK, and Canada that use systematic active equity (SAE) and multi-asset strategies. In addition, institutional clients in separately managed accounts (SMAs) are eligible for BlackRock Voting Choice regardless of their investment strategies.<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">6</SUP> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As a result, the shares attributed to BlackRock in company share registers may be voted differently
depending on whether our clients have authorized BAIS to vote on their behalf, have authorized BlackRock to vote in accordance with a third-party policy, or have elected to vote shares in accordance with their own policy.&nbsp;Our clients have
greater control over proxy voting because of Voting Choice. BlackRock does not disclose client information, including a client&#146;s selection of proxy policy, without client consent. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Use and oversight of third-party vote services providers </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Third-party vote services providers &#150; or proxy research firms - provide research and recommendations on proxy votes, as well as voting infrastructure.
As mentioned previously, BlackRock contracts primarily with the vote services provider ISS and leverages its online platform to supply research and support voting, record keeping, and reporting processes. We also use Glass Lewis&#146; research and
analysis as an input into our voting process. It is important to note that, although proxy research firms provide important data and analysis, BAIS does not rely solely on their information or follow their voting recommendations. A company&#146;s
disclosures, our past engagements and voting, investment colleagues&#146; insights and our voting guidelines are important inputs into our voting decisions on behalf of clients. </P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:26%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">6</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">With Voting Choice, SMAs have the ability to select from a set of voting policies from third-party proxy
advisers the policy that best aligns with their views and preferences. BlackRock can then use its proxy voting infrastructure to cast votes based on the client&#146;s selected voting policy.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-21 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Given the large universe of actively held companies, BAIS employs the proxy services provider to streamline the
voting process by making voting recommendations based on BAIS&#146; voting guidelines when the items on a shareholder meeting agenda are routine. Agenda items that are not routine are referred back to BAIS to assess, escalate as necessary to the
relevant portfolio managers and vote. BAIS reviews and can override the recommendations of the vote services provider at any time prior to the vote deadline. Both BAIS and the vote services provider actively monitor securities filings, research
reports, company announcements, and direct communications from companies to ensure awareness of supplemental disclosures and proxy materials that may require a modification of votes. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BAIS closely monitors the third-party vote services providers we contract with to ensure that they are meeting our service level expectations and have
effective policies and procedures in place to manage potential conflicts of interest. Our oversight of service providers includes regular meetings with client service teams, systematic monitoring of vendor operations, as well as annual due diligence
meetings in accordance with BlackRock&#146;s firmwide policies. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Conflicts management policies and procedures </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BAIS maintains policies and procedures that seek to prevent undue influence on BlackRock&#146;s proxy voting activity. Such influence might stem from any
relationship between the investee company (or any shareholder proponent or dissident shareholder) and BlackRock, BlackRock&#146;s affiliates, a Fund or a Fund&#146;s affiliates, or BlackRock employees. The following are examples of sources of
perceived or potential conflicts of interest: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">BlackRock clients who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">BlackRock business partners or third parties who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder
resolutions </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">BlackRock employees who may sit on the boards of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Significant BlackRock, Inc. investors who may be issuers of securities held in Funds managed by BlackRock
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Securities of BlackRock, Inc. or BlackRock investment funds held in Funds managed by BlackRock
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">BlackRock, Inc. board members who serve as senior executives or directors of public companies held in Funds
managed by BlackRock </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock has taken certain steps to mitigate perceived or potential conflicts including, but not limited to,
the following: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Adopted the Guidelines which are designed to advance our clients&#146; long-term economic interests in the
companies in which BlackRock invests on their behalf </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Established a reporting structure that separates BAIS from employees with sales, vendor management, or business
partnership roles. In addition, BlackRock seeks to ensure that all engagements with corporate issuers, dissident shareholders or shareholder proponents are managed </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-22 </P>


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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">
consistently and without regard to BlackRock&#146;s relationship with such parties. Clients or business partners are not given special treatment or differentiated access. BAIS prioritizes
engagements based on factors including, but not limited to, our need for additional information to make a voting decision or our view on the likelihood that an engagement could lead to positive outcome(s) over time for the economic value of the
company. Within the normal course of business, BAIS may engage directly with BlackRock clients, business partners and/or third parties, and/or with employees with sales, vendor management, or business partnership roles, in discussions regarding our
approach to stewardship, general corporate governance matters, client reporting needs, and/or to otherwise ensure that proxy-related client service levels are met </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9679;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt">Determined to engage, in certain instances, an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy
voting recommendations as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, or as may be otherwise required by applicable law. In such circumstances, the independent third-party voting
service provider provides BlackRock with recommendations, in accordance with the Guidelines, as to how to vote such proxies. BlackRock uses an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy voting recommendations for shares of
BlackRock, Inc. and companies affiliated with BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock may also use an independent third-party voting service provider to make proxy voting recommendations for: </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">o</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">public companies that include BlackRock employees on their boards of directors </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">o</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">public companies of which a BlackRock, Inc. board member serves as a senior executive or a member of the
board of directors </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">o</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">public companies that are the subject of certain transactions involving BlackRock Funds
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">o</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">public companies that are joint venture partners with BlackRock, and </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10.5pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">o</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">public companies when legal or regulatory requirements compel BlackRock to use an independent third-party
voting service provider </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In selecting an independent third-party voting service provider, we assess several characteristics, including
but not limited to: independence, an ability to analyze proxy issues and make recommendations in the economic interest of our clients in accordance with the Guidelines, reputation for reliability and integrity, and operational capacity to accurately
deliver the assigned recommendations in a timely manner. We may engage more than one independent third-party voting service provider, in part to mitigate potential or perceived conflicts of interest at a single voting service provider. The Active
Investment Stewardship Oversight Committee appoints and reviews the performance of the independent third-party voting service providers, generally on an annual basis. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Securities lending </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">When so authorized, BlackRock
acts as a securities lending agent on behalf of Funds. Securities lending is a well-regulated practice that contributes to capital market efficiency. It also enables funds to generate additional returns while allowing fund providers to keep fund
expenses lower. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">With regard to the relationship between securities lending and proxy voting, BlackRock cannot vote shares on loan and may determine to
recall them for voting, as guided by our fiduciary duty as an asset manager to our clients in helping them achieve their investment goals. While this has occurred in a limited number of </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-23 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
cases, the decision to recall securities on loan as part of BlackRock&#146;s securities lending program in order to vote is based on an evaluation of various factors that include, but are not
limited to, assessing potential securities lending revenue alongside the potential long-term financial value to clients of voting those securities (based on the information available at the time of recall consideration). BAIS works with active
portfolio managers, as well as colleagues in the Securities Lending and Risk and Quantitative Analysis teams, to evaluate the costs and benefits to clients of recalling shares on loan. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In almost all instances, BlackRock anticipates that the potential long-term financial value to clients of voting shares would not warrant recalling
securities on loan. However, in certain instances, BlackRock may determine, in our independent business judgment as a fiduciary, that the value of voting outweighs the securities lending revenue loss to clients and would therefore recall shares to
be voted in those instances. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Periodically, BlackRock reviews our process for determining whether to recall securities on loan in order to vote and may
modify it as necessary. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Reporting and vote transparency </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BAIS is committed to transparency in the stewardship work we do on behalf of clients. We inform clients about our engagement and voting policies and
activities through direct communication and disclosure on our <U>website</U>. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-24 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Want to know more? </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><U>blackrock.com/stewardship</U> | <U>ContactActiveStewardship@blackrock.com</U> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The document is provided for information purposes only and is subject to change. Reliance upon this information is at the sole discretion of the reader.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Prepared by BlackRock, Inc. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">&copy;</SUP>2024 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. BLACKROCK is a trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective
owners. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">B-25 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PART C </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Other Information </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;25.
Financial Statements And Exhibits </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The agreements included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Registration Statement contain
representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i)&nbsp;were not intended to be treated as
categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii)&nbsp;may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosures that were made to the other party in
connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii)&nbsp;may apply contract standards of &#147;materiality&#148; that are different from &#147;materiality&#148; under the applicable securities laws; and (iv)&nbsp;were made only as of
the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Registrant acknowledges that, notwithstanding
the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, it is responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this
Registration Statement not misleading. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="90%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Financial Statements</P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[Part A: The annual report to the Trust&#146;s shareholders for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024 (the &#147;2024 Annual Report&#148;) is
incorporated by reference.]</P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[Part B: Audited financial statements and financial
highlights for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2024 and related Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are incorporated herein by reference to the 2024 Annual Report.]</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="4"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Exhibits</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(a)(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">&#8195;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000095017201501003/s552701.txt">Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated of October&nbsp;12, 2001, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)&nbsp;
to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-71836)</FONT> filed on October&nbsp;18, 2001.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(a)(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000134100414000535/ex1b.htm">Certificate Evidencing Amendment to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated February&nbsp;
11, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(b) to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-14</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-71836)</FONT> filed on June&nbsp;18,
2014.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(b)(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312516751712/d279642dex31.htm">Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective as of October&nbsp;
28, 2016, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October&nbsp;28, 2016.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(b)(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312522032857/d308005dex99b2.htm">Amendment No.<U></U>&nbsp;
1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) of the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> (File No.<U></U><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">&nbsp;
333-262607)</FONT> filed on February<U></U>&nbsp;9, 2022.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(c)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-1 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="90%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(d)(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#8195;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000095017201501003/s552701.txt">Article VI (Shares of Beneficial Interest) and Article X (Shareholders) of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated as of
October&nbsp;12, 2001, is incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-71836)</FONT> filed on October&nbsp;18,
2001.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(d)(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000119312516751712/d279642dex31.htm">Article I (Shareholder Meetings) of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;(b)(1).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(e)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000093041301501349/c22094_ex99-e.txt">Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)&nbsp;
to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-71836)</FONT> filed on October&nbsp;25, 2001.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(f)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000128769515000151/bhk77q1e.htm">Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and BlackRock Advisors, LLC, dated November&nbsp;
21, 2014 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 77Q(1)(e) to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report for Registered Investment Companies on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-SAR</FONT> filed on April&nbsp;24, 2015.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000175272420114504/NCEN_9981456128979474.htm"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Investment</FONT> Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and BlackRock International Limited
 is incorporated by reference to Attachment G.1.b.iii to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report for Registered Investment Companies on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CEN</FONT> filed on June&nbsp;2, 2020.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(3)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1160864/000175272420114504/NCEN_9981456223737105.htm"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Investment</FONT> Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited is
incorporated by reference to Attachment G.1.b.iii to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report for Registered Investment Companies on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-CEN</FONT> filed on June&nbsp;2, 2020</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(4)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g4.htm">Amended and Restated Master Advisory Fee Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) to the Registration Statement on
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(5)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g5.htm">Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;Waiver Agreement&nbsp;
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(5) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(6)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g6.htm">Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(6) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(7)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g7.htm">Amendment No.&nbsp;3 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(7) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(8)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g8.htm">Amendment No.&nbsp;4 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(8) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(9)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99g9.htm">Form of Amendment No.&nbsp;5 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(9) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(10)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832871/000119312522204326/d791219dex99g8.htm">Form of Amendment No.&nbsp;6 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(8) to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock 2037 Municipal Target Term Trust <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(File&nbsp;
No.&nbsp;333-250205),</FONT> filed on July&nbsp;28, 2022.</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-2 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="90%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(g)(11)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">&#8195;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1833936/000119312524185899/d841144dex99g9.htm">Form of Amendment No.&nbsp;7 to Amended and Restated&nbsp;Master Advisory&nbsp;Fee&nbsp;
Waiver Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Alpha Strategies Fund (File <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-273507),</FONT> filed on July&nbsp;26, 2024.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(h)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(i)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99i.htm">Form of BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i)&nbsp;to
 the Registration on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(j)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99j.htm">Form of Master Custodian Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j)&nbsp;
to the Registration on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(k)(1)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99k1.htm">Form of Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(1) to the Registration on <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(k)(2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562818/000119312522007562/d282893dex99k2.htm">Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(2) to the Registration on <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-2&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust, filed on January&nbsp;12, 2022</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(k)(3)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1738073/000119312524102198/d929267dex99h3.htm">Form of Tenth Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agency Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment
 No.&nbsp;9 to the Registration on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-1A&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Series Fund II, Inc. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(File&nbsp;No.&nbsp;333-224375),</FONT> filed on April&nbsp;19, 2024</A>.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(l)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion and Consent of Counsel to be filed by amendment.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(m)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(n)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consent to be filed by amendment.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(o)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(p)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(q)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inapplicable</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(r)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/844779/000119312524014040/d400881dex9916a.htm">Code of Ethics of the Registrant, BlackRock Investments, LLC, BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock International Limited
 and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1204 to the Registration Statement on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;N-1A&nbsp;of</FONT> BlackRock Funds<SUP
STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">SM</SUP>&nbsp;(File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;33-26305),&nbsp;filed</FONT> on January&nbsp;24, 2024. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(s)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d925963dexfilingfees.htm">Calculation of Filing Fee Tables is filed herewith. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>(t)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1222401/000119312525018468/d929720dex99t.htm">Power of Attorney is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (t)&nbsp;
to the Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> of BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;333-284646)</FONT> as filed with the Commission on January&nbsp;31, 2025.</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;26. Marketing Arrangements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information contained under the section entitled &#147;Plan of Distribution&#148; in the Prospectus is incorporated by reference, and any information
concerning any underwriters will be contained in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, if any. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-3 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;27. Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="82%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="9%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">SEC registration fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[4,859</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NYSE listing fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">2,500</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Accounting fees and expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">4,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Legal fees and expenses</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">110,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">FINRA fee</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[5,261</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:3.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">[126,620</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">]<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Estimate is based on the aggregate estimated expenses to be incurred during a three year shelf
offering&nbsp;period. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;28. Persons Controlled By Or Under Common Control With The Registrant </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">None. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;29. Number Of Holders Of Shares </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As of December&nbsp;31, 2024:</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="68%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="64%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Title&nbsp;Of&nbsp;Class</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Number&nbsp;Of&nbsp;Record&nbsp;Holders</B></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">190</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;30. Indemnification </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Article V of the Registrant&#146;s Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5.1 <U>No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc</U>. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal
liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private corporation for
profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising
from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature
arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account
thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification of this Section&nbsp;5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect
to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5.2 <U>Mandatory Indemnification</U>. (a)&nbsp;The Trust hereby
agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such person being an &#147;indemnitee&#148;) against any liabilities and expenses, </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-4 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or
disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been
threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was
in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any
liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i)&nbsp;willful misfeasance, (ii)&nbsp;bad faith, (iii)&nbsp;gross negligence, or (iv)&nbsp;reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the
conduct referred to in such clauses (i)&nbsp;through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as &#147;disabling conduct&#148;). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any
indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1)&nbsp;was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2)&nbsp;was instituted by the indemnitee to
enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any
of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i)&nbsp;by a final
decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii)&nbsp;in the absence of
such a decision, by (1)&nbsp;a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither &#147;interested persons&#148; of the Trust (as defined in Section&nbsp;2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding (&#147;Disinterested <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Party</FONT> Trustees&#148;), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2)&nbsp;if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in
a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with
the immediately succeeding paragraph (c)&nbsp;below. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of
defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee&#146;s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification
have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct
necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i)&nbsp;the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii)&nbsp;the Trust shall be insured against
losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Party</FONT> Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or hereafter
acquire under this Declaration, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">By-Laws</FONT> of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or Trustees who are &#147;disinterested persons&#148; (as defined in Section&nbsp;2(a)(19) of the 1940
Act) or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this
Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to
the full extent corporations </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-5 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law may indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has been approved by a
majority of the Trustees. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5.3 <U>No Bond Required of Trustees</U>. No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or other
security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5.4 <U>No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc</U>. No
purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by
said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument,
certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees
under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the
Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5.5 <U>Reliance on Experts, etc</U>. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of
the Trust&#146;s officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust,
regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Registrant has also entered into an agreement with Trustees and
officers of the Registrant entitled to indemnification under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust pursuant to which the Registrant has agreed to advance expenses and costs incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any matter in respect of
which indemnification might be sought pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust to the maximum extent permitted by law. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Reference is also made
to: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Sections 10 and 11 of the Registrant&#146;s Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement, which is filed
as Exhibit&nbsp;(g)(1) of this Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Sections 9 and 10 of the Registrant&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Investment</FONT> Advisory
Agreement with BlackRock International Limited, which is filed as Exhibit (g)(2) of this Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left" STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">Section 9 of the Registrant&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Sub-Investment</FONT> Advisory Agreement with
BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, which is filed as Exhibit (g)(3) of this Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Additionally, the Registrant and the
other funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex jointly maintain, at their own expense, E&amp;O/D&amp;O insurance policies for the benefit of its Trustees, officers and certain affiliated persons. The Registrant pays a pro rata portion of the
premium on such insurance policies. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;31. Business And Other Connections Of Investment Advisor </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BlackRock Advisors, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware (the &#147;Advisor&#148;), acts as investment adviser to the
Registrant. The Registrant is fulfilling the requirement of this Item 31 to provide a list of the officers and directors of the Advisor, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature
engaged in by the Advisor or those officers and directors during the past two years, by incorporating by reference the information contained in the Form ADV of the Advisor filed with the commission pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
(Commission File <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;801-47710).</FONT> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-6 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;32. Location Of Accounts And Records </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Omitted pursuant to the Instruction of Item 32 of Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;33. Management Services </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Not Applicable </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&#8201;34. Undertakings </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Not applicable. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Not applicable. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">The securities being registered will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under
the Securities Act of 1933. Accordingly, the Registrant undertakes: </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(a)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">to file, during and period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement: </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="18%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">to include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="18%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the
effective registration statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="18%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(b)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(c)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(d)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-7 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:9%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule&nbsp;430B [17 CFR 230.430B]: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date
the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi)&nbsp;for the purpose of providing the information required by
Section&nbsp;10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of
sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the
registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. <I>Provided,
however</I>, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is
part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration
statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C [17 CFR
230.430C]: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in
reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of
the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior
to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(e)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any
purchaser in the initial distribution of securities: The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to
sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such
securities to the purchaser: (1)&nbsp;any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933; (2) free writing prospectus relating to
the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant; (3)&nbsp;the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act of
1933 relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and (4)&nbsp;any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by
the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-8 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">If applicable: </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(a)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from
the form of prospectus filed as part of a registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of the
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(b)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment
that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(6)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(7)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery
within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C-9 </P>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and the State of New York, on the 7<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> day of February, 2025. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">BLACKROCK CORE BOND TRUST</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ John M. Perlowski</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">John M. Perlowski</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities indicated and on the 7<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> day of February, 2025. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Signature</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Title</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/ John M. Perlowski</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(John M. Perlowski)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">(Principal Executive Officer)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/ Trent Walker</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Chief Financial Officer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Trent Walker)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C<SMALL>YNTHIA</SMALL> L. E<SMALL>GAN</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Cynthia L. Egan)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">L<SMALL>ORENZO</SMALL> A. F<SMALL>LORES</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Lorenzo A. Flores)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">S<SMALL>TAYCE</SMALL> D. H<SMALL>ARRIS</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Stayce D. Harris)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">J. P<SMALL>HILLIP</SMALL> H<SMALL>OLLOMAN</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(J. Phillip Holloman)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R. G<SMALL>LENN</SMALL> H<SMALL>UBBARD</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(R. Glenn Hubbard)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">W. C<SMALL>ARL</SMALL> K<SMALL>ESTER</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(W. Carl Kester)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">C<SMALL>ATHERINE</SMALL> A. L<SMALL>YNCH</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Catherine A. Lynch)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A<SMALL>RTHUR</SMALL> P. S<SMALL>TEINMETZ</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Arthur P. Steinmetz)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="51%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>

<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">R<SMALL>OBERT</SMALL> F<SMALL>AIRBAIRN</SMALL>*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>(Robert Fairbairn)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>

<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">*By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Janey Ahn&#8195;&#8195;&#8195;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><B>(Janey Ahn, <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Attorney-In-Fact)</FONT></FONT></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Exhibit<BR>Number</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">(s)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><A HREF="d925963dexfilingfees.htm">Calculation of Filing Fee Tables </A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-FILING FEES
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>d925963dexfilingfees.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-FILING FEES
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>EX-FILING FEES</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE" STYLE="line-height:Normal">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit (s) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Calculation of Filing Fee Tables </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">N-2</FONT> </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(Form Type) </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>BLACKROCK CORE BOND
TRUST </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><U>Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities </U></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


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<TD WIDTH="12%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="8%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="8%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Security<BR>Type</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Security<BR>Class<BR>Title</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Fee<BR>Calculation<BR>or Carry<BR>Forward<BR>Rule</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Amount<BR>Registered</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Proposed<BR>Maximum<BR>Offering<BR>Price&nbsp;Per<BR>Unit</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Maximum<BR>Aggregate<BR>Offering&nbsp;Price</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Fee<BR>Rate</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Amount&nbsp;of<BR>Registration<BR>Fee</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Carry<BR>Forward<BR>Form<BR>Type</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Carry<BR>Forward<BR>File<BR>Number</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><B>Carry<BR>Forward<BR>Initial<BR>effective<BR>date</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><B>Filing&nbsp;Fee<BR>Previously<BR>Paid&nbsp;
In<BR>Connection<BR>with<BR>Unsold<BR>Securities<BR>to&nbsp;be<BR>Carried<BR>Forward</B></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="25" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt; padding-right:2pt">Newly Registered Securities</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Fees to Be</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Paid</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">Equity</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">457(o)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$1,000,000</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$153.10</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$153.10</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">Other</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Rights to<BR>Purchase<BR>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest(1)</P>
<P STYLE="font-size:2pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt" align="left">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&#150;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&#150;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Fees</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Previously Paid&#8201;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="25" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt; padding-right:2pt">Carry Forward Securities</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Carry</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Forward Securities</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="9" ALIGN="right" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt">Total Offering Amounts&#8199;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$1,000,000</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$153.10</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="9" ALIGN="right" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt">Total Fees Previously Paid&#8199;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$0</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="9" ALIGN="right" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt">Total Fee Offsets&#8199;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="9" ALIGN="right" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-left:8pt">Net Fee Due&#8199;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">$153.10</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-RIGHT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000; padding-right:2pt"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">No separate consideration will be received by the Registrant. Any shares issued pursuant to an offering of
rights to purchase shares of beneficial interest, including any shares issued pursuant to an over-subscription privilege or a secondary over-subscription privilege, will be shares registered under this Registration Statement. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
