<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000818972-24-000001.txt : 20240501
<SEC-HEADER>0000818972-24-000001.hdr.sgml : 20240501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240501090637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000818972-24-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEF 14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		9
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240501

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000818972
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		IRS NUMBER:				133426554
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEF 14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05245
		FILM NUMBER:		24900428

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BNY MELLON INVESTMENT ADVISER, INC.
		STREET 2:		240 GREENWICH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10286
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129226400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BNY MELLON INVESTMENT ADVISER, INC.
		STREET 2:		240 GREENWICH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10286

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20181030

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEF 14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lp1-853.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PROXY STATEMENT
<TEXT>
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<TITLE></TITLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">DEFA14A</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 (a)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by the Registrant&#9;[X]</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by a Party other than the&#9;[_]</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Registrant</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.25in">Check the appropriate box:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[_]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary Proxy Statement</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[_]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[X]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitive Proxy Statement</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">[ ]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitive
Additional Materials</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[_]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting Materials under
Rule 14a-12</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 6pt 0.5in"><U>BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc.<BR>
</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other
than the Registrant)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[X]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No fee required.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">[ ]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fee computed
on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;title of each class of securities
to which transaction applies:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggregate number of securities
to which transaction applies:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Per unit price or other underlying
value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Proposed maximum aggregate
value of transaction:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(5)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Fee Paid:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">[_]</TD><TD>Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0- 11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amount Previously Paid:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Form, Schedule or Registration
Statement No.:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Filing Party:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Date Filed:</P>


<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt/14pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.</P>

<P STYLE="border-top: Black 0.5pt solid; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><B>Notice
of Annual Meeting of <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Stockholders</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">To the Stockholders of BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals,
Inc.:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the &quot;Meeting&quot;)
of BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc. (the &quot;Fund&quot;) will be held over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only, on Wednesday,
June 12,&nbsp;2024 at <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">10:30&nbsp;a.m.</FONT>, Eastern time, for the following
purposes:</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in">1.</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">To elect two Class III Directors to serve for three-year terms and until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in">2.</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">To elect one Class I Director to serve for a one-year term and until their successor is duly elected and
qualified.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in">3.</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting
format only. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person, but you may participate over the Internet as described below. However,
if it is determined that the Meeting will be held in person, we will make an announcement in the manner noted below.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Stockholders of record at the close of business
on April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024 will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. To participate in the Meeting, you must
go to the Meeting website at www.meetnow.global/MVKNMSH and enter the control number found on your proxy card.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">If you hold your shares through an intermediary,
such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to attend the Meeting virtually. To register you must submit proof of your proxy
power (legal proxy provided by your intermediary) reflecting your Fund holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare
Fund Services, the Fund's tabulator. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com.
Requests for registration should be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday,&nbsp;June&nbsp;5,&nbsp;2024. You will
receive a confirmation email from Computershare of your registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at the Meeting.
For requests received after 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday,&nbsp;June&nbsp;5,&nbsp;2024, Computershare will attempt to register
you, but may be unable to do so prior to the Meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Questions from stockholders to be considered at
the Meeting must be submitted to BNY Mellon Investment Management at 1-800-334-6899 or instsales@bnymellon.com no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on Wednesday,&nbsp;June&nbsp;5,&nbsp;2024. Only questions that are pertinent, as determined by the</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">chairperson of the Meeting, will be answered during
the Meeting, subject to time constraints.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting
virtually, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy in advance of the Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials
for the Meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">PLEASE NOTE: If it is determined that the Meeting
will be held in person, instead of virtually, an announcement of the change will be provided by means of a press release, which will be
posted on our website https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds. We encourage you to check the website prior to the Meeting. An announcement
of any change will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via its EDGAR system.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">By Order of the Board</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&#9;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&#9;<U>/s/ Sarah S. Kelleher<BR>
</U>&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;Sarah S. Kelleher<U><BR>
</U>&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;Secretary</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">New York, New York<BR>
May 1,&nbsp;2024</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<DIV STYLE="padding: 1pt 4pt; border: Black 1pt solid">

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>A STOCKHOLDER MAY THINK ITS VOTE IS NOT IMPORTANT,
BUT IT IS <U>VITAL</U>. BY LAW, THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND WILL HAVE TO BE ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS
IF LESS THAN A QUORUM IS REPRESENTED. IN THAT EVENT, THE FUND, AT STOCKHOLDERS' EXPENSE, WOULD CONTINUE TO SOLICIT VOTES IN AN ATTEMPT
TO ACHIEVE A QUORUM. CLEARLY, YOUR VOTE COULD BE CRITICAL TO ENABLE THE FUND TO HOLD THE MEETING AS SCHEDULED, SO PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY
CARD OR OTHERWISE VOTE PROMPTLY. YOU AND ALL OTHER STOCKHOLDERS WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR COOPERATION.</B></P>

</DIV>




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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt/14pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.</P>

<P STYLE="border-top: Black 0.5pt solid; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><B>PROXY
STATEMENT</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B><I>Annual Meeting of <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Stockholders</FONT><BR>
to be held on June 12, 2024</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">This proxy statement is furnished in connection
with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;) of BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc. (the &quot;Fund&quot;)
to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund (the &quot;Meeting&quot;) to be held over the Internet in a virtual meeting
format only on Wednesday, June 12,&nbsp;2024 at <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">10:30&nbsp;a.m.</FONT>, Eastern
time, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. Stockholders of record at the close of business on April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024 are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote at the Meeting. Stockholders will not be able to attend the Meeting in person but may participate over the Internet as described
in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each
Fund share held and fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held. Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be
voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon. If the enclosed form of proxy is executed and returned, or if you have voted
by telephone or over the Internet, your vote nevertheless may be revoked after it is received by giving another proxy by mail, by calling
the toll-free telephone number on the proxy card or over the Internet (including during the Meeting). To be effective, such revocation
must be received before your prior proxy is exercised at the Meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">A quorum is constituted by the presence in person
or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting. Virtual attendance at the
Meeting shall constitute in person attendance for purposes of calculating a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the stockholders
present in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement at the Meeting, may adjourn the Meeting.
If a proposal is to be voted upon by only one class of the Fund's shares, a quorum of that class of shares (the holders of one-third of
the outstanding shares of the class) must be present in person or by proxy at the Meeting in order for the proposal to be considered.
The Fund has two classes of capital stock: Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), and Variable Rate
MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference $25,000 per share (&quot;VMTP Shares&quot;).</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024, the Fund had outstanding
the following number of shares:</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><B>Common Stock<BR>
<U>Outstanding</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><B><U>VMTP Shares<BR>
Outstanding</U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">62,290,854</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">3,156</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">It is estimated that proxy materials will be mailed
to stockholders of record on or about May&nbsp;1,&nbsp;2024. To reduce expenses, only one copy of this proxy statement will be mailed
to certain addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to revoke this arrangement and receive individual copies, you may do
so at any time by writing to the address or calling the phone number set forth below. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies
promptly after receiving your request. The principal executive office of the Fund is located at 240&nbsp;Greenwich Street, New York, New
York&nbsp;10286.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Copies of the Fund's most recent Annual Report
to Stockholders and Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders, are available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn
Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556&#45;0144, calling toll free 1&#45;800&#45;334&#45;6899 or visiting https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability
of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on Wednesday, June 12, 2024: This proxy statement and copies of the
Fund's most recent Annual and<BR>
Semi-Annual Reports to Stockholders are available at https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds<FONT STYLE="color: windowtext">.</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">2</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Fund's Board is divided into three classes
with the term of office of one class expiring each year. There currently is one Class I Director, two Class II Directors and three Class
III Directors. The Fund's Articles of Incorporation, as amended and supplemented (the &quot;Charter&quot;), and applicable law require
that the number of Directors be apportioned among the classes as nearly equal as possible, and that, if the number of Directors is decreased,
the remaining Directors must be apportioned among the classes to maintain the number of Directors in each class as nearly equal as possible
without shortening the term of any incumbent Director. The current imbalance in the number of Directors with respect to Class I was the
result of a Class&nbsp;I Director's retirement from the Board. To keep the three classes of Directors as balanced as possible, at its
meeting on March 7, 2024, the Fund's Board has determined to realign the classes such that the number of Directors in each class continues
to be as nearly equal as possible, and has voted to redesignate Ms. Benaree Pratt Wiley, a current Class III Director, as a Class I Director,
subject to her election as a Class I Director by Fund stockholders at the Meeting. Accordingly, Ms. Wiley is a nominee for election as
a Class I Director.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">It is therefore proposed that stockholders of
the Fund consider the election of one Class I Director to serve for a one-year term and until her successor is duly elected and qualified,
and the election of two Class III Directors to serve for three-year terms and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
The individual nominees (the &quot;Nominees&quot;) proposed for election are Ms. Wiley as a Class I Director of the Fund and Ms. Joan
L. Gulley and Mr. Burton N. Wallack as Class III Directors of the Fund.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Each Nominee currently serves as a Director of
the Fund and is a board member of certain other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Each Nominee has previously been elected by the
Fund's stockholders. Each Nominee was nominated by the Fund's nominating committee, has consented to being named in this proxy statement
and has agreed to continue to serve as a Director of the Fund if elected.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Biographical information about each Nominee is
set forth below. Biographical information about the Fund's Directors who are not standing for election at the Meeting but who will continue
to be Directors of the Fund after the Meeting (each, a &quot;Continuing Director&quot;), information on each Nominee's and Continuing
Director's ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth in Exhibit A to this proxy statement. None of the Nominees
or Continuing Directors are deemed to be &quot;interested persons&quot; (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the &quot;1940 Act&quot;)) of the Fund (&quot;Independent Directors&quot;).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Under the 1940 Act and the terms of the Fund's
Charter, holders of VMTP Shares voting as a single class are entitled, to the exclusion of holders of Common Stock, to elect two Directors.
Ms. Wiley, one of the Fund's two VMTP Shares designees, is a Nominee for election by holders of the Fund's VMTP Shares as a Class I Director.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">3</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Voting with regard to the election of the Nominees
will be as follows: (i) holders of Common Stock and VMTP Shares will vote together as a single class with respect to the election of Ms.
Gulley and Mr.&nbsp;Wallack as Class III Directors; and (ii) holders of VMTP Shares will vote separately, to the exclusion of holders
of Common Stock, with respect to the election of Ms. Wiley as a Class I Director.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The persons named as proxies on the accompanying
proxy card intend to vote the proxy for the election of the Nominees, unless stockholders specifically indicate on their proxies the desire
to withhold authority to vote for elections to office. It is not contemplated that any Nominee will be unable to serve as a Director for
any reason, but, if that should occur prior to the Meeting, the Board reserves the right to substitute another person or persons of its
choice as nominee or nominees.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Board's Oversight Role in Management.</U> The
Board's role in management of the Fund is oversight. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating
companies), service providers to the Fund, primarily BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., the Fund's investment adviser (the &quot;Investment
Adviser&quot;), Insight North America LLC, the Fund's sub-adviser and an affiliate of the Investment Adviser (the &quot;Sub-Adviser&quot;),
and their affiliates have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management
(including management of investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk).
As part of its oversight, the Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts
with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including senior personnel of the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser
and their affiliates, the Fund's and the Investment Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel. The Board's
Audit Committee (which consists of all Directors) meets during its regularly scheduled and special meetings, and between meetings the
Audit Committee chair is available to the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm and the Fund's Chief Financial Officer.
The Board also receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates regarding
risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as cybersecurity,
business continuity, personal trading, valuation, credit and investment research. As warranted, the Board also receives informational
reports from counsel to the Fund and the Board's independent legal counsel regarding regulatory compliance and governance matters. The
Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser
and other service providers to the Fund have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks
to the Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not possible
to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Fund, and the Board's risk management oversight is subject to inherent limitations.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">4</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Board Composition and Leadership Structure.</U>
The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of the Fund's Directors not be &quot;interested persons&quot; (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Fund and as such are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser. To rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority
of the Fund's Directors must be Independent Directors, and for certain important matters, such as the approval of the Fund's investment
advisory agreement or transactions with affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent
Directors. Currently, all of the Fund's Directors, including the Chairman of the Board, are Independent Directors. The Board has determined
that its leadership structure, in which the Chairman of the Board is not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, is appropriate in light
of the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Fund, including, but not limited to: (i) the services that the Investment Adviser,
the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates provide to the Fund and potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these relationships;
(ii) the extent to which the day-to-day operations of the Fund are conducted by Fund officers and employees of the Investment Adviser,
the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates; and (iii) the Board's oversight role in management of the Fund.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Information About Each Nominee's and Continuing
Director's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.</U> Nominees for Director of the Fund, together with information as to their
positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The address of each
Nominee is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Specific information about the Continuing Directors of the Fund, information
on each Nominee's and Continuing Director's ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth in Exhibit A.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B><I>Nominee for Class I Director with Term Expiring
in 2025</I></B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Name (Age) <BR>
Position with Fund<BR>
<U>&nbsp;(Since)</U></I></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Principal Occupation<BR>
&nbsp;<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></I></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 39%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Other Public Company<BR>
&nbsp;Board Memberships<BR>
&nbsp;<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></I></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>BENAREE <BR>
PRATT&nbsp; WILEY&nbsp;</B>(77)<B><BR>
Class III Director </B>(2016) <B><BR>
VMTP Shares Designee&nbsp;</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.1in; text-indent: -0.1in; line-height: 12pt">The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in strategy and business development, <I>Principal</I> (2005 &#8211; Present)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing
    professional business services, products and solutions, <I>Director</I> (2008 &#8211; Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 12.45pt; text-indent: -12.45pt">Blue Cross &#8211; Blue Shield of Massachusetts,
    <I>Director</I> (2004 &#8211; December 2020)</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">5</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B><I>&nbsp;</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B><I>Nominees for Class III Director with Terms
Expiring in 2027</I></B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Name (Age) <BR>
Position with Fund<BR>
<U>(Since)</U></I></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Principal Occupation<BR>
&nbsp;<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></I></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 38%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Other Public Company <BR>
Board Memberships <BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></I></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JOAN L. GULLEY&nbsp;</B>(76) <B><BR>
Class III Director </B>(2017)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Nantucket Atheneum, public library, <I>Chair</I><BR>
    (June 2018 &#8211; June 2021) and <I>Director</I><BR>
    (2015 &#8211; June 2021)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 7.8pt; text-indent: -7.8pt">Orchard Island Club, golf and beach club,
    <I>Governor</I> (2016 &#8211; Present) and <I>President</I> (February 2023 &#8211; Present)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>BURTON N. WALLACK&nbsp;</B>(73)<B><BR>
Class III Director </B>(2006)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 7.8pt; text-indent: -7.8pt; line-height: 12pt">Wallack Management Company, a real estate management company, <I>President and Co-owner</I> (1987 &#8211; Present)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 12.8pt; text-indent: -12.8pt; line-height: 12pt">Mount Sinai Hospital Urology, <I>Board Member </I>(2017 &#8211; Present)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Board is comprised of a diverse and highly
experienced group of Directors and advisory board member who each bring significant expertise and leadership experience to the Board.
Each Nominee has been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for over 20 years. Additional information about each Nominee follows (supplementing
the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that
each Nominee possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Directors (this information for the Continuing Directors
is set forth in Exhibit A).<A NAME="a_Hlk156569452"></A> The Board believes that the significance of each Director's experience, qualifications,
attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Director may not have the same value for
another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Director, or particular factor, being indicative
of Board effectiveness. However, the Board believes that Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and
discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise
effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; the Board believes that its members satisfy this standard. Experience
relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Director's educational background; business, professional training or practice
(e.g., medicine, accounting or law), public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board
of the Fund) or as an executive of investment</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">6</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">funds, public companies or significant private
or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charter for the Board's nominating committee contains
certain other factors considered by the committee in identifying and evaluating potential Director nominees. To assist them in evaluating
matters under federal and state law, the Directors are counseled by their independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings
and interacts with the Investment Adviser and also may benefit from information provided by the Investment Adviser's counsel; counsel
to the Fund and to the Board has significant experience advising funds and fund board members. The Board and its committees have the ability
to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board also has an &quot;advisory board&quot; as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(1) of
the 1940 Act, which currently has one member. The Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B><U>Nominee for Class I Director</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Benaree Pratt Wiley</B> &#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157607707"></A>Ms.&nbsp;Wiley
is a corporate director and trustee. For fifteen years, Ms.&nbsp;Wiley was the President and Chief Executive Officer of The&nbsp;Partnership,&nbsp;Inc.,
an organization that strengthened Greater Boston's capacity to attract, retain and develop talented professionals of color. Ms.&nbsp;Wiley
currently serves on the Board of CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ). She has served as the Chair of PepsiCo's African American Advisory Board, and formerly
served on the Board of First Albany (NASDAQ: FACT) and Blue Cross &#8211; Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Her civic activities include serving
on the Boards of Dress for Success Boston, Partners Continuing Care and Spaulding Hospital, the Black Philanthropy Fund and Howard University
where she served as Vice Chair until June 2021.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B><U>Nominees for Class III Directors</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Joan L. Gulley </B>&#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157608121"></A>Ms.
Gulley served in various senior roles at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (&quot;PNC&quot;) from 1993 until her retirement in 2014,
including Chief Executive Officer of PNC Advisors, the wealth management and institutional services business of PNC, from 2002 to 2005,
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of PNC from 2002 to 2007, and Executive Vice President (&quot;EVP&quot;) and Chief
Human Resources Officer (&quot;CHRO&quot;) of PNC from 2008 until 2014. In her role as EVP and CHRO of PNC, Ms. Gulley was responsible
for the oversight of $8 billion in combined pension and 401(k) assets. Ms. Gulley also served as a member of PNC's Executive Committee
from 2008 to 2014, where she participated in all key strategic and operational decisions affecting PNC, and was responsible for all staff
support to the PNC Board's Personnel and Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation, succession planning, talent management,
human resource regulatory matters and diversity. Prior to joining PNC, Ms. Gulley held positions with The Massachusetts Company, a chartered
bank and subsidiary of The Travelers Insurance Company, which was acquired by PNC in 1993, and with branches of the Federal Reserve Bank
in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. Ms. Gulley currently serves as a Governor and President of the</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">7</P>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Orchard Island Club and from 2015 to 2021 served
on the Board of Trustees of the Nantucket Atheneum.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Burton N. Wallack </B>&#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157608176"></A>Mr.&nbsp;Wallack
is President and co-owner of Wallack Management Company, a real estate management company that provides financial reporting and management
services. He also serves as a board member for Mount Sinai Hospital Urology.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Fund Board Committees.</U> The Fund has standing
Audit, Nominating, Compensation and Litigation Committees, each comprised of its Independent Directors, except that Mr. DiMartino does
not serve on the Compensation Committee.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The function of the Audit Committee is (1) to
oversee the Fund's accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund's financial statements and (2) to assist in
the Board's oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial statements, the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
and the qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of the Fund's
Audit Committee Charter, which describes the Audit Committee's purposes, duties and responsibilities, is available at https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Fund's Nominating Committee is responsible
for selecting and nominating persons as members of the Board for election or appointment by the Board and for election by stockholders.
In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by stockholders, the Committee takes into consideration the factors
listed in the Fund's Nominating Committee Charter and Procedures (the &quot;Nominating Committee Charter&quot;), including character,
integrity, and business and professional experience. The Nominating Committee may consider whether a potential nominee's professional
experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would provide
beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Board's membership and collective attributes. Such considerations will
vary based on the Board's existing membership and other factors, such as the strength of a potential nominee's overall qualifications
relative to diversity considerations. The Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from stockholders submitted to the Secretary
of the Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Legal Department, 240 Greenwich Street, 18<SUP>th</SUP>&nbsp;Floor, New York, New York 10286, and including
information regarding the recommended nominee as specified in the Nominating Committee Charter. The Nominating Committee Charter is not
available on the Fund's or the Investment Adviser's website, but was attached as Exhibit B to the Fund's proxy statement for the 2020
annual stockholder meeting (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &quot;SEC&quot;) on May 1, 2020).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The function of the Compensation Committee is
to establish the appropriate compensation for serving on the Board.</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">8</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Litigation Committee seeks to address any
potential conflicts of interest between the Fund and the Investment Adviser in connection with any potential or existing litigation or
other legal proceeding related to securities held by the Fund and held or otherwise deemed to have a beneficial interest held by the Investment
Adviser or its affiliate.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Compensation.</U> Each Nominee also serves
as a board member of certain other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Annual retainer fees and meeting attendance fees are allocated
among the Fund and those other funds on the basis of net assets, with the Chairman of the Board, Mr. DiMartino, receiving an additional
25% of such compensation. The Fund reimburses Directors for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending Board or committee
meetings. The Fund does not have a bonus, pension, profit-sharing or retirement plan.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The amount of compensation paid to each Nominee
by the Fund for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Nominee by all funds in
the fund complex (which comprises registered investment companies for which the Investment Adviser serves as investment adviser) for which
the Nominee was a board member during 2023, was as follows*:<BR>
<BR>
</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B><U>Name&nbsp;of&nbsp;Nominee</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 26%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Compensation<BR>
<U>from the Fund</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Aggregate compensation from<BR>
&nbsp;the Fund and the Fund <BR>
<U>Complex Paid to Nominee</U></B><U>(<SUP>**</SUP>)</U></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt">Joan L. Gulley</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$9,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$349,500 (39)</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt">Burton N. Wallack</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$9,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$168,000 (17)</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt">Benaree Pratt Wiley</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$9,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$627,500 (60)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 9.2pt">_____________</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 13.5pt; text-indent: -9.2pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">* Amounts
shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Nominees for attending Board meetings. Amounts shown also do not include the costs of office
space, office supplies and secretarial services, which also are paid by the Fund (allocated among the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of
Funds based on net assets), which, in 2023, amounted to approximately $572 paid by the Fund.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 13.5pt; text-indent: -9.2pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">** Represents
the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Fund, for which the Nominees
served as board members in 2023.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">For the Fund's most recent fiscal year, the number
of Board and committee meetings held and the amount of compensation paid by the Fund to the Continuing Directors and the aggregate amount
of compensation paid by all funds in the fund complex (which comprises registered investment companies for which the Investment Adviser
or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser serves as investment adviser) for which each such person was a board member in 2023 are set
forth in Exhibit A. Certain other information concerning the Fund's Directors and officers also is set forth in Exhibit A.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>Required Vote</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Provided a quorum is present, the election of
a Nominee requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the Meeting for the election of Directors.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>



<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">9</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Selection of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The 1940 Act requires that the Fund's independent
registered public accounting firm (the &quot;independent auditors&quot; or &quot;auditors&quot;) be selected by a majority of the Independent
Directors. The Audit Committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Fund's independent
auditors. At a meeting held on November 20, 2023, the Fund's Audit Committee approved and the Fund's Board, including a majority of the
Independent Directors, ratified and approved the selection of Ernst &amp; Young LLP (&quot;EY&quot;) as the independent auditors for the
Fund's fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. EY, a major international accounting firm, has acted as independent auditors of the Fund
since the Fund's organization. The Audit Committee's report for the Fund relating to the financial statements for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2023, is attached as Exhibit B, to this proxy statement.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Fees and Services</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The following chart reflects fees billed by EY
in the Fund's last two fiscal years. For Service Affiliates (<I>i.e., </I>the Investment Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled
by or under common control with the Investment Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund), such fees represent only those fees
that required pre-approval of the Audit Committee, except the Aggregate Non&#45;Audit Fees amounts, which include all non-audit fees billed
by EY to the Fund and Service Affiliates. All services provided by EY were pre-approved as required.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 36%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; width: 30%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B><U>Fund</U></B><U><SUP>1</SUP></U></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B><U>Service Affiliates<SUP>1</SUP></U></B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">Audit Fees</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$37,420/$38,168</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$0/$0</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">Audit-Related Fees<SUP>2</SUP></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$31,056/$35,317</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$0/$0</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">Tax Fees<SUP>3</SUP></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$3,342/$3,342</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$8,158/$8,158</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">All Other Fees</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$0/$0</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$0/$0</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">Aggregate Non&#45;Audit Fees<SUP>4</SUP></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$2,219,815/$1,797,238</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">$8,158/$8,158</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in">_____________</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>1.</SUP></FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Fiscal years ended September 30, 2022/September 30, 2023</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>2.</SUP></FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Services to the Fund consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed
upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 817(h), (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the
1940 Act, (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of Fund transactions or events, and (iv) advisory services
as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual or potential impact to the Fund of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations
by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>3.</SUP></FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Services to the Fund consisted of: (i) review or preparation of U.S.
federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory,
regulatory or administrative developments; and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial
instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>4.</SUP></FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Aggregate non-audit fees billed by EY to the Fund and Service Affiliates
are shown under the Service Affiliates column.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">10</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B><I>Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and
Procedures.</I></B> The Fund's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures (the &quot;Policy&quot;) for pre-approval (within
specified fee limits) of EY's engagement for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and non-audit services to Service Affiliates without
specific case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related
services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services
are compatible with maintaining EY's independence. Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually. In addition, proposed
services requiring pre-approval but not covered by the Policy are considered from time to time as necessary.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B><I>Auditor Independence.</I></B> The Fund's
Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates that did not require
pre-approval is compatible with maintaining EY's independence.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">A representative of EY will be available to join
the Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Service Providers</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., located at
240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the Fund's Investment Adviser.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Insight North America LLC, an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, located at 200 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10166, serves as the Fund's Sub-Adviser.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as Custodian for the assets of the Fund.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Computershare Inc., located at 480 Washington
Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310, acts as the Fund's Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Voting Information</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in"><B>To vote, you may use any
of the following methods:</B></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>By Mail.</I> Please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and mail it in the enclosed, postage-paid
envelope.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>Over the Internet.</I> Have your proxy card available. Go to the website listed on the proxy card.
Enter your control number from your proxy card. Follow the instructions on the website.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>By Telephone.</I> Have your proxy card available. Call the toll-free number listed on the proxy card.
Enter your control number from your proxy card. Follow the recorded instructions.</TD></TR></TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">11</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>At the Meeting</I>. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person, but you may attend the Meeting
virtually. Any stockholder who attends the Meeting virtually may vote over the Internet (see above) during the Meeting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies
will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon, and, if no voting instructions are given, shares will be voted &quot;for&quot;
the election of the Nominees.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied
by instructions to withhold authority to vote or represents a broker &quot;non-vote&quot; (that is, a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating
that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares of the Fund on a particular
matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power), the Fund's shares represented thereby will be considered
to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but will not constitute
a vote &quot;for&quot; a proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote. However, because the Fund understands that a broker
or nominee may exercise discretionary voting power with respect to the proposal to elect Directors, and there are no other proposals expected
to come before the Meeting for which a broker or nominee would not have discretionary voting authority, the Fund does not anticipate that
there will be any &quot;broker non-votes&quot; at the Meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Fund will bear the cost of soliciting proxies.
In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by telephone. Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by electronic
transmission or by telephonic instructions in accordance with procedures designed to authenticate the stockholder's identity. In all cases
where a telephonic proxy is solicited (as opposed to where the stockholder calls the toll-free telephone number directly to vote), the
stockholder will be asked to provide or confirm certain identifiable information and to confirm that the stockholder has received the
proxy statement and proxy card in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a stockholder's solicited telephonic voting instructions, a confirmation
will be sent to the stockholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the stockholder's instructions and to provide
a telephone number to call immediately if the stockholder's instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>OTHER MATTERS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Fund's Board is not aware of any other matter
which may come before the Meeting. However, should any such matter properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matter.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Any proposals of stockholders that are intended
to be presented at the Fund's 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;), must be received by the</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">12</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Secretary of the Fund at the Fund's principal
executive offices no later than January&nbsp;1, 2025, and must comply with all other legal requirements in order to be included in the
Fund's proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting. For other stockholder proposals to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders (but not included in the Fund's proxy statement), a stockholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Fund
at the Fund's principal executive offices no earlier than December 2, 2024 and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on January 1, 2025.
If the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from June 12, 2025, then timely notice must be
delivered not earlier than the 150<SUP>th</SUP> day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the later
of the 120<SUP>th</SUP> day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of
such meeting is first made. All stockholder proposals must include the information required by the Fund's bylaws.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Stockholders who wish to communicate with Directors
should send communications to the attention of the Secretary of the Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. Legal Department, 240
Greenwich Street, 18<SUP>th</SUP> Floor, New York, New York 10286, and communications will be directed to the Director or Directors indicated
in the communication or, if no Director or Directors are indicated, to the Chairman of the Board.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND<BR>
VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Please advise BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals,
Inc., in care of Computershare Inc., Proxy Department, 480 Washington Blvd., 27<SUP>th</SUP> Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310, whether
other persons are the beneficial owners of the shares for which proxies are being solicited and, if so, the number of copies of the proxy
statement and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of shares. The Fund may
pay persons holding shares of the Fund in their names or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to
their principals.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY.
THEREFORE, STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING VIRTUALLY ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
CARD IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE OR OTHERWISE VOTE PROMPTLY.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Dated: May 1,&nbsp;2024</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">13</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>EXHIBIT A</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PART I</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Part I sets forth information regarding the Continuing
Directors, Board and committee meetings and share ownership.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Information About the Continuing Directors'
Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.</U> The Continuing Directors of the Fund who are not standing for election at the Meeting,
that is Mr. DiMartino, who is continuing as a Class I Director of the Fund, and Mr. Howard and Ms. Melvin, who are continuing as Class
II Directors of the Fund, together with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships
for the past five years, are shown below. The address of the Continuing Directors is 240&nbsp;Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B>Continuing Class I Director with Term Expiring in 2025</B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name (Age) <BR>
Position with Fund <U><BR>
(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 38%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation <BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Other Public <BR>
Company Board <BR>
Memberships <BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JOSEPH S. DIMARTINO&nbsp;</B>(80)<B><BR>
Chairman of the Board<BR>
and&nbsp;Class I Director&nbsp;</B>(1995)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 8.35pt; text-indent: -8.35pt">Director or Trustee of funds in the BNY Mellon
    Family of Funds and certain other entities (as listed herein<B>)</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.35pt; text-indent: -8.35pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.5pt; text-indent: -8.5pt; line-height: 12pt">CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business services, products and solutions, <I>Director</I> (1997 &#8211; May 2023)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-1</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Continuing Class II Directors with Terms Expiring in 2026</I></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-indent: -0.8pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name (Age) <BR>
Position with Fund <U><BR>
(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 38%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation<BR>
&nbsp;<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Other Public <BR>
Company Board <BR>
Memberships<BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>ALAN H. HOWARD&nbsp;</B>(64)<BR>
<B>Class II Director </B>(2018)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.15pt; text-indent: -8.15pt">Heathcote Advisors LLC, a financial advisory
    services firm, <I>Managing Partner</I> (2008 &#8211; Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.15pt; text-indent: -8.15pt">Dynatech/MPX Holdings LLC, a global supplier
    and service provider of military aircraft parts, <I>President</I> (2012 &#8211; May 2019); and <I>Board Member </I>of its two operating
    subsidiaries, Dynatech International LLC and Military Parts Exchange LLC (2012 &#8211; December 2019), including <I>Chief Executive Officer</I>
    of Dynatech International LLC (2013 &#8211; May 2019)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.15pt; text-indent: -8.15pt">Rossoff &amp; Co., an independent investment
    banking firm, <I>Senior Advisor</I> (2013 &#8211; June 2021)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8pt; text-indent: -8pt">Movado Group, Inc., a public company that designs,
    sources, markets and distributes watches, <I>Director </I>(1997 &#8211; Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8pt; text-indent: -8pt">Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., a public company
    that provides contract drilling services, <I>Director </I>(2020 &#8211; April 2021)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B><I>&nbsp;</I></B></P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-2</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B><I>Continuing Class II Directors with Terms Expiring in 2026</I></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 36%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name (Age) <BR>
Position with Fund <U><BR>
(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation <BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Other Public <BR>
Company Board <BR>
Memberships<BR>
<U>During Past 5&nbsp;Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>ROBIN A. MELVIN</B>&nbsp;(60)<BR>
<B>Class II Director </B>(1995)<B><BR>
VMTP Shares Designee</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 12.65pt; text-indent: -12.65pt">Westover School, a private girls' boarding
    school in Middlebury, Connecticut, <I>Trustee</I> (2019 &#8211; June 2023)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 12.65pt; text-indent: -12.65pt">Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization
    dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois, <I>Co&#45;Chair </I>(2014 &#8211; March 2020); <I>Board
    Member</I> (2013 &#8211; March 2020)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 12.65pt; text-indent: -12.65pt">JDRF, a non-profit juvenile diabetes
    research foundation, <I>Board Member</I> (June 2021 &#8211; June 2022)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.7pt; text-indent: -8.7pt">HPS Corporate Lending Fund, a closed-end
    management investment company regulated as a business development company, <I>Trustee</I> (August 2021 &#8211; Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.7pt; text-indent: -8.7pt">HPS Corporate Capital Solutions Fund, a
    close-end management investment company regulated as a business development company, <I>Trustee</I>, (December 2023 &#8211; Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.7pt; text-indent: -8.7pt">Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an academic
    medical center, <I>Board Member</I> (March 2024 &#8211; Present)</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Each Continuing Director, except Mr. Howard, has
been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for at least 20 years. Mr. Howard has been a Director of the Fund since 2018 and has over
30 years of experience in banking, including experience advising asset managers. Additional information about the Continuing Directors,
as well as the Fund's advisory Board member, follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of
the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that the Continuing Directors possess which the Board believes has prepared
them to be effective Directors.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-3</P>




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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><I>Continuing Directors</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Joseph S. DiMartino </B>&#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157607655"></A>Mr.&nbsp;DiMartino
has been the Chairman of the Board of the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds for over 25 years. From 1971 through 1994, Mr.&nbsp;DiMartino
served in various roles as an employee of The Dreyfus Corporation (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of The Bank of New York Mellon
Corporation in August 1994 and related management changes), including portfolio manager, President, Chief Operating Officer and a director.
He ceased being an employee or director of The Dreyfus Corporation by the end of 1994. From July 1995 to November 1997, Mr.&nbsp;DiMartino
served as Chairman of the Board of The Noel Group, a public buyout firm; in that capacity, he helped manage, acquire, take public and
liquidate a number of operating companies. From 1986 to 2010, Mr.&nbsp;DiMartino served as a Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Alan H. Howard </B>&#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157608147"></A>Mr.&nbsp;Howard
is the Managing Partner of Heathcote Advisors LLC, which he formed in 2008 and which provides financial advisory services as well as makes
principal investments. Mr. Howard is a member of the Board of Directors of Movado Group, Inc., a leading global designer, marketer and
distributor of watches, and serves as lead independent director, chairman of the compensation committee and a member of the board's audit
committee. Since April 2022, Mr. Howard is also a member of the Board of Directors of New England Expert Technologies Corp. (formerly,
Valley Precision Parts Corporation), a privately held manufacturer of complex, close tolerance and precision-machined parts and assemblies
for a variety of industries and applications. Mr. Howard served as a Senior Advisor at Rossoff &amp; Company LLC, an independent investment
banking firm that provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and restructurings and assists on raising debt and equity
capital in the private and public markets from 2013 until June 2021. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Diamond Offshore
Drilling, Inc., a public company that provides contract drilling services, and served as lead independent director, chairman of the audit
committee and a member of the board's finance and executive committees from 2020 until April 2021. Mr. Howard also served as the President
of Dynatech/MPX Holdings LLC (&quot;D/M Holdings&quot;), a privately held global supplier and service provider of military aircraft parts
for multiple platforms and engines from 2012 through 2019. Mr. Howard also was a member of the Board of Directors of D/M Holdings from
2012 to 2019, and served as chief executive officer of one of its two operating companies (Dynatech International LLC), while also serving
on the boards of the two operating companies (Dynatech International LLC and Military Parts Exchange LLC). From 2008 through 2010, Mr.
Howard was Managing Partner of S3 Strategic Advisors LLC, which provides strategic advice to hedge funds and asset managers. Prior to
2006, Mr. Howard was a Managing Director of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (&quot;CSFB&quot;), an international provider of financial
services. He had been with CSFB and its predecessor companies since 1985. As a Managing Director in the Global Industrial and Services
Investment Banking Group, he was an advisor to several of the firm's</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-4</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">most important clients on mergers and acquisitions,
corporate finance and capital raising assignments.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Robin A. Melvin </B>&#8211; <A NAME="a_Hlk157608159"></A>From
2014 to 2020, Ms.&nbsp;Melvin served as Co-Chair of Mentor&nbsp;Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quantity
and quality of mentoring services in Illinois, and served as a Board member from 2013 to 2020. Ms.&nbsp;Melvin served as Director of the
Boisi Family Foundation, a private family foundation that supports organizations serving the needs of youth from disadvantaged circumstances,
from 1995 to 2012. In that role she also managed the Boisi Family Office, providing the primary interface with all investment managers,
legal advisors and other service providers to the family. She has also served in various roles with MENTOR, a national non-profit youth
mentoring advocacy organization, including Executive Director of the New York City affiliate, Vice President of the national affiliate
network, Vice President of Development, and, immediately prior to her departure, Senior Vice President in charge of strategy. Prior to
that, Ms. Melvin was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Ms. Melvin served as a Board member of JDRF, a non-profit juvenile
diabetes research foundation from June 2021 to June 2022. She also serves as a Trustee of HPS Corporate Lending Fund (August 2021 to present)
and HPS Corporate Capital Solutions Fund (December 2023 to present), each, a closed-end management investment company regulated as a business
development company, and a Director with Northwestern Memorial Hospital Board of Directors (March 2024 to present), an academic medical
center, and served as a Trustee of Westover School, a private girls boarding school in Middlebury, Connecticut from 2019 to June 2023.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><I>Advisory Board Member</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Garamond, Times, Serif; color: black"><B>Gordon
J. Davis &#8211;</B></FONT> <A NAME="a_Hlk157608196"></A><FONT STYLE="font-family: Garamond, Times, Serif; color: black">Mr.&nbsp;Davis
is a partner in the law firm of Venable&nbsp;LLP where his practice focuses on complex real estate, land use development and related environmental
matters; state and municipal authorities and financings; and cultural and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining the firm in 2012,
Mr.&nbsp;Davis served as a partner in the law firm of Dewey &amp; LeBoeuf LLP from 1994 until 2012. Mr.&nbsp;Davis also served as a Commissioner
and member of the New&nbsp;York City Planning Commission, and as Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of New&nbsp;York. Mr.&nbsp;Davis
was a co-founder of the Central Park Conservancy and the founding Chairman of Jazz at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New&nbsp;York
City. He has also served as President of Lincoln Center. Mr.&nbsp;Davis also served on the board of The Dreyfus Corporation (prior to
its acquisition by a predecessor of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation in August 1994 and related management changes). He served
as a Board member of the funds until August 2021, and as an emeritus board member until October 31, 2021. He also served as a Director
of Consolidated&nbsp;Edison,&nbsp;Inc., a utility company, and The&nbsp;Phoenix&nbsp;Companies,&nbsp;Inc., a life insurance company. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Nominees' and Continuing Directors' Ownership
of Fund Shares.</U> The table below indicates the dollar range of the Nominees' and the Continuing Directors' ownership</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-5</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">of shares of the Fund's Common Stock and shares
of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds, in each case as of December 31, 2023.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name of Continuing <BR>
<U>Director or Nominee</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B>Fund<BR>
<U>Common Stock</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B>Aggregate
    Holdings of <BR>
    Funds in the <BR>
    <U>BNY Mellon Family of</U> <U>Funds</U></B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 36%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Joseph S. DiMartino</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">Over $100,000</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Joan L. Gulley*</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">Over $100,000</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Alan H. Howard</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">Over $100,000</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Robin A. Melvin</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$10,001 &#8211; $50,000</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Burton N. Wallack*</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Benaree Pratt Wiley*</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">None</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">_________________<BR>
<FONT STYLE="font-family: Garamond, Times, Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: black"><SUP>*</SUP> Nominee.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of December 31, 2023, none of the Nominees
or the Continuing Directors or their immediate family members owned securities of the Investment Adviser or any person (other than a registered
investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Adviser.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PERTAINING TO THE BOARD OF THE FUND</B></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">The Fund held five Board meetings, six Audit Committee meetings, one Compensation Committee meeting and
one Nominating Committee meeting during the Fund's last fiscal year. The Litigation Committee did not meet during the last fiscal year.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Directors' attendance at annual meetings of stockholders.
Directors did not attend last year's annual meeting of stockholders.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">The Continuing Directors and Nominees of the Fund attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and
committees of which they were a member held in the last fiscal year.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Compensation Table.</B> The amount of compensation
paid by the Fund to each Continuing Director who is not standing for election at the Meeting in any capacity and advisory Board member
by the Fund for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Continuing Director and
advisory Board member by all funds in the fund complex (which comprises registered investment companies for which the Investment Adviser
or an affiliate of</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-6</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">the Investment Adviser serves as investment adviser)
for which such person was a board member or advisory board member during 2023, was as follows*:</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><U>Name of Director</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B>Compensation <BR>
<U>from the Fund</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><B>Aggregate<BR>
Compensation from<BR>
the Fund and<BR>
Fund Complex<BR>
Paid to Continuing <U><BR>
Director </U></B><U>(**)</U></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><I>Continuing Directors</I></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Joseph S. DiMartino</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$11,388</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$1,168,125 (92)</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Alan H. Howard</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$9,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$168,000 (17)</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Robin A. Melvin</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$9,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$745,500 (71)</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><I>Advisory Board Member<SUP>&#8224;</SUP></I></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Gordon J. Davis</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$7,510</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$411,000 (39)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt">__________________</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 13.7pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">*</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Directors for attending Board meetings. Amounts
shown also do not include the costs of office space, office supplies and secretarial services, which also are paid by the Fund (allocated
among the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds based on net assets), which, in 2023, amounted to approximately $572, paid by the Fund.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">**</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex,
including the Fund, for which such person served as a Board member or advisory Board member in 2023.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>&#8224;</SUP></FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">An advisory Board member is entitled to receive an annual retainer and compensation for attending
Board meetings in an advisory role.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-7</P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -13.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PART II</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Part II sets forth information regarding the officers
of the Fund. Each officer of the Fund holds office for an indefinite term until the officer's successor is elected and has qualified.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><A NAME="a_Hlk157608347"></A><B>Name and Position<BR>
<U>with Fund (Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and Business<BR>
&nbsp;<U>Experience For Past Five Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>DAVID DIPETRILLO</B><BR>
President (2019)<SUP>1</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">46</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Vice President and Director of the Investment Adviser since February 2021; Head of North America Distribution, BNY Mellon Investment Management since February 2023; Head of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2018 to February 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 52 investment companies (comprised of 98 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JAMES WINDELS</B><BR>
Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">65</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Director of the Investment Adviser since February 2023; Vice President of the Investment Adviser since September 2020; and Director &#8211; BNY Mellon Fund Administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>PETER M. SULLIVAN</B><BR>
Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and <BR>
Assistant Secretary (2019)<SUP>2</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">56</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Chief Legal Officer of the Investment Adviser and Associate General Counsel of BNY Mellon Corporation since July 2021; Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon from December 2020 to July 2021; and Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon Corporation from March 2009 to December 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-8</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name and Position<BR>
<U>with Fund (Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and Business<BR>
&nbsp;<U>Experience For Past Five Years</U></B></TD></TR>

  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>SARAH S. KELLEHER</B><BR>
Vice President and Secretary (2014)<SUP>3</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">48</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Vice President of BNY Mellon ETF Investment Adviser, LLC since February 2020; Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since September 2021; and Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon from December 2017 to September 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>DEIRDRE CUNNANE</B><BR>
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2019)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">33</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since December 2021; Counsel of BNY Mellon from August 2018 to December 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>LISA M. KING<BR>
</B>Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2024)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">56</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Counsel of BNY Mellon since June 2023; and Regulatory Administration Group Manager at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing from February 2016 to June 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JEFF S. PRUSNOFSKY</B><BR>
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">58</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-9</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name and Position<BR>
<U>with Fund (Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and Business<BR>
&nbsp;<U>Experience For Past Five Years</U></B></TD></TR>

  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>AMANDA QUINN</B><BR>
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2020)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">39</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since March 2024; Counsel of BNY Mellon from June 2019 to March 2024; Regulatory Administration Manager at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from September 2018 to May 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JOANNE SKERRETT<BR>
</B>Vice President and Assistant Secretary<BR>
(2023)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">52</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since June 2022; and Senior Counsel with the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, a leading funds industry organization, from 2016 to June 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>NATALYA ZELENSKY</B><BR>
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2017)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">38</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Chief Compliance Officer since August 2021 and Vice President since February 2020 of BNY Mellon ETF Investment Adviser, LLC; Chief Compliance Officer since August 2021 and Vice President and Assistant Secretary since February 2020 of BNY Mellon ETF Trust; Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon from December 2019 to August 2021; Counsel of BNY Mellon from May 2016 to December 2019; and Assistant Secretary of the Investment Adviser from April 2018 to August 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-10</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name and Position<BR>
<U>with Fund (Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and Business<BR>
&nbsp;<U>Experience For Past Five Years</U></B></TD></TR>

  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>DANIEL GOLDSTEIN<BR>
</B>Vice President (2022)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">54</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Head of Product Development of North America Distribution, BNY Mellon Investment Management since January 2018; Executive Vice President of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management since April 2023; and Senior Vice President, Development &amp; Oversight of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management from 2010 to March 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 52 investment companies (comprised of 98 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JOSEPH MARTELLA<BR>
</B>Vice President (2022)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">47</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">Vice President of the Investment Adviser
    since December 2022; Head of Product Management of North America Distribution, BNY Mellon Investment Management since January 2018; Executive
    Vice President of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management since April 2023; and Senior Vice President of North America
    Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management from 2010 to March 2023. He is an officer of 52 investment companies (comprised of 98 portfolios)
    managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>GAVIN C. REILLY</B><BR>
Assistant Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">55</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">Tax Manager &#8211; BNY Mellon Fund Administration.
    He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment
    Adviser.</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-11</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name and Position<BR>
<U>with Fund (Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and Business<BR>
&nbsp;<U>Experience For Past Five Years</U></B></TD></TR>

  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>ROBERT SALVIOLO</B><BR>
Assistant Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">56</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">Senior Accounting Manager &#8211; BNY Mellon
    Fund Administration. He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an
    affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>ROBERT SVAGNA</B><BR>
Assistant Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">57</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">Senior Accounting Manager &#8211; BNY Mellon
    Fund Administration. He is an officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 116 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an
    affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY</B><BR>
Chief Compliance Officer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">66</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 9.1pt; text-indent: -9.1pt; line-height: 12pt">Chief Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust since 2004; and Chief Compliance Officer of the Investment Adviser from 2004 until June 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is the Chief Compliance Officer of 53 investment companies (comprised of 103 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">____________________<BR>
<FONT STYLE="font-family: Garamond, Times, Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: black"><SUP>1</SUP> President since 2021; previously, Vice President.<BR>
<SUP>2</SUP> Chief Legal Officer since July 2021.<BR>
<SUP>3</SUP> Secretary since April 2024; previously, Assistant Secretary.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The address of each officer of the Fund is 240
Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PART III</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Part III sets forth information for the Fund regarding
the beneficial ownership of its shares as of April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024 by the Nominees, Continuing Directors and officers of the Fund owning
shares on such date and by any stockholders owning 5% or more of a class of the Fund's outstanding shares.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024, none of the Nominees,
Continuing Directors or officers of the Fund owned any Common Stock or VMTP Shares.</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-12</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">To the Fund's knowledge, based on filings made
pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, as of April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024, the following information with respect to beneficial ownership
of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and/or outstanding VMTP Shares has been reported.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 23%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><BR>
<U>Title of Class</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 37%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Name and Address of<BR>
<U>Beneficial Owner</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 19%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">Number of Shares <U>Owned</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 21%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">Percent of <U>Class</U></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Common Stock</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">None</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">VMTP Shares</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Bank of America Corp.** <BR>
Bank of America Corporate Center<BR>
100 North Tryon Street<BR>
Charlotte, NC 28255</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">3,156</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">100%</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of April&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2024, Cede &amp; Co.,
P.O. Box 20, Bowling Green Station, New York, New York 10274, held of record 98.55% of the outstanding shares of the Fund's Common Stock
and 100% of the outstanding shares of the Fund's VMTP Shares.<BR>
<FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">_________________________</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>*
</SUP> These entities share voting and dispositive power with respect to the share amounts and percentages shown.</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 8pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin-top: 2pt; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>**</SUP></FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">Bank of America Corporation beneficially owns and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect
to its shares through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries&#8212;Bank of America, N.A.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Section
30(h) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, the Fund's officers and Directors, persons owning more than 10% of the Fund's Common
Stock, VMTP Shares, and certain additional persons are required to report their transactions in the Fund's Common Stock or VMTP Shares
to the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange and the Fund, as applicable.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Based solely on written representations of such
persons and on copies of reports that have been filed with the SEC, the Fund believes that, during the fiscal year ended September 30,
2023, all filing requirements applicable to such persons were complied with except that the Form 4 for UBS Group AG reflecting the disposal
of the Fund's auction preferred stock was filed on July 17, 2023 and the Form 3 for Bank of America Corp, reflecting the acquisition of
the Fund's VMTP Shares was filed on July 24, 2023, neither of which were filed in a timely manner.</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">A-13</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>EXHIBIT B</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE<BR>
</B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9.5pt">BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">November 20, 2023</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Audit Committee (the &quot;Committee&quot;)
oversees the Fund's financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities,
the Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management, including a discussion of
the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee reviewed with the Fund's independent
registered public accounting firm (the &quot;independent auditors&quot; or &quot;auditors&quot;), who are responsible for expressing an
opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the
quality, not just the acceptability, of the Fund's accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the
Committee under the applicable standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (&quot;PCAOB&quot;) and Securities
and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Committee discussed with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management
and the Fund, including the auditors' letter and the matters in the written disclosures required by the PCAOB, and considered the compatibility
of non-audit services with the auditors' independence.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee met with the independent auditors,
with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Fund's internal controls,
and the overall quality of the Fund's financial reporting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Based on the reviews and discussions referred
to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board approved) that the audited financial statements for the Fund
be included in the Fund's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended September 30, 2023.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Alan H. Howard, Audit Committee Chair<BR>
Joseph S. DiMartino, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Joni Evans, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Joan L. Gulley, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Robin A. Melvin, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Burton Wallack, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Benaree Pratt Wiley, Audit Committee Member</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">B-1</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">0853-PROXY-24</FONT></P>
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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

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  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><B>BNY MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">PO Box 43131</FONT></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">Providence, RI 02940-3131</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 53%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 75.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B>EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT</B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-left: 0.5in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-left: 75.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt">EASY VOTING OPTIONS:</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_013.jpg" ALT="" STYLE="height: 56px; width: 57px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE ON THE INTERNET</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Log on to:</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>www.proxy-direct.com</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>or scan the QR code</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Follow the on-screen instructions</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><I>available 24 hours</I></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_013.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 80px; width: 60px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE BY PHONE</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Call 1-800-337-3503</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Follow the recorded instructions</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><I>available 24 hours</I></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_014.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 37px; width: 57px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE BY MAIL</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Vote, sign and date this Proxy</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Card and return in the</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>postage-paid envelope</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_014.jpg" ALT="computer.jpg" STYLE="height: 62px; width: 61px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VIRTUAL MEETING</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>at the following Website: </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; color: #2819EF"><B><U>www.meetnow.global/MVKNMSH</U></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>on June 12, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Eastern Time. </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>To participate in the Virtual Meeting,
    enter </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>the 14-digit control number from the
    </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 12pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt"><B>shaded
    box on this card</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">. </FONT></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 60%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 19%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 17%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Please detach at perforation before mailing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><A NAME="a_bclPageBorder1"></A>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 11%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>PROXY</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 89%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS,
    INC.</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2024</B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9.35pt 0 0"><B>COMMON STOCK</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><A NAME="a_Hlk161655527"></A><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt"><B>THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.</B></FONT> <FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">The undersigned stockholder of BNY Mellon
Strategic Municipals, Inc. (the &#8220;Fund&#8221;) hereby appoints Sarah Kelleher and Deirdre Cunnane, and each of them, the attorneys
and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote, as indicated herein, all shares of the Fund standing in the
name of the undersigned at the close of business on April 10, 2024, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be virtually
held at the following Website: </FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>www.meetnow.global/MVKNMSH</B></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">,
on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments thereof (the &#8220;Meeting&#8221;), with all
of the powers the undersigned would possess if then and there personally present and especially (but without limiting the general authorization
and power hereby given) to vote as indicated on the proposal, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the Meeting. To participate
in the Virtual Meeting enter the 14-digit control number from the shaded box on this card. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt
of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund and of the accompanying Proxy Statement, the terms of each of which are
incorporated by reference, and revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to such meeting.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/4pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8.5pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,
WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED <U>FOR</U> THE NOMINEES PRINTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CARD AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS ON
ANY OTHER MATTER PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.8pt"><B>VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: bold 8pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.8pt">VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 58%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 22%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt/8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">LEO_33826_041224</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt">xxxxxxxxxxxxxx&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>code</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 82%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 14pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">EVERY STOCKHOLDER&#8217;S VOTE IS IMPORTANT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for the </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held
on June 12, 2024.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">The Proxy Statement and Proxy Card
for this meeting are available at:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; color: blue"><B><U>https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Please detach at perforation before mailing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>TO
VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE: </B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">X</FONT></B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; background-color: black; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: white"><B>A</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; color: white"><B>A
</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Proposal&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">The Board of Directors recommends a vote &#8220;FOR&#8221;
the following nominees.</FONT></B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>1.</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Election of Directors:</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FOR</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">WITHHOLD</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FOR ALL</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">EXCEPT</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Class III -</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 21%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">01.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joan L. Gulley</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">02.&nbsp;&nbsp;Burton N. Wallack</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 17%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: center">&nbsp;&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: center">&#9744;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: center">&#9744;&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify"><B><U>INSTRUCTIONS:</U></B> To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify">&#8220;FOR ALL EXCEPT&#8221; and write
the nominee&#8217;s number on the line provided below.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify">_________________________________________________________________________</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>2.</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in">To transact
    such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournments or</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in">postponements
    thereof.</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 9pt ArialNarrow-Bold; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; background-color: black; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: white"><B>B</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>Authorized Signatures &#9472;
This section must be completed for your vote to be counted.&#9472; Sign and Date Below</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>Note</B>: Please sign exactly
as your name(s) appear(s) on this Proxy Card, and date it. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, officer of corporation or other entity or in another representative capacity, please give
the full title under the signature.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 28%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Date (mm/dd/yyyy) &#9472; Please print date below</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Signature 1 &#9472; Please keep signature within the box</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Signature 2 &#9472; Please keep signature within the box</B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; border-left: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt/22pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 22pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;<B><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</I></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">Scanner bar code</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 14pt">xxxxxxxxxxxxxx</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 40%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 14pt">LEO1 33826</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 29%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 14pt">xxxxxxxx</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><B>BNY MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">PO Box 43131</FONT></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">Providence, RI 02940-3131</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 53%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 75.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B>EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT</B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-left: 0.5in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-left: 75.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt">EASY VOTING OPTIONS:</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_011.jpg" ALT="" STYLE="height: 56px; width: 57px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE ON THE INTERNET</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Log on to:</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>www.proxy-direct.com</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>or scan the QR code</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Follow the on-screen instructions</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><I>available 24 hours</I></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_011.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 80px; width: 60px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE BY PHONE</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Call 1-800-337-3503</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Follow the recorded instructions</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><I>available 24 hours</I></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_012.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 37px; width: 57px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VOTE BY MAIL</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Vote, sign and date this Proxy</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Card and return in the</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>postage-paid envelope</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: right"><IMG SRC="image_012.jpg" ALT="computer.jpg" STYLE="height: 62px; width: 61px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VIRTUAL MEETING</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>at the following Website: </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; color: #2819EF"><B><U>www.meetnow.global/MVKNMSH</U></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>on June 12, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Eastern Time. </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>To participate in the Virtual Meeting,
    enter </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>the 14-digit control number from the
    </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 12pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt"><B>shaded
    box on this card</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">. </FONT></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 60%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 19%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 17%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Please detach at perforation before mailing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 11%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>PROXY</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 89%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS,
    INC.</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 39.45pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2024</B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9.35pt 0 0"><B>VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt"><B>THIS PROXY
IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.</B></FONT> <FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">The undersigned stockholder of BNY Mellon Strategic
Municipals, Inc. (the &#8220;Fund&#8221;) hereby appoints Sarah Kelleher and Deirdre Cunnane, and each of them, the attorneys and proxies
of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote, as indicated herein, all shares of the Fund standing in the name of the
undersigned at the close of business on April 10, 2024, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be virtually held at the
following Website: <FONT STYLE="color: #2819EF"><B><U>www.meetnow.global/MVKNMSH</U></B></FONT>, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 10:30
a.m., Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments thereof (the &#8220;Meeting&#8221;), with all of the powers the undersigned would
possess if then and there personally present and especially (but without limiting the general authorization and power hereby given) to
vote as indicated on the proposal, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the Meeting. To participate in the Virtual Meeting
enter the 14-digit control number from the shaded box on this card. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund and of the accompanying Proxy Statement, the terms of each of which are incorporated by reference,
and revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to such meeting.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/4pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8.5pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,
WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED <U>FOR</U> THE NOMINEES PRINTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CARD AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS ON
ANY OTHER MATTER PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.8pt"><B>VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: bold 8pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.8pt">VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 58%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 22%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: bold 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt/8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">LEO_33826_041224_Pref</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.</B></P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt">xxxxxxxxxxxxxx&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>code</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 82%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 14pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">EVERY STOCKHOLDER&#8217;S VOTE IS IMPORTANT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for the </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held
on June 12, 2024.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">The Proxy Statement and Proxy Card
for this meeting are available at:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; color: blue"><B><U>https://im.bnymellon.com/closed-end-funds</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Please detach at perforation before mailing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>TO
VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE: </B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">X</FONT></B></P>

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  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; background-color: black; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: white"><B>A</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; color: white"><B>A
</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Proposal&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">The Board of Directors recommends a vote &#8220;FOR&#8221;
the following nominees.</FONT></B></P>

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  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>1.</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Election of Directors:</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FOR</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">WITHHOLD</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FOR ALL</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">EXCEPT</P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Class I</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 21%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">01.&nbsp;&nbsp;Benaree Pratt Wiley</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 17%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&#9744;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&#9744;&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Class III </B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">02.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joan L. Gulley</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">03.&nbsp;&nbsp;Burton N. Wallack</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify"><B><U>INSTRUCTIONS:</U></B> To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify">&#8220;FOR ALL EXCEPT&#8221; and write
the nominee&#8217;s number on the line provided below.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-align: justify">_________________________________________________________________________</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>2.</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in">To transact
    such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournments or</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 2.5in 0 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in">postponements
    thereof.</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 9pt ArialNarrow-Bold; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; background-color: black; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; color: white"><B>B</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>Authorized Signatures &#9472;
This section must be completed for your vote to be counted.&#9472; Sign and Date Below</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>Note</B>: Please sign exactly
as your name(s) appear(s) on this Proxy Card, and date it. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, officer of corporation or other entity or in another representative capacity, please give
the full title under the signature.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 7pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 28%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Date (mm/dd/yyyy) &#9472; Please print date below</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Signature 1 &#9472; Please keep signature within the box</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>Signature 2 &#9472; Please keep signature within the box</B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; border-left: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; line-height: 22pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 22pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;<B><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</I></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

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  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">Scanner bar code</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>


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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
