<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001057861-25-000008.txt : 20250715
<SEC-HEADER>0001057861-25-000008.hdr.sgml : 20250715
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250715074517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001057861-25-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEF 14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		6
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20250715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250715
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250715

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BNY MELLON HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057861
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		EIN:				134001109
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEF 14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08703
		FILM NUMBER:		251123093

	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 HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980316
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEF 14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lp1proxy430.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ALL OTHER DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENTS
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>


<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">DEF 14A</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: 0 0 0 0.5in"><U>BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund<BR>
<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>

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<P STYLE="font: 12pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>BNY MELLON HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND</B></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 Shareholders</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">To the Shareholders of BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies
Fund:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the &quot;Meeting&quot;)
of BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund (the &quot;Fund&quot;) will be held over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only on Thursday,
August 21,&nbsp;2025 at 10:30&nbsp;a.m., 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: 13.5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 40.5pt">1.</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">To elect two Class II Trustees 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: 13.5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 40.5pt">2.</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 physically, 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">Shareholders of record at the close of business
on June 25,&nbsp;2025 will be entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to vote on the proposals. To participate in the Meeting virtually,
you must go to the Meeting website at www.meetnow.global/MVZWMDV, 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 Thursday, August&nbsp;14,&nbsp;2025. 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 Thursday, August&nbsp;14,&nbsp;2025, 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 shareholders to be considered at
the Meeting must be submitted to BNY Investments at 1-800-334-6899 or instsales@bny.com no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday,
August&nbsp;14,&nbsp;2025. Only questions that are pertinent, as determined by the chairperson of the Meeting, will be answered during
the Meeting, subject to time constraints.</P>


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<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"><B>PLEASE NOTE:</B> 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 <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">www.bny.com/proxy</FONT>. 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-indent: 2.5in">By Order of the Board</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 2.5in"><IMG SRC="kelleher_001.jpg" ALT="" STYLE="height: 34.25pt; width: 118pt"></P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 2.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 2.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 2.5in">Sarah S. Kelleher</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 2.5in">Secretary</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 0">New York, New York<BR>
July 15,&nbsp;2025</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>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>A SHAREHOLDER MAY THINK ITS VOTE IS NOT IMPORTANT,
BUT IT IS <U>VITAL</U>. BY LAW, THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND WILL HAVE TO BE ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS
IF SHAREHOLDERS REPRESENTING LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST AT THE MEETING ARE PRESENT. IN THAT EVENT, THE FUND,
AT SHAREHOLDERS' 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 SHAREHOLDERS
WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR COOPERATION.</B></P>

</DIV>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>BNY MELLON HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND</B></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 Shareholders<BR>
to be held on August 21, 2025</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 Trustees (the &quot;Board&quot;) of BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund (the &quot;Fund&quot;),
a closed-end investment company, to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund (the &quot;Meeting&quot;), a closed-end
investment company, to be held over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only on Thursday, August 21,&nbsp;2025 at 10:30&nbsp;a.m.,
Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders of record at the close of business on June 25,&nbsp;2025 (the &quot;Record Date&quot;) are entitled
to receive notice of the Meeting and to vote on the proposals. Shareholders will not be able to attend the Meeting physically, but may
participate over the Internet as described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each
Fund share held and fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held as of the Record Date. Shares represented by executed and unrevoked
proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon. If the enclosed proxy card is properly 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 sending a written
notice of revocation to the proxy tabulator at the address listed on the proxy card or by mailing a duly executed proxy bearing a later
date; you may also change your vote by calling the toll-free telephone number listed under &quot;To vote by Telephone&quot; on the proxy
card or over the Internet by going to the website listed on the proxy card and following the instructions on the website. To be effective,
such revocation or vote change must be received before your prior proxy is exercised at the Meeting. If you hold shares through a bank
or other intermediary, please consult your bank or intermediary regarding your ability to revoke voting instructions after such instructions
have been provided. In addition, any shareholder who attends the Meeting virtually may vote over the Internet during the Meeting, thereby
canceling any proxy previously given.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">A quorum is constituted for the Fund by the presence
in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority 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 chairperson of the Meeting or the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation
of proxies for the Fund.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of June 25,&nbsp;2025, the Fund had 72,736,534
shares of beneficial interest outstanding.</P>

<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 shareholders of record on or about July 15,&nbsp;2025. 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, 18<SUP>th</SUP>&nbsp;Floor,
New York, New York&nbsp;10286.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>A copy of the
Fund's most recent Annual Report to Shareholders is available upon request, without charge, by visiting </B></FONT><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">www.bny.com/closed-end-funds</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>,
writing to the Fund at BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15253-4434, calling your financial adviser,
or calling toll free 1&#45;800&#45;645-6561.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Important Notice
Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on Thursday, August 21,&nbsp;2025:
This proxy statement, a copy of the Fund's most recent Annual Report to Shareholders, and any additional proxy soliciting materials are
available at </B></FONT><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">&nbsp;www.bny.com/closed-end-funds</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt; color: windowtext"><B>.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</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 TRUSTEES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Board is divided into three classes with the
term of office of one class expiring each year. It is therefore proposed that shareholders of the Fund consider the election of two Class
II Trustees to serve for three-year terms and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The individual nominees
(the &quot;Board Nominees&quot;) proposed for election are Ms. Roslyn M. Watson and Ms. Benaree Pratt Wiley.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Each Board Nominee currently serves as a Trustee
of the Fund and is a board member of certain other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Mses. Watson and Wiley have each served as
a Trustee since the Fund's inception and have previously been elected by the Fund's shareholders. Each Board 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 Trustee
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 Board Nominee
is set forth below. Biographical information about the Fund's Trustees who are not standing for election at the Meeting but who will continue
to be Trustees of the Fund after the Meeting (each, a &quot;Continuing Trustee&quot;), information on each Board Nominee's and Continuing
Trustee's ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth in Exhibit A to this proxy statement. None of the Board
Nominees or Continuing Trustees 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.</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 Board Nominees, unless shareholders specifically indicate on their proxies
the desire to withhold authority to vote for elections to office. It is not contemplated that any Board Nominee will be unable to serve
as a Trustee 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;), and its affiliates, and Alcentra NY, LLC, the Fund's sub-adviser (the &quot;Sub-Adviser&quot;), 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</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">personnel. The Board's Audit Committee (which
consists of all Trustees) 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/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 Trustees not be &quot;interested persons&quot; (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund (&quot;Independent Trustees&quot;) 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 Trustees must be Independent Trustees, 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 Trustees. Currently, all of the Fund's Trustees, including the Chairman of the Board, are Independent
Trustees. 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 Board Nominee's and
Continuing Trustee's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.</U> Board Nominees for Trustee 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 Board Nominee is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Specific information about the Continuing Trustees of the Fund,
information on each Board Nominee's and Continuing Trustee's ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth in Exhibit
A.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B><I>Board Nominees for Class II Trustees with
Terms Expiring in 2028</I></B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif"><B><BR>
Name (Age) of Board Nominee<BR>
Position with Fund <U>(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; text-indent: -8.65pt"><B><BR>
Principal Occupation<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; text-indent: -8.65pt"><B>Other Public Company<BR>
Board Memberships<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>ROSLYN M. WATSON</B>&nbsp;(75)</FONT><BR>
<B>Class II Trustee </B>(1998)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">Watson Ventures, Inc., a real estate investment company, <I>Principal</I> (1993 &#8211; Present)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif"><B>BENAREE PRATT WILEY</B>&nbsp;(79)<BR>
<B>Class II Trustee </B>(1998)<BR>
<BR></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; text-indent: -8.65pt">The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in strategy and business development, <I>Principal</I> (2005 &#8211; Present)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; 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 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Blue Cross &#8211; Blue Shield of Massachusetts,
    <I>Director</I> (2004 &#8211; December 2020)</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<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 Trustees who each bring significant expertise and leadership experience to the Board. Mses Watson and Wiley have
been BNY Mellon Family of Funds board members for over 20 years. Additional information about each Board Nominee follows (supplementing
the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that
each Board Nominee possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Trustees (this information for the Continuing
Trustees is set forth in Exhibit A). The Board believes that the significance of each Trustee's experience, qualifications, attributes
or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Trustee may not have the same value for another)
and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Trustee, or particular factor, being indicative of Board
effectiveness. However, the Board believes that Trustees 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.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Experience relevant to having this ability may
be achieved through a Trustee's educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., medicine, accounting or law),
public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board of the Fund) or as an executive of
investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences.
The charter for the Board's nominating committee contains certain other factors considered by the committee in identifying and evaluating
potential Trustee nominees. To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Trustees are counseled by their independent
legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with the Investment Adviser and also may benefit from information provided
by the Investment Adviser's counsel; counsel to the Fund and to the Board has significant experience advising funds and fund board members.
The Board and its committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance on an annual
basis.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B><U>Board Nominees for Class II Trustees</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Roslyn M. Watson</B> &#8211; Ms. Watson has
been a business entrepreneur in commercial and residential real estate for over 15 years. Ms. Watson currently serves as President and
Founder of Watson Ventures, Inc., a real estate development investment firm, and her board memberships include American Express Bank,
FSB (until 2018), The Hyams Foundation, Inc. (emeritus), Pathfinder International (until September 2022) and Simmons College. Previously,
she held various positions in the public and private sectors, including General Manager for the Massachusetts Port Authority. She has
received numerous awards, including the Woman of Achievement award from the Boston Big Sister Association and the Working Woman of the
Year Award from Working Woman Magazine.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Benaree Pratt Wiley </B>&#8211; Ms. Wiley is
a corporate director and trustee. For fifteen years, Ms. Wiley was the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Partnership, Inc.,
an organization that strengthened Greater Boston's capacity to attract, retain and develop talented professionals of color. Ms. Wiley
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; text-align: justify"><U>Fund Board Committees.</U> The Fund has standing
Audit, Nominating, Compensation and Litigation Committees, each comprised of its Independent Trustees, except that Mr. Joseph S. 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</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">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 <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">&nbsp;www.bny.com/closed-end-funds</FONT> in the &quot;BNY Audit Committee Charter&quot; section
under &quot;Investments &#8211; Closed End Funds&quot;.</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 shareholders.
In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by shareholders, 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 shareholders submitted to the Secretary
of the Fund, c/o BNY 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 attached as Exhibit
B to this proxy statement.</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/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 Board 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 Trustees 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 Board
Nominee by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Board Nominee by all
funds in the fund complex (which comprises registered investment companies for which the Investment Adviser serves as investment</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">adviser) for which the Board Nominee was a board
member during 2024, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B><U>Name of Board Nominee</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>Compensation from<U><BR>
the Fund</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>Aggregate Compensation from<BR>
the Fund and Fund Complex<U><BR>
Paid to Board Nominee(**)</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-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Roslyn M. Watson</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">$6,574</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">$470,200 (40)</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-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Benaree Pratt Wiley</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">$6,574</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">$641,700 (57)</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">_______________</P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>*</SUP>
Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Board Nominees for attending Board meetings. Amounts shown also do not include the
costs of office space, office supplies and secretarial services, which are paid by the Fund (allocated among the funds in the BNY Mellon
Family of Funds based on net assets), which, in 2024, amounted to approximately $243 paid by the Fund.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>**</SUP>
Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Fund, for which the
Board Nominee served as a board member in 2024.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</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 Trustees 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 2024 are set
forth in Exhibit A. Certain other information concerning the Fund's Trustees and officers also is set forth in Exhibit A.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><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
each Board Nominee requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Fund represented in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Meeting.</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: 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
Trustees. The Audit Committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Fund's independent
auditors. At a meeting held on February 26, 2025, the Fund's Audit Committee</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">approved and the Fund's Board, including a majority
of the Independent Trustees, ratified and approved the selection of KPMG LLP (&quot;KPMG&quot;) as the independent auditors for the Fund's
fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. The Audit Committee's report relating to the Fund's financial statements for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2025 is attached as Exhibit C 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 KPMG
in the Fund's last two fiscal years. For Service Affiliates (i.e., the Investment Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with the Investment Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund), such fees represent only those fees that
required pre-approval of the Audit Committee, except the Aggregate Non&#45;Audit Fees amounts, which include all non-audit fees billed
by KPMG to the Fund and Service Affiliates. All services provided by KPMG were pre-approved, as required.</P>


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<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 STYLE="width: 34%; padding-right: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><U>Fund<SUP>1</SUP></U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center"><B><U>Service Affiliates<SUP>1</SUP></U></B></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt"><B>Audit Fees</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$110,300/$112,600</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt"><B>Audit-Related Fees<SUP>2</SUP></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$5,800/$6,000</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt"><B>Tax Fees<SUP>3</SUP></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt"><B>All Other Fees</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$0/$0</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt"><B>Aggregate Non-Audit Fees<SUP>4</SUP></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">N/A</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 4pt; text-align: center">$4,074,591/$5,102,266</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">_______________</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 9pt 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 March 31, 2024/March 31, 2025</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 9pt 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 security counts required by Rule 17f-2
under the 1940 Act.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 9pt 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 U.S. federal, state and local tax planning,
advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: italic 9pt 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 KPMG to the Fund and Service Affiliates
are shown under the Service Affiliates column.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<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 KPMG'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 KPMG'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 KPMG's independence.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">A representative of KPMG 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 pursuant to an Investment Management and Administration
Agreement between the Fund and the Investment Adviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approving the Investment Management
and Administration Agreement is available in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Alcentra NY, LLC, located at One Madison Avenue,
Suite 1600, New York, New York 10010, serves as the Fund's sub-adviser. The Sub-Adviser, subject to the Investment Adviser's supervision
and approval, provides day-to-day management of the Fund's assets. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approving the sub-investment
advisory agreement between the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is available in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2025.</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"><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>

<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>At the Meeting</I>. You will not be able to attend the Meeting physically, but you may attend the Meeting
virtually. Any shareholder 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 properly 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 Board 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</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">elect Trustees, 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 shareholder's identity. In all cases
where a telephonic proxy is solicited (as opposed to where the shareholder calls the toll-free telephone number directly to vote), the
shareholder will be asked to provide or confirm certain identifiable information and to confirm that the shareholder has received the
Fund's proxy statement and proxy card in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a shareholder's solicited telephonic voting instructions,
a confirmation will be sent to the shareholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the shareholder's instructions
and to provide a telephone number to call immediately if the shareholder'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 discretion on such matter.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Any proposals of shareholders that are intended
to be presented at the Fund's 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders 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 Secretary of the Fund at the Fund's principal executive offices no
later than March 11,&nbsp;2026, 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 shareholder proposals to be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (but not
included in the Fund's proxy statement), a shareholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Fund at the Fund's principal
executive offices no earlier than February 9, 2026 and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on March 11, 2026. If the 2026 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30&nbsp;days from August&nbsp;20,&nbsp;2026, 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&nbsp;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 shareholder 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">Shareholders who wish to communicate with Trustees
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 Trustee or Trustees indicated
in</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">the communication or, if no Trustee or Trustees
are indicated, to the Chairman of the Board.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<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 the Fund, in care of Computershare
Inc., Proxy Department, 480&nbsp;Washington Blvd., 27<SUP>th</SUP>&nbsp;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, SHAREHOLDERS 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: July 15,&nbsp;2025</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</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
Trustees, 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 Trustees'
Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.</U> The Continuing Trustees of the Fund who are not standing for election at the Meeting
&#8212; that is, Ms. Bovich and Messrs. DiMartino, Donohue and Skapyak &#8212; 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 Trustees
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><BR>
Continuing Class I Trustees with Terms Expiring in 2027</B></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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
Name (Age) of Continuing Trustees<BR>
Position with Fund <U>(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
Principal Occupation<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Other Public Company<BR>
Board Memberships<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>FRANCINE J. BOVICH</B>&nbsp;(73)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><BR>
</FONT><B>Class I Trustee </B>(2011)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds, <I>Trustee</I> (2011 &#8211; Present)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a real estate investment trust, <I>Director</I> (2014 &#8211; 2015)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>


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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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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: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 37%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>BRADLEY J. SKAPYAK</B>&nbsp;(66)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><BR>
</FONT><B>Class I Trustee </B>(2021)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; 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">Chief Operating Officer and Director of
    The Dreyfus Corporation (2009 &#8211; 2019)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Chief Executive Officer and Director of
    MBSC Securities Corporation (2016 &#8211; 2019)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Chairman and Director of Dreyfus Transfer,
    Inc. (2011 &#8211; 2019)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 11.5pt; text-indent: -11.5pt">Senior Vice President of The Bank of New
    York Mellon (2007 &#8211; 2019)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 29%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B><BR>
Continuing Class III Trustees with Terms Expiring in 2026</B></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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
Name (Age) of Continuing Trustee<BR>
Position with Fund <U>(Since)</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
Principal Occupation<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Other Public Company<BR>
Board Memberships<BR>
<U>During Past 5 Years</U></B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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"><B>JOSEPH S. DIMARTINO</B>&nbsp;(81)<BR>
<B>Chairman of the Board<BR>
Class III Trustee </B>(1998)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">Director or Trustee of funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and certain other entities (as listed herein)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; 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: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></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: 35%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>ANDREW J. DONOHUE</B></FONT>&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">(74)</FONT><BR>
<B>Class III Trustee </B>(2019)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; 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">Attorney, Solo Law Practice (2019 &#8211;
    Present)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Shearman &amp; Sterling LLP, a law firm,
    Of Counsel (2017 &#8211; 2019)</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">Chief of Staff to the Chair of the SEC
    (2015 &#8211; 2017)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt; line-height: 12pt">N/A</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Each Continuing Trustee, except Messrs. Donohue
and Skapyak, has been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for over 20 years. Mr. Donohue has over 40 years of experience in the
investment funds industry. Mr. Skapyak has over 30 years of experience in the investment funds industry. Additional information about
the Continuing Trustees follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences,
qualifications, attributes or skills that the Continuing Trustees possess which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Trustees.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><I>Continuing Trustees</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Francine J. Bovich</B> &#8211; Ms. Bovich currently
also serves as a Trustee for The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds, and served as a Director of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. from
2014 to 2025. She is an Emeritus Trustee of Connecticut College, and served as a Trustee from 1986 to 1997. She currently serves as a
member of the</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Investment Committee (formerly, the Investment
Sub Committee) for Connecticut College's endowment fund and served as Chair of the Investment Sub Committee until June 2020. From April
1993 until September 2010, Ms. Bovich was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, holding various positions including
Co-Head of Global Tactical Asset Allocation Group, Operations Officer, and Head of the U.S. Institutional Equity Group. Prior to joining
Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Ms. Bovich was Principal, Executive Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager at Westwood Management
Corporation, where she worked from 1986 until 1993. From 1980 to 1986, she worked at CitiCorp Investment Management, Inc. as Managing
Director and Senior Portfolio Manager. From 1973 to 1980, Ms. Bovich was an Assistant Vice President and Equity Portfolio Manager at Bankers
Trust Company. From 1991 to 2005, she served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Investments Committee, advising a global portfolio
of approximately $30 billion.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>Andrew J. (Buddy) Donohue</B> &#8211; Mr. Donohue,
who has worked as a solo law practitioner since 2019, has over 40 years of experience in the investment funds industry, in both senior
government and private sector roles. Mr. Donohue served as Chief of Staff to the Chair of the SEC, from 2015 to 2017, and previously served
as the Director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management, from 2006 to 2010, where he was effectively the most senior regulator
for the U.S. investment funds industry. Mr. Donohue was Global General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, from 2003 to 2006,
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., from 1991 to 2001, and Investment Company General Counsel of Goldman
Sachs, from 2012 to 2015. Most recently, Mr. Donohue was an independent Director of the OppenheimerFunds, from 2017 to 2019, and Of Counsel
at the law firm of Shearman &amp; Sterling LLP, from September 2017 to July 2019. Mr. Donohue has been an officer, director and counsel
for numerous investment advisers, broker-dealers, commodity trading advisers, transfer agents and insurance companies, and has served
on the boards of business development companies, registered open-end funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and off-shore investment
funds. He has also served as chairman of the American Bar Association's Investment Companies and Investment Advisers</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">Subcommittee, editor of the ABA Fund Director's
Guidebook and, since 2018, director, and since January 2023, Chair of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, a leading funds industry organization.
Mr. Donohue also is an adjunct professor teaching investment management law at Brooklyn Law School.</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"><B>Bradley J. Skapyak</B> &#8211; Mr. Skapyak
has over 30 years of experience in the investment funds industry. From January 2010 through May 2019, Mr. Skapyak served as President
of the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. From June 2009 through May 2019, Mr. Skapyak served as Chief Operating Officer and Director
of The Dreyfus Corporation, where he was primarily responsible for the relationship between The Dreyfus Corporation and the BNY Mellon
Family of Funds, served as management's representative at BNY Mellon Family of Funds' Board meetings and managed the mutual fund administration
operations of The Dreyfus Corporation in connection with its role as administrator to the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Mr. Skapyak also
served, from August 2016 through May 2019, as Chief Executive Officer and Director of MBSC Securities Corporation; from May 2011 through
May 2019, as Chairman and Director of Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.; and from April 2007 through May 2019, as Senior Vice President of The Bank
of New York Mellon.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><U>Board Nominees' and Continuing Trustees' Ownership
of Fund Shares.</U> The table below indicates the dollar range of the Board Nominees' and the Continuing Trustees' ownership of shares
of the Fund's beneficial interest and shares of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds, in each case as of December 31, 2024.</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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Name of Continuing <U>Trustee or Board Nominee</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><BR>
Fund<BR>
<U>Shares</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>
BNY Mellon Family of <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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Francine J. Bovich</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; 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"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">$50,001 &#8211; $100,000</FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Joseph S. DiMartino</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>
    <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>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Andrew J. Donohue</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; 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>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Bradley J. Skapyak</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$10,001 &#8211; $50,000</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>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Roslyn M. Watson<SUP>*</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; 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">$10,001 &#8211; $50,000</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, 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: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Benaree Pratt Wiley<SUP>*</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; 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">$50,001 &#8211; $100,000</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 2pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">_________________<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><BR>
</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Garamond, Times, Serif; font-size: 9pt; color: black"><SUP>*</SUP> Board Nominee.<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of December 31, 2024, none of the Board Nominees
or the Continuing Trustees 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: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>PERTAINING TO THE BOARD</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>The Fund held six Board meetings, five 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>The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Trustees' attendance at annual meetings of shareholders. Trustees did not attend
last year's annual meeting of shareholders.</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>All Continuing Trustees and Board 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: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<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 Trustee and emeritus Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and the aggregate
amount of compensation paid to each Continuing Trustee and emeritus Board member by all funds in the fund complex (which comprises registered
investment companies for which the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser serves as investment adviser) for which
such person was a Board member or emeritus Board member during 2024, 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: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<U>Name </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><BR>
<BR>
Compensation <BR>
<U>from the Fund</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 Compensation<BR>
from the Fund and<BR>
Fund Complex Paid<BR>
<U>to Trustee(**)</U></B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><I>Continuing Trustees</I></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: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Francine J. Bovich</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$4,938</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$699,700 (69)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></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: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Joseph S. DiMartino</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$8,217</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$1,090,000 (86)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></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: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Andrew J. Donohue</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$6,574</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$473,700 (40)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></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: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Bradley J. Skapyak</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$6,620</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$204,700 (18)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><I>Emeritus Board Member<SUP>***</SUP></I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><I>&nbsp;</I></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: 31%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Stephen J. Lockwood</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 36%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$1,365</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">$77,500 (18)</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0; text-indent: 0in"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal">____________________</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>*
</SUP>Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Trustees for attending Board meetings. Amounts shown also do not include the
costs of office space, office supplies and secretarial services, which are paid by the Fund (allocated among the funds in the BNY Mellon
Family of Funds based on net assets), which, in 2024, amounted to approximately $243 paid by the Fund.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>**
</SUP>Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Fund, for which
the Continuing Trustee or Emeritus Board member served as a Board member or Emeritus Board member in 2024.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: italic 9pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 2pt 0 0 8.6pt; text-indent: -4.3pt"><FONT STYLE="font-style: normal"><SUP>***
</SUP>An Emeritus Board member is entitled to receive an annual retainer of one-half the amount paid as a retainer at the time the Trustee
became emeritus and a per meeting attended fee of one-half the amount paid to Trustees. The Fund's emeritus program was discontinued for
current Trustees in November 2021.</FONT></P>


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<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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>DAVID DIPETRILLO</B><BR>
President (2019)<SUP>1</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">47</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Vice President and Director of the Investment Adviser since February 2021; Head of North America Distribution, BNY Investments since February 2023; and Head of North America Product, BNY Investments from January 2018 to February 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 46 investment companies (comprised of 86 portfolios) managed by 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; line-height: 12pt">66</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Director of the Investment Adviser since February 2023; Vice President of the Investment Adviser since September 2020; and Director &#8211; BNY Fund Administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>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; line-height: 12pt">57</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Chief Legal Officer of the Investment Adviser and Associate General Counsel of BNY since July 2021; Senior Managing Counsel of BNY from December 2020 to July 2021; and Managing Counsel of BNY from March 2009 to December 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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>SARAH S. KELLEHER</B><BR>
Vice President and Secretary (2014)<SUP>3</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">49</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Vice President of BNY Mellon ETF Investment Adviser, LLC since February 2020; Senior Managing Counsel of BNY since September 2021; and Managing Counsel of BNY from December 2017 to September 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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; line-height: 12pt">35</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Managing Counsel of BNY since December 2021; and Counsel of BNY from August 2018 to December 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>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; line-height: 12pt">57</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Counsel of BNY 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 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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; line-height: 12pt">60</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Senior Managing Counsel of BNY.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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>AMANDA QUINN</B><BR>
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2020)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">40</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Managing Counsel of BNY since March 2024; and Counsel of BNY from June 2019 to February 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>DANIEL GOLDSTEIN<BR>
</B>Vice President (2022)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">56</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Head of Product Development of North America Distribution, BNY Investments
    since January 2018; Executive Vice President of North America Product, BNY Investments since April 2023; and Senior Vice President, Development
    &amp; Oversight of North America Product, BNY Investments from 2010 to March 2023. He is an officer of 46 investment companies (comprised
    of 86 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">&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 MARTELLA<BR>
</B>Vice President (2022)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">48</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Vice President of the Investment Adviser since December 2022; Head
    of Product Management of North America Distribution, BNY Investments since January 2018; Executive Vice President of North America Product,
    BNY Investments since April 2023; and Senior Vice President of North America Product, BNY Investments from 2010 to March 2023. He is an
    officer of 46 investment companies (comprised of 86 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">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>ROBERTO G. MAZZEO<BR>
</B>Assistant Treasurer (2024)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">44</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">Financial Reporting Manager &#8211; BNY Fund Administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is an officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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>GAVIN C. REILLY</B><BR>
Assistant Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">56</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Tax Manager &#8211; BNY Fund Administration. He is an officer of 47
    investment companies (comprised of 103 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">&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 SALVIOLO</B><BR>
Assistant Treasurer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">58</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Senior Accounting Manager &#8211; BNY Fund Administration. He is an
    officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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">&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; line-height: 12pt">58</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Senior Accounting Manager &#8211; BNY Fund Administration. He is an
    officer of 47 investment companies (comprised of 103 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">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>

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    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
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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: 44%; 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: 15%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B><BR>
<U>Age</U></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt"><B>Principal Occupation and <BR>
Business Experience For <U><BR>
Past Five 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>JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY</B><BR>
Chief Compliance Officer (2012)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">68</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; 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 Chief Compliance Officer of 45 investment companies (comprised of 89 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: 9pt; 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">The address of each officer of the Fund is 240 Greenwich Street, New
York, New York 10286.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in"><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 June 25,&nbsp;2025 by the Board Nominees, Continuing Trustees and officers of the Fund owning
shares on such date and by any shareholders owning 5% or more of the Fund's outstanding shares.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of June 25,&nbsp;2025, the Board Nominees,
Continuing Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding shares.</P>

<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 June 25,&nbsp;2025, the following information with respect to beneficial ownership of
more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding 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<BR>
<U>Shares 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<BR>
<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">Fund Shares</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; line-height: 12pt">First Trust Portfolios L.P.<BR>
First Trust Advisors L. P.<BR>
The Charger Corporation<BR>
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400<BR>
Wheaton, Illinois 60187</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">14,232,740</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 6pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; line-height: 12pt">19.57%</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">As of June 25,&nbsp;2025, Cede &amp; Co., P.O.
Box 20, Bowling Green Station, New York,&nbsp;New York 10274, held of record 99.5% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund.</P>

<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 Trustees, persons owning more than 10% of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest, and certain additional persons are required to report their transactions in the Fund's shares of beneficial interest
to the SEC and the Fund. Based solely on written representations of such persons and on copies of reports that have been filed with the
SEC, the Fund believes that, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, such persons complied with all filing requirements applicable
to such persons.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</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>THE BNY MELLON FAMILY OF FUNDS<BR>
BNY MELLON FUNDS TRUST</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B><BR>
</B></FONT><B>Nominating Committee Charter and Procedures</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>ORGANIZATION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Nominating Committee (the &quot;Committee&quot;)
of each fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds (each, the &quot;Fund&quot;) shall be composed solely of Directors/Trustees (&quot;Directors&quot;)
who are not &quot;interested persons&quot; (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the &quot;1940
Act&quot;)) of the Fund (&quot;Independent Directors&quot;). The Board of Directors of the Fund (the &quot;Board&quot;) shall select the
members of the Committee and shall designate the Chairperson of the Committee.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>RESPONSIBILITIES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee shall select and nominate persons
for election or appointment by the Board as Directors of the Fund and as Advisory Board Members (as defined below) of the Fund.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL NOMINEES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Board believes that Directors need to have
the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management,
service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties. In evaluating potential
Director nominees (including any nominees recommended by shareholders as provided below) in light of this standard, and to address certain
legal and other requirements and considerations associated with composition of the Board, the Committee shall consider, among other factors
it may deem relevant:</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>the character and integrity of the person;</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>whether or not the person is qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as a Director of the Fund;</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>whether or not the person has any relationships that might impair his or her service on the Board;</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>whether nomination of the person would be consistent with Fund policy and applicable laws and regulations regarding the number and
percentage of Independent Directors on the Board;</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>whether or not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their
related fund complexes;</TD></TR></TABLE>


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<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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>whether or not the person is willing to serve and is willing and able to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties
and responsibilities of a Director of the Fund; and</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"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>the educational background; business, professional training or practice (<I>e.g</I>., medicine, accounting or law), public service
or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board) or as an executive of investment funds, public
companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">In addition, the Committee may consider whether
a potential nominee's professional experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race
or national origin, would provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Board's membership and collective attributes.
Such considerations will vary based on the Board's existing membership and other factors, such as the strength of a potential nominee's
overall qualifications relative to diversity considerations.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">While the Committee is solely responsible for
the selection and nomination of Directors and Advisory Board Members, the Committee may consider nominees for Independent Director recommended
by Fund shareholders. The Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders sent to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. Legal Department, 240 Greenwich Street, 18<SUP>th</SUP> Floor, New York, New York 10286. A nomination
submission must include all information relating to the recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy
statements for the election of Directors, as well as information sufficient to evaluate the factors listed above. Nomination submissions
must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by
the shareholders, and such additional information must be provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Committee.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee shall have the authority to retain
and terminate any search firm or other consultant to be used to identify and/or conduct a background check with respect to Independent
Director and/or Advisory Board member candidates, including the authority to approve its fees and other retention terms. The Committee
is empowered to cause the Fund to pay the compensation of any search firm or other consultant engaged by the Committee.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">After a determination by the Committee that a
person should be selected and nominated as a Director of the Fund, the Committee shall present its recommendation to the full Board for
its consideration.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify"><B>ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee may from time to time propose nominations
of one or more individuals to serve as members of an &quot;advisory board,&quot; as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the 1940
Act (&quot;Advisory Board Members&quot;). An individual shall be eligible to serve as an Advisory Board Member only if that individual
meets the requirements to be an Independent Director (subject to the Committee's evaluation of the factors set forth above for consideration
of potential Board nominees) and does not otherwise serve the Fund in any other capacity. An Advisory Board Member shall not have voting
rights with respect to matters pertaining to the Fund. Any Advisory Board Member shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed,
at any time, with or without cause, by the Board. An Advisory Board Member subsequently may be appointed as an Independent Director, or
nominated and elected as an Independent Director, at which time he or she shall cease to be an Advisory Board Member. Any Advisory Board
Member may resign at any time.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0"><B>REVIEW OF CHARTER AND PROCEDURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Committee shall review the charter and procedures
from time to time, as it considers appropriate.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><BR>
</FONT></B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9.5pt">BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">May 22, 2025</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0; text-align: justify">The Audit Committee oversees the Fund's financial
reporting process on behalf of the Board of Trustees. 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 Trustees (and the Board approved) that the audited financial statements for the Fund
be included in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2025.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9.5pt/12pt Garamond, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0 0">Francine J. Bovich, Audit Committee Chair<BR>
Joseph S. DiMartino, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Andrew J. Donohue, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Bradley J. Skapyak, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Roslyn M. Watson, Audit Committee Member<BR>
Benaree Pratt Wiley, Audit Committee Member</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt/0.7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 1500pt">&nbsp;</P>


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    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.15pt 0 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
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    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>
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    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 263px; text-align: center"><IMG SRC="image_001.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 80px; width: 59px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.15pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>VO<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">T</FONT>E
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    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.15pt 0 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 265px; text-align: center"><IMG SRC="image_002.gif" ALT="" STYLE="height: 37px; width: 57px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; 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 Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.15pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>postage-paid envelope</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.15pt 0 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 263px; text-align: center"><IMG SRC="image_002.jpg" ALT="" STYLE="height: 62px; width: 61px"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>VIRTUAL MEETING </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt/9pt 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/MVZWMDV</U></B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9.5pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>on August 21 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time
    </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>To participate in the Virtual Meeting,
    enter </B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>the 14-digit control number from the</B></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>shaded box on this card.</B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, 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: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 23%; 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">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/10pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal"><A NAME="a_Hlk43968578"></A>&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt 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="width: 7%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt"><B>P</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif">R<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">O</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">X</FONT>Y</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 93%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 52.75pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>B<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">N</FONT>Y
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    <P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 44.5pt 0 0; text-align: center"><B>A<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">N</FONT>N<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">U</FONT>AL
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    <P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 52.75pt 0 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>T</B></FONT><B>O
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    <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.3pt">2</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">5</FONT>, <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.15pt">2</FONT>0<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">25</FONT></B></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/6pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 9pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9.35pt 0 0"><B>&nbsp;</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 TRUSTEES.</B></FONT> <FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">The undersigned shareholder of BNY Mellon High
Yield Strategies Fund (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 June 25, 2025, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be virtually held at
the following Website: <B>www.meetnow.global/MVZWMDV</B> on August 21, 2025, 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 proposals, as more fully described
in the Proxy Statement for the Meeting. To participate in the 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 Shareholders 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 SHAREHOLDER. 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: 8.5pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, 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: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>V</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt">O<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">T</FONT>E
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    <FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt"><B>w<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">w</FONT>w<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">.</FONT>prox<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">y</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">-</FONT>d<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">i</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.15pt">r</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">ect</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">.</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">c</FONT>om</B></FONT></P>
    <P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>V</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.15pt">O</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">T</FONT>E
    <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">V</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">I</FONT>A <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">T</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.15pt">H</FONT>E
    T<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">E</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">LE</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">P</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">H</FONT>O<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">N</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">E</FONT>:
    <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">1</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">-800-337-3503</FONT></B></P></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 54%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, 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; background-color: #BFBFBF; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; border-right: Black 1pt solid; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 24%; 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">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.5pt 0 0; text-align: center">BNY_34537_042925</P>

<P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.5pt 0 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>P</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">L</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">E</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">A</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">S</FONT>E
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<P STYLE="font: 8pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 1.5pt 0 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></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: 1.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif">xxxxxxx<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">x</FONT>xxxx<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.1pt">x</FONT>x</FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="width: 83%; padding-right: 1.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 8.5pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 8.5pt/9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>


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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: bold 14pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">EVERY STOCKHOLDER&#8217;S VOTE IS IMPORTANT</P>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/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
virtually on August 21, 2025.</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: bold 12pt/15pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; color: #4472C4">www.bny.com/closed-end-funds</P>

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt/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: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt/13pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 12pt/13pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD</P>

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt/12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Please detach at perforation before
mailing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt/12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0.05pt"><B>T</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 8pt">O
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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; background-color: black; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; color: white">A</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 96%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 23pt; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><B>1.</B></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">T</FONT>o elect two <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">C</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">l</FONT>ass
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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 4.5pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 22%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 27%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FOR</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 12%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">WITHHOLD</P>
    <P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ALL</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">FOR ALL EXCEPT</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; font-size: 9pt">0<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">1</FONT>. Roslyn M. Watson</FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&#9744;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: -0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&#9744;</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 4.5pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 23pt"><B><U>I<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">N</FONT>S<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">T</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">RUC</FONT><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">T</FONT>IO<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">N</FONT>S:</U></B>
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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 23pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">___________________________________________________________________________</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 23pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 9pt Arial Narrow, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><B>2.</B></TD><TD STYLE="padding-right: 168.7pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">T</FONT>o t<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: 0.05pt">r</FONT>a<FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.05pt">n</FONT>sact
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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
