Filing Details

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SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 09254J201

 

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Bank of America Corporation 56-0906609
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP			(a)	☐
				(b)	☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	WC
5	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)				☒
6	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		7	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		8	SHARED VOTING POWER
			1,750
		9	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		10	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			1,750
11	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	1,750
12	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)				☐
13	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	100%
14	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	HC

SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP No. 09254J201

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation 75-2939570
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP			(a)	☐
				(b)	☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	WC
5	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)				☐
6	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		7	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		8	SHARED VOTING POWER
			1,750
		9	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		10	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			1,750
11	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	1,750
12	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)				☐
13	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	100%
14	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	CO

 

This Statement on Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the purchase of 1,750 variable rate demand preferred shares (CUSIP No. 09254J201) (“VRDP Shares”) of BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (the “Issuer” or the “Company”). This Statement is being filed by the Reporting Persons (as defined below) as a result of the purchase of VRDP Shares by BAPFC (as defined below). The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19808.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

(b) The address of the principal business office of BAC is:

 

Bank of America Corporate Center

100 North Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

The address of the principal business office of BAPFC is:

 

214 North Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

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

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

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

 

The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting Persons to purchase the securities reported herein was approximately $175,000,000.  The source of funds was the working capital of the Reporting Persons.

 

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

 

 

(a) BAPFC has purchased the VRDP Shares for investment purposes. BAPFC acquired the VRDP Shares in a secondary market transaction for a purchase price of $175,000,000.

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) Not applicable.

 

 

The responses of the Reporting Persons to Item 4 are incorporated herein by reference.  With respect to the VRDP Shares owned by BAPFC, on December 15, 2021, BAPFC assigned certain preferred class voting rights on the VRDP Shares to a voting trust (the “Voting Trust”) created pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement, dated December 15, 2021 among BAPFC, Newport Trust Company, as voting trustee (the “Voting Trustee”) and voting consultant (the “Voting Consultant”).  Voting and consent rights on the VRDP Shares not assigned to the Voting Trust have been retained by BAPFC.  The Voting Trust provides that with respect to voting or consent matters relating to the voting rights assigned to the Voting Trust, the Voting Consultant analyzes such voting or consent matters and makes a recommendation to the Voting Trustee on voting or consenting.  The Voting Trustee is obligated to follow any such recommendations of the Voting Consultant when providing a vote or consent.

 

The VRDP Shares will have the benefit of a liquidity purchase obligation at the times and in the manner specified in the VRDP Shares Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2021, between The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”) and Bank of America, N.A., as liquidity provider (“BANA”). Certain agreements between the Issuer and BANA as liquidity provider are documented in the VRDP Shares Fee Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2021, between the Issuer and BANA. Certain agreements between the Issuer and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”), as remarketing agent for the VRDP Shares are documented in the VRDP Shares Remarking Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2021, between the Issuer and BofA.

 

Item 7

Material to be Filed as Exhibits

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

LIST OF EXHIBITS

 

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

¹ Mr. de Weck is a citizen of Switzerland.

² Mr. Woods is a citizen of Canada.

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

 

On March 22, 2018, the Attorney General of the State of New York Investor Protection Bureau (“NYAG”) alleged that Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) (1) concealed from its institutional clients that orders were routed to and executed by “electronic liquidity providers,” (2) misstated the composition of orders and trades in its dark pool, and (3) did not accurately describe its use of a proprietary “venue ranking” analysis, in violation of the Martin Act and Executive Law § 63(12).  In connection with the agreement, BAC and MLPF&S agreed (1) not to engage, or attempt to engage, in conduct in violation of any applicable laws, including but not limited to the Martin Act and Executive Law § 63(12); (2) to pay a penalty in the amount of $42,000,000; and (3) provide the NYAG a summary of the review of its electronic trading policies and procedures.