N-CSR 1 d725077dncsr.htm BLACKROCK MUNIYIELD QUALITY FUND III, INC. BLACKROCK MUNIYIELD QUALITY FUND III, INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-06540

Name of Fund:   BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

Fund Address:  100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock MuniYield

Quality Fund III, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4

Date of fiscal year end: 07/31/2019

Date of reporting period: 07/31/2019

 


Item 1 – Report to Stockholders


JULY 31, 2019

 

ANNUAL REPORT

  LOGO

 

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of each Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from BlackRock or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you hold accounts directly with BlackRock, you can call Computershare at (800) 699-1236 to request that you continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you hold accounts through a financial intermediary, you can follow the instructions included with this disclosure, if applicable, or contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC or its affiliates, or all funds held with your financial intermediary, as applicable.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive electronic delivery of shareholder reports and other communications by contacting your financial intermediary, if you hold accounts through a financial intermediary. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service.

 

Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

Investment performance in the 12 months ended July 31, 2019 was a tale of two markets. The first half of the reporting period was characterized by restrictive monetary policy, deteriorating economic growth, equity market volatility, and rising fear of an imminent recession. During the second half of the reporting period, stocks and bonds rebounded sharply, as restrained inflation and weak economic growth led the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) to stop raising interest rates, which led to broad-based optimism that stimulative monetary policy could help forestall a recession.

After the dust settled, the U.S. equity and bond markets posted mixed returns while weathering significant volatility. Less volatile U.S. large cap equities and U.S. bonds advanced, while equities at the high end of the risk spectrum — emerging markets, international developed, and U.S. small cap — posted relatively flat returns.

Fixed-income securities delivered modest positive returns with relatively low volatility, as interest rates declined (and bond prices rose). Longer-term U.S. Treasury yields declined further than short-term Treasury yields. This led to positive returns for U.S. Treasuries and a substantial flattening of the yield curve. Investment grade and high yield corporate bonds also posted positive returns, as the credit fundamentals in corporate markets remained relatively solid.

In the U.S. equity market, volatility spiked in late 2018, as a wide range of risks were brought to bear on markets, ranging from rising interest rates and slowing global growth to heightened trade tensions and political turmoil. These risks manifested in a broad-based sell-off in December, leading to the worst December performance on record since 1931.

Volatility also rose in emerging markets, as the rising U.S. dollar and higher interest rates in the U.S. disrupted economic growth abroad. U.S.-China trade relations and debt concerns adversely affected the Chinese stock market, particularly in mainland China, while Turkey and Argentina became embroiled in currency crises, largely due to hyperinflation in both countries. An economic slowdown in Europe and ongoing uncertainty about Brexit led to modest performance for European equities.

As equity performance faltered and global economic growth slowed, the Fed shifted to a more patient perspective on the economy in January 2019. The Fed left interest rates unchanged for six months, then lowered interest rates for the first time in 11 years in July 2019. Similarly, the European Central Bank signaled a continuation of accommodative monetary policy, while China committed to looser credit conditions and an increase in fiscal spending.

The outpouring of global economic stimulus led to a sharp rally in risk assets throughout the world. Hopes continued to remain high thereafter, as the current economic expansion became the longest in U.S. history. Looking ahead, markets are pricing in additional rate cuts by the Fed over the next year, as investors anticipate a steady shift toward more stimulative monetary policy.

We expect a slowing expansion with additional room to run, as opposed to an economic recession. However, escalating trade tensions and the resulting disruptions in global supply chains have become the greatest risk to the global expansion.

We believe U.S. and emerging market equities remain relatively attractive. Within U.S. equities, companies with high-quality earnings and strong balance sheets offer the most attractive risk/reward trade-off. For bonds, U.S. Treasuries are likely to help buffer against volatility in risk assets, while income from other types of bonds can continue to offer steady returns.

In this environment, investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC

 

Total Returns as of July 31, 2019
     6-month   12-month

U.S. large cap equities
(S&P 500® Index)

  11.32%   7.99%

U.S. small cap equities
(Russell 2000® Index)

  5.76   (4.42)

International equities
(MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index)

  5.64   (2.60)

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

  0.44   (2.18)

3-month Treasury bills
(ICE BofAML 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

  1.23   2.34

U.S. Treasury securities
(ICE BofAML 10-Year U.S. Treasury Index)

  6.68   11.16

U.S. investment grade bonds
(Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

  5.23   8.08

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(S&P Municipal Bond Index)

  4.98   6.93

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

  5.78   6.91
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 

 

 

2    THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT


Table of Contents

 

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Annual Report:

  

Municipal Market Overview

     4  

The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging

     5  

Derivative Financial Instruments

     5  

Fund Summaries

     6  

Financial Statements:

  

Schedules of Investments

     14  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     40  

Statements of Operations

     41  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     42  

Statements of Cash Flows

     44  

Financial Highlights

     45  

Notes to Financial Statements

     49  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     59  

Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements

     60  

Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     64  

Director and Officer Information

     65  

Additional Information

     68  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     71  

 

 

          3  


Municipal Market Overview  For the Reporting Period Ended July 31, 2019

 

Municipal Market Conditions

Municipal bonds posted strong total returns during the period, buoyed by rallying interest rates as the Fed turned more dovish late in 2018 on the back of slowing global growth and trade uncertainties, indicated by a commitment to sustain the current economic expansion, and ultimately cut interest rates for the first time since 2008 at its July meeting.

 

 
Outside of the favorable rate backdrop, municipal technicals remained incredibly supportive with strong demand outpacing moderate supply. Broadly, investors favored the tax-exempt income, diversification, quality, and value of municipal bonds given that tax reform ultimately lowered the top individual tax rate just 2.6% while eliminating deductions. During the 12 months ended July 31, 2019, municipal bond funds experienced net inflows of approximately $47 billion (based on data from the Investment Company Institute), although they displayed some bouts of volatility. For the same 12-month period, total   S&P Municipal Bond Index

Total Returns as of July 31, 2019

  6 months: 4.98%

12 months: 6.93%

 

new issuance underwhelmed from a historical perspective at just $324 billion (below the $370 billion issued in the prior 12-month period), a direct result of the elimination of advanced refundings through the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This transitioned the market to a favorable net negative supply environment in which reinvestment income (coupons, calls, and maturities) largely outstripped gross issuance and provided a powerful technical tailwind.

A Closer Look at Yields

 

LOGO

From July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2019, yields on AAA-rated 30-year municipal bonds decreased by 77 basis points (“bps”) from 3.01% to 2.24%, while ten-year rates decreased by 93 bps from 2.45% to 1.52% and five-year rates decreased by 86 bps from 1.97% to 1.11% (as measured by Thomson Municipal Market Data). As a result, the municipal yield curve flattened over the 12-month period with the spread between two- and 30-year maturities flattening by 22 bps, led by 38 bps of flattening between two- and ten-year maturities.

During the same time period, tax-exempt municipal bonds outperformed duration matched U.S. Treasuries, resulting in stretched relative valuations across the curve. However, we believe the impact of tax reform reset the standard for municipal-to-Treasury ratios. Given that the corporate tax rate was lowered much more than the individual rate, institutions now have less incentive to own tax-exempt municipal bonds, while individuals are more incentivized. In a more retail-driven market, lower ratios are likely sustainable as individuals are focused on generating tax-free income and less concerned with relative valuations. The asset class is known for its lower relative volatility and preservation of principal with an emphasis on income as tax rates rise.

Financial Conditions of Municipal Issuers

The majority of municipal credits remain strong, despite well-publicized problems among a few issuers. Four of the five states with the largest amount of debt outstanding — California, New York, Texas and Florida — continue to exhibit improved credit fundamentals. However, several states with the largest unfunded pension liabilities are faced with elevated borrowing costs and difficult budgetary decisions. Across the country on the local level, property values support credit stability. S&P Global Inc.’s decision to remove its “negative” outlook on New Mexico underscores the improvement in state finances as it was the only remaining state with the designation. Revenue bonds continue to drive performance as investors continue to seek higher yield bonds in the tobacco sector. BlackRock maintains the view that municipal bond defaults will remain minimal and in the periphery while the overall market is fundamentally sound. We continue to advocate careful credit research and believe that a thoughtful approach to structure and security selection remains imperative amid uncertainty in a modestly improving economic environment.

The opinions expressed are those of BlackRock as of July 31, 2019 and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. The comments should not be construed as a recommendation of any individual holdings or market sectors. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. There may be less information on the financial condition of municipal issuers than for public corporations. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. Some investors may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”). Capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable.

The S&P Municipal Bond Index, a broad, market value-weighted index, seeks to measure the performance of the U.S. municipal bond market. All bonds in the index are exempt from U.S. federal income taxes or subject to the AMT. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

 

4    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging

 

The Funds may utilize leverage to seek to enhance the distribution rate on, and net asset value (“NAV”) of, their common shares (“Common Shares”). However, there is no guarantee that these objectives can be achieved in all interest rate environments.

In general, the concept of leveraging is based on the premise that the financing cost of leverage, which is based on short-term interest rates, is normally lower than the income earned by a Fund on its longer-term portfolio investments purchased with the proceeds from leverage. To the extent that the total assets of the Funds (including the assets obtained from leverage) are invested in higher-yielding portfolio investments, the Funds’ shareholders benefit from the incremental net income. The interest earned on securities purchased with the proceeds from leverage (after paying the leverage costs) is paid to shareholders in the form of dividends, and the value of these portfolio holdings (less the leverage liability) is reflected in the per share NAV.

To illustrate these concepts, assume a Fund’s Common Shares capitalization is $100 million and it utilizes leverage for an additional $30 million, creating a total value of $130 million available for investment in longer-term income securities. If prevailing short-term interest rates are 3% and longer-term interest rates are 6%, the yield curve has a strongly positive slope. In this case, a Fund’s financing costs on the $30 million of proceeds obtained from leverage are based on the lower short-term interest rates. At the same time, the securities purchased by a Fund with the proceeds from leverage earn income based on longer-term interest rates. In this case, a Fund’s financing cost of leverage is significantly lower than the income earned on a Fund’s longer-term investments acquired from such leverage proceeds, and therefore the holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) are the beneficiaries of the incremental net income.

However, in order to benefit Common Shareholders, the return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds must exceed the ongoing costs associated with the leverage. If interest and other costs of leverage exceed the Funds’ return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds, income to shareholders is lower than if the Funds had not used leverage. Furthermore, the value of the Funds’ portfolio investments generally varies inversely with the direction of long-term interest rates, although other factors can influence the value of portfolio investments. In contrast, the value of the Funds’ obligations under their respective leverage arrangements generally does not fluctuate in relation to interest rates. As a result, changes in interest rates can influence the Funds’ NAVs positively or negatively. Changes in the future direction of interest rates are very difficult to predict accurately, and there is no assurance that the Funds’ intended leveraging strategy will be successful.

The use of leverage also generally causes greater changes in each Fund’s NAV, market price and dividend rates than comparable portfolios without leverage. In a declining market, leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV and market price of a Fund’s Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged. In addition, each Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or at distressed values in order to comply with regulatory requirements applicable to the use of leverage or as required by the terms of leverage instruments, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. The use of leverage may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in certain types of securities or use certain types of hedging strategies. Each Fund incurs expenses in connection with the use of leverage, all of which are borne by Common Shareholders and may reduce income to the Common Shares. Moreover, to the extent the calculation of the Funds’ investment advisory fees includes assets purchased with the proceeds of leverage, the investment advisory fees payable to the Funds’ investment adviser will be higher than if the Funds did not use leverage.

To obtain leverage, each Fund has issued Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) or Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares (“VMTP Shares”) (collectively, “Preferred Shares”) and/or leveraged its assets through the use of tender option bond trusts (“TOB Trusts”) as described in the Notes to Financial Statements.

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), each Fund is permitted to issue debt up to 33 1/3% of its total managed assets or equity securities (e.g., Preferred Shares) up to 50% of its total managed assets. A Fund may voluntarily elect to limit its leverage to less than the maximum amount permitted under the 1940 Act. In addition, a Fund may also be subject to certain asset coverage, leverage or portfolio composition requirements imposed by the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments or by agencies rating the Preferred Shares, which may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

If a Fund segregates or designates on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a value not less than the value of a Fund’s obligations under the TOB Trust (including accrued interest), then the TOB Trust is not considered a senior security and is not subject to the foregoing limitations and requirements imposed by the 1940 Act.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Funds may invest in various derivative financial instruments. These instruments are used to obtain exposure to a security, commodity, index, market, and/or other assets without owning or taking physical custody of securities, commodities and/or other referenced assets or to manage market, equity, credit, interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate, commodity and/or other risks. Derivative financial instruments may give rise to a form of economic leverage and involve risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of a derivative financial instrument and the underlying asset, possible default of the counterparty to the transaction or illiquidity of the instrument. The Funds’ successful use of a derivative financial instrument depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements accurately, which cannot be assured. The use of these instruments may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may limit the amount of appreciation a Fund can realize on an investment and/or may result in lower distributions paid to shareholders. The Funds’ investments in these instruments, if any, are discussed in detail in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF LEVERAGING / DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS      5  


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019    BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.

 

Fund Overview

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.’s (MUE) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from U.S. federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in long-term, investment grade municipal obligations exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax). The municipal obligations in which the Fund primarily invests are either rated investment grade quality, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of investment. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal obligations with remaining maturities of one year or more at the time of investment. Effective July 31, 2019, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities that are rated below investment grade, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest directly in securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.

No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

Fund Information

 

Symbol on New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)

  MUE

Initial Offering Date

  February 26, 1999

Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2019 ($12.67)(a)

  4.17%

Tax Equivalent Yield(b)

  7.04%

Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.0440

Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.5280

Leverage as of July 31, 2019(d)

  38%

 

  (a)

Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 
  (b)

Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal tax rate of 40.80%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields.

 
  (c) 

The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain.

 
  (d) 

Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging and Derivative Financial Instruments on page 5.

 

Performance

Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

    Returns Based On  
     Market Price      NAV  

MUE(a)(b)

    7.72      7.96

Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)(c)

    14.23        8.56  

 

  (a) 

All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

 
  (b) 

The Fund’s discount to NAV widened during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV.

 
  (c) 

Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper.

 

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:

Municipal bonds produced a healthy gain in the 12-month period, largely as a result of the sharp decline in U.S. Treasury yields from November onward. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions). Government bonds were boosted by the combination of slowing economic growth and the Fed’s pivot toward a more accommodative monetary policy. Tax-exempt issues gained further support from a continued improvement in municipal finances and a favorable supply-and-demand trends in the market.

The Fund’s positions in the transportation and state tax-backed sectors contributed to Fund performance. The Fund’s use of leverage also aided results by enhancing income and amplifying the effect of the rising market. The Fund further benefited from its positions in bonds with maturities of 20 years and above given the outperformance of longer-term debt.

The Fund sought to manage interest rate risk using U.S. Treasury futures. Since U.S. Treasury yields fell, as prices rose, this strategy detracted from Fund performance. The Fund’s higher-quality bias was an additional headwind to performance at a time when lower-rated bonds outperformed.

Reinvestment had an adverse effect on the Fund’s income, as the proceeds of higher-yielding bonds that matured or were called needed to be reinvested at lower prevailing rates compared to bonds that were issued ten-plus years ago in a higher interest rate environment.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

6    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019 (continued)    BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.

 

Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary

 

     07/31/19      07/31/18      Change      High      Low  

Market Price

  $ 12.67      $ 12.36        2.51    $ 12.67      $ 11.28  

Net Asset Value

    13.92        13.55        2.73        13.92        13.07  

Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years

 

LOGO

Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments *

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

Sector   07/31/19     07/31/18  

Transportation

    40     35

County/City/Special District/School District

    17       18  

Utilities

    11       14  

Health

    11       9  

State

    10       8  

Education

    7       10  

Housing

    2       3  

Tobacco

    2       2  

Corporate

          1  

 

   

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

 

CALL/MATURITY SCHEDULE (c)

 

Calendar Year Ended December 31,

       

2019

    1

2020

    3  

2021

    17  

2022

    5  

2023

    22  

 

  (c) 

Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years.

 
  *

Excludes short-term securities.

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION (a)

 

Credit Rating   07/31/19     07/31/18  

AAA/Aaa

    1     5

AA/Aa

    46       53  

A

    38       30  

BBB/Baa

    10       9  

N/R(b)

    5       3  

 

  (a) 

For financial reporting purposes, credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) if ratings differ. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB/Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB/Ba or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by either rating agency. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (b)

The investment adviser evaluates the credit quality of not-rated investments based upon certain factors including, but not limited to, credit ratings for similar investments and financial analysis of sectors and individual investments. Using this approach, the investment adviser has deemed certain of these unrated securities as investment grade quality.

 
 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY      7  


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019    BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc.

 

Fund Overview

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc.’s (MCA) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S. federal and California income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal obligations exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax) and California income taxes. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal obligations that are investment grade quality, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of investment. Effective July 31, 2019, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities that are rated below investment grade, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest directly in securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.

No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

Fund Information

 

Symbol on NYSE

  MCA

Initial Offering Date

  October 30, 1992

Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2019 ($14.29)(a)

  3.86%

Tax Equivalent Yield(b)

  8.41%

Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.0460

Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.5520

Leverage as of July 31, 2019(d)

  41%

 

  (a) 

Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 
  (b) 

Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal and state tax rate of 54.10%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields.

 
  (c) 

The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change.

 
  (d) 

Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging and Derivative Financial Instruments on page 5.

 

Performance

Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

    Returns Based On  
     Market Price      NAV  

MCA(a)(b)

    12.87      8.64

Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds(c)

    16.62        8.89  

 

  (a) 

All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

 
  (b) 

The Fund’s discount to NAV narrowed during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV.

 
  (c) 

Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper.

 

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:

Municipal bonds produced a healthy gain in the 12-month period, largely as a result of the sharp decline in U.S. Treasury yields from November onward. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions). Government bonds were boosted by the combination of slowing economic growth and the Fed’s pivot toward a more accommodative monetary policy. Tax-exempt issues gained further support from a continued improvement in municipal finances and a favorable balance of supply and demand in the market.

California municipal debt slightly lagged the national index, primarily due to elevated new issuance and a reversion from the state’s outperformance in 2017 and the first half of 2018.

The Fund’s use of leverage aided results by enhancing income and amplifying the effect of the rising market. The Fund further benefited from its positions in bonds with maturities of 20 years and above given the outperformance of longer-term debt. At the sector level, transportation and health care issues were strong contributors.

The Fund sought to manage interest rate risk using U.S. Treasury futures. Since U.S. Treasury yields fell, as prices rose, this strategy detracted from Fund performance.

Reinvestment had an adverse effect on the Fund’s income, as the proceeds of higher-yielding bonds that matured or were called needed to be reinvested at lower prevailing rates compared to bonds that were issued when yields were higher. The Fund’s higher-quality focus also detracted at a time in which lower-rated bonds outperformed.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

8    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019 (continued)    BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc.

 

Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary

 

     07/31/19      07/31/18      Change      High      Low  

Market Price

  $ 14.29      $ 13.30        7.44    $ 14.40      $ 12.34  

Net Asset Value

    15.79        15.27        3.41        15.79        14.65  

Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years

 

LOGO

Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments *

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

Sector   07/31/19     07/31/18  

County/City/Special District/School District

    36     32

Health

    18       17  

Transportation

    18       16  

Utilities

    14       15  

Education

    9       14  

State

    2       4  

Corporate

    1       1  

Housing

    1        

Tobacco

    1       1  

 

   

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

 

CALL/MATURITY SCHEDULE (b)

 

Calendar Year Ended December 31,

       

2019

    5

2020

    6  

2021

    9  

2022

    1  

2023

    7  

 

  (b)

Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years.

 
  *

Excludes short-term securities.

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION (a)

 

Credit Rating   07/31/19     07/31/18  

AAA/Aaa

    4     9

AA/Aa

    74       72  

A

    14       13  

BBB/Baa

    3       3  

N/R

    5       3  

 

  (a) 

For financial reporting purposes, credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s if ratings differ. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB/Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB/Ba or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by either rating agency. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY      9  


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019    BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc.

 

Fund Overview

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc.’s (MYN) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal obligations exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax) and New York State and New York City personal income taxes. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal obligations that are investment grade quality, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of investment. Effective July 31, 2019, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities that are rated below investment grade, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest directly in securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.

No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

Fund Information

 

Symbol on NYSE

  MYN

Initial Offering Date

  February 28, 1992

Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2019 ($13.19)(a)

  3.87%

Tax Equivalent Yield(b)

  7.68%

Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.0425

Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.5100

Leverage as of July 31, 2019(d)

  38%

 

  (a) 

Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 
  (b) 

Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal and state tax rate of 49.62%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields.

 
  (c) 

The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change.

 
  (d) 

Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging and Derivative Financial Instruments on page 5.

 

Performance

Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

    Returns Based On  
     Market Price      NAV  

MYN(a)(b)

    15.69      9.15

Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds(c)

    13.76        8.41  

 

  (a) 

All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

 
  (b) 

The Fund’s discount to NAV narrowed during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV.

 
  (c) 

Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper.

 

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:

Municipal bonds produced a healthy gain in the 12-month period, largely as a result of the sharp decline in U.S. Treasury yields from November onward. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions). Government bonds were boosted by the combination of slowing economic growth and the Fed’s pivot toward a more accommodative monetary policy. Tax-exempt issues gained further support from a continued improvement in municipal finances and a favorable balance of supply and demand in the market

Consistent with trends in the national market, New York municipal bonds struggled early in the period due to higher interest rates and expectations of further Fed tightening. These headwinds dissipated in early 2019, fueling a rally in New York issues and helping the state deliver a competitive return versus the broader U.S. indexes despite its lower duration and higher average credit quality. (Duration is a measure of interest rate sensitivity.) New York tax-exempt issues were further helped by strong demand as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 gave residents of high-tax states more incentive to own in-state bonds. Additionally, New York continued to benefit from its broad and diverse economic base.

The Fund’s use of leverage aided results by enhancing income and amplifying the effect of the rising market. The cost of leverage increased due to the Fed’s interest rate hikes, but it eased somewhat late in the period in anticipation of a rate cut in late July.

Positions in the tax-backed, transportation, and education sectors also contributed positively to Fund performance. Additionally, the Fund’s growing allocation to housing issues posted strong returns given the sector’s higher yield and above-average interest rate sensitivity.

The Fund sought to manage interest rate risk using U.S. Treasury futures. Since U.S. Treasury yields fell, as prices rose, this strategy detracted from Fund performance.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

10    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019 (continued)    BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc.

 

Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary

 

     07/31/19      07/31/18      Change      High      Low  

Market Price

  $ 13.19      $ 11.89        10.93    $ 13.19      $ 11.09  

Net Asset Value

    14.38        13.74        4.66        14.38        13.23  

Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years

 

LOGO

Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments *

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

Sector   07/31/19     07/31/18  

Transportation

    25     25

County/City/Special District/School District

    17       15  

Education

    16       18  

Utilities

    13       14  

State

    13       17  

Housing

    7       2  

Health

    5       6  

Corporate

    2       2  

Tobacco

    2       1  

 

   

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

 

CALL/MATURITY SCHEDULE (c)

 

Calendar Year Ended December 31,

       

2019

    5

2020

    3  

2021

    19  

2022

    5  

2023

    13  

 

  (c) 

Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years.

 
  *

Excludes short-term securities.

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION (a)

 

Credit Rating   07/31/19     07/31/18  

AAA/Aaa

    11     20

AA/Aa

    58       48  

A

    24       23  

BBB/Baa

    5       5  

N/R

    2       4  

 

  (a) 

For financial reporting purposes, credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s if ratings differ. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB/Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB/Ba or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by either rating agency. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (b)

The investment adviser evaluates the credit quality of not-rated investments based upon certain factors including, but not limited to, credit ratings for similar investments and financial analysis of sectors and individual investments. Using this approach, the investment adviser has deemed certain of these unrated securities as investment grade quality. As of July 31, 2019 and July 31, 2018, the market value of unrated securities deemed by the investment adviser to be investment grade represents 1% and 1%, respectively, of the Fund’s total investments.

 
 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY      11  


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019    BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

 

Fund Overview

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.’s (MYI) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S. federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal obligations exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal obligations that are investment grade quality, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of investment. Effective July 31, 2019, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities that are rated below investment grade, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest directly in securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.

No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

Fund Information

 

Symbol on NYSE

  MYI

Initial Offering Date

  March 27, 1992

Yield on Closing Market Price as of July 31, 2019 ($13.44)(a)

  3.97%

Tax Equivalent Yield(b)

  6.71%

Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.0445

Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c)

  $0.5340

Leverage as of July 31, 2019(d)

  37%

 

  (a) 

Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 
  (b) 

Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal tax rate of 40.80%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields.

 
  (c) 

The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change.

 
  (d) 

Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging and Derivative Financial Instruments on page 5.

 

Performance

Returns for the 12 months ended July 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

    Returns Based On  
     Market Price      NAV  

MYI(a)(b)

    13.13      11.11

Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)(c)

    14.23        8.56  

 

  (a) 

All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

 
  (b) 

The Fund’s discount to NAV narrowed during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV.

 
  (c) 

Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper.

 

Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:

Municipal bonds produced a healthy gain in the 12-month period, largely as a result of the sharp decline in U.S. Treasury yields from November onward. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions). Government bonds were boosted by the combination of slowing economic growth and the Fed’s pivot toward a more accommodative monetary policy. Tax-exempt issues gained further support from a continued improvement in municipal finances and favorable supply-and-demand trends in the market.

The Fund’s use of leverage aided results by enhancing income and amplifying the effect of the rising market. Allocations to longer-term issues added value, as bonds with maturities of ten years and above generally outperformed. The Fund’s weighting in bonds rated A and below was also a positive, as lower-quality issues outpaced the broader market. Positions in 4% coupon securities contributed positively due to the relative strength in this area. Zero-coupon securities, which have above-average interest rate sensitivity, also performed well at a time of falling yields. The Fund further benefited from its allocation to the state tax-backed sector.

The Fund sought to manage interest rate risk using U.S. Treasury futures. Since U.S. Treasury yields fell, as prices rose, this strategy detracted from Fund performance.

At the sector level, the Fund’s weighting in tobacco issues hurt Fund results. In addition, the loss of positions in older, higher-yielding bonds from calls and maturities negatively impacted the Fund’s yield.

The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

 

12    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Fund Summary  as of July 31, 2019 (continued)    BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

 

Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary

 

     07/31/19      07/31/18      Change      High      Low  

Market Price

  $ 13.44      $ 12.46        7.87    $ 13.45      $ 11.54  

Net Asset Value

    14.81        13.98        5.94        14.81        13.38  

Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years

 

LOGO

Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments *

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

Sector   07/31/19     07/31/18  

Transportation

    31     28

State

    19       19  

Health

    15       16  

County/City/Special District/School District

    14       8  

Utilities

    11       14  

Education

    6       10  

Corporate

    2       3  

Tobacco

    2       1  

Housing

          1  

 

   

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

 

CALL/MATURITY SCHEDULE (c)

 

Calendar Year Ended December 31,

       

2019

    3

2020

    2  

2021

    9  

2022

    4  

2023

    8  

 

  (c) 

Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years.

 
  *

Excludes short-term securities.

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION (a)

 

Credit Rating   07/31/19     07/31/18  

AAA/Aaa

    3     6

AA/Aa

    45       49  

A

    29       25  

BBB/Baa

    17       16  

N/R(b)

    6       4  

 

  (a) 

For financial reporting purposes, credit quality ratings shown above reflect the highest rating assigned by either S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s if ratings differ. These rating agencies are independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and are widely used. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BBB/Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of BB/Ba or lower. Investments designated N/R are not rated by either rating agency. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (b) 

The investment adviser evaluates the credit quality of not-rated investments based upon certain factors including, but not limited to, credit ratings for similar investments and financial analysis of sectors and individual investments. Using this approach, the investment adviser has deemed certain of these unrated securities as investment grade quality. As of July 31, 2019 and July 31, 2018, the market value of unrated securities deemed by the investment adviser to be investment grade represents 1% and 1%, respectively, of the Fund’s total investments.

 
 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY      13  


Schedule of Investments

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Municipal Bonds — 124.0%

 

Alabama — 0.3%  

City of Selma Alabama IDB, RB, Gulf Opportunity Zone, International Paper Co. Project, Series A, 5.38%, 12/01/35

  $ 940     $ 1,007,154  
   

 

 

 
Arizona — 1.3%  

Arizona IDA, RB, S/F Housing, NCCU Properties LLC, Series A (BAM), 4.00%, 06/01/44

    730       765,193  

Salt Verde Financial Corp., RB, Senior, 5.00%, 12/01/37

    2,450       3,208,839  
   

 

 

 
      3,974,032  
California — 18.2%  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, RB, Sutter Health, Series B, 6.00%, 08/15/20(a)

    2,865       3,013,579  

California Municipal Finance Authority, ARB, Senior Lien, Linxs APM Project, AMT, 5.00%, 12/31/43

    1,400       1,632,750  

City & County of San Francisco California Airports Commission, Refunding ARB, AMT, Series A:

   

2nd, 5.50%, 05/01/28

    1,800       2,067,336  

2nd, 5.25%, 05/01/33

    1,410       1,599,589  

5.00%, 05/01/44

    1,860       2,095,123  

City of San Jose California, Refunding ARB, Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport SJC, Series A-1, AMT, 5.50%, 03/01/30

    4,045       4,299,714  

City of Sunnyvale California, Refunding RB, 5.25%, 04/01/20(a)

    2,800       2,879,408  

County of Riverside Public Financing Authority, RB, Capital Facilities Project, 5.25%, 11/01/40

    4,500       5,357,790  

Emery Unified School District, GO, Election of 2010, Series A (AGM), 5.50%, 08/01/21(a)

    1,875       2,042,212  

Kern Community College District, GO, Safety, Repair & Improvement, Series C, 5.50%, 11/01/33

    2,445       2,854,488  

Los Angeles Community College District California, GO, Election of 2008, Series C, 5.25%, 08/01/20(a)

    2,000       2,085,020  

Redondo Beach Unified School District, GO, Election of 2008, Series E, 5.50%, 08/01/21(a)

    2,670       2,908,725  

Regents of the University of California Medical Center Pooled Revenue, Refunding RB, Series J:

   

5.25%, 05/15/23(a)

    5,905       6,841,533  

5.25%, 05/15/38

    1,675       1,890,924  

State of California Public Works Board, LRB, Various Capital Projects, Series I:

   

5.50%, 11/01/30

    5,000       5,860,250  

5.50%, 11/01/31

    3,130       3,662,569  

5.50%, 11/01/33

    3,000       3,497,880  

State of California Public Works Board, RB, Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Series F, 5.25%, 09/01/33

    1,260       1,447,236  

Township of Washington California Health Care District, GO, Election of 2004, Series B, 5.50%, 08/01/40

    940       1,104,801  
   

 

 

 
      57,140,927  
Colorado — 1.4%  

City & County of Denver Colorado Airport System, ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

5.50%, 11/15/28

    1,500       1,740,735  

5.50%, 11/15/30

    565       653,394  

5.50%, 11/15/31

    675       779,085  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, AdventHealth Obligated Group, 4.00%, 11/15/43(b)

    1,205       1,328,850  
   

 

 

 
      4,502,064  
Connecticut — 1.0%  

State of Connecticut, GO, Series A, 5.00%, 04/15/38

    1,690       2,034,777  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Connecticut (continued)  

State of Connecticut Health & Educational Facility Authority, Refunding RB, Sacred Heart University Issue, Series I-1, 5.00%, 07/01/42

  $ 1,015     $ 1,191,579  
   

 

 

 
      3,226,356  
Delaware — 0.5%  

State of Delaware Health Facilities Authority, RB, Beebe Medical Center Project, 5.00%, 06/01/43

    1,400       1,615,166  
   

 

 

 
Florida — 19.9%  

Central Florida Expressway Authority, Refunding RB, Senior Lien, 5.00%, 07/01/48

    4,730       5,617,064  

County of Broward Florida Airport System, ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

5.00%, 10/01/45

    1,440       1,657,598  

5.13%, 10/01/38

    5,665       6,344,234  

County of Hillsborough Florida Aviation Authority, Refunding ARB, Tampa International Airport, Series A, AMT, 5.50%, 10/01/29

    2,995       3,452,217  

County of Lee Florida, Refunding ARB, Series A, AMT, 5.38%, 10/01/32

    2,500       2,674,575  

County of Lee Florida HFA, RB, S/F Housing, Multi-County Program, Series A-2, AMT (Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac), 6.00%, 09/01/40

    135       138,141  

County of Miami-Dade Florida, RB, Seaport Department:

   

Series A, 5.38%, 10/01/33

    1,765       1,995,933  

Series A, 5.50%, 10/01/42

    3,000       3,366,090  

Series B, AMT, 6.25%, 10/01/38

    800       918,768  

Series B, AMT, 6.00%, 10/01/42

    1,060       1,208,707  

County of Miami-Dade Florida, Refunding RB, Water & Sewer System, Series B, 5.25%, 10/01/29

    3,130       3,607,388  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Aviation, Refunding ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

5.00%, 10/01/31

    5,155       5,656,839  

5.00%, 10/01/32

    5,000       5,476,850  

County of Orange Florida School Board, COP, Series A (AGC), 5.50%, 08/01/34(a)

    7,600       7,600,000  

Florida Development Finance Corp., RB, VRDN, Virgin Trains USA Passenger Rail Project, Series B, AMT, 1.90%, 01/01/49(c)

    3,045       3,045,515  

Reedy Creek Florida Improvement District, GO, Series A, 5.25%, 06/01/32

    1,805       2,051,310  

Tohopekaliga Water Authority, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.25%, 10/01/21(a)

    6,965       7,575,413  
   

 

 

 
      62,386,642  
Georgia — 0.7%  

County of Fulton Development Authority, RB, Georgia Institute of Technology, 4.00%, 06/15/49

    815       894,854  

Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., RB, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/49

    950       1,282,737  
   

 

 

 
      2,177,591  
Hawaii — 1.7%  

State of Hawaii Airports System, ARB, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/45

    2,805       3,214,895  

State of Hawaii Airports System, COP, AMT:

   

5.25%, 08/01/25

    740       842,379  

5.25%, 08/01/26

    1,205       1,370,145  
   

 

 

 
      5,427,419  
Illinois — 13.8%  

City of Chicago Illinois Midway International Airport, Refunding GARB, 2nd Lien, Series A, AMT:

   

5.00%, 01/01/41

    1,140       1,256,747  

5.50%, 01/01/28

    1,000       1,125,320  

5.50%, 01/01/29

    1,500       1,686,915  

5.38%, 01/01/33

    2,000       2,217,540  
 

 

 

14    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Illinois (continued)  

City of Chicago Illinois O’Hare International Airport, GARB:

   

3rd Lien, Series A, 5.75%, 01/01/21(a)

  $ 1,680     $ 1,788,914  

3rd Lien, Series A, 5.75%, 01/01/39

    320       337,165  

3rd Lien, Series C, 6.50%, 01/01/21(a)

    9,085       9,767,284  

Senior Lien, Series D, AMT, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    735       839,664  

City of Chicago Illinois Transit Authority, RB, Sales Tax Receipts:

   

5.25%, 12/01/36

    2,940       3,145,065  

5.25%, 12/01/40

    1,500       1,598,175  

City of Chicago Illinois Wastewater Transmission, RB, 2nd Lien, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    2,985       3,136,190  

County of Cook Illinois Community College District No. 508, GO, City College of Chicago:

   

5.25%, 12/01/30

    1,270       1,379,715  

5.50%, 12/01/38

    1,205       1,312,884  

5.25%, 12/01/43

    2,960       3,169,124  

Illinois Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Presence Health Network, Series C, 5.00%, 02/15/41

    975       1,155,677  

Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority, RB(a):

   

5.50%, 06/01/21

    2,350       2,535,133  

6.00%, 06/01/21

    670       728,833  

State of Illinois, GO:

   

5.25%, 02/01/31

    1,495       1,626,650  

5.25%, 02/01/32

    2,320       2,517,664  

5.50%, 07/01/33

    1,000       1,090,670  

5.50%, 07/01/38

    700       760,032  
   

 

 

 
      43,175,361  
Indiana — 0.2%  

State of Indiana Finance Authority, RB, Private Activity Bond, Ohio River Bridges, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/40

    460       502,214  
   

 

 

 
Iowa — 0.7%  

State of Iowa Finance Authority, RB, Lifespace Communities, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/48

    1,950       2,125,402  
   

 

 

 
Louisiana — 1.3%  

Lake Charles Louisiana Harbor & Terminal District, RB, Series B, AMT (AGM), 5.50%, 01/01/29

    2,225       2,530,025  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Refunding RB, Asset-Backed, Series A, 5.50%, 05/15/29

    1,630       1,633,016  
   

 

 

 
      4,163,041  
Maryland — 2.8%  

County of Howard Maryland Housing Commission, RB, M/F Housing, Woodfield Oxford Square Apartments, 5.00%, 12/01/42

    2,450       2,863,560  

Maryland Stadium Authority, RB, Construction and Revitalization Program, 5.00%, 05/01/34

    4,780       5,789,727  
   

 

 

 
      8,653,287  
Massachusetts — 1.8%  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, RB:

   

Emerson College Issue, Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/47

    420       478,787  

Emerson College Issue, Series A, 5.25%, 01/01/42

    940       1,100,054  

UMass Dartmouth Student Housing Project, 5.00%, 10/01/43

    2,265       2,634,648  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Refunding RB, Emerson College, Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    745       866,882  

Massachusetts HFA, Refunding RB, Series C, AMT, 5.35%, 12/01/42

    485       492,474  
   

 

 

 
      5,572,845  
Michigan — 1.5%  

Hudsonville Michigan Public Schools, GO, School Building & Site (Q-SBLF), 5.25%, 05/01/21(a)

    3,420       3,662,307  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Michigan (continued)  

Michigan Strategic Fund, RB, I-75 Improvement Projects, AMT, 5.00%, 06/30/48

  $ 895     $ 1,042,102  
   

 

 

 
      4,704,409  
Minnesota — 0.3%  

County of St. Paul Minnesota Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Refunding RB, Fairview Health Services, Series A, 4.00%, 11/15/43

    985       1,067,218  
   

 

 

 
Mississippi — 2.4%  

Mississippi Development Bank, RB, Jackson Water & Sewer System Project (AGM), 6.88%, 12/01/40

    2,225       2,673,938  

Mississippi State University Educational Building Corp., Refunding RB, Mississippi State University Improvement Project, 5.25%, 08/01/23(a)

    1,000       1,159,060  

State of Mississippi, RB, Series A:

   

5.00%, 10/15/37

    565       688,797  

4.00%, 10/15/38

    2,815       3,107,338  
   

 

 

 
      7,629,133  
Montana — 0.1%  

Montana State Board of Housing, RB, S/F Housing, Series B-2:

   

3.50%, 12/01/42

    175       183,355  

3.60%, 12/01/47

    265       277,667  
   

 

 

 
      461,022  
Nevada — 4.4%  

City of Carson City Nevada, Refunding RB, Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Project, 5.00%, 09/01/42

    1,130       1,310,755  

City of Reno Nevada, Refunding RB, Series A-1 (AGM):

   

4.00%, 06/01/43

    2,690       2,846,423  

4.00%, 06/01/46

    2,910       3,074,328  

County of Clark Nevada, ARB, Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, Series A (AGM), 5.25%, 07/01/39

    3,210       3,254,234  

County of Clark Nevada, GO, Stadium Improvement, Series A:

   

5.00%, 06/01/36

    2,065       2,536,770  

5.00%, 06/01/37

    500       611,940  
   

 

 

 
      13,634,450  
New Jersey — 7.1%  

New Jersey EDA, RB:

   

Goethals Bridge Replacement Project, AMT, Private Activity Bond, 5.38%, 01/01/43

    1,940       2,161,082  

Private Activity Bond, Goethals Bridge Replacement Project, AMT (AGM), 5.00%, 01/01/31

    1,355       1,505,405  

State Government Buildings Project, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/47

    2,500       2,790,850  

New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Refunding RB, S/F Housing, Series BB, AMT, 3.80%, 10/01/32

    2,400       2,535,960  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, RB:

   

Transportation Program Bonds, Series S, 5.25%, 06/15/43

    2,980       3,460,346  

Transportation System, Series AA, 5.50%, 06/15/39

    3,040       3,361,419  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Refunding RB, Transportation System, Series A, 5.00%, 12/15/32

    2,735       3,238,432  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Refunding RB:

   

Series A, 5.25%, 06/01/46

    2,355       2,686,090  

Sub-Series B, 5.00%, 06/01/46

    445       481,708  
   

 

 

 
      22,221,292  
New York — 5.6%  

Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp., RB, Senior, Fiscal 2012:

   

5.75%, 02/15/21(a)

    580       621,893  

5.75%, 02/15/47

    360       380,326  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      15  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
New York (continued)  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, RB:

   

Series A, 5.25%, 11/15/21(a)

  $ 8,500     $ 9,313,705  

Series A-1, 5.25%, 11/15/39

    1,550       1,763,451  

New York City Water & Sewer System, RB, 2nd General Resolution:

   

5.38%, 12/15/20(a)

    1,470       1,557,318  

5.38%, 06/15/43

    750       785,970  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Refunding ARB, Consolidated, 166th Series, 5.25%, 07/15/36

    2,000       2,105,920  

TSASC, Inc., Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/41

    895       975,120  
   

 

 

 
      17,503,703  
Ohio — 0.9%  

State of Ohio Turnpike Commission, RB, Junior Lien, Infrastructure Projects, Series A-1, 5.25%, 02/15/31

    2,500       2,815,275  
   

 

 

 
Oregon — 0.4%  

State of Oregon Health & Science University, RB, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    1,100       1,324,334  
   

 

 

 
Pennsylvania — 10.4%  

Altoona Area School District, GO, (BAM), 5.00%, 12/01/36

    185       216,393  

County of Delaware Springfield School District, GO:

   

5.00%, 03/01/40

    1,485       1,783,589  

5.00%, 03/01/43

    1,100       1,315,424  

County of Montgomery Higher Education & Health Authority, Refunding RB, Thomas Jefferson University, Series A, 5.00%, 09/01/48

    1,690       1,992,949  

County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania Municipal Authority, Refunding RB, (BAM), 5.00%, 08/15/36

    2,215       2,673,416  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, RB, VRDN, Waste Management, Inc. Project, AMT, 2.15%, 07/01/41(c)

    330       336,039  

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, RB, S/F Housing, Series 125B, 3.65%, 10/01/42

    3,000       3,126,240  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Refunding RB, 2nd Series, Subordinate, Special Motor License Fund, 5.00%, 12/01/41

    2,490       2,933,469  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, RB:

   

Sub-Series B-1, 5.25%, 06/01/47

    2,300       2,686,906  

Subordinate, Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/44

    8,110       9,536,306  

Swarthmore Borough Authority, RB, Swarthmore College, 5.00%, 09/15/47

    1,600       1,957,120  

Township of Bristol Pennsylvania School District, GO:

   

5.25%, 06/01/37

    2,500       2,776,475  

5.25%, 06/01/43

    1,100       1,211,738  
   

 

 

 
      32,546,064  
South Carolina — 5.3%  

County of Charleston South Carolina, RB, Special Source, 5.25%, 12/01/38

    3,760       4,291,476  

County of Charleston South Carolina Airport District, ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

6.00%, 07/01/38

    2,940       3,368,182  

5.50%, 07/01/41

    2,500       2,805,300  

South Carolina Jobs EDA, Refunding RB, Prisma Health Obligated Group, Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/43

    1,360       1,606,731  

State of South Carolina Ports Authority, RB, AMT, 5.25%, 07/01/50

    1,870       2,151,678  

State of South Carolina Public Service Authority, RB, Series E, 5.50%, 12/01/53

    1,000       1,110,210  

State of South Carolina Public Service Authority, Refunding RB, Series C, 5.00%, 12/01/46

    1,000       1,129,180  
   

 

 

 
      16,462,757  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Tennessee — 1.1%  

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, ARB, Series B, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/40

  $ 3,000     $ 3,401,010  
   

 

 

 
Texas — 8.2%  

City of Beaumont Texas, GO, Certificates of Obligation, 5.25%, 03/01/37

    2,345       2,616,668  

City of Houston Texas Airport System Revenue, Refunding RB, Sub-Series D, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    2,010       2,461,546  

County of Tarrant Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., RB, Christus Health, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/35

    2,500       3,007,175  

Dallas-Fort Worth Texas International Airport, ARB, Joint Improvement, AMT:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    1,615       1,673,673  

Series H, 5.00%, 11/01/37

    1,810       1,930,311  

Lower Colorado River Authority, Refunding RB, 5.50%, 05/15/33

    2,155       2,455,623  

North Texas Tollway Authority, RB, Special Projects, Series A, 5.50%, 09/01/21(a)

    5,480       5,961,966  

North Texas Tollway Authority, Refunding RB, 1st Tier, Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/48

    1,775       2,108,789  

Red River Texas Education Financing Corp., RB, Texas Christian University Project, 5.25%, 03/15/38

    1,070       1,190,867  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., RB, Segment 3C Project, AMT, 5.00%, 06/30/58(b)

    1,860       2,147,147  
   

 

 

 
      25,553,765  
Vermont — 1.0%  

University of Vermont & State Agricultural College, Refunding RB, 5.00%, 10/01/43

    2,535       3,045,701  
   

 

 

 
Virginia — 2.1%  

City of Lexington Virginia IDA, RB, Washington & Lee University, 5.00%, 01/01/43

    945       1,013,843  

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, RB, AMT:

   

95 Express Lanes LLC Project, 5.00%, 07/01/49

    1,035       1,096,986  

Transform 66 P3 Project, 5.00%, 12/31/49

    4,000       4,552,560  
   

 

 

 
      6,663,389  
Washington — 6.4%  

City of Seattle Washington Municipal Light & Power, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.25%, 02/01/21(a)

    2,400       2,546,016  

Port of Seattle Washington, ARB, AMT:

   

Intermediate Lien, Series C, 5.00%, 05/01/37

    2,485       2,956,976  

Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/43

    660       773,962  

State of Washington, COP, Series B:

   

5.00%, 07/01/36

    1,000       1,224,700  

5.00%, 07/01/38

    1,155       1,407,321  

State of Washington, GO:

   

Series C, 5.00%, 02/01/36

    7,565       9,247,305  

Various Purposes, Series B, 5.25%, 02/01/21(a)

    1,865       1,978,467  
   

 

 

 
      20,134,747  
Wisconsin — 1.0%  

Public Finance Authority, Refunding RB, The Evergreens Obligated Group, 5.00%, 11/15/49(b)

    570       647,537  

Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Thermal Service, 5.00%, 04/01/44

    2,065       2,475,130  
   

 

 

 
      3,122,667  
Wyoming — 0.2%  

State of Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, Inc., Refunding RB, Series A (BAM), 5.00%, 01/01/42

    570       661,382  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds — 124.0%
(Cost — $360,363,142)

 

    388,601,819  
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

16    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts(d)

 

California — 2.9%  

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Refunding, Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2 Bonds, 5.00%, 10/01/47

  $ 7,499     $ 8,977,203  
   

 

 

 
Colorado — 1.3%  

City & County of Denver Colorado Airport System Revenue, Refunding ARB, Sub-System, Series A, AMT, 5.25%, 12/01/43(e)(f)

    3,262       3,963,751  
   

 

 

 
Connecticut — 1.1%  

State of Connecticut Health & Educational Facility Authority, Refunding RB, Trinity Health Credit Group, 5.00%, 12/01/45

    3,061       3,554,486  
   

 

 

 
Illinois — 3.2%  

City of Chicago Illinois Waterworks, Refunding RB, 2017 2nd Lien, Water Revenue Project (AGM), 5.25%, 11/01/33

    760       760,413  

State of Illinois Toll Highway Authority, RB:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    1,980       2,278,184  

Series B, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    6,148       7,120,566  
   

 

 

 
      10,159,163  
Louisiana — 3.1%  

City of Shreveport Louisiana Water & Sewer Revenue, RB, Junior Lien, Series B (AGM):

   

4.00%, 12/01/44

    3,623       3,873,464  

4.00%, 12/01/49

    5,449       5,826,640  
   

 

 

 
      9,700,104  
Maryland — 4.7%  

City of Baltimore Maryland, RB, Wastewater Project, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/46

    2,499       2,962,192  

Maryland Stadium Authority, RB, Construction and Revitalization Program, 5.00%, 05/01/47

    9,817       11,630,141  
   

 

 

 
      14,592,333  
Michigan — 2.4%  

Michigan Finance Authority, RB:

   

McLaren Health Care, Series A, 4.00%, 02/15/44

    3,332       3,611,022  

Multi Model- McLaren Health Care, 4.00%, 02/15/47

    3,728       4,039,243  
   

 

 

 
      7,650,265  
New Jersey — 0.5%  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, RB, Transportation System, Series B, 5.25%, 06/15/36(e)

    1,500       1,579,714  
   

 

 

 
New York — 6.2%  

City of New York Municipal Water Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Series FF, 5.00%, 06/15/45

    5,958       6,453,667  

New York Liberty Development Corp., ARB, 1 World Trade Center Port Authority Consolidated Bonds, 5.25%, 12/15/43

    7,515       8,172,259  

New York Liberty Development Corp., Refunding RB, 4 World Trade Center Project, 5.75%, 11/15/51(e)

    4,400       4,803,478  
   

 

 

 
      19,429,404  
Pennsylvania — 4.1%  

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, GO, 1st Series, 4.00%, 03/01/38(e)

    3,600       3,959,604  

County of Northampton General Purpose Authority, Refunding RB, Lafayette College, 4.00%, 11/01/38(e)

    5,927       6,528,635  

County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania Municipal Authority, Refunding RB, (BAM), 5.00%, 08/15/38

    1,963       2,290,592  
   

 

 

 
    12,778,831  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Texas — 1.5%  

County of Tarrant Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., RB, Baylor Health Care System Project, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/38

  $ 4,296     $ 4,741,148  
   

 

 

 
Utah — 0.8%  

City of Riverton Utah, RB, IHC Health Services, Inc., 5.00%, 08/15/19(a)

    2,504       2,507,811  
   

 

 

 
Virginia — 1.4%  

County of Fairfax Virginia EDA, RB, Metrorail Parking System Project, 5.00%, 04/01/47(e)

    3,720       4,438,481  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts — 33.2%
(Cost — $98,746,432)

 

    104,072,694  
 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 157.2%
(Cost — $459,109,574)

 

    492,674,513  
 

 

 

 
     Shares         

Short-Term Securities — 3.3%

 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash,
Institutional Class,

   

1.27%(g)(h)

    10,454,186       10,456,277  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 3.3%
(Cost — $10,455,527)

 

    10,456,277  
 

 

 

 

Total Investments — 160.5%
(Cost — $469,565,101)

 

    503,130,790  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.0)%

 

    (73,992

Liability for TOB Trust Certificates, Including Interest Expense and Fees Payable — (18.7)%

 

    (58,650,671

VMTP Shares at Liquidation Value — (41.8)%

 

    (131,000,000
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares — 100.0%

 

  $ 313,406,127  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

U.S. Government securities held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par.

(b) 

When-issued security.

(c) 

Variable or floating rate security, which interest rate adjusts periodically based on changes in current interest rates and prepayments on the underlying pool of assets. Rate shown is the rate in effect as of period end.

(d) 

Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Fund. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(e) 

All or a portion of the security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Fund could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between November 15, 2019 to November 1, 2026, is $13,124,918. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(f) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(g) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      17  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

 

(h) 

During the year ended July 31, 2019, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate/affiliates of the Fund for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliate    Shares
Held at
07/31/18
     Net
Activity
     Shares
Held at
07/31/19
     Value at
07/31/19
     Income      Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
 (a)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class

     2,901,453        7,552,733        10,454,186      $ 10,456,277      $ 93,852      $ 3,558      $ 461  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes net capital gain distributions, if applicable.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Notional
Amount (000)
       Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Short Contracts

                 

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     16          09/19/19        $ 2,039        $ (6,772

Long U.S. Treasury Bond

     91          09/19/19          14,159          (204,004

5-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     48          09/30/19          5,643          (6,232
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (217,008
                 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 217,008      $      $ 217,008  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized depreciation on futures contracts, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (1,810,464    $      $ (1,810,464
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:                                                 

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (291,462    $      $ (291,462
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ 22,884,393  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

18    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE)

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following tables summarize the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

 

Investments:

 

Long-Term Investments(a)

   $        $ 492,674,513        $        $ 492,674,513  

Short-Term Securities

     10,456,277                            10,456,277  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 10,456,277        $ 492,674,513        $        $ 503,130,790  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

 

Liabilities:

 

Interest rate contracts

   $ (217,008      $        $                 —        $ (217,008
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

See above Schedule of Investments for values in each state or political subdivision.

 
  (b) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Liabilities:

 

TOB Trust Certificates

   $        $ (58,458,229      $        $ (58,458,229

VMTP Shares at Liquidation Value

              (131,000,000                 (131,000,000
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $                 —        $ (189,458,229      $                 —        $ (189,458,229
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      19  


Schedule of Investments

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Municipal Bonds — 90.1%

 

California — 90.1%

 

Corporate — 3.1%  

California Pollution Control Financing Authority, RB, Republic Services, Inc. Project, AMT, 1.50%, 11/01/42(a)(b)

  $ 1,875     $ 1,874,047  

California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Refunding RB, VRDN, Republic Services, Inc. Project, Series A, AMT, 1.55%, 08/01/23(a)(b)

    7,810       7,808,969  

California Pollution Control Financing Authority, RB, San Jose Water Company Project, AMT, 4.75%, 11/01/46

    4,000       4,441,800  

City of Chula Vista California, Refunding RB, San Diego Gas & Electric, Series A, 5.88%, 02/15/34

    2,435       2,444,594  
   

 

 

 
      16,569,410  
County/City/Special District/School District — 33.1%  

Chaffey Joint Union High School District, GO, CAB, Election of 2012, Series C(c):

   

0.00%, 08/01/32

    250       170,068  

0.00%, 08/01/33

    500       322,785  

0.00%, 08/01/34

    505       309,939  

0.00%, 08/01/35

    545       318,247  

0.00%, 08/01/36

    500       278,165  

0.00%, 08/01/37

    650       345,105  

0.00%, 08/01/38

    630       318,982  

0.00%, 08/01/39

    750       362,378  

0.00%, 08/01/40

    1,850       851,666  

0.00%, 08/01/41

    305       133,767  

0.00%, 02/01/42

    350       149,842  

City & County of San Francisco California, COP, Port Facilities Project, Series C, AMT, 5.25%, 03/01/32

    1,050       1,186,080  

City of Sacramento California Transient Occupancy Tax Revenue, RB, Convention Center Complex, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/48

    3,750       4,473,675  

County of Orange California Water District, COP, Refunding, 5.25%, 08/15/19(d)

    9,045       9,059,020  

County of San Joaquin California Transportation Authority, Refunding RB, Limited Tax, Measure K, Series A, 6.00%, 03/01/21(d)

    2,755       2,971,185  

El Monte City School District, GO, Los Angeles Country, California Series B, 5.50%, 08/01/46

    4,265       5,200,656  

Fowler Unified School District, GO, Election of 2016, Series A (BAM), 5.25%, 08/01/46

    3,700       4,530,280  

Garden Grove Unified School District, GO, Election of 2010, Series C, 5.25%, 08/01/37

    2,725       3,112,386  

Gavilan Joint Community College District, GO, Election of 2004, Series D(d):

   

5.50%, 08/01/21

    2,165       2,358,573  

5.75%, 08/01/21

    8,400       9,192,540  

Grossmont California Healthcare District, GO, Election of 2006, Series B, 6.13%, 07/15/21(d)

    2,500       2,748,325  

Grossmont California Union High School District, GO, Election of 2008, Series C, 5.50%, 08/01/21(d)

    1,880       2,047,658  

Hayward Unified School District, GO, Series A (BAM), 4.00%, 08/01/48

    2,000       2,156,140  

Kern Community College District, GO, Safety Repair & Improvements, Series C, 5.25%, 11/01/32

    5,715       6,625,399  

Menifee Union School District, GO, Series B (BAM), 4.00%, 08/01/43

    5,370       5,906,087  

Mount San Antonio Community College District, GO, Refunding, Election of 2008, Series A, 5.00%, 08/01/34

    4,500       5,139,945  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
County/City/Special District/School District (continued)  

Ohlone Community College District, GO, Election of 2010, Series A, 5.25%, 08/01/21(d)

  $ 8,140     $ 8,827,667  

Orchard School District, GO, Election of 2001, Series A (AGC), 5.00%, 08/01/34(d)

    7,490       7,490,000  

Perris Union High School District, GO, Election of 2012, Series B (BAM), 5.25%, 09/01/39

    2,715       3,280,643  

Perris Union High School District, COP, Refunding School Financing Project (BAM), 4.00%, 10/01/43

    10,000       10,959,300  

Riverside County Public Financing Authority, Tax Allocation Bonds, Series A (BAM), 4.00%, 10/01/40

    5,455       5,972,352  

RNR School Financing Authority, Special Tax Bonds, Community Facilities District No. 92-1, Series A (BAM):

   

5.00%, 09/01/37

    1,500       1,766,565  

5.00%, 09/01/41

    3,000       3,511,230  

San Diego California Unified School District, GO, Series B, 3.25%, 07/01/48

    2,000       2,036,420  

San Jose California Financing Authority, LRB, Convention Center Expansion & Renovation Project, Series A:

   

5.75%, 05/01/36

    2,570       2,579,972  

5.75%, 05/01/42

    4,500       4,816,035  

San Jose California Financing Authority, Refunding LRB, Civic Center Project, Series A:

   

5.00%, 06/01/32

    3,375       3,849,761  

5.00%, 06/01/39

    5,800       6,543,154  

San Juan Unified School District, GO, Election of 2002 (AGM), 5.00%, 08/01/20(d)

    6,475       6,734,194  

San Leandro California Unified School District, GO, Election of 2010, Series A, 5.75%, 08/01/41

    3,000       3,227,280  

Santa Clara Unified School District, GO, Election of 2018, 3.25%, 07/01/44

    3,000       3,049,170  

Snowline Joint Unified School District, COP, Refunding, Refining Project (AGC), 5.75%, 09/01/19(d)

    5,600       5,621,560  

State of California, GO, Various Purpose, 4.00%, 04/01/49

    5,550       6,115,933  

Walnut Valley Unified School District, GO, Election of 2007, Series B, 5.75%, 08/01/21(d)

    7,680       8,404,608  

Washington Township Health Care District, GO, Election of 2004, Series B, 5.50%, 08/01/38

    1,625       1,916,915  

West Contra Costa California Unified School District, GO:

   

Election of 2010, Series A (AGM), 5.25%, 08/01/21(d)

    6,140       6,658,707  

Election of 2010, Series B, 5.50%, 08/01/39

    3,000       3,437,940  

Election of 2012, Series A, 5.50%, 08/01/39

    2,500       2,865,200  
   

 

 

 
      179,933,499  
Education — 6.0%  

California Educational Facilities Authority, RB, Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/53

    10,000       11,911,100  

California Municipal Finance Authority, RB, Emerson College, 6.00%, 01/01/22(d)

    2,750       3,079,450  

California School Finance Authority, RB, Series A(a):

   

Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools Projects, 5.00%, 07/01/36

    755       846,362  

Kipp Socal Projects, 5.00%, 07/01/54

    650       765,973  

California School Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Aspire Public Schools - Obligated Group, 5.00%, 08/01/46(a)

    1,250       1,372,125  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, RB, University of California, Irvine East Campus, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/37

    4,000       4,729,720  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, Refunding RB, CHF-Irvine LLC:

   

5.00%, 05/15/33

    2,625       3,100,519  

5.00%, 05/15/40

    2,250       2,606,580  

University of California, RB, 5.25%, 05/15/36

    3,680       4,326,208  
   

 

 

 
      32,738,037  
 

 

 

20    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Health — 10.6%  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, RB:

   

Children’s Hospital, Series A, 5.25%, 11/01/41

  $ 10,000     $ 10,783,800  

Providence Health Services, Series B, 5.50%, 10/01/39

    4,205       4,234,435  

Sutter Health, Series B, 6.00%, 08/15/20(d)

    7,715       8,115,100  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Refunding RB, Adventist Health System West, Series A:

   

4.00%, 03/01/43

    1,400       1,445,038  

4.00%, 03/01/39

    985       1,055,644  

California Municipal Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Series A:

   

Community Medical Centers, 5.00%, 02/01/42

    4,000       4,606,440  

HumanGood California Obligated Group(e):

   

4.00%, 10/01/35

    1,000       1,096,400  

4.00%, 10/01/44

    1,000       1,070,140  

5.00%, 10/01/44

    1,665       1,917,331  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, RB:

   

Green Bond, Marin General Hospital, 4.00%, 08/01/45

    2,500       2,580,550  

Huntington Memorial Hospital Project, 4.00%, 07/01/48

    1,780       1,861,542  

Methodist Hospital of Southern California, 4.25%, 01/01/43

    3,450       3,719,169  

Sutter Health, Series A, 6.00%, 08/15/20(d)

    4,130       4,344,347  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Front Porch Communities and Services, 4.00%, 04/01/42

    2,595       2,737,388  

4.00%, 04/01/47

    1,320       1,376,905  

John Muir Health, Series A, 4.00%, 12/01/57

    3,250       3,361,962  

Trinity Health Credit Group Composite Issue, 5.00%, 12/01/41

    2,860       3,071,240  
   

 

 

 
      57,377,431  
Housing — 1.7%  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Maryland Certificates, RB, M/F Housing, Pass-Through, Class A, 3.35%, 11/25/33

    8,594       9,359,089  
   

 

 

 
State — 2.7%  

State of California, GO, Various Purposes:

   

6.00%, 03/01/33

    5,500       5,652,735  

6.00%, 11/01/39

    3,510       3,549,558  

State of California Public Works Board, LRB, Various Capital Projects:

   

Series I, 5.50%, 11/01/33

    2,575       3,002,347  

Sub-Series I-1, 6.13%, 11/01/19(d)

    2,615       2,647,870  
   

 

 

 
      14,852,510  
Tobacco — 1.4%  

Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corp., Refunding RB, Series A-1:

   

5.00%, 06/01/33

    2,175       2,552,515  

5.00%, 06/01/35

    3,215       3,739,720  

3.50%, 06/01/36

    1,305       1,322,435  
   

 

 

 
      7,614,670  
Transportation — 20.9%  

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, Refunding RB, 2nd Subordinate Lien, Series B, 5.00%, 10/01/35

    1,500       1,729,230  

Bay Area Toll Authority, Refunding RB, Subordinate, Series S-8, 3.00%, 04/01/54

    15,000       14,594,250  

California Municipal Finance Authority, ARB, AMT:

   

Senior Lien, Linxs APM Project, 5.00%, 12/31/43

    6,500       7,580,625  

4.00%, 12/31/47

    7,500       7,855,275  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Transportation (continued)  

City & County of San Francisco California Airports Commission, Refunding ARB, AMT, Series A:

   

2nd, 5.25%, 05/01/33

  $ 1,900     $ 2,155,474  

5.00%, 05/01/40

    3,785       4,269,215  

5.00%, 05/01/44

    2,660       2,996,251  

5.00%, 05/01/44(e)

    6,000       7,207,800  

5.00%, 05/01/49(e)

    3,500       4,170,250  

City & County of San Francisco Airport Commission, Refunding RB, AMT, San Francisco International Airport, Series D, 5.00%, 05/01/43

    7,715       9,132,091  

City of Los Angeles California Department of Airports, ARB:

   

Los Angeles International Airport, Sub-Series B, 5.00%, 05/15/40

    2,500       2,566,025  

Series D, AMT, 5.00%, 05/15/35

    2,000       2,334,640  

Series D, AMT, 5.00%, 05/15/36

    1,500       1,741,335  

City of Los Angeles Department of Airports, ARB, AMT, Subordinate, Series C, 5.00%, 05/15/38

    3,215       3,863,755  

City of San Jose California, Refunding ARB, Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport SJC, AMT:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 03/01/41

    3,075       3,608,851  

Series A, 5.00%, 03/01/47

    6,770       7,882,175  

Series A-1, 6.25%, 03/01/34

    1,400       1,501,584  

County of Sacramento California Airport System Revenue, Refunding ARB:

   

Airport System Subordinate Revenue, Sub-Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/41

    1,750       2,089,255  

Senior Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/41

    2,500       2,989,625  

County of San Bernardino California Transportation Authority, RB, Series A, 5.25%, 03/01/40

    4,500       5,170,860  

County of San Diego California Regional Airport Authority, Refunding ARB, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/40

    6,350       6,544,310  

County of San Diego Regional Airport Authority, ARB, Subordinate, Series B, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/47

    6,000       6,962,520  

Port of Los Angeles California Harbor Department, RB, Series B, 5.25%, 08/01/34(d)

    4,530       4,530,000  

Port of Los Angeles California Harbor Department, Refunding RB, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 08/01/44

    200       228,014  
   

 

 

 
      113,703,410  
Utilities — 10.6%  

Anaheim Public Financing Authority, RB, Electric System Distribution Facilities, Series A, 5.38%, 04/01/21(d)

    5,000       5,363,050  

City of Los Angeles California Department of Water & Power, Refunding RB, Water System, Series A, 5.25%, 07/01/39

    8,000       8,430,800  

City of Los Angeles California Wastewater System Revenue, Refunding RB, Sub-Series A:

   

5.00%, 06/01/20(d)

    1,325       1,369,215  

5.00%, 06/01/28

    675       697,505  

City of San Francisco California Public Utilities Commission Water Revenue, RB, Sub-Series A, 5.00%, 11/01/37

    10,000       10,792,600  

City of San Francisco California Public Utilities Commission Water Revenue, Refunding RB, Series A:

   

5.25%, 11/01/19(d)

    6,280       6,346,568  

5.00%, 11/01/36

    2,335       2,781,242  

Dublin-San Ramon Services District Water Revenue, Refunding RB, 6.00%, 02/01/21(d)

    4,000       4,298,800  

East Bay California Municipal Utility District Water System Revenue, Refunding RB, Sub-Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/20(d)

    5,000       5,166,850  

El Dorado Irrigation District/El Dorado County Water Agency, Refunding RB, Series A (AGM), 5.25%, 03/01/39

    5,000       5,734,350  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      21  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Utilities (continued)  

San Diego Public Facilities Financing Authority, Refunding RB, Subordinated, Series A, 5.25%, 08/01/47

  $ 5,000     $ 6,271,200  
   

 

 

 
      57,252,180  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds — 90.1%
(Cost — $460,325,170)

 

    489,400,236  
 

 

 

 

Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts(f)

 

California — 78.7%

 

County/City/Special District/School District — 27.4%  

California Municipal Finance Authority, RB, Orange County Civic Center Infrastructure, 5.00%, 06/01/48

    9,500       11,375,490  

County of Riverside California Public Financing Authority, RB, Capital Facilities Project, 5.25%, 11/01/45

    10,000       11,816,699  

County of San Luis California Obispo Community College District, GO, Refunding, Election of 2014, Series A, 4.00%, 08/01/40

    6,585       7,174,025  

County of San Mateo California Community College District, GO, Election of 2014, Series A, 5.00%, 09/01/45

    17,615       21,043,043  

Fremont Union High School District, GO, Refunding, Series A, 4.00%, 08/01/46

    5,000       5,525,150  

Los Angeles California Unified School District, GO, Election of 2008, Series B-1, 5.25%, 07/01/42(g)

    7,075       8,720,785  

Los Angeles Community College District California, GO, Refunding, Election of 2008, Series A, 6.00%, 08/01/19(d)

    9,596       9,596,386  

Los Angeles County Facilities Inc., RB, Vermont Corridor County Administration Building, Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/51(g)

    11,420       13,600,535  

Los Rios Community College District, GO, Election of 2008, Series A, 5.00%, 08/01/20(d)

    11,000       11,440,330  

Palomar Community College District, GO, Election of 2006, Series C, 5.00%, 08/01/44

    15,140       17,876,555  

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Refunding, Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2, Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/43

    10,005       11,975,385  

West Valley-Mission Community College District, GO, Election of 2012, Series B, 4.00%, 08/01/40

    17,000       18,854,020  
   

 

 

 
      148,998,403  
Education — 9.4%  

University of California, RB, Series AM, 5.25%, 05/15/44

    9,210       10,706,072  

University of California, Refunding RB:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 11/01/43

    13,002       15,527,961  

Series I, 5.00%, 05/15/40

    21,105       24,897,778  
   

 

 

 
      51,131,811  
Health — 19.0%  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Refunding RB, Kaiser Permanent, Sub-Series A-2, 4.00%, 11/01/44

    13,280       14,521,547  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, RB:

   

Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, 5.00%, 11/15/56

    6,000       7,036,620  

Sutter Health, Series A, 4.00%, 11/15/42

    7,500       8,123,100  

5.00%, 08/15/52

    10,000       11,081,500  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital, Series B, 5.00%, 08/15/55

    4,500       5,218,515  

Providence St. Joseph Health, Series A, 4.00%, 10/01/47

    6,018       6,525,928  

Sutter Health, Series A, 5.00%, 08/15/43

    24,940       28,988,760  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, RB, Kaiser Permanente, Series A, 5.00%, 04/01/42

    19,860       21,661,699  
   

 

 

 
      103,157,669  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
State — 0.7%  

State of California, GO, Refunding, Various Purpose, 5.25%, 10/01/39

  $ 3,000     $ 3,656,160  
   

 

 

 
Transportation — 9.4%  

Bay Area Toll Authority, Refunding RB, San Francisco Bay Area Toll Bridge(g):

   

4.00%, 04/01/42

    11,250       12,185,211  

4.00%, 04/01/49

    6,555       7,031,286  

City of Los Angeles California Department of Airports, ARB, AMT:

   

Los Angeles International Airport, Series B, 5.00%, 05/15/46

    5,000       5,787,500  

Series D, 5.00%, 05/15/41

    13,311       15,323,091  

City of Los Angeles California Department of Airports, RB, AMT:

   

Los Angeles International Airport, Series B, 5.00%, 05/15/41

    3,641       4,287,640  

Senior Revenue, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/40

    5,500       6,336,550  
   

 

 

 
      50,951,278  
Utilities — 12.8%  

Anaheim Public Financing Authority, Refunding RB, Anaheim Convention Center Expansion Project, Series A:

   

5.00%, 05/01/39

    6,000       6,912,000  

5.00%, 05/01/46

    13,500       15,412,950  

Beaumont Public Improvement Authority, RB, Series A (AGM), 5.00%, 09/01/49

    6,000       7,176,300  

City & County of San Francisco California Public Utilities Commission, RB, Water Revenue, Series B, 5.00%, 11/01/19(d)

    4,380       4,423,756  

City of Los Angeles California Wastewater System Revenue, RB, Green Bonds, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/44

    6,290       7,391,316  

City of Sacramento California Water Revenue, RB, 5.25%, 09/01/47

    14,825       18,367,430  

Los Angeles Department of Water, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/46

    8,413       9,855,805  
   

 

 

 
    69,539,557  
 

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts — 78.7%
(Cost — $400,976,516)

 

    427,434,878  
 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 168.8%
(Cost — $861,301,686)

 

    916,835,114  
 

 

 

 
     Shares         

Short-Term Securities — 2.3%

 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds California Money Fund,
Institutional Class,

   

1.00%(h)(i)

    12,443,051       12,445,540  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 2.3%
(Cost — $12,445,540)

 

    12,445,540  
 

 

 

 

Total Investments — 171.1%
(Cost — $873,747,226)

 

    929,280,654  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (3.0)%

 

    (16,145,504

Liability for TOB Trust Certificates, Including Interest Expense and Fees Payable — (37.5)%

 

    (203,749,309

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value, Net of Deferred Offering Costs — (30.6)%

 

    (166,199,884
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares — 100.0%

 

  $ 543,185,957  
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

22    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

 

 

(a) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(b) 

Variable or floating rate security, which interest rate adjusts periodically based on changes in current interest rates and prepayments on the underlying pool of assets. Rate shown is the rate in effect as of period end.

(c) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(d) 

U.S. Government securities held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par.

(e) 

When-issued security.

(f) 

Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Fund. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(g) 

All or a portion of the security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Fund could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between April 1, 2025 to June 1, 2026, is $25,985,300. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(h) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

 

(i) 

During the year ended July 31, 2019, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate/affiliates of the Fund for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliate    Shares
Held at
07/31/18
     Net
Activity
     Shares
Held at
07/31/19
     Value at
07/31/19
     Income      Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
 (a)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds California Money Fund, Institutional Class

            12,443,051        12,443,051      $ 12,445,540      $ 35,511      $      $  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class(b)

     349,727        (349,727                    8,242        (11      (25
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 12,445,540      $ 43,753      $ (11    $ (25
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes net capital gain distributions, if applicable.

 
  (b) 

No longer held by the Fund as of period end.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Notional
Amount (000)
       Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Short Contracts

                 

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     39          09/19/19        $ 4,969        $ (47,621

Long U.S. Treasury Bond

     205          09/19/19          31,897          (618,442

5-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     76          09/30/19          8,934          3,353  
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (662,710
                 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 3,353      $      $ 3,353  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                    
      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 666,063      $      $ 666,063  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized depreciation on futures contracts, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      23  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (MCA)

 

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (3,681,849    $      $ (3,681,849
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:                                                 

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (730,371    $      $ (730,371
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ 47,454,801  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following tables summarize the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

 

Investments:

 

Long-Term Investments(a)

   $      $ 916,835,114      $             —      $ 916,835,114  

Short-Term Securities

     12,445,540                      12,445,540  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 12,445,540      $ 916,835,114      $      $ 929,280,654  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

 

Assets:

 

Interest rate contracts

   $ 3,353      $      $      $ 3,353  

Liabilities:

 

Interest rate contracts

     (666,063                    (666,063
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (662,710    $      $      $ (662,710
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

See above Schedule of Investments for values in each sector.

 
  (b) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Liabilities:

 

TOB Trust Certificates

   $      $ (202,701,605    $      $ (202,701,605

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value

            (166,500,000             (166,500,000
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $             —      $ (369,201,605    $             —      $ (369,201,605
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

24    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Municipal Bonds — 126.8%

 

New York — 126.5%

 

Corporate — 3.0%  

City of New York Industrial Development Agency, Refunding RB, Transportation Infrastructure Properties LLC, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/28

  $ 930     $ 1,006,706  

New York Liberty Development Corp., Refunding RB, Goldman Sachs Headquarters, 5.25%, 10/01/35

    12,070       16,189,612  
   

 

 

 
      17,196,318  
County/City/Special District/School District — 21.5%  

City of New York, GO, Refunding:

   

Fiscal 2012, Series I, 5.00%, 08/01/32

    490       541,122  

Fiscal 2014, Series E, 5.00%, 08/01/32

    2,040       2,318,684  

Series E, 5.50%, 08/01/25

    5,435       6,351,613  

City of New York, GO:

   

Series A-1, 5.00%, 08/01/35

    1,950       2,083,672  

Sub-Series A-1, 5.00%, 08/01/33

    2,100       2,383,332  

Sub-Series D-1, 5.00%, 10/01/33

    8,350       8,982,095  

Sub-Series D-1, Fiscal 2014, 5.00%, 08/01/31

    1,300       1,479,985  

SubSeries A-1, 3.00%, 08/01/45(a)

    2,730       2,717,688  

City of New York Convention Center Development Corp., RB, CAB, Sub Lien, Hotel Unit Fee, Series B (AGM), 0.00%, 11/15/56(b)

    7,825       2,184,740  

City of New York Convention Center Development Corp., Refunding RB, Hotel Unit Fee Secured:

   

5.00%, 11/15/40

    7,370       8,629,386  

5.00%, 11/15/45

    13,995       16,344,621  

City of New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, PILOT:

   

CAB, Yankee Stadium Project, Series A (AGC), 0.00%, 03/01/39(b)

    5,000       2,684,000  

(AMBAC), 5.00%, 01/01/39

    1,750       1,753,955  

Queens Baseball Stadium (AGC), 6.38%, 01/01/39

    1,000       1,003,690  

Queens Baseball Stadium (AMBAC), 5.00%, 01/01/36

    6,400       6,415,040  

Yankee Stadium Project (NPFGC), 5.00%, 03/01/36

    2,250       2,256,052  

Yankee Stadium Project (NPFGC), 5.00%, 03/01/46

    9,650       9,668,335  

City of New York New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, CAB, PILOT, Yankee Stadium Project, Series A (AGC), 0.00%, 03/01/43(b)

    4,330       1,948,933  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured, RB:

   

Future Tax Secured, Sub-Series A-3, 4.00%, 08/01/43

    3,320       3,618,667  

Future Tax Secured, Sub-Series E-1, 5.00%, 02/01/43

    975       1,164,677  

Sub-Series B-1, 5.00%, 11/01/35

    2,510       2,900,054  

County of Nassau New York, GO, Series A, 5.00%, 01/15/31

    1,770       2,145,913  

County of Nassau New York, GOL, General Improvement Bonds, Series B (AGM), 5.00%, 07/01/45

    2,185       2,650,995  

Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp., Refunding RB, Series A:

   

5.00%, 02/15/39

    800       970,712  

5.00%, 02/15/42

    6,225       7,501,747  

4.00%, 02/15/44

    2,685       2,942,841  

New York Convention Center Development Corp., RB, Hotel Unit Fee Secured, Series B(b):

   

CAB, Sub Lien, 0.00%, 11/15/32

    685       463,779  

0.00%, 11/15/42

    2,640       1,147,370  

0.00%, 11/15/47

    6,740       2,402,675  

0.00%, 11/15/48

    3,550       1,253,931  

New York Liberty Development Corp., Refunding RB:

   

4 World Trade Center Project, 5.00%, 11/15/31

    2,570       2,765,217  

4 World Trade Center Project, 5.00%, 11/15/44

    2,000       2,131,720  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
County/City/Special District/School District (continued)  

4 World Trade Center Project, 5.75%, 11/15/51

  $ 3,000     $ 3,274,920  

7 World Trade Center Project, Class 1, 4.00%, 09/15/35

    1,090       1,149,961  

7 World Trade Center Project, Class 2, 5.00%, 09/15/43

    3,725       4,015,028  
   

 

 

 
      122,247,150  
Education — 23.9%  

Albany Capital Resource Corp., Refunding RB, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Series A:

   

5.00%, 12/01/31

    250       287,380  

5.00%, 12/01/32

    100       114,763  

Amherst Development Corp., Refunding RB, University at Buffalo Foundation Faculty-Student Housing Corp., Series A (AGM), 4.63%, 10/01/20(c)

    2,000       2,083,800  

Build NYC Resource Corp., Refunding RB:

   

City University Queens College, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/43

    525       597,209  

Manhattan College Project, 4.00%, 08/01/42

    975       1,045,853  

City of Albany New York Capital Resource Corp., Refunding RB, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Series A, 4.00%, 12/01/34

    110       117,757  

City of New York Trust for Cultural Resources, Refunding RB, Series A:

   

American Museum of Natural History, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    2,265       2,604,659  

American Museum of Natural History, 5.00%, 07/01/41

    825       941,837  

Carnegie Hall, 4.75%, 12/01/39

    3,550       3,585,855  

Carnegie Hall, 5.00%, 12/01/39

    2,150       2,173,478  

Wildlife Conservation Society, 5.00%, 08/01/42

    750       836,415  

City of Troy New York Capital Resource Corp., Refunding RB, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Project, Series A, 5.13%, 09/01/40

    5,740       5,933,266  

Counties of Buffalo & Erie New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, City School District of Buffalo Project, Series A:

   

5.25%, 05/01/31

    2,305       2,466,073  

5.25%, 05/01/32

    1,000       1,069,030  

Counties of Buffalo & Erie New York Industrial Development Agency, Refunding RB, City School District of Buffalo Project:

   

5.00%, 05/01/28

    750       911,415  

Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/29

    4,060       4,927,663  

Counties of Buffalo & Erie New York Industrial Land Development Corp., Refunding RB, Buffalo State College Foundation Housing Corp. Project, Series A, 5.38%, 10/01/41

    1,040       1,095,630  

County of Dutchess New York Local Development Corp., RB, Marist College Project:

   

5.00%, 07/01/43

    685       833,905  

5.00%, 07/01/48

    1,030       1,244,230  

County of Dutchess New York Local Development Corp., Refunding RB, Vassar College Project:

   

5.00%, 07/01/42

    1,180       1,419,009  

4.00%, 07/01/46

    2,235       2,413,822  

County of Madison New York Capital Resource Corp., RB, Colgate University Project, Series B:

   

5.00%, 07/01/40

    815       952,026  

5.00%, 07/01/43

    2,940       3,431,862  

County of Monroe New York Industrial Development Corp., RB, University of Rochester Project, Series B, 4.50%, 07/01/21(c)

    3,885       4,141,876  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      25  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Education (continued)  

County of Monroe New York Industrial Development Corp., Refunding RB, University of Rochester Project, Series A:

   

5.00%, 07/01/23(c)

  $ 1,440     $ 1,660,507  

4.00%, 07/01/39

    500       542,115  

County of Onondaga New York, RB, Syracuse University Project:

   

5.00%, 12/01/30

    1,190       1,289,520  

5.00%, 12/01/36

    1,150       1,236,342  

County of St. Lawrence New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, Clarkson University Project, 5.38%, 09/01/41

    500       531,195  

County of Tompkins New York Development Corp., RB, Ithaca College Project (AGM)(c):

   

5.25%, 01/01/21

    860       911,222  

5.50%, 01/01/21

    500       531,530  

County of Tompkins New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, Civic Facility Cornell University Project, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    675       698,173  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB:

   

Convent of the Sacred Heart (AGM), 5.75%, 11/01/40

    2,075       2,203,671  

Fordham University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/21(c)

    325       349,590  

Fordham University, Series A, 5.50%, 07/01/21(c)

    1,550       1,681,921  

General Purpose, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/36

    5,500       6,136,130  

New School (AGM), 5.50%, 07/01/20(c)

    4,050       4,213,377  

New York University, Series 1 (AMBAC),
5.50%, 07/01/40

    4,580       6,688,357  

New York University, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    600       661,176  

New York University, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    3,240       3,550,100  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/35

    800       825,264  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/40

    2,035       2,095,317  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/41

    1,500       1,589,115  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, Refunding RB:

   

3rd General Resolution, State University Educational Facilities Issue, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/29

    1,000       1,103,480  

Barnard College, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/34

    1,150       1,351,434  

Barnard College, Series A, 4.00%, 07/01/37

    240       262,082  

Barnard College, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/43

    2,520       2,937,715  

Cornell University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/40

    700       723,156  

Fordham University, 5.00%, 07/01/44

    2,130       2,436,230  

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/35

    1,380       1,606,417  

New York University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/31

    3,955       4,386,411  

New York University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    4,775       5,261,859  

Rochester Institute of Technology, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    750       814,245  

Series B, 5.00%, 02/15/37

    2,130       2,582,348  

Series E, 5.25%, 03/15/33

    2,250       2,717,797  

St. John’s University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    2,240       2,612,758  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.25%, 07/01/30

    4,195       4,792,913  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.25%, 07/01/31

    8,735       9,961,831  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    1,490       1,619,854  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/46

    2,490       3,000,176  

State University Dormitory Facilities, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/33

    1,140       1,344,505  

State University of New York Dormitory Facilities, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/38

    1,475       1,796,329  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Education (continued)  

Town of Hempstead New York Local Development Corp., Refunding RB, Hofstra University Project, 5.00%, 07/01/47

  $ 1,645     $ 1,963,850  
   

 

 

 
      135,898,825  
Health — 8.2%  

City of New York Health & Hospital Corp., Refunding RB, Health System, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/30

    2,200       2,244,506  

County of Dutchess New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, Vassar Brothers Medical Center (AGC), 5.50%, 04/01/30

    250       261,458  

County of Dutchess New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, Vassar Brothers Medical Center (AGC), 5.50%, 04/01/34

    490       511,300  

County of Dutchess New York Local Development Corp., RB, Health Quest Systems, Inc., Series B, 4.00%, 07/01/41

    2,760       2,912,462  

County of Monroe New York Industrial Development Corp., RB, Rochester General Hospital Project:

   

4.00%, 12/01/41

    800       836,712  

5.00%, 12/01/46

    1,280       1,469,914  

Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/32

    830       911,705  

Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/37

    350       381,423  

County of Monroe New York Industrial Development Corp., Refunding RB, Unity Hospital of Rochester Project (FHA), 5.50%, 08/15/40

    5,650       5,962,275  

County of Suffolk New York EDC, RB, Catholic Health Services, Series C, 5.00%, 07/01/32

    625       718,413  

County of Westchester New York Healthcare Corp., Refunding RB, Senior Lien, Remarketing, Series A, 5.00%, 11/01/30

    1,790       1,913,564  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB:

   

New York University Hospitals Center, Series A, 5.75%, 07/01/20(c)

    3,450       3,599,005  

New York University Hospitals Center, Series A, 6.00%, 07/01/20(c)

    1,100       1,149,995  

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group, Series C, 4.25%, 05/01/39

    1,000       1,050,280  

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group, Series D, 4.25%, 05/01/39

    300       314,313  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Catholic Health System Obligation, 4.00%, 07/01/45

    745       790,996  

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Series 1, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    2,625       3,146,220  

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group, Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/21(c)

    4,000       4,276,320  

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group, Series A, 5.25%, 05/01/21(c)

    9,220       9,896,748  

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Obligated Group, Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/32

    3,525       4,132,287  
   

 

 

 
      46,479,896  
Housing — 6.6%  

City of New York Housing Development Corp., RB, M/F Housing, Fund Grant Program, New York City Housing Authority Program, Series B1:

   

5.25%, 07/01/32

    6,865       7,709,532  

5.00%, 07/01/33

    1,675       1,888,177  

City of New York Housing Development Corp., Refunding RB, M/F Housing:

   

8 Spruce Street, Class F, 4.50%, 02/15/48

    1,230       1,303,161  

Sustainable Neighborhood, Series B1-A, 3.65%, 11/01/49

    1,245       1,287,728  

Sustainable Neighborhood, Series B1-A, 3.75%, 11/01/54

    1,725       1,799,641  
 

 

 

26    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Housing (continued)  

City of Yonkers New York Industrial Development Agency, RB, Monastery Manor Associates LP Project, Series A, AMT (SONYMA), 5.25%, 04/01/37

  $ 2,445     $ 2,450,330  

State of New York HFA, RB, M/F Affordable Housing:

   

Green Bond, Climate Bond Certified, Series D (SONYMA), 3.80%, 11/01/49

    2,050       2,135,280  

Series B (Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac), 4.00%, 11/01/42

    1,045       1,101,033  

Series E (SONYMA), 3.80%, 11/01/49

    1,090       1,135,344  

State of New York HFA, RB, M/F Housing:

   

Green Bonds, Series H, 4.15%, 11/01/43

    1,650       1,762,943  

Green Bonds, Series H, 4.20%, 11/01/48

    1,095       1,166,865  

St. Philip’s Housing, Series A, AMT, 4.65%, 11/15/38

    1,500       1,516,020  

State of New York Mortgage Agency, Refunding RB:

   

S/F Housing, Series 194, AMT, 3.80%, 04/01/28

    3,780       3,972,289  

S/F Housing, Series 217, 3.80%, 04/01/45

    1,080       1,114,646  

S/F Housing, Series 213, 4.20%, 10/01/43

    2,305       2,475,247  

Series 190, 3.80%, 10/01/40

    3,470       3,550,539  

Series 218, AMT, 3.60%, 04/01/33

    1,095       1,141,132  

Series 218, AMT, 3.85%, 04/01/38

    395       410,101  
   

 

 

 
      37,920,008  
State — 16.6%  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority, BARB, Series S-3, 5.25%, 07/15/36

    1,910       2,400,985  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Revenue, BARB, Fiscal 2015, Series S-1, 5.00%, 07/15/37

    2,000       2,335,520  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Revenue, Refunding RB, Series S-3, 4.00%, 07/15/38

    6,070       6,798,400  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured, RB:

   

Fiscal 2014, Sub-Series A-1, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    1,000       1,131,600  

Fiscal 2014, Sub-Series B-1, 5.00%, 11/01/36

    1,690       1,948,452  

Fiscal 2016, Sub-Series B-1, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    4,000       4,718,760  

Future Tax Secured Subordinate Bonds, SubSeries A-1, 5.00%, 08/01/40

    1,025       1,252,150  

Future Tax Secured, Sub-Series F-1, 5.00%, 05/01/42

    7,175       8,598,879  

Series A-2, 5.00%, 08/01/38

    4,105       4,964,997  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Dedicated Tax Fund, Series B, 5.00%, 08/01/38(c)

    1,500       1,517,190  

Green Bond, Climate Bond Certified, Sub-Series A-3 (AGM), 4.00%, 11/15/19

    1,035       1,131,503  

Sales Tax Asset Receivable Corp., Refunding RB, Fiscal 2015, Series A, 4.00%, 10/15/32

    3,835       4,317,673  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB:

   

Bid Group 3, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/39

    1,610       1,961,866  

Bidding Group Bond, 4.00%, 02/15/46

    2,835       3,076,712  

General Purpose, Series B, 5.00%, 03/15/37

    1,000       1,086,090  

Group B, State Sales Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/39

    2,280       2,733,606  

Group C, Sales Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/41

    8,550       10,185,615  

Group C, State Sales Tax, Series A, 4.00%, 03/15/45

    3,900       4,265,352  

Master BOCES Program Lease (AGC),
5.00%, 03/15/45(c)

    1,750       1,752,520  

Sales tax, Group B, Series A, 5.00%, 08/15/19

    3,245       3,898,575  

Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/42

    3,000       3,567,510  

Series B, 5.00%, 03/15/37

    2,000       2,360,480  

Series B, 5.00%, 03/15/42

    7,500       8,102,850  

State Personal Income Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/43

    1,000       1,106,800  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Group 3, Series E, 5.00%, 03/15/41

    3,335       4,062,864  

Series C, 5.00%, 03/15/38

    2,250       2,748,555  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
State (continued)  

State of New York Urban Development Corp., RB, State Personal Income Tax, Series C, 5.00%, 03/15/32

  $ 2,000     $ 2,250,660  
   

 

 

 
      94,276,164  
Tobacco — 3.2%  

Counties of New York Tobacco Trust VI, Refunding RB, Tobacco Settlement Pass-Through:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/41

    425       459,888  

Series A-2B, 5.00%, 06/01/45

    2,460       2,606,616  

Series A-2B, 5.00%, 06/01/51

    800       847,256  

County of Chautauqua New York Tobacco Asset Securitization Corp., Refunding RB, Asset-Backed, 4.75%, 06/01/39

    2,190       2,240,458  

County of Niagara New York Tobacco Asset Securitization Corp., Refunding RB, Asset-Backed:

   

5.25%, 05/15/34

    1,650       1,780,334  

5.25%, 05/15/40

    2,250       2,392,403  

TSASC, Inc., Refunding RB, Series A:

   

5.00%, 06/01/30

    3,275       3,848,583  

5.00%, 06/01/32

    355       412,712  

5.00%, 06/01/35

    310       355,595  

Westchester New York Tobacco Asset Securitization, Refunding RB, Tobacco Settlement Bonds, Sub-Series C, 4.00%, 06/01/42

    3,305       3,382,436  
   

 

 

 
      18,326,281  
Transportation — 27.3%  

Buffalo & Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, RB:

   

5.00%, 01/01/47

    1,545       1,774,371  

Toll Bridge System, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    1,250       1,453,588  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, RB:

   

Green Bonds, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/42

    3,500       4,204,550  

Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/21(c)

    1,000       1,148,210  

Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/42(c)

    1,000       1,090,090  

Series A-1, 5.25%, 05/15/23(c)

    2,565       3,020,570  

Series A-1, 5.25%, 11/15/23(c)

    2,840       3,344,412  

Series D, 5.25%, 11/15/23(c)

    765       838,233  

Series E, 5.00%, 11/15/21

    7,785       8,744,813  

Series E, 5.00%, 11/15/43

    4,000       4,454,040  

Series H, 5.00%, 11/15/31

    760       841,274  

Series H, 5.00%, 11/15/43(c)

    930       1,049,914  

Sub-Series B, 5.00%, 11/15/31(c)

    3,250       3,793,237  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Dedicated Tax Fund, Sub-Series B-1, 5.00%, 11/15/23

    3,465       3,992,477  

Green Bond, SubSeries B-1, 5.00%, 11/15/51

    2,815       3,341,687  

Green Bonds, Climate Bond Certified, Sub-Series B-2, 4.00%, 11/15/34

    3,000       3,385,680  

Green Bonds, Series A-1, 5.25%, 11/15/56

    2,610       3,071,448  

Green Bonds, Series A-1, 5.25%, 11/15/57

    1,795       2,099,217  

Series D, 5.25%, 11/15/20(c)

    2,685       2,942,035  

Series D, 5.25%, 11/15/57(c)

    1,000       1,054,220  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Hudson Rail Yards Trust Obligations, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/21

    5,655       6,264,100  

New York Liberty Development Corp., RB, World Trade Center Port Authority Consolidated, 5.25%, 12/15/43

    3,500       3,806,215  

New York Transportation Development Corp., ARB, LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment Project, Series A, AMT:

   

5.00%, 07/01/41

    2,155       2,389,636  

5.00%, 07/01/46

    11,545       12,689,687  

5.25%, 01/01/50

    920       1,026,987  

(AGM), 4.00%, 07/01/41

    1,575       1,678,399  

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, Refunding RB, Toll Bridge System, Series A (AGC), 4.00%, 10/01/19

    420       421,894  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      27  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Transportation (continued)  

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, Refunding ARB, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, AMT:

   

5.00%, 04/01/34

  $ 125     $ 149,488  

5.00%, 04/01/35

    110       131,143  

5.00%, 04/01/36

    120       142,704  

5.00%, 04/01/37

    70       83,007  

5.00%, 04/01/38

    70       82,832  

5.00%, 04/01/39

    95       112,177  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, ARB:

   

Consolidated, 163rd Series, 5.00%, 07/15/35

    2,500       2,583,350  

Consolidated, 169th Series, 5.00%, 10/15/41

    1,000       1,062,250  

Consolidated, 183rd Series, 4.00%, 06/15/44

    1,500       1,602,705  

JFK International Air Terminal LLC, Special Project, Series 6, AMT (NPFGC), 5.75%, 12/01/22

    6,705       6,985,872  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Refunding ARB:

   

178th Series, AMT, 5.00%, 12/01/33

    1,140       1,291,483  

179th Series, 5.00%, 12/01/38

    1,390       1,576,705  

195th Series, AMT, 5.00%, 04/01/36

    1,500       1,773,510  

Consolidated, 177th Series, AMT, 4.00%, 01/15/43

    735       760,387  

Consolidated, 178th Series, AMT, 5.00%, 12/01/43

    750       836,085  

Consolidated,186th Series, AMT, 5.00%, 10/15/44

    1,000       1,138,350  

Series G, JFK International Air Terminal (NPFGC), 5.75%, 12/01/25

    3,500       3,628,450  

State of New York Thruway Authority, RB, Junior Lien, Series A:

   

5.00%, 01/01/41

    2,110       2,476,528  

5.25%, 01/01/56

    2,940       3,433,244  

State of New York Thruway Authority, Refunding RB:

   

General, Series I, 5.00%, 01/01/37

    4,225       4,566,380  

General, Series I, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    3,250       3,494,953  

General, Series J, 5.00%, 01/01/41

    6,275       7,128,525  

General, Series K, 5.00%, 01/01/29

    2,225       2,647,505  

General, Series K, 5.00%, 01/01/31

    1,500       1,777,110  

Series L, 5.00%, 01/01/33

    490       608,389  

Series L, 5.00%, 01/01/34

    840       1,039,290  

Series L, 5.00%, 01/01/35

    970       1,197,746  

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, RB, Series B:

   

5.00%, 11/15/40

    1,010       1,192,608  

5.00%, 11/15/45

    1,500       1,762,575  

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, Refunding RB:

   

General, CAB, Series B, 0.00%, 11/15/32(b)

    9,700       6,852,274  

General, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/38

    1,000       1,104,580  

General, Series A, 5.25%, 11/15/45

    1,460       1,719,705  

General, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/50

    4,500       5,214,690  

MTA Bridge and Tunnels, Series C, 5.00%, 11/15/37

    1,050       1,297,590  
   

 

 

 
      155,375,174  
Utilities — 16.2%  

City of New York Municipal Water Finance Authority, RB, Water & Sewer System, 2nd General Resolution, Fiscal 2017, Series DD, 5.25%, 06/15/47

    4,140       5,007,661  

City of New York Municipal Water Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Water & Sewer System, 2nd General Resolution:

   

Fiscal 2010, Series FF, 5.00%, 06/15/31

    1,500       1,548,975  

Fiscal 2011, Series BB, 5.00%, 06/15/31

    1,000       1,032,590  

Fiscal 2011, Series GG, 5.00%, 06/15/21(c)

    1,000       1,073,970  

Fiscal 2015, Series HH, 5.00%, 06/15/21

    3,000       3,528,480  

Fiscal 2019, Series DD-1, 4.00%, 06/15/49

    1,365       1,507,547  

City of New York Water & Sewer System, Refunding RB, Series EE, 5.00%, 06/15/40

    5,170       6,280,774  

County of Western Nassau New York Water Authority, RB, Series A, 5.00%, 04/01/40

    1,185       1,359,918  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Utilities (continued)  

Long Island Power Authority, RB:

   

5.00%, 09/01/35

  $ 2,000     $ 2,481,160  

5.00%, 09/01/37

    3,825       4,698,400  

General, 5.00%, 09/01/36

    975       1,187,297  

General, 5.00%, 09/01/47

    1,075       1,286,033  

General, Electric Systems, 5.00%, 09/01/42

    335       401,853  

General, Electric Systems, Series A (AGM), 5.00%, 09/01/42(c)

    3,775       4,036,003  

Long Island Power Authority, Refunding RB, Electric System, Series B:

   

5.00%, 05/01/21

    590       696,914  

5.00%, 09/01/46

    825       969,507  

State of New York Environmental Facilities Corp., RB, Series B:

   

Green Bonds, 5.00%, 03/15/45

    5,145       6,014,042  

Revolving Funds, Green Bonds, 5.00%, 09/15/40

    1,195       1,396,800  

Subordinated SRF Bonds, 5.00%, 06/15/48

    1,345       1,652,427  

State of New York Environmental Facilities Corp., Refunding RB:

   

Revolving Funds, New York City Municipal Water, Series B, 5.00%, 06/15/36

    2,100       2,238,138  

Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/40

    4,275       5,079,256  

Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/45

    18,920       22,335,060  

State of New York Power Authority, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/38

    4,920       5,293,034  

Utility Debt Securitization Authority, Refunding RB, Restructuring, Series TE, 5.00%, 12/15/41

    9,960       11,291,752  
   

 

 

 
      92,397,591  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds in New York

 

    720,117,407  
   

 

 

 

Guam — 0.3%

 

Utilities — 0.3%  

Guam Power Authority, RB, Series A (AGM), 5.00%, 10/01/20(c)

    1,380       1,440,637  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds — 126.8%
(Cost — $665,837,395)

 

    721,558,044  
   

 

 

 

Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts(d)

 

New York — 34.0%

 

County/City/Special District/School District — 4.1%  

City of New York, GO:

   

Refunding Series E, 5.00%, 08/01/19(c)

    222       222,478  

Refunding Series E, 5.00%, 08/01/27

    543       544,318  

Sub-Series I-1, 5.00%, 03/01/36

    3,500       4,025,840  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority, RB, Future Tax Secured, Sub-Series D-1, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    4,125       4,423,939  

Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp., RB, Senior-Fiscal 2012(e):

   

5.75%, 02/15/21(c)

    6,030       6,429,112  

5.75%, 02/15/47

    3,709       3,954,995  

New York Liberty Development Corp., Refunding RB, 7 World Trade Center Project, Class 1, 5.00%, 09/15/40

    3,645       3,940,464  
   

 

 

 
      23,541,146  
Education — 1.4%  

City of New York Trust for Cultural Resources, Refunding RB, Wildlife Conservation Society, Series A, 5.00%, 08/01/33

    1,981       2,238,066  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB, State University Dormitory Facilities, New York University, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/35

    5,198       5,533,179  
   

 

 

 
      7,771,245  
 

 

 

28    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Housing — 4.1%  

City of New York Housing Development Corp., RB, M/F Housing:

   

Series C1-A, 4.00%, 11/01/53

  $ 2,733     $ 2,863,522  

Sustainable Neighborhood Bonds, Series B1-A, 3.85%, 05/01/58

    2,625       2,725,406  

City of New York Housing Development Corp., Refunding RB, Sustainable Neighborhood Bonds, Series A, 4.25%, 11/01/43

    4,370       4,733,890  

State of New York HFA, RB, M/F Affordable Housing, Green Bond, Climate Bond Certified, Series I, 4.05%, 11/01/48

    5,457       5,773,956  

State of New York HFA, Refunding RB, Series C (SONYMA, Fannie Mae), 3.85%, 11/01/39

    2,733       2,912,656  

State of New York Mortgage Agency, Refunding RB, S/F Housing, Series 192, 3.80%, 10/01/31

    3,806       4,025,275  
   

 

 

 
      23,034,705  
State — 5.8%  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority, RB, Future Tax Secured, Sub-Series F-1, 5.00%, 05/01/38

    4,123       4,970,666  

Sales Tax Asset Receivable Corp., Refunding RB, Fiscal 2015, Series A:

   

5.00%, 10/15/31

    7,995       9,472,796  

4.00%, 10/15/32

    8,000       9,006,880  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB:

   

Bid Group 2, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/32

    2,000       2,491,780  

General Purpose, Series C, 5.00%, 03/15/41

    1,650       1,734,513  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/40(e)

    3,550       4,339,417  

State of New York Urban Development Corp., Refunding RB, State Personal Income Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/45

    1,001       1,170,490  
   

 

 

 
      33,186,542  
Transportation — 13.2%  

New York Liberty Development Corp., ARB, 1 World Trade Center Port Authority Consolidated Bonds, 5.25%, 12/15/43

    17,999       19,574,274  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Refunding ARB:

   

Consolidated, Series 169th, 5.00%, 10/15/25

    7,990       8,629,683  

Consolidated, Series 169th, 5.00%, 10/15/26

    6,000       6,474,900  

Consolidated, Series 210th, 5.00%, 09/01/48

    4,760       5,780,401  

Series194th, 5.25%, 10/15/55

    3,900       4,626,882  

State of New York Thruway Authority, Refunding RB, Transportation, Personal Income Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/31

    3,940       4,245,784  

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, Refunding RB:

   

General, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/46

    15,000       17,745,000  

MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Series C-2, 5.00%, 11/15/42

    6,675       8,081,823  
   

 

 

 
      75,158,747  
Utilities — 5.4%  

City of New York Municipal Water Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Water & Sewer System, 2nd General Resolution:

   

Fiscal 2011, Series HH, 5.00%, 06/15/32

    9,900       10,572,309  

Fiscal 2012, Series BB, 5.00%, 06/15/44

    3,991       4,308,132  

City of New York Water & Sewer System, Refunding RB, 2nd General Resolution, Fiscal 2018, 5.00%, 06/15/38(e)

    1,391       1,686,326  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Utilities (continued)  

Utility Debt Securitization Authority, Refunding RB:

   

5.00%, 12/15/41

  $ 5,998     $ 6,800,208  

Restructuring, Series A, 5.00%, 12/15/35

    3,500       4,223,835  

Restructuring, Series B, 4.00%, 12/15/35

    2,980       3,321,776  
   

 

 

 
      30,912,586  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts — 34.0%
(Cost — $183,117,203)

 

    193,604,971  
 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 160.8%
(Cost — $848,954,598)

 

    915,163,015  
 

 

 

 
     Shares         
Short-Term Securities — 0.4%  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds New York Money Fund Portfolio,
1.23%(f)(g)

    2,369,681       2,369,681  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.4%
(Cost — $2,369,681)

 

    2,369,681  
 

 

 

 

Total Investments — 161.2%
(Cost — $851,324,279)

 

    917,532,696  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.7%

 

    3,815,764  

Liability for TOB Trust Certificates, Including Interest Expense and Fees Payable — (18.4)%

 

    (104,877,650

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value, Net of Deferred Offering Costs — (43.5)%

 

    (247,368,744
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares — 100.0%

 

  $ 569,102,066  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

When-issued security.

(b) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(c) 

U.S. Government securities held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par.

(d) 

Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Fund. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(e) 

All or a portion of the security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Fund could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between August 15, 2020 to September 15, 2026, is $8,339,715. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      29  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

 

(g) 

During the year ended July 31, 2019, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate/affiliates of the Fund for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliate    Shares
Held at
07/31/18
     Net
Activity
     Shares
Held at
07/31/19
     Value at
07/31/19
     Income      Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
 (a)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds New York Money Fund Portfolio

            2,369,681        2,369,681      $ 2,369,681      $ 24,848      $      $  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class(b)

     2,731,322        (2,731,322                    8,816        87        (361
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,369,681      $ 33,664      $ 87      $ (361
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes net capital gain distributions, if applicable.

 
  (b) 

No longer held by the fund as of period end.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to one or more of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the investment adviser. These definitions may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine such sector sub-classifications for reporting ease.

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Notional
Amount (000)
       Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Short Contracts

                 

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     36          09/19/19        $ 4,587        $ 8,522  

Long U.S. Treasury Bond

     155          09/19/19          24,117          (224,904

5-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     83          09/30/19          9,757          (4,235
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (220,617
                 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 8,522      $      $ 8,522  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments                                                 

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 229,139      $      $ 229,139  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts and centrally cleared swaps, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (3,912,724    $      $ (3,912,724
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:                                                 

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (157,529    $      $ (157,529
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

30    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (MYN)

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ 45,244,113  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following tables summarize the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

 

Investments:

            

Long-Term Investments(a)

   $        $ 915,163,015        $             —        $ 915,163,015  

Short-Term Securities

     2,369,681                            2,369,681  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 2,369,681        $ 915,163,015        $        $ 917,532,696  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

 

Assets:

 

Interest rate contracts

   $ 8,522        $        $        $ 8,522  

Liabilities:

 

Interest rate contracts

     (229,139                          (229,139
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ (220,617      $        $        $ (220,617
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

See above Schedule of Investments for values in each sector.

 
  (b) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Liabilities:

 

TOB Trust Certificates

   $             —        $ (104,473,133      $             —        $ (104,473,133

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value

              (247,700,000                 (247,700,000
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $        $ (352,173,133      $        $ (352,173,133
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      31  


Schedule of Investments

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Municipal Bonds — 115.3%

 

Alabama — 2.2%  

Auburn University, RB, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/48

  $ 10,000     $ 12,011,800  

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, Special Tax Bonds, Series A, 4.00%, 07/01/43

    3,900       4,153,851  

County of Tuscaloosa Board of Education, RB, Special Tax School Warrants, 5.00%, 02/01/43

    2,485       2,900,666  

Homewood Educational Building Authority, Refunding RB, Educational Facilities, Samford University, Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/47

    2,835       3,281,994  
   

 

 

 
      22,348,311  
Alaska — 1.3%  

Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority, RB, Providence Health Services, Series A, 5.50%, 10/01/41

    2,690       2,890,432  

Borough of Matanuska-Susitna Alaska, RB, Goose Creek Correctional Center (AGC)(a):

   

6.00%, 09/01/19

    6,450       6,475,026  

6.00%, 09/01/19

    3,700       3,714,356  
   

 

 

 
      13,079,814  
Arizona — 0.4%  

County of Maricopa Industrial Development Authority, Refunding RB, HonorHealth, Series A, 5.00%, 09/01/42

    435       516,984  

State of Arizona, COP, Department of Administration, Series A (AGM), 5.00%, 10/01/27

    3,075       3,093,942  
   

 

 

 
      3,610,926  
California — 8.4%  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, RB, Sutter Health, Series B, 5.88%, 08/15/20(a)

    3,200       3,361,856  

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Refunding RB, St. Joseph Health System, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/37

    2,965       3,336,396  

California Statewide Communities Development Authority, RB, Kaiser Permanente, Series A, 5.00%, 04/01/42

    4,030       4,395,602  

City of San Jose California, Refunding ARB, Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport SJC, AMT:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 03/01/36

    1,160       1,381,583  

Series A, 5.00%, 03/01/37

    1,275       1,511,755  

Series A-1, 5.75%, 03/01/34

    2,300       2,447,430  

County of San Joaquin California Transportation Authority, Refunding RB, Limited Tax, Measure K, Series A, 6.00%, 03/01/21(a)

    1,830       1,973,600  

Dublin Unified School District California, GO, CAB, Election of 2004, Series D, 0.00%, 08/01/34(b)

    5,000       1,948,950  

Grossmont California Union High School District, GO, CAB, Election of 2004, 0.00%, 08/01/31(b)

    5,110       3,895,251  

Long Beach Unified School District, GO, CAB, Election of 2008, Series B, 0.00%, 08/01/34(b)

    5,000       3,292,200  

Mount San Antonio Community College District, GO, Refunding, CAB, Election of 2008, Series A, 6.25%, 08/01/43(c)

    3,975       3,860,083  

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, GO, Refunding, CAB, Election of 2002, Series E (AGC), 0.00%, 08/01/38(b)

    7,620       4,019,855  

Poway Unified School District, GO, Refunding, CAB, School Facilities Improvement, Election of 2008, Series B(b):

   

0.00%, 08/01/35

    7,820       5,232,988  

0.00%, 08/01/36

    10,000       6,345,300  

Rio Hondo Community College District California, GO, CAB, Election of 2004, Series C(b):

   

0.00%, 08/01/37

    8,000       4,747,760  

0.00%, 08/01/38

    12,940       7,370,494  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
California (continued)  

San Diego California Unified School District, GO, Election of 2008, Series G, CAB(b):

   

0.00%, 07/01/34

  $ 1,860     $ 967,014  

0.00%, 07/01/35

    1,970       961,734  

0.00%, 07/01/36

    2,960       1,357,930  

0.00%, 07/01/37

    1,975       853,160  

San Diego California Unified School District, GO, Refunding, CAB, Series R-1, 0.00%, 07/01/31(b)

    3,485       2,640,584  

San Marcos Unified School District, GO, Election of 2010, Series A(a):

   

5.00%, 08/01/21

    1,800       1,943,190  

5.00%, 08/01/21

    1,600       1,727,280  

State of California, GO, Refunding, Various Purposes:

   

5.00%, 09/01/41

    2,700       2,884,734  

5.00%, 10/01/41

    2,555       2,733,416  

State of California, GO, Series 2007-2 (NPFGC), 5.50%, 04/01/30

    10       10,038  

State of California Public Works Board, LRB, Various Capital Projects, Series I, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    5,040       5,719,442  

Walnut Valley Unified School District, GO, CAB, Election of 2007, Series B, 0.00%, 08/01/36(b)

    6,545       3,718,803  
   

 

 

 
      84,638,428  
Colorado — 0.8%  

Denver Convention Center Hotel Authority, Refunding RB, 5.00%, 12/01/36

    1,500       1,745,505  

Regional Transportation District, COP, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/39

    5,655       6,285,137  
   

 

 

 
      8,030,642  
Florida — 9.1%  

City of Jacksonville Florida, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.25%, 10/01/42

    4,000       4,846,080  

County of Brevard Florida Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Health First, Inc. Project, 5.00%, 04/01/39

    4,535       4,986,913  

County of Broward Florida Airport System Revenue, ARB, AMT, 5.00%, 10/01/42

    3,000       3,527,850  

County of Broward Florida Airport System Revenue, RB, Series A , AMT, 5.00%, 10/01/40

    3,000       3,467,820  

County of Highlands Florida Health Facilities Authority, RB, Adventist Health System/Sunbelt Obligated Group:

   

6.00%, 11/15/19(a)

    5       5,070  

6.00%, 11/15/37

    1,745       1,766,533  

County of Lee Florida, Refunding ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

5.63%, 10/01/26

    2,600       2,812,576  

5.38%, 10/01/32

    3,440       3,680,215  

County of Miami-Dade Florida, RB, Seaport Department:

   

Series A, 6.00%, 10/01/38

    5,695       6,549,022  

Series B, AMT, 6.25%, 10/01/38

    1,165       1,337,956  

Series B, AMT, 6.00%, 10/01/42

    1,865       2,126,641  

Series B, AMT, 6.00%, 10/01/30

    1,820       2,094,693  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Aviation, Refunding ARB, AMT, 5.00%, 10/01/34

    530       604,322  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Educational Facilities Authority, RB, University of Miami, Series A, 5.00%, 04/01/40

    14,360       16,330,192  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Project, 5.00%, 08/01/42

    1,675       1,965,579  

County of Miami-Dade Florida, Aviation, Refunding RB, Series B, AMT, 5.00%, 10/01/40

    6,500       7,659,275  
 

 

 

32    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security

  Par
(000)
    Value  
Florida (continued)  

County of Orange Florida Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Presbyterian Retirement Communities Project:

   

5.00%, 08/01/41

  $ 1,550     $ 1,730,032  

5.00%, 08/01/47

    4,590       5,108,808  

County of Palm Beach Florida Solid Waste Authority, Refunding RB, Series B:

   

5.00%, 10/01/21(a)

    50       54,130  

5.00%, 10/01/31

    3,050       3,286,497  

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, ARB, AMT:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/36

    2,805       3,283,112  

Priority Sub-Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/42

    4,760       5,614,801  

South Miami Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Baptist Health South Florida Obligated Group, 5.00%, 08/15/42

    2,965       3,479,398  

Town of Davie Florida, Refunding RB, Nova Southeastern University Project, 5.00%, 04/01/37

    4,630       5,473,447  
   

 

 

 
      91,790,962  
Georgia — 0.5%  

County of Gainesville Georgia & Hall Hospital Authority, Refunding RB, Northeast Georgia Health System, Inc. Project, Series A (GTD), 5.50%, 08/15/54

    1,405       1,629,125  

Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., RB, Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/43

    1,105       1,296,231  

Private Colleges & Universities Authority, RB, Savannah College of Art & Design:

   

5.00%, 04/01/33

    395       450,956  

5.00%, 04/01/44

    1,775       1,994,266  
   

 

 

 
      5,370,578  
Hawaii — 1.2%  

State of Hawaii Airports System Revenue, ARB, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/43

    2,385       2,860,116  

State of Hawaii Department of Budget & Finance, Refunding RB, Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc. AMT, 4.00%, 03/01/37

    5,275       5,521,132  

State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, COP, AMT:

   

5.00%, 08/01/27

    2,000       2,248,640  

5.00%, 08/01/28

    1,775       1,992,171  
   

 

 

 
      12,622,059  
Illinois — 14.6%  

City of Chicago Illinois, Refunding GARB, O’Hare International Airport, AMT, Series B, 5.00%, 01/01/31

    2,425       2,602,656  

City of Chicago Illinois Midway International Airport, Refunding ARB, 2nd Lien, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 01/01/34

    3,035       3,387,303  

City of Chicago Illinois O’Hare International Airport, GARB:

   

3rd Lien, Series A, 5.75%, 01/01/21(a)

    7,555       8,044,791  

3rd Lien, Series A, 5.75%, 01/01/39

    1,445       1,522,510  

Senior Lien, Series D, 5.25%, 01/01/42

    8,285       9,846,391  

Senior Lien, Series D, AMT, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    2,865       3,272,976  

City of Chicago Illinois Transit Authority, RB, Sales Tax Receipts, 5.25%, 12/01/36

    1,620       1,732,995  

County of Cook Illinois Community College District No. 508, GO, City College of Chicago, 5.13%, 12/01/38

    3,250       3,476,395  

County of Cook Illinois Forest Preserve District, GO, Refunding, Limited Tax Project, Series B, 5.00%, 12/15/37

    615       662,177  

Illinois Finance Authority, RB, Carle Foundation, Series A, 5.75%, 08/15/34

    8,700       9,368,682  

Illinois Finance Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Series A, 6.00%, 08/15/19(a)

    5,250       5,259,240  

Silver Cross Hospital & Medical Centers, Series C, 5.00%, 08/15/44

    985       1,087,775  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Illinois (continued)  

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, RB, CAB, McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series A (NPFGC)(b):

   

0.00%, 12/15/26

  $ 8,500     $ 6,994,650  

0.00%, 06/15/32

    14,000       9,261,980  

0.00%, 12/15/33

    20,000       12,364,800  

0.00%, 12/15/34

    41,880       24,867,925  

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, Refunding RB, CAB, McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series B (AGM), 0.00%, 06/15/44(b)

    9,430       3,705,141  

Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority, RB, 6.00%, 06/01/21(a)

    1,700       1,849,277  

Regional Transportation Authority, RB, Series C (NPFGC), 7.75%, 06/01/20

    200       210,526  

State of Illinois, GO:

   

5.25%, 07/01/29

    3,160       3,423,196  

5.00%, 05/01/32

    7,500       8,071,050  

5.25%, 02/01/33

    5,860       6,348,138  

5.50%, 07/01/33

    2,235       2,437,647  

5.25%, 02/01/34

    5,360       5,797,483  

5.50%, 07/01/38

    1,200       1,302,912  

State of Illinois Toll Highway Authority, RB, Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/42

    8,540       10,109,140  
   

 

 

 
      147,007,756  
Indiana — 0.7%  

Indiana Finance Authority, RB, Series A:

   

CWA Authority Project, 1st Lien, 5.25%, 10/01/38

    2,900       3,103,522  

Private Activity Bond, Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing Project, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/44

    1,400       1,522,010  

State of Indiana Finance Authority, RB, Private Activity Bond, Ohio River Bridges, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/40

    2,425       2,647,542  
   

 

 

 
      7,273,074  
Iowa — 1.4%  

Iowa Finance Authority, RB, Iowa Health Care Facilities, Series A (AGC), 5.63%, 08/15/19(a)

    12,650       12,670,493  

Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp., RB, Senior Series A-2, AMT:

   

5.60%, 12/01/26

    325       335,055  

5.70%, 12/01/27

    325       335,104  

5.75%, 12/01/28

    175       180,436  

5.80%, 12/01/29

    220       226,827  

5.85%, 12/01/30

    230       237,130  
   

 

 

 
      13,985,045  
Kentucky — 2.1%  

Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, RB, Catholic Health Initiatives, Series A, 5.38%, 01/01/23(a)

    1,000       1,140,320  

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, RB, Gas Supply, Series C-1, 4.00%, 12/01/49(d)

    10,125       11,217,791  

Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority, RB, Downtown Crossing Project, Convertible CAB, 1st Tier, Series C, 6.60%, 07/01/39(c)

    8,225       8,679,431  
   

 

 

 
      21,037,542  
Louisiana — 1.8%  

City of New Orleans Louisiana Aviation Board, ARB, Series B, AMT, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    4,825       5,387,161  

Jefferson Sales Tax District, RB, Series B (AGM):

   

5.00%, 12/01/34

    670       803,618  

5.00%, 12/01/35

    895       1,071,431  

5.00%, 12/01/36

    805       962,369  

5.00%, 12/01/37

    1,005       1,199,106  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      33  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Louisiana (continued)  

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority, RB, East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission Projects, Series A, 5.00%, 02/01/44

  $ 8,155     $ 9,094,864  
   

 

 

 
      18,518,549  
Massachusetts — 1.4%  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, RB, Emerson College Issue, Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/47

    5,950       6,782,821  

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Refunding RB, Emmanuel College Issue, Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/43

    320       361,773  

Massachusetts HFA, Refunding RB, AMT:

   

Series A, 4.45%, 12/01/42

    2,235       2,310,655  

Series C, 5.35%, 12/01/42

    1,000       1,015,410  

Massachusetts School Building Authority, RB, Dedicated Sales Tax, Senior Series A, 5.00%, 05/15/43

    3,495       3,914,680  
   

 

 

 
      14,385,339  
Michigan — 5.9%  

City of Lansing Michigan, RB, Board of Water & Light Utilities System, Series A, 5.50%, 07/01/41

    3,185       3,399,605  

Michigan Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Trinity Health Credit Group:

   

Hospital, 5.00%, 12/01/39

    16,040       17,153,016  

5.00%, 12/01/21(a)

    60       65,290  

Michigan State University, Refunding RB, Board of Trustees, Series B:

   

5.00%, 02/15/38

    1,775       2,196,918  

4.00%, 02/15/39

    2,125       2,376,048  

Michigan Strategic Fund, RB, AMT:

   

I-75 Improvement Project (AGM), 4.25%, 12/31/38

    2,000       2,191,180  

I-75 Improvement Project, 5.00%, 12/31/43

    9,940       11,607,037  

Royal Oak Hospital Finance Authority Michigan, Refunding RB, Beaumont Health Credit Group, Series D, 5.00%, 09/01/39

    1,330       1,483,682  

State of Michigan Building Authority, Refunding RB, Facilities Program:

   

Series I (AGC), 5.25%, 10/15/24

    1,750       1,763,965  

Series I (AGC), 5.25%, 10/15/25

    3,250       3,275,382  

Series I-A, 5.38%, 10/15/36

    2,075       2,240,232  

Series I-A, 5.38%, 10/15/41

    1,900       2,040,790  

Series II-A (AGM), 5.25%, 10/15/36

    8,040       8,636,729  

Western Michigan University, Refunding RB, General, University and College Improvements (AGM), 5.00%, 11/15/39

    1,080       1,214,384  
   

 

 

 
      59,644,258  
Nebraska — 0.7%  

Central Plains Nebraska Energy Project, RB, Gas Project No. 3, 5.25%, 09/01/37

    6,825       7,516,168  
   

 

 

 
Nevada — 3.1%  

County of Clark Nevada, ARB, Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, Series A:

   

5.25%, 07/01/42

    2,000       2,027,880  

(AGM), 5.25%, 07/01/39

    5,170       5,241,243  

Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, RB, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/43

    20,000       23,861,000  
   

 

 

 
      31,130,123  
New Jersey — 11.3%  

New Jersey EDA, RB:

   

Goethals Bridge Replacement Project, AMT, Private Activity Bond, 5.38%, 01/01/43

    4,920       5,480,683  

Goethals Bridge Replacement Project, AMT, Private Activity Bond, 5.13%, 01/01/34

    1,930       2,160,017  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
New Jersey (continued)  

School Facilities Construction Bonds, Series DDD, 5.00%, 06/15/42

  $ 590     $ 664,434  

Series WW, 5.25%, 06/15/33

    445       507,647  

Series WW, 5.00%, 06/15/34

    570       639,215  

Series WW, 5.00%, 06/15/36

    2,635       2,942,162  

Series WW, 5.25%, 06/15/40

    1,025       1,153,566  

New Jersey EDA, Refunding RB, School Facilities Construction:

   

Series N-1 (AMBAC), 5.50%, 09/01/24

    6,325       7,431,812  

Series N-1 (NPFGC), 5.50%, 09/01/28

    1,685       2,108,104  

New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, Refunding RB, AMT:

   

Series 1, 5.50%, 12/01/25

    530       561,752  

Series 1, 5.50%, 12/01/26

    760       805,197  

Series 1, 5.75%, 12/01/28

    85       90,281  

Series 1, 5.88%, 12/01/33

    6,895       7,467,492  

Series B, 3.25%, 12/01/39

    7,670       7,684,420  

New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Refunding RB, M/F Housing, Series 2, AMT, 4.35%, 11/01/33

    2,645       2,759,343  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, RB:

   

CAB, Transportation System, Series A, 0.00%, 12/15/35(b)

    18,525       10,649,096  

CAB, Transportation System, Series C (AGC) (AMBAC), 0.00%, 12/15/25(b)

    8,550       7,353,684  

Federal Highway Reimbursement Revenue Notes, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/28

    4,205       5,002,268  

Federal Highway Reimbursement Revenue Notes, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/29

    2,145       2,542,747  

Transportation Program, Series AA, 5.25%, 06/15/33

    4,150       4,598,823  

Transportation Program, Series AA, 5.00%, 06/15/38

    3,990       4,379,983  

Transportation System, Series A, 5.50%, 06/15/41

    2,980       3,136,182  

Transportation System, Series A (NPFGC), 5.75%, 06/15/25

    4,000       4,850,440  

Transportation System, Series AA, 5.50%, 06/15/39

    5,625       6,219,731  

Transportation System, Series B, 5.50%, 06/15/31

    1,000       1,062,400  

Transportation System, Series B, 5.00%, 06/15/42

    2,575       2,688,506  

Transportation System, Series D, 5.00%, 06/15/32

    1,825       2,048,289  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Refunding RB, Series A:

   

5.00%, 06/01/46

    4,000       4,474,200  

5.25%, 06/01/46

    11,035       12,586,411  
   

 

 

 
      114,048,885  
New Mexico — 0.1%  

New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council, Refunding RB, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, 5.00%, 08/01/44

    1,040       1,203,249  
   

 

 

 
New York — 5.7%  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority, Refunding RB, Future Tax Secured, Series B, 5.00%, 11/01/32

    4,150       4,616,211  

City of New York Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured, RB, Future Tax Secured:

   

Subordinate Bond, Series C-3, 5.00%, 05/01/41

    5,000       6,059,950  

Sub-Series F-1, 5.00%, 05/01/39

    3,360       3,997,358  

Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp., RB, Senior, Fiscal 2012:

   

5.75%, 02/15/21(a)

    1,190       1,275,954  

5.75%, 02/15/47

    730       771,216  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, RB, Transportation, Sub-Series A-1, 5.00%, 11/15/40

    2,165       2,491,114  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Refunding RB, Series B, 5.00%, 11/15/37

    11,500       13,588,975  
 

 

 

34    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
New York (continued)  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Refunding RB, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/45

  $ 5,000     $ 6,076,800  

New York Transportation Development Corp., ARB, LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment Project, Series A, AMT, 5.25%, 01/01/50

    8,300       9,265,207  

State of New York Urban Development Corp., RB, State Personal Income Tax, General Purpose, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/43

    7,500       9,120,000  
   

 

 

 
      57,262,785  
Ohio — 2.9%  

American Municipal Power, Inc., RB, Combined Hydroelectric Projects, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/41

    4,000       4,631,240  

American Municipal Power, Inc., Refunding RB, Combined Hydroelectric Projects, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/38

    2,375       2,749,585  

County of Lucas Ohio, Refunding RB, Promedica Healthcare, Series A, 6.50%, 11/15/21(a)

    3,000       3,357,090  

County of Montgomery Ohio, RB, Catholic Health Initiatives, Series D-2, 5.45%, 11/12/23(a)

    11,135       13,107,343  

State of Ohio Turnpike Commission, RB, Junior Lien, Infrastructure Projects, Series A-1:

   

5.25%, 02/15/32

    1,950       2,192,482  

5.25%, 02/15/33

    2,730       3,064,753  
   

 

 

 
      29,102,493  
Oregon — 0.3%  

Clackamas Community College District, GO, Convertible Deferred Interest Bonds, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/38(c)

    425       489,575  

County of Clackamas Community College District, GO, Convertible Deferred Interest Bonds, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/39(c)

    395       453,760  

County of Clackamas Oregon Community College District, GO, Convertible Deferred Interest Bonds, Series A, 5.00%, 06/15/40(c)

    420       480,690  

County of Clackamas Oregon School District No. 12 North Clackamas, GO, CAB, Series A, 0.00%, 06/15/38(b)

    2,800       1,362,088  
   

 

 

 
      2,786,113  
Pennsylvania — 8.0%  

Commonwealth Financing Authority, RB:

   

Series B, 5.00%, 06/01/42

    3,305       3,565,764  

Tobacco Master Settlement Payment, 5.00%, 06/01/34

    2,180       2,628,971  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, RB:

   

AMT, 5.00%, 06/30/42

    8,805       9,874,807  

PA Bridges Finco LP, AMT, 5.00%, 12/31/34

    7,115       8,165,459  

Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement, 5.00%, 12/31/38

    6,850       7,782,285  

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, Refunding RB, Series A, 4.00%, 11/15/42

    5,000       5,372,500  

Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Thomas Jefferson University, Series A, 5.25%, 09/01/50

    8,075       9,176,672  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, RB:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/38

    1,775       2,042,688  

Series A-1, 5.00%, 12/01/41

    2,320       2,709,714  

Series B, 5.00%, 12/01/40

    4,920       5,708,873  

Series C, 5.50%, 12/01/23(a)

    1,565       1,851,943  

Sub-Series B-1, 5.00%, 06/01/42

    7,330       8,479,710  

Subordinate, Series A, 5.00%, 12/01/44

    6,760       7,948,881  

Subordinate, Special Motor License Fund, 6.00%, 12/01/20(a)

    2,575       2,739,929  

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Refunding RB, Series A-1, 5.00%, 12/01/40

    2,165       2,491,525  
   

 

 

 
      80,539,721  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Rhode Island — 1.1%  

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Refunding RB, Series B:

   

4.50%, 06/01/45

  $ 3,000     $ 3,070,860  

5.00%, 06/01/50

    7,465       7,809,510  
   

 

 

 
      10,880,370  
South Carolina — 5.4%  

South Carolina Jobs EDA, Refunding RB, Palmetto Health, Series A (AGM), 6.50%, 08/01/21(a)

    3,600       3,983,472  

South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority, RB, McLeod Health Obligated Group, 5.00%, 11/01/43

    5,000       5,912,950  

South Carolina Ports Authority, ARB, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/38

    3,380       4,016,657  

State of South Carolina Ports Authority, RB, AMT, 5.25%, 07/01/50

    6,530       7,513,614  

State of South Carolina Public Service Authority, RB:

   

Santee Cooper, Series A, 5.50%, 12/01/54

    11,450       12,910,791  

Series E, 5.50%, 12/01/53

    4,525       5,023,700  

State of South Carolina Public Service Authority, Refunding RB, Series B:

   

Santee Cooper, 5.00%, 12/01/38

    5,870       6,553,796  

(AGM), 5.00%, 12/01/56

    7,155       8,274,400  
   

 

 

 
      54,189,380  
Tennessee — 0.5%  

County of Nashville & Davidson Metropolitan Government Health & Educational Facilities Board, Refunding RB, Lipscomb University Project, Series A, 5.25%, 10/01/58

    4,665       5,536,842  
   

 

 

 
Texas — 13.5%  

Central Texas Turnpike System, Refunding RB, Central Texas Turnpike System, 1st Tier, Series A, 5.00%, 08/15/41

    11,345       12,328,158  

City of San Antonio Texas Electric & Gas Revenue, Refunding RB, 5.00%, 02/01/42

    7,450       8,938,361  

City of San Antonio Texas Electric & Gas Revenue, RB, Junior Lien, 5.00%, 02/01/38

    1,450       1,602,714  

County of Midland Texas Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, RB, CAB, City of Midland Project, Series A, 0.00%, 09/15/36(b)

    5,810       2,974,023  

County of Tarrant Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., RB, Christus Health, Series B, 5.00%, 07/01/34

    5,000       6,029,350  

County of Tarrant Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Refunding RB, Cook Children’s Medical Center, 5.25%, 12/01/39

    2,095       2,374,117  

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, ARB, Joint Improvement, Series D, AMT, 5.00%, 11/01/38

    10,980       11,678,328  

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Refunding ARB, Series F:

   

5.25%, 11/01/33

    2,745       3,143,025  

5.00%, 11/01/35

    5,000       5,189,750  

Grand Parkway Transportation Corp., RB, Subordinate Tier Toll Revenue Bonds, TELA Supported, Series A, 5.00%, 10/01/43

    7,940       9,540,704  

Leander ISD, GO, Refunding, CAB, Series D (PSF-GTD), 0.00%, 08/15/38(b)

    9,685       4,425,173  

North Texas Tollway Authority, RB, CAB, Special Project System, Series B, 0.00%, 09/01/31(a)(b)

    18,100       5,569,732  

North Texas Tollway Authority, Refunding RB:

   

1st Tier System, Series A, 6.00%, 01/01/28

    1,175       1,177,209  

1st Tier-Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/39

    9,080       10,937,950  

2nd Tier-Series B, 5.00%, 01/01/43

    12,355       14,594,467  

Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/39

    7,905       9,255,332  

Series B, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    1,710       1,886,079  
 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      35  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Texas (continued)  

San Antonio Public Facilities Corp., Refunding RB, Convention Center Refinancing & Expansion Project, CAB(b):

   

0.00%, 09/15/35

  $ 680     $ 332,710  

0.00%, 09/15/36

    12,195       5,600,432  

0.00%, 09/15/37

    8,730       3,794,058  

Texas Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. III, RB, Natural Gas Utility Improvements:

   

5.00%, 12/15/31

    1,665       1,822,609  

5.00%, 12/15/32

    3,930       4,296,237  

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., RB, Senior Lien, AMT, Blueridge Transportation Group, 5.00%, 12/31/45

    3,630       4,014,816  

Texas Water Development Board, RB, State Water Implementation Fund, Series B, 4.00%, 10/15/43

    4,315       4,767,902  
   

 

 

 
      136,273,236  
Utah — 1.2%  

Salt Lake Corp. Airport Revenue, ARB, Series A, AMT:

   

5.00%, 07/01/42

    3,490       4,086,406  

5.00%, 07/01/43

    3,190       3,777,470  

5.00%, 07/01/37

    3,475       4,169,583  
   

 

 

 
      12,033,459  
Washington — 7.3%  

Port of Seattle Washington, ARB:

   

AMT, Series A, 5.00%, 05/01/38

    20,000       23,741,600  

Intermediate Lien, ATM, 5.00%, 04/01/44

    6,605       7,904,071  

Port of Seattle Washington, RB, Intermediate Lien, Series C, AMT, 5.00%, 04/01/40

    2,830       3,205,654  

State of Washington Convention Center Public Facilities District, RB, Civic Convention Center, 5.00%, 07/01/38

    9,260       11,079,127  

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, RB:

   

MultiCare Health System, Remarketing, Series B, 5.00%, 08/15/44

    1,000       1,083,170  

Providence Health & Services, Series A, 5.25%, 10/01/39

    2,725       2,786,313  

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Catholic Health Initiatives, Series D, 6.38%, 10/01/36

    5,400       5,412,258  

Multicare Health System, Series B, 4.00%, 08/15/41

    9,000       9,696,870  

Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District, RB, Sub, 5.00%, 07/01/43

    7,635       9,071,907  
   

 

 

 
      73,980,970  
Wisconsin — 2.4%  

State of Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority, RB, Ascension Health Senior Credit Group, Series E, 5.00%, 11/15/33

    3,745       3,782,862  

Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Ascension Health Credit Group, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/36

    4,815       5,697,445  

Ascension Health Credit Group, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/39

    5,000       5,882,500  

Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Thermal Service, 5.00%, 04/01/44

    7,350       8,809,783  
   

 

 

 
      24,172,590  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds — 115.3%
(Cost — $1,050,287,862)

 

    1,163,999,667  
 

 

 

 

Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts(e)

 

Arizona — 1.0%

 

City of Phoenix Civic Improvement Corp., Refunding RB, Senior Lien, AMT, 5.00%, 07/01/43(f)

    8,500       10,172,885  
   

 

 

 
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
California — 1.9%  

Los Angeles California Unified School District, GO, Election of 2008, Series B-1, 5.25%, 07/01/42(g)

  $ 7,074     $ 8,720,063  

Los Angeles Community College District California, GO, Refunding, Election of 2008, Series A, 6.00%, 08/01/19(a)

    5,248       5,248,023  

San Diego California Community College District, GO, Election of 2002, 5.25%, 08/01/19(a)

    1,047       1,047,195  

State of California, GO, Refunding, Various Purpose, 5.25%, 10/01/39

    3,000       3,656,160  
   

 

 

 
      18,671,441  
Colorado — 0.9%  

City & County of Denver Colorado Airport System Revenue, Refunding ARB, Sub-System, Series A, AMT, 5.25%, 12/01/43(f)(g)

    5,833       7,088,548  

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Catholic Health Initiatives, Series A, 5.50%, 07/01/34(g)

    2,469       2,474,346  
   

 

 

 
      9,562,894  
Connecticut — 0.5%  

State of Connecticut Health & Educational Facility Authority, Refunding RB, Trinity Health Credit Group, 5.00%, 12/01/45

    3,932       4,565,075  
   

 

 

 
District of Columbia — 0.3%  

District of Columbia, RB, Series A, 5.50%, 12/01/30(g)

    2,594       2,630,680  
   

 

 

 
Florida — 6.1%  

City of Miami Beach Florida, RB, 5.00%, 09/01/45

    8,760       10,174,652  

City of Miami Beach Florida Stormwater Revenue, Refunding RB, 5.00%, 09/01/41(f)

    10,000       11,982,298  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Transit System, Refunding RB, Sales Tax, 5.00%, 07/01/42

    4,840       5,223,522  

County of Miami-Dade Florida Water & Sewer System, RB, (AGM), 5.00%, 10/01/20(a)

    11,702       12,230,709  

County of Orange Florida School Board, COP, Series A (AGC), 5.50%, 08/01/34

    12,013       12,012,604  

County of Pinellas Florida School Board, COP, Master Lease Program, Series A, 5.00%, 07/01/41

    7,880       9,423,377  
   

 

 

 
      61,047,162  
Illinois — 4.4%  

State of Illinois Toll Highway Authority, RB:

   

Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/38

    5,836       6,400,494  

Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    7,621       8,767,554  

Series A, 5.00%, 01/01/44(f)

    12,000       14,423,160  

Series B, 5.00%, 01/01/40

    2,939       3,403,978  

Senior, Series C, 5.00%, 01/01/36

    10,000       11,477,500  
   

 

 

 
      44,472,686  
Kansas — 1.6%  

County of Wyandotte Kansas Unified School District, GO, Series A, 5.50%, 09/01/47

    13,470       16,298,024  
   

 

 

 
Massachusetts — 2.9%  

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, GO:

   

Consolidated Loan, Series E, 5.25%, 09/01/43(f)

    20,000       24,742,000  

Series A, 5.00%, 03/01/46

    4,204       4,758,477  
   

 

 

 
      29,500,477  
Michigan — 2.1%  

Michigan Finance Authority, RB, Beaumont Health Credit Group, Series A, 5.00%, 11/01/44

    5,591       6,380,286  

State of Michigan Building Authority, Refunding RB, Series I:

   

Facilities Program, 5.00%, 10/15/45

    2,410       2,820,520  

5.00%, 04/15/38

    10,000       11,706,297  
   

 

 

 
      20,907,103  
 

 

 

36    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Nevada — 2.3%  

County of Clark Nevada, GOL, Stadium Improvement, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/43

  $ 9,730     $ 11,647,587  

Las Vegas Valley Water District Nevada, GO, Refunding, Water Improvement, Series A, 5.00%, 06/01/46

    9,840       11,500,598  
   

 

 

 
      23,148,185  
New Jersey — 2.1%  

County of Hudson New Jersey Improvement Authority, RB, Hudson County Vocational-Technical Schools Project, 5.25%, 05/01/51

    2,320       2,745,187  

Garden State Preservation Trust, RB, Election of 2005, Series A (AGM), 5.75%, 11/01/28

    10,000       12,735,600  

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, RB, Transportation System, Series B, 5.25%, 06/15/36(g)

    4,961       5,223,589  
   

 

 

 
      20,704,376  
New York — 7.1%  

City of New York Water & Sewer System, Refunding RB:

   

2nd General Resolution, Fiscal 2013, Series CC, 5.00%, 06/15/47

    15,521       17,500,697  

Series DD, 5.00%, 06/15/35

    4,740       5,515,132  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, RB, Transportation, Sub-Series D-1, 5.25%, 11/15/44

    9,850       11,342,866  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Refunding RB, Series C-1, 5.25%, 11/15/56

    4,275       5,054,474  

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Refunding ARB, Consolidated, 198th Series, 5.25%, 11/15/56

    6,402       7,751,806  

State of New York Dormitory Authority, RB, Group B, State Sales Tax, Series A, 5.00%, 03/15/39

    7,622       9,137,983  

State of New York Urban Development Corp., RB, Personal Income Tax, General Purpose, Series A-1, 5.00%, 03/15/43

    14,280       15,768,404  
   

 

 

 
      72,071,362  
Pennsylvania — 1.9%  

County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania Municipal Authority, Refunding RB, (BAM), 5.00%, 08/15/42

    2,560       2,972,134  

Geisinger Authority Pennsylvania, Refunding RB, Geisinger Health System, Series A, 4.00%, 06/01/41

    15,000       15,847,050  
   

 

 

 
      18,819,184  
Texas — 3.4%  

Aldine Independent School District, GO, Refunding (PSF-GTD), 5.00%, 02/15/42

    9,701       11,659,021  

County of Tarrant Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., RB, Baylor Health Care System Project, Series A, 5.00%, 11/15/38

    1,799       1,984,666  

County of Tarrant Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Refunding RB, Texas Health Resources System, Series A, 5.00%, 02/15/41

    9,840       11,525,986  

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, ARB, Series H, AMT, 5.00%, 11/01/37(g)

    8,868       9,457,333  
   

 

 

 
      34,627,006  
Virginia — 1.4%  

Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, RB, Transportation Fund, Senior Lien, Series A, 5.50%, 07/01/57

    11,740       14,466,613  
   

 

 

 
Washington — 1.7%  

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Refunding ARB, Series A, AMT, 5.00%, 10/01/30

    6,880       7,569,170  

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, Refunding RB, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Series B, 5.00%, 10/01/38

    8,205       9,955,044  
   

 

 

 
      17,524,214  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Wisconsin — 1.7%  

Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Refunding RB:

   

Ascension Health Credit Group, 5.00%, 11/15/39

  $ 12,650     $ 14,882,723  

Froedtert & Community Health, Inc., Obligated Group, Series A, 5.00%, 04/01/42

    2,490       2,702,322  
   

 

 

 
      17,585,045  
   

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts — 43.3%
(Cost — $413,316,783)

 

    436,774,412  
 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 158.6%
(Cost — $1,463,604,645)

 

    1,600,774,079  
 

 

 

 
     Shares         
Short-Term Securities — 0.8%  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash,
Institutional Class,

   

1.27%(h)(i)

    8,294,999       8,296,658  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.8%
(Cost — $8,296,657)

 

    8,296,658  
 

 

 

 

Total Investments — 159.4%
(Cost — $1,471,901,302)

 

    1,609,070,737  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.4%

 

    3,781,474  

Liability for TOB Trust Certificates, Including Interest Expense and Fees Payable — (24.5)%

 

    (247,514,363

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value, Net of Deferred Offering Costs — (35.3)%

 

    (355,962,972
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares — 100.0%

 

  $ 1,009,374,876  
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

U.S. Government securities held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par.

(b) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(c) 

Step-up bond that pays an initial coupon rate for the first period and then a higher coupon rate for the following periods. Rate as of period end.

(d) 

Variable or floating rate security, which interest rate adjusts periodically based on changes in current interest rates and prepayments on the underlying pool of assets. Rate shown is the rate in effect as of period end.

(e) 

Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Fund. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(f) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(g) 

All or a portion of the security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Fund could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between November 1, 2019 to July 1, 2034, is $21,082,375. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

(h) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      37  


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

 

 

(i) 

During the year ended July 31, 2019, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate/affiliates of the Fund for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliate    Shares
Held at
07/31/18
     Net
Activity
     Shares
Held at
07/31/19
     Value at
07/31/19
     Income      Net
Realized
Gain (Loss)
 (a)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class

     14,318,158        (6,023,159      8,294,999      $ 8,296,658      $ 134,120      $ (2,693    $ (418
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes net capital gain distributions, if applicable.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
       Expiration
Date
       Notional
Amount (000)
       Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Short Contracts

                 

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     62          09/19/19        $ 7,900        $ (93,731

Long U.S. Treasury Bond

     387          09/19/19          60,215          (987,021

5-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     126          09/30/19          14,812          (35,272
                 

 

 

 
                  $ (1,116,024
                 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on future contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 1,116,024      $      $ 1,116,024  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized depreciation on futures contracts, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ 7,241,570      $      $ 7,241,570  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:                                                 

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ (979,430    $      $ (979,430
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ 89,764,777  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

38    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

July 31, 2019

  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI)

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following tables summarize the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

 

Investments:

 

Long-Term Investments(a)

   $        $ 1,600,774,079        $             —        $ 1,600,774,079  

Short-Term Securities

     8,296,658                            8,296,658  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 8,296,658        $ 1,600,774,079        $        $ 1,609,070,737  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(b)

 

Liabilities:

 

Interest rate contracts

   $ (1,116,024      $        $        $ (1,116,024
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

See above Schedule of Investments for values in each state or political subdivision.

 
  (b) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Liabilities:

 

TOB Trust Certificates

   $        $ (246,470,744      $        $ (246,470,744

VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value

              (356,400,000                 (356,400,000
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $             —        $ (602,870,744      $             —        $ (602,870,744
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS      39  


 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

July 31, 2019

 

     MUE      MCA      MYN      MYI  

ASSETS

          

Investments at value — unaffiliated(a)

  $ 492,674,513      $ 916,835,114      $ 915,163,015      $ 1,600,774,079  

Investments at value — affiliated(b)

    10,456,277        12,445,540        2,369,681        8,296,658  

Cash

    18,969        37,000        33,344        75,125  

Cash pledged for futures contracts

    270,800        537,750        471,350        1,091,600  

Receivables:

          

Investments sold

                         240,149  

TOB Trust

                  100,000         

Dividends — affiliated

    10,493        10,271        4,531        9,014  

Interest — unaffiliated

    5,170,035        12,212,720        8,916,815        15,552,972  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    3,000        5,433        5,188        7,875  

Prepaid expenses

    32,709        100,036        90,982        96,878  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

    508,636,796        942,183,864        927,154,906        1,626,144,350  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    4,101,431        26,265,076        2,730,000        7,875,340  

Income dividend distributions

    990,913        1,582,663        1,682,430        3,032,705  

Interest expense and fees

    192,442        1,047,704        404,517        1,043,619  

Investment advisory fees

    223,609        385,559        389,163        681,792  

Directors’ and Officer’s fees

    2,008        299,194        314,577        541,858  

Other accrued expenses

    172,631        325,238        537,307        780,694  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    89,406        190,984        152,969        379,750  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued liabilities

    5,772,440        30,096,418        6,210,963        14,335,758  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OTHER LIABILITIES

 

TOB Trust Certificates

    58,458,229        202,701,605        104,473,133        246,470,744  

VRDP Shares, at liquidation value of $100,000 per share, net of deferred offering
costs(c)(d)

           166,199,884        247,368,744        355,962,972  

VMTP Shares, at liquidation value of $100,000 per share(c)(d)

    131,000,000                       
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other liabilities

    189,458,229        368,901,489        351,841,877        602,433,716  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    195,230,669        398,997,907        358,052,840        616,769,474  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

  $ 313,406,127      $ 543,185,957      $ 569,102,066      $ 1,009,374,876  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital(e)(f)

  $ 290,717,417      $ 493,015,475      $ 523,161,206      $ 885,356,529  

Accumulated earnings

    22,688,710        50,170,482        45,940,860        124,018,347  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 313,406,127      $ 543,185,957      $ 569,102,066      $ 1,009,374,876  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, per Common Share

  $ 13.92      $ 15.79      $ 14.38      $ 14.81  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Investments at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 459,109,574      $ 861,301,686      $ 848,954,598      $ 1,463,604,645  

(b) Investments at cost — affiliated

  $ 10,455,527      $ 12,445,540      $ 2,369,681      $ 8,296,657  

(c) Preferred Shares outstanding, par value $0.10 per share

    1,310        1,665        2,477        3,564  

(d) Preferred Shares authorized

    9,490        12,665        14,637        26,364  

(e) Common Shares outstanding, par value $0.10 per share

    22,520,759        34,405,717        39,586,584        68,150,681  

(f)  Common Shares authorized

    199,990,510        199,987,335        199,985,363        199,973,636  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

40    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Statements of Operations

Year Ended July 31, 2019

 

     MUE     MCA     MYN     MYI  

INVESTMENT INCOME

       

Interest — unaffiliated

  $ 20,158,895     $ 34,279,739     $ 34,014,947     $ 62,605,984  

Dividends — affiliated

    93,852       43,753       33,664       134,120  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

    20,252,747       34,323,492       34,048,611       62,740,104  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

       

Investment advisory

    2,673,087       4,484,379       4,503,125       7,861,668  

Professional

    83,522       100,264       102,899       154,951  

Accounting services

    77,271       124,696       124,452       177,105  

Transfer agent

    35,297       36,278       40,939       74,494  

Directors and Officer

    25,513       54,041       56,440       97,509  

Registration

    9,286       13,085       15,056       26,108  

Printing

    8,634       10,207       10,428       13,165  

Custodian

    5,939       13,220       14,162       14,885  

Liquidity fees

          136,593       847,442       1,266,343  

Remarketing fees on Preferred Shares

          7,991       78,025       116,424  

Miscellaneous

    67,138       80,681       80,033       93,815  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses excluding interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs

    2,985,687       5,061,435       5,873,001       9,896,467  

Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs(a)

    4,544,609       8,590,043       7,483,228       13,054,598  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    7,530,296       13,651,478       13,356,229       22,951,065  

Less fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager

    (113,185     (2,657     (710     (8,832
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    7,417,111       13,648,821       13,355,519       22,942,233  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    12,835,636       20,674,671       20,693,092       39,797,871  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

       

Net realized gain (loss) from:

       

Investments — unaffiliated

    245,362       (474,303     (2,573,245     (833,521

Investments — affiliated

    3,009       (11     87       (3,103

Capital gain distributions from investment companies — affiliated

    549                   410  

Futures contracts

    (1,810,464     (3,681,849     (3,912,724     (7,241,570
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (1,561,544     (4,156,163     (6,485,882     (8,077,784
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

       

Investments — unaffiliated

    10,736,014       24,559,107       31,487,017       66,726,967  

Investments — affiliated

    461       (25     (361     (418

Futures contracts

    (291,462     (730,371     (157,529     (979,430
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    10,445,013       23,828,711       31,329,127       65,747,119  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

    8,883,469       19,672,548       24,843,245       57,669,335  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 21,719,105     $ 40,347,219     $ 45,536,337     $ 97,467,206  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Related to TOB Trusts, VMTP Shares and/or VRDP Shares.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      41  


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    MUE           MCA  
    Year Ended July 31,           Year Ended July 31,  
     2019     2018            2019     2018  

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

         

OPERATIONS

         

Net investment income

  $ 12,835,636     $ 15,481,866       $ 20,674,671     $ 23,092,580  

Net realized gain (loss)

    (1,561,544     1,072,068         (4,156,163     2,912,708  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    10,445,013       (14,608,136       23,828,711       (18,294,474
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders resulting from operations

    21,719,105       1,945,798         40,347,219       7,710,814  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(a)(b)

         

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to Common Shareholders

    (13,580,018     (16,169,915       (22,693,220     (23,481,902
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

         

Reinvestment of common distributions

          78,607                
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(b)

         

Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders

    8,139,087       (14,145,510       17,653,999       (15,771,088

Beginning of year

    305,267,040       319,412,550         525,531,958       541,303,046  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 313,406,127     $ 305,267,040       $ 543,185,957     $ 525,531,958  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(b) 

Prior year distribution character information and undistributed net investment income has been modified or removed to conform with current year Regulation S-X presentation changes. Refer to Note 11 for this prior year information.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

42    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Statements of Changes in Net Assets  (continued)

 

    MYN           MYI  
    Year Ended July 31,           Year Ended July 31,  
     2019     2018            2019     2018  

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

         

OPERATIONS

         

Net investment income

  $ 20,693,092     $ 22,782,316       $ 39,797,871     $ 46,465,254  

Net realized gain (loss)

    (6,485,882     2,845,599         (8,077,784     6,625,739  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    31,329,127       (22,601,678       65,747,119       (36,598,743
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders resulting from operations

    45,536,337       3,026,237         97,467,206       16,492,250  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(a)(b)

         

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to Common Shareholders

    (20,206,180     (23,456,159       (40,902,538     (50,233,328
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

         

Reinvestment of common distributions

                        957,599  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(b)

         

Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders

    25,330,157       (20,429,922       56,564,668       (32,783,479

Beginning of year

    543,771,909       564,201,831         952,810,208       985,593,687  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 569,102,066     $ 543,771,909       $ 1,009,374,876     $ 952,810,208  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(b) 

Prior year distribution character information and undistributed net investment income has been modified or removed to conform with current year Regulation S-X presentation changes. Refer to Note 11 for this prior year information.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      43  


 

Statements of Cash Flows

Year Ended July 31, 2019

 

     MUE     MCA     MYN     MYI  

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

       

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 21,719,105     $ 40,347,219     $ 45,536,337     $ 97,467,206  

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

     

Proceeds from sales of long-term investments

    125,386,078       257,564,628       175,171,845       371,913,515  

Purchases of long-term investments

    (127,103,515     (241,568,461     (169,114,931     (357,724,918

Net proceeds from sales (purchases) of short-term securities

    (7,550,773     (12,095,779     361,913       6,020,843  

Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments and other fees

    2,537,075       6,456,295       5,720,007       3,462,349  

Net realized (gain) loss on investments

    (248,371     474,314       2,573,158       836,624  

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

    (10,736,475     (24,559,082     (31,486,656     (66,726,549

(Increase) Decrease in Assets:

       

Receivables:

       

Dividends — affiliated

    (2,184     (8,161     (259     6,689  

Interest — unaffiliated

    160,763       528,915       163,893       1,235,078  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    (3,000     (5,433     (5,188     (7,875

Prepaid expenses

    (14,457     (77,796     (67,665     (64,297

Increase (Decrease) in Liabilities:

       

Payables:

       

Investment advisory fees

    4,443       4,111       5,909       19,766  

Interest expense and fees

    68,294       148,252       13,214       140,422  

Directors’ and Officer’s fees

    (801     5,275       5,352       9,526  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    79,458       129,805       108,681       276,193  

Other accrued expenses

    1,256       83,201       295,119       427,395  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    4,296,896       27,427,303       29,280,729       57,291,967  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

       

Proceeds from TOB Trust Certificates

    21,710,346       31,541,658       19,413,473       32,903,034  

Repayments of TOB Trust Certificates

    (11,798,519     (35,775,365     (28,060,005     (48,133,927

Proceeds from Loan for TOB Trust Certificates

          15,176,013             228,412  

Repayments of Loan for TOB Trust Certificates

          (15,176,013           (228,412

Cash dividends paid to Common Shareholders

    (13,805,226     (22,899,654     (20,206,180     (41,311,442

Decrease in bank overdraft

    (221,528     (207,228     (351,945     (468,566

Amortization of deferred offering costs

          (39,714     15,272       20,059  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used for financing activities

    (4,114,927     (27,380,303     (29,189,385     (56,990,842
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH

       

Net increase in restricted and unrestricted cash

    181,969       47,000       91,344       301,125  

Restricted and unrestricted cash at beginning of year

    107,800       527,750       413,350       865,600  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restricted and unrestricted cash at end of year

  $ 289,769     $ 574,750     $ 504,694     $ 1,166,725  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

       

Cash paid during the year for interest expense

  $ 4,476,315     $ 8,430,280     $ 7,454,742     $ 12,894,117  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED CASH AT THE END OF YEAR TO THE STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

       

Cash

    18,969       37,000       33,344       75,125  

Cash pledged for futures contracts

    270,800       537,750       471,350       1,091,600  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 289,769     $ 574,750     $ 504,694     $ 1,166,725  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED CASH AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR TO THE STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

       

Cash pledged for futures contracts

  $ 107,800     $ 527,750     $ 413,350     $ 865,600  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

44    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    MUE  
    Year Ended July 31,  
     2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 13.55      $ 14.19      $ 15.08      $ 14.48      $ 14.42  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.57        0.69        0.75        0.78        0.80  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.40        (0.61      (0.87      0.63        0.09  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    0.97        0.08        (0.12      1.41        0.89  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders from net investment income(b)

    (0.60      (0.72      (0.77      (0.81      (0.83
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 13.92      $ 13.55      $ 14.19      $ 15.08      $ 14.48  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Market price, end of year

  $ 12.67      $ 12.36      $ 14.17      $ 14.94      $ 13.13  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c)

             

Based on net asset value

    7.96      0.87      (0.50 )%       10.33      6.84
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on market price

    7.72      (7.85 )%       0.29      20.55      7.96
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

             

Total expenses

    2.48      2.24      1.96      1.56      1.50
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    2.45      2.20      1.92      1.55      1.49
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense and fees(d)

    0.95      0.95      0.95      0.95      0.96
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income to Common Shareholders

    4.23      4.96      5.21      5.32      5.41
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000)

  $ 313,406      $ 305,267      $ 319,413      $ 339,493      $ 325,911  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

VMTP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year (000)

  $ 131,000      $ 131,000      $ 131,000      $ 131,000      $ 131,000  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset coverage per VMTP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year

  $ 339,241      $ 333,028      $ 343,826      $ 359,155      $ 348,787  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000)

  $ 58,458      $ 48,546      $ 62,841      $ 57,549      $ 51,795  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    26      21      19      15      13
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average Common Shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

(d) 

Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VMTP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS      45  


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    MCA  
    Year Ended July 31,  
     2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 15.27      $ 15.73      $ 16.77      $ 16.11      $ 16.14  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.60        0.67        0.73        0.81        0.83  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.58        (0.45      (0.94      0.70        0.02  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.18        0.22        (0.21      1.51        0.85  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Distributions to Common Shareholders(b)                                  

From net investment income

    (0.62      (0.68      (0.78      (0.85      (0.88

From net realized gain

    (0.04             (0.05              
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.66      (0.68      (0.83      (0.85      (0.88
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 15.79      $ 15.27      $ 15.73      $ 16.77      $ 16.11  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Market price, end of year

  $ 14.29      $ 13.30      $ 15.18      $ 16.75      $ 14.71  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c)

             

Based on net asset value

    8.64      1.86      (0.92 )%       9.84      5.76
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on market price

    12.87      (8.07 )%       (4.26 )%       20.15      8.47
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

             

Total expenses

    2.62      2.22      1.91      1.46      1.32
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    2.62      2.22      1.91      1.46      1.32
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense and fees, and amortization of offering costs(d)

    0.97      0.93      0.92      0.89      0.86
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income to Common Shareholders

    3.96      4.33      4.64      4.94      5.09
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000)

  $ 543,186      $ 525,532      $ 541,303      $ 576,764      $ 554,060  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

VRDP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year (000)

  $ 166,500      $ 166,500      $ 166,500      $ 166,500      $ 166,500  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset coverage per VRDP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year

  $ 426,238      $ 415,635      $ 425,107      $ 446,404      $ 432,769  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000)

  $ 202,702      $ 214,550      $ 195,488      $ 176,433      $ 172,574  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    27      25      37      23      36
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average Common Shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

(d) 

Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VRDP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

46    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    MYN  
    Year Ended July 31,  
     2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 13.74      $ 14.25      $ 15.07      $ 14.16      $ 14.09  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.52        0.58        0.64        0.70        0.75  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.63        (0.50      (0.81      0.94        0.09  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.15        0.08        (0.17      1.64        0.84  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders from net investment income(b)

    (0.51      (0.59      (0.65      (0.73      (0.77
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 14.38      $ 13.74      $ 14.25      $ 15.07      $ 14.16  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Market price, end of year

  $ 13.19      $ 11.89      $ 13.26      $ 14.40      $ 13.13  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c)

             

Based on net asset value

    9.15      1.07      (0.69 )%       12.19      6.54
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on market price

    15.69      (6.00 )%       (3.29 )%       15.60      9.52
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

             

Total expenses

    2.45      2.19      1.93      1.51      1.44
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    2.45      2.19      1.93      1.50      1.44
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense and fees, and amortization of offering costs(d)

    1.08      0.91      0.92      0.89      0.89
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income to Common Shareholders

    3.80      4.11      4.52      4.79      5.22
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000)

  $ 569,102      $ 543,772      $ 564,202      $ 596,528      $ 560,372  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

VRDP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year (000)

  $ 247,700      $ 247,700      $ 247,700      $ 247,700      $ 247,700  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset coverage per VRDP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year

  $ 329,755      $ 319,528      $ 327,776      $ 340,827      $ 326,230  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000)

  $ 104,473      $ 113,020      $ 113,374      $ 112,712      $ 93,113  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    19      14      13      15      20
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average Common Shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

(d) 

Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOBs and/or VRDP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS      47  


Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    MYI  
    Year Ended July 31,  
     2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 13.98      $ 14.48      $ 15.49      $ 14.79      $ 14.84  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.58        0.68        0.77        0.84        0.87  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.85        (0.44      (0.96      0.74        (0.03
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.43        0.24        (0.19      1.58        0.84  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders from net investment income(b)

    (0.60      (0.74      (0.82      (0.88      (0.89
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 14.81      $ 13.98      $ 14.48      $ 15.49      $ 14.79  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Market price, end of year

  $ 13.44      $ 12.46      $ 14.66      $ 15.63      $ 14.04  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c)

             

Based on net asset value

    11.11      2.02      (1.02 )%       11.08      6.12
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on market price

    13.13      (10.18 )%       (0.69 )%       18.07      11.06
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

             

Total expenses

    2.40      2.11      1.85      1.45      1.39
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed

    2.40      2.11      1.84      1.45      1.39
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense and fees, and amortization of offering costs(d)

    1.03      0.89      0.89      0.88      0.88
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income to Common Shareholders

    4.16      4.79      5.30      5.60      5.78
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of year (000)

  $ 1,009,375      $ 952,810      $ 985,594      $ 1,053,232      $ 1,003,621  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

VRDP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year (000)

  $ 356,400      $ 356,400      $ 356,400      $ 356,400      $ 356,400  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset coverage per VRDP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of year

  $ 383,214      $ 367,343      $ 376,541      $ 395,520      $ 381,600  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000)

  $ 246,471      $ 261,702      $ 252,930      $ 261,803      $ 244,245  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    23      22      16      10      11
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average Common Shares outstanding.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(c) 

Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices.

(d) 

Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VRDP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

48    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

The following are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as closed-end management investment companies and are referred to herein collectively as the “Funds”, or individually as a “Fund”:

 

Fund Name   Herein Referred To As    Organized    Diversification
Classification

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc

  MUE    Maryland    Diversified

BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc

  MCA    Maryland    Diversified

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc

  MYN    Maryland    Non-diversified

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc

  MYI    Maryland    Diversified

The Boards of Directors of the Funds are collectively referred to throughout this report as the “Board of Directors” or the “Board,” and the directors thereof are collectively referred to throughout this report as “Directors”. The Funds determine and make available for publication the net asset values (“NAVs”) of their Common Shares on a daily basis.

The Funds, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) or its affiliates, are included in a complex of non-index fixed-income mutual funds and all BlackRock-advised closed-end funds referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed (the “trade dates”). Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized on an accrual basis.

Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) or certain borrowings (e.g., TOB Trust transactions) that would be treated as “senior securities” for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments or borrowings. Doing so allows the investment or borrowings to be excluded from treatment as a “senior security.” Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.

Distributions: Distributions from net investment income are declared monthly and paid monthly. Distributions of capital gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and made at least annually. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders are accrued and determined as described in Note 10.

Deferred Compensation Plan: Under the Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) approved by each Fund’s Board, the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Directors”), may defer a portion of their annual complex-wide compensation. Deferred amounts earn an approximate return as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in common shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex selected by the Independent Directors. This has the same economic effect for the Independent Directors as if the Independent Directors had invested the deferred amounts directly in certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

The Plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of each Fund, as applicable. Deferred compensation liabilities are included in the Directors’ and Officer’s fees payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and will remain as a liability of the Funds until such amounts are distributed in accordance with the Plan.

Recent Accounting Standards: In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update “Premium Amortization of Purchased Callable Debt Securities” which amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities. Under the new guidance, the premium amortization of purchased callable debt securities that have explicit, non-contingent call features and are callable at fixed prices will be amortized to the earliest call date. The guidance will be applied on a modified retrospective basis and is effective for fiscal years, and their interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Management continues to evaluate the impact of this guidance on the Funds.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, a Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. A Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against a Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

Other: Expenses directly related to a Fund are charged to that Fund. Other operating expenses shared by several funds, including other funds managed by the Manager, are prorated among those funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods.

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      49  


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Funds’ investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Funds determine the fair values of their financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Municipal investments (including commitments to purchase such investments on a “when-issued” basis) are valued on the basis of prices provided by dealers or pricing services. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrixes, market transactions in comparable investments and information with respect to various relationships between investments.

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds are valued at NAV each business day.

 

   

Futures contracts traded on exchanges are valued at their last sale price.

If events (e.g., a company announcement, market volatility or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investments, or in the event that the application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee will include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial statement purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 — Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that each Fund has the ability to access

 

   

Level 2 — Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs)

 

   

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including each Fund’s own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments)

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds. There may not be a secondary market, and/or there are a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for investments and derivative financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the investments and derivative financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

4.

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.

Forward Commitments, When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities: Certain funds may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase or sale commitment is made. A fund may purchase securities under such conditions with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, a fund may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, a fund is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, a fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. In the event of default by the counterparty, a fund’s maximum amount of loss is the unrealized appreciation of unsettled when-issued transactions.

Municipal Bonds Transferred to TOB Trusts: Certain funds leverage their assets through the use of “TOB Trust” transactions. The funds transfer municipal bonds into a special purpose trust (a “TOB Trust”). A TOB Trust issues two classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate interests (“TOB Trust Certificates”), which are sold to

 

 

50    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

third party investors, and residual inverse floating rate interests (“TOB Residuals”), which are issued to the participating funds that contributed the municipal bonds to the TOB Trust. The TOB Trust Certificates have interest rates that reset weekly and their holders have the option to tender such certificates to the TOB Trust for redemption at par and any accrued interest at each reset date. The TOB Residuals held by a fund provide the fund with the right to cause the holders of a proportional share of the TOB Trust Certificates to tender their certificates to the TOB Trust at par plus accrued interest. The funds may withdraw a corresponding share of the municipal bonds from the TOB Trust. Other funds managed by the investment adviser may also contribute municipal bonds to a TOB Trust into which a fund has contributed bonds. If multiple BlackRock-advised funds participate in the same TOB Trust, the economic rights and obligations under the TOB Residuals will be shared among the funds ratably in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust.

TOB Trusts are supported by a liquidity facility provided by a third party bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that allows the holders of the TOB Trust Certificates to tender their certificates in exchange for payment of par plus accrued interest on any business day. The tendered TOB Trust Certificates are remarketed by a Remarketing Agent. In the event of a failed remarketing, the TOB Trust may draw upon a loan from the Liquidity Provider to purchase the tendered TOB Trust Certificates. Any loans made by the Liquidity Provider will be secured by the purchased TOB Trust Certificates held by the TOB Trust and will be subject to an increased interest rate based on number of days the loan is outstanding.

The TOB Trust may be collapsed without the consent of a fund, upon the occurrence of a termination event as defined in the TOB Trust agreement. Upon the occurrence of a termination event, a TOB Trust would be liquidated with the proceeds applied first to any accrued fees owed to the trustee of the TOB Trust, the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider. Upon certain termination events, TOB Trust Certificates holders will be paid before the TOB Residuals holders (i.e., the Funds) whereas in other termination events, TOB Trust Certificates holders and TOB Residuals holders will be paid pro rata.

While the fund’s investment policies and restrictions expressly permit investments in inverse floating rate securities, such as TOB Residuals, they restrict the ability of a fund to borrow money for purposes of making investments. MCA, MYN and MYI’s management believes that the fund’s restrictions on borrowings do not apply to the funds’ TOB Trust transactions. Each fund’s transfer of the municipal bonds to a TOB Trust is considered a secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. The cash received by the TOB Trust from the sale of the TOB Trust Certificates, less certain transaction expenses, is paid to a fund. A fund typically invests the cash received in additional municipal bonds.

Accounting for TOB Trusts: The municipal bonds deposited into a TOB Trust are presented in a fund’s Schedule of Investments and the TOB Trust Certificates are shown in Other Liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Any loans drawn by the TOB Trust pursuant to the liquidity facility to purchase tendered TOB Trust Certificates are shown as Loan for TOB Trust Certificates. The carrying amount of a fund’s payable to the holder of the TOB Trust Certificates, as reported in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as TOB Trust Certificates, approximates its fair value.

Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, from the underlying municipal bonds is recorded by a fund on an accrual basis. Interest expense incurred on the TOB Trust transaction and other expenses related to remarketing, administration, trustee, liquidity and other services to a TOB Trust are shown as interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations. Fees paid upon creation of the TOB Trust are recorded as debt issuance costs and are amortized to interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations to the expected maturity of the TOB Trust. In connection with the restructurings of the TOB Trusts to non-bank sponsored TOB Trusts, a fund incurred non-recurring, legal and restructuring fees, which are recorded as interest expense, fees and amortization of deferred offering costs in the Statements of Operations.

 

     Interest Expense      Liquidity Fees      Other Expenses      Total  

MUE

  $ 832,234      $ 219,817      $ 81,704      $ 1,133,755  

MCA

    3,332,159        943,627        291,796        4,567,582  

MYN

    1,738,283        482,073        149,014        2,369,370  

MYI

    4,209,028        1,136,919        348,735        5,694,682  

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the following table is a summary of each fund’s TOB Trusts:

 

     Underlying
Municipal Bonds
Transferred to
TOB Trusts
 (a)
     Liability for
TOB Trust
Certificates
 (b)
     Range of
Interest Rates
on TOB Trust
Certificates at
Period End
     Average
TOB Trust
Certificates
Outstanding
     Daily Weighted
Average Rate
of Interest and
Other Expenses
on TOB  Trusts
 

MUE

  $ 104,072,694      $ 58,458,229        1.40% — 1.58%      $ 51,824,315        2.19

MCA

    427,434,878        202,701,605        1.36% — 1.50%        208,249,774        2.19  

MYN

    193,604,971        104,473,133        1.41% — 1.55%        107,964,456        2.20  

MYI

    436,774,412        246,470,744        1.36% — 1.60%        259,070,830        2.20  

 

  (a) 

The municipal bonds transferred to a TOB Trust are generally high grade municipal bonds. In certain cases, when municipal bonds transferred are lower grade municipal bonds, the TOB Trust transaction may include a credit enhancement feature that provides for the timely payment of principal and interest on the bonds to the TOB Trust by a credit enhancement provider in the event of default of the municipal bond. The TOB Trust would be responsible for the payment of the credit enhancement fee and the funds, as TOB Residuals holders, would be responsible for reimbursement of any payments of principal and interest made by the credit enhancement provider. The maximum potential amounts owed by the funds, for such reimbursements, as applicable, are included in the maximum potential amounts disclosed for recourse TOB Trusts.

 
  (b) 

TOB Trusts may be structured on a non-recourse or recourse basis. When a Fund invests in TOB Trusts on a non-recourse basis, the Liquidity Provider may be required to make a payment under the liquidity facility to allow the TOB Trust to repurchase TOB Trust Certificates. The Liquidity Provider will be reimbursed from the liquidation of bonds held in the TOB Trust. If a fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, a fund enters into a reimbursement agreement with the Liquidity Provider where a fund is required to reimburse the Liquidity Provider for any shortfall between the amount paid by the Liquidity Provider and proceeds received from liquidation of municipal bonds held in the TOB Trust (the “Liquidation Shortfall”). As a result, if a fund invests in a recourse TOB Trust, a fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to any Liquidation Shortfall. If multiple funds participate in any such TOB Trust, these losses will be shared ratably, including the maximum potential amounts owed by a fund at July, 31, 2019, in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust. The recourse TOB Trusts are identified in the Schedules of Investments including the maximum potential amounts owed by a fund at July 31, 2019.

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      51  


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the following table is a summary of each fund’s Loan for TOB Trust Certificates:

 

     Loans
Outstanding
at Period End
     Range of
Interest Rates
on Loans at
Period End
     Average
Loans
Outstanding
     Daily Weighted
Average Rate
of Interest and
Other Expenses
on Loans
 

MCA

  $           $ 333,146        0.81

MYI

                  626        0.71  

 

5.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Funds engage in various portfolio investment strategies using derivative contracts both to increase the returns of the Funds and/or to manage their exposure to certain risks such as credit risk, equity risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk or other risks (e.g., inflation risk). Derivative financial instruments categorized by risk exposure are included in the Schedules of Investments. These contracts may be transacted on an exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”).

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedules of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

 

6.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory: Each Fund, entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Manager, the Funds’ investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), to provide investment advisory and administrative services. The Manager is responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio and provides the personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of each Fund.

For such services, each Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to the following percentages of the average daily value of each Fund’s net assets.

 

     MUE      MCA      MYN      MYI  

Investment advisory fees

    0.55      0.50      0.50      0.50

For purposes of calculating these fees, “net assets” mean the total assets of a Fund minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (which does not include liabilities represented by TOB Trusts and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). It is understood that the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock (other than accumulated dividends) and TOB Trusts is not considered a liability in determining a Fund’s NAV.

Expense Waivers: With respect to each Fund, the Manager voluntarily agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees each Fund pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds (the “affiliated money market fund waiver”). These amounts are included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the amounts waived were as follows:

 

     MUE      MCA      MYN      MYI  

Amounts waived

  $ 6,084      $ 2,657      $ 710      $ 8,832  

The Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee with respect to any portion of each Fund’s assets invested in affiliated equity and fixed-income mutual funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds that have a contractual management fee through June 30, 2020. The agreement can be renewed for annual periods thereafter, and may be terminated on 90 days’ notice, each subject to approval by a majority of the Funds’ Independent Directors. For the year ended July 31, 2019, there were no fees waived by the Manager pursuant to these arrangements.

The Manager, for MUE, voluntarily agreed to waive its investment advisory fee on the proceeds of the Preferred Shares and TOB Trusts that exceed 35% of total assets minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (which does not include liabilities represented by TOB Trusts and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). The voluntary waiver may be reduced or discontinued at any time without notice. This amount is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the waiver was $107,101.

 

 

52    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

Directors and Officers: Certain directors and/or officers of the Funds are directors and/or officers of BlackRock or its affiliates. The Funds reimburse the Manager for a portion of the compensation paid to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, which is included in Directors and Officer in the Statements of Operations.

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the year ended July 31, 2019, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, were as follows:

 

     MUE      MCA      MYN      MYI  

Purchases

  $ 128,880,481      $ 244,293,095      $ 171,844,931      $ 354,264,408  

Sales

    125,386,078        256,534,104        175,171,845        370,077,044  

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

Each Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on each Fund’s U.S. federal tax returns generally remains open for each of the four years ended July 31, 2019. The statutes of limitations on each Fund’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of July 31, 2019, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.

U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. As of period end, the following permanent differences attributable to non-deductible expenses and the expiration of capital loss carryforwards were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

     MCA     MYN     MYI  

Paid-in capital

  $ (11,511   $ (1,303,018   $ (20,059

Accumulated earnings

    11,511       1,303,018       20,059  

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

     MUE      MCA      MYN      MYI  

Tax-exempt income(a)

          

7/31/2019

  $ 16,988,037      $ 25,043,586      $ 25,283,678      $ 48,226,498  

7/31/2018

    18,983,391        26,844,165        28,395,849        57,063,439  

Ordinary income(b)

          

7/31/2019

    2,835        7,303        21,088        15,897  

7/31/2018

    799        1,972        70,129        387,234  

Long-term capital gains(c)

          

7/31/2019

           1,653,281                

7/31/2018

                          
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

          

7/31/2019

  $ 16,990,872      $ 26,704,170      $ 25,304,766      $ 48,242,395  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

7/31/2018

  $ 18,984,190      $ 26,846,137      $ 28,465,978      $ 57,450,673  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The Funds designate these amounts paid during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019, as exempt-interest dividends.

 
  (b) 

Ordinary income consists primarily of taxable income recognized from market discount. Additionally, all ordinary income distributions are comprised of interest related dividends for non-US residents and are eligible for exemption from US withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations.

 
  (c) 

The Funds designate these amounts paid during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 as capital gain dividends.

 

As of period end, the tax components of accumulated earnings were as follows:

 

     MUE     MCA     MYN     MYI  

Undistributed tax-exempt income

  $     $     $ 1,028,241     $  

Undistributed ordinary income

    4,647       12,203       7,677       10,911  

Non-expiring capital loss carryforwards(a)

    (10,187,568     (4,897,575     (20,952,253     (9,829,069

Net unrealized gains(b)

    32,871,631       55,055,854       65,857,195       133,836,505  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 22,688,710     $ 50,170,482     $ 45,940,860     $ 124,018,347  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Amounts available to offset future realized capital gains.

 
  (b) 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized gains was attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, amortization methods of premiums and discounts on fixed income securities, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain futures contracts, the treatment of residual interests in tender option bond trusts and the deferral of compensation to Directors.

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      53  


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

As of July 31, 2019, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation for investments and derivatives based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

     MUE     MCA     MYN     MYI  

Tax cost

  $ 411,282,217     $ 671,195,143     $ 746,890,301     $ 1,227,330,854  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 33,413,088     $ 55,538,764     $ 66,524,881     $ 137,231,544  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (22,744     (154,859     (355,619     (1,962,404
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

  $ 33,390,344     $ 55,383,905     $ 66,169,262     $ 135,269,140  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

9.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

Many municipalities insure repayment of their bonds, which may reduce the potential for loss due to credit risk. The market value of these bonds may fluctuate for other reasons, including market perception of the value of such insurance, and there is no guarantee that the insurer will meet its obligation.

Inventories of municipal bonds held by brokers and dealers may decrease, which would lessen their ability to make a market in these securities. Such a reduction in market making capacity could potentially decrease a Fund’s ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result, a Fund may sell a security at a lower price, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative impact on performance. If a Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices and impact performance.

In the normal course of business, certain Funds invest in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject each Fund to various risks, including among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate and price fluctuations.

Each Fund may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force each Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. Each Fund may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from each Fund’s portfolio will decline if each Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed-income securities at market interest rates that are below each Fund portfolio’s current earnings rate.

The Funds may hold a significant amount of bonds subject to calls by the issuers at defined dates and prices. When bonds are called by issuers and the Funds reinvest the proceeds received, such investments may be in securities with lower yields than the bonds originally held, and correspondingly, could adversely impact the yield and total return performance of a Fund.

A Fund structures and “sponsors” the TOB Trusts in which it holds TOB Residuals and has certain duties and responsibilities, which may give rise to certain additional risks including, but not limited to, compliance, securities law and operational risks.

Should short-term interest rates rise, the Funds’ investments in the TOB Trusts may adversely affect the Funds’ net investment income and dividends to Common Shareholders. Also, fluctuations in the market value of municipal bonds deposited into the TOB Trust may adversely affect the Funds’ NAVs per share.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and various federal banking and housing agencies have adopted credit risk retention rules for securitizations (the “Risk Retention Rules”). The Risk Retention Rules would require the sponsor of a TOB Trust to retain at least 5% of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting the TOB Trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may adversely affect the Funds’ ability to engage in TOB Trust transactions or increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.

TOB Trusts constitute an important component of the municipal bond market. Any modifications or changes to rules governing TOB Trusts may adversely impact the municipal market and the Funds, including through reduced demand for and liquidity of municipal bonds and increased financing costs for municipal issuers. The ultimate impact of any potential modifications on the TOB Trust market and the overall municipal market is not yet certain.

Each Fund may invest without limitation in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available or which are otherwise illiquid, including private placement securities. A Fund may not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which the Fund could sell such investments if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise funds to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of investments, thereby adversely affecting a Fund’s net asset value and ability to make dividend distributions. Privately issued debt securities are often of below investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in below investment grade public debt securities.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

 

 

54    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.

Concentration Risk: MCA and MYN invest a substantial amount of their assets in issuers located in a single state or limited number of states. This may subject each Fund to the risk that economic, political or social issues impacting a particular state or group of states could have an adverse and disproportionate impact on the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the Funds’ respective portfolios. Investment percentages in specific states or U.S. territories are presented in the Schedules of Investments.

As of period end MUE, MYI and MYN invested a significant portion of their assets in securities in the transportation sector. MCA invested a significant portion of its assets in securities in the county, city, special district and school district sector. Changes in economic conditions affecting such sectors would have a greater impact on the Funds and could affect the value, income and/or liquidity of positions in such securities.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in fixed-income securities and/or use derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. The Funds may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates.

 

10.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Each Fund is authorized to issue 200 million shares, all of which were initially classified as Common Shares. The par value for each Fund’s Common Shares is $0.10. The par value for each Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding is $0.10. The Board is authorized, however, to reclassify any unissued Common Shares to Preferred Shares without the approval of Common Shareholders.

Common Shares

For the years shown, shares issued and outstanding increased by the following amounts as a result of dividend reinvestment:

 

     MUE      MYI  

2019

            

2018

    5,535        65,843  

For the year ended July 31, 2019, shares issued and outstanding remained constant for each Fund. For the year ended July 31, 2018, shares issued and outstanding remained constant for MCA and MYN.

On November 15, 2018, the Board authorized the Funds to participate in an open market share repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”). Under the Repurchase Program, each Fund may repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares through November 30, 2019, based on common shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2018, subject to certain conditions. There is no assurance that the Funds will purchase shares in any particular amounts. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the Funds did not repurchase any shares.

Preferred Shares

A Fund’s Preferred Shares rank prior to its Common Shares as to the payment of dividends by the Fund and distribution of assets upon dissolution or liquidation of the Fund. The 1940 Act prohibits the declaration of any dividend on Common Shares or the repurchase of Common Shares if the Fund fails to maintain asset coverage of at least 200% of the liquidation preference of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares. In addition, pursuant to the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments, a Fund is restricted from declaring and paying dividends on classes of shares ranking junior to or on parity with its Preferred Shares or repurchasing such shares if the Fund fails to declare and pay dividends on the Preferred Shares, redeem any Preferred Shares required to be redeemed under the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments or comply with the basic maintenance amount requirement of the ratings agencies rating the Preferred Shares.

Holders of Preferred Shares have voting rights equal to the voting rights of holders of Common Shares (one vote per share) and vote together with holders of Common Shares (one vote per share) as a single class on certain matters. Holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, are also entitled to (i) elect two members of the Board, (ii) elect the full Board if dividends on the Preferred Shares are not paid for a period of two years and (iii) a separate class vote to amend the Preferred Share governing documents. In addition, the 1940 Act requires the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, to (a) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the Preferred Shares, (b) change a Fund’s sub-classification as a closed-end investment company or change its fundamental investment restrictions or (c) change its business so as to cease to be an investment company.

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      55  


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

VRDP Shares

MCA, MYN and MYI (for purposes of this section, a “VRDP Fund”), have issued Series W-7 VRDP Shares, $100,000 liquidation preference per share, in one or more privately negotiated offerings to qualified institutional buyers as defined pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The VRDP Shares include a liquidity feature and may be subject to a special rate period. As of period end, the VRDP Shares outstanding were as follows:

 

    

Issue

Date

    

Shares

Issued

    

Aggregate

Principal

    

Maturity

Date

 

MCA

    4/21/11        1,665      $ 166,500,000        5/01/41  

MYN

    4/21/11        2,477        247,700,000        5/01/41  

MYI

    5/19/11        3,564        356,400,000        6/01/41  

Redemption Terms: A VRDP Fund is required to redeem its VRDP Shares on the maturity date, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. Six months prior to the maturity date, a VRDP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with the Fund’s custodian to fund the redemption. In addition, a VRDP Fund is required to redeem certain of its outstanding VRDP Shares if it fails to comply with certain asset coverage, basic maintenance amount or leverage requirements.

Subject to certain conditions, the VRDP Shares may also be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time at the option of a VRDP Fund. The redemption price per VRDP Share is equal to the liquidation preference per share plus any outstanding unpaid dividends.

Liquidity Feature: VRDP Shares are subject to a fee agreement between the VRDP Fund and the liquidity provider that requires a per annum liquidity fee and, in some cases, an upfront or initial commitment fee, payable to the liquidity provider. These fees, if applicable, are shown as liquidity fees in the Statements of Operations. As of period end, the fee agreement is set to expire, unless renewed or terminated in advance, as follows:

 

     MCA      MYN      MYI  

Expiration Date

    07/02/2020        07/03/2020        07/03/2020  

In the event a purchase agreement is not renewed or is terminated in advance, and the VRDP Shares do not become subject to a purchase agreement with an alternate liquidity provider, the VRDP Shares will be subject to mandatory purchase by the liquidity provider prior to the termination of the purchase agreement. In the event of such mandatory purchase, a VRDP Fund is required to redeem the VRDP Shares six months after the purchase date. Immediately after such mandatory purchase, the VRDP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with its custodian to fund the redemption. There is no assurance that a VRDP Fund will replace such redeemed VRDP Shares with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage.

Remarketing: A VRDP Fund may incur remarketing fees on the aggregate principal amount of all its VRDP Shares, which, if any, are included in remarketing fees on Preferred Shares in the Statements of Operations. During any special rate period (as described below), a VRDP Fund may incur nominal or no remarketing fees.

Ratings: As of period end, the VRDP Shares were assigned the following assigned ratings:

 

     Long-term
Moody’s
Rating
     Long-term
Fitch
Rating
     Short-term
Moody’s
Rating
     Short-term
Fitch
Rating
     Short-term
S&P Global
Rating
 

MCA

    Aa2        AAA        N/A        F1+        A-1+  

MYN

    Aa2        AAA        P-1        F1        N/A  

MYI

    Aa1        AAA        P-1        F1        N/A  

Any short-term ratings on VRDP Shares are directly related to the short-term ratings of the liquidity provider for such VRDP Shares. Changes in the credit quality of the liquidity provider could cause a change in the short-term credit ratings of the VRDP Shares as rated by Moody’s, Fitch and S&P. The liquidity provider may be terminated prior to the scheduled termination date if the liquidity provider fails to maintain short-term debt ratings in one of the two highest rating categories.

Special Rate Period: A VRDP Fund may commence a “special rate period” with respect to its VRDP Shares, during which the VRDP Shares will not be subject to any remarketing and the dividend rate will be based on a predetermined methodology. During a special rate period, short-term ratings on VRDP Shares are withdrawn.

The following VRDP Funds were in a special rate period that terminated during the reporting period:

 

    

Commencement

Date

     Termination
Date
 

MCA

    06/21/12        06/19/19  

MYN

    06/21/12        01/24/19  

MYI

    06/21/12        01/17/19  

Prior to the expiration date, the VRDP Fund and the VRDP Shares holder may mutually agree to extend the special rate period. If a special rate period is not extended, the VRDP Shares will revert to remarketable securities upon the termination of the special rate period and will be remarketed and available for purchase by qualified institutional investors.

During the special rate period: (i) the liquidity and fee agreements remain in effect, (ii) VRDP Shares remain subject to mandatory redemption by the VRDP Fund on the maturity date, (iii) VRDP Shares will not be remarketed or subject to optional or mandatory tender events, (iv) the VRDP Fund is required to comply with the same asset coverage, basic maintenance amount and leverage requirements for the VRDP Shares as is required when the VRDP Shares are not in a special rate period, (v) the

 

 

56    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

VRDP Fund will pay dividends monthly based on the sum of an agreed upon reference rate and a percentage per annum based on the long-term ratings assigned to the VRDP Shares and (vi) the VRDP Fund will pay nominal or no fees to the liquidity provider and remarketing agent.

If a VRDP Fund redeems its VRDP Shares prior to end of the special rate period and the VRDP Shares have long-term ratings above A1/A+ and its equivalent by all ratings agencies then rating the VRDP Shares, then such redemption may be subject to a redemption premium payable to the holder of the VRDP Shares based on the time remaining in the special rate period, subject to certain exceptions for redemptions that are required to comply with minimum asset coverage requirements.

Dividends: Except during the Special Rate Period as described above, dividends on the VRDP Shares are payable monthly at a variable rate set weekly by the remarketing agent. Such dividend rates are generally based upon a spread over a base rate and cannot exceed a maximum rate. A change in the short-term credit rating of the liquidity provider or the VRDP Shares may adversely affect the dividend rate paid on such shares, although the dividend rate paid on the VRDP Shares is not directly based upon either short-term rating. In the event of a failed remarketing, the dividend rate of the VRDP Shares will be reset to a maximum rate. The maximum rate is determined based on, among other things, the long-term preferred share rating assigned to the VRDP Shares and the length of time that the VRDP Shares fail to be remarketed.

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the annualized dividend rate for the VRDP Shares were as follows:

 

     MCA     MYN     MYI  

Rate

    2.41     2.06     2.06

For the year ended July 31, 2019, VRDP Shares issued and outstanding of each VRDP Fund remained constant.

VMTP Shares

MUE (for purposes of this section, a “VMTP Fund”) has issued Series W-7 VMTP Shares, $100,000 liquidation preference per share, in one or more privately negotiated offerings to qualified institutional buyers as defined pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The VMTP Shares are subject to certain restrictions on transfer, and a VMTP Fund may also be required to register its VMTP Shares for sale under the Securities Act under certain circumstances. As of period end, the VMTP Shares outstanding and assigned long-term ratings were as follows:

 

    

Issue

Date

    

Shares

Issued

    

Aggregate

Principal

     Term
Redemption
Date
    

Moody’s

Rating

    

Fitch

Rating

 

MUE

    12/16/11        1,310      $ 131,000,000        07/02/20        Aa1        AAA  

Redemption Terms: A VMTP Fund is required to redeem its VMTP Shares on the term redemption date, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased or unless extended. There is no assurance that a term will be extended further or that any VMTP Shares will be replaced with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage upon the redemption or repurchase of the VMTP Shares. Six months prior to the term redemption date, a VMTP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with its custodian to fund the redemption. In addition, a VMTP Fund is required to redeem certain of its outstanding VMTP Shares if it fails to comply with certain asset coverage, basic maintenance amount or leverage requirements.

Subject to certain conditions, VMTP Shares may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time at the option of the VMTP Fund. The redemption price per VMTP Share is equal to the liquidation preference per share plus any outstanding unpaid dividends and applicable redemption premium. If a VMTP Fund redeems its VMTP Shares prior to the term redemption date and the VMTP Shares have long-term ratings above A1/A+ or its equivalent by the ratings agencies then rating the VMTP Shares, then such redemption may be subject to a prescribed redemption premium (up to 3% of the liquidation preference) payable to the holder of the VMTP Shares based on the time remaining until the term redemption date, subject to certain exceptions for redemptions that are required to comply with minimum asset coverage requirements.

Dividends: Dividends on the VMTP Shares are declared daily and payable monthly at a variable rate set weekly at a fixed rate spread to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Swap Index or to a percentage of the one-month LIBOR rate, as set forth in the VMTP Shares governing instrument. The fixed spread is determined based on the long-term preferred share rating assigned to the VMTP Shares by the ratings agencies then rating the VMTP Shares.

The dividend rate on VMTP Shares is subject to a step-up spread if the VMTP Fund fails to comply with certain provisions, including, among other things, the timely payment of dividends, redemptions or gross-up payments, and complying with certain asset coverage and leverage requirements.

For the year ended July 31, 2019, the average annualized dividend rate for MUE’s VMTP Shares was 2.60%.

Offering Costs: The Funds incurred costs in connection with the issuance of VRDP and VMTP Shares, which were recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability and will be amortized over the life of the VRDP and VMTP Shares with the exception of any upfront fees paid by a VRDP Fund to the liquidity provider which, if any, were amortized over the life of the liquidity agreement. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations.

Financial Reporting: The VRDP and VMTP Shares are considered debt of the issuer; therefore, the liquidation preference, which approximates fair value of the VRDP and VMTP Shares, is recorded as a liability in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities net of deferred offering costs. Unpaid dividends are included in interest expense and fees payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, and the dividends accrued and paid on the VRDP and VMTP Shares are included as a component of interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations. The VRDP and VMTP Shares are treated as equity for tax purposes. Dividends paid to

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      57  


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

holders of the VRDP and VMTP Shares are generally classified as tax-exempt income for tax-reporting purposes. Dividends and amortization of deferred offering costs on VRDP and VMTP Shares are included in interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations:

 

     Dividends Accrued     

Deferred Offering Costs

Amortization

 

MUE

  $ 3,410,854      $  

MCA

    4,010,950        11,511  

MYN

    5,098,586        15,272  

MYI

    7,339,857        20,059  

 

11.

REGULATION S-X AMENDMENTS

On August 17, 2018, the SEC adopted amendments to certain disclosure requirements in Securities Act Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification. The Funds have adopted the amendments pertinent to Regulation S-X in this shareholder report. The amendments impacted certain disclosure presentation on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Changes in Net Assets and Notes to the Financial Statements.

Prior year distribution information and undistributed net investment income in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets has been modified to conform to the current year presentation in accordance with the Regulation S-X changes.

Distributions for the year ended July 31, 2018 were classified as follows:

 

     Net Investment Income  

MUE

  $ 16,169,915  

MCA

    23,481,902  

MYN

    23,456,159  

MYI

    50,233,328  

Undistributed net investment income as of July 31, 2018 was as follows:

 

     Undistributed
Net Investment Income
 

MUE

  $ 836,903  

MCA

    945,392  

MYN

    2,205,494  

MYI

    4,983,874  

 

12.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management’s evaluation of the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds’ financial statements was completed through the date the financial statements were issued and the following items were noted:

 

     Common Dividend
Per Share
           Preferred Shares (c)  
     Paid (a)      Declared (b)            Shares      Series      Declared  

MUE

  $ 0.0440      $ 0.0440         VMTP        W-7      $ 270,940  

MCA

    0.0460        0.0460         VRDP        W-7        217,727  

MYN

    0.0425        0.0425         VRDP        W-7        330,629  

MYI

    0.0445        0.0445               VRDP        W-7        485,388  

 

  (a) 

Net investment income dividend paid on September 3, 2019 to Common Shareholders of record on August 15, 2019.

 
  (b) 

Net investment income dividend declared on September 3, 2019, payable to Common Shareholders of record on September 16, 2019.

 
  (c) 

Dividends declared for period August 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019.

 

On September 5, 2019, each Fund announced a continuation of its open market share repurchase program. Commencing on December 1, 2019, each Fund may repurchase through November 30, 2020, up to 5% of its common shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2019, subject to certain conditions. There is no assurance that the Funds will purchase shares in any particular amounts.

 

 

58    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc., BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc., BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc., and BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.:

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc., BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc., BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc., and BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (the “Funds”), including the schedules of investments, as of July 31, 2019, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of July 31, 2019, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

September 23, 2019

We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 1992.

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM      59  


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements  

 

The Boards of Directors (collectively, the “Board,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (“MUE”), BlackRock MuniYield California Quality Fund, Inc. (“MCA”), BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (“MYN”) and BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (“MYI” and together with MUE, MCA and MYN, the “Funds” and each, a “Fund”) met in person on May 1, 2019 (the “May Meeting”) and June 5-6, 2019 (the “June Meeting”) to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreements (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements” or the “Agreements”) between each Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager” or “BlackRock”), each Fund’s investment advisor.

Activities and Composition of the Board

On the date of the June Meeting, the Board consisted of eleven individuals, nine of whom were not “interested persons” of each Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Board Members”). The Board Members are responsible for the oversight of the operations of each Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Board Members have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Co-Chairs of the Board are Independent Board Members. The Board has established five standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compliance Committee, a Performance Oversight Committee and an Executive Committee, each of which is chaired by an Independent Board Member and composed of Independent Board Members (except for the Executive Committee, which also has one interested Board Member).

The Agreements

Consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board considers the continuation of the Agreements on an annual basis. The Board has four quarterly meetings per year, each typically extending for two days, and additional in-person and telephonic meetings throughout the year, as needed. While the Board also has a fifth one-day meeting to consider specific information surrounding the renewal of the Agreements, the Board’s consideration entails a year-long deliberative process whereby the Board and its committees assess BlackRock’s services to each Fund. In particular, the Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to each Fund by BlackRock, BlackRock’s personnel and affiliates, including (as applicable): investment management; accounting, administrative and shareholder services; oversight of each Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Throughout the year, including during the contract renewal process, the Independent Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel, and met with independent legal counsel in various executive sessions outside of the presence of management.

During the year, the Board, acting directly and through its committees, considers information that is relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the Agreements, including the services and support provided by BlackRock to each Fund and its shareholders. BlackRock also furnished additional information to the Board in response to specific questions from the Board. This additional information is discussed further below in the section titled “Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements.” Among the matters the Board considered were: (a) investment performance for one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and/or since inception periods, as applicable, against peer funds, applicable benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable, as well as senior management’s and portfolio managers’ analyses of the reasons for any over-performance or underperformance relative to its peers, benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable; (b) leverage management, as applicable; (c) fees, including advisory, administration, if applicable, and other amounts paid to BlackRock and its affiliates by each Fund for services; (d) Fund operating expenses and how BlackRock allocates expenses to each Fund; (e) the resources devoted to, risk oversight of, and compliance reports relating to, implementation of each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and meeting regulatory requirements; (f) BlackRock and each Fund’s adherence to applicable compliance policies and procedures; (g) the nature, character and scope of non-investment management services provided by BlackRock and its affiliates and the estimated cost of such services; (h) BlackRock’s and other service providers’ internal controls and risk and compliance oversight mechanisms; (i) BlackRock’s implementation of the proxy voting policies approved by the Board; (j) execution quality of portfolio transactions; (k) BlackRock’s implementation of each Fund’s valuation and liquidity procedures; (l) an analysis of management fees for products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable, and the similarities and differences between these products and the services provided as compared to each Fund; (m) BlackRock’s compensation methodology for its investment professionals and the incentives and accountability it creates, along with investment professionals’ investments in the fund(s) they manage; (n) periodic updates on BlackRock’s business; and (o) each Fund’s market discount/premium compared to peer funds.

Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements

The Approval Process: Prior to the May Meeting, the Board requested and received materials specifically relating to the Agreements. The Independent Board Members are continuously engaged in a process with their independent legal counsel and BlackRock to review the nature and scope of the information provided to better assist its deliberations. The materials provided in connection with the May Meeting included, among other things: (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), based on Lipper classifications, regarding each Fund’s fees and expenses as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Broadridge (“Expense Peers”), the investment performance of each Fund as compared with a peer group of funds (“Performance Peers”) and other metrics, as applicable; (b) information on the composition of the Expense Peers and Performance Peers, and a description of Broadridge’s methodology; (c) information on the estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates pursuant to the Agreements and a discussion of fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates; (d) a general analysis provided by BlackRock concerning investment management fees received in connection with other types of investment products, such as institutional accounts, sub-advised mutual funds, closed-end funds, and open-end funds, under similar investment mandates, as applicable; (e) review of non-management fees; (f) the existence, impact and sharing of potential economies of scale, if any, with each Fund; (g) a summary of aggregate amounts paid by each Fund to BlackRock; and (h) various additional information requested by the Board as appropriate regarding BlackRock’s and each Fund’s operations.

At the May Meeting, the Board reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the Agreements. As a result of the discussions that occurred during the May Meeting, and as a culmination of the Board’s year-long deliberative process, the Board presented BlackRock with questions and requests for additional information. BlackRock responded to these requests with additional written information in advance of the June Meeting. Topics covered included: (a) the methodology for measuring estimated fund profitability; (b) fund expenses and potential fee waivers; (c) differences in services provided and management fees between closed-end funds and other product channels; and (d) BlackRock’s option overwrite strategy.

 

 

60    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

At the June Meeting, the Board concluded its assessment of, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of each Fund as compared with Performance Peers and other metrics, as applicable; (c) the advisory fee and the estimated cost of the services and estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with each Fund; (d) each Fund’s fees and expenses compared to Expense Peers; (e) the sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of BlackRock’s relationship with each Fund; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.

The Board also considered other matters it deemed important to the approval process, such as other payments made to BlackRock or its affiliates relating to securities lending and cash management, and BlackRock’s services related to the valuation and pricing of Fund portfolio holdings. The Board noted the willingness of BlackRock personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Board. The Board did not identify any particular information as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items considered.

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock: The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services and the resulting performance of each Fund. Throughout the year, the Board compared Fund performance to the performance of a comparable group of closed-end funds, relevant benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Board met with BlackRock’s senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. The Board also reviewed the materials provided by each Fund’s portfolio management team discussing each Fund’s performance and each Fund’s investment objective, strategies and outlook.

The Board considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the number, education and experience of investment personnel generally and each Fund’s portfolio management team; BlackRock’s research capabilities; investments by portfolio managers in the funds they manage; portfolio trading capabilities; use of technology; commitment to compliance; credit analysis capabilities; risk analysis and oversight capabilities; and the approach to training and retaining portfolio managers and other research, advisory and management personnel. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall risk management program, including the continued efforts of BlackRock and its affiliates to address cybersecurity risks and the role of BlackRock’s Risk & Quantitative Analysis Group. The Board engaged in a review of BlackRock’s compensation structure with respect to each Fund’s portfolio management team and BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain high-quality talent and create performance incentives.

In addition to investment advisory services, the Board considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to each Fund. BlackRock and its affiliates provide each Fund with certain administrative, shareholder and other services (in addition to any such services provided to each Fund by third parties) and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of each Fund. In particular, BlackRock and its affiliates provide each Fund with administrative services including, among others: (i) responsibility for disclosure documents, such as the prospectus and the statement of additional information in connection with the initial public offering and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) preparing communications with analysts to support secondary market trading of each Fund; (iii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iv) responsibility for periodic filings with regulators and stock exchanges; (v) overseeing and coordinating the activities of other service providers including, among others, each Fund’s custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, and auditor; (vi) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vii) providing legal and compliance support; (viii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Board in its consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain closed-end funds; and (ix) performing or managing administrative functions necessary for the operation of each Fund, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, and shareholder call center and other services. The Board reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRock’s fund administration, shareholder services, and legal & compliance departments and considered BlackRock’s policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

B. The Investment Performance of each Fund and BlackRock: The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also reviewed and considered the performance history of each Fund. In preparation for the May Meeting, the Board was provided with reports independently prepared by Broadridge, which included a comprehensive analysis of each Fund’s performance as of December 31, 2018. The performance information is based on net asset value (NAV), and utilizes Lipper data. Lipper’s methodology calculates a fund’s total return assuming distributions are reinvested on the ex-date at a fund’s ex-date NAV. Broadridge ranks funds in quartiles, ranging from first to fourth, where first is the most desirable quartile position and fourth is the least desirable. In connection with its review, the Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance of each Fund as compared to its Performance Peers, a custom peer group of funds as defined by BlackRock (“Customized Peer Group”), and a composite measuring a blend of total return and yield (“Composite”). The Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review, and meet with Fund management to discuss, the performance of each Fund throughout the year.

In evaluating performance, the Board focused particular attention on funds with less favorable performance records. The Board also noted that while it found the data provided by Broadridge generally useful, it recognized the limitations of such data, including in particular, that notable differences may exist between a fund and the Performance Peer funds (for example, the investment objective(s) and investment strategies). Further, the Board recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period as of a particular date and that selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. The Board also acknowledged that long-term performance could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance, and that a single investment theme could have the ability to affect long-term performance disproportionately.

The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MUE ranked first out of two funds against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MUE, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.

The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MCA ranked first out of two funds against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MCA, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.

The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MYI ranked first out of two funds against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MYI, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS      61  


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MYN ranked first out of two funds against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MYN, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.

C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Estimated Cost of the Services and Estimated Profits Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with each Fund: The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed each Fund’s contractual management fee rate compared with those of its Expense Peers. The contractual management fee rate represents a combination of the advisory fee and any administrative fees, before taking into account any reimbursements or fee waivers. The Board also compared each Fund’s total expense ratio, as well as its actual management fee rate as a percentage of total assets, to those of its Expense Peers. The total expense ratio represents a fund’s total net operating expenses, excluding any investment related expenses. The total expense ratio gives effect to any expense reimbursements or fee waivers that benefit a fund, and the actual management fee rate gives effect to any management fee reimbursements or waivers that benefit a fund. The Board considered the services provided and the fees charged by BlackRock and its affiliates to other types of clients with similar investment mandates, as applicable, including institutional accounts and sub-advised mutual funds (including mutual funds sponsored by third parties).

The Board received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRock’s financial condition. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology and was also provided with an estimated profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to each Fund. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to each Fund and other funds the Board currently oversees for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to available aggregate estimated profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes managed by the Manager and/or its affiliates. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s assumptions and methodology of allocating expenses in the estimated profitability analysis, noting the inherent limitations in allocating costs among various advisory products. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Manager, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is difficult.

The Board noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly-traded asset management firms. The Board considered the differences between BlackRock and these other firms, including the contribution of technology at BlackRock, BlackRock’s expense management, and the relative product mix.

In addition, the Board considered the estimated cost of the services provided to each Fund by BlackRock, and BlackRock’s and its affiliates’ estimated profits relating to the management of each Fund and the other funds advised by BlackRock and its affiliates. As part of its analysis, the Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology in allocating its costs of managing the Funds, to each Fund. The Board considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the Agreements and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Board. The Board further considered factors including but not limited to BlackRock’s commitment of time, assumption of risk, and liability profile in servicing each Fund, including in contrast to what is required of BlackRock with respect to other products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable.

The Board noted that MUE’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile, relative to the Expense Peers.

The Board noted that MCA’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile, relative to the Expense Peers.

The Board noted that MYI’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the first and second quartiles, respectively, relative to the Expense Peers.

The Board noted that MYN’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile, relative to the Expense Peers.

D. Economies of Scale: The Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of each Fund increase. The Board also considered the extent to which each Fund benefits from such economies in a variety of ways, and whether there should be changes in the advisory fee rate or breakpoint structure in order to enable each Fund to more fully participate in these economies of scale. The Board considered each Fund’s asset levels and whether the current fee was appropriate.

Based on the Board’s review and consideration of the issue, the Board concluded that most closed-end funds do not have fund level breakpoints because closed-end funds generally do not experience substantial growth after the initial public offering. They are typically priced at scale at a fund’s inception.

E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members: The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also took into account other ancillary or “fall-out” benefits that BlackRock or its affiliates may derive from BlackRock’s respective relationships with each Fund, both tangible and intangible, such as BlackRock’s ability to leverage its investment professionals who manage other portfolios and risk management personnel, an increase in BlackRock’s profile in the investment advisory community, and the engagement of BlackRock’s affiliates as service providers to each Fund, including for administrative, securities lending and cash management services. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall operations and its efforts to expand the scale of, and improve the quality of, its operations. The Board also noted that, subject to applicable law, BlackRock may use and benefit from third party research obtained by soft dollars generated by certain registered fund transactions to assist in managing all or a number of its other client accounts.

In connection with its consideration of the Agreements, the Board also received information regarding BlackRock’s brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Board received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.

 

 

62    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements  (continued)

 

The Board noted the competitive nature of the closed-end fund marketplace, and that shareholders are able to sell their Fund shares in the secondary market if they believe that each Fund’s fees and expenses are too high or if they are dissatisfied with the performance of each Fund.

The Board also considered the various notable initiatives and projects BlackRock performed in connection with its closed-end fund product line. These initiatives included developing equity shelf programs; efforts to eliminate product overlap with fund mergers; ongoing services to manage leverage that has become increasingly complex; periodic evaluation of share repurchases and other support initiatives for certain BlackRock funds; and continued communications efforts with shareholders, fund analysts and financial advisers. With respect to the latter, the Independent Board Members noted BlackRock’s continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a comprehensive secondary market communication program designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. BlackRock’s support services included, among other things: sponsoring and participating in conferences; communicating with closed-end fund analysts covering the BlackRock funds throughout the year; providing marketing and product updates for the closed-end funds; and maintaining and enhancing its closed-end fund website.

Conclusion

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements between the Manager and each Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2020. Based upon its evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, as well as other information, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, was satisfied that the terms of the Agreements were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreements, the Board did not identify any single factor or group of factors as all-important or controlling, but considered all factors together, and different Board Members may have attributed different weights to the various factors considered. The Independent Board Members were also assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel in making this determination.

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS      63  


Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

Pursuant to each Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Reinvestment Plan”), Common Shareholders are automatically enrolled to have all distributions of dividends and capital gains and other distributions reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Reinvestment Plan Agent”) in the respective Fund’s Common Shares pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan. Shareholders who do not participate in the Reinvestment Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check and mailed directly to the shareholders of record (or if the shares are held in street name or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Reinvestment Plan Agent, which serves as agent for the shareholders in administering the Reinvestment Plan.

After the Funds declare a dividend or determine to make a capital gain or other distribution, the Reinvestment Plan Agent will acquire shares for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the following circumstances, either (i) through receipt of unissued but authorized shares from the Funds (“newly issued shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding shares on the open market or on the Fund’s primary exchange (“open-market purchases”). If, on the dividend payment date, the net asset value per share (“NAV”) is equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition often referred to as a “market premium”), the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in newly issued shares acquired on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the NAV on the date the shares are issued. However, if the NAV is less than 95% of the market price on the dividend payment date, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the dividend payment date. If, on the dividend payment date, the NAV is greater than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition often referred to as a “market discount”), the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases. If the Reinvestment Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open-market purchases, or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Reinvestment Plan Agent will invest any un-invested portion in newly issued shares. Investments in newly issued shares made in this manner would be made pursuant to the same process described above and the date of issue for such newly issued shares will substitute for the dividend payment date.

You may elect not to participate in the Reinvestment Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by contacting the Reinvestment Plan Agent, at the address set forth below.

Participation in the Reinvestment Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Reinvestment Plan Agent prior to the dividend record date. Additionally, the Reinvestment Plan Agent seeks to process notices received after the record date but prior to the payable date and such notices often will become effective by the payable date. Where late notices are not processed by the applicable payable date, such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution.

The Reinvestment Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of the reinvestment of distributions will be paid by each Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Reinvestment Plan Agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of all distributions. The automatic reinvestment of all distributions will not relieve participants of any U.S. federal, state or local income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions.

Each Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Reinvestment Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Reinvestment Plan; however, each Fund reserves the right to amend the Reinvestment Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Participants in MUE, MCA and MYI that request a sale of shares are subject to a $2.50 sales fee and a $0.15 per share sold brokerage commission fee. Participants in MYN that request a sale of shares are subject to a $0.02 per share sold brokerage commission. All correspondence concerning the Reinvestment Plan should be directed to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. through the internet at http://www.computershare.com/blackrock, or in writing to Computershare, P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233, Telephone: (800) 699-1236. Overnight correspondence should be directed to the Reinvestment Plan Agent at Computershare, 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202.

 

 

64    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Director and Officer Information

 

Independent Directors (a)
         

Name

Year of Birth (b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service) (c)

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Number of BlackRock-Advised

Registered Investment Companies

(“RICs”) Consisting of

Investment Portfolios

(“Portfolios”) Overseen (d)

  

Public Company and Other

Investment Company

Directorships Held During

Past Five Years

Richard E. Cavanagh

1946

  

Co-Chair of the Board

and Director

(Since 2007)

   Director, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1998; Board Chair, Volunteers of America (a not-for-profit organization) from 2015 to 2018 (board member since 2009); Director, Arch Chemicals (chemical and allied products) from 1999 to 2011; Trustee, Educational Testing Service from 1997 to 2009 and Chairman thereof from 2005 to 2009; Senior Advisor, The Fremont Group since 2008 and Director thereof since 1996; Faculty Member/Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University since 2007 and Executive Dean from 1987 to 1995; President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board, Inc. (global business research organization) from 1995 to 2007.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    None

Karen P. Robards

1950

  

Co-Chair of the Board

and Director

(Since 2007)

   Principal of Robards & Company, LLC (consulting and private investing) since 1987; Co-founder and Director of the Cooke Center for Learning and Development (a not-for-profit organization) since 1987; Director of Enable Injections, LLC (medical devices) since 2019; Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley from 1976 to 1987.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    Greenhill & Co., Inc.; AtriCure, Inc. (medical devices) from 2000 until 2017

Michael J. Castellano

1946

  

Director

(Since 2011)

   Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Group LLC from 2001 to 2011; Chief Financial Officer of Lazard Ltd from 2004 to 2011; Director, Support Our Aging Religious (non-profit) from 2009 to June 2015 and since 2017; Director, National Advisory Board of Church Management at Villanova University since 2010; Trustee, Domestic Church Media Foundation since 2012; Director, CircleBlack Inc. (financial technology company) since 2015.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    None

Cynthia L. Egan

1955

  

Director

(Since 2016)

   Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury from 2014 to 2015; President, Retirement Plan Services, for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. from 2007 to 2012; executive positions within Fidelity Investments from 1989 to 2007.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    Unum (insurance); The Hanover Insurance Group (insurance); Envestnet (investment platform) from 2013 until 2016

Frank J. Fabozzi (d)

1948

  

Director

(Since 2007)

   Editor of The Journal of Portfolio Management since 1986; Professor of Finance, EDHEC Business School (France) since 2011; Visiting Professor, Princeton University for the 2013 to 2014 academic year and Spring 2017 semester; Professor in the Practice of Finance, Yale University School of Management from 1994 to 2011 and currently a Teaching Fellow in Yale’s Executive Programs; Board Member, BlackRock Equity-Liquidity Funds from 2014 to 2016; affiliated professor Karlsruhe Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2011.    88 RICs consisting of 112 Portfolios    None

Henry Gabbay

1947

  

Director

(Since 2019)

   Board Member, BlackRock Equity-Bond Board from 2007 to 2018; Board Member, BlackRock Equity-Liquidity and BlackRock Closed-End Fund Boards from 2007 through 2014; Consultant, BlackRock, Inc. from 2007 to 2008; Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. from 1989 to 2007; Chief Administrative Officer, BlackRock Advisors, LLC from 1998 to 2007; President of BlackRock Funds and BlackRock Allocation Target Shares (formerly, BlackRock Bond Allocation Target Shares) from 2005 to 2007 and Treasurer of certain closed-end funds in the BlackRock fund complex from 1989 to 2006.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    None

 

 

DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INFORMATION      65  


Director and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Independent Directors (a) (continued)
         

Name

Year of Birth (b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service) (c)

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Number of BlackRock-Advised

Registered Investment Companies

(“RICs”) Consisting of

Investment Portfolios

(“Portfolios”) Overseen (d)

  

Public Company and Other

Investment Company

Directorships Held During

Past Five Years

R. Glenn Hubbard

1958

  

Director

(Since 2007)

   Dean, Columbia Business School from 2004 to 2019; Faculty member, Columbia Business School since 1988.    87 RICs consisting of 111 Portfolios    ADP (data and information services); Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (insurance); KKR Financial Corporation (finance) from 2004 until 2014

W. Carl Kester (d)

1951

  

Director

(Since 2007)

   George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School since 2008; Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs from 2006 to 2010; Chairman of the Finance Unit, from 2005 to 2006; Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of the MBA Program from 1999 to 2005; Member of the faculty of Harvard Business School since 1981.    88 RICs consisting of 112 Portfolios    None

Catherine A. Lynch (d)

1961

  

Director

(Since 2016)

   Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and various other positions, National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust from 2003 to 2016; Associate Vice President for Treasury Management, The George Washington University from 1999 to 2003; Assistant Treasurer, Episcopal Church of America from 1995 to 1999.    88 RICs consisting of 112 Portfolios    None
Interested Directors (a)(e)
         

Name

Year of Birth (b)

  

Position(s) Held

(Length of Service) (c)

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Number of BlackRock-Advised

Registered Investment Companies

(“RICs”) Consisting of

Investment Portfolios

(“Portfolios”) Overseen (d)

  

Public Company and Other

Investment Company

Directorships Held During

Past Five Years

Robert Fairbairn

1965

  

Director

(Since 2018)

   Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. since 2019; Member of BlackRock’s Global Executive and Global Operating Committees; Co-Chair of BlackRock’s Human Capital Committee; Senior Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2010 to 2019; oversaw BlackRock’s Strategic Partner Program and Strategic Product Management Group from 2012 to 2019; Member of the Board of Managers of BlackRock Investments, LLC from 2011 to 2018; Global Head of BlackRock’s Retail and iShares® businesses from 2012 to 2016.    125 RICs consisting of 293 Portfolios    None

John M. Perlowski (d)

1964

  

Director

(Since 2015);

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Since 2010)

   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2009; Head of BlackRock Global Accounting and Product Services since 2009; Advisory Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009.    126 RICs consisting of 294 Portfolios    None

(a) The address of each Director is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(b) Each Independent Director holds office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal as provided by the Fund’s by-laws or charter or statute, or until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 75. Directors who are “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act serve until their successor is duly elected and qualifies or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal as provided by the Fund’s by-laws or statute, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 72. The Board may determine to extend the terms of Independent Directors on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate.

(c) Following the combination of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”) and BlackRock, Inc. in September 2006, the various legacy MLIM and legacy BlackRock fund boards were realigned and consolidated into three new fund boards in 2007. Certain Independent Directors first became members of the boards of other legacy MLIM or legacy BlackRock funds as follows: Richard E. Cavanagh, 1994; Frank J. Fabozzi, 1988; R. Glenn Hubbard, 2004; W. Carl Kester, 1995; and Karen P. Robards, 1998. Mr. Gabbay became a member of the boards of the open-end funds in the Fixed-Income Complex in 2007.

(d) Dr. Fabozzi, Dr. Kester, Ms. Lynch and Mr. Perlowski are also trustees of the BlackRock Credit Strategies Fund.

(e) Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are both “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act 1940 Act, of the Fund based on their positions with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates. Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are also board members of the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex.

 

 

66    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Director and Officer Information  (continued)

 

Officers Who Are Not Directors (a)
     
Name
Year of Birth
 (b)
   Position(s) Held
(Length of Service)
   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Jonathan Diorio

1980

   Vice President
(Since 2015)
   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2015; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2011 to 2015.

Neal J. Andrews

1966

   Chief Financial Officer
(Since 2007)
   Chief Financial Officer of the iShares® exchange traded funds since 2019; Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006.

Jay M. Fife

1970

   Treasurer
(Since 2007)
   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007.

Charles Park

1967

   Chief Compliance Officer
(Since 2014)
   Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for certain BlackRock-advised Funds from 2014 to 2015; Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex since 2014; Principal of and Chief Compliance Officer for iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC since 2012 and BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for the BFA-advised iShares® exchange traded funds since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. since 2012.

Janey Ahn

1975

   Secretary
(Since 2012)
   Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2018; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2009 to 2017.

(a) The address of each Officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(b) Officers of the Fund serve at the pleasure of the Board.

 

Investment Adviser

BlackRock Advisors, LLC

Wilmington, DE 19809

Accounting Agent and Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust
 Company, N.A.

Canton, MA 02021

VRDP Tender and Paying Agent and VMTP Redemption and Paying Agent

The Bank of New York Mellon

New York, NY 10286

VRDP Liquidity Provider

Citibank, N.A.(a)

New York, NY 10179

The Toronto-Dominion Bank(b)

New York, NY 10019

VRDP Remarketing Agent

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.(a)

New York, NY 10179

TD Securities (USA) LLC(b)

New York, NY 10019

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, MA 02116

Legal Counsel

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

New York, NY 10019

Address of the Funds

100 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

 

(a) 

For All Funds except MCA.

(b) 

For MCA.

 

 

DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INFORMATION      67  


Additional Information

 

Proxy Results

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on July 29, 2019 for shareholders of record on May 30, 2019, to elect director nominees for each Fund. There were no broker non-votes with regard to any of the Funds.

 

  

 

  Michael J. Castellano     Richard E. Cavanagh     Cynthia L. Egan  
  Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld  

MUE

    19,997,281       1,476,163       19,961,119       1,512,325       20,528,385       945,059  

MCA

    29,071,968       3,112,604       28,881,329       3,303,243       29,082,356       3,102,216  

MYN

    31,576,612       5,637,475       31,540,632       5,673,457       31,338,312       5,875,775  

MYI

    52,678,663       10,055,421       55,110,001       7,624,083       55,388,627       7,345,457  
           
  

 

  Robert Fairbairn     Henry Gabbay     R. Glenn Hubbard  
  Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld  

MUE

    20,386,816       1,086,628       20,381,249       1,092,195       19,962,923       1,510,521  

MCA

    29,074,665       3,109,907       29,075,560       3,109,012       28,883,921       3,300,651  

MYN

    31,582,914       5,631,173       31,602,259       5,611,828       31,298,831       5,915,256  

MYI

    55,404,051       7,330,033       55,334,531       7,399,553       55,133,265       7,600,819  
           
  

 

  Catherine A. Lynch     John M. Perlowski     Karen P. Robards  
  Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld  

MUE

    20,146,704       1,326,740       20,385,292       1,088,152       20,061,682       1,411,762  

MCA

    29,080,978       3,103,594       29,074,687       3,109,885       29,070,316       3,114,256  

MYN

    31,499,379       5,714,708       31,619,946       5,594,141       31,504,816       5,709,271  

MYI

    52,848,152       9,885,932       55,404,031       7,330,053       52,790,131       9,943,953  
           
  

 

                Frank J. Fabozzi (a)     W. Carl Kester (a)  
                Votes For     Votes Withheld     Votes For     Votes Withheld  

MUE

 

    1,310       0       1,310       0  

MCA

 

    1,665       0       1,665       0  

MYN

 

    2,477       0       2,477       0  

MYI

 

    3,564       0       3,564       0  

 

  (a) 

Voted on by holders of preferred shares only.

 

Section 19(a) Notices

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are for financial reporting purposes and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and character of the distributions for tax reporting purposes will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV which is sent to shareholders shortly after calendar year end.

 

     Total Cumulative Distributions
for the Fiscal Period
    % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Period
 
     Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
Short Term
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
Long Term
    Return of
Capital
    Total Per
Common
Share
    Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
Short Term
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
Long Term
    Return of
Capital
    Total Per
Common
Share
 

MUE

  $ 0.603000     $ 0.000000     $ 0.000000     $ 0.000000     $ 0.603000       100     0     0     0     100

MCA

    0.618160       0.041417       0.000000       0.000000       0.659577       94       6       0       0       100  

MYI

    0.600178       0.000000       0.000000       0.000000       0.600178       100       0       0       0       100  

Fund Certification

The Funds are listed for trading on the NYSE and have filed with the NYSE their annual chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Funds filed with the SEC the certification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Dividend Policy

Each Fund’s dividend policy is to distribute all or a portion of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of distributions, the Funds may at times pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any particular month pay out such accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the distributions paid by the Funds for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Funds during such month. The Funds’ current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed as accumulated earnings in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report.

 

 

68    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Additional Information  (continued)

 

General Information

The Funds do not make available copies of their Statements of Additional Information because the Funds’ shares are not continuously offered, which means that the Statement of Additional Information of each Fund has not been updated after completion of the respective Fund’s offerings and the information contained in each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information may have become outdated.

Effective July 31, 2019, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities that are rated below investment grade, or are considered by the Fund’s investment adviser to be of comparable quality, at the time of purchase, subject to the Fund’s other investment policies. The adoption of the new policy will have no effect on a Fund’s existing investment policy to invest primarily in investment grade municipal obligations.

On July 29, 2019, the Board approved the elimination of MUE’s non-fundamental policy limiting investments in illiquid investments to 15% of MUE’s net assets. As a result, MUE may invest without limit in illiquid investments.

Except as described above, during the period, there were no material changes in the Funds’ investment objectives or policies or to the Funds’ charters or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the Funds that were not approved by the shareholders or in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the Funds. There have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds’ portfolios.

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each Fund may from time to time purchase shares of its common stock in the open market or in private transactions.

Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Funds may be found on BlackRock’s website, which can be accessed at http://www.blackrock.com. Any reference to BlackRock’s website in this report is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this report.

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications of quarterly statements, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports by enrolling in the electronic delivery program. Electronic copies of shareholder reports are available on BlackRock’s website.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

Shareholders Who Hold Accounts with Investment Advisers, Banks or Brokerages:

Please contact your financial advisor. Please note that not all investment advisers, banks or brokerages may offer this service.

Householding

The Funds will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, annual and semi-annual reports and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Funds at (800) 882-0052.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT, and for reporting periods ended prior to March 31, 2019, filed such information on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT and N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT and N-Q may also be obtained upon request and without charge by calling (800) 882-0052.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request and without charge (1) by calling (800) 882-0052; (2) at http://www.blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to securities held in the Funds’ portfolios during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at http://www.blackrock.com or by calling (800) 882-0052; and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Availability of Fund Updates

BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of http://www.blackrock.com as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Funds. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this report.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION      69  


Additional Information  (continued)

 

BlackRock Privacy Principles

BlackRock is committed to maintaining the privacy of its current and former fund investors and individual clients (collectively, “Clients”) and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information BlackRock collects, how we protect that information and why in certain cases we share such information with select parties.

If you are located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require BlackRock to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth below, then BlackRock will comply with those specific laws, rules or regulations.

BlackRock obtains or verifies personal non-public information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information we receive from you or, if applicable, your financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; (iii) information we receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) from visits to our websites.

BlackRock does not sell or disclose to non-affiliated third parties any non-public personal information about its Clients, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory requests or to service Client accounts. These non-affiliated third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this information and to use it only for its intended purpose.

We may share information with our affiliates to service your account or to provide you with information about other BlackRock products or services that may be of interest to you. In addition, BlackRock restricts access to non-public personal information about its Clients to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. BlackRock maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the non-public personal information of its Clients, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.

 

 

70    2019 BLACKROCK ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviations
AGC    Assured Guarantee Corp.
AGM    Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
AMBAC    American Municipal Bond Assurance Corp.
AMT    Alternative Minimum Tax (subject to)
ARB    Airport Revenue Bonds
BAM    Build America Mutual Assurance Co.
BARB    Building Aid Revenue Bonds
BOCES    Board of Cooperative Educational Services
CAB    Capital Appreciation Bonds
COP    Certificates of Participation
EDA    Economic Development Authority
EDC    Economic Development Corp.
ERB    Education Revenue Bonds
FHA    Federal Housing Administration
GARB    General Airport Revenue Bonds
GO    General Obligation Bonds
GOL    General Obligation Ltd
GTD    Guaranteed
HFA    Housing Finance Agency
IDA    Industrial Development Authority
IDB    Industrial Development Board
ISD    Independent School District
LRB    Lease Revenue Bonds
M/F    Multi-Family
NPFGC    National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
PILOT    Payment in Lieu of Taxes
PSF-GTD    Permanent School Fund Guaranteed
Q-SBLF    Qualified School Bond Loan Fund
RB    Revenue Bonds
S/F    Single-Family
SONYMA    State of New York Mortgage Agency
SRF    State Revolving Fund

 

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT      71  


This report is intended for current holders. It is not a prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. The Funds have leveraged their Common Shares, which creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares, and the risk that fluctuations in short-term interest rates may reduce the Common Shares’ yield. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.

 

LOGO

 

 

MHMYINS4-7/19-AR    LOGO


Item 2 –

Code of Ethics – The registrant (or the “Fund”) has adopted a code of ethics, as of the end of the period covered by this report, applicable to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics was amended to update certain information and to make other non-material changes. During the period covered by this report, there have been no waivers granted under the code of ethics. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of the code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, who calls 1-800-882-0052, option 4.

 

Item 3 –

Audit Committee Financial Expert – The registrant’s board of directors (the “board of directors”), has determined that (i) the registrant has the following audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee and (ii) each audit committee financial expert is independent:

Michael Castellano

Frank J. Fabozzi

Henry Gabbay

Catherine A. Lynch

Karen P. Robards

The registrant’s board of directors has determined that Karen P. Robards qualifies as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to Item 3(c)(4) of Form N-CSR.

Ms. Robards has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements and internal control over financial reporting as well as audit committee functions. Ms. Robards has been President of Robards & Company, a financial advisory firm, since 1987. Ms. Robards was formerly an investment banker for more than 10 years where she was responsible for evaluating and assessing the performance of companies based on their financial results. Ms. Robards has over 30 years of experience analyzing financial statements. She also is a member of the audit committee of one publicly held company and a non-profit organization.

Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.

 

Item 4 –

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table presents fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) in each of the last two fiscal years for the services rendered to the Fund:

 

         
     (a) Audit Fees   (b) Audit-Related Fees1   (c) Tax Fees2   (d) All Other Fees
Entity Name   Current
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Previous
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Current
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Previous
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Current
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Previous
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Current
  Fiscal Year    
End
  Previous
  Fiscal Year    
End
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.   $39,474   $39,474   $0   $0   $29,700   $29,700   $0   $0

 

2


The following table presents fees billed by D&T that were required to be approved by the registrant’s audit committee (the “Committee”) for services that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund and that are rendered on behalf of BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“Investment Adviser” or “BlackRock”) and entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Service Providers”):

 

      Current Fiscal Year End    Previous Fiscal Year End

(b) Audit-Related Fees1

   $0    $0

(c) Tax Fees2

   $0    $0

(d) All Other Fees3

   $2,050,500    $2,274,000

1 The nature of the services includes assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements not included in Audit Fees, including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters, out-of-pocket expenses and internal control reviews not required by regulators.

2 The nature of the services includes tax compliance and/or tax preparation, including services relating to the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, regulated investment company qualification reviews, taxable income and tax distribution calculations.

3 Non-audit fees of $2,050,500 and $2,274,000 for the current fiscal year and previous fiscal year, respectively, were paid to the Fund’s principal accountant in their entirety by BlackRock, in connection with services provided to the Affiliated Service Providers of the Fund and of certain other funds sponsored and advised by BlackRock or its affiliates for a service organization review and an accounting research tool subscription. These amounts represent aggregate fees paid by BlackRock and were not allocated on a per fund basis.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:

The Committee has adopted policies and procedures with regard to the pre-approval of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to the registrant on an annual basis require specific pre-approval by the Committee. The Committee also must approve other non-audit services provided to the registrant and those non-audit services provided to the Investment Adviser and Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and the financial reporting of the registrant. Certain of these non-audit services that the Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SEC’s auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent accountants may be approved by the Committee without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis (“general pre-approval”). The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of the pre-approval, unless the Committee provides for a different period. Tax or other non-audit services provided to the registrant which have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the registrant will only be deemed pre-approved provided that any individual project does not exceed $10,000 attributable to the registrant or $50,000 per project. For this purpose, multiple projects will be aggregated to determine if they exceed the previously mentioned cost levels.

Any proposed services exceeding the pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Committee, as will any other services not subject to general pre-approval (e.g., unanticipated but permissible services). The Committee is informed of each service approved subject to general pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting. At this meeting, an analysis of such services is presented to the Committee for ratification. The Committee may delegate to the Committee Chairman the authority to approve the provision of and fees for any specific engagement of permitted non-audit services, including services exceeding pre-approved cost levels.

 

3


(e)(2) None of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not Applicable

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees, defined as the sum of the fees shown under “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees,” paid to the accountant for services rendered by the accountant to the registrant, the Investment Adviser and the Affiliated Service Providers were:

 

     Entity Name   

Current Fiscal Year  

End

  

Previous Fiscal Year  

End

    
   BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.    $29,700    $29,700   

Additionally, the amounts billed by D&T in connection with services provided to the Affiliated Service Providers of the Fund and of other funds sponsored or advised by BlackRock or its affiliates during the current and previous fiscal years for a service organization review and an accounting research tool subscription were:

 

Current Fiscal

Year End

  

Previous Fiscal

Year End

$2,050,500

   $2,274,000

These amounts represent aggregate fees paid by BlackRock and were not allocated on a per fund basis.

(h) The Committee has considered and determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Adviser, and the Affiliated Service Providers that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

Item 5 –

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

  (a)

The following individuals are members of the registrant’s separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)):

Michael Castellano

Frank J. Fabozzi

Henry Gabbay

Catherine A. Lynch

Karen P. Robards

 

  (b)

Not Applicable

 

4


Item 6 –

Investments

(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.

 

Item 7 –

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – The board of directors has delegated the voting of proxies for the Fund’s portfolio securities to the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Investment Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines. Under these guidelines, the Investment Adviser will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. From time to time, a vote may present a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s stockholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, on the other. In such event, provided that the Investment Adviser’s Equity Investment Policy Oversight Committee, or a sub-committee thereof (the “Oversight Committee”) is aware of the real or potential conflict or material non-routine matter and if the Oversight Committee does not reasonably believe it is able to follow its general voting guidelines (or if the particular proxy matter is not addressed in the guidelines) and vote impartially, the Oversight Committee may retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Oversight Committee on how to vote or to cast votes on behalf of the Investment Adviser’s clients. If the Investment Adviser determines not to retain an independent fiduciary, or does not desire to follow the advice of such independent fiduciary, the Oversight Committee shall determine how to vote the proxy after consulting with the Investment Adviser’s Portfolio Management Group and/or the Investment Adviser’s Legal and Compliance Department and concluding that the vote cast is in its client’s best interest notwithstanding the conflict. A copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures are attached as Exhibit 99.PROXYPOL. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, (i) at www.blackrock.com and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Item 8 –

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

(a)(1) As of the date of filing this Report:

The registrant is managed by a team of investment professionals comprised of Michael Kalinoski, CFA, Director at BlackRock, Walter O’Connor, CFA, Managing Director at BlackRock and Christian Romaglino, Director at BlackRock. Each is a member of BlackRock’s municipal tax-exempt management group. Each is jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the registrant’s portfolio, which includes setting the registrant’s overall investment strategy, overseeing the management of the registrant and/or selection of its investments. Messrs. Kalinoski ,O’Connor and Romaglino have been members of the registrant’s portfolio management team since 2011, 2006 and 2017 respectively.

 

    

 

Portfolio Manager

 

  

 

Biography

 

   Michael Kalinoski, CFA    Director of BlackRock since 2006; Director of MLIM from 1999 to 2006.
   Walter O’Connor, CFA    Managing Director of BlackRock since 2006; Managing Director of MLIM from 2003 to 2006; Director of MLIM from 1998 to 2003.
  

Christian Romaglino

 

  

Director of BlackRock since 2017.

 

 

5


(a)(2) As of July 31, 2019:

 

    

(ii) Number of Other Accounts Managed

and Assets by Account Type

 

(iii) Number of Other Accounts and

Assets for Which Advisory Fee is

Performance-Based

(i) Name of

Portfolio Manager

 

Other

Registered

      Investment      

Companies

 

    Other Pooled    

Investment

Vehicles

 

Other

Accounts 

 

Other

Registered

  Investment  

Companies

 

  Other Pooled  

Investment

Vehicles

 

Other

    Accounts    

Michael Kalinoski, CFA

  16   0   0   0   0   0
             
   

$33.46 Billion

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

Walter O’Connor, CFA

  29   0   0   0   0   0
             
   

$26.13 Billion

 

 

$0

 

  $0  

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

Christian Romaglino

  12   0   0   0   0   0
             
   

$4.91 Billion

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

 

$0

 

(iv) Portfolio Manager Potential Material Conflicts of Interest

BlackRock has built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, BlackRock furnishes investment management and advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and BlackRock may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to BlackRock, or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, BlackRock, Inc., its affiliates and significant shareholders and any officer, director, shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale BlackRock recommends to the Fund. BlackRock, Inc., or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder, employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Fund by BlackRock with respect to the same securities. Moreover, BlackRock may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of BlackRock, Inc.’s (or its affiliates’ or significant shareholders’) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. Certain portfolio managers also may manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that a portfolio manager may be managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Such portfolio managers may

 

6


therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts. Currently, the portfolio managers of this Fund are not entitled to receive a portion of incentive fees of other accounts.

As a fiduciary, BlackRock owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When BlackRock purchases or sells securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. BlackRock attempts to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock, Inc. has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide BlackRock with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate.

(a)(3) As of July 31, 2019:

Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview

The discussion below describes the portfolio managers’ compensation as of July 31, 2019.

BlackRock’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock.

Base Compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm.

Discretionary Incentive Compensation. Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm’s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual’s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the performance of the Funds or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured. Among other things, BlackRock’s Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio manager’s compensation based on the performance of the Funds and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis over various time periods including 1-, 3- and 5- year periods, as applicable. With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Fund and other accounts are: a combination of market-based indices (e.g., Standard & Poor’s Municipal Bond Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.

Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation. Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash, deferred BlackRock,

 

7


Inc. stock awards, and/or deferred cash awards that notionally track the return of certain BlackRock investment products.

Portfolio managers receive their annual discretionary incentive compensation in the form of cash. Portfolio managers whose total compensation is above a specified threshold also receive deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards annually as part of their discretionary incentive compensation. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in the form of deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year “at risk” based on BlackRock’s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. In some cases, additional deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock may be granted to certain key employees as part of a long-term incentive award to aid in retention, align interests with long-term shareholders and motivate performance. Deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that vest pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan and, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. The portfolio managers of this Fund have deferred BlackRock, Inc. stock awards.

For certain portfolio managers, a portion of the discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in the form of deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage, which provides direct alignment of portfolio manager discretionary incentive compensation with investment product results. Deferred cash awards vest ratably over a number of years and, once vested, settle in the form of cash. Only portfolio managers who manage specified products and whose total compensation is above a specified threshold are eligible to participate in the deferred cash award program.

Other Compensation Benefits. In addition to base salary and discretionary incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following:

Incentive Savings Plans — BlackRock, Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock, Inc. employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k) plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation up to the Internal Revenue Service limit ($280,000 for 2019). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds managed by the firm. BlackRock, Inc. contributions follow the investment direction set by participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into a target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65. The ESPP allows for investment in BlackRock, Inc. common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date. Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its fair market value on the purchase date. All of the eligible portfolio managers are eligible to participate in these plans.

(a)(4) Beneficial Ownership of Securities – As of July 31, 2019.

 

8


Portfolio Manager    Dollar Range of Equity Securities
      of the Fund Beneficially Owned
Michael Kalinoski, CFA    None
Walter O’Connor, CFA    None
Christian Romaglino    None

(b) Not Applicable

 

Item 9 –

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not Applicable due to no such purchases during the period covered by this report.

 

Item 10 –

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures.

 

Item 11 – 

Controls and Procedures

(a) – The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(b) – There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12 –

 Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable

 

Item 13 –

 Exhibits attached hereto

(a)(1) – Code of Ethics – See Item 2

(a)(2) – Certifications – Attached hereto

(a)(3) – Not Applicable

(a)(4) – Not Applicable

(b) – Certifications – Attached hereto

 

9


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

 

By:       /s/ John M. Perlowski                            
  John M. Perlowski
  Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
  BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

Date: October 4, 2019

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:       /s/ John M. Perlowski                            
  John M. Perlowski
  Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
  BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

Date: October 4, 2019

 

By:       /s/ Neal J. Andrews                            
  Neal J. Andrews
  Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
  BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

Date: October 4, 2019

 

10