DEF 14A

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14A-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. ____)

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the [_]

Registrant

Check the appropriate box:

[_]       Preliminary Proxy Statement

[_]       Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[_]X]       Definitive Proxy Statement

[X]_]       Definitive Additional Materials

[_]       Soliciting Materials under Rule 14a-12

BNY Mellon Advantage Funds, Inc.
BNY Mellon Appreciation Fund, Inc.
BNY Mellon Index Funds, Inc.
BNY Mellon Investment Funds V, Inc.
BNY Mellon Investment Funds VI
BNY Mellon Midcap Index Fund, Inc
BNY Mellon New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
BNY Mellon New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund
BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund
BNY Mellon Research Growth Fund, Inc.
BNY Mellon Stock Index Fund, Inc.
BNY Mellon Variable Investment Fund
BNY Mellon Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
BNY Mellon InvestmentGeneral Money Market Fund, Inc.
General Municipal Money Market Funds, IV, Inc.
General New York Municipal Money Market Fund

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):

[X]       No fee required.

[_]       Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5) Total Fee Paid:

[_]       Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1) Amount Previously Paid:

(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3) Filing Party:

(4) Date Filed:

THE BNY MELLON FAMILY OF FUNDS

c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10286

1-800-373-9387

www.bnymellonim.com/us

August 14, 2023

Dear Shareholder:

Your fund(s) and certain other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds will hold special shareholder meetings on October 12, 2023 in a virtual meeting format only. Shareholders of each of these funds will be asked to elect Board members of their funds. All but one of the nominees are current Board members of some or all of these funds. The election of additional Board members to your fund is being proposed primarily to consolidate the Boards of these funds. Consolidating the Boards of the funds may provide certain administrative efficiencies and potential future cost savings for the funds. The enclosed combined proxy statement describes the nominees' qualifications and each of their respective current roles overseeing funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Please take the time to read the enclosed materials.

Since the proposal to elect Board members is common to these funds, we have combined the proxy statement to save on fund expenses. If you own shares of more than one of these funds, the combined proxy statement also may save you the time of reading more than one document before you vote. If you own shares of more than one of these funds on the record date for the meeting, please note that each fund has a separate proxy card. You should vote one proxy card for each fund in which you own shares.

Remember, your vote is extremely important, no matter how large or small your fund holdings. By voting promptly, you can help avoid additional costs that are incurred with follow-up letters and calls.

To vote, you may use any of the following methods:

The meeting will be conducted over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only. However, if it is determined that the meeting will be held in person, we will make an announcement in the manner discussed in the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders.

We encourage you to vote over the Internet or by telephone using the number that appears on your proxy card(s). These voting methods will save the funds money because they would not have to pay for return-mail postage. If you later decide to attend the meeting virtually, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares over the Internet during the meeting. Whichever voting method you choose, please take the time to read the full text of the combined proxy statement before you vote.

Your vote is very important to us. If you have any questions before you vote, please call the Funds' proxy solicitor, Equiniti Fund Solutions, LLC, at (866) 796-7181. Thank you for your response and for your continued investment with the BNY Mellon Family of Funds.

BNY MELLON ADVANTAGE FUNDS, INC.*

BNY MELLON APPRECIATION FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON TAX MANAGEDINDEX FUNDS, INC.*

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT FUNDS V, INC.*

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT FUNDS VI*

BNY MELLON MIDCAP INDEX FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON NEW YORK AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND

BNY MELLON OPPORTUNISTIC MUNICIPAL SECURITIES FUND

BNY MELLON RESEARCH GROWTH FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON STOCK INDEX FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND*

BNY MELLON WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.

GENERAL MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. *

GENERAL MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS, INC.*

GENERAL NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND*

To the Shareholders:

A Special Meeting of Shareholders (each, a "Meeting") of each fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds listed above (each, a "Fund") will be held over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the time set forth on Schedule 1 to the Funds' combined proxy statement. The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

The Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person, but you may participate over the Internet as described below. However, if it is determined that the Meeting will be held in person, we will make an announcement in the manner noted below.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 14, 2023 will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting.

To participate in the Meeting, you must request the Meeting credentials by emailing attendameeting@equiniti.com. Please include your full name, address, your control number found on your enclosed proxy card, your intent to attend the virtual Meeting and "[Name of Fund]" in the subject line. The Meeting will begin promptly at the time set forth on Schedule 1 to the Funds' combined proxy statement, on Thursday, October 12, 2023. If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance of the Meeting. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy provided by your intermediary) reflecting your Fund holdings along with your name and email address to attendameeting@equiniti.com. You may also forward proof of ownership from your intermediary to attendameeting@equiniti.com. Requests for registration should be received no later than 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, October 9, 2023. You will receive a confirmation email from attendameeting@equiniti.com of your registration and control number that will allow you to vote over the Internet during the Meeting.

If you have any questions after considering the enclosed materials, please call the Funds' proxy solicitor, Equiniti Fund Solutions, LLC, at (866) 796-7181.

PLEASE NOTE: If it is determined that the Meeting will be held in person, instead of virtually, an announcement of the change will be provided by means of a press release, which will be posted on our website https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/individual/resources/proxy-materials.jsp. We encourage you to check the website prior to the Meeting. An announcement of any change will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via its EDGAR system.

* The Fund is an investment company comprised of separate "series", each of which may be deemed a Fund, as applicable, in the combined proxy statement. For a list of the series, see Schedule 1 to the Funds' combined proxy statement.

BNY MELLON ADVANTAGE FUNDS, INC.

BNY MELLON APPRECIATION FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON INDEX FUNDS, INC.

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT FUNDS V, INC.

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT FUNDS VI

BNY MELLON MIDCAP INDEX FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON NEW YORK AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND

BNY MELLON OPPORTUNISTIC MUNICIPAL SECURITIES FUND

BNY MELLON RESEARCH GROWTH FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON STOCK INDEX FUND, INC.

BNY MELLON VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND

BNY MELLON WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INCINC.

GENERAL MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.

GENERAL MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS, INC.

GENERAL NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND

This combined proxy statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors/Trustees (the "Board") of each of BNY Mellon Advantage Funds, Inc. ("BNYMAD"), BNY Mellon Appreciation Fund, Inc. ("BNYMAF"), BNY Mellon Index Funds, Inc. ("BNYMIF"), BNY Mellon Investment Funds V, Inc. ("BNYMIF V"), BNY Mellon Investment Funds VI ("BNYMIF VI"), BNY Mellon Midcap Index Fund, Inc. ("BNYMMIF"), BNY Mellon New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. ("BNYMNJMBF"), BNY Mellon New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund ("BNYMNYAFMBF"), BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund ("BNYMOMSF"), BNY Mellon Research Growth Fund, Inc. ("BNYMRGF"), BNY Mellon Stock Index Fund, Inc. ("BNYMSIF"), BNY Mellon Variable Investment Fund ("BNYMVIF"), BNY Mellon Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc. ("BNYMWGF"), General Money Market Fund, Inc. ("GMMF"), General Municipal Money Market Funds, Inc. ("GMMMF") and General New York Municipal Money Market Fund ("GNYMMMF") (each, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") to be used at a Special Meeting of Shareholders (each, a "Meeting") of each Fund to be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the time set forth on Schedule 1 to this combined proxy statement, over the Internet in a virtual meeting format only, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 14, 2023 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote over the Internet during the Meeting with respect to their Fund(s). Shareholders will not be able to attend the Meeting in person, but may participate over the Internet as described in the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders.

Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund share held and fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held. Shareholders can vote only on matters affecting the Fund(s) in which they hold shares. Shareholders of each Fund will vote as a single class (which includes all series and classes of shares of a Fund) and will vote separately from the shareholders of each other Fund on the election of Board members. If a proposal is approved by shareholders of one Fund and not approved by shareholders of another Fund, the proposal will be implemented only for the Fund that approved the proposal. Therefore, it is essential that shareholders who own shares in more than one Fund complete, date, sign and return each proxy card they receive, or otherwise vote by telephone or over the Internet. Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon. Unmarked but properly signed and dated proxy cards will be voted "FOR" a proposal . If the enclosed proxy card is

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executed and returned, or if you have voted by telephone or over the Internet, your vote nevertheless may be revoked after it is received by sending a written notice of revocation to the proxy tabulator at the address listed on the proxy card or by mailing a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date; you may also change your vote by mailing a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date, by calling the toll-free telephone number listed under "To vote by Telephone" on the proxy card or over the Internet by going to the website listed on the proxy card and following the instructions on the website. To be effective, such revocation or vote change must be received before your prior proxy is exercised at the Meeting. If you hold shares through a bank or other intermediary, please consult your bank or intermediary regarding your ability to revoke voting instructions after such instructions have been provided. In addition, any shareholder who attends the Meeting virtually may vote over the Internet during the Meeting, thereby canceling any proxy previously given.

Information as to the number of shares outstanding and share ownership for each Fund is set forth on Schedule 2 to this combined proxy statement.

It is estimated that proxy materials will be mailed to shareholders of record on or about August 28, 2023. To reduce expenses, only one copy of this combined proxy statement will be mailed to certain addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to revoke this arrangement and receive individual copies, you may do so at any time by writing to the address or calling the phone number set forth below. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies promptly after receiving your request.

The principal executive office of each Fund is located at 240 Greenwich Street, 18^th Floor, New York, New York 10286. Copies of each Fund's most recent Annual Report to Shareholders and, if applicable, Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders, are available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, visiting www.im.bnymellon.com or calling toll-free 1-800-373-9387.

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PROPOSAL: ELECTION OF Board Members

The Nominees. It is proposed that shareholders of each Fund consider the election of the individuals listed below (the "Nominees") as Board members of their Fund as indicated. The Nominees were selected and nominated by those members of the present Boards of the relevant Funds who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Funds ("Independent Board Members"). The Nominees, except Michael D. DiLecce, currently serve as Board members of some or all of the Funds. Mr. DiLecce currently serves as an Advisory Board member of some of the Funds. Some Board members of certain Funds (Joseph S. DiMartino and Peggy C. Davis with respect to each Fund) were previously elected by shareholders and need not be re-elected to the Board of those Funds ("Continuing Board Members" of such Funds). The election of additional Board members to the Boards of the Funds is being proposed primarily to consolidate the Boards of the Funds. Consolidating the Boards of the Funds may provide certain administrative efficiencies and potential future cost savings for the Funds. Each Nominee has consented to being named in this combined proxy statement and has agreed to serve as a Board member of the indicated Funds if elected. All of the Nominees and Continuing Board Members are Independent Board Members.

With respect to BNYMAD, BNYMIF, BNYMIF V, BNYMIF VI, BNYMMIF, BNYMNJMBF, BNYMRGF, BNYMSIF and BNYMVIF, the Nominees for election as Board members of these Funds are: Francine J. Bovich, Michael D. DiLecce, Gina D. France, Joan L. Gulley, and Nathan Leventhal. Mses. France and Gulley currently are Board members of these Funds, but have not been previously elected by shareholders of the Funds.

With respect to BNYMAF, BNYMNYAFMBF, BNYMOMSF, BNYMWGF, GMMF, GMMMF and GNYMMMF, the Nominees for election as Board members of these Funds are: Francine J. Bovich, Michael D. DiLecce, Gina D. France, Joan L. Gulley, and Robin A. Melvin. Mses. Bovich and Melvin currently are Board members of these Funds, but have not been previously elected by shareholders of the Funds.

The persons named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card(s) intend to vote each proxy for the election of the Nominees, unless shareholders specifically indicate on their proxies the desire to withhold authority to vote for elections to office. Each Nominee elected will serve as an Independent Board Member of the consolidated Boards of the Funds commencing, subject to the discretion of the Board, on or about January 1, 2024, and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. It is not contemplated that any Nominee will be unable to serve as a Board member for any reason, but, if that should occur prior to the Meeting, the Boards reserve the right to substitute another person or persons of their choice as nominee or nominees.

Board's Oversight Role in Management. Each Board's role in management of the respective Fund is oversight. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to each Fund, primarily BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., each Fund's investment adviser (the "Investment Adviser" or "BNY Mellon Adviser"), and its affiliates, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management (including management of investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk). As part of its oversight, each Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including senior personnel of the Investment Adviser, the Fund's and the Investment Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel. Each Board's audit committee (which consists of all of the Independent Board Members) meets during its regularly scheduled and special meetings, and between meetings the audit committee chair is available to the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm and the Fund's Chief Financial Officer. Each Board also receives periodic

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presentations from senior personnel of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as cybersecurity, business continuity, personal trading, valuation, credit and investment research. As warranted, each Board also receives informational reports from counsel to each Fund and each Board's independent legal counsel regarding regulatory compliance and governance matters. Each Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser and other service providers to each Fund have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to each Fund, and the Boards' risk management oversight is subject to inherent limitations.

Board Composition and Leadership Structure. The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of each Fund's Board Members be Independent Board Members and as such are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser. To rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority of each Fund's Board Members must be Independent Board Members, and for certain important matters, such as the approval of each Fund's investment advisory agreement or transactions with affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent Board Members. Currently, all of each Fund's Board Members, including the Chairman of the Board, are Independent Board Members. Each Board has determined that its leadership structure, in which the Chairman of the Board is not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, is appropriate in light of the specific characteristics and circumstances of each Fund, including, but not limited to: (i) the services that the Investment Adviser and its affiliates provide to the Fund and potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these relationships; (ii) the extent to which the day-to-day operations of each Fund are conducted by Fund officers and employees of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates; and (iii) each Board's oversight role in management of each Fund.

Information About Each Nominee's and Continuing Board Member's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills. Nominees for Board Member of each Fund, together with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The address of each Nominee is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Specific information about the Continuing Board Members of each Fund, information on each Nominee's and Continuing Board Member's ownership of Fund shares, and other relevant information is set forth on Exhibit A to this combined proxy statement.

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Each Nominee and Continuing Board Member, with the exception of Mses. Bovich, France and Gulley and Mr. DiLecce, has been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for over twenty years. Ms. Bovich has been in the asset management business for 40 years, Ms. France has more than 35 years of strategy, investment banking and corporate finance experience and Ms. Gulley was in the asset management business for more than 30 years prior to her retirement in 2014. Mr. DiLecce has over 30 years of experience as an accountant with independent registered public accounting firms. Additional information about each Nominee follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Nominee possesses which the respective Board believes has prepared them to be effective Board Members (this information for the Continuing Board Members is set forth on Exhibit A). Each Board believes that the significance of each Board Member's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Board Member may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Board Member, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. However, each Board believes that Board Members need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; each Board believes that its members satisfy this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Board Member's educational background; business or professional training or practice (e.g., medicine, accounting or law); public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board of the Fund) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charter for each Board's nominating committee contains certain other factors considered by the committee in identifying and evaluating potential Independent Board

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Member nominees. To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Board Members are counseled by their independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with the Investment Adviser and also may benefit from information provided by the Investment Adviser's counsel; counsel to the Funds and to the Boards has significant experience advising funds and fund board members. Each Board and its committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. Each Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.

Francine J. Bovich – Ms. Bovich currently serves as a Trustee for The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds, and as a Director of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. She is an Emeritus Trustee of Connecticut College, and served as a Trustee from 1986 to 1997. She currently serves as a member of the Investment Committee (formerly, the Investment Sub Committee) for Connecticut College's endowment fund and served as Chair of the Investment Sub Committee until June 2020. From April 1993 until September 2010, Ms. Bovich was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, holding various positions including Co-Head of Global Tactical Asset Allocation Group, Operations Officer, and Head of the U.S. Institutional Equity Group. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Ms. Bovich was Principal, Executive Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager at Westwood Management Corporation, where she worked from 1986 until 1993. From 1980 to 1986, she worked at CitiCorp Investment Management, Inc. as Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager. From 1973 to 1980, Ms. Bovich was an Assistant Vice President and Equity Portfolio Manager at Bankers Trust Company. From 1991 to 2005, she served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Investments Committee, advising a global portfolio of approximately $30 billion.

Michael D. DiLecce – Mr. DiLecce retired as a Partner at the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP in June 2022. Mr. DiLecce has substantial accounting, investment management, and executive experience serving firms within the investment management industry. From August 1983 to June 2022, Mr. DiLecce was an auditor at Ernst & Young LLP where he served as Global Assurance Leader of Asset Management and as the audit partner for various investment company complexes. In addition, from July 2017 to June 2021, Mr. DiLecce was the Americas Regional Talent Managing Partner for Ernst & Young's Financial Service practice. He was an Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young LLP from 1997 to 2022. Mr. DiLecce currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, a private equity firm focusing on investments in technology and healthcare companies.

Gina D. France – Ms. France serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of France Strategic Partners. Before founding France Strategic Partners in 2003, Ms. France was a managing director of Ernst & Young LLP where she led a national client-facing strategy group. She has served as a strategic advisor to over 250 companies throughout the course of her career. Ms. France has more than 35 years of strategy, investment banking and corporate finance experience. Previously, Ms. France was an investment banker with Lehman Brothers in New York and San Francisco. Prior to Lehman Brothers, she served as the international cash manager of Marathon Oil Company. Ms. France has served on several corporate boards including: Huntington Bancshares (investment company oversight committee chair); Cedar Fair, L.P. (audit committee chair); CBIZ, Inc.; Baldwin Wallace University; FirstMerit Corporation (nominating and governance committee chair); Dawn Food Products, Inc.; and Mack Industries. Ms. France served as Director of Cedar Fair, L.P. from 2011 to May 2023 and served as a Trustee of Dance Cleveland, a non-profit, from 2001 to June 2023.

Joan L. Gulley – Ms. Gulley served in various senior roles at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. ("PNC") from 1993 until her retirement in 2014, including Chief Executive Officer of PNC Advisors, the wealth management and institutional services business of PNC, from 2002 to 2005, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of PNC from 2002 to 2007, and Executive Vice President ("EVP") and Chief Human Resources Officer ("CHRO") of PNC from 2008 until 2014. In her role as EVP and CHRO of PNC, Ms. Gulley was responsible for the oversight of $8 billion in combined pension and 401(k) assets.

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Ms. Gulley also served as a member of PNC's Executive Committee from 2008 to 2014, where she participated in all key strategic and operational decisions affecting PNC, and was responsible for all staff support to the PNC Board's Personnel and Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation, succession planning, talent management, human resource regulatory matters and diversity. Prior to joining PNC, Ms. Gulley held positions with The Massachusetts Company, a chartered bank and subsidiary of The Travelers Insurance Company, which was acquired by PNC in 1993, and with branches of the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. Ms. Gulley currently serves as a Governor and President of the Orchard Island Club and from 2015 to 2021 served on the Board of Trustees of the Nantucket Atheneum.

Nathan Leventhal – Mr. Leventhal was previously a Commissioner of the New York City Planning Commission. Previously, Mr. Leventhal served in a number of senior positions in New York City Government, including Fiscal Director of the Human Resources Administration and Chief of Staff to Mayor John V. Lindsay, Deputy Mayor to Mayor Ed Koch, and Transition Chairman for both Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg. Mr. Leventhal is a former partner in the law firm Poletti Freidin Prashker Feldman & Gartner. Mr. Leventhal is a member of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Town of Southampton in Suffolk County New York. In the not-for-profit sector, Mr. Leventhal serves as President of the Palm Beach Opera and served as President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Chairman of the Avery Fisher Artist Program; he is now President Emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Robin A. Melvin – From 2014 to 2020, Ms. Melvin served as Co-Chair of Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois, and served as a Board member from 2013 to 2020. Ms. Melvin served as Director of the Boisi Family Foundation, a private family foundation that supports organizations serving the needs of youth from disadvantaged circumstances, from 1995 to 2012. In that role she also managed the Boisi Family Office, providing the primary interface with all investment managers, legal advisors and other service providers to the family. She has also served in various roles with MENTOR, a national non-profit youth mentoring advocacy organization, including Executive Director of the New York City affiliate, Vice President of the national affiliate network, Vice President of Development, and, immediately prior to her departure, Senior Vice President in charge of strategy. Prior to that, Ms. Melvin was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Ms. Melvin served as a Board member of JDRF, a non-profit juvenile diabetes research foundation from June 2021 to June 2022. She also serves as a Trustee of HPS Corporate Lending Fund, a closed-end management investment company regulated as a business development company (August 2021 to present), and served as a Trustee of Westover School, a private girls boarding school in Middlebury, Connecticut from 2019 to June 2023.

Fund Board Committees. Each Fund has standing audit, nominating, compensation and litigation committees, each comprised of its Independent Board Members, except that Joseph S. DiMartino does not serve on the compensation committees.

The function of the audit committee of each Fund is (1) to oversee the Fund's accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund's financial statements and (2) to assist in the Board's oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial statements, the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of each Fund's Audit Committee Charter, which describes the audit committee's purposes, duties and responsibilities, is available at www.im.bnymellon.com. Each Fund's audit committee has determined that at least one Board Member qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the securities laws and Gina D. France has been designated as the audit committee financial expert for each of BNYMAD, BNYMIF, BNYMIF V, BNYMIF VI, BNYMMIF, BNYMNJMBF, BNYMRGF, BNYMSIF and BNYMVIF and Joseph S. DiMartino has been designated as the audit

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committee financial expert for each of BNYMAF, BNYMNYAFMBF, BNYMOMSF, BNYMWGF, GMMF, GMMMF and GNYMMMF.

Each Fund's nominating committee is responsible for selecting and nominating persons as members of the Board for election or appointment by the Board and for election by shareholders. In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by shareholders, the committee takes into consideration the factors listed in each Fund's Nominating Committee Charter and Procedures (the "Nominating Committee Charter"), including character and integrity, and business and professional experience. The nominating committee may consider whether a potential nominee's professional experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Board's membership and collective attributes. Such considerations will vary based on the Board's existing membership and other factors, such as the strength of a potential nominee's overall qualifications relative to diversity considerations. The committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser Legal Department, 240 Greenwich Street, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10286, and including information regarding the recommended nominee as specified in the Nominating Committee Charter. The Nominating Committee Charter is attached as Exhibit B to this combined proxy statement.

The function of the compensation committee is to establish the appropriate compensation for serving on the Board.

The litigation committee seeks to address any potential conflicts of interest between the Funds and the Investment Adviser in connection with any potential or existing litigation or other legal proceeding relating to securities held by a Fund and held or otherwise deemed to have a beneficial interest held by the Investment Adviser or its affiliate.

Compensation. Each Nominee, except Mr. DiLecce, currently serves as a Board Member of multiple funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Annual retainer fees and meeting attendance fees are allocated on the basis of net assets, with the Chairman of each Board, Mr. DiMartino, receiving an additional 25% of such compensation. Each Fund reimburses Board Members for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending Board or committee meetings. The Funds do not have a bonus, pension, profit-sharing or retirement plan.

The amount of compensation paid to each Nominee by each Fund for its most recent fiscal year and the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each such Nominee by all funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds for which the Nominee was a Board Member during 2022, was as follows:

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* Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Nominees for attending Board meetings. Amounts shown also do not include the costs of office space and related parking, office supplies and secretarial services, which are paid by the Funds (allocated among the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds based on net assets), which, in 2022, for the Funds ranged from $28 to $2,526 ($19,383 for all Funds).

** Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Funds, for which the Nominee served as a board member in 2022.

*** Mr. DiLecce became an advisory board member of BNYMAD, BNYMIF, BNYMIF V, BNYMIF VI, BNYMMIF, BNYMNJMBF, BNYMRGF, BNYMSIF and BNYMVIF in October 2022 and receives compensation from the funds for attending board meetings in an advisory role.

For each Fund's most recent fiscal year, the number of Board and committee meetings held and the amount of compensation paid by each Fund to the Continuing Board Members and the aggregate amount of compensation paid by all funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds for which each such person was a Board Member in 2022 are set forth on Exhibit A. Certain other information concerning each Fund's Board Members and officers also is set forth on Exhibit A.

11

Required Vote

The election of a Nominee for each Fund requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the Fund's meeting for the election of Board Members, if a quorum is present.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The 1940 Act requires that each Fund's independent registered public accounting firm (the "independent auditors" or "auditors") be selected by a majority of the Independent Board Members. The audit committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Fund's independent auditors. Each Fund's audit committee approved and each Fund's Board, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, ratified and approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") as the independent auditors for the respective Fund's fiscal year ended in 2023 or 2024, as applicable, at a meeting held on the date set forth for each Fund on Schedule 3 to this combined proxy statement. EY, a major international accounting firm, has acted as independent auditors of each Fund since the Fund's organization.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services

The following chart reflects fees billed by EY in each Fund's last two fiscal years. For Service Affiliates (i.e., the Investment Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Adviser that provides ongoing services to the relevant Fund), such fees represent only those fees that required pre-approval by the audit committee, except the Aggregate Non-Audit Fees amounts, which include all non-audit fees billed by EY to the Fund and Service Affiliates. All services provided by EY were pre-approved as required.

12

13

__________________________

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Each Fund's audit committee has established policies and procedures (the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of EY's engagement for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and non-audit services to Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining EY's independence. Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually. In addition, proposed services requiring pre-approval but not covered by the Policy are considered from time to time as necessary.

14

Auditor Independence. Each Fund's audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates that did not require pre-approval is compatible with maintaining EY's independence.

A representative of EY will be available to join the Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Service Providers

BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as each Fund's investment adviser.

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the distributor (i.e., principal underwriter) of each Fund's shares.

The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY Mellon"), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as custodian for the assets of each Fund.

BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar for each Fund.

Voting Information

To vote, you may use any of the following methods:

For each Fund, the shareholders of all series and classes of shares of the Fund will vote together as a single class to elect Nominees and the voting power of the shares of each series and class of shares will be counted together in determining the results of the voting. Total voting power of a Fund taken as a whole is determined by the number of shares outstanding (including fractional shares) of the Fund as of the Record Date.

Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon, and, if no voting instructions are given, shares will be voted "for" a proposal.

If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote or represents a broker "non-vote" (that is, a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares of a Fund on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power), the

15

Fund's shares represented thereby will be considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but will not constitute a vote "for" a proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote. However, because the Funds understand that a broker or nominee may exercise discretionary voting power with respect to the proposal to elect Board members, and there are no other proposals expected to come before the Meeting for which a broker or nominee would not have discretionary voting authority, the Funds do not anticipate that there will be any "broker non-votes" at the Meeting.

If you hold shares of a Fund through a broker-dealer or other intermediary that has entered into a service agreement with the Fund or the Fund's distributor, such intermediary may be the record holder of your shares. At the Meeting, an intermediary will vote shares for which it receives instructions from its customers in accordance with those instructions. A signed proxy card or other authorization by a shareholder that does not specify how the shareholder's shares should be voted on the proposal may be deemed to authorize the intermediary to vote such shares in favor of the proposal to elect Board members. Depending on its policies, applicable law or contractual or other restrictions, an intermediary may be permitted to vote shares with respect to which it has not received voting instructions from its customers. In those cases, the intermediary may, but may not be required to, vote such shares in the same proportion as those shares for which the intermediary has received voting instructions. Because of this practice, a small number of shareholders could determine how a Fund votes, if other shareholders fail to vote.

Shares of BNYMSIF and BNYMVIF have been offered only to separate accounts established by insurance companies ("Participating Insurance Companies") to fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (collectively referred to as the "Policies"). As the owner of all of the assets held in such separate accounts, the Participating Insurance Companies are the record owners of such Fund's shares. However, pursuant to applicable laws, Fund shares held in a separate account which are attributable to Policies will be voted by the relevant Participating Insurance Company in accordance with instructions received from the holders of the Policies ("Policyowners"). Participating Insurance Companies have agreed to solicit instructions from Policyowners holding Fund shares in the relevant separate account as of the record date of the Meeting and to vote by proxy the shares at the Meeting according to such instructions. To be effective, voting instructions must be received by Participating Insurance Companies prior to the close of business on Tuesday October 10, 2023. Such instructions may be revoked at any time prior to the Meeting either by written notice of revocation or another voting instructions form delivered to the relevant Participating Insurance Company. Participating Insurance Companies will vote by proxy (i) Fund shares as to which no timely instructions are received, (ii) Fund shares owned exclusively by the relevant Participating Insurance Company or its affiliates and (iii) Fund shares held in the separate account representing charges imposed by the relevant Participating Insurance Company against the separate account in the same proportions as the voting instructions received from Policyowners. Because of this practice, a small number of Policyowners could determine how each such Fund votes, if other Policyowners fail to provide voting instructions. Additional information regarding voting instruction rights is provided in the prospectus or statement of additional information for the Policies.

With respect to BNY Mellon Adviser-sponsored IRAs, the Individual Retirement Custodial Account Agreement governing the IRAs requires BNY Mellon, as the custodian of the IRAs, to vote Fund shares held in such IRAs in accordance with the IRA shareholder's instructions. BNY Mellon will solicit instructions from such IRA shareholders. To be effective, voting instructions must be received prior to the close of business on Tuesday October 10, 2023. However, if no voting instructions are received, BNY Mellon will vote the IRA shares in the same proportions as it votes the shares for which properly conveyed instructions are timely received from other BNY Mellon Adviser-sponsored IRA shareholders. Because of this practice, a small number of shareholders could determine how the Fund votes, if other shareholders fail to vote.

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The cost of preparing, printing and mailing this combined proxy statement and the attached Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying proxy card(s), as well as the costs associated with the proxy solicitation, which is estimated to total approximately $1,205,960, will be borne by the Funds. These costs are estimated to range from $6,400 to $213,530 for the Funds and are set forth for each Fund on Schedule 4. Solicitation may be made by officers or employees of BNY Mellon Adviser, or by dealers and their representatives. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone, and the Funds or BNY Mellon Adviser may pay persons holding Fund shares in their names or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to their principals. The Funds will retain Equiniti Fund Solutions, LLC (the "Proxy Solicitor") to assist in the solicitation of proxies, primarily by contacting shareholders by telephone. The cost of the Proxy Solicitor is estimated to be approximately $31,400, which amount is included in the estimated total expenses listed above.

Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions in accordance with procedures designed to authenticate the shareholder's identity. In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited (as opposed to where the shareholder calls the toll-free telephone number directly to vote), the shareholder will be asked to provide or confirm certain identifiable information and to confirm that the shareholder has received the Funds' combined proxy statement and proxy card(s). Within 72 hours of receiving such telephonic or electronically transmitted voting instructions from a shareholder, a confirmation will be sent to the shareholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the shareholder's instructions and to provide a telephone number to call immediately if the shareholder's instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation. Any Fund shareholder giving a proxy by telephone or electronically may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by sending a written notice of revocation to the proxy tabulator at the address listed on the proxy card, by submitting a new proxy to the Fund or by attending the Meeting and voting virtually.

With respect to BNYMAD, BNYMAF, BNYMIF, BNYMIF V, BNYMMIF, BNYMNJMBF, BNYMRGF, BNYMSIF, BNYMWGF, GMMF and GMMMF, 33-1/3% of the Fund's shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting. With respect to BNYMIF VI, BNYMVIF, BNYMNYAFMBF, BNYMOMSF and GNYMMMF, 30% of the Fund's shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting. Virtual attendance at the Meeting shall constitute in person attendance for purposes of calculating a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting for a Fund, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting with respect to that Fund to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented at the Meeting virtually or by proxy.

OTHER MATTERS

Each Fund's Board is not aware of any other matter which may come before the Meeting. However, should any such matter with respect to one or more Funds properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying forms of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matter.

None of the Funds hold annual meetings of shareholders. Any shareholder proposal for inclusion in a proxy statement for a Fund's next shareholder meeting subsequent to this Meeting, if any, must be received by the Fund's Secretary at the offices of the Fund, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, in a reasonable period of time before the Fund begins to print and mail the proxy materials for such meeting. Under the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shareholder proposals meeting requirements contained in those rules may, under certain conditions, be included in a Fund's proxy materials for a particular meeting of shareholders. One of these conditions relates to the timely receipt by the Fund of any such proposal. The fact that a Fund receives a shareholder proposal in a timely manner does not,

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however, ensure its inclusion in the Fund's proxy materials since there are other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion.

Shareholders who wish to communicate with Board Members should send communications to the attention of the Secretary of the Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser Legal Department, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, and communications will be directed to the Board Member or Board Members indicated in the communication or, if no Board Member or Board Members are indicated, to the Chairman of the Board.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING VIRTUALLY ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN EACH ENCLOSED PROXY CARD(S) IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE OR OTHERWISE VOTE PROMPTLY.

Dated: August 14, 2023

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SCHEDULE 1

The following is a list of times at which each Fund's meeting will be held.

S-1

S-2

SCHEDULE 2

PERTAINING TO SHARE OWNERSHIP

Set forth below for each Fund is information as to the number of shares of the Fund outstanding and those shareholders, if any, known by the Fund to own of record or beneficially 5% or more of a class of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (including series thereof) as of July 14, 2023.

S-3

S-4

S-5

S-6

S-7

S-8

S-9

S-10

S-11

S-12

S-13

S-14

S-15

S-16

S-17

S-18

S-19

S-20

S-21

S-22

S-23

S-24

S-25

S-26

S-27

S-28

S-29

S-30

S-31

SCHEDULE 3

S-32

SCHEDULE 4

The following is the estimated cost of preparing, printing, and mailing this combined proxy statement and the attached Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying proxy card(s), as well as the costs associated with the proxy solicitation.

S-33

S-34

EXHIBIT A

PART I

Part I sets forth information regarding the Continuing Board Members, Board and committee meetings and share ownership.

Information About the Continuing Board Members' Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills. The Continuing Board Members of each Fund, together with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The address of the Continuing Board Members is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

A-1

Each Continuing Board Member has been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for over 25 years. Additional information about the Continuing Board Members follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that the Continuing Board Members possess which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Board Members.

Joseph S. DiMartino – Mr. DiMartino has been the Chairman of the Board of the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds for over 25 years. From 1971 through 1994, Mr. DiMartino served in various roles as an employee of The Dreyfus Corporation, the predecessor company of the Investment Adviser (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation in August 1994 and related management changes), including portfolio manager, President, Chief Operating Officer and a director. He ceased being an employee or director of The Dreyfus Corporation by the end of 1994. From July 1995 to November 1997, Mr. DiMartino served as Chairman of the Board of The Noel Group, a public buyout firm; in that capacity, he helped manage, acquire, take public and liquidate a number of operating companies. From 1986 to 2010, Mr. DiMartino served as a Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Peggy C. Davis – Ms. Davis currently serves as the John S. R. Shad Professor of Lawyering and Ethics at New York University School of Law as a writer and teacher in the fields of evidence, constitutional theory, family law, social sciences and the law, legal process and professional methodology and training. Prior to joining the university's faculty in 1983, Ms. Davis served as a Judge of the Family Court of the State of New York. Before her appointment to the bench, she practiced law for ten years in both the commercial and public interest sectors. Ms. Davis also has served as Chair of the Board of the Russell Sage Foundation.

Nominees' and the Continuing Board Members' Ownership of Fund Shares. The table below indicates the dollar range of the Nominees' and the Continuing Board Members' ownership of shares of each Fund and shares of funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds in the aggregate, in each case as of December 31, 2022.