[SCHEDULE 13D/A] BLACKROCK CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST SEC Filing
Saba Capital and affiliated persons report a 9.7% stake in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (BFZ), totaling 2,917,268 common shares. The Schedule 13D/A (Amendment No. 16) shows the holdings are shared voting and dispositive power, funded from investor subscriptions, capital appreciation and margin borrowing, with approximately $31,934,397 paid to acquire the reported shares. The percentage is calculated using 30,063,645 shares outstanding as disclosed in the issuer's DEF 14A. This amendment updates Items 3, 5 and 7 and incorporates open-market transactions through 9/16/2025 by reference to Schedule A.
- Material disclosure of ownership: Reporting Persons openly disclose a 9.7% beneficial stake (2,917,268 shares), providing transparency to investors.
- Clear funding description: Purchase price (~$31,934,397) and source of funds (investor subscriptions, capital appreciation, margin) are explicitly stated.
- No stated intentions: The filing does not disclose any specific plans, proposals, or demands related to BFZ governance or operations.
- Shared rather than sole control: Reporting Persons report shared voting and dispositive power, which may limit unilateral influence.
Insights
TL;DR: A sizeable 9.7% stake by an activist hedge manager signals potential engagement but not an outright control bid.
Saba Capital, its GP and Boaz Weinstein collectively report shared voting and dispositive power over 2,917,268 BFZ shares representing 9.7% of the class. The acquisition cost reported is approximately $31.9 million, funded by investor subscriptions and margin facilities. For investors, a near-10% stake from a fund known for active strategies is material: it may presage proposals, board engagement or changes in capital allocation, though the filing contains no explicit strategic demands.
TL;DR: Ownership disclosure is material; shared voting power implies coordinated influence without sole control.
The Schedule 13D/A indicates shared voting and dispositive power rather than sole control, which suggests coordinated decision-making among the Reporting Persons. The amendment updates prior disclosures and incorporates recent open-market trades by reference. There is no disclosure in this filing of negotiations, director nominations or formal proposals, so governance actions remain speculative based on this record alone.