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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)
VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL TRUST
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(Name of Issuer)
Auction Rate Preferred
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(Title of Class of Securities)
920919206
(See Item 2(e))
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(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2008
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[_] Rule 13d-1(c)
[_] Rule 13d-1(d)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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Page 1
of 8 Pages
CUSIP No. 920919206
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1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Bank of America Corporation 56-0906609
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
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NUMBER OF 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 1,194
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING -----------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,194
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,194
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_]
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
11.5%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
HC
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Page 2
of 8 Pages
CUSIP No. 920919206
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1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Blue Ridge Investments, L.L.C. 56-1970824
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
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NUMBER OF 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 1,194
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING -----------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,194
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,194
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_]
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
11.5%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO
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Page 3
of 8 Pages
CUSIP NO. 920919206
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL TRUST
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
Van Kampen Investments, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Item 2(a). Names of Person Filing:
Bank of America Corporation ("Bank of America")
Blue Ridge Investments, L.L.C. ("Blue Ridge")
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:
The address of the principal office of
Bank of America and Blue Ridge is:
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Item 2(c). Citizenship and Place of Organization:
Bank of America is a Delaware corporation.
Blue Ridge is a Delaware limited liability company.
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Auction Rate Preferred
Item 2(e). CUSIP Numbers:
920919206, 920919305, 920919404, 920919503, 920919602
Item 3.* If This Statement Is Filed Pursuant to Sections 240.13d 1(b) or
240.13d 2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing Is a(n):
(a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15
U.S.C. 78o);
(b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C.
78c);
(c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e) [_] Investment adviser in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
Page 4
of 8 Pages
CUSIP No. 920919206
(f) [_] Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [X] Parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [_] Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i) [_] Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j) [_] A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
(k) [_] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
____________________________.
* Blue Ridge does not qualify to utilize Schedule 13G under Rule
13d-1(b)(ii); and Blue Ridge is relying on the Securities and
Exchange Commission's Auction Rate Securities Global Exemptive
Relief no-action letter issued on September 22, 2008 to file under
Schedule 13G instead of Schedule 13D.
Item 4. Ownership. (as of December 31, 2008)
The number of shares reported herein represents combined holdings in
multiple series of auction rate preferred securities of the issuer,
which are treated herein as one class of securities in accordance
with the Securities and Exchange Commission's Auction Rate
Securities Global Exemptive Relief no-action letter issued on
September 22, 2008.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: See item 9 of cover pages
(b) Percent of class: See item 11 of cover pages
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
See Items 5-8 of cover pages
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the
date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial
owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the
following [_]
Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Not Applicable.
Page 5
of 8 Pages
CUSIP No. 920919206
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
Blue Ridge is a wholly owned, non-bank subsidiary of Bank of America
engaged in the business of investments in high-yield debt and equity
securities of varying types issued by U.S. corporate or foreign
issuers, including securities of distressed or bankrupt issuers.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable.
Item 10. Certifications.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary
course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or
with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the
securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
Page 6
of 8 Pages
CUSIP No. 920919206
SIGNATURE.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Dated: January 12, 2009
Bank of America Corporation
By: /s/ Charles F. Bowman
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Name: Charles F. Bowman
Title: Senior Vice President
Blue Ridge Investments, L.L.C.
By: /s/ Kevin G. Finnegan
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Name: Kevin G. Finnegan
Title: Vice President
Page 7
of 8 Pages