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 |
811-5245 | |||||
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Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. |
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter) |
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c/o The Dreyfus Corporation 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) |
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John Pak, Esq. 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 |
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(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: |
(212) 922-6000 | |||||
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Date of fiscal year end:
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9/30 |
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Date of reporting period: |
3/31/15 |
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Dreyfus Strategic |
Municipals, Inc. |
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.
Protecting Your Privacy
Our Pledge to You
THE FUND IS COMMITTED TO YOUR PRIVACY. On this page, you will find the Fund’s policies and practices for collecting, disclosing, and safeguarding “nonpublic personal information,” which may include financial or other customer information.These policies apply to individuals who purchase Fund shares for personal, family, or household purposes, or have done so in the past. This notification replaces all previous statements of the Fund’s consumer privacy policy, and may be amended at any time. We’ll keep you informed of changes as required by law.
YOUR ACCOUNT IS PROVIDED IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT. The Fund maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard nonpublic personal information. The Fund’s agents and service providers have limited access to customer information based on their role in servicing your account.
THE FUND COLLECTS INFORMATION IN ORDER TO SERVICE AND ADMINISTER YOUR ACCOUNT.
The Fund collects a variety of nonpublic personal information, which may include:
Information we receive from you, such as your name, address, and social security number.
Information about your transactions with us, such as the purchase or sale of Fund shares.
Information we receive from agents and service providers, such as proxy voting information.
THE FUND DOES NOT SHARE NONPUBLIC
PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH ANYONE, EXCEPT
AS PERMITTED BY LAW.
Thank you for this opportunity to serve you.
The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio manager only through the end of the period covered and do not necessarily represent the views of Dreyfus or any other person in the Dreyfus organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Dreyfus disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Dreyfus fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Dreyfus fund.
Not FDIC-Insured • Not Bank-Guaranteed • May Lose Value |
Contents | |
THE FUND | |
2 |
A Letter from the President |
3 |
Discussion of Fund Performance |
6 |
Statement of Investments |
25 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
26 |
Statement of Operations |
27 |
Statement of Cash Flows |
28 |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
29 |
Financial Highlights |
31 |
Notes to Financial Statements |
41 |
Information About the Renewal of the Fund’s Management Agreement |
49 |
Officers and Directors |
FOR MORE INFORMATION | |
Back Cover |
Dreyfus
Strategic Municipals, Inc.
The Fund
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Shareholder:
This semiannual report for Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. covers the six-month period from October 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015. For information about how the fund performed during the reporting period, as well as general market perspectives, we provide a Discussion of Fund Performance on the pages that follow.
Municipal bonds continued to gain a degree of value over the reporting period in an environment of falling long-term interest rates and favorable supply-and-demand dynamics. Bond yields trended lower despite a sustained U.S. economic recovery, in part due to robust demand from investors seeking relatively safe havens in the midst of disappointing global growth and intensifying geopolitical conflicts. A generally stable supply of newly issued securities and improving credit conditions for many municipal issuers also supported the market’s performance.
We remain optimistic regarding the long-term outlook for the U.S. economy generally and the municipal bond asset class in particular.We believe the domestic economic recovery has continued at a sustainable pace, energy prices appear to have stabilized, and aggressively accommodative monetary policies from the world’s major central banks seem likely to address global economic weakness. While monetary policymakers currently appear prepared to begin raising short-term interest rates later this year, any potential rate hikes are expected to be gradual and modest. As always, we urge you to discuss these observations with your financial advisor, who can help you assess their implications for your investment portfolio.
Thank you for your continued confidence and support.
J. Charles Cardona
President
The Dreyfus Corporation
April 15, 2015
2
DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
For the period of October 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015, as provided by Daniel Barton and Jeffrey Burger, Portfolio Managers
Fund and Market Performance Overview
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. achieved a total return of 5.05% on a net-asset-value basis.1 Over the same period, the fund provided aggregate income dividends of $0.270 per share, which reflects an annualized distribution rate of 6.44%.2
Municipal bonds generally rallied over the reporting period as long-term interest rates continued to fall.The fund particularly benefited in this environment from its interest-rate and security selection strategies.
The Fund’s Investment Approach
The fund’s investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in municipal obligations. Generally, the fund invests at least 50% of its net assets in municipal bonds considered investment grade or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus in the case of bonds, and in the two highest-rating categories or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus in the case of short-term obligations having or deemed to have maturities of less than one year.
To this end, portfolio construction focuses on income opportunities, through analysis of each bond’s structure, including paying close attention to each bond’s yield, maturity, and early redemption features. When making new investments, we focus on identifying undervalued sectors and securities, and we minimize reliance on interest rate forecasting. We select municipal bonds based on fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and to exploit pricing inefficiencies in the municipal bond market.We actively trade among various sectors, such as escrowed, general obligation and revenue, based on their apparent relative values. Leverage, which is utilized in the portfolio in order to generate a higher level of current income exempt from regular federal income taxes, does amplify the fund’s exposure to interest rate movements, and potentially, gains or losses, especially those among the longest maturities.
The Fund 3
DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)
Falling Long-Term Rates Supported Bond Prices
A sustained U.S. economic recovery persisted throughout the reporting period, yet long-term interest rates fell, defying expectations that an expanding domestic economy would drive bonds yields higher. Global investors seeking more competitive yields from sovereign bonds than were available in Europe and Japan flocked to U.S. Treasury securities, and the resulting supply-and-demand imbalance put downward pressure on yields of U.S. fixed-income securities. February 2015 proved to be a notable exception to this trend: longer term interest rates climbed after stronger-than-expected employment data sparked concerns that short-term interest rates might rise sooner than previously forecast. Nonetheless, the rally resumed in March when it became clearer that short-term rate hikes were not imminent.
Municipal bonds continued to benefit from favorable supply-and-demand dynamics during the reporting period due to robust demand from individual investors seeking competitive levels of tax-exempt income. Despite greater-than-expected issuance volumes over the first quarter of 2015, the supply of newly issued municipal securities generally remained stable for the reporting period overall.
The economic rebound resulted in better underlying credit conditions for most municipal bond issuers. Tax revenues have climbed beyond pre-recession levels for most state and local governments, enabling them to achieve balanced budgets and replenish reserves.
Interest Rate and Selection Strategies Boosted Returns
The fund’s focus on longer maturities helped capture the benefits of falling long-term interest rates and narrowing yield differences along the market’s maturity spectrum. Our security selection strategy also proved effective, including overweight exposure to higher yielding, revenue-backed bonds and an underweight position in general obligation bonds. The fund achieved especially strong results from revenue bonds backed by charter schools, hospitals, industrial development projects, and the states’ settlement of litigation with U.S. tobacco companies.The fund also benefited from its leveraging strategy, which magnified investment gains.
On the other hand, laggards for the reporting period included its holdings of shorter term securities, including escrowed bonds. Higher quality securities from education providers, special tax districts, and electricity producers also trailed market averages.
4
A Constructive Investment Posture
We remain optimistic regarding the prospects for municipal bonds. The U.S. economic recovery has gained traction, and credit conditions generally have continued to improve.Although the supply of newly issued municipal bonds recently began to increase, we expect robust investor demand to absorb additional issuance. Finally, we anticipate that the Federal Reserve Board will begin to raise short-term interest rates over the intermediate term. While we expect market volatility to increase as the inflection point approaches, we note that inflation has remained subdued and tax-exempt bonds historically have tended to be less sensitive than U.S. Treasury securities to rising interest rates.Therefore, as of the reporting period’s end, we have maintained a constructive interest-rate positioning, and we have retained our focus on longer term revenue bonds with strong income characteristics.
April 15, 2015
Bond funds are subject generally to interest rate, credit, liquidity, and market risks, to varying degrees. Generally, all other factors being equal, bond prices are inversely related to interest-rate changes, and rate increases can cause price declines. High yield bonds are subject to increased credit risk and are considered speculative in terms of the issuer’s perceived ability to continue making interest payments on a timely basis and to repay principal upon maturity.The use of leverage may magnify the fund’s gains or losses. For derivatives with a leveraging component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset can result in a loss that is much greater than the original investment in the derivative.
1 Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid, based upon net asset value per share. Past |
performance is no guarantee of future results. Market price per share, net asset value per share, and investment return |
fluctuate. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, and some income may be subject to the federal alternative |
minimum tax (AMT) for certain investors. Capital gains, if any, are fully taxable. Return figure provided reflects the |
absorption of certain fund expenses by The Dreyfus Corporation pursuant to an agreement in effect until May 31, |
2015, at which time it may be extended, modified, or terminated. Had these expenses not been absorbed, the fund’s |
return would have been lower. |
2 Annualized distribution rate per share is based upon dividends per share paid from net investment income during |
the period (annualized), divided by the market price per share at the end of the period, adjusted for any capital |
gain distributions. |
The Fund 5
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS |
March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments—150.2% | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Alabama—1.5% | |||||
Jefferson County, | |||||
Limited Obligation | |||||
School Warrants | 5.25 | 1/1/17 | 4,520,000 | a | 4,565,245 |
Jefferson County, | |||||
Limited Obligation | |||||
School Warrants | 5.00 | 1/1/24 | 2,000,000 | a | 2,020,020 |
Jefferson County, | |||||
Sewer Revenue Warrants | 0/7.90 | 10/1/50 | 2,500,000 | b | 1,619,700 |
Alaska—1.6% | |||||
Northern Tobacco Securitization | |||||
Corporation of Alaska, Tobacco | |||||
Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds | 5.00 | 6/1/46 | 11,190,000 | 8,788,514 | |
Arizona—5.6% | |||||
Arizona Housing Finance Authority, | |||||
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed | |||||
Securities Program) | |||||
(Collateralized: FHLMC, FNMA | |||||
and GNMA) | 5.55 | 12/1/41 | 1,370,000 | 1,433,691 | |
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 21 W) | |||||
Recourse (Salt River Project | |||||
Agricultural Improvement and | |||||
Power District, Salt River | |||||
Project Electric System | |||||
Revenue) | 5.00 | 1/1/38 | 17,207,871 | c,d | 18,814,338 |
Pima County Industrial Development | |||||
Authority, Education Revenue | |||||
(American Charter Schools | |||||
Foundation Project) | 5.63 | 7/1/38 | 3,410,000 | a | 3,271,042 |
Salt Verde Financial Corporation, | |||||
Senior Gas Revenue | 5.00 | 12/1/37 | 6,030,000 | 7,061,914 | |
Arkansas—.3% | |||||
Arkansas Development Finance | |||||
Authority, HR (Washington | |||||
Regional Medical Center) | 5.00 | 2/1/35 | 1,300,000 | 1,454,674 |
6
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
California—17.1% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 80 W) | |||||
Recourse (Los Angeles | |||||
Department of Airports, Senior | |||||
Revenue (Los Angeles | |||||
International Airport)) | 5.00 | 5/15/31 | 5,247,500 | c,d | 6,086,608 |
California, | |||||
GO (Various Purpose) | 5.75 | 4/1/31 | 10,800,000 | 12,667,320 | |
California, | |||||
GO (Various Purpose) | 6.50 | 4/1/33 | 10,000,000 | 12,138,200 | |
California, | |||||
GO (Various Purpose) | 6.00 | 11/1/35 | 7,500,000 | 9,119,400 | |
California Statewide Communities | |||||
Development Authority, Revenue | |||||
(Bentley School) | 7.00 | 7/1/40 | 2,090,000 | a | 2,380,823 |
California Statewide Communities | |||||
Development Authority, Student | |||||
Housing Revenue (CHF-Irvine, | |||||
LLC-UCI East Campus | |||||
Apartments, Phase II) | 5.75 | 5/15/32 | 2,000,000 | a | 2,208,080 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 3851) | |||||
Non-recourse (California | |||||
Educational Facilities | |||||
Authority, Revenue (University | |||||
of Southern California)) | 5.25 | 10/1/16 | 10,100,000 | a,c,d | 11,384,013 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4361) | |||||
Non-recourse (Los Angeles | |||||
Department of Water and Power, | |||||
Water System Revenue) | 5.00 | 7/1/20 | 5,000,000 | c,d | 5,688,900 |
RIB Floater Trust (Barclays Bank | |||||
PLC) (Series 23 U) Recourse | |||||
(The Regents of the University | |||||
of California, General Revenue) | 5.00 | 5/15/38 | 10,000,000 | a,c,d | 11,486,300 |
The Fund 7
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
California (continued) | |||||
Sacramento County, | |||||
Airport System Subordinate and | |||||
Passenger Facility Charges | |||||
Grant Revenue | 6.00 | 7/1/35 | 6,250,000 | 7,137,750 | |
San Buenaventura, | |||||
Revenue (Community Memorial | |||||
Health System) | 7.50 | 12/1/41 | 2,000,000 | 2,465,860 | |
San Francisco City and County | |||||
Redevelopment Agency Community | |||||
Facilities District Number 6, | |||||
Special Tax Revenue (Mission | |||||
Bay South Public Improvements) | 5.00 | 8/1/23 | 1,000,000 | 1,184,440 | |
Tobacco Securitization Authority | |||||
of Southern California, | |||||
Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Asset-Backed Bonds (San Diego | |||||
County Tobacco Asset | |||||
Securitization Corporation) | 5.00 | 6/1/37 | 7,300,000 | 6,293,987 | |
Tuolumne Wind Project Authority, | |||||
Revenue (Tuolumne Company | |||||
Project) | 5.88 | 1/1/29 | 3,500,000 | 4,105,185 | |
Colorado—4.9% | |||||
Beacon Point Metropolitan | |||||
District, GO | 6.25 | 12/1/35 | 2,000,000 | 2,008,860 | |
Colorado Educational and Cultural | |||||
Facilities Authority, Charter | |||||
School Revenue (American | |||||
Academy Project) | 8.00 | 12/1/40 | 3,500,000 | a | 4,102,945 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4386) | |||||
Non-recourse (Board of | |||||
Governors of the Colorado | |||||
State University, System | |||||
Enterprise Revenue) | 5.00 | 3/1/20 | 7,500,000 | a,c,d | 8,490,525 |
8
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Colorado (continued) | |||||
RIB Floater Trust (Barclays Bank | |||||
PLC) (Series 25 U-1) Recourse | |||||
(Colorado Springs, Utilities | |||||
System Improvement Revenue) | 5.00 | 11/15/43 | 9,750,000 | c,d | 11,189,588 |
The Plaza Metropolitan District | |||||
Number 1, Revenue | 5.00 | 12/1/17 | 1,170,000 | 1,227,681 | |
District of Columbia—4.2% | |||||
RIB Floater Trust (Barclays Bank | |||||
PLC) (Series 15 U) Recourse | |||||
(District of Columbia, Income | |||||
Tax Secured Revenue) | 5.00 | 12/1/35 | 19,997,609 | c,d | 22,983,609 |
Florida—6.7% | |||||
Clearwater, | |||||
Water and Sewer Revenue | 5.25 | 12/1/39 | 5,000,000 | 5,695,500 | |
Florida Development Finance | |||||
Corporation, Educational | |||||
Facilities Revenue (Miami Arts | |||||
Charter School Project) | 6.00 | 6/15/44 | 5,000,000 | a,d | 5,116,550 |
Greater Orlando Aviation | |||||
Authority, Airport Facilities | |||||
Revenue | 6.25 | 10/1/20 | 8,000,000 | 9,577,120 | |
Miami-Dade County, | |||||
Subordinate Special Obligation | |||||
Revenue | 0.00 | 10/1/45 | 3,000,000 | e | 743,190 |
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority, | |||||
Springing Lien Revenue | 7.25 | 10/1/34 | 6,000,000 | 7,400,040 | |
Saint Johns County Industrial | |||||
Development Authority, Revenue | |||||
(Presbyterian Retirement | |||||
Communities Project) | 6.00 | 8/1/45 | 6,500,000 | 7,390,630 | |
Village Community Development | |||||
District Number 10, Special | |||||
Assessment Revenue | 6.00 | 5/1/44 | 1,000,000 | 1,167,740 |
The Fund 9
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Georgia—5.4% | |||||
Atlanta, | |||||
Water and Wastewater Revenue | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | |||||
Municipal Corp.) | 5.25 | 11/1/34 | 4,000,000 | 4,555,560 | |
Atlanta, | |||||
Water and Wastewater Revenue | |||||
(Prerefunded) | 6.00 | 11/1/19 | 6,000,000 | f | 7,263,000 |
Georgia Higher Education | |||||
Facilities Authority, Revenue | |||||
(USG Real Estate Foundation I, | |||||
LLC Project) (Insured; Assured | |||||
Guaranty Corp.) | 5.63 | 6/15/38 | 6,000,000 | a | 6,681,960 |
RIB Floater Trust (Barclays Bank | |||||
PLC) (Series 20 U) Recourse | |||||
(Private Colleges and | |||||
Universities Authority, | |||||
Revenue (Emory University)) | 5.00 | 10/1/43 | 10,000,000 | a,c,d | 11,507,000 |
Hawaii—.9% | |||||
Hawaii Department of Budget and | |||||
Finance, Special Purpose | |||||
Revenue (Hawai’i Pacific | |||||
Health Obligated Group) | 5.75 | 7/1/40 | 4,415,000 | 5,079,148 | |
Idaho—.9% | |||||
Power County Industrial | |||||
Development Corporation, SWDR | |||||
(FMC Corporation Project) | 6.45 | 8/1/32 | 5,000,000 | 5,010,450 | |
Illinois—5.9% | |||||
Chicago, | |||||
General Airport Senior Lien | |||||
Revenue (Chicago O’Hare | |||||
International Airport) | 5.00 | 1/1/24 | 5,550,000 | 6,376,950 | |
Chicago, | |||||
General Airport Third Lien | |||||
Revenue (Chicago O’Hare | |||||
International Airport) | 5.63 | 1/1/35 | 5,000,000 | 5,786,550 |
10
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Illinois (continued) | |||||
Chicago, | |||||
GO | 5.00 | 1/1/24 | 2,500,000 | 2,647,975 | |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4360) | |||||
Non-recourse (Greater Chicago | |||||
Metropolitan Water Reclamation | |||||
District, GO Capital | |||||
Improvement Bonds) | 5.00 | 12/1/19 | 7,500,000 | c,d | 8,565,900 |
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition | |||||
Authority, Revenue (McCormick | |||||
Place Expansion Project) | 0.00 | 12/15/51 | 12,450,000 | e | 2,156,714 |
Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Authority, Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Revenue | 6.00 | 6/1/28 | 5,050,000 | 6,022,024 | |
University of Illinois Board of | |||||
Trustees, Auxiliary Facilities | |||||
System Revenue (University of | |||||
Illinois) | 5.00 | 4/1/44 | 1,000,000 | a | 1,126,460 |
Indiana—.3% | |||||
Indiana Finance Authority, | |||||
Revenue (Marquette Project) | 5.00 | 3/1/39 | 1,400,000 | 1,477,322 | |
Iowa—1.9% | |||||
Iowa Finance Authority, | |||||
Midwestern Disaster Area | |||||
Revenue (Iowa Fertilizer | |||||
Company Project) | 5.25 | 12/1/25 | 7,375,000 | 8,270,178 | |
Tobacco Settlement Authority of | |||||
Iowa, Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Asset-Backed Bonds | 5.60 | 6/1/34 | 2,000,000 | 1,924,840 | |
Kentucky—.5% | |||||
Louisville/Jefferson County Metro | |||||
Government, Health Facilities | |||||
Revenue (Jewish Hospital and | |||||
Saint Mary’s HealthCare, Inc. | |||||
Project) (Prerefunded) | 6.13 | 2/1/18 | 2,300,000 | f | 2,637,479 |
The Fund 11
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Louisiana—1.6% | |||||
Lakeshore Villages Master | |||||
Community Development | |||||
District, Special Assessment | |||||
Revenue | 5.25 | 7/1/17 | 2,979,000 | g | 1,043,067 |
Louisiana Local Government | |||||
Environmental Facilities and | |||||
Community Development | |||||
Authority, Revenue (Westlake | |||||
Chemical Corporation Projects) | 6.75 | 11/1/32 | 7,000,000 | 7,829,150 | |
Maine—.7% | |||||
Maine Health and Higher | |||||
Educational Facilities | |||||
Authority, Revenue (MaineGeneral | |||||
Medical Center Issue) | 7.50 | 7/1/32 | 3,000,000 | 3,668,190 | |
Maryland—1.9% | |||||
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4422) | |||||
Non-recourse (Mayor and City | |||||
Council of Baltimore, Project | |||||
Revenue (Water Projects)) | 5.00 | 7/1/21 | 9,000,000 | c,d | 10,312,425 |
Massachusetts—9.9% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 15 W) | |||||
Recourse (Massachusetts Health | |||||
and Educational Facilities | |||||
Authority, Revenue | |||||
(Massachusetts Institute of | |||||
Technology Issue)) | 5.00 | 7/1/38 | 13,110,000 | a,c,d | 14,392,420 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 3840) | |||||
Non-recourse (Massachusetts | |||||
Development Finance Agency, | |||||
Revenue (Harvard University | |||||
Issue)) | 5.25 | 8/1/18 | 10,000,000 | a,c,d | 11,711,100 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 3898) | |||||
Non-recourse (Massachusetts, | |||||
Consolidated Loan) | 5.00 | 4/1/19 | 8,600,000 | c,d | 10,157,374 |
12
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Massachusetts (continued) | |||||
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4420) | |||||
Non-recourse (Massachusetts | |||||
School Building Authority, | |||||
Senior Dedicated Sales Tax | |||||
Revenue) | 5.00 | 5/15/21 | 10,000,000 a,c,d | 11,439,600 | |
Massachusetts Health and | |||||
Educational Facilities | |||||
Authority, Revenue (Suffolk | |||||
University Issue) | 6.25 | 7/1/30 | 5,650,000 | a | 6,626,094 |
Michigan—8.3% | |||||
Charyl Stockwell Academy, | |||||
COP | 5.90 | 10/1/35 | 2,580,000 | a | 2,579,690 |
Detroit, | |||||
Water Supply System Senior | |||||
Lien Revenue | 5.00 | 7/1/31 | 3,000,000 | 3,215,670 | |
Kent Hospital Finance Authority, | |||||
Revenue (Metropolitan Hospital | |||||
Project) | 6.00 | 7/1/35 | 2,930,000 | 2,948,898 | |
Michigan Finance Authority, | |||||
Local Government Loan Program | |||||
Revenue (Detroit Water and | |||||
Sewerage Department, Sewage | |||||
Disposal System Revenue Senior | |||||
Lien Local Project Bonds) | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | |||||
Municipal Corp.) | 5.00 | 7/1/31 | 2,000,000 | 2,252,040 | |
Michigan Finance Authority, | |||||
Local Government Loan Program | |||||
Revenue (Detroit Water and | |||||
Sewerage Department, Water | |||||
Supply System Revenue Senior | |||||
Lien Local Project Bonds) | |||||
(Insured; National Public | |||||
Finance Guarantee Corp.) | 5.00 | 7/1/36 | 2,000,000 | 2,198,700 | |
Michigan Hospital Finance | |||||
Authority, HR (Henry Ford | |||||
Health System) | 5.63 | 11/15/29 | 5,000,000 | 5,715,500 |
The Fund 13
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Michigan (continued) | |||||
Michigan Strategic Fund, | |||||
SWDR (Genesee Power Station | |||||
Project) | 7.50 | 1/1/21 | 5,880,000 | 5,879,059 | |
Michigan Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Finance Authority, Tobacco | |||||
Settlement Asset-Backed | |||||
Bonds | 6.88 | 6/1/42 | 5,000,000 | 4,985,300 | |
Michigan Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Finance Authority, Tobacco | |||||
Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds | 6.00 | 6/1/48 | 4,000,000 | 3,447,840 | |
Royal Oak Hospital Finance | |||||
Authority, HR (William | |||||
Beaumont Hospital Obligated | |||||
Group) (Prerefunded) | 8.25 | 9/1/18 | 5,500,000 | f | 6,839,800 |
Wayne County Airport Authority, | |||||
Airport Revenue (Detroit | |||||
Metropolitan Wayne County | |||||
Airport) | 5.00 | 12/1/44 | 2,000,000 | 2,226,780 | |
Wayne County Airport Authority, | |||||
Airport Revenue (Detroit | |||||
Metropolitan Wayne County | |||||
Airport) (Insured; National | |||||
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.) | 5.00 | 12/1/34 | 3,435,000 | 3,521,287 | |
Minnesota—1.8% | |||||
Dakota County Community | |||||
Development Agency, SFMR | |||||
(Mortgage-Backed Securities | |||||
Program) (Collateralized: | |||||
FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA) | 5.15 | 12/1/38 | 167,803 | 172,767 | |
Dakota County Community | |||||
Development Agency, SFMR | |||||
(Mortgage-Backed Securities | |||||
Program) (Collateralized: | |||||
FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA) | 5.30 | 12/1/39 | 278,272 | 289,036 | |
Minneapolis, | |||||
Health Care System Revenue | |||||
(Fairview Health Services) | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) | 6.50 | 11/15/38 | 5,000,000 | 5,852,300 |
14
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Minnesota (continued) | |||||
Saint Paul Housing and | |||||
Redevelopment Authority, | |||||
Hospital Facility Revenue | |||||
(HealthEast Project) | 5.15 | 11/15/20 | 3,310,000 | 3,371,996 | |
Mississippi—2.7% | |||||
Mississippi Business Finance | |||||
Corporation, PCR (System | |||||
Energy Resources, Inc. | |||||
Project) | 5.88 | 4/1/22 | 9,310,000 | 9,320,241 | |
Mississippi Development Bank, | |||||
Special Obligation Revenue | |||||
(Magnolia Regional Health | |||||
Center Project) | 6.50 | 10/1/31 | 5,000,000 | 5,772,650 | |
Missouri—.4% | |||||
Missouri Development Finance | |||||
Board, Infrastructure | |||||
Facilities Revenue | |||||
(Independence, Crackerneck | |||||
Creek Project) | 5.00 | 3/1/28 | 2,000,000 | 2,025,360 | |
New Jersey—2.0% | |||||
New Jersey Economic Development | |||||
Authority, Special Facility | |||||
Revenue (Continental Airlines, | |||||
Inc. Project) | 5.25 | 9/15/29 | 2,000,000 | 2,196,240 | |
New Jersey Higher Education | |||||
Student Assistance Authority, | |||||
Student Loan Revenue | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | |||||
Corp.) | 6.13 | 6/1/30 | 4,435,000 | a | 4,807,185 |
Tobacco Settlement Financing | |||||
Corporation of New Jersey, | |||||
Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Asset-Backed Bonds | 5.00 | 6/1/41 | 5,500,000 | 4,245,450 | |
New Mexico—1.4% | |||||
Farmington, | |||||
PCR (Public Service Company | |||||
of New Mexico San Juan Project) | 5.90 | 6/1/40 | 7,000,000 | 7,854,140 |
The Fund 15
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
New York—11.8% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 7 B) Recourse | |||||
(New York City Transitional | |||||
Finance Authority, Future Tax | |||||
Secured Subordinate Revenue) | 5.50 | 11/1/27 | 5,000,000 | c,d | 6,050,300 |
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 29 W) | |||||
Recourse (New York City | |||||
Municipal Water Finance | |||||
Authority, Water and Sewer | |||||
System General Resolution | |||||
Revenue) | 5.00 | 6/15/39 | 20,000,000 | c,d | 22,622,400 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 3857) | |||||
Non-recourse (New York City | |||||
Transitional Finance | |||||
Authority, Future Tax Secured | |||||
Subordinate Revenue) | 5.25 | 11/1/18 | 5,000,000 | c,d | 6,036,700 |
New York City Educational | |||||
Construction Fund, Revenue | 6.50 | 4/1/27 | 4,490,000 | a | 5,630,011 |
New York City Industrial | |||||
Development Agency, PILOT | |||||
Revenue (Yankee Stadium | |||||
Project) (Insured; Assured | |||||
Guaranty Corp.) | 7.00 | 3/1/49 | 5,000,000 | 5,968,150 | |
New York Liberty Development | |||||
Corporation, Revenue (3 World | |||||
Trade Center Project) | 5.00 | 11/15/44 | 7,000,000 | d | 7,395,430 |
New York State Dormitory | |||||
Authority, State Personal | |||||
Income Tax Revenue (General | |||||
Purpose) | 5.00 | 3/15/32 | 5,000,000 | 5,842,200 | |
Niagara Area Development | |||||
Corporation, Solid Waste | |||||
Disposal Facility Revenue | |||||
(Covanta Energy Project) | 5.25 | 11/1/42 | 3,000,000 | d | 3,123,000 |
16
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
New York (continued) | |||||
Port Authority of New York and New | |||||
Jersey, Special Project Bonds | |||||
(JFK International Air | |||||
Terminal LLC Project) | 6.00 | 12/1/36 | 2,000,000 | 2,366,480 | |
Ohio—10.0% | |||||
Buckeye Tobacco Settlement | |||||
Financing Authority, Tobacco | |||||
Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds | 6.50 | 6/1/47 | 12,500,000 | 11,162,500 | |
Butler County, | |||||
Hospital Facilities Revenue | |||||
(UC Health) | 5.50 | 11/1/40 | 3,850,000 | 4,424,497 | |
Canal Winchester Local School | |||||
District, School Facilities | |||||
Construction and Improvement | |||||
and Advance Refunding Bonds | |||||
(GO—Unlimited Tax) (Insured; | |||||
National Public Finance | |||||
Guarantee Corp.) | 0.00 | 12/1/29 | 3,955,000 | e | 2,509,764 |
Canal Winchester Local School | |||||
District, School Facilities | |||||
Construction and Improvement | |||||
and Advance Refunding Bonds | |||||
(GO—Unlimited Tax) (Insured; | |||||
National Public Finance | |||||
Guarantee Corp.) | 0.00 | 12/1/31 | 3,955,000 | e | 2,320,478 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4367) | |||||
Non-recourse (Hamilton County, | |||||
Sewer System Improvement | |||||
Revenue (The Metropolitan | |||||
Sewer District of Greater | |||||
Cincinnati)) | 5.00 | 6/1/33 | 17,000,000 | c,d | 19,703,680 |
Muskingum County, | |||||
Hospital Facilities Revenue | |||||
(Genesis HealthCare System | |||||
Obligated Group Project) | 5.00 | 2/15/22 | 4,590,000 | 5,045,374 |
The Fund 17
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Ohio (continued) | |||||
Ohio Air Quality Development | |||||
Authority, Air Quality | |||||
Revenue (Ohio Valley | |||||
Electric Corporation | |||||
Project) | 5.63 | 10/1/19 | 1,900,000 | 2,143,865 | |
Port of Greater Cincinnati | |||||
Development Authority, Tax | |||||
Increment Development | |||||
Revenue (Fairfax Village | |||||
Red Bank Infrastructure | |||||
Project) | 5.63 | 2/1/36 | 3,000,000 | d | 3,014,010 |
Toledo-Lucas County Port | |||||
Authority, Special Assessment | |||||
Revenue (Crocker Park Public | |||||
Improvement Project) | 5.38 | 12/1/35 | 5,000,000 | 5,030,200 | |
Oregon—1.0% | |||||
Multnomah County Hospital | |||||
Facilities Authority, Revenue | |||||
(Mirabella at South Waterfront | |||||
Project) | 5.40 | 10/1/44 | 1,695,000 | 1,853,550 | |
Warm Springs Reservation | |||||
Confederated Tribes, | |||||
Hydroelectric Revenue | |||||
(Pelton Round Butte | |||||
Project) | 6.38 | 11/1/33 | 3,300,000 | 3,688,047 | |
Pennsylvania—1.7% | |||||
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 3916) | |||||
Non-recourse (Geisinger | |||||
Authority, Health System | |||||
Revenue (Geisinger Health | |||||
System)) | 5.13 | 6/1/35 | 3,000,000 | c,d | 3,368,910 |
Montgomery County Industrial | |||||
Development Authority, | |||||
Revenue (Whitemarsh | |||||
Continuing Care | |||||
Retirement Community | |||||
Project) | 5.25 | 1/1/40 | 1,500,000 | 1,518,720 |
18
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Pennsylvania (continued) | |||||
Philadelphia, | |||||
GO | 6.50 | 8/1/41 | 3,550,000 | 4,292,199 | |
Rhode Island—1.1% | |||||
Rhode Island Health and | |||||
Educational Building | |||||
Corporation, Hospital | |||||
Financing Revenue (Lifespan | |||||
Obligated Group Issue) | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | |||||
Corp.) | 7.00 | 5/15/39 | 5,000,000 | 5,986,550 | |
South Carolina—7.2% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 42 W) | |||||
Recourse (Columbia, Waterworks | |||||
and Sewer System Revenue) | 5.00 | 2/1/40 | 10,000,000 | c,d | 11,414,800 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4379) | |||||
Non-recourse (South Carolina | |||||
Public Service Authority, | |||||
Revenue Obligations (Santee | |||||
Cooper)) | 5.13 | 6/1/37 | 15,000,000 | c,d | 17,051,850 |
South Carolina Public Service | |||||
Authority, Revenue Obligations | |||||
(Santee Cooper) | 5.50 | 1/1/38 | 10,000,000 | 11,362,900 | |
Tennessee—4.6% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 25 W) | |||||
Recourse (Rutherford County | |||||
Health and Educational | |||||
Facilities Board, Revenue | |||||
(Ascension Health Senior | |||||
Credit Group)) | 5.00 | 11/15/40 | 10,000,000 | c,d | 11,144,700 |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4416) | |||||
Non-recourse (Metropolitan | |||||
Government of Nashville and | |||||
Davidson County, Water and | |||||
Sewer Revenue) | 5.00 | 7/1/21 | 5,000,000 | c,d | 5,765,300 |
The Fund 19
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Tennessee (continued) | |||||
Metropolitan Government of | |||||
Nashville and Davidson County | |||||
Health and Educational | |||||
Facilities Board, Revenue (The | |||||
Vanderbilt University) | 5.50 | 10/1/34 | 7,000,000 | a | 8,173,340 |
Texas—13.8% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 28 W) | |||||
Recourse (Leander Independent | |||||
School District, Unlimited Tax | |||||
School Building Bonds | |||||
(Permanent School Fund | |||||
Guarantee Program)) | 5.00 | 8/15/40 | 8,507,701 | a,c,d | 9,695,952 |
Clifton Higher Education Finance | |||||
Corporation, Education Revenue | |||||
(Uplift Education) | 6.00 | 12/1/30 | 2,500,000 | a | 2,899,775 |
Clifton Higher Education Finance | |||||
Corporation, Education Revenue | |||||
(Uplift Education) | 4.50 | 12/1/44 | 2,500,000 | a | 2,511,750 |
Dallas Area Rapid Transit, | |||||
Senior Lien Sales Tax Revenue | 5.25 | 12/1/48 | 10,000,000 | 11,184,900 | |
Harris County Health Facilities | |||||
Development Corporation, HR | |||||
(Memorial Hermann Healthcare | |||||
System) (Prerefunded) | 7.25 | 12/1/18 | 2,000,000 | f | 2,445,500 |
Harris County-Houston Sports | |||||
Authority, Senior Lien Revenue | |||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | |||||
Municipal Corp.) | 0.00 | 11/15/50 | 6,500,000 | e | 1,238,055 |
Houston, | |||||
Combined Utility System First | |||||
Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured | |||||
Guaranty Corp.) | 6.00 | 11/15/36 | 5,000,000 | 5,967,750 | |
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers | |||||
Trust (Series 4356) | |||||
Non-recourse (San | |||||
Antonio, Electric and | |||||
Gas Systems Junior | |||||
Lien Revenue) | 5.00 | 2/1/21 | 16,750,000 | c,d | 18,898,020 |
20
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Texas (continued) | |||||
North Texas Tollway Authority, | |||||
First Tier System Revenue | |||||
(Insured; Assured | |||||
Guaranty Corp.) | 5.75 | 1/1/40 | 10,300,000 | 11,540,017 | |
North Texas Tollway Authority, | |||||
Second Tier System | |||||
Revenue | 5.75 | 1/1/38 | 5,500,000 | 6,075,465 | |
Texas Department of Housing | |||||
and Community Affairs, | |||||
Home Mortgage Revenue | |||||
(Collateralized: FHLMC, | |||||
FNMA and GNMA) | 13.41 | 7/2/24 | 300,000 | h | 317,502 |
Texas Transportation Commission, | |||||
Central Texas Turnpike | |||||
System Second Tier | |||||
Revenue | 5.00 | 8/15/42 | 3,000,000 | 3,306,390 | |
Vermont—.3% | |||||
Burlington, | |||||
Airport Revenue | 3.50 | 7/1/18 | 1,605,000 | 1,628,128 | |
Virginia—2.6% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 17 W) | |||||
Recourse (Virginia Small | |||||
Business Financing | |||||
Authority, Health Care | |||||
Facilities Revenue | |||||
(Sentara Healthcare)) | 5.00 | 11/1/40 | 10,000,000 | c,d | 11,308,600 |
Chesterfield County Economic | |||||
Development Authority, | |||||
Retirement Facilities First | |||||
Mortgage Revenue | |||||
(Brandermill Woods | |||||
Project) | 5.13 | 1/1/43 | 3,000,000 | 3,103,920 | |
Washington—4.8% | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 27 B) | |||||
Recourse (King County, Sewer | |||||
Revenue) | 5.00 | 1/1/29 | 3,998,716 | c,d | 4,648,776 |
The Fund 21
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | ||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
Washington (continued) | |||||
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust | |||||
Receipts (Series 66 W) | |||||
Recourse (King County, Limited | |||||
Tax GO (Payable from Sewer | |||||
Revenues)) | 5.13 | 1/1/33 | 10,000,000 | c,d | 11,472,500 |
Washington Health Care Facilities | |||||
Authority, Mortgage Revenue | |||||
(Highline Medical Center) | |||||
(Collateralized; FHA) | |||||
(Prerefunded) | 6.25 | 8/1/18 | 5,975,000 | f | 6,981,788 |
Washington Higher Education | |||||
Facilities Authority, Revenue | |||||
(Seattle University Project) | |||||
(Insured; AMBAC) | 5.25 | 11/1/37 | 3,000,000 | a | 3,278,370 |
West Virginia—.3% | |||||
The County Commission of Harrison | |||||
County, SWDR (Allegheny Energy | |||||
Supply Company, LLC Harrison | |||||
Station Project) | 5.50 | 10/15/37 | 1,750,000 | 1,857,923 | |
Wyoming—1.0% | |||||
Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, | |||||
Power Supply System Revenue | 5.50 | 1/1/33 | 2,360,000 | 2,606,596 | |
Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, | |||||
Power Supply System Revenue | 5.38 | 1/1/42 | 2,750,000 | 3,024,230 | |
U.S. Related—1.6% | |||||
Guam, | |||||
LOR (Section 30) | 5.75 | 12/1/34 | 2,000,000 | 2,217,520 | |
Guam Housing Corporation, | |||||
SFMR (Guaranteed | |||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities | |||||
Program) (Collateralized; | |||||
FHLMC) | 5.75 | 9/1/31 | 965,000 | 1,064,106 | |
Guam Waterworks Authority, | |||||
Water and Wastewater System | |||||
Revenue | 5.63 | 7/1/40 | 2,000,000 | 2,233,600 |
22
Long-Term Municipal | Coupon | Maturity | Principal | |||
Investments (continued) | Rate (%) | Date | Amount ($) | Value ($) | ||
U.S. Related (continued) | ||||||
Puerto Rico Commonwealth, | ||||||
Public Improvement GO | ||||||
(Insured; Assured Guaranty | ||||||
Municipal Corp.) | 5.00 | 7/1/35 | 3,500,000 | 3,501,190 | ||
Total Investments (cost $742,690,515) | 150.2 | % | 827,475,069 | |||
Liabilities, Less Cash and Receivables | (24.3 | %) | (134,041,850 | ) | ||
Preferred Stock, at redemption value | (25.9 | %) | (142,500,000 | ) | ||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | 100.0 | % | 550,933,219 |
a At March 31, 2015, the fund had $158,086,250 or 28.7% of net assets applicable to Common Shareholders |
invested in securities whose payment of principal and interest is dependent upon revenues generated from education. |
b Zero coupon until a specified date at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective until maturity. |
c Collateral for floating rate borrowings. |
d Securities exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.These securities may be |
resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.At March 31, 2015, these |
securities were valued at $352,041,178 or 63.9% of net assets applicable to Common Shareholders. |
e Security issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount. |
f These securities are prerefunded; the date shown represents the prerefunded date. Bonds which are prerefunded are |
collateralized by U.S. Government securities which are held in escrow and are used to pay principal and interest on |
the municipal issue and to retire the bonds in full at the earliest refunding date. |
g Non-income producing—security in default. |
h Inverse floater security—the interest rate is subject to change periodically. Rate shown is the interest rate in effect at |
March 31, 2015. |
Portfolio Summary (Unaudited)† | |||
Value (%) | Value (%) | ||
Education | 28.7 | Pollution Control | 2.4 |
Special Tax | 19.2 | City | 1.4 |
Utility-Electric | 19.2 | Resource Recovery | 1.4 |
Utility-Water and Sewer | 18.2 | Asset-Backed | .8 |
Health Care | 15.0 | County | .7 |
Transportation Services | 13.6 | Housing | .6 |
State/Territory | 6.2 | Other | 15.1 |
Industrial | 4.3 | ||
Prerefunded | 3.4 | 150.2 |
† | Based on net assets applicable to Common Shareholders. |
The Fund 23
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
Summary of Abbreviations | |||
ABAG | Association of Bay Area | ACA | American Capital Access |
Governments | |||
AGC | ACE Guaranty Corporation | AGIC | Asset Guaranty Insurance Company |
AMBAC | American Municipal Bond | ARRN | Adjustable Rate |
Assurance Corporation | Receipt Notes | ||
BAN | Bond Anticipation Notes | BPA | Bond Purchase Agreement |
CIFG | CDC Ixis Financial Guaranty | COP | Certificate of Participation |
CP | Commercial Paper | DRIVERS | Derivative Inverse |
Tax-Exempt Receipts | |||
EDR | Economic Development | EIR | Environmental Improvement |
Revenue | Revenue | ||
FGIC | Financial Guaranty | FHA | Federal Housing |
Insurance Company | Administration | ||
FHLB | Federal Home | FHLMC | Federal Home Loan Mortgage |
Loan Bank | Corporation | ||
FNMA | Federal National | GAN | Grant Anticipation Notes |
Mortgage Association | |||
GIC | Guaranteed Investment | GNMA | Government National Mortgage |
Contract | Association | ||
GO | General Obligation | HR | Hospital Revenue |
IDB | Industrial Development Board | IDC | Industrial Development Corporation |
IDR | Industrial Development | LIFERS | Long Inverse Floating |
Revenue | Exempt Receipts | ||
LOC | Letter of Credit | LOR | Limited Obligation Revenue |
LR | Lease Revenue | MERLOTS | Municipal Exempt Receipts |
Liquidity Option Tender | |||
MFHR | Multi-Family Housing Revenue | MFMR | Multi-Family Mortgage Revenue |
PCR | Pollution Control Revenue | P-FLOATS Puttable Floating Option | |
PILOT | Payment in Lieu of Taxes | Tax-Exempt Receipts | |
PUTTERS | Puttable Tax-Exempt Receipts | ||
RAC | Revenue Anticipation Certificates | RAN | Revenue Anticipation Notes |
RAW | Revenue Anticipation Warrants | RIB | Residual Interest Bonds |
ROCS | Reset Options Certificates | RRR | Resources Recovery Revenue |
SAAN | State Aid Anticipation Notes | SBPA | Standby Bond Purchase Agreement |
SFHR | Single Family Housing Revenue | SFMR | Single Family Mortgage Revenue |
SONYMA | State of New York | SPEARS | Short Puttable Exempt |
Mortgage Agency | Adjustable Receipts | ||
SWDR | Solid Waste Disposal Revenue | TAN | Tax Anticipation Notes |
TAW | Tax Anticipation Warrants | TRAN | Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes |
XLCA | XL Capital Assurance | ||
See notes to financial statements. |
24
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Cost | Value | ||
Assets ($): | |||
Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments | 742,690,515 | 827,475,069 | |
Cash | 95,743 | ||
Interest receivable | 12,739,884 | ||
Prepaid expenses | 52,998 | ||
840,363,694 | |||
Liabilities ($): | |||
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates—Note 2(b) | 395,475 | ||
Payable for floating rate notes issued—Note 3 | 146,129,397 | ||
Interest and expense payable related to floating | |||
rate notes issued—Note 3 | 233,700 | ||
Commissions payable—Note 1 | 44,144 | ||
Dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders | 1,509 | ||
Accrued expenses | 126,250 | ||
146,930,475 | |||
Auction Preferred Stock, Series M,T,W,Th and F, par value | |||
$.001 per share (5,700 shares issued and outstanding at | |||
$25,000 per share liquidation value)—Note 1 | 142,500,000 | ||
Net Assets applicable to Common Shareholders ($) | 550,933,219 | ||
Composition of Net Assets ($): | |||
Common Stock, par value, $.001 per share | |||
(61,849,399 shares issued and outstanding) | 61,849 | ||
Paid-in capital | 536,102,112 | ||
Accumulated undistributed investment income—net | 1,317,445 | ||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments | (71,332,741 | ) | |
Accumulated net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 84,784,554 | ||
Net Assets applicable to Common Shareholders ($) | 550,933,219 | ||
Shares Outstanding | |||
(500 million shares authorized) | 61,849,399 | ||
Net Asset Value, per share Common Stock ($) | 8.91 | ||
See notes to financial statements. |
The Fund 25
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS |
Six Months Ended March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Investment Income ($): | ||
Interest Income | 19,506,955 | |
Expenses: | ||
Management fee—Note 2(a) | 2,583,759 | |
Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued—Note 3 | 414,382 | |
Commission fees—Note 1 | 126,187 | |
Professional fees | 65,613 | |
Shareholders’ reports | 39,199 | |
Shareholder servicing costs | 34,954 | |
Registration fees | 28,108 | |
Directors’ fees and expenses—Note 2(c) | 27,925 | |
Custodian fees—Note 2(b) | 25,494 | |
Miscellaneous | 25,135 | |
Total Expenses | 3,370,756 | |
Less—reduction in expenses due to undertaking—Note 2(a) | (344,501 | ) |
Net Expenses | 3,026,255 | |
Investment Income—Net | 16,480,700 | |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 3 ($): | ||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 1,006,761 | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 8,120,367 | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | 9,127,128 | |
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders | (77,215 | ) |
Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common | ||
Shareholders Resulting from Operations | 25,530,613 | |
See notes to financial statements. |
26
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS |
Six Months Ended March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities ($): | ||||
Interest received | 20,236,548 | |||
Operating expenses paid | (2,625,743 | ) | ||
Dividends paid to Preferred Shareholders | (77,395 | ) | ||
Purchases of portfolio securities | (27,013,369 | ) | ||
Net sales of short-term portfolio securities | 1,000,000 | |||
Proceeds from sales of portfolio securities | 26,957,421 | |||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 18,477,462 | |||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities ($): | ||||
Dividends paid to Common Shareholders | (16,699,336 | ) | ||
Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued paid | (511,700 | ) | ||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | (17,211,036 | ) | ||
Increase in cash | 1,266,426 | |||
Cash overdraft at beginning of period | (1,170,683 | ) | ||
Cash at end of period | 95,743 | |||
Reconciliation of Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to | ||||
Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations to | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities ($): | ||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common | ||||
Shareholders Resulting From Operations | 25,530,613 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable | ||||
to common shareholders resulting from operations to | ||||
net cash provided by operating activities ($): | ||||
Increase in investments in securities, at cost | (62,710 | ) | ||
Increase in interest receivable | (8,408 | ) | ||
Increase in commissions payable and accrued expenses | 9,221 | |||
Increase in prepaid expenses | (33,272 | ) | ||
Increase in Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates | 10,182 | |||
Decrease in dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders | (180 | ) | ||
Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued | 414,382 | |||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | (8,120,367 | ) | ||
Net amortization of premiums on investments | 738,001 | |||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 18,477,462 | |||
See notes to financial statements. |
The Fund 27
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Six Months Ended | ||||
March 31, 2015 | Year Ended | |||
(Unaudited) | September 30, 2014 | |||
Operations ($): | ||||
Investment income—net | 16,480,700 | 33,744,559 | ||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 1,006,761 | (15,966,453 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation | ||||
(depreciation) on investments | 8,120,367 | 61,556,452 | ||
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders | (77,215 | ) | (172,596 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | ||||
Applicable to Common Shareholders | ||||
Resulting from Operations | 25,530,613 | 79,161,962 | ||
Dividends to Common Shareholders from ($) | ||||
Investment income—net | (16,699,336 | ) | (36,367,445 | ) |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | ||||
Applicable to Common Shareholders | 8,831,277 | 42,794,517 | ||
Net Assets Applicable to | ||||
Common Shareholders ($): | ||||
Beginning of Period | 542,101,942 | 499,307,425 | ||
End of Period | 550,933,219 | 542,101,942 | ||
Undistributed investment income—net | 1,317,445 | 1,613,296 | ||
See notes to financial statements. |
28
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following table describes the performance for the fiscal periods indicated.Total return shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and dis-tributions.These figures have been derived from the fund’s financial statements and, with respect to common stock, market price data for the fund’s common shares.
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, 2015 | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(Unaudited) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Per Share Data ($): | ||||||||||||
Net asset value, | ||||||||||||
beginning of period | 8.76 | 8.07 | 9.31 | 8.41 | 8.65 | 8.47 | ||||||
Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||
Investment income—net a | .27 | .55 | .54 | .58 | .60 | .62 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized | ||||||||||||
gain (loss) on investments | .15 | .73 | (1.18 | ) | .92 | (.24 | ) | .15 | ||||
Dividends to Preferred | ||||||||||||
Shareholders from | ||||||||||||
investment income—net | (.00 | )b | (.00 | )b | (.01 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.02 | ) |
Total from Investment Operations | .42 | 1.28 | (.65 | ) | 1.49 | .35 | .75 | |||||
Distributions to | ||||||||||||
Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||||
Dividends from | ||||||||||||
investment income—net | (.27 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.57 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | 8.91 | 8.76 | 8.07 | 9.31 | 8.41 | 8.65 | ||||||
Market value, end of period | 8.39 | 8.38 | 8.00 | 10.02 | 8.50 | 9.02 | ||||||
Total Return (%) c | 3.41 | d | 12.61 | (14.65 | ) | 25.98 | 1.32 | 22.13 |
The Fund 29
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Six Months Ended | |||||||
March 31, 2015 | Year Ended September 30, | ||||||
(Unaudited) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | ||
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%): | |||||||
Ratio of total expenses to | |||||||
average net assets applicable | |||||||
to Common Stock e | 1.23 | f | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | |||||||
net assets applicable to | |||||||
Common Stock e | 1.11 | f | 1.17 | 1.16 | 1.16 | 1.26 | 1.24 |
Ratio of interest and expense | |||||||
related to floating rate notes | |||||||
issued to average net assets | |||||||
applicable to Common Stock e | .15 | f | .18 | .11 | .10 | .10 | .05 |
Ratio of net investment income | |||||||
to average net assets applicable | |||||||
to Common Stock e | 6.03 | f | 6.50 | 6.01 | 6.59 | 7.51 | 7.43 |
Ratio of total expenses | |||||||
to total average net assets | .98 | f | 1.00 | .94 | .94 | .96 | .92 |
Ratio of net expenses | |||||||
to total average net assets | .88 | f | .90 | .84 | .84 | .86 | .82 |
Ratio of interest and expense related | |||||||
to floating rate notes issued | |||||||
to total average net assets | .12 | f | .14 | .08 | .07 | .07 | .03 |
Ratio of net investment income | |||||||
to total average net assets | 4.78 | f | 5.02 | 4.35 | 4.73 | 5.18 | 4.89 |
Portfolio Turnover Rate | 3.96 | d | 14.37 | 25.01 | 19.16 | 17.81 | 24.41 |
Asset coverage of Preferred Stock, | |||||||
end of period | 487 | 480 | 372 | 368 | 341 | 324 | |
Net Assets, applicable | |||||||
to Common Shareholders, | |||||||
end of period ($ x 1,000) | 550,933 | 542,102 | 499,307 | 573,909 | 515,399 | 528,607 | |
Preferred Stock outstanding, | |||||||
end of period ($ x 1,000) | 142,500 | 142,500 | 183,250 | 213,750 | 213,750 | 235,750 | |
Floating Rate Notes | |||||||
Outstanding ($ x 1,000) | 146,129 | 146,129 | 129,259 | 74,886 | 74,886 | 49,415 |
a | Based on average common shares outstanding. |
b | Amount represents less than $.01 per share. |
c | Calculated based on market value. |
d | Not annualized. |
e | Does not reflect the effect of dividends to Preferred Shareholders. |
f | Annualized. |
See notes to financial statements.
30
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified closed-end management investment company. The fund’s investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. The Dreyfus Corporation (the “Manager” or “Dreyfus”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), serves as the fund’s investment adviser. The fund’s Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol LEO.
The fund has outstanding 1,140 shares each of Series M, Series T, Series W, Series TH and Series F for a total of 5,700 shares, of Auction Preferred Stock (“APS”), with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends upon liquidation). APS dividend rates are determined pursuant to periodic auctions or by reference to a market rate. Deutsche Bank Trust Company America, as Auction Agent, receives a fee from the fund for its services in connection with such auctions. The fund also compensates broker-dealers generally at an annual rate of .15%-.25% of the purchase price of the shares of APS.
The fund is subject to certain restrictions relating to the APS. Failure to comply with these restrictions could preclude the fund from declaring any distributions to shareholders of Common Stock (“Common Shareholders”) or repurchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of APS at liquidation value.Thus, redemptions of APS may be deemed to be outside of the control of the fund.
The holders of the APS, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two directors.The holders of the APS will vote as a separate class on certain other matters, as required by law. The fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has designated Robin A. Melvin and John E. Zuccotti as directors to be elected by the holders of APS.
The Fund 31
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the exclusive reference of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.The fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown.The fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.
(a) Portfolio valuation: The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price). GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This 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).
Additionally, GAAP provides guidance on determining whether the volume and activity in a market has decreased significantly and whether such a decrease in activity results in transactions that are not orderly. GAAP requires enhanced disclosures around valuation inputs and techniques used during annual and interim periods.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s investments relating to fair value measurements. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
32
Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. Valuation techniques used to value the fund’s investments are as follows:
Investments in securities are valued each business day by an independent pricing service (the “Service”) approved by the Board. Investments for which quoted bid prices are readily available and are representative of the bid side of the market in the judgment of the Service are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices (as obtained by the Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices (as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such securities). Other investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio securities) are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on methods which include consideration of the following: yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. All of the preceding securities are generally categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Service’s procedures are reviewed by Dreyfus under the general supervision of the Board.
The Fund 33
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
When market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available, or are determined not to reflect accurately fair value, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the fund calculates its net asset value, the fund may value these investments at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Board. Certain factors may be considered when fair valuing investments such as: fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased and sold, and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers.These securities are either categorized within Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the relevant inputs used.
For restricted securities where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and are generally categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of March 31, 2015 in valuing the fund’s investments:
Level 2—Other | Level 3— | |||||
Level 1— | Significant | Significant | ||||
Unadjusted | Observable | Unobservable | ||||
Quoted Prices | Inputs | Inputs | Total | |||
Assets ($) | ||||||
Investments in Securities: | ||||||
Municipal Bonds† | — | 827,475,069 | — | 827,475,069 | ||
Liabilities ($) | ||||||
Floating Rate Notes†† | — | (146,129,397 | ) | — | (146,129,397 | ) |
† | See Statement of Investments for additional detailed categorizations. |
†† | Certain of the fund’s liabilities are held at carrying amount, which approximates fair value for |
financial reporting purposes. |
At March 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
34
(b) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income, adjusted for accretion of discount and amortization of premium on investments, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when issued or delayed delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date.
(c) Dividends to Common Shareholders: Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from investment income-net are normally declared and paid monthly. Dividends from net realized capital gains, if any, are normally declared and paid annually, but the fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).To the extent that net realized capital gains can be offset by capital loss carryovers, it is the policy of the fund not to distribute such gains. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.
For Common Shareholders who elect to receive their distributions in additional shares of the fund, unless such Common Shareholder elects to receive cash as provided below, such distributions will be reinvested at the lower of the market price or net asset value per share (but not less than 95% of the market price). If market price is equal to or exceeds net asset value, shares will be issued at net asset value. If net asset value exceeds market price, Computershare Inc., the transfer agent for the fund’s Common Stock, will buy fund shares in the open market and reinvest those shares accordingly.
On March 30, 2015, the Board declared a cash dividend of $.043 per share from investment income-net, payable on April 30, 2015 to Common Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 15, 2015.
The Fund 35
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
(d) Dividends to shareholders of APS: Dividends, which are cumulative, are generally reset every 7 days for each Series of APS pursuant to a process specified in related fund charter documents. Dividend rates, as of March 31, 2015, for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-0.099%, Series T-0.088%, Series W-0.099%, Series TH-0.099% and Series F-0.099%.These rates reflect the “maximum rates” under the governing instruments as a result of “failed auctions” in which sufficient clearing bids are not received. The average dividend rates for the period ended March 31, 2015 for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-0.11%, Series T-0.11%, Series W-0.11%, Series TH-0.11% and Series F-0.11%.
(e) Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, which can distribute tax-exempt dividends, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Code, and to make distributions of income and net realized capital gain sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes.
As of and during the period ended March 31, 2015, the fund did not have any liabilities for any uncertain tax positions.The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended March 31, 2015, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.
Each tax year in the three-year period ended September 30, 2014 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.
Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “2010 Act”), the fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-enactment losses”) for an unlimited period. Furthermore, post-enactment capital loss carryovers retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than short-term as they were under previous statute.The 2010 Act requires post-enactment losses to
36
be utilized before the utilization of losses incurred in taxable years prior to the effective date of the 2010 Act (“pre-enactment losses”).As a result of this ordering rule, pre-enactment losses may be more likely to expire unused.
The fund has an unused capital loss carryover of $72,852,725 available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future net realized capital gains, if any, realized subsequent to September 30, 2014. If not applied, $264,789 of the carryover expires in fiscal year 2016, $9,875,465 expires in fiscal year 2017, $32,540,019 expires in fiscal year 2018 and $6,369,224 expires in fiscal year 2019. The fund has $4,611,144 of post-enactment short-term capital losses and $19,192,084 of post-enactment long-term capital losses which can be carried forward for an unlimited period.
The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 was as follows: tax-exempt income $36,480,377 and ordinary income $59,664.The tax character of current year distributions will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year.
NOTE 2—Management Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates:
(a) Pursuant to a management agreement (the “Agreement”) with Dreyfus, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .75% of the value of the fund’s average weekly net assets, inclusive of the outstanding APS, and is payable monthly.The Agreement provides for an expense reimbursement from Dreyfus should the fund’s aggregate expenses (excluding taxes, interest on borrowings, brokerage fees and extraordinary expenses) in any full fiscal year exceed the lesser of (1) the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the fund or (2) 2% of the first $10 million, 1 1 / 2 % of the next $20 million and 1% of the excess over $30 million of the average weekly value of the fund’s net assets. Dreyfus has currently undertaken, from October 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015, to waive receipt of a portion of the fund’s
The Fund 37
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
management fee, in the amount of .10% of the value of the fund’s average weekly net assets (including net assets representing APS outstanding). The reduction in expenses, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $344,501 during the period ended March 31, 2015.
(b) The fund compensates The Bank of New York Mellon, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of Dreyfus, under a custody agreement for providing custodial services for the fund.These fees are determined based on net assets and transaction activity. During the period ended March 31, 2015, the fund was charged $25,494 pursuant to the custody agreement.
The fund has an arrangement with the custodian whereby the fund may receive earnings credits when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset custody fees. For financial reporting purposes, the fund includes net earnings credits as an expense offset in the Statement of Operations.
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the fund was charged $3,394 for services performed by the Chief Compliance Officer and his staff.
The components of “Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consist of: management fees $440,140, custodian fees $12,300 and Chief Compliance Officer fees $1,720, which are offset against an expense reimbursement currently in effect in the amount of $58,685.
(c) Each Board member also serves as a Board member of other funds within the Dreyfus complex. Annual retainer fees and attendance fees are allocated to each fund based on net assets.
NOTE 3—Securities Transactions:
The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, during the period ended March 31, 2015, amounted to $27,013,369 and $26,957,421, respectively.
38
Inverse Floater Securities: The fund participates in secondary inverse floater structures in which fixed-rate, tax-exempt municipal bonds are transferred to a trust (the “Trust”).The Trust typically issues two variable rate securities that are collateralized by the cash flows of the fixed-rate, tax-exempt municipal bonds. One of these variable rate securities pays interest based on a short-term floating rate set by a remarketing agent at predetermined intervals (“Trust Certificates”). A residual interest tax-exempt security is also created by the Trust, which is transferred to the fund, and is paid interest based on the remaining cash flows of the Trust, after payment of interest on the other securities and various expenses of the Trust. An inverse floater security may be collapsed without the consent of the fund due to certain termination events such as bankruptcy, default or other credit event.
The fund accounts for the transfer of bonds to the Trust as secured borrowings, with the securities transferred remaining in the fund’s investments, and the related floating rate certificate securities reflected as fund liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The fund may invest in inverse floater securities on either a nonre-course or recourse basis. These securities are typically supported by a liquidity facility provided by a bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that allows the holders of the Trust Certificates to tender their certificates in exchange for payment from the Liquidity Provider of par plus accrued interest on any business day prior to a termination event. When the fund invests in inverse floater securities on a non-recourse basis, the Liquidity Provider is required to make a payment under the liquidity facility due to a termination event to the holders of the Trust Certificates. When this occurs, the Liquidity Provider typically liquidates all or a portion of the municipal securities held in the Trust. A liquidation shortfall occurs if the Trust Certificates exceed the proceeds of the sale of the bonds in the Trust (“Liquidation Shortfall”). When a fund invests in inverse floater securities on a
The Fund 39
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
recourse basis, the fund typically enters into a reimbursement agreement with the Liquidity Provider where the fund is required to repay the Liquidity Provider the amount of any Liquidation Shortfall. As a result, a fund investing in a recourse inverse floater security bears the risk of loss with respect to any Liquidation Shortfall.
The average amount of borrowings outstanding under the inverse floater structure during the period ended March 31, 2015 was approximately $146,129,400, with a related weighted average annualized interest rate of .57%.
At March 31, 2015, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments was $84,784,554, consisting of $87,282,567 gross unrealized appreciation and $2,498,013 gross unrealized depreciation.
At March 31, 2015, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes (see the Statement of Investments).
40
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE |
FUND’S MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited) |
At a meeting of the fund’s Board of Directors held on November 3-4, 2014, the Board considered the renewal of the fund’s Management Agreement pursuant to which Dreyfus provides the fund with investment advisory and administrative services (the “Agreement”).The Board members, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the fund, were assisted in their review by independent legal counsel and met with counsel in executive session separate from Dreyfus representatives. In considering the renewal of the Agreement, the Board considered all factors that it believed to be relevant, including those discussed below.The Board did not identify any one factor as dispositive, and each Board member may have attributed different weights to the factors considered.
Analysis of Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided to the Fund.The Board considered information provided to them at the meeting and in previous presentations from Dreyfus representatives regarding the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to funds in the Dreyfus fund complex. Dreyfus’ representatives noted that the fund was a closed-end fund without daily inflows and outflows of capital and provided the fund’s asset size. Dreyfus also had previously provided information regarding the diverse intermediary relationships and distribution channels of funds in the Dreyfus fund complex and Dreyfus’ corresponding need for broad, deep, and diverse resources to be able to provide ongoing shareholder services to intermediaries and shareholders.
The Board also considered research support available to, and portfolio management capabilities of, the fund’s portfolio management personnel and that Dreyfus also provides oversight of day-to-day fund operations, including fund accounting and administration and assistance in meeting legal and regulatory requirements. The Board also considered Dreyfus’ extensive administrative, accounting and compliance infrastructures.
Comparative Analysis of the Fund’s Performance and Management Fee and Expense Ratio. The Board reviewed reports prepared by Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, which included information comparing (1) the fund’s performance
The Fund 41
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S |
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited) (continued) |
with the performance of a group of comparable funds (the “Performance Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Performance Universe”), all for various periods ended September 30, 2014, and (2) the fund’s actual and contractual management fees and total expenses with those of a group of comparable funds (the “Expense Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Expense Universe”), the information for which was derived in part from fund financial statements available to Lipper as of the date of its analysis. Dreyfus previously had furnished the Board with a description of the methodology Lipper used to select the Performance Group and Performance Universe and the Expense Group and Expense Universe.
Dreyfus representatives stated that the usefulness of performance comparisons may be affected by a number of factors, including different investment limitations that may be applicable to the fund and comparison funds.The Board discussed the results of the comparisons and noted that the fund’s total return performance, on a net asset value basis, was at or above the Performance Group median in half of the periods (including the one-year and ten-year periods) and below the Performance Universe medians for all periods. The fund’s total return performance, on a market price basis, was above the Performance Group and Performance Universe medians for all periods except for the one and two-year periods when the fund’s performance was below the medians. The Board also noted that, on a net asset value basis, the fund’s yield performance was at or above the Performance Group median for eight of the ten one-year periods ended September 30th (ranking first in the Performance Group for three of the periods) and above the Performance Universe median for nine of the periods.The fund’s yield performance, on a market price basis, was at or above the Performance Group median in eight of the ten one-year periods ended September 30th (ranking first in the Performance Group in two of the periods) and was above the Performance Universe median for all of the one-year periods. Dreyfus also provided a comparison of the fund’s calendar year total returns (on a net asset value basis) to the returns of the fund’s Lipper category average, noting that the fund’s returns were higher than the category average in seven of the past ten calendar years.
42
Dreyfus representatives noted that Dreyfus has agreed, until May 31, 2015, to waive receipt of a portion of the fund’s management fee, in the amount of .10% of the value of the fund’s average weekly net assets, including net assets representing auction preferred stock outstanding (“Leveraged Assets”).
The Board also reviewed the range of actual and contractual management fees and total expenses of the Expense Group and Expense Universe funds and discussed the results of the comparisons. The Board noted that the fund’s contractual management fee, based on common assets, was highest in the Expense Group, the fund’s actual management fee, based on common assets, was below the Expense Group and Expense Universe medians, and the fund’s actual management fee, based on common assets and Leveraged Assets, was above the Expense Group and Expense Universe medians.The Board also noted that the fund’s total expenses, both based on common assets alone and on common assets and Leveraged Assets, were below the Expense Group and Expense Universe medians.
Dreyfus representatives reviewed with the Board the management or investment advisory fees (1) paid by funds advised or administered by Dreyfus that are in the same Lipper category as the fund and (2) paid to Dreyfus or the Dreyfus-affiliated primary employer of the fund’s primary portfolio manager(s) for advising any separate accounts and/or other types of client portfolios that are considered to have similar investment strategies and policies as the fund (the “Similar Clients”), and explained the nature of the Similar Clients.They discussed differences in fees paid and the relationship of the fees paid in light of any differences in the services provided and other relevant factors, noting that the fund is a closed-end fund. The Board considered the relevance of the fee information provided for the Similar Clients to evaluate the appropriateness and reasonableness of the fund’s management fee.
Analysis of Profitability and Economies of Scale. Dreyfus representatives reviewed the expenses allocated and profit received by Dreyfus and its affiliates and the resulting profitability percentage for managing
The Fund 43
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S |
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited) (continued) |
the fund and the aggregate profitability percentage to Dreyfus and its affiliates for managing the funds in the Dreyfus fund complex, and the method used to determine the expenses and profit. The Board concluded that the profitability results were not unreasonable, given the services rendered and service levels provided by Dreyfus. The Board also noted the fee waiver arrangement and its effect on the profitability of Dreyfus and its affiliates. The Board also had been provided with information prepared by an independent consulting firm regarding Dreyfus’ approach to allocating costs to, and determining the profitability of, individual funds and the entire Dreyfus fund complex.The consulting firm also had analyzed where any economies of scale might emerge in connection with the management of a fund.
The Board considered, on the advice of its counsel, the profitability analysis (1) as part of its evaluation of whether the fees under the Agreement bear a reasonable relationship to the mix of services provided by Dreyfus, including the nature, extent and quality of such services, and (2) in light of the relevant circumstances for the fund and the extent to which economies of scale would be realized if the fund grows and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of fund shareholders. Dreyfus representatives noted that, because the fund is a closed-end fund without daily inflows and outflows of capital, there were not at this time significant economies of scale to be realized by Dreyfus in managing the fund’s assets. Dreyfus representatives also noted that, as a result of shared and allocated costs among funds in the Dreyfus fund complex, the extent of economies of scale could depend substantially on the level of assets in the complex as a whole, so that increases and decreases in complex-wide assets can affect potential economies of scale in a manner that is disproportionate to, or even in the opposite direction from, changes in the fund’s asset level. The Board also considered potential benefits to Dreyfus from acting as investment adviser and noted that there were no soft dollar arrangements in effect for trading the fund’s investments.
At the conclusion of these discussions, the Board agreed that it had been furnished with sufficient information to make an informed business
44
decision with respect to the renewal of the Agreement. Based on the discussions and considerations as described above, the Board concluded and determined as follows.
The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Dreyfus are adequate and appropriate.
The Board generally was satisfied with the fund’s overall performance.
The Board concluded that the fee paid to Dreyfus was reasonable in light of the considerations described above.
The Board determined that the economies of scale which may accrue to Dreyfus and its affiliates in connection with the management of the fund had been adequately considered by Dreyfus in connection with the fee rate charged to the fund pursuant to the Agreement and that, to the extent in the future it were determined that material economies of scale had not been shared with the fund, the Board would seek to have those economies of scale shared with the fund.
In evaluating the Agreement, the Board considered these conclusions and determinations and also relied on its previous knowledge, gained through meetings and other interactions with Dreyfus and its affiliates, of the fund and the services provided to the fund by Dreyfus. The Board also relied on information received on a routine and regular basis throughout the year relating to the operations of the fund and the investment management and other services provided under the Agreement, including information on the investment performance of the fund in comparison to similar funds and benchmark performance indices; general market outlook as applicable to the fund; and compliance reports. In addition, the Board’s consideration of the contractual fee arrangements for this fund had the benefit of a number of years of reviews of prior or similar agreements during which lengthy discussions took place between the Board and Dreyfus representatives. Certain aspects of the arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than in others, and the Board’s conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of the same or similar arrangements in prior years.The Board determined to renew the Agreement.
The Fund 45
NOTES
46
The Fund 47
NOTES
48
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | |
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. | |
200 Park Avenue | |
New York, NY 10166 |
The fund’s net asset value per share appears in the following publications: Barron’s, Closed-End Bond Funds section under the heading “Municipal Bond Funds” every Monday; and Wall Street Journal, Mutual Funds section under the heading “Closed-End Bond Funds” every Monday.
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Act, that the fund may purchase shares of its common stock in the open market when it can do so at prices below the then current net asset value per share.
The Fund 49
For More Information
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
A description of the policies and procedures that the fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities, and information regarding how the fund voted these proxies for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available at http://www.dreyfus.com on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-DREYFUS.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a) (1) The following information is as of May 27, 2015, the date of the filing of this report:
Daniel A. Barton and Jeffrey B. Burger manage the Registrant.
(a) (2) The following information is as of the Registrant’s most recently completed fiscal year, except where otherwise noted:
Portfolio Managers. The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's Board members. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's Board to execute purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are Dan Barton and Jeffrey Burger. The Manager also maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by the Manager.
Portfolio Manager Compensation. The portfolio managers' compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based salary and an incentive compensation plan (annual and long-term). Funding for the Standish Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall company profitability. Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on Standish's overall performance as opposed to the performance of a single product or group. All investment professionals are eligible to receive incentive awards. Cash awards are payable in the February month end pay of the following year. Most of the awards granted have some portion deferred for three years in the form of deferred cash, BNY Mellon equity, interests in investment vehicles (consisting of investments in a range of Standish products), or a combination of the above. Individual awards for portfolio managers are discretionary, based on both individual and multi-sector product risk adjusted performance relative to both benchmarks and peer comparisons over one year, three year and five year periods. Also considered in determining individual awards are team participation and general contributions to Standish. Individual objectives and goals are also established at the beginning of each calendar year and are taken into account. Portfolio managers whose compensation exceeds certain levels may elect to defer portions of their base salaries and/or incentive compensation pursuant to BNY Mellon's Elective Deferred Compensation Plan.
Additional Information About Portfolio Managers. The following table lists the number and types of other accounts advised by the Fund’s primary portfolio manager and assets under management in those accounts as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year:
Portfolio Manager |
Registered Investment Company Accounts |
Assets Managed |
Pooled Accounts |
Assets Managed |
Other Accounts |
Assets Managed |
Daniel A. Barton |
6 |
$2.4 billion |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Jeffrey B. Burger |
11 |
$4.8 billion |
1 |
$271 million |
310 |
$855 million |
None of the funds or accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee.
The dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the primary portfolio manager is as follows as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year:
Portfolio Manager |
Registrant Name |
Dollar Range of Registrant Shares Beneficially Owned |
Daniel A. Barton |
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. |
None |
Jeffrey B. Burger |
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. |
None |
Portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for a diverse client base, including mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions such as pension funds, insurance companies and foundations), bank common trust accounts and wrap fee programs (“Other Accounts”).
Potential conflicts of interest may arise because of Dreyfus’ management of the Fund and Other Accounts. For example, conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities, as Dreyfus may be perceived as causing accounts it manages to participate in an offering to increase Dreyfus’ overall allocation of securities in that offering, or to increase Dreyfus’ ability to participate in future offerings by the same underwriter or issuer. Allocations of bunched trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially filled due to limited availability and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as Dreyfus may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to preferred accounts. Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. Additionally, portfolio managers may be perceived to have a conflict of interest if there are a large number of Other Accounts, in addition to the Fund, that they are managing on behalf of Dreyfus. Dreyfus periodically reviews each portfolio manager’s overall responsibilities to ensure that he or she is able to allocate the necessary time and resources to effectively manage the Fund. In addition, Dreyfus could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that Dreyfus or its affiliates and/or portfolio managers have a materially larger investment in Other Accounts than their investment in the Fund.
Other Accounts may have investment objectives, strategies and risks that differ from those of the Fund. For these or other reasons, the portfolio manager may purchase different securities for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and the performance of securities purchased for the Fund may vary from the performance of securities purchased for Other Accounts. The portfolio manager may place transactions on behalf of Other Accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made for the Fund, which could have the potential to adversely impact the Fund, depending on market conditions.
A potential conflict of interest may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in another account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by the other account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account.
Dreyfus’ goal is to provide high quality investment services to all of its clients, while meeting Dreyfus’ fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly. Dreyfus has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures that it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Dreyfus monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with Fund guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Dreyfus periodically review the performance of the portfolio managers for Dreyfus-managed funds.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.
None.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures applicable to Item 10.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There were no changes to the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of 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. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Not applicable.
(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SIGNATURES
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.
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.
By: /s/ Bradley J. Skapyak
Bradley J. Skapyak,
President
Date: May 19, 2015
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/ Bradley J. Skapyak
Bradley J. Skapyak,
President
Date: May 19, 2015
By: /s/ James Windels
James Windels,
Treasurer
Date: May 19, 2015
EXHIBIT INDEX
(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (EX-99.CERT)
(b) Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (EX-99.906CERT)