lp1-853.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

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

811-05245

 

 

 

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

 

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

c/o The Dreyfus Corporation

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York  10166

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

Bennett MacDougall, Esq.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York  10166

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 

(212) 922-6400

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

 

09/30

 

Date of reporting period:

09/30/17

 

             

 


 

FORM N-CSR

Item 1.                         Reports to Stockholders.


 

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

     

 

ANNUAL REPORT
September 30, 2017

   
 

 

 

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(s) 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

   

A Letter from the CEO of Dreyfus

2

Discussion of Fund Performance

3

Selected Information

5

Statement of Investments

6

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

23

Statement of Operations

24

Statement of Cash Flows

25

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

26

Financial Highlights

27

Notes to Financial Statements

29

Report of Independent Registered

 

Public Accounting Firm

37

Additional Information

38

Important Tax Information

40

Proxy Results

41

Board Members Information

42

Officers of the Fund

45

Officers and Directors

49

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 

       
 


Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

 

The Fund

A LETTER FROM THE CEO OF DREYFUS

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to present this annual report for Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc., covering the 12-month period from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. 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.

Stocks set a series of new record highs and bonds produced mixed results over the past year in response to changing economic and political conditions. Financial markets during the final months of 2016 were dominated by the election of a new U.S. presidential administration. Equities and corporate-backed bonds surged higher in anticipation of more business-friendly regulatory, tax, and fiscal policies, but high-quality bonds generally lost value due to expectations of rising interest rates and accelerating inflation in a stronger economy. Despite a series of short-term interest rate hikes, bonds recovered most or all of their previous losses over the first nine months of 2017 when it became clearer that pro-growth legislation would take time and political capital to enact. U.S. and international stocks continued to rally as corporate earnings grew and global economic conditions improved.

The markets’ recent strong performance has been supported by solid underlying fundamentals. While we currently expect these favorable conditions to persist, we remain watchful for economic and political developments that could derail the rallies. As always, we encourage you to discuss the risks and opportunities of today’s investment environment with your financial advisor.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.

Sincerely,

Mark D. Santero
Chief Executive Officer
The Dreyfus Corporation
October 16, 2017

2

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE

For the period from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017, as provided by Daniel Rabasco and Jeffrey Burger, Primary Portfolio Managers

Market and Fund Performance Overview

For the 12-month period ended September 30, 2017, Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. produced a total return of 0.46% on a net-asset-value basis and -0.19% on a market price basis.1 Over the same period, the fund provided aggregate income dividends of $0.516 per share, which reflects a distribution rate of 5.87%.2

Municipal bonds produced modestly positive returns over the reporting period when moderating long-term interest rates and improving supply-and-demand dynamics offset earlier market weakness in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. In this environment, the fund benefited from its focus on longer-term, income-oriented securities.

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 The Dreyfus Corporation (“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.

Supply-and-Demand Dynamics Buoyed Municipal Bonds

The reporting period began in the midst of heightened market volatility stemming from a flood of new securities as issuers sought to lock in low financing rates in advance of short-term interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve Board. In addition, the unexpected election in November of a new presidential administration sparked uncertainty regarding potential changes in tax policy.

These negative trends reversed in early 2017, and municipal bonds rebounded steadily from low valuations as the supply of newly issued securities moderated, demand increased, and investors realized that tax reform legislation was not imminent. However, a tax reform

3

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)

proposal in September rekindled investors’ concerns, and municipal bonds gave back a portion of their previous gains.

Although growth in tax revenues has slowed and several states are facing pressure from underfunded pension systems, credit conditions have remained stable for most municipal issuers. Solid credit fundamentals helped lower-rated municipal bonds outperform their higher-quality counterparts over the reporting period.

Higher-Yielding Securities Supported Fund Results

The fund produced a mildly positive total return on a net-asset-value basis and a competitive dividend distribution rate during the reporting period, in part due to its focus on higher-yielding tax-exempt securities. In addition, a relatively long average duration helped the fund benefit from declining interest rates over the first eight months of 2017. An emphasis on bonds with A and BBB credit ratings, which are at the lower end of the investment-grade spectrum, also supported the fund’s returns. Successful security selections during the reporting period included general obligation bonds issued on behalf of Chicago, Illinois, which rebounded sharply from earlier weakness. Among revenue-backed bonds, securities issued on behalf of education facilities, hospitals, special-tax districts, and water-and-sewer infrastructure fared well. On the other hand, the fund’s emphasis on bonds backed by the states’ settlement with U.S. tobacco companies detracted modestly from returns. The fund’s leveraging strategy also proved relatively ineffective when short-term interest rates climbed.

A More Cautious Investment Posture

In the wake of the municipal bond market’s recent rally, yield differences have narrowed along the market’s credit-quality spectrum, and tax reform has become a more prominent part of the national debate. In addition, short- and long-term interest rates are expected to rise in a growing economy. The municipal bond market may also face seasonal supply-and-demand pressures over the next few months.

The fund’s average duration declined during the reporting period to a more moderately long position. We continue to maintain the fund’s emphasis on income-oriented securities, including revenue-backed bonds, and we remain watchful for trading opportunities to boost the fund’s income potential as interest rates rise.

October 16, 2017

1 Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid, based upon net asset value per share or market price per share, as applicable. 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 figures provided reflect the absorption of certain fund expenses by The Dreyfus Corporation pursuant to an agreement in effect until May 30, 2018, 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 Distribution rate per share is based upon dividends per share paid from net investment income during the period, divided by the market price per share at the end of the period, adjusted for any capital gain distributions.

Bonds 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.

4

 

SELECTED INFORMATION
September 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

         

Market Price per share September 30, 2017

$8.79

 

Shares Outstanding September 30, 2017

62,112,968

 

New York Stock Exchange Ticker Symbol

LEO

 

MARKET PRICE (NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE)

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

 

Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended

 

December 31, 2016

March 31, 2017

June 30, 2017

September 30, 2017

High

$9.35

$8.79

$8.92

$9.15

Low

8.19

8.40

8.67

8.79

Close

8.40

8.60

8.91

8.79

PERCENTAGE GAIN (LOSS) based on change in Market Price

September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)
through September 30, 2017

600.78%

October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2017

94.80

October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2017

20.90

October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017

(.19)

January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

9.43

April 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

5.30

July 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

.13

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

 

September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)

$9.32

September 30, 2016

9.12

December 31, 2016

8.45

March 31, 2017

8.56

June 30, 2017

8.64

September 30, 2017

8.63

PERCENTAGE GAIN (LOSS) based on change in Net Asset Value

 

September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)
through September 30, 2017

638.17%

October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2017

83.48

October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2017

27.90

October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017

.46

January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

6.80

April 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

3.87

July 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017

1.38

 Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid.

5

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
September 30, 2017

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0%

         

Alabama - 3.0%

         

Birmingham Special Care Facilities Financing Authority,
Improvement Revenue (Methodist Home for the Aging)

 

5.75

 

6/1/45

 

5,000,000

 

5,466,850

 

Birmingham Special Care Facilities Financing Authority,
Improvement Revenue (Methodist Home for the Aging)

 

6.00

 

6/1/50

 

1,000,000

 

1,109,680

 

Jefferson County,
Sewer Revenue Warrants

 

0/7.90

 

10/1/50

 

2,500,000

a

2,050,075

 

Lower Alabama Gas District,
Gas Project Revenue

 

5.00

 

9/1/46

 

6,000,000

 

7,281,900

 
 

15,908,505

 

Alaska - 2.0%

         

Northern Tobacco Securitization Corporation of Alaska,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

5.00

 

6/1/46

 

11,190,000

 

10,919,426

 

Arizona - 5.8%

         

Arizona Housing Finance Authority,
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed Securities Program) (Collateralized: FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)

 

5.55

 

12/1/41

 

1,070,000

 

1,081,620

 

Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority,
Education Revenue (Paradise Schools Projects)

 

5.00

 

7/1/47

 

1,000,000

b

1,020,360

 

Phoenix Industrial Development Authority,
Education Facility Revenue (BASIS Schools Projects)

 

5.00

 

7/1/35

 

2,360,000

b

2,467,805

 

Phoenix Industrial Development Authority,
Education Facility Revenue (BASIS Schools Projects)

 

5.00

 

7/1/46

 

2,000,000

b

2,066,040

 

Phoenix Industrial Development Authority,
Education Facility Revenue (Legacy Traditional Schools Projects)

 

5.00

 

7/1/45

 

2,000,000

b

2,045,000

 

Salt Verde Financial Corporation,
Senior Gas Revenue

 

5.00

 

12/1/37

 

4,030,000

 

4,833,985

 

6

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Arizona - 5.8% (continued)

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0447), 1/1/2038,
(Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, Salt River Project Electric System Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

1/1/38

 

17,207,871

b,c

17,388,490

 
 

30,903,300

 

California - 16.7%

         

California,
GO (Various Purpose)

 

5.75

 

4/1/31

 

10,800,000

 

11,577,816

 

California,
GO (Various Purpose)

 

6.50

 

4/1/33

 

10,000,000

 

10,816,300

 

California,
GO (Various Purpose)

 

6.00

 

11/1/35

 

7,500,000

 

8,256,975

 

California Statewide Communities Development Authority,
Revenue (Bentley School)

 

7.00

 

7/1/40

 

2,090,000

 

2,344,625

 

California Statewide Communities Development Authority,
Student Housing Revenue (CHF-Irvine, LLC-UCI East Campus Apartments, Phase II) (Prerefunded)

 

5.75

 

5/15/18

 

2,000,000

d

2,060,400

 

Sacramento County,
Airport System Subordinate and Passenger Facility Charges Grant Revenue

 

6.00

 

7/1/35

 

6,250,000

 

6,477,000

 

San Buenaventura,
Revenue (Community Memorial Health System)

 

7.50

 

12/1/41

 

2,000,000

 

2,336,680

 

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

 

1,146,560

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0369), 10/1/2039,
(California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue (University of Southern California)) Non-recourse

 

5.25

 

4/1/18

 

10,100,000

b,c

10,545,612

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0379), 7/1/2043,
(Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Water System Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

7/1/20

 

5,000,000

b,c

5,638,400

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0434), 5/15/2038,
(The Regents of the University of California, General Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

5/15/38

 

10,000,000

b,c

11,548,700

 

7

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

California - 16.7% (continued)

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0440), 5/15/2031,
(Los Angeles Department of Airports, Senior Revenue (Los Angeles International Airport)) Recourse

 

5.00

 

5/15/31

 

5,247,500

b,c

5,766,095

 

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

 

7,297,810

 

Tuolumne Wind Project Authority,
Revenue (Tuolumne Company Project) (Prerefunded)

 

5.88

 

1/1/19

 

3,500,000

d

3,718,225

 
 

89,531,198

 

Colorado - 4.8%

         

Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority,
Charter School Revenue (American Academy Project) (Prerefunded)

 

8.00

 

12/1/18

 

3,500,000

d

3,851,925

 

Dominion Water and Sanitation District,
Tap Fee Revenue

 

6.00

 

12/1/46

 

2,000,000

 

2,104,920

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0385), 3/1/2038,
(Board of Governors of the Colorado State University, System Enterprise Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

3/1/20

 

7,500,000

b,c

8,672,025

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0433), 11/15/2043,
(Colorado Springs, Utilities System Improvement Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

11/15/43

 

9,750,000

b,c

11,234,340

 
 

25,863,210

 

Connecticut - .5%

         

Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority,
Revenue (Trinity Health Credit Group)

 

5.00

 

12/1/45

 

2,500,000

 

2,826,200

 

District of Columbia - 5.3%

         

District of Columbia Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

0.00

 

6/15/46

 

38,500,000

e

5,621,385

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0437), 12/1/2035,
(District of Columbia, Income Tax Secured Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

12/1/35

 

19,997,609

b,c

22,952,209

 
 

28,573,594

 

8

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Florida - 7.1%

         

Cape Coral Health Facilities Authority,
Senior Housing Revenue (Gulf Care, Inc. Project)

 

5.88

 

7/1/40

 

1,600,000

b

1,721,088

 

Clearwater,
Water and Sewer Revenue (Prerefunded)

 

5.25

 

12/1/19

 

5,000,000

d

5,459,750

 

Florida Development Finance Corporation,
Educational Facilities Revenue (Miami Arts Charter School Project)

 

6.00

 

6/15/44

 

5,000,000

b

4,940,450

 

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority,
Airport Facilities Revenue

 

6.25

 

10/1/20

 

8,000,000

 

8,789,360

 

Miami-Dade County,
Subordinate Special Obligation Revenue

 

0.00

 

10/1/45

 

3,000,000

e

929,580

 

Mid-Bay Bridge Authority,
Springing Lien Revenue (Prerefunded)

 

7.25

 

10/1/21

 

6,000,000

d

7,381,020

 

Saint Johns County Industrial Development Authority,
Revenue (Presbyterian Retirement Communities Project) (Prerefunded)

 

6.00

 

8/1/20

 

6,500,000

d

7,365,865

 

Village Community Development District Number 10,
Special Assessment Revenue

 

6.00

 

5/1/44

 

1,000,000

 

1,181,480

 
 

37,768,593

 

Georgia - 5.2%

         

Atlanta,
Water and Wastewater Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

5.25

 

11/1/34

 

1,445,000

 

1,569,790

 

Atlanta,
Water and Wastewater Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) (Prerefunded)

 

5.25

 

11/1/19

 

2,555,000

d

2,779,457

 

Atlanta,
Water and Wastewater Revenue (Prerefunded)

 

6.00

 

11/1/19

 

6,000,000

d

6,619,860

 

Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority,
Revenue (USG Real Estate Foundation I, LLC Project) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) (Prerefunded)

 

5.63

 

6/15/18

 

5,055,000

d

5,225,303

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0435), 10/1/2043,
(Private Colleges and Universities Authority, Revenue (Emory University)) Recourse

 

5.00

 

10/1/43

 

10,000,000

b,c

11,500,400

 
 

27,694,810

 

9

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Hawaii - 1.4%

         

Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance,
Special Purpose Revenue (Hawai'i Pacific Health Obligated Group)

 

5.75

 

7/1/40

 

4,415,000

 

4,800,739

 

Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance,
Special Purpose Revenue (Hawaiian Electric Company)

 

4.00

 

3/1/37

 

2,500,000

 

2,604,025

 
 

7,404,764

 

Idaho - .9%

         

Power County Industrial Development Corporation,
SWDR (FMC Corporation Project)

 

6.45

 

8/1/32

 

5,000,000

 

5,009,800

 

Illinois - 9.3%

         

Chicago,
GO (Project and Refunding Series)

 

6.00

 

1/1/38

 

3,000,000

 

3,475,200

 

Chicago O'Hare International Airport,
Revenue (General Airport Third Lien)

 

5.63

 

1/1/35

 

1,015,000

 

1,141,652

 

Chicago O'Hare International Airport,
Revenue (General Airport Third Lien) (Prerefunded)

 

5.63

 

1/1/21

 

3,985,000

d

4,546,287

 

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,
Dedicated Tax Revenue (Capital Appreciation-McCormick Place Expansion Project) (Insured; MBIA Insurance Corporation)

 

0.00

 

12/15/36

 

2,500,000

e

1,131,375

 

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,
Revenue (McCormick Place Expansion Project)

 

5.00

 

12/15/28

 

3,000,000

 

3,212,580

 

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,
Revenue (McCormick Place Expansion Project)

 

0.00

 

12/15/51

 

18,100,000

e

2,548,661

 

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,
Revenue (McCormick Place Expansion Project)

 

5.00

 

6/15/52

 

1,650,000

 

1,667,111

 

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,
Revenue (McCormick Place Expansion Project)

 

5.00

 

6/15/53

 

3,500,000

 

3,556,280

 

Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority,
Tobacco Settlement Revenue

 

6.00

 

6/1/28

 

5,050,000

 

5,723,417

 

10

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Illinois - 9.3% (continued)

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0378), 12/1/2032,
(Greater Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, GO Capital Improvement Bonds) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

12/1/19

 

7,500,000

b,c

8,360,550

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2017-XM0492), 10/1/2040,
(Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue (The University of Chicago)) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

10/1/40

 

12,000,000

b,c

13,587,240

 

University of Illinois Board of Trustees,
Auxiliary Facilities System Revenue (University of Illinois)

 

5.00

 

4/1/44

 

1,000,000

 

1,114,280

 
 

50,064,633

 

Indiana - .3%

         

Indiana Finance Authority,
Revenue (Marquette Project)

 

5.00

 

3/1/39

 

1,400,000

 

1,440,740

 

Iowa - 1.8%

         

Iowa Finance Authority,
Midwestern Disaster Area Revenue (Iowa Fertilizer Company Project)

 

5.25

 

12/1/25

 

7,375,000

 

7,823,842

 

Tobacco Settlement Authority of Iowa,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

5.60

 

6/1/34

 

2,000,000

 

2,011,900

 
 

9,835,742

 

Louisiana - 1.6%

         

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority,
Revenue (Westlake Chemical Corporation Projects)

 

6.75

 

11/1/32

 

7,000,000

 

7,036,400

 

New Orleans,
Sewerage Service Revenue

 

5.00

 

6/1/40

 

1,500,000

 

1,687,755

 
 

8,724,155

 

Maine - .6%

         

Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority,
Revenue (Maine General Medical Center Issue)

 

7.50

 

7/1/32

 

3,000,000

 

3,398,310

 

Maryland - 2.6%

         

Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority,
Revenue (Adventist HealthCare Issue)

 

5.50

 

1/1/46

 

3,250,000

 

3,715,693

 

11

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Maryland - 2.6% (continued)

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0391), 7/1/2043,
(Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Project Revenue (Water Projects)) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

7/1/21

 

9,000,000

b,c

10,239,300

 
 

13,954,993

 

Massachusetts - 7.2%

         

Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority,
Revenue (Suffolk University Issue)

 

6.25

 

7/1/30

 

2,065,000

 

2,235,218

 

Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority,
Revenue (Suffolk University Issue) (Prerefunded)

 

6.25

 

7/1/19

 

3,585,000

d

3,910,339

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0368), 2/1/2034,
(Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Revenue (Harvard University Issue)) Non-recourse

 

5.25

 

8/1/18

 

10,000,000

b,c

11,353,100

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0372), 11/1/2025,
(Massachusetts, Consolidated Loan) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

4/1/19

 

8,600,000

b,c

9,734,426

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0389), 5/15/2043,
(Massachusetts School Building Authority, Senior Dedicated Sales Tax Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

5/15/21

 

10,000,000

b,c

11,406,000

 
 

38,639,083

 

Michigan - 8.2%

         

Detroit,
Water Supply System Senior Lien Revenue

 

5.00

 

7/1/31

 

3,000,000

 

3,224,730

 

Great Lakes Water Authority,
Sewage Disposal System Second Lien Revenue

 

5.00

 

7/1/36

 

3,000,000

 

3,355,890

 

Michigan Finance Authority,
HR (Beaumont Health Credit Group)

 

5.00

 

11/1/44

 

5,165,000

 

5,760,473

 

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

 

2,280,920

 

12

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Michigan - 8.2% (continued)

         

Michigan Finance Authority,
Local Government Loan Program Revenue (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Water Supply System Revenue Second Lien Local Project Bonds)

 

5.00

 

7/1/34

 

2,000,000

 

2,227,980

 

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

 

2,210,660

 

Michigan Hospital Finance Authority,
HR (Henry Ford Health System) (Prerefunded)

 

5.63

 

11/15/19

 

5,000,000

d

5,478,100

 

Michigan Strategic Fund,
SWDR (Genesee Power Station Project)

 

7.50

 

1/1/21

 

4,340,000

 

4,268,998

 

Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

6.88

 

6/1/42

 

5,000,000

 

5,082,850

 

Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

6.00

 

6/1/48

 

4,000,000

 

3,999,640

 

Royal Oak Hospital Finance Authority,
HR (William Beaumont Hospital Obligated Group) (Prerefunded)

 

8.25

 

9/1/18

 

5,500,000

d

5,867,895

 
 

43,758,136

 

Minnesota - 1.0%

         

Dakota County Community Development Agency,
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed Securities Program) (Collateralized: FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)

 

5.15

 

12/1/38

 

35,637

 

36,348

 

Dakota County Community Development Agency,
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed Securities Program) (Collateralized: FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)

 

5.30

 

12/1/39

 

82,187

 

83,351

 

Minneapolis,
Health Care System Revenue (Fairview Health Services) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.)

 

6.50

 

11/15/38

 

4,190,000

 

4,423,257

 

13

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Minnesota - 1.0% (continued)

         

Minneapolis,
Health Care System Revenue (Fairview Health Services) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) (Prerefunded)

 

6.50

 

11/15/18

 

810,000

d

860,277

 
 

5,403,233

 

Mississippi - 2.1%

         

Mississippi Business Finance Corporation,
PCR (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project)

 

5.88

 

4/1/22

 

5,720,000

 

5,772,738

 

Mississippi Development Bank,
Special Obligation Revenue (Magnolia Regional Health Center Project)

 

6.50

 

10/1/31

 

5,000,000

 

5,611,700

 
 

11,384,438

 

Missouri - 1.0%

         

Saint Louis Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority,
Annual Appropriation Redevelopment Revenue (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Site Improvements Project)

 

5.13

 

6/1/46

 

5,000,000

 

5,416,050

 

New Jersey - 4.2%

         

Essex County Improvement Authority,
SWDR (Covanta Project)

 

5.25

 

7/1/45

 

1,000,000

b

1,006,540

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
Revenue

 

5.25

 

6/15/27

 

4,000,000

 

4,522,560

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
School Facilities Construction Revenue

 

5.25

 

6/15/40

 

3,250,000

 

3,537,333

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
Special Facility Revenue (Continental Airlines, Inc. Project)

 

5.25

 

9/15/29

 

3,375,000

 

3,709,935

 

New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority,
Student Loan Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.)

 

6.13

 

6/1/30

 

2,860,000

 

2,926,409

 

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority,
Transportation Program Revenue

 

5.25

 

6/15/33

 

1,500,000

 

1,655,715

 

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation of New Jersey,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

5.00

 

6/1/41

 

5,500,000

 

5,377,900

 
 

22,736,392

 

14

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

New Mexico - 1.4%

         

Farmington,
PCR (Public Service Company of New Mexico San Juan Project)

 

5.90

 

6/1/40

 

7,000,000

 

7,647,500

 

New York - 11.7%

         

New York City Educational Construction Fund,
Revenue

 

6.50

 

4/1/27

 

4,490,000

 

5,271,574

 

New York City Industrial Development Agency,
PILOT Revenue (Yankee Stadium Project) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.)

 

7.00

 

3/1/49

 

5,000,000

 

5,415,750

 

New York Convention Center Development Corporation,
Senior Lien Revenue (Hotel Unit Fee Secured)

 

0.00

 

11/15/47

 

6,800,000

e

2,130,168

 

New York Liberty Development Corporation,
Revenue (3 World Trade Center Project)

 

5.00

 

11/15/44

 

7,000,000

b

7,641,830

 

New York Transportation Development Corporation,
Special Facility Revenue (American Airlines, Inc. John F. Kennedy International Airport Project)

 

5.00

 

8/1/26

 

500,000

 

536,740

 

New York Transportation Development Corporation,
Special Facility Revenue (LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment Project)

 

5.00

 

7/1/46

 

3,500,000

 

3,852,590

 

Niagara Area Development Corporation,
Solid Waste Disposal Facility Revenue (Covanta Energy Project)

 

5.25

 

11/1/42

 

3,000,000

b

3,003,270

 

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

 

2,238,300

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0370), 4/1/2027,
(New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured Subordinate Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.25

 

11/1/18

 

5,000,000

b,c

5,606,200

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0438), 11/1/2027,
(New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured Subordinate Revenue) Recourse

 

5.50

 

11/1/27

 

5,000,000

b,c

5,634,250

 

15

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

New York - 11.7% (continued)

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0445), 6/15/2039,
(New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, Water and Sewer System General Resolution Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

6/15/39

 

20,000,000

b,c

21,279,800

 
 

62,610,472

 

North Carolina - .2%

         

North Carolina Medical Care Commission,
Health Care Facilities First Mortgage Revenue (Pennybryn at Maryfield)

 

5.00

 

10/1/35

 

1,005,000

 

1,036,738

 

Ohio - 11.1%

         

Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

0.00

 

6/1/47

 

19,800,000

e

1,333,134

 

Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority,
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

 

6.50

 

6/1/47

 

14,690,000

 

14,687,943

 

Butler County,
Hospital Facilities Revenue (UC Health)

 

5.50

 

11/1/40

 

2,360,000

 

2,594,254

 

Butler County,
Hospital Facilities Revenue (UC Health) (Prerefunded)

 

5.50

 

11/1/20

 

1,490,000

d

1,683,208

 

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

2,820,508

 

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

2,626,199

 

Cuyahoga County Hospital,
Revenue (The Metrohealth System)

 

5.00

 

2/15/57

 

2,000,000

 

2,100,640

 

Hamilton County,
Healthcare Improvement Revenue (Life Enriching Communities Project)

 

5.00

 

1/1/51

 

2,000,000

 

2,123,420

 

Muskingum County,
Hospital Facilities Revenue (Genesis HealthCare System Obligated Group Project)

 

5.00

 

2/15/22

 

4,590,000

 

4,980,747

 

Ohio Air Quality Development Authority,
Air Quality Revenue (Ohio Valley Electric Corporation Project)

 

5.63

 

10/1/19

 

1,900,000

 

1,966,272

 

16

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Ohio - 11.1% (continued)

         

Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority,
Tax Increment Development Revenue (Fairfax Village Red Bank Infrastructure Project)

 

5.63

 

2/1/36

 

3,000,000

b

2,957,010

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0380), 12/1/2038,
(Hamilton County, Sewer System Improvement Revenue (The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati)) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

6/1/33

 

17,000,000

b,c

19,700,790

 
 

59,574,125

 

Oregon - .7%

         

Warm Springs Reservation Confederated Tribes,
Hydroelectric Revenue (Pelton Round Butte Project)

 

6.38

 

11/1/33

 

3,300,000

 

3,492,456

 

Pennsylvania - 1.6%

         

Crawford County Hospital Authority,
HR (Meadville Medical Center Project)

 

6.00

 

6/1/46

 

1,175,000

 

1,224,855

 

Philadelphia,
GO (Prerefunded)

 

6.50

 

8/1/20

 

3,550,000

d

4,084,097

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0373), 6/1/2041,
(Geisinger Authority, Health System Revenue (Geisinger Health System)) Non-recourse

 

5.13

 

6/1/35

 

3,000,000

b,c

3,236,250

 
 

8,545,202

 

Rhode Island - 1.0%

         

Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation,
Hospital Financing Revenue (Lifespan Obligated Group Issue) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) (Prerefunded)

 

7.00

 

5/15/19

 

5,000,000

d

5,486,350

 

South Carolina - 6.9%

         

South Carolina Public Service Authority,
Revenue Obligations (Santee Cooper) (Prerefunded)

 

5.50

 

1/1/19

 

9,205,000

d

9,732,354

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0384), 12/1/2043,
(South Carolina Public Service Authority, Revenue Obligations (Santee Cooper)) Non-recourse

 

5.13

 

6/1/37

 

15,000,000

b,c

16,547,550

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0442), 2/1/2040,
(Columbia, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

2/1/40

 

10,000,000

b,c

10,911,700

 
 

37,191,604

 

17

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Tennessee - 4.5%

         

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Health and Educational Facilities Board,
Revenue (The Vanderbilt University) (Prerefunded)

 

5.50

 

10/1/19

 

7,000,000

d

7,620,200

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0388), 7/1/2040,
(Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Water and Sewer Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

7/1/21

 

5,000,000

b,c

5,735,300

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0446), 11/15/2040,
(Rutherford County Health and Educational Facilities Board, Revenue (Ascension Health Senior Credit Group)) Recourse

 

5.00

 

11/15/40

 

10,000,000

b,c

10,662,700

 
 

24,018,200

 

Texas - 11.6%

         

Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority,
Senior Lien Revenue

 

5.00

 

1/1/45

 

1,500,000

 

1,667,730

 

Clifton Higher Education Finance Corporation,
Education Revenue (International Leadership of Texas)

 

5.75

 

8/15/45

 

4,500,000

 

4,835,430

 

Clifton Higher Education Finance Corporation,
Education Revenue (Uplift Education)

 

4.50

 

12/1/44

 

2,500,000

 

2,552,125

 

Clifton Higher Education Finance Corporation,
Education Revenue (Uplift Education) (Prerefunded)

 

6.00

 

12/1/20

 

2,500,000

d

2,870,825

 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit,
Senior Lien Sales Tax Revenue (Prerefunded)

 

5.25

 

12/1/18

 

10,000,000

d

10,500,700

 

Harris County Health Facilities Development Corporation,
HR (Memorial Hermann Healthcare System) (Prerefunded)

 

7.25

 

12/1/18

 

2,000,000

d

2,145,440

 

Harris County-Houston Sports Authority,
Senior Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

0.00

 

11/15/50

 

6,500,000

e

1,423,695

 

Houston,
Combined Utility System First Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.)

 

6.00

 

11/15/36

 

295,000

 

319,214

 

18

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Texas - 11.6% (continued)

         

Houston,
Combined Utility System First Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) (Prerefunded)

 

6.00

 

5/15/19

 

4,705,000

d

5,084,646

 

North Texas Tollway Authority,
First Tier System Revenue (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.)

 

5.75

 

1/1/40

 

965,000

 

976,802

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0377), 2/1/2043,
(San Antonio, Electric and Gas Systems Junior Lien Revenue) Non-recourse

 

5.00

 

2/1/21

 

16,750,000

b,c

18,991,485

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2017-XF2422), 8/15/2040,
(Leander Independent School District, Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds (Permanent School Fund Guarantee Program)) Recourse

 

5.00

 

8/15/40

 

8,507,701

b,c

9,132,760

 

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs,
Home Mortgage Revenue (Collateralized: FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)

 

12.42

 

7/2/24

 

50,000

f

52,394

 

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corporation,
Senior Lien Revenue (Blueridge Transportation Group, State Highway 288 Toll Lanes Project)

 

5.00

 

12/31/50

 

1,300,000

 

1,416,285

 
 

61,969,531

 

Virginia - 2.4%

         

Chesterfield County Economic Development Authority,
Retirement Facilities First Mortgage Revenue (Brandermill Woods Project)

 

5.13

 

1/1/43

 

2,100,000

 

2,131,080

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0448), 11/1/2040,
(Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, Health Care Facilities Revenue (Sentara Healthcare)) Recourse

 

5.00

 

11/1/40

 

10,000,000

b,c

10,737,300

 
 

12,868,380

 

Washington - 3.8%

         

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2016-XM0441), 1/1/2033,
(King County, Limited Tax GO (Payable from Sewer Revenues)) Recourse

 

5.13

 

1/1/33

 

10,000,000

b,c

10,521,000

 

Tender Option Bond Trust Receipts (Series 2017-XF2423), 1/1/2029,
(King County, Server Revenue) Recourse

 

5.00

 

1/1/29

 

3,998,716

b,c

4,466,876

 

19

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

Washington - 3.8% (continued)

         

Washington Health Care Facilities Authority,
Mortgage Revenue (Highline Medical Center) (Collateralized; FHA) (Prerefunded)

 

6.25

 

8/1/18

 

3,475,000

d

3,628,317

 

Washington Housing Finance Commission,
Nonprofit Housing Revenue (Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest Projects)

 

5.00

 

1/1/51

 

1,700,000

b

1,748,076

 
 

20,364,269

 

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

 

1,752,135

 

Wisconsin - .2%

         

Public Finance Authority,
Senior Living Revenue (Mary's Woods At Marylhurst Project)

 

5.25

 

5/15/47

 

750,000

b

801,375

 

Wyoming - .3%

         

Wyoming Municipal Power Agency,
Power Supply System Revenue (Prerefunded)

 

5.50

 

1/1/18

 

1,360,000

d

1,376,225

 

U.S. Related - 1.7%

         

Guam,
LOR (Section 30) (Prerefunded)

 

5.75

 

12/1/19

 

2,000,000

d

2,200,780

 

Guam Housing Corporation,
SFMR (Guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities Program) (Collateralized; FHLMC)

 

5.75

 

9/1/31

 

965,000

 

1,004,478

 

Guam Waterworks Authority,
Water and Wastewater System Revenue

 

5.63

 

7/1/40

 

2,000,000

 

2,123,040

 

20

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 152.0% (continued)

         

U.S. Related - 1.7% (continued)

         

Puerto Rico Commonwealth,
Public Improvement GO (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

5.00

 

7/1/35

 

3,500,000

 

3,654,630

 
 

8,982,928

 

Total Investments (cost $748,896,399)

 

152.0%

814,876,795

 

Liabilities, Less Cash and Receivables

 

(25.4%)

(136,419,270)

 

Preferred Stock, at redemption value

 

(26.6%)

(142,500,000)

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

 

100.0%

535,957,525

 


a
 Zero coupon until a specified date at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective until maturity.

b Security 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 September 30, 2017, these securities amounted to $354,509,692, or 66.15% of net assets applicable to Common Shareholders.

c Collateral for floating rate borrowings.

d 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.

e Security issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount.

f Inverse floater security—the interest rate is subject to change periodically. Rate shown is the interest rate in effect at September 30, 2017.


   

Portfolio Summary (Unaudited)

Value (%)

Education

23.3

Prerefunded

22.7

Utility-Water and Sewer

19.3

Special Tax

16.8

Health Care

16.0

Utility-Electric

15.9

Industrial

7.8

Transportation Services

7.1

State/Territory

5.7

Asset-Backed

4.1

Pollution Control

2.4

City

1.7

Resource Recovery

1.1

County

.7

Housing

.6

Other

6.8

 

152.0

 Based on net assets applicable to Common Shareholders.

See notes to financial statements.

21

 

       
 

Summary of Abbreviations (Unaudited)

 

ABAG

Association of Bay Area
Governments

ACA

American Capital Access

AGC

ACE Guaranty Corporation

AGIC

Asset Guaranty Insurance Company

AMBAC

American Municipal Bond
Assurance Corporation

ARRN

Adjustable Rate
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
Revenue

EIR

Environmental Improvement
Revenue

FGIC

Financial Guaranty
Insurance Company

FHA

Federal Housing Administration

FHLB

Federal Home
Loan Bank

FHLMC

Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation

FNMA

Federal National
Mortgage Association

GAN

Grant Anticipation Notes

GIC

Guaranteed Investment
Contract

GNMA

Government National Mortgage
Association

GO

General Obligation

HR

Hospital Revenue

IDB

Industrial Development Board

IDC

Industrial Development Corporation

IDR

Industrial Development
Revenue

LIFERS

Long Inverse Floating
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

PILOT

Payment in Lieu of Taxes

P-FLOATS

Puttable Floating Option
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
Mortgage Agency

SPEARS

Short Puttable Exempt
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.

22

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
September 30, 2017

                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments

 

748,896,399

 

814,876,795

 

Cash

 

 

 

 

679,328

 

Interest receivable

 

 

 

 

12,869,602

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

 

 

21,633

 

 

 

 

 

 

828,447,358

 

Liabilities ($):

 

 

 

 

Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates—Note 2(b)

 

 

 

 

384,961

 

Payable for floating rate notes issued—Note 3

 

 

 

 

148,574,397

 

Interest and expense payable related to
floating rate notes issued—Note 3

 

 

 

 

798,801

 

Commissions payable—Note 1

 

 

 

 

36,128

 

Dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders

 

 

 

 

23,407

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

172,139

 

 

 

 

 

 

149,989,833

 

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 ($)

 

 

535,957,525

 

Composition of Net Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Common Stock, par value, $.001 per share
(62,112,968 shares issued and outstanding)

 

 

 

 

62,113

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

528,489,417

 

Accumulated undistributed investment income—net

 

 

 

 

114,173

 

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

(58,688,574)

 

Accumulated net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
on investments

 

 

 

65,980,396

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders ($)

 

 

535,957,525

 

Shares Outstanding

 

 

(500 million shares authorized)

 

62,112,968

 

Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock ($)

 

8.63

 

         

See notes to financial statements.

       

 

23

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended September 30, 2017

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Income ($):

 

 

 

 

Interest Income

 

 

39,196,294

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

Management fee—Note 2(a)

 

 

5,080,841

 

Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued—Note 3

 

 

2,090,658

 

Commission fees—Note 1

 

 

270,966

 

Professional fees

 

 

139,441

 

Directors’ fees and expenses—Note 2(c)

 

 

98,572

 

Registration fees

 

 

70,620

 

Shareholders’ reports

 

 

64,443

 

Shareholder servicing costs

 

 

58,232

 

Custodian fees—Note 2(b)

 

 

43,104

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

64,357

 

Total Expenses

 

 

7,981,234

 

Less—reduction in expenses due to undertaking—Note 2(a)

 

 

(677,445)

 

Net Expenses

 

 

7,303,789

 

Investment Income—Net

 

 

31,892,505

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 3 ($):

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

(709,004)

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

 

 

(27,579,093)

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

 

(28,288,097)

 

Dividends to Preferred Shareholders

 

 

(1,802,862)

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common
Shareholders Resulting from Operations

 

1,801,546

 

             

See notes to financial statements.

         

24

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended September 30, 2017

     
     

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities ($):

   

Interest received

39,695,029

 

Operating expenses paid

(5,231,288)

 

Dividends paid to Preferred Shareholders

(1,795,067)

 

Purchases of portfolio securities

(63,908,511)

 

Proceeds from sales of portfolio securities

61,212,216

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

29,972,379

Cash Flows from Financing Activities ($):

   

Dividends paid to Common Shareholders

(30,753,571)

 

Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued paid

(1,795,532)

 

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

 

(32,549,103)

Decrease in cash

 

(2,576,724)

Cash at beginning of period

 

3,256,052

Cash at end of period

 

679,328

Reconciliation of Net Decrease 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

 

1,801,546

Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets applicable
to Common Shareholders resulting from operations
to net cash provided by operating activities ($):

   

Increase in investments in securities, at cost

 

(5,716,247)

Decrease in payable for investment securities purchased

 

(5,243,388)

Increase in interest receivable

 

(409,461)

Decrease in commissions payable and accrued expenses

 

(239)

Decrease in prepaid expenses

 

10,121

Decrease in Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates

 

(28,039)

Increase in dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders

 

7,795

Increase in payable for floating rate notes issued

 

9,000,000

Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued

 

2,090,658

Net unrealized depreciation on investments

 

27,579,093

Net amortization of premiums on investments

 

880,540

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

29,972,379

Supplemental Disclosure Cash Flow Information ($):

   

Non-cash financing activities:

   

Reinvestment of dividends

 

1,241,830

See notes to financial statements.

25

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

                   

 

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

2016

 

Operations ($):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income—net

 

 

31,892,505

 

 

 

32,539,159

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

 

(709,004)

 

 

 

5,350,790

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
on investments

 

(27,579,093)

 

 

 

17,474,037

 

Dividends to Preferred Shareholders

 

 

(1,802,862)

 

 

 

(710,599)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to
Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

1,801,546

 

 

 

54,653,387

 

Dividends to Common Shareholders from ($):

 

Investment income—net

 

 

(31,995,401)

 

 

 

(31,927,984)

 

Capital Stock Transactions ($):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions reinvested

 

 

1,241,830

 

 

 

1,093,840

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
from Capital Stock Transactions

1,241,830

 

 

 

1,093,840

 

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Applicable to Common Shareholders

(28,952,025)

 

 

 

23,819,243

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders ($):

 

Beginning of Period

 

 

564,909,550

 

 

 

541,090,307

 

End of Period

 

 

535,957,525

 

 

 

564,909,550

 

Undistributed investment income—net

114,173

 

 

 

2,226,830

 

Capital Share Transactions (Common Shares):

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

144,118

 

 

 

119,451

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

144,118

 

 

 

119,451

 

                   

See notes to financial statements.

               

26

 

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 distributions. 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.

             
     
   

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

9.12

8.75

8.76

8.07

9.31

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.51

.53

.55

.55

.54

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

(.45)

.37

(.03)

.73

(1.18)

Dividends to Preferred
Shareholders from
investment income—net

 

(.03)

(.01)

(.00)b

(.00)b

(.01)

Total from Investment Operations

 

.03

.89

.52

1.28

(.65)

Distributions to
Common Shareholders:

           

Dividends from
investment income—net

 

(.52)

(.52)

(.53)

(.59)

(.59)

Net asset value, end of period

 

8.63

9.12

8.75

8.76

8.07

Market value, end of period

 

8.79

9.35

8.18

8.38

8.00

Total Return (%)c

 

(.19)

21.11

4.07

12.61

(14.65)

27

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

             
     
   

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses to average
net assets applicable
to Common Stockd

 

1.49

1.30

1.26

1.30

1.30

Ratio of net expenses to average
net assets applicable
to Common Stockd

 

1.37

1.17

1.13

1.17

1.16

Ratio of interest and expense
related to floating rate notes
issued to average net assets
applicable to Common Stockd

 

.39

.22

.17

.18

.11

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets applicable
to Common Stockd

 

5.96

5.83

6.24

6.50

6.01

Ratio of total expenses
to total average net assets

 

1.18

1.03

1.00

1.00

.94

Ratio of net expenses to
total average net assets

 

1.08

.93

.90

.90

.84

Ratio of interest and expense related
to floating rate notes issued
to total average net assets

 

.31

.17

.14

.14

.08

Ratio of net investment income
to total average net assets

 

4.71

4.64

4.94

5.02

4.35

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

8.77

10.40

9.60

14.37

25.01

Asset Coverage of Preferred Stock,
end of period

 

476

496

480

480

372

Net Assets, applicable to
Common Shareholders,
end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

535,958

564,910

541,090

542,102

499,307

Preferred Stock Outstanding,
end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

142,500

142,500

142,500

142,500

183,250

Floating Rate Notes Outstanding,
end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

148,574

139,574

146,129

146,129

129,259


a
 Based on average common shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than $.01 per share.

c  Calculated based on market value.

d Does not reflect the effect of dividends to Preferred Shareholders.

See notes to financial statements.

28

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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 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 shares of Common Stock 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 APS, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two directors. The holders of 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 Hans C. Mautner and Robin A. Melvin as directors to be elected by the holders of APS.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification 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.

29

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

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:

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

30

 

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 is engaged under the general supervision of the Board.

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 September 30, 2017 in valuing the fund’s investments:

         
 

Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices

Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs

Level 3 -Significant Unobservable Inputs

Total

Assets ($)

       

Investments in Securities:

 

 

 

 

Municipal Bonds

-

814,876,795

-

814,876,795

Liabilities ($)

       

Floating Rate Notes††

-

(148,574,397)

-

(148,574,397)

 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.

31

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

At September 30, 2017, there were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy. It is the fund’s policy to recognize transfers between levels at the end of the reporting period.

(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 and distributions to Common Shareholders: Dividends and distributions 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.

Common Shareholders will have their distributions reinvested in additional shares of the fund, unless such Common Shareholders elect to receive cash, 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 September 28, 2017, the Board declared a cash dividend of $.043 per share from investment income-net, payable on October 31, 2017 to Common Shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 13, 2017. The ex-dividend date was October 12, 2017.

(d) Dividends and distributions 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 September 30, 2017, for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-1.492%, Series T-1.492%, Series W-1.492%, Series TH-1.525% and Series F-1.409%. These rates reflect the “maximum rates” under the governing instruments as a result of “failed auctions” in which

32

 

sufficient clearing bids are not received. The average dividend rates for the period ended September 30, 2017 for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-1.267%, Series T-1.266%, Series W-1.265%, Series TH-1.265% and Series F-1.263%.

(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 September 30, 2017, 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 September 30, 2017, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

Each tax year in the four-year period ended September 30, 2017 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

At September 30, 2017, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows: undistributed tax-exempt income $1,453,578, accumulated capital losses $59,598,874 and unrealized appreciation $66,890,696.

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 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 accumulated capital loss carryover is available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future net realized capital gains, if any, realized subsequent to September 30, 2017. If not applied, $32,540,019 of the carryover expires in fiscal year 2018 and $6,369,224 expires in fiscal year 2019. The fund has $4,861,870 of post-enactment short-term capital losses and $15,827,761 of post-enactment long-term capital losses which can be carried forward for an unlimited period.

33

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 were as follows: tax-exempt income $33,728,792 and $32,548,031, and ordinary income $69,471 and $90,552, respectively.

During the period ended September 30, 2017, as a result of permanent book to tax differences, primarily due to the tax treatment for amortization adjustments, capital loss carryover expiration and dividend reclassification, the fund decreased accumulated undistributed investment income-net by $206,899, increased accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments by $10,002,268 and decreased paid-in capital by $9,795,369. Net assets and net asset value per share were not affected by this reclassification.

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, 1½% 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, 2016 through November 30, 2017, 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 APS outstanding). The reduction in expenses, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $677,445 during the period ended September 30, 2017.

(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 September 30, 2017, the fund was charged $43,104 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.

34

 

During the period ended September 30, 2017, the fund was charged $6,769 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 $419,686, custodian fees $17,870 and Chief Compliance Officer fees $3,363, which are offset against an expense reimbursement currently in effect in the amount of $55,958.

(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 September 30, 2017, amounted to $58,665,123 and $61,212,216, respectively.

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 “Inverse Floater Trust”). The Inverse Floater 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 Inverse Floater Trust, which is transferred to the fund, and is paid interest based on the remaining cash flows of the Inverse Floater Trust, after payment of interest on the other securities and various expenses of the Inverse Floater Trust. An Inverse Floater Trust 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 Inverse Floater Trust as secured borrowings, with the securities transferred remaining in the fund’s investments, and the Trust Certificates reflected as fund liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The fund may invest in inverse floater securities on either a non-recourse 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,

35

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

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 Inverse Floater Trust. A liquidation shortfall occurs if the Trust Certificates exceed the proceeds of the sale of the bonds in the Inverse Floater Trust (“Liquidation Shortfall”). When a fund invests in inverse floater securities on a 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 September 30, 2017 was approximately $145,574,400 with a related weighted average annualized interest rate of 1.44%.

At September 30, 2017, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $599,411,702; accordingly, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments was $66,890,696, consisting of $68,371,101 gross unrealized appreciation and $1,480,405 gross unrealized depreciation.

36

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc., including the statement of investments, as of September 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2017 by correspondence with the custodian and others. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. at September 30, 2017, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

New York, New York
November 29, 2017

37

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan

Under the fund’s Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), a holder of Common Stock who has fund shares registered in his name will have all dividends and distributions reinvested automatically by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Plan administrator (the “Administrator”), in additional shares of the fund at the lower of prevailing market price or net asset value (but not less than 95% of market value at the time of valuation) unless such shareholder elects to receive cash as provided below. 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 or if a cash dividend only is declared, the Administrator, as agent for the Plan participants, will buy fund shares in the open market. A Plan participant is not relieved of any income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions.

A Common Shareholder who owns fund shares registered in nominee name through his broker/dealer (i.e., in “street name”) may not participate in the Plan, but may elect to have cash dividends and distributions reinvested by his broker/dealer in additional shares of the fund if such service is provided by the broker/dealer; otherwise such dividends and distributions will be treated like any other cash dividend.

A Common Shareholder who has fund shares registered in his or her name may elect to withdraw from the Plan at any time for a $2.50 fee and thereby elect to receive cash in lieu of shares of the fund. Changes in elections must be in writing, sent to The Bank of New York Mellon, c/o Computershare Inc., P.O. Box 30170, College Station, TX 77842-3170, should include the Common Shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the Administrator’s records and will be effective only if received more than fifteen days prior to the record date for any distribution.

A Plan participant who has fund shares in his name has the option of making additional cash payments to the Administrator, semi-annually, in any amount from $1,000 to $10,000, for investment in the fund’s shares in the open market on or about January 15 and July 15. Any voluntary cash payments received more than 30 days prior to these dates will be returned by the Administrator, and interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments. A participant may withdraw a voluntary cash payment by written notice, if the notice is received by the Administrator not less than 48 hours before the payment is to be invested. A Common Shareholder who owns fund shares registered in street name should consult his broker/dealer to determine whether an additional cash purchase option is available through his broker/dealer.

The Administrator maintains all Common Shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmations of all transactions in the account. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Administrator in non-certificated form in the name of the participant, and each such participant’s proxy will include those shares purchased pursuant to the Plan. The fund pays the Administrator’s fee for reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Plan participants pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Administrator’s open market purchases and purchases from voluntary cash payments, and a $1.25 fee for each purchase made from a voluntary cash payment.

38

 

The fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to notice of the change sent to Plan participants at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by the Administrator on at least 90 days’ written notice to Plan participants.

Level Distribution Policy

The fund’s dividend policy is to distribute substantially all of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more consistent yield to the current trading price of shares of Common Stock of the fund, the fund may at times pay out more or less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any month pay out any accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the dividends paid by the fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the fund during such month.

Benefits and Risks of Leveraging

The fund utilizes leverage to seek to enhance the yield and net asset value of its Common Stock. These objectives cannot be achieved in all interest rate environments. To leverage, the fund has issued APS and floating rate certificate securities, which pay dividends or interest at prevailing short-term interest rates, and invests the proceeds in long-term municipal bonds. The interest earned on these investments is paid to Common Shareholders in the form of dividends, and the value of these portfolio holdings is reflected in the per share net asset value of the fund’s Common Stock. In order for either of these forms of leverage to benefit Common Shareholders, the yield curve must be positively sloped: that is, short-term interest rates must be lower than long-term interest rates. At the same time, a period of generally declining interest rates will benefit Common Shareholders. If either of these conditions change along with other factors that may have an effect on APS dividends or floating rate certificate securities, then the risk of leveraging will begin to outweigh the benefits.

Supplemental Information

During the period ended September 30, 2017, there were: (i) no material changes in the fund's investment objectives or fundamental investment policies, (ii) no changes in the fund's charter or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the fund, and (iii) no change in the persons primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund's portfolio.

39

 

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

In accordance with federal tax law, the fund hereby reports all the dividends paid from investment income-net during its fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 as “exempt-interest dividends” (not generally subject to regular Federal income tax), except $69,471 that is being reported as an ordinary income distribution for reporting purposes. Where required by federal tax law rules, shareholders will receive notification of their portion of the fund’s taxable ordinary dividends (if any), capital gains distributions (if any) and tax-exempt dividends paid for the 2017 calendar year on Form 1099-DIV, which will be mailed in early 2018.

40

 

PROXY RESULTS (Unaudited)

Common Shareholders and holders of APS voted together as a single class (except as noted below) on the following proposal presented at the annual shareholders’ meeting held on June 8, 2017.

         

 

 

Shares

   

For

 

Authority Withheld

To elect two Class II Directors:

     
 

Ehud Houminer

51,694,973

 

2,256,300

 

Gordon J. Davis

51,972,998

 

1,978,275

 

Robin A. Melvin††

539

 

194

 The terms of these Class II Directors expire in 2020.

†† Elected solely by APS holders, Common Shareholders not entitled to vote.

41

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited)

INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS

Joseph S. DiMartino (73)

Chairman of the Board (1995)

Current term expires in 2019.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Corporate Director and Trustee (1995-present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· CBIZ (formerly, Century Business Services, Inc.), a provider of outsourcing functions for small and medium size companies, Director (1997-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 127

———————

Joni Evans (75)

Board Member (2007)

Current term expires in 2019.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Chief Executive Officer, www.wowOwow.com, an online community dedicated to women’s conversations and publications (2007-present)

· Principal, Joni Evans Ltd. (publishing) (2006-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 21

———————

Ehud Houminer (77)

Board Member (1994)

Current term expires in 2020.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Board of Overseers at the Columbia Business School, Columbia

University (1992-present)

Trustee, Ben Gurion University

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

·  Avnet, Inc., an electronics distributor, Director (1993-2012)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 52

———————

Hans C. Mautner (79)

Board Member (1989)

Current term expires in 2018.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Corporate Director and Trustee (1978-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 21

———————

42

 

Robin A. Melvin (54)

Board Member (1995)

Current term expires in 2020.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Co-chairman, Illinois Mentoring Partnership, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois; (2014-present; board member since 2013)

· Director, Boisi Family Foundation, a private family foundation that supports

youth-serving organizations that promote the self sufficiency of youth from

disadvantaged circumstances (1995-2012)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 99

———————

Burton N. Wallack (66)

Board Member (2007)

Current term expires in 2018.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· President and Co-owner of Wallack Management Company, a real estate management

company (1987-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 21

———————

Benaree Pratt Wiley (71)

Board Member (1989)

Current term expires in 2018.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Principal, The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in strategy and business development (2005-present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· CBIZ (formerly, Century Business Services, Inc.), a provider of outsourcing functions for small and medium size companies, Director (2008-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 82

———————

43

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
INTERESTED BOARD MEMBER

Gordon J. Davis (76)

Board Member (2007)

Current term expires in 2020.

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Partner in the law firm of Venable LLP (2012-present)

· Partner in the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (1994-2012)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Consolidated Edison, Inc., a utility company, Director (1997-2014)

· The Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life insurance company, Director (2000-2014)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 54

Gordon J. Davis is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined under the Act) of the fund as a result of his affiliation with Venable LLP, which provides legal services to the fund.

———————

The address of the Board Members and Officers is c/o The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

William Hodding Carter III, Emeritus Board Member

44

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited)

BRADLEY J. SKAPYAK, President since January 2010.

Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Manager since June 2009, Chairman of Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., an affiliate of the Manager and the transfer agent of the funds, since May 2011 and Chief Executive Officer of MBSC Securities Corporation since August 2016. He is an officer of 61 investment companies (comprised of 127 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 58 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1988.

BENNETT A. MACDOUGALL, Chief Legal Officer since October 2015.

Chief Legal Officer of the Manager and Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of BNY Mellon since June 2015; from June 2005 to June 2015, he served in various capacities with Deutsche Bank – Asset & Wealth Management Division, including as Director and Associate General Counsel, and Chief Legal Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. from June 2012 to May 2015. He is an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 46 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 2015.

JANETTE E. FARRAGHER, Vice President and Secretary since December 2011.

Associate General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 54 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1984.

JAMES BITETTO, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon and Secretary of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since December 1996.

JOSEPH M. CHIOFFI, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 55 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 2000.

MAUREEN E. KANE, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since April 2015.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since July 2014; from October 2004 until July 2014, General Counsel, and from May 2009 until July 2014, Chief Compliance Officer of Century Capital Management. She is an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 55 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since July 2014.

SARAH S. KELLEHER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since April 2014.

Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon since March 2013, from August 2005 to March 2013, Associate General Counsel of Third Avenue Management. She is an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 42 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since March 2013.

JEFF PRUSNOFSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1990.

NATALYA ZELENSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2017.

Counsel and Vice President of BNY Mellon since May 2016; Attorney at Wildermuth Endowment Strategy Fund/Wildermuth Advisory, LLC from November 2015 until May 2016; Assistant General Counsel at RCS Advisory Services from July 2014 until November 2015; Associate at Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan from January 2013 until January 2014; Associate at K&L Gates from October 2011 until January 2013. She is an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. She is 32 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since May 2016.

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.

Director – Mutual Fund Accounting of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 59 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1985.

45

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited) (continued)

RICHARD CASSARO, Assistant Treasurer since January 2008.

Senior Accounting Manager – Money Market and Municipal Bond Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 58 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since September 1982.

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005.

Tax Manager of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 49 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1991.

ROBERT S. ROBOL, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager – Dreyfus Financial Reporting of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1988.

ROBERT SALVIOLO, Assistant Treasurer since July 2007.

Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 50 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 1989.

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since December 2002.

Senior Accounting Manager – Fixed Income and Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 152 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 50 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 1990.

JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY, Chief Compliance Officer since October 2004.

Chief Compliance Officer of the Manager and The Dreyfus Family of Funds (62 investment companies, comprised of 152 portfolios). He is 60 years old and has served in various capacities with the Manager since 1980, including manager of the firm’s Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

46

 

NOTES

47

 

NOTES

48

 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

       

Directors

 

Officers (continued)

 

Joseph S. DiMartino, Chairman

 

Assistant Treasurers (continued)

 

Gordon J. Davis

 

Robert Salviolo

 

Joni Evans

 

Robert Svagna

 

Ehud Houminer

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

Hans C. Mautner††

 

Joseph W. Connolly

 

Robin A. Melvin ††

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Burton N. Wallack

 

Daniel A. Rabasco

 

Benaree Pratt Wiley

 

Jeffrey B. Burger

 

Interested Board Member

     

†† Elected by APS Holders

     

Officers

 

Manager

 

President

 

The Dreyfus Corporation

 

Bradley J. Skapyak

 

Custodian

 

Chief Legal Officer

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

Bennett A. MacDougall

 

Counsel

 

Vice President and Secretary

 

Proskauer Rose LLP

 

Janette E. Farragher

 

Transfer Agent,

 

Vice President and Secretaries

 

Dividend Disbursing Agent

 

James Bitetto

 

and Registrar

 

Joseph M. Chioffi

 

Computershare Inc.

 

Maureen E. Kane

 

(Common Stock)

 

Sarah S. Kelleher

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company America

 

Jeff Prusnofsky

 

(Auction Preferred Stock)

 

Natalya Zelensky

 

Auction Agent

 

Treasurer

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company America

 

James Windels

 

(Auction Preferred Stock)

 

Assistant Treasurers

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

Richard Cassaro

 

NYSE Symbol: LEO

 

Gavin C. Reilly

 

Initial SEC Effective Date

 

Robert S. Robol

 

9/23/87

 

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 The Wall Street Journal, Mutual Funds section under the heading “Closed-End 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.

49

 

For More Information

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

Manager

The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon
225 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10286

Transfer Agent &
Registrar (Common Stock)

Computershare Inc.
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310

Dividend Disbursing Agent (Common Stock)

Computershare Inc.
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842

   

Ticker Symbol:

LEO

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 www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330 for information).

A description of the policies and procedures that the fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating 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 www.dreyfus.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-DREYFUS.

   

© 2017 MBSC Securities Corporation
0853AR0917

 


 

 

Item 2.             Code of Ethics.

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.  There have been no amendments to, or waivers in connection with, the Code of Ethics during the period covered by this Report.

Item 3.             Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Registrant's Board has determined that Ehud Houminer, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").   Ehud Houminer is "independent" as defined by the SEC for purposes of audit committee financial expert determinations.

Item 4.             Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)  Audit Fees.  The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years (the "Reporting Periods") for professional services rendered by the Registrant's principal accountant (the "Auditor") for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $35,561 in 2016 and $36,450 in 2017.

 

(b)  Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item 4 were $28,336 in 2016 and $31,963 in 2017. These services consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 817(h); (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of Registrant transactions or events; (iv) advisory services to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual or potential impact to the Registrant of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies; and (v) agreed upon procedures in evaluating compliance by the Fund with provisions of the Fund’s articles supplementary, creating the series of auction rate preferred stock.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for non-audit assurance and related services by the Auditor to the Registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-investment adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Service Affiliates"), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the Service Affiliate, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2016 and $0 in 2017.

 

(c)  Tax Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning ("Tax Services") were $3,812 in 2016 and $3,798 in 2017. These services consisted of: (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments; and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Tax Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2016 and $0 in 2017. 

 

(d)  All Other Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item, were $0 in 2016 and $0 in 2017.

 


 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Non-Audit Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, other than the services reported in paragraphs (b) through (c) of this Item, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee, were $0 in 2016 and $0 in 2017. 

 

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Registrant's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures (the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of the Auditor's engagements for non-audit services to the Registrant and Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services.  Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.  Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually.

(e)(2) Note. None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4 were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f) None of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal account's full-time, permanent employees.

Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to Service Affiliates, for the Reporting Periods were $19,905,746 in 2016 and $29,460,566 in 2017. 

 

Auditor Independence. The Registrant's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.

 

Item 5.             Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

The Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a) (58) (A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, consisting of all of the non-interested Board members, who are:   Joseph S. DiMartino,  Joni Evans, Ehud Houminer, Hans C. Mautner, Robin A. Melvin, Burton N. Wallack, and Benaree P. Wiley.

Item 6.             Investments.

(a)                    Not applicable.

Item 7.             Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management            Investment Companies.

The board has delegated to The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") the authority to vote proxies of companies held in the fund's portfolio.

Information regarding how the fund's proxies were voted during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available on Dreyfus' website, by the following August 31st, at http://www.dreyfus.com and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov on the fund's Form N-PX.

Proxy Voting By Dreyfus

Dreyfus, through its participation in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation's ("BNY Mellon") Proxy Voting and Governance Committee (the "Proxy Voting Committee"), applies detailed, pre-determined, written proxy voting guidelines for specific types of proposals and matters commonly submitted to shareholders (the "BNY Mellon Voting Guidelines").  This includes guidelines for proxy voting with respect to open-end registered investment company shares (other than securities of a registered investment company over which BNY Mellon and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Dreyfus ("BNYM") has proxy voting authority). 


 

Securities Out on Loan.  It is Dreyfus' policy to seek to vote all proxies for securities held in the funds' portfolios for which Dreyfus has voting authority.  However, situations may arise in which the Proxy Voting Committee cannot, or has adopted a policy not to, vote certain proxies, such as refraining from securities out on loan in instances in which the costs are believed to outweigh the benefits, such as when the matters presented are not likely to have a material impact on shareholder value or clients' voting will not impact the outcome of the vote.

Securities Out on Loan.  For securities that the fund has loaned to another party, any voting rights that accompany the loaned securities generally pass to the borrower of the securities, but the fund retains the right to recall a security and may then exercise the security's voting rights.  In order to vote the proxies of securities out on loan, the securities must be recalled prior to the established record date.  The fund may recall the loan to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the fund's investment is to be voted upon.

Material Conflicts of Interest.  Dreyfus seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest between the fund and fund shareholders, on the one hand, and Dreyfus, the Distributor, or any affiliated person of the fund, Dreyfus or the Distributor, on the other, through its participation in the Proxy Voting Committee.  The BNY Mellon Proxy Voting Policy states that the Proxy Voting Committee seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest through the establishment of the committee structure, which applies the BNY Mellon Voting Guidelines in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on internal and external research and recommendations provide by third party proxy advisory services (including Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (the "Proxy Advisers")) and without consideration of any client relationship factors.  The Proxy Voting Committee utilizes the research services of the Proxy Advisers most frequently in connection with proposals that may be controversial or require a case-by-case analysis in accordance with the BNY Mellon Proxy Voting Guidelines.  In addition, the BNY Mellon Proxy Voting Policy states that the Proxy Voting Committee engages a third party as an independent fiduciary to vote all proxies for securities of BNY Mellon or securities of a registered investment company over which BNYM has proxy voting authority and may engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of other issuers at the Proxy Voting Committee's discretion. 

Item 8.             Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

(a)(1) The following information is as of September 30, 2017:

Daniel Rabasco and Jeffrey Burger of Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC (“Standish”), an affiliate of The Dreyfus Corporation, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the registrant’s portfolio.

Mr. Burger, a Portfolio Manager for Tax Sensitive Strategies at Standish, has served as a primary portfolio manager of the fund since July 2014.  He has been employed as a portfolio manager and analyst at Standish since 2006.

Mr. Rabasco, the Chief Investment Officer for Tax Sensitive Fixed-Income at Standish, has served as a primary portfolio manager of the fund since July 2016.  He has been employed at Standish since 1998.

(a)(2) Information about the other accounts managed by the fund’s primary portfolio managers is provided below. 


 

 

Primary

Portfolio

Manager

Registered Investment Companies

Total Assets Managed

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

Total Assets Managed

 

Other Accounts

 

Total Assets Managed

    Jeffrey Burger

11

$4.7 billion

1

$352 million

426

$1.1 billion

    Daniel Rabasco

11

$5.5 billion

4

$1.6 billion

11

$1.4 billion

 

None of the funds or accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee.

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 portfolios 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. 

Conflicts of interest similar to those described above arise when portfolio managers are employed by a sub-investment adviser or are dual employees of the Manager and an affiliated entity and such portfolio managers also manage other accounts.

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 Dreyfus' portfolio managers.


 

(a)(3) 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.

(a)(4) The dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the primary portfolio manager are as follows as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year:

Primary Portfolio Manager

Fund

Dollar Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned

Daniel Rabasco

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

None

Jeffrey Burger

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

None

 

(b)        Not applicable

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)   Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(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:

November 28, 2017

 

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:

November 28, 2017

 

By:       /s/ James Windels

            James Windels

            Treasurer

 

Date:

November 28, 2017

 

 


 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)(1)   Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(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)