lp1.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing













DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.
DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.

COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT

Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on June 8, 2012

     This proxy statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of each of Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. (“DSMB”) and Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. (“DSM”) (each, a “Fund” and, together, the “Funds”) to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of each Fund to be held on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus” or the “Investment Adviser”), 200 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10166, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2012 are entitled to be present and to vote at the meeting. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund share held and fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held. Stockholders can vote only on matters affecting the Fund(s) in which they hold shares. If a proposal is approved by stockholders of one Fund and not approved by stockholders of the other Fund, the proposal will be implemented only for the Fund that approved the proposal. Therefore, it is essential that stockholders who own shares in both Funds complete, date, sign and return each proxy card they receive. Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon. If any enclosed form of proxy is executed and returned, it nevertheless may be revoked by a proxy given later. To be effective, such revocation must be received prior to the meeting. In addition, any stockholder who attends the meeting in person may vote by ballot at the meeting, thereby cancelling any proxy previously given.

     A quorum is constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of a Fund entitled to vote at the meeting. If a quorum is not present at the meeting, the stockholders present in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting. If a proposal is to be voted upon by only one class of a Fund’s shares, a quorum of that class of shares (the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class) must be present in person or by proxy at the meeting in order for the proposal to be considered. Each Fund has two classes of capital stock: Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and Auction Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the “APS”). The APS is further divided into Series A, Series B and Series C for DSMB and Series M, Series T, Series W, Series TH and Series F for DSM. Currently, no proposal is expected to be presented at the meeting that would require separate voting for each Series of APS. As of March 30, 2012, the Funds had outstanding the following number of shares:

     
  Common Stock  APS 
Name of Fund  Outstanding  Outstanding 
DSMB  48,840,995  5,580 
DSM  61,494,281  1,710 

 

     It is estimated that proxy materials will be mailed to stockholders of record on or about April 27, 2012. The principal executive office of each Fund is located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166. Copies of each Fund’s most recent Annual Report to Stockholders are available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by calling toll-free 1-800-334-6899.

     Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on June 8, 2012: This proxy statement and copies of each Fund’s most recent Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Stockholders are available at www.dreyfus.com/closedendfund.htm.



PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     Each Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is divided into three classes with the term of office of one class expiring each year. It is proposed that stockholders of each Fund consider the election of the individuals listed below (the “Nominees”) as Directors of the indicated class of such Fund, to serve for three-year terms and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. With respect to DSMB, Messrs. Joseph DiMartino, William Hodding Carter, III, Richard C. Leone and Ms. Joni Evans are nominated to be elected as Class I Directors to serve for a three-year term. With respect to DSM, Messrs. Hans C. Mautner, Burton N. Wallack and John E. Zuccotti are nominated to be elected as Class III Directors to serve for a three-year term. Messrs. DiMartino, Carter and Leone and Ms. Evans also are continuing Class I Directors of DSM, and Messrs. Mautner, Wallack and Zuccotti also are continuing Class III Directors of DSMB. Each Nominee also currently serves as a Director of the Fund for which his or her election is proposed. Each Nominee was nominated by the respective Fund’s nominating committee and has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to continue to serve as a Director of the indicated Fund if elected. Biographical information about each Nominee is set forth below. Biographical information about each Fund’s Directors not standing for election at the meeting (the “Continuing Directors”), information on each Nominee’s and Continuing Director’s ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth on Exhibit A. Unless otherwise indicated, information set forth herein applies to both Funds. None of the Nominees or Continuing Directors are “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), of either Fund.

     Under the terms of each Fund’s Charter, holders of the APS voting as a single class are entitled, to the exclusion of holders of the Common Stock, to elect one Director. Mr. Zuccotti is currently a nominee for election by holders of DSM’s APS as a Class III Director. There are no APS Designees proposed for election at this meeting with respect to DSMB.

     Voting with regard to the election of Directors will be as follows: for DSMB, holders of Common Stock and APS will vote together as a single class with respect to the election of Class I Directors Messrs. DiMartino, Carter and Leone and Ms. Evans; for DSM, holders of Common Stock and APS will vote together as a single class with respect to the election of Class III Directors Messrs. Mautner and Wallack; APS holders of DSM will vote separately, to the exclusion of holders of the Common Stock, with respect to the election of Mr. Zuccotti.

     The persons named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card(s) intend to vote each proxy for the election of the Nominees, unless stockholders specifically indicate on their proxies the desire to withhold authority to vote for elections to office. It is not contemplated that any Nominee will be unable to serve as a Director for any reason, but if that should occur prior to the meeting, the proxyholders reserve the right to substitute another person or persons of their choice as nominee or nominees. The address of each Nominee is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

     Board’s Oversight Role in Management. Each Board’s role in management of the respective Fund is oversight. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to each Fund, primarily the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management (including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk). As part of its oversight, each Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including the Investment Adviser’s Chief Investment Officer (or a senior representative of his office), the Fund’s and the Investment Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel. Each Board’s audit committee (which consists of all Directors) meets during its regularly scheduled and special meetings, and between meetings the audit committee chair is available to the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer. Each Board also receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as business continuity, personal trading, valuation, credit and investment research. As warranted, each Board also receives informational reports from each Board’s independent legal counsel regarding regulatory compliance and governance matters.

2



Each Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser and other service providers to each Fund have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to each Fund.

     Board Composition and Leadership Structure. The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of each Fund’s Directors not be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund and as such are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser (“Independent Directors”). To rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority of each Fund’s Directors must be Independent Directors, and for certain important matters, such as the approval of investment advisory agreements or transactions with affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. Currently, all of each Fund’s Directors, including the Chairman of the Board, are Independent Directors. Each Board has determined that its leadership structure, in which the Chairman of the Board is not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, is appropriate in light of the services that the Investment Adviser and its affiliates provide to the Fund and potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these relationships.

     Information About Each Nominee’s and Continuing Director’s Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills. Nominees for Director of each Fund, together with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. Specific information about the Continuing Directors of each Fund, information on each Nominee’s and Continuing Director’s ownership of each Fund shares, and other relevant information is set forth on Exhibit A.

DSMB — Nominees for Class I Director with Term Expiring in 2015

     
Name (Age) of Nominee  Principal Occupation Other Public Company Board
Position with Fund (Since)  During Past 5 Years Memberships During Past 5 Years
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO (68)  Corporate Director and Trustee CBIZ (formerly, Century Business
Chairman of the Board    Services, Inc.), a provider of out-
Class I Director (1995)    sourcing functions for small and
    medium size companies, Director
    (1997 – present)
    The Newark Group, a provider of a
    national market of paper recovery
    facilities, paperboard mills and paper-
    board converting plants, Director
    (2000 – 2010)
    Sunair Services Corporation, a provider
    of certain outdoor-related services to
    homes and businesses, Director
    (2005 – 2009) 
 
WILLIAM HODDING CARTER III (76)  Professor of Leadership & Public N/A
Class I Director (1989)  Policy, University of North  
Carolina, Chapel Hill (2006 –
  present)  
President and Chief Executive
  Officer of the John S. and James  
  L. Knight Foundation (1998 –  
  2006)   

 

3



DSMB — Nominees for Class I Director with Term Expiring in 2015 (continued)

     
Name (Age) of Nominee  Principal Occupation  Other Public Company Board 
Position with Each Fund (Since)  During Past 5 Years  Memberships During Past 5 Years 
RICHARD C. LEONE (71)  President of The Century  N/A 
Class I Director (1989)  Foundation (formerly, The   
  Twentieth Century Fund, Inc.), a   
  tax exempt research foundation   
  engaged in the study of economic,   
  foreign policy and domestic issues   
 
JONI EVANS (69)  Chief Executive Officer,  N/A 
Class I Director (2007)  www.wowOwow.com, an online   
  community dedicated to women’s   
  conversations and publications   
  Principal, Joni Evans Ltd.   
  (publishing)   

 

DSM — Nominees for Class III Director with Term Expiring in 2015

     
Name (Age) of Nominee  Principal Occupation  Other Public Company Board 
Position with Fund (Since)  During Past 5 Years  Memberships During Past 5 Years 
HANS C. MAUTNER (74)  President – International Division  N/A 
Class III Director (2006)  and an Advisory Director of   
  Simon Property Group, a real   
estate investment company
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Simon Global
  Limited, a real estate company   
  (1999 – present)   
 
BURTON N. WALLACK (61)  President and Co-owner of Wallack  N/A 
Class III Director (1991)  Management Company, a real   
estate management company
 
JOHN E. ZUCCOTTI (74)  Chairman of Brookfield Financial  Wellpoint, Inc., a health 
APS Designee  Properties, Inc.  benefits company, 
Class III Director (1989)  Senior Counsel of Weil, Gotshal &  Director (2005 – present) 
  Manges, LLP   
Emeritus Chairman of the Real
Estate Board of New York

 

4



     Each Nominee has been a Board member of each Fund and/or Dreyfus mutual funds for over 15 years. Additional information about each Nominee follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Nominee possesses which the respective Board believes has prepared them to be effective Directors (this information for Continuing Directors is set forth on Exhibit A). Each Board believes that the significance of each Director’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Director may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the board level, with no single Director, or particular factor, being indicative of board effectiveness. However, each Board believes that Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with the Fund’s management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; each Board believes that its members satisfy this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Director’s educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., medicine, accounting or law), public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board of the Fund) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charter for each Board’s nominating committee contains certain other factors considered by the committee in identifying and evaluating potential Director nominees. To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Directors are counseled by their independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with the Investment Adviser; counsel to the Funds and to the Boards have significant experience advising funds and fund board members. Each Board and its committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. Each Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.

DSMB – Nominees for Class I Director

     Joseph S. DiMartino – Mr. DiMartino has been the Chairman of the Board of the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for over 15 years. From 1971 through 1994, Mr. DiMartino served in various roles as an employee of Dreyfus (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of BNY Mellon in August 1994 and related management changes), including portfolio manager, President, Chief Operating Officer and a director. He ceased being an employee or director of Dreyfus by the end of 1994. From July 1995 to November 1997, Mr. DiMartino served as Chairman of the Board of The Noel Group, a public buyout firm; in that capacity, he helped manage, acquire, take public and liquidate a number of operating companies. From 1986 to 2010, Mr. DiMartino served as a Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

     William Hodding Carter III – Mr. Carter served as spokesman of the Department of State and as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in the Carter administration. Mr. Carter held the Knight Chair in Journalism at the University of Maryland College of Journalism from 1995 to 1998, and is now the University Professor of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Carter’s work as a journalist includes serving as Chief Correspondent on “Frontline,” public television’s flagship public affairs series.

     Richard C. Leone – Mr. Leone currently serves as President of the Century Foundation (formerly named the Twentieth Century Fund), a non-profit public policy research foundation. Prior to that, Mr. Leone served as Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and as State Treasurer of New Jersey. Mr. Leone also has served as President of the New York Mercantile Exchange and was a Managing Director at Dillon Read and Co., an investment banking firm. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Academy of Social Insurance.

     Joni Evans – Ms. Evans has more than 35 years experience in the publishing industry, serving as Publisher of Random House, Inc., President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and, most recently, Senior Vice President of the William Morris Agency, Inc.’s literary department until 2006. Ms. Evans is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and the Women’s Forum, and is a founding member of The Committee of 200 and Women’s Media Group.

5



DSM – Nominees for Class III Director

     Hans C. Mautner – Mr. Mautner is President of the International Division of Simon Property Group, Inc. and Chairman of Simon Global Limited. Mr. Mautner previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Simon Property Group, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Property Investors and as a General Partner of Lazard Frères. In addition, Mr. Mautner is currently Chairman of Simon Ivanhoe BV/SARL and Chairman of Gallerie Commerciali Italia S.p.A.

     Burton N. Wallack – Mr. Wallack is President and co-owner of Wallack Management Company, a real estate management company that provides financial reporting and management services.

     John E. Zuccotti – Mr. Zuccotti is senior counsel to the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, focusing his legal practice on real estate, land use and development. Prior to that, Mr. Zuccotti served as First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York and as Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission. In addition, Mr. Zuccotti has served as a member of the boards of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc. and Olympia & York Companies (U.S.A.), and as Chairman of the board of directors of Brookfield Financial Properties, Inc. since 1996.

     Fund Board Committees. Each Fund has standing audit, nominating, compensation and pricing committees, each comprised of its Independent Directors. The function of the audit committee is (1) to oversee the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund’s financial statements and (2) to assist in the Board’s oversight of the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of each Fund’s Audit Committee Charter, which describes the audit committee’s purposes, duties and powers, is available at www.dreyfus.com in the “Individual Investors” section.

     Each Fund’s nominating committee is responsible for selecting and nominating persons as members of the Board for election or appointment by the Board and for election by stockholders. In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by stockholders, the committee takes into consideration the factors listed in each Fund’s Nominating Committee Charter and procedures (the “Nominating Committee Charter”), including character and integrity, and business and professional experience. The nominating committee may consider whether a potential nominee’s professional experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Board’s membership and collective attributes. Such considerations will vary based on the Board’s existing membership and other factors, such as the strength of a potential nominee’s overall qualifications relative to diversity considerations. The committee will consider recommendations for nominees from stockholders submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o The Dreyfus Corporation Legal Department, 200 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10166, and including information regarding the recommended nominee as specified in the Nominating Committee Charter. The Nominating Committee Charter is not available on the Funds’ or Dreyfus’ website but was attached as Exhibit B to the Funds’ proxy statement for the 2011 annual stockholder meeting (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 8, 2011).

     The function of the compensation committee is to establish the appropriate compensation for serving on the Board. Each Fund also has a standing pricing committee comprised of any one Director. The function of the pricing committee is to assist in valuing the Fund’s investments.

     Compensation. Each Director also serves as a director of other funds in the Dreyfus fund complex. Annual retainer fees and meeting attendance fees are allocated among each Fund and those other funds on the basis of net assets, with the Chairman of each Board, Joseph S. DiMartino, receiving an additional 25% of such compensation. Each Fund reimburses Directors for their expenses. Neither Fund has a bonus, pension, profit-sharing or retirement plan.

6



     The aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Nominee by DSMB for its fiscal year ended November 30, 2011 and by DSM for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, and the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each such Nominee by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which the Nominee was a Board member (the number of portfolios of such funds is set forth in parentheses next to the Nominee’s total compensation) for the year ended December 31, 2011, was as follows:

     
  Aggregate  Total Compensation from
  Compensation from  the Fund and Fund Complex
Name of Nominee  Fund*  Paid to Nominee (**)
Joseph DiMartino    $1,062,188 (173)
DSMB  $8,432   
DSM  $5,882   
William Hodding Carter, III    $104,000 (29)
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
Richard C. Leone    $105,000 (29)
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
Joni Evans    $97,000 (29)
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
Hans C. Mautner    $97,500 (29)
DSMB  $6,391   
DSM  $4,702   
Burton N. Wallack    $105,000 (29)
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
John E. Zuccotti    $104,000 (29)
DSMB  $6,362   
DSM  $4,681   

 

   
*  Amount does not include the cost of office space, secretarial services and health benefits for the Chairman and expenses reimbursed 
  to Directors for attending Board meetings, which in the aggregate amounted to $1,356 for DSMB and $8,939 for DSM, in each case 
  for all Directors as a group. 
**  Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Funds, 
  for which the Nominee served as a Board member. 
 
For each Fund’s most recent fiscal year, the number of Board and committee meetings held and the aggregate amount 

 

of compensation paid by each Fund to each Continuing Director and by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person is a Board member are set forth on Exhibit A. Certain other information concerning each Fund’s Directors and officers also is set forth on Exhibit A.

     Director Emeritus Program. The Board has adopted an Emeritus Program to provide Directors who have served on the Board of one or more funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for an extended period of time and who have attained a certain age a means for assuming a less demanding role with the Fund while maintaining an ongoing relationship with the Fund. The Board has determined that the continued wise guidance and input such experienced Directors can provide merited the establishment of the Program. Under the Board Member Emeritus Program, for a Director whose first service on the Board of any fund in The Dreyfus Family of Funds occurred before September 30, 2008, upon reaching age 72, such Director is entitled to elect Emeritus status with respect to the Fund if he or she has served on the Board of a fund for at least 10 years. Upon

7



reaching age 80, Emeritus status is mandatory and becomes effective immediately, unless the Director chooses to retire at that time. The 10-year pre-requisite for service as a Board member will not be waived for a Director who reaches age 80 but has not served as a Board member of a fund for at least 10 years. Emeritus Directors are entitled to receive an annual retainer of one-half the amount paid as a retainer at the time the Director achieves Emeritus status and one-half the per meeting attendance fee in effect on the date of the meeting attended by the Emeritus Board member. Emeritus Directors are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings.

Required Vote

     The election of a Nominee for each Fund requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the Fund’s meeting for the election of Directors.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     The 1940 Act requires that each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent auditors” or “auditors”) be selected by a majority of the Independent Directors. The audit committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Fund’s independent auditors. At a meeting held on November 7, 2011 for DSMB and July 18, 2011 for DSM, each Fund’s audit committee approved and each Fund’s Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, ratified and approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the independent auditors for the respective Fund’s fiscal year ending in 2012. E&Y, a major international accounting firm, has acted as auditors of each Fund since the Fund’s organization. Copies of the audit committee’s reports for DSM and DSMB are attached as Exhibits B and C, respectively, to this proxy statement.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services

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

           
  DSM1  Service Affiliates1  DSMB2  Service Affiliates2 
Audit Fees  $37,830/$30,312  $0/$0  $37,830/$30,312  $0/$0 
Audited-Related Fees3  $5,382/$46,082  $0/$0  $5,382/$46,082  $0/$0 
Tax Fees4  $3,588/$2,731  $0/$0  $3,496/$2,460  $0/$0 
All Other Fees  $0/$0  $0/$0  $0/$0  $0/$0 
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees5  $0/$0  $29,311,662/$16,565,389  $0/$0  $33,851,491/$17,593,159 

 

1 Fiscal years ended September 30, 2010/September 30, 2011.

2 Fiscal years ended November 30, 2010/November 30, 2011.

3 Services to the Fund consisted of (i) agreed-upon procedures related to compliance with basic maintenance requirements for APS; and (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the 1940 Act.

4 Services to the Fund 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.

5 Aggregate fees from the Fund and Service Affiliates are shown under the Service Affiliates column.

8



     Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Each Fund’s audit committee has established policies and procedures (the “Policy”) for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of E&Y’s engagement for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and non-audit services to Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining E&Y’s independence. Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually.

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

     A representative of E&Y is expected to be present at the meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Service Providers

Dreyfus, located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, serves as each Fund’s investment adviser.

     The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of Dreyfus, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as Custodian for the assets of each Fund. Computershare Shareowner Services LLC (formerly BNY Mellon Shareowner Services) located at 480 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310, acts as DSM’s Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar; and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., c/o Computershare, an affiliate of Dreyfus, at P.O. Box 43027 Providence, RI 02940-3027, acts as DSMB’s Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar.

Voting Information

     To vote, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card for each Fund you own and mail it in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.

     Each Fund will bear its pro rata share of the cost of soliciting proxies based on the net assets of the Fund. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone, and each Fund may pay persons holding shares of the Fund in their names or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to their principals. Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by fax, or by telephonic instructions in accordance with procedures designed to authenticate the stockholder’s identity. In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the stockholder will be asked to provide or confirm certain identifiable information and to confirm that the stockholder has received the Fund’s proxy statement and proxy card in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a stockholder’s solicited telephonic voting instructions, a confirmation will be sent to the stockholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions and to provide a telephone number to call immediately if the stockholder’s instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation. Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications made thereon, and if no voting instructions are given, shares will be voted “FOR” the Proposals.

     If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote or represents a broker “non-vote” (that is, a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares of a Fund on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power), the Fund’s shares represented thereby will be considered to be present at the meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but will not constitute a vote “for” a proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote.

OTHER MATTERS

     Neither Fund’s Board is aware of any other matter which may come before the meeting. However, should any such matter with respect to one or both Funds properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying forms of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matter.

9



     Proposals that stockholders wish to include in a Fund’s proxy statement for the Fund’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be sent to and received by such Fund no later than December 28, 2012 at the principal executive office of the Fund at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, Attention: Secretary of the Fund. The date after which notice of a stockholder proposal is considered untimely, except as otherwise permitted under applicable law, is March 13, 2013.

     Stockholders who wish to communicate with Directors should send communications to the attention of the Secretary of the Fund, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, and communications will be directed to the Director or Directors indicated in the communication or, if no Director or Directors are indicated, to the Chairman of the Board.

NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND
VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES

     Please advise, as appropriate, Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. in care of Computershare Shareowner Services, Proxy Department, 480 Washington Blvd., 27th floor, Jersey City, NJ 07310, and Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., in care of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Proxy Department, 480 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310, whether other persons are the beneficial owners of the shares for which proxies are being solicited, and if so, the number of copies of the proxy statement and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of shares. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN EACH ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.

Dated: April 13, 2012

10



EXHIBIT A

PART I

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

     Information About Each Continuing Director’s Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills. Continuing Directors of each Fund, together with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below:

Continuing Class II Directors with Terms Expiring in 2013 for DSMB and 2014 for DSM

     
Name (Age) of Nominee  Principal Occupation  Other Public Company Board 
Position with Fund (Since)  During Past 5 Years  Memberships During Past 5 Years 
GORDON J. DAVIS (70)  Partner in the law firm of Dewey &  Consolidated Edison, Inc., a 
Class II Director of DSM (2006)  LeBoeuf, LLP  utility company, Director (1997 – 
Class II Director of DSMB (2006)    present) 
    The Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life 
    insurance company, Director (2000 – 
    present) 
 
EHUD HOUMINER (71)  Executive-in-Residence at the  Avnet, Inc., an electronics distributor, 
Class II Director of DSM (1994)  Columbia Business School,  Director (1993 – present) 
Class II Director of DSMB (1994)  Columbia University   
 
ROBIN A. MELVIN (48)  Director, Boisi Family Foundation, a  N/A 
Class II Director of DSM (1994)  private family foundation that sup-   
Class II Director of DSMB (1994)  ports youth-serving organizations   
  that promote the self sufficiency of   
  youth from disadvantaged circum-   
  stances (1995 – present)   

 

     Each Continuing Director has been a Director of each Fund or Dreyfus mutual funds for at least 15 years. Additional information about each Continuing Director follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Continuing Director possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Directors.

     Gordon J. Davis – Mr. Davis is a partner in the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, where his practice involves complex real estate, land use development and related environmental matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Davis served as a Commissioner and member of the New York City Planning Commission, and as Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of New York. Mr. Davis was a co-founder of the Central Park Conservancy and the founding Chairman of Jazz at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. He has also served as President of Lincoln Center. Mr. Davis also served on the board of Dreyfus (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of BNY Mellon in August 1994 and related management changes).

     Ehud Houminer – Mr. Houminer currently serves on Columbia Business School’s Board of Overseers. Prior to his association with Columbia Business School beginning in 1991, Mr. Houminer held various senior financial, strategic and management positions at Philip Morris Companies Inc., including serving as Senior Corporate Vice President for Corporate

A-1



Planning, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris USA, Inc. (now part of Altria Group, Inc.). Mr. Houminer is Chairman of the Business School Board and a Trustee of Ben Gurion University.

     Robin A. Melvin – Ms. Melvin is currently a Director of the Boisi Family Foundation, a private family foundation that supports organizations serving the needs of youth from disadvantaged circumstances. In that role she also manages the Boisi Family Office, providing the primary interface with all investment managers, legal advisors and other service providers to the family. She has also served in various roles with MENTOR, a national non-profit youth mentoring advocacy organization, including Executive Director of the New York City affiliate, Vice President of the national affiliate network, Vice President of Development, and, immediately prior to her departure, Senior Vice President in charge of strategy. Prior to that, Ms. Melvin was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     Nominees’ and Continuing Directors’ Ownership of Fund Shares. The table below indicates the dollar range of each Nominee’s and Continuing Director’s ownership of shares of each Fund’s Common Stock and shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which he or she is a Board member, in each case as of December 31, 2011.

       
      Aggregate Holding of 
      Funds in the 
  DSM  DSMB  Dreyfus Family of Funds 
Name of Continuing  Common  Common  for which Responsible as 
Director or Nominee  Stock  Stock  a Board Member 
Hodding Carter III*  None  None  $10,001 - $50,000 
Gordon J. Davis  None  None  Over $100,000 
Joseph S. DiMartino*  None  None  Over $100,000 
Joni Evans*  None  None  None 
Ehud Houminer  None  None  Over $100,000 
Richard C. Leone*  None  None  Over $100,000 
Hans C. Mautner*  None  None  Over $100,000 
Robin A. Melvin  None  None  Over $100,000 
Burton N. Wallack*  None  None  None 
John E. Zuccotti*  None  None  Over $100,000 
 
* Nominee.       

 

     As of December 31, 2011, none of the Nominees or Continuing Directors or their immediate family members owned securities of Dreyfus or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Dreyfus.

A-2



PERTAINING TO THE BOARD OF EACH FUND

     Compensation Table. The aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Continuing Director by DSMB for its fiscal year ended November 30, 2011, and by DSM for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, and by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such Director was a Board member (the number of portfolios of such funds is set forth in parenthesis next to each Director’s total compensation) for the year ended December 31, 2011, was as follows:

     
    Total
    Compensation
    from each Fund and
  Aggregate  Fund Complex
Name of Continuing  Compensation  Paid to
Director and Fund  from each Fund*  Continuing Director (**)
Gordon J. Davis    $188,000(45) 
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
Ehud Houminer    $242,000(65) 
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   
Robin A. Melvin    $209,258(56) 
DSMB  $6,837   
DSM  $4,702   

 

*     

Amount does not include the cost of office space, secretarial services and health benefits for the Chairman and expenses reimbursed to Directors for attending Board meetings, which in the aggregate amounted to $1,356 for DSMB and $8,939 for DSM, in each case for all Directors as a group.

**     

Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the fund complex, including the Funds, for which the Director serves as a Board member.

A-3



     
PART II
Part II sets forth information regarding the officers of the Funds.   
Name and Position    Principal Occupation and Business 
with Funds (Since)  Age  Experience For Past Five Years 
BRADLEY J. SKAPYAK     
President (2010)  53  Chief Operating Officer and a director of 
    Dreyfus since June 2009. Previously, Mr. 
    Skapyak was the head of the Investment 
    Accounting and Support Department of 
    Dreyfus. He is an officer of 75 investment 
    companies (comprised of 164 portfolios) 
    managed by Dreyfus. 
JAMES WINDELS     
Treasurer (2001)  53  Director - Mutual Fund Accounting of 
    Dreyfus, and an officer of 76 investment com- 
    panies (comprised of 189 portfolios) managed 
    by Dreyfus. 
JANETTE E. FARRAGHER     
Vice President (2005) and Secretary (2011)  49  Assistant General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and 
    an officer of 76 investment companies (com- 
    prised of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
KIESHA ASTWOOD     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2010)  34  Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 
    investment companies (comprised of 189 
    portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
JAMES BITETTO     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  45  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon and Secretary 
    of Dreyfus, and an officer of 76 investment 
    companies (comprised of 189 portfolios) 
    managed by Dreyfus. 
JONI LACKS CHARATAN     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  56  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an offi- 
    cer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 
    189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
JOSEPH M. CHIOFFI     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  50  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an offi- 
    cer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 
    189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
KATHLEEN DENICHOLAS     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2010)  37  Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an 
    officer of 76 investment companies (com- 
    prised of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 

 

A-4



     
Name and Position    Principal Occupation and Business 
with Funds (Since)  Age  Experience For Past Five Years 
JOHN B. HAMMALIAN     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  48  Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and 
    an officer of 76 investment companies (com- 
    prised of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
M. CRISTINA MEISER     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2010)  42  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an offi- 
    cer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 
    189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
ROBERT R. MULLERY     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  60  Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an 
    officer of 76 investment companies (comprised 
    of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
JEFF PRUSNOFSKY     
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2005)  46  Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and 
    an officer of 76 investment companies (com- 
    prised of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
RICHARD CASSARO     
Assistant Treasurer (2008)  53  Senior Accounting Manager — Money Market 
    and Municipal Bond Funds of Dreyfus, and an 
    officer of 76 investment companies (comprised 
    of 189 portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
GAVIN C. REILLY     
Assistant Treasurer (2005)  43  Tax Manager of the Investment Accounting and 
    Support Department of Dreyfus, and an officer 
    of 76 investment companies (comprised of 189 
    portfolios) managed by Dreyfus. 
ROBERT S. ROBOL     
Assistant Treasurer (2005)  48  Senior Accounting Manager — Fixed Income 
    Funds of Dreyfus, and an officer of 76 invest- 
    ment companies (comprised of 189 portfolios) 
    managed by Dreyfus. 
ROBERT SALVIOLO     
Assistant Treasurer (2007)  44  Senior Accounting Manager — Equity Funds 
    of Dreyfus, and an officer of 76 investment 
    companies (comprised of 189 portfolios) man- 
    aged by Dreyfus. 

 

A-5



     
Name and Position    Principal Occupation and Business 
with Funds (Since)  Age  Experience For Past Five Years 
ROBERT SVAGNA     
Assistant Treasurer (2005)  45  Senior Accounting Manager — Equity Funds 
    of Dreyfus, and an officer of 76 investment 
    companies (comprised of 189 portfolios) man- 
    aged by Dreyfus. 
JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY     
Chief Compliance Officer (2004)  54  Chief Compliance Officer of Dreyfus and The 
    Dreyfus Family of Funds (76 investment com- 
    panies, comprised of 189 portfolios). 

 

   The address of each officer of the Funds is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

A-6



PART III

     Part III sets forth information for each Fund regarding the beneficial ownership of its shares as of March 30, 2012 by Nominees, Continuing Directors and officers of the Fund owning shares on such date and by any shareholders owning 5% or more of a class of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

As of March 30, 2012, no Directors or officers of a Fund owned any shares of Common Stock or APS.

     To each Fund’s knowledge, based on Schedule 13G filings for December 31, 2011, the following information with respect to beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and/or outstanding shares of APS has been reported.

         
DSMB
  Name of  Name and Address of     
Title of Class  Beneficial Owner  Beneficial Owner  Percent of Class  
APS  Bank of America *  420 shares  7.53 % 
  Corporation       
  Bank of America Corporate       
  Center       
  100 North Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  Bank of America, NA*  176 shares  3.15 % 
  101 South Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  Blue Ridge Investments, LLC  244 shares  4.37 % 
  214 North Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  UBS AG  2,213 shares  39.66 % 
  Bahnhofstrasse 45       
  P.O. Box CH-8021       
  Zurich, Switzerland       
 
Common Stock  First Trust Portfolios LP**  4,916,839 shares**  10.1 %** 
  First Trust Advisors LP**       
  The Charger Corporation**       
  120 East Liberty Drive       
  Suite 400       
  Wheaton, IL 60187       

 

As of March 30, 2012, Cede & Co. held of record 94.6% of the outstanding shares of DSMB’s Common Stock and 100% of the outstanding shares of DSMB’s APS.

A-7



         
DSM
  Name of  Name and Address of     
Title of Class  Beneficial Owner  Beneficial Owner  Percent of Class  
 
APS  Bank of America*  844 shares  9.87 % 
  Corporation       
  Bank of America Corporate       
  Center       
  100 North Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  Bank of America, NA*  342 shares  4 % 
  101 South Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  Blue Ridge Investments, LLC  502 shares  5.87 % 
  214 North Tryon Street       
  Charlotte, NC 28255       
 
APS  UBS AG  3,468 shares  40.56 % 
  Bahnhofstrasse 45       
  P.O. Box CH-8021       
  Zurich, Switzerland       
 
Common Stock  First Trust Portfolios LP**  6,060,878 shares**  12.5 %** 
  First Trust Advisors LP**       
  The Charger Corporation**       
  120 East Liberty Drive       
  Suite 400       
  Wheaton, IL 60187       

 

As of March 30, 2012, Cede & Co. held of record 91.10% of the outstanding shares of DSM’s Common Stock and 100% of the outstanding shares of DSM’s APS.

* These entities filed a combined Schedule 13G for the share amount and percentage shown for each.

**These entities filed a combined Schedule 13G for the share amount and percentage shown.

A-8



Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliances

     To each Fund’s knowledge, all of its officers, Directors, holders of more than 10% of its Common Stock or APS and certain additional persons required to report their transactions in each Fund’s shares complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 for DSM and November 30, 2011 for DSMB, except as noted below. In making this disclosure, each Fund has relied solely on written representations of such persons and on copies of reports that have been filed with the SEC. Steven Harvey, who became a portfolio manager for each Fund on December 7, 2009, did not report on a timely basis in Form 3 filings that he had no common stock or APS ownership in either Fund as of the date he was appointed a portfolio manager. However, within 10 days of his becoming a co-primary portfolio manager for each Fund on February 6, 2012, Form 3 filings were made for Mr. Harvey.

A-9



EXHIBIT B

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

November 18, 2011

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The audit committee oversees the Fund’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management.

The committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent auditors” or “auditors”), who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Fund’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the committee under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). In addition, the committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Fund including the auditors’ letter and the matters in the written disclosures required by the PCAOB.

The committee discussed with the independent auditors the overall scope and plan for the audit. The committee met with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Fund’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Fund’s financial reporting.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements for the Fund be included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended September 30, 2011.

   
Ehud Houminer, Audit Committee Chair  Richard C. Leone, Audit Committee Member
David W. Burke, Audit Committee Member*  Hans C. Mautner, Audit Committee Member
Hodding Carter III, Audit Committee Member  Robin A. Melvin, Audit Committee Member 
Joseph S. DiMartino, Audit Committee Member             Burton Wallack, Audit Committee Member 
Joni Evans, Audit Committee Member  John E. Zuccotti, Audit Committee Member 

 

 

 

*Subsequent to November 18, 2011, Mr. Burke became an Emeritus Director.

B-1



EXHIBIT C

Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

January 20, 2012

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The audit committee oversees the Fund’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management.

The committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent auditors” or “auditors”), who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Fund’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the committee under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). In addition, the committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Fund including the auditors’ letter and the matters in the written disclosures required by the PCAOB.

The committee discussed with the independent auditors the overall scope and plan for the audit. The committee met with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Fund’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Fund’s financial reporting.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements for the Fund be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended November 30, 2011.

 

 

   
Ehud Houminer, Audit Committee Chair  Richard C. Leone, Audit Committee Member
David W. Burke, Audit Committee Member*  Hans C. Mautner, Audit Committee Member
Hodding Carter III, Audit Committee Member  Robin A. Melvin, Audit Committee Member 
Joseph S. DiMartino, Audit Committee Member             Burton Wallack, Audit Committee Member 
Joni Evans, Audit Committee Member  John E. Zuccotti, Audit Committee Member 

*Subsequent to January 20, 2012, Mr. Burke became an Emeritus Director.

C-1



0852-0853PROXY-12