N-CSR 1 formncsr-928.htm ANNUAL REPORT formncsr-928.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- 3757

 

 

 

DREYFUS PREMIER CALIFORNIA AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.

- Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

(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)

 

 

 

 

 

Janette E. Farragher, Esq.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(212) 922-6000

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

 

5/31

 

Date of reporting period:

5/31/12

 

             

 

 


 

 

FORM N-CSR

Item 1.                        Reports to Stockholders.

 


 




Save time. Save paper. View your next shareholder report online as soon as it’s available. Log into www.dreyfus.com and sign up for Dreyfus eCommunications. It’s simple and only takes a few minutes.

The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio manager only through the end of the period covered and do not necessarily represent the views of Dreyfus or any other person in the Dreyfus organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Dreyfus disclaims any responsibility to update such views.These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Dreyfus fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Dreyfus fund.




 

Contents

 

THE FUND

2     

A Letter from the Chairman and CEO

3     

Discussion of Fund Performance

6     

Fund Performance

8     

Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses

8     

Comparing Your Fund’s Expenses With Those of Other Funds

9     

Statement of Investments

26     

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

27     

Statement of Operations

28     

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

30     

Financial Highlights

34     

Notes to Financial Statements

44     

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

45     

Important Tax Information

46     

Information About the Renewal of the Fund’s Management Agreement

51     

Board Members Information

54     

Officers of the Fund

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover



Dreyfus 
California AMT-Free 
Municipal Bond Fund 

 

The Fund 

 


A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to present this annual report for Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, covering the 12-month period from June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012. For information about how the fund performed during the reporting period, as well as general market perspectives, we provide a Discussion of Fund Performance on the pages that follow.

Municipal bonds have continued to represent one of the better performing asset classes in U.S. financial markets. Prices have been supported by a number of positive influences, including steady demand for a relatively tight supply of newly issued securities, attractive after-tax current yields compared to government-guaranteed U.S. Treasury securities and improved fiscal conditions for many state and local issuers.

Despite recent weakness in employment data, we believe that U.S. economic trends remain favorable, as evidenced by signs of strength in some of the domestic economy’s more economically sensitive areas. For example, in the automobile industry, new cars offer improved gas mileage, the average age of the auto fleet is old, and credit is widely available at a time when household debt-service ratios have dropped sharply. Even residential construction has moved into a sustainable uptrend, in our opinion, as homebuilders have seen a rise in orders. On the other hand, net exports may prove to be a slight drag on domestic growth since the economy in the United States is stronger than in many of its trading partners. On the whole, we expect near-trend growth in the U.S. economy for the remainder of 2012.

As always, we encourage you to discuss our observations with your financial advisor.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.


Jonathan R. Baum
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Dreyfus Corporation
June 15, 2012

2




DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE

For the period of June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012, as provided by Jeffrey B. Burger, Primary Portfolio Manager

Fund and Market Performance Overview

For the 12-month period ended May 31, 2012, Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund’s Class A, C, I and Z shares achieved total returns of 12.41%, 11.58%, 12.60% and 12.63%, respectively.1The Barclays Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”), the fund’s benchmark, achieved a total return of 10.40% for the same period.2

Falling long-term interest rates and favorable supply-and-demand factors fueled strong performance among municipal bonds over the reporting period. The fund’s returns were higher than its benchmark, chiefly due to an emphasis on longer maturities and a successful security selection strategy.

The Fund’s Investment Approach

The fund seeks as high a level of current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes as is consistent with the preservation of capital.To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests substantially all of its assets in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal and California state personal income taxes.The fund also seeks to provide income exempt from the federal Alternative Minimum Tax. The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in investment-grade municipal bonds or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus. The fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in municipal bonds rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds) or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund’s portfolio normally exceeds 10 years, but the fund’s average portfolio maturity is not restricted.

We focus on identifying undervalued sectors and securities, and we minimize the use of interest rate forecasting. We select municipal bonds by using fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and to exploit

The Fund 3



DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)

pricing inefficiencies in the municipal bond market.We actively trade among various sectors, such as pre-refunded, general obligation and revenue, based on their apparent relative values.

Municipal Bonds Rallied as Economic Concerns Eased

The reporting period began in the midst of deteriorating investor sentiment as investors reacted cautiously to a resurgent European sovereign debt crisis and a contentious political debate regarding U.S. government spending and borrowing.These worries intensified over the summer of 2011, culminating in the downgrade of one agency’s credit-rating of long-term U.S. government debt. Investors responded by flocking to traditional safe havens, driving long-term interest rates lower.

Better macroeconomic news cheered investors in the fall, and they responded by reaching for higher levels of income from riskier market sectors and credit-rating categories. As a result, municipal bonds that had been punished during the downturn led the market rebound, while higher-quality bonds generally lagged market averages.Although stronger economic growth typically would support higher interest rates, longer-term interest rates remained low due to Operation Twist, a stimulative program from the Federal Reserve Board (the “Fed”).

Positive supply-and-demand forces also supported municipal bond prices. New issuance volumes fell sharply throughout 2011 after a flood of new supply in late 2010, and political pressure led to reduced borrowing for capital projects in the opening months of 2012. Meanwhile, demand remained robust from individual and institutional investors seeking competitive after-tax yields in a low interest-rate environment.

From a credit-quality perspective, California’s fiscal condition remains mixed. The state has reduced spending and implemented structural improvements to its budget, but tax receipts have fallen short of budgeted projections.

Longer Maturities Buoyed Relative Performance

The search by investors for competitive yields led them to focus on longer-term municipal bonds, boosting prices in a segment of the market’s maturity spectrum that we regarded as undervalued. In addition,

4



the fund generally favored revenue-backed securities, including those issued on behalf of airports, electric utilities and industrial development projects. These securities fared particularly well during the reporting period. The fund maintained more exposure to California’s general obligation debt than the benchmark, it is worth noting, and gained substantial value as long-term yields moderated and valuations improved.

Detractors from the fund’s relative performance generally proved mild. High-quality securities backed by water and sewer facilities trailed market averages over the reporting period’s second half due to their defensive characteristics. In addition, to manage certain risks, we reduced the fund’s exposure to longer-term municipal bonds with upcoming early redemption provisions.We may have been too early in doing so, as such bonds continued to rally.

Prepared for a Changing Market Environment

We have been encouraged by recently improved data, but the U.S. economy remains vulnerable to unexpected shocks and uncertainty regarding future Fed policy. In addition, higher yielding and longer-maturity bonds have become more richly valued after recent rallies. Consequently, we expect to trim some positions and add to holdings of higher-quality bonds backed by revenues from essential municipal services.

June 15, 2012

  Bond funds are subject generally to interest rate, credit, liquidity and market risks, to varying degrees, 
  all of which are more fully described in the fund’s prospectus. Generally, all other factors being equal, 
  bond prices are inversely related to interest-rate changes, and rate increases can cause price declines. 
1  Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid, and does not take into 
  consideration the maximum initial sales charge in the case of Class A shares, or the applicable 
  contingent deferred sales charges imposed on redemptions in the case of Class C shares. Had these 
  charges been reflected, returns would have been lower. Class I and Class Z (which is closed to new 
  investors) are not subject to any initial or deferred sales charge. Past performance is no guarantee of 
  future results. Share price, yield and investment return fluctuate such that upon redemption, fund 
  shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Income may be subject to state and local 
  taxes for non-California residents. Capital gains, if any, are fully taxable. 
2  SOURCE: LIPPER INC. — Reflects reinvestment of dividends and, where applicable, capital 
  gain distributions. The Barclays Municipal Bond Index is a widely accepted, unmanaged and 
  geographically unrestricted total return performance benchmark for the long-term, investment- 
  grade, tax-exempt bond market. Index returns do not reflect fees and expenses associated with 
  operating a mutual fund. 

 

The Fund 5



FUND PERFORMANCE


  Source: Lipper Inc. 
††  The total return figures presented for Class A and Class C shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s 
  Class Z shares for the period prior to 10/21/04 (the inception date for Class A and Class C shares), adjusted to 
  reflect the applicable sales load for each share class. 
  The total return figures presented for Class I shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s Class Z shares 
  for the period prior to 12/15/08 (the inception date for Class I shares). 
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. 
The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in each of the Class A, Class C, Class I and Class Z shares of 
Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund on 5/31/02 to a $10,000 investment made in the Barclays 
Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”) on that date.All dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested. 
The fund invests primarily in California municipal securities and its performance shown in the line graph above takes 
into account the maximum initial sales charge on Class A shares and all other applicable fees and expenses on all classes. 
The Index is not limited to investments principally in California municipal obligations.The Index, unlike the fund, is an 
unmanaged total return performance benchmark for the long-term, investment-grade, geographically unrestricted tax- 
exempt bond market, calculated by using municipal bonds selected to be representative of the municipal market overall. 
These factors can contribute to the Index potentially outperforming or underperforming the fund. Unlike a mutual fund, 
the Index is not subject to charges, fees and other expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Further 
information relating to fund performance, including expense reimbursements, if applicable, is contained in the Financial 
Highlights section of the prospectus and elsewhere in this report. 

 

6



Average Annual Total Returns as of 5/31/12     
 
  Inception       
  Date  1Year  5 Years  10 Years 
Class A shares         
with maximum sales charge (4.5%)  10/21/04  7.32%  3.88%  4.32%†† 
without sales charge  10/21/04  12.41%  4.84%  4.80%†† 
Class C shares         
with applicable redemption charge   10/21/04  10.58%  4.03%  4.19%†† 
without redemption  10/21/04  11.58%  4.03%  4.19%†† 
Class I shares  12/15/08  12.60%  5.10%††  4.98%†† 
Class Z shares  7/26/83  12.63%  5.08%  4.97% 
Barclays Municipal         
   Bond Index    10.40%  5.87%  5.40% 

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance.The fund’s performance shown in the graph and table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

  The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is 1% for shares redeemed within one year of the 
  date of purchase. 
††  The total return performance figures presented for Class A and Class C shares of the fund reflect the performance of 
  the fund’s Class Z shares for the period prior to 10/21/04 (the inception date for Class A and Class C shares), 
  adjusted to reflect the applicable sales load for each share class. 
  The total return performance figures presented for Class I shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s 
  Class Z shares for the period prior to 12/15/08 (the inception date for Class I shares). 

 

The Fund 7



UNDERSTANDING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES (Unaudited)

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees and other expenses. Using the information below, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds.You also may pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial adviser.

Review your fund’s expenses

The table below shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund from December 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment
assuming actual returns for the six months ended May 31, 2012

    Class A    Class C    Class I    Class Z 
Expenses paid per $1,000  $ 4.87  $ 8.33  $ 3.53  $ 3.79 
Ending value (after expenses)  $ 1,073.00  $ 1,069.50  $ 1,073.70  $ 1,074.10 

 

COMPARING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
WITH THOSE OF OTHER FUNDS (Unaudited)

Using the SEC’s method to compare expenses

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the table below shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total cost) of investing in the fund with those of other funds.All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment
assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return for the six months ended May 31, 2012

    Class A    Class C    Class I    Class Z 
Expenses paid per $1,000  $ 4.75  $ 8.12  $ 3.44  $ 3.69 
Ending value (after expenses)  $ 1,020.30  $ 1,016.95  $ 1,021.60  $ 1,021.35 

 

† Expenses are equal to the fund’s annualized expense ratio of .94% for Class A, 1.61% for Class C, .68% for 
Class I and .73% for Class Z, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/366 (to 
reflect the one-half year period). 

 

8



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS

May 31, 2012

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments—99.4%  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
California—90.1%         
ABAG Finance Authority for         
Nonprofit Corporations,         
Revenue (San Diego         
Hospital Association)  5.38  3/1/21  4,000,000  4,232,680 
ABAG Finance Authority for         
Nonprofit Corporations,         
Revenue (Sharp HealthCare)  6.00  8/1/30  5,000,000  6,084,400 
Bay Area Toll Authority,         
San Francisco Bay Area Toll         
Bridge Revenue  5.25  4/1/24  17,580,000  21,291,665 
Bay Area Toll Authority,         
San Francisco Bay Area Toll         
Bridge Revenue  5.00  4/1/34  10,000,000  10,970,000 
Brentwood Infrastructure Financing         
Authority, Water Revenue  5.75  7/1/38  4,250,000  4,770,965 
California,         
Economic Recovery Bonds  5.00  7/1/20  10,000,000  12,122,700 
California,         
GO  5.00  8/1/22  5,000,000  5,720,450 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.50  4/1/19  4,455,000  5,503,172 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.25  2/1/23  13,000,000  16,039,140 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.00  11/1/23  5,000,000  5,830,650 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.25  3/1/30  15,000,000  17,300,850 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.75  4/1/31  4,500,000  5,257,755 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.25  9/1/31  25,000,000  28,504,500 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.25  9/1/32  19,500,000  22,117,875 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.25  10/1/32  9,170,000  10,410,518 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  6.00  3/1/33  3,000,000  3,619,230 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  6.50  4/1/33  30,000,000  36,535,500 

 

The Fund 9



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
California (continued)         
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.50  11/1/35  10,000,000  11,569,200 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.00  2/1/38  5,000,000  5,403,600 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose)  5.50  3/1/40  17,500,000  19,787,075 
California,         
GO (Various Purpose) (Insured;         
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  5.25  2/1/18  5,055,000  6,028,239 
California Department of Water         
Resources, Power Supply Revenue  5.00  5/1/21  7,500,000  8,823,675 
California Department of Water         
Resources, Power Supply Revenue  5.00  5/1/21  9,000,000  11,087,640 
California Department of Water         
Resources, Water System         
Revenue (Central Valley Project)  5.00  12/1/26  7,500,000  8,969,925 
California Department of Water         
Resources, Water System         
Revenue (Central Valley Project)  5.00  12/1/27  11,600,000  13,763,168 
California Educational Facilities         
Authority, Revenue (Pooled         
College and University Projects)  5.63  7/1/23  135,000  180,411 
California Educational Facilities         
Authority, Revenue (Pooled         
College and University Projects)  5.63  7/1/23  210,000  193,759 
California Educational Facilities         
Authority, Revenue (University         
of Southern California)  5.25  10/1/38  5,000,000  5,813,000 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Health         
Facility Revenue (Adventist         
Health System/West)  5.00  3/1/17  870,000  889,784 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Health         
Facility Revenue (Adventist         
Health System/West)  5.00  3/1/18  1,000,000  1,021,530 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Catholic Healthcare West)  5.63  7/1/32  5,875,000  6,419,142 

 

10



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
California (continued)         
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Lucile Salter Packard         
Children’s Hospital at Stanford)  5.00  8/15/25  5,855,000  6,874,824 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Rady Children’s Hospital—         
San Diego)  5.25  8/15/41  8,500,000  9,011,785 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Scripps Health)  5.00  11/15/32  1,150,000  1,292,266 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Scripps Health)  5.00  11/15/36  12,525,000  13,547,541 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Stanford Hospital and Clinics)  5.00  8/15/42  1,000,000  1,104,690 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Sutter Health)  5.25  8/15/22  6,000,000  6,985,500 
California Health Facilities         
Financing Authority, Revenue         
(Sutter Health)  5.25  8/15/31  3,500,000  4,042,360 
California Housing Finance Agency,         
Home Mortgage Revenue  5.50  8/1/38  14,850,000  15,159,919 
California Infrastructure and         
Economic Development Bank,         
Revenue (Performing Arts         
Center of Los Angeles County)  5.00  12/1/27  1,000,000  1,075,860 
California Municipal Finance         
Authority, COP (Community         
Hospitals of Central         
California Obligated Group)  5.25  2/1/27  6,750,000  6,987,533 
California Pollution Control         
Financing Authority, PCR         
(San Diego Gas and         
Electric Company) (Insured;         
National Public Finance         
Guarantee Corp.)  5.90  6/1/14  10,000,000  11,017,900 

 

The Fund 11



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal    
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)   Value ($) 
California (continued)           
California Pollution Control           
Financing Authority,           
Revenue (San Jose Water           
Company Project)  5.10  6/1/40  5,500,000   5,866,135 
California Pollution Control           
Financing Authority,           
Water Facilities Revenue           
(American Water Capital           
Corporation Project)  5.25  8/1/40  7,500,000 a  7,888,275 
California State Public Works           
Board, LR (Department of           
Corrections, Calipatria State           
Prison, Imperial County)           
(Insured; National Public           
Finance Guarantee Corp.)  6.50  9/1/17  11,415,000   12,695,192 
California State Public Works           
Board, LR (Department of           
Health Services-Richmond           
Laboratory, Phase III Office           
Building) (Insured; XLCA)  5.00  11/1/19  1,680,000   1,850,470 
California State Public Works           
Board, LR (Judicial Council of           
California) (Various Judicial           
Council Projects)  5.00  12/1/31  10,000,000   10,820,900 
California State Public Works           
Board, LR (The Regents of the           
University of California)           
(Various University of           
California Projects)  5.50  6/1/14  3,810,000   3,971,392 
California State Public Works           
Board, LR (The Regents of the           
University of California)           
(Various University of           
California Projects) (Insured;           
National Public Finance           
Guarantee Corp.)  5.25  6/1/23  4,400,000   5,568,068 
California State University           
Trustees, Systemwide Revenue  5.00  11/1/27  2,510,000   2,785,272 
California State University           
Trustees, Systemwide Revenue  5.00  11/1/28  5,000,000   5,528,350 

 

12



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
California (continued)         
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, COP         
(The Internext Group)  5.38  4/1/30  20,000,000  20,013,000 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Insured         
Revenue (Saint Joseph Health         
System) (Insured; FGIC)  5.75  7/1/47  10,000,000  10,839,700 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority,         
Insured Revenue (Saint Joseph         
Health System) (Insured;         
National Public Finance         
Guarantee Corp.)  5.13  7/1/24  5,000,000  5,614,750 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Cottage Health System         
Obligated Group)  5.25  11/1/30  3,750,000  4,220,362 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Cottage Health System         
Obligated Group)  5.00  11/1/40  11,940,000  12,693,653 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Inland Regional Center Project)  5.25  12/1/27  9,000,000  9,224,370 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Kaiser Permanente)  5.50  11/1/32  13,500,000  13,697,505 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Kaiser Permanente)  5.00  4/1/42  3,000,000  3,250,650 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Sutter Health)  5.00  8/15/22  2,000,000  2,387,440 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(Sutter Health)  5.50  8/15/28  7,000,000  7,070,840 
California Statewide Communities         
Development Authority, Revenue         
(The California Endowment)  5.25  7/1/20  2,280,000  2,396,462 

 

The Fund 13



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal     
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)    Value ($) 
California (continued)           
California Statewide Communities           
Development Authority, School           
Facility Revenue (Aspire           
Public Schools)  6.00  7/1/40  10,000,000    10,681,700 
California Statewide Communities           
Development Authority, Student           
Housing Revenue (CHF-Irvine,           
LLC-UCI East Campus           
Apartments, Phase II)  5.75  5/15/32  4,000,000    4,260,720 
California Statewide Communities           
Development Authority, School           
Facility Revenue (Aspire           
Public Schools)  6.38  7/1/45  3,000,000    3,258,570 
Capistrano Unified School District           
(Ladera) Community Facilities           
District Number 98-2, Special           
Tax Bonds (Insured; National           
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.00  9/1/19  3,545,000    3,742,563 
Carson Redevelopment Agency,           
Tax Allocation Revenue           
(Redevelopment Project Area           
Number 1) (Insured; National           
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.50  10/1/13  1,000,000    1,040,340 
Chabot-Las Positas Community           
College District, GO           
(Insured; AMBAC)  0.00  8/1/22  3,000,000  b  1,989,630 
Coast Community College District,           
GO (Insured; Assured Guaranty           
Municipal Corp.)  0/5.00  8/1/29  15,565,000  c  15,204,515 
Delano,           
COP (Delano Regional           
Medical Center)  5.25  1/1/18  8,915,000    8,927,659 
Foothill-De Anza Community College           
District, GO (Insured; AMBAC)  5.00  8/1/22  10,350,000    12,109,396 
Foothill/Eastern Transportation           
Corridor Agency, Toll           
Road Revenue  5.75  1/15/40  1,745,000    1,745,332 
Foothill/Eastern Transportation           
Corridor Agency, Toll Road           
Revenue (Insured; National           
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.13  1/15/19  2,000,000    2,000,340 

 

14



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal     
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)    Value ($) 
California (continued)           
Fullerton Community Facilities           
District Number 1, Special Tax           
Revenue (Amerige Heights)  6.20  9/1/32  2,500,000    2,514,500 
Golden State Tobacco           
Securitization Corporation,           
Enhanced Tobacco           
Settlement Asset-Backed           
Bonds (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  4.55  6/1/22  1,725,000    1,790,550 
Golden State Tobacco           
Securitization Corporation,           
Tobacco Settlement           
Asset-Backed Bonds  4.50  6/1/27  24,160,000    19,893,586 
Grossmont Union High School           
District, GO (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  0.00  8/1/21  4,375,000  b  3,199,481 
Grossmont Union High School           
District, GO (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  0.00  8/1/22  4,605,000  b  3,192,186 
Grossmont Union High School           
District, GO (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  0.00  8/1/23  4,850,000  b  3,184,171 
Grossmont Union High School           
District, GO (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  0.00  8/1/26  3,265,000  b  1,783,310 
Lincoln Community Facilities           
District Number 2003-1,           
Special Tax Bonds (Lincoln           
Crossing Project) (Prerefunded)  5.65  9/1/13  1,125,000  d  1,219,781 
Los Angeles Department of           
Airports, Senior Revenue (Los           
Angeles International Airport)  5.00  5/15/29  3,915,000    4,490,818 
Los Angeles Department of           
Airports, Senior Revenue (Los           
Angeles International Airport)  5.25  5/15/29  16,090,000    18,439,623 
Los Angeles Department of           
Airports, Senior Revenue (Los           
Angeles International Airport)  5.00  5/15/35  25,000,000    27,942,750 
Los Angeles Department of Water           
and Power, Water System Revenue  5.00  7/1/43  12,000,000    13,479,960 

 

The Fund 15



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal     
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)    Value ($) 
California (continued)           
Los Angeles Harbor Department,           
Revenue  5.25  8/1/25  26,055,000    30,612,801 
Los Angeles Unified School           
District, GO (Insured;           
National Public Finance           
Guarantee Corp.)  5.75  7/1/15  3,000,000    3,461,790 
Metropolitan Water District of           
Southern California,           
Water Revenue  5.00  10/1/34  7,390,000    8,691,896 
Metropolitan Water District of           
Southern California,           
Water Revenue  5.00  1/1/39  5,000,000    5,519,400 
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space           
District Financing Authority,           
Revenue (Insured; AMBAC)  0.00  9/1/15  2,825,000  b  2,763,528 
Murrieta Valley Unified School           
District, GO (Insured;           
National Public Finance           
Guarantee Corp.)  0.00  9/1/21  4,950,000  b  3,548,209 
Natomas Unified School District,           
GO (Insured; National Public           
Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.95  9/1/21  2,500,000    2,813,325 
Northern California Power Agency,           
Revenue (Hydroelectric Project           
Number 1) (Insured; AMBAC)           
(Prerefunded)  7.00  1/1/16  670,000  d  803,926 
Northern California Power Agency,           
Revenue (Hydroelectric Project           
Number 1) (Insured; AMBAC)           
(Prerefunded)  7.50  7/1/21  375,000  d  522,874 
Northern California Power Agency,           
Revenue (Hydroelectric Project           
Number 1) (Insured; National           
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)  6.30  7/1/18  26,400,000    30,363,168 
Orange County Community Facilities           
District (Landera Ranch)           
Special Tax Bonds  5.63  8/15/34  4,000,000    4,042,320 
Pomona Redevelopment Agency,           
Tax Allocation Revenue           
(West Holt Avenue           
Redevelopment Project)  5.50  5/1/32  3,000,000    3,385,380 

 

16



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal    
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)   Value ($) 
California (continued)           
Poway Unified School District,           
School Facilities Improvement           
District Number 2007-1, GO  0.00  8/1/35  12,850,000 b  4,040,554 
Rancho Mirage Joint Powers           
Financing Authority, Revenue           
(Eisenhower Medical Center)           
(Prerefunded)  5.63  7/1/14  10,430,000 d  11,581,472 
Sacramento County,           
Airport System Senior Revenue  5.00  7/1/24  5,090,000   5,706,195 
Sacramento County,           
Airport System Senior Revenue  5.13  7/1/25  5,890,000   6,594,974 
Sacramento County,           
Airport System Senior Revenue  5.00  7/1/40  5,000,000   5,394,200 
Sacramento County Sanitation           
Districts Financing Authority,           
Revenue (Sacramento Regional           
County Sanitation District)  5.00  12/1/26  7,000,000   8,370,950 
Sacramento County Water Financing           
Authority, Revenue (Sacramento           
County Water Agency Zones 40           
and 41 Water System Project)           
(Insured; National Public           
Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.00  6/1/25  8,500,000   9,414,515 
Sacramento Municipal Utility           
District, Electric Revenue  5.00  8/15/28  2,500,000   2,878,850 
Sacramento Municipal Utility           
District, Electric Revenue           
(Insured; National Public           
Finance Guarantee Corp.)  6.50  9/1/13  3,685,000   3,803,436 
San Bernardino County,           
COP (Capital Facilities Project)  6.88  8/1/24  5,000,000   7,091,500 
San Diego County,           
COP (Burnham Institute for           
Medical Research)  5.00  9/1/24  2,265,000   2,323,664 
San Diego County,           
COP (Burnham Institute for           
Medical Research)  5.00  9/1/34  9,880,000   9,983,740 
San Diego County Regional Airport           
Authority, Subordinate           
Airport Revenue  5.00  7/1/34  6,000,000   6,542,700 

 

The Fund 17



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal    
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)   Value ($) 
California (continued)           
San Diego County Water Authority,           
Water Revenue  5.00  5/1/31  4,935,000   5,699,974 
San Diego Public Facilities           
Financing Authority, Senior           
Sewer Revenue  5.25  5/15/34  6,045,000   6,890,998 
San Diego Public Facilities           
Financing Authority,           
Water Revenue  5.25  8/1/28  6,000,000   7,146,840 
San Diego Unified School District,           
GO (Insured; Assured Guaranty           
Municipal Corp.)  5.25  7/1/16  1,465,000   1,552,915 
San Francisco City and County           
Airport Commission, San           
Francisco International           
Airport Second Series Revenue  5.00  5/1/23  6,775,000   8,132,507 
San Francisco City and           
County Airport Commission,           
San Francisco International           
Airport Second Series Revenue           
(Issue 34D)  5.25  5/1/26  4,000,000   4,637,680 
San Francisco City and County           
Airport Commission, Second           
Series Revenue (San Francisco           
International Airport)  5.00  5/1/28  2,000,000   2,317,600 
San Francisco City and County           
Airport Commission, Second           
Series Revenue (San Francisco           
International Airport)  5.00  5/1/29  2,000,000   2,304,700 
San Francisco City and County           
Public Utilities Commission,           
San Francisco Water Revenue  5.00  11/1/37  10,000,000   11,171,900 
San Francisco City and County           
Public Utilities Commission,           
San Francisco Water Revenue           
(Insured; Assured Guaranty           
Municipal Corp.)  5.00  11/1/24  13,185,000   14,964,052 
San Francisco City and County           
Redevelopment Agency,           
Community Facilities           
District Number 6           
(Mission Bay South           
Public Improvements)  0.00  8/1/18  445,000 b  324,481 

 

18



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal    
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)   Value ($) 
California (continued)           
San Francisco City and County           
Redevelopment Agency,           
Community Facilities District           
Number 6 (Mission Bay South           
Public Improvements)  0.00  8/1/21  500,000 b  298,690 
Sequoia Union High School           
District, GO (Insured; Assured           
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  5.00  7/1/24  2,695,000   2,993,121 
Simi Valley School Financing           
Authority, GO Revenue (Simi           
Valley Unified School           
District, GO Bond) (Insured;           
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  5.00  8/1/27  6,500,000   7,314,255 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Canyon           
Power Project)  5.25  7/1/27  7,485,000   8,816,656 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Linden           
Wind Energy Project)  5.00  7/1/27  5,830,000   6,767,930 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Linden           
Wind Energy Project)  5.00  7/1/28  3,145,000   3,628,827 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Linden           
Wind Energy Project)  5.00  7/1/29  2,230,000   2,559,170 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Milford           
Wind Corridor Phase I Project)  5.00  7/1/29  11,865,000   13,519,693 
Southern California Public Power           
Authority, Revenue (Windy           
Point/Windy Flats Project)  5.00  7/1/27  13,765,000   15,979,513 
Tobacco Securitization Authority           
of Southern California,           
Tobacco Settlement           
Asset-Backed Bonds (San Diego           
County Tobacco Asset           
Securitization Corporation)  4.75  6/1/25  1,880,000   1,847,796 
Tobacco Securitization Authority           
of Southern California, Tobacco           
Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds           
(San Diego County Tobacco Asset           
Securitization Corporation)  5.13  6/1/46  8,850,000   6,707,946 

 

The Fund 19



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal     
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)    Value ($) 
California (continued)           
Torrance,           
Revenue (Torrance Memorial           
Medical Center)  5.00  9/1/40  3,000,000    3,153,930 
Tuolumne Wind Project Authority,           
Revenue (Tuolumne           
Company Project)  5.63  1/1/29  8,000,000    9,266,560 
Turlock Irrigation District,           
Revenue  5.00  1/1/25  5,610,000    6,307,099 
Turlock Irrigation District,           
Revenue  5.00  1/1/26  8,120,000    9,059,403 
University of California Regents,           
General Revenue  5.00  5/15/21  15,000,000    18,739,800 
University of California Regents,           
General Revenue  5.25  5/15/28  10,000,000    11,665,600 
University of California Regents,           
General Revenue  5.75  5/15/31  8,000,000    9,562,960 
University of California Regents,           
Medical Center Pooled Revenue  5.25  5/15/19  10,000,000    11,563,900 
West Kern Community College           
District, GO (Insured; XLCA)  0.00  11/1/20  1,000,000  b  715,120 
Whittier,           
Health Facility Revenue           
(Presbyterian Intercommunity           
Hospital) (Prerefunded)  5.75  6/1/12  1,090,000  d  1,100,900 
U.S. Related—9.3%           
Guam,           
Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue  6.00  11/1/26  3,300,000    3,815,427 
Guam,           
LOR (Section 30)  5.63  12/1/29  2,850,000    3,058,763 
Guam Waterworks Authority,           
Water and Wastewater           
System Revenue  5.63  7/1/40  2,000,000    2,030,620 
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer           
Authority, Senior Lien Revenue  5.13  7/1/37  6,000,000    6,027,900 
Puerto Rico Commonwealth,           
Public Improvement GO  5.25  7/1/22  2,000,000    2,167,280 
Puerto Rico Commonwealth,           
Public Improvement GO  5.50  7/1/39  10,000,000    10,428,000 
Puerto Rico Electric Power           
Authority, Power Revenue  5.25  7/1/22  4,000,000    4,492,000 

 

20



Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
U.S. Related (continued)         
Puerto Rico Electric Power         
Authority, Power Revenue  5.00  7/1/28  6,040,000  6,285,284 
Puerto Rico Electric Power         
Authority, Power Revenue  5.25  7/1/28  5,000,000  5,347,700 
Puerto Rico Electric Power         
Authority, Power Revenue         
(Insured; National Public         
Finance Guarantee Corp.)  5.25  7/1/30  10,000,000  11,098,500 
Puerto Rico Highway and         
Transportation Authority,         
Highway Revenue         
(Insured; Assured Guaranty         
Municipal Corp.)  6.25  7/1/16  130,000  161,099 
Puerto Rico Highway and         
Transportation Authority,         
Highway Revenue (Insured;         
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)  6.25  7/1/16  2,870,000  3,292,464 
Puerto Rico Highways and         
Transportation Authority,         
Highway Revenue (Insured;         
National Public Finance         
Guarantee Corp.)  5.50  7/1/13  3,115,000  3,195,959 
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist,         
Educational, Medical and         
Environmental Control         
Facilities Financing         
Authority, HR (Hospital         
Auxilio Mutuo Obligated         
Group Project)  6.00  7/1/33  2,450,000  2,741,795 
Puerto Rico Infrastructure         
Financing Authority, Special         
Tax Revenue (Insured; AMBAC)  5.50  7/1/28  10,200,000  11,327,202 
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing         
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue         
(First Subordinate Series)  5.38  8/1/39  5,000,000  5,356,000 
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing         
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue         
(First Subordinate Series)  6.38  8/1/39  4,500,000  5,271,525 
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing         
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue         
(First Subordinate Series)  6.00  8/1/42  7,500,000  8,458,500 

 

The Fund 21



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal     
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)    Value ($) 
U.S. Related (continued)           
University of Puerto Rico,           
University System Revenue  5.00  6/1/23  10,000,000    10,359,500 
Virgin Islands Public Finance           
Authority, Revenue (Virgin           
Islands General Obligation/           
Matching Fund Loan Note)  7.30  10/1/18  2,575,000    3,143,380 
Virgin Islands Public Finance           
Authority, Revenue (Virgin           
Islands Matching Fund           
Loan Notes)  5.00  10/1/25  5,000,000    5,369,700 
Total Long-Term Municipal Investments         
(cost $1,110,019,222)          1,218,233,124 
 
Short-Term Municipal           
Investments—1.2%           
California;           
California,           
Economic Recovery Bonds           
(LOC; JPMorgan Chase Bank)  0.16  6/1/12  1,200,000  e  1,200,000 
California,           
GO Notes           
(Kindergarten-University)           
(LOC: California State           
Teachers Retirement           
System and Citibank NA)  0.16  6/1/12  8,500,000  e  8,500,000 
California Infrastructure and           
Economic Development Bank,           
Revenue, Refunding (Los           
Angeles County Museum of           
Natural History Foundation)           
(LOC; Wells Fargo Bank)  0.16  6/1/12  4,500,000  e  4,500,000 

 

22



Short-Term Municipal  Coupon  Maturity  Principal   
Investments (continued)  Rate (%)  Date  Amount ($)  Value ($) 
California (continued);         
Irvine Assessment District Number         
03-19, Limited Obligation         
Improvement Bonds (LOC:         
California State Teachers         
Retirement System and         
U.S. Bank NA)  0.18  6/1/12  900,000e  900,000 
Total Short-Term Municipal Investments       
(cost $15,100,000)        15,100,000 
 
Total Investments (cost $1,125,119,222)    100.6%  1,233,333,124 
Liabilities, Less Cash and Receivables      (.6%)  (7,757,278) 
Net Assets      100.0%  1,225,575,846 

 

a Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.This security may be resold 
in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.At May 31, 2012, this security 
was valued at $7,888,275 or 0.6% of net assets. 
b Security issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount. 
c Zero coupon until a specified date at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective until maturity. 
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 Variable rate demand note—rate shown is the interest rate in effect at May 31, 2012. Maturity date represents the 
next demand date, or the ultimate maturity date if earlier. 

 

The Fund 23



STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Summary of Abbreviations     
 
ABAG  Association of Bay Area  ACA  American Capital Access 
  Governments     
AGC  ACE Guaranty Corporation  AGIC  Asset Guaranty Insurance Company 
AMBAC  American Municipal Bond  ARRN  Adjustable Rate 
  Assurance Corporation    Receipt Notes 
BAN  Bond Anticipation Notes  BPA  Bond Purchase Agreement 
CIFG  CDC Ixis Financial Guaranty  COP  Certificate of Participation 
CP  Commercial Paper  DRIVERS  Derivative Inverse 
      Tax-Exempt Receipts 
EDR  Economic Development  EIR  Environmental Improvement 
  Revenue    Revenue 
FGIC  Financial Guaranty  FHA  Federal Housing 
  Insurance Company    Administration 
FHLB  Federal Home  FHLMC  Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
  Loan Bank    Corporation 
FNMA  Federal National  GAN  Grant Anticipation Notes 
  Mortgage Association     
GIC  Guaranteed Investment  GNMA  Government National Mortgage 
  Contract    Association 
GO  General Obligation  HR  Hospital Revenue 
IDB  Industrial Development Board  IDC  Industrial Development Corporation 
IDR  Industrial Development  LIFERS  Long Inverse Floating 
  Revenue    Exempt Receipts 
LOC  Letter of Credit  LOR  Limited Obligation Revenue 
LR  Lease Revenue  MERLOTS  Municipal Exempt Receipt 
      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  PUTTERS  Puttable Tax-Exempt Receipts 
  Tax-Exempt Receipts     
RAC  Revenue Anticipation Certificates  RAN  Revenue Anticipation Notes 
RAW  Revenue Anticipation Warrants  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  SWDR  Solid Waste Disposal Revenue 
  Adjustable Receipts     
TAN  Tax Anticipation Notes  TAW  Tax Anticipation Warrants 
TRAN  Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes  XLCA  XL Capital Assurance 

 

24



Summary of Combined Ratings (Unaudited)   
 
Fitch  or  Moody’s  or  Standard & Poor’s  Value (%) 
AAA    Aaa    AAA  4.4 
AA    Aa    AA  40.4 
A    A    A  34.2 
BBB    Baa    BBB  16.4 
BB    Ba    BB  1.8 
B    B    B  .5 
F1    MIG1/P1    SP1/A1  1.2 
Not Ratedf    Not Ratedf    Not Ratedf  1.1 
          100.0 

 

† Based on total investments. 
f Securities which, while not rated by Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, have been determined by the Manager to 
be of comparable quality to those rated securities in which the fund may invest. 

 

See notes to financial statements.

The Fund 25



STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

May 31, 2012

  Cost  Value 
Assets ($):     
Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments  1,125,119,222  1,233,333,124 
Cash    922,206 
Interest receivable    15,641,575 
Receivable for investment securities sold    1,237,862 
Receivable for shares of Common Stock subscribed    198,789 
Prepaid expenses    31,648 
    1,251,365,204 
Liabilities ($):     
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates—Note 3(c)    738,631 
Payable for investment securities purchased    24,476,040 
Payable for shares of Common Stock redeemed    421,655 
Accrued expenses    153,032 
    25,789,358 
Net Assets ($)    1,225,575,846 
Composition of Net Assets ($):     
Paid-in capital    1,140,047,412 
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments    (22,685,468) 
Accumulated net unrealized appreciation     
    (depreciation) on investments    108,213,902 
Net Assets ($)    1,225,575,846 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share         
  Class A  Class C  Class I  Class Z 
Net Assets ($)  116,939,110  11,742,251  30,741,594  1,066,152,891 
Shares Outstanding  7,642,400  767,577  2,010,114  69,677,240 
Net Asset Value Per Share ($)  15.30  15.30  15.29  15.30 
 
See notes to financial statements.         

 

26



STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended May 31, 2012

Investment Income ($):   
Interest Income  54,899,971 
Expenses:   
Management fee—Note 3(a)  7,120,909 
Shareholder servicing costs—Note 3(c)  1,236,512 
Directors’ fees and expenses—Note 3(d)  161,849 
Professional fees  95,694 
Custodian fees—Note 3(c)  83,821 
Distribution fees—Note 3(b)  79,362 
Registration fees  68,058 
Prospectus and shareholders’ reports  26,217 
Loan commitment fees—Note 2  11,777 
Interest expense—Note 2  75 
Miscellaneous  58,651 
Total Expenses  8,942,925 
Less—reduction in fees due to earnings credits—Note 3(c)  (610) 
Net Expenses  8,942,315 
Investment Income—Net  45,957,656 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 4 ($):   
Net realized gain (loss) on investments  (2,078,444) 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments  96,587,630 
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments  94,509,186 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations  140,466,842 
 
See notes to financial statements.   

 

The Fund 27



STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

    Year Ended May 31, 
  2012a  2011 
Operations ($):     
Investment income—net  45,957,656  52,266,081 
Net realized gain (loss) on investments  (2,078,444)  4,017,090 
Net unrealized appreciation     
(depreciation) on investments  96,587,630  (41,042,746) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets     
Resulting from Operations  140,466,842  15,240,425 
Dividends to Shareholders from ($):     
Investment income—net:     
Class A Shares  (4,002,174)  (4,636,357) 
Class B Shares  (11,444)  (25,449) 
Class C Shares  (302,799)  (315,506) 
Class I Shares  (1,037,277)  (1,217,445) 
Class Z Shares  (40,368,349)  (45,781,003) 
Total Dividends  (45,722,043)  (51,975,760) 
Capital Stock Transactions ($):     
Net proceeds from shares sold:     
Class A Shares  21,429,492  17,552,880 
Class B Shares    151 
Class C Shares  2,825,379  2,576,046 
Class I Shares  15,169,282  33,396,914 
Class Z Shares  26,925,742  29,561,394 
Dividends reinvested:     
Class A Shares  2,567,674  3,015,339 
Class B Shares  6,677  16,487 
Class C Shares  153,368  176,935 
Class I Shares  256,621  304,489 
Class Z Shares  28,902,523  32,118,571 
Cost of shares redeemed:     
Class A Shares  (21,236,268)  (34,245,162) 
Class B Shares  (573,630)  (373,450) 
Class C Shares  (1,543,861)  (2,616,583) 
Class I Shares  (10,836,299)  (25,054,223) 
Class Z Shares  (89,145,459)  (209,328,249) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets     
from Capital Stock Transactions  (25,098,759)  (152,898,461) 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets  69,646,040  (189,633,796) 
Net Assets ($):     
Beginning of Period  1,155,929,806  1,345,563,602 
End of Period  1,225,575,846  1,155,929,806 

 

28



    Year Ended May 31, 
  2012a  2011 
Capital Share Transactions:     
Class Ab     
Shares sold  1,433,586  1,215,795 
Shares issued for dividends reinvested  173,967  213,019 
Shares redeemed  (1,440,707)  (2,428,326) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding  166,846  (999,512) 
Class Bb     
Shares sold    10 
Shares issued for dividends reinvested  459  1,159 
Shares redeemed  (38,236)  (26,301) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding  (37,777)  (25,132) 
Class C     
Shares sold  189,868  180,837 
Shares issued for dividends reinvested  10,376  12,441 
Shares redeemed  (104,396)  (186,656) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding  95,848  6,622 
Class I     
Shares sold  1,020,299  2,285,972 
Shares issued for dividends reinvested  17,333  21,448 
Shares redeemed  (730,357)  (1,813,734) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding  307,275  493,686 
Class Z     
Shares sold  1,818,207  2,076,606 
Shares issued for dividends reinvested  1,958,502  2,261,091 
Shares redeemed  (6,054,674)  (14,657,138) 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding  (2,277,965)  (10,319,441) 

 

a Effective as of the close of business on March 13, 2012, the fund no longer offers Class B shares. 
b During the period ended May 31,2012, 21,557 Class B shares representing $320,615 were automatically 
converted to 21,557 Class A shares and during the period ended May 31, 2011, 7,998 Class B shares representing 
$117,473 were automatically converted to 7,998 Class A shares. 

 

See notes to financial statements.

The Fund 29



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following tables describe the performance for each share class for the fiscal periods indicated.All information (except portfolio turnover rate) reflects financial results for a single fund share.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.

    Year Ended May 31,   
Class A Shares  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008 
Per Share Data ($):           
Net asset value, beginning of period  14.12  14.52  13.95  14.40  14.72 
Investment Operations:           
Investment income—neta  .55  .57  .57  .57  .57 
Net realized and unrealized           
gain (loss) on investments  1.17  (.40)  .57  (.45)  (.32) 
Total from Investment Operations  1.72  .17  1.14  .12  .25 
Distributions:           
Dividends from investment income—net  (.54)  (.57)  (.57)  (.57)  (.57) 
Net asset value, end of period  15.30  14.12  14.52  13.95  14.40 
Total Return (%)b  12.41  1.20  8.30  1.00  1.78 
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):           
Ratio of total expenses           
to average net assets  .93  .93  .92  .96  1.02 
Ratio of net expenses           
to average net assets  .93  .93  .92  .95  1.02 
Ratio of interest and expense related           
to floating rate notes issued           
to average net assets        .02  .10 
Ratio of net investment income           
to average net assets  3.70  4.00  3.99  4.18  3.96 
Portfolio Turnover Rate  20.88  14.78  22.39  16.57  43.66 
Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)  116,939  105,584  123,053  117,685  111,504 

 

a  Based on average shares outstanding at each month end. 
b  Exclusive of sales charge. 

 

See notes to financial statements.

30



    Year Ended May 31,   
Class C Shares  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008 
Per Share Data ($):           
Net asset value, beginning of period  14.12  14.51  13.95  14.40  14.72 
Investment Operations:           
Investment income—neta  .43  .46  .45  .46  .46 
Net realized and unrealized           
gain (loss) on investments  1.18  (.39)  .56  (.45)  (.32) 
Total from Investment Operations  1.61  .07  1.01  .01  .14 
Distributions:           
Dividends from investment income—net  (.43)  (.46)  (.45)  (.46)  (.46) 
Net asset value, end of period  15.30  14.12  14.51  13.95  14.40 
Total Return (%)b  11.58  .48  7.36  .22  1.00 
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):           
Ratio of total expenses           
to average net assets  1.66  1.71  1.72  1.73  1.79 
Ratio of net expenses           
to average net assets  1.66  1.71  1.72  1.73  1.79 
Ratio of interest and expense related           
to floating rate notes issued           
to average net assets        .02  .10 
Ratio of net investment income           
to average net assets  2.95  3.23  3.18  3.39  3.18 
Portfolio Turnover Rate  20.88  14.78  22.39  16.57  43.66 
Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)  11,742  9,485  9,653  7,272  5,767 

 

a  Based on average shares outstanding at each month end. 
b  Exclusive of sales charge. 

 

See notes to financial statements.

The Fund 31



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

    Year Ended May 31,   
Class I Shares  2012  2011  2010  2009a 
Per Share Data ($):         
Net asset value, beginning of period  14.12  14.51  13.94  12.60 
Investment Operations:         
Investment income—netb  .58  .61  .59  .24 
Net realized and unrealized         
gain (loss) on investments  1.17  (.40)  .58  1.38 
Total from Investment Operations  1.75  .21  1.17  1.62 
Distributions:         
Dividends from investment income—net  (.58)  (.60)  (.60)  (.28) 
Net asset value, end of period  15.29  14.12  14.51  13.94 
Total Return (%)  12.60  1.54  8.57  12.97c 
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):         
Ratio of total expenses         
to average net assets  .68  .66  .68  .70d 
Ratio of net expenses         
to average net assets  .68  .66  .67  .70d 
Ratio of interest and expense         
related to floating rate notes issued         
to average net assets        e 
Ratio of net investment income         
to average net assets  3.92  4.29  4.20  4.33d 
Portfolio Turnover Rate  20.88  14.78  22.39  16.57 
Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)  30,742  24,039  17,546  1,956 

 

a  From December 15, 2008 (commencement of initial offering) to May 31, 2009. 
b  Based on average shares outstanding at each month end. 
c  Not annualized. 
d  Annualized. 
e  There were no floating rate notes outstanding during the class’ period of operations. 

 

See notes to financial statements.

32



      Year Ended May 31,      
Class Z Shares  2012  2011  2010   2009   2008  
Per Share Data ($):                 
Net asset value,                 
beginning of period  14.12  14.52  13.95   14.40   14.71  
Investment Operations:                 
Investment income—neta  .58  .60  .60   .60   .61  
Net realized and unrealized                 
gain (loss) on investments  1.17  (.40)  .57   (.45 )  (.31 ) 
Total from Investment Operations  1.75  .20  1.17   .15   .30  
Distributions:                 
Dividends from                 
investment income—net  (.57)  (.60)  (.60 )  (.60 )  (.61 ) 
Net asset value, end of period  15.30  14.12  14.52   13.95   14.40  
Total Return (%)  12.63  1.43  8.52   1.22   2.08  
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):                 
Ratio of total expenses                 
to average net assets  .73  .71  .71   .74   .81  
Ratio of net expenses                 
to average net assets  .73  .71  .71   .74   .80  
Ratio of interest and expense                 
related to floating rate notes                 
issued to average net assets        .02   .10  
Ratio of net investment income                 
to average net assets  3.90  4.23  4.21   4.39   4.19  
Portfolio Turnover Rate  20.88  14.78  22.39   16.57   43.66  
Net Assets, end of period                 
($ x 1,000)  1,066,153  1,016,288  1,194,399   1,199,800   1,313,697  
 
a Based on average shares outstanding at each month end.             
See notes to financial statements.                 

 

The Fund 33



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:

Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund (the “fund”) is the sole series of Dreyfus Premier California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund Inc. (the “Company”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a non-diversified open-end management investment company. The fund’s investment objective is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes, as is 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.

MBSC Securities Corporation (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, is the distributor of the fund’s shares.The fund is authorized to issue 600 million shares of $.001 par value Common Stock.The fund currently offers four classes of shares: Class A (200 million shares authorized), Class C (100 million shares authorized), Class I (100 million shares authorized) and Class Z (200 million shares authorized). Class A shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) imposed on Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase. Class I shares are sold at net asset value per share only to institutional investors. Class Z shares are sold at net asset value per share generally only to shareholders who received Class Z shares in exchange for their shares of General California Municipal Bond Fund, California Municipal Income, Inc. and Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, as a result of the reorganization of such funds. Class Z shares generally are not available for new accounts.The Board of Directors approved, effective as of the close of business on March 13, 2012, the transfer of shares authorized from Class B to Class A shares. Class B shares were subject to a CDSC imposed on Class B share redemptions made within six years of purchase and automatically converted to Class A shares after six years.The fund no longer offers Class B shares. Effective March 13, 2012, all out-

34



standing Class B shares were automatically converted to Class A shares. Other differences between the classes include the services offered to and the expenses borne by each class, the allocation of certain transfer agency costs and certain voting rights. Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class), and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

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.

The Company 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

The Fund 35



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

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 of Directors. Investments for which quoted bid prices are readily available and are representative of the bid side of the market in the judgment of the Service are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices (as obtained by the Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices (as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such securities). Other investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio securities) are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on methods which include consideration of: 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 categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

36



The Service’s procedures are reviewed by Dreyfus under the general supervision of the Board of Directors.

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 of Directors. 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 as Level 2 or 3 depending on the relevant inputs used.

For restricted securities where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of May 31, 2012 in valuing the fund’s investments:

    Level 2—Other  Level 3—   
  Level 1—  Significant  Significant   
  Unadjusted  Observable  Unobservable   
  Quoted Prices  Inputs  Inputs  Total 
Assets ($)         
Investments in Securities:       
Municipal Bonds    1,233,333,124    1,233,333,124 

 

In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common FairValue Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)” (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 includes common requirements for measurement of and disclosure

The Fund 37



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

about fair value between GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to disclose the following information for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy: quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, the valuation processes used by the reporting entity and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs. In addition, ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to make disclosures about amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements.The new and revised disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-04 and its impact on the financial statements.

(b) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date 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. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date.

The fund follows an investment policy of investing primarily in municipal obligations of one state. Economic changes affecting the state and certain of its public bodies and municipalities may affect the ability of issuers within the state to pay interest on, or repay principal of, municipal obligations held by the fund.

(c) Dividends to shareholders: It is the policy of the fund to declare dividends daily from investment income-net. Such dividends are 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

38



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.

(d) 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 May 31, 2012, 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, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

Each of the tax years in the four-year period ended May 31, 2012 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

At May 31, 2012, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows: undistributed tax exempt income $704,281, undistributed ordinary income $229,185, accumulated capital losses $17,797,359 and unrealized appreciation $108,855,732. In addition, the fund had $5,759,124 of capital losses realized after October 31, 2011, which were deferred for tax purposes to the first day of the following fiscal year.

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 Fund 39



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

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 May 31, 2012. If not applied, $1,978,000 of the carryover expires in fiscal 2016 and $15,819,359 expires in fiscal 2018.

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal periods ended May 31, 2012 and May 31, 2011 were as follows: tax exempt income $45,722,043 and $51,893,191 and ordinary income $0 and $82,569, respectively.

During the period ended May 31, 2012, as a result of permanent book to tax differences, primarily due to the tax treatment for amortization adjustments, the fund decreased accumulated undistributed investment income-net by $235,613, increased accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments by $194,095 and increased paid-in capital by $41,518. Net assets and net asset value per share were not affected by this reclassification.

NOTE 2—Bank Lines of Credit:

The fund participates with other Dreyfus-managed funds in a $225 million unsecured credit facility led by Citibank, N.A. and a $300 million unsecured credit facility provided by The Bank of New York Mellon, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of Dreyfus (each, a “Facility”), each to be utilized primarily for temporary or emergency purposes, including the financing of redemptions. In connection therewith, the fund has agreed to pay its pro rata portion of commitment fees for each Facility. Interest is charged to the fund based on rates determined pursuant to the terms of the respective Facility at the time of borrowing.

The average amount of borrowings outstanding under the Facilities during the period ended May 31, 2012, was approximately $6,300 with a related weighted average annualized interest rate of 1.18%.

40



NOTE 3—Management Fee and Other Transactions With Affiliates:

(a) Pursuant to a management agreement (“Agreement”) with the Manager, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .60% of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets and is payable monthly.The Agreement provides that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses allocable to Class Z shares (exclusive of taxes, brokerage commissions, interest expense, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed 1 1 / 2 % of the value of the average daily net assets of Class Z shares, the fund may deduct from the fees paid to the Manager, or the Manager will bear such excess expense. During the period ended May 31, 2012, there was no expense reimbursement pursuant to the Agreement.

During the period ended May 31, 2012, the Distributor retained $10,345 from commissions earned on sales of the fund’s Class A shares and $181 from CDSCs on redemptions of the fund’s Class C shares.

(b) Under the Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class B shares paid and Class C shares pay the Distributor for distributing their shares at an annual rate of .50% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B shares and .75% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class C shares. During the period ended May 31, 2012, Class B and Class C shares were charged $1,793 and $77,569, respectively, pursuant to the Plan.

(c) Under the Shareholder Services Plan, Class A and Class C shares pay and Class B shares paid the Distributor at an annual rate of .25% of the value of the average daily net assets of their shares, for the provision of certain services.The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the fund and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor may make payments to Service Agents (a securities dealer, financial institution or other industry professional) in

The Fund 41



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

respect of these services. The Distributor determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents. During the period ended May 31, 2012, Class A, Class B and Class C shares were charged $271,833, $896 and $25,856, respectively, pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.

Under the Shareholder Services Plan, Class Z shares reimburse the Distributor at an amount not to exceed an annual rate of .25% of the value of Class Z shares’ average daily net assets for certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining shareholder accounts.The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding Class Z shares and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. During the period ended May 31, 2012, Class Z shares were charged $456,103 pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.

The fund compensates Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, under a transfer agency agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency and cash management services for the fund. During the period ended May 31, 2012, the fund was charged $242,725 pursuant to the transfer agency agreement, which is included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensatesThe Bank of NewYork Mellon under a custody agreement for providing custodial services for the fund. During the period ended May 31, 2012, the fund was charged $83,821 pursuant to the custody agreement.

The fund has arrangements with the transfer agent and the custodian whereby the fund may receive earnings credits when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset transfer agency and custody fees. For financial reporting purposes, the fund includes net earnings credits as an expense offset in the Statement of Operations.

42



Prior to May 29, 2012, the fund compensated The Bank of New York Mellon under a cash management agreement for performing cash management services related to fund subscriptions and redemptions. During the period ended May 31, 2012, the fund was charged $22,613 pursuant to the cash management agreement, which is included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.These fees were partially offset by earnings credits of $610.

During the period ended May 31, 2012, the fund was charged $6,565 for services performed by the Chief Compliance Officer and his staff.

The components of “Due toThe Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consist of: management fees $621,554, Rule 12b-1 distribution plan fees $7,474, shareholder services plan fees $26,913, custodian fees $20,312, chief compliance officer fees $2,652 and transfer agency per account fees $59,726.

(d) 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 4—Securities Transactions:

The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, during the period ended May 31, 2012, amounted to $243,718,424 and $257,927,158, respectively.

At May 31, 2012, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,124,477,392 accordingly; accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments was $108,855,732, consisting of $109,828,719 gross unrealized appreciation and $972,987 gross unrealized depreciation.

The Fund 43



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Shareholders and Board of Directors

Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the statement of investments, of Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund (the sole series comprising Dreyfus Premier California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund Inc.) as of May 31, 2012, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. 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 May 31, 2012 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 California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund at May 31, 2012, the results of its operations 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 indicated periods, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

New York, New York
July 27, 2012

44



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 May 31, 2012 as “exempt-interest dividends” (not subject to regular federal income tax, and for individuals who are California residents, California personal income taxes).

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 2012 calendar year on Form 1099-DIV which will be mailed in early 2013.

The Fund 45



INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE
FUND’S MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited)

At a meeting of the fund’s Board of Directors held on April 30, 2012, the Board considered the renewal of the fund’s Management Agreement pursuant to which Dreyfus provides the fund with investment advisory and administrative services (the “Agreement”). The Board members, none of whom are “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the fund, were assisted in their review by independent legal counsel and met with counsel in executive session separate from Dreyfus representatives. In considering the renewal of the Agreement, the Board considered all factors that it believed to be relevant, including those discussed below.The Board did not identify any one factor as dispositive, and each Board member may have attributed different weights to the factors considered.

Analysis of Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided to the Fund.The Board considered information previously provided to them in presentations from Dreyfus representatives regarding the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to funds in the Dreyfus fund complex, and Dreyfus representatives confirmed that there had been no material changes in this information. Dreyfus provided the number of open accounts in the fund, the fund’s asset size and the allocation of fund assets among distribution channels. Dreyfus also had previously provided information regarding the diverse intermediary relationships and distribution channels of funds in the Dreyfus fund complex (such as retail direct or intermediary, in which intermediaries typically are paid by the fund and/or Dreyfus) and Dreyfus’ corresponding need for broad, deep, and diverse resources to be able to provide ongoing shareholder services to each intermediary or distribution channel, as applicable to the fund.

The Board also considered research support available to, and portfolio management capabilities of, the fund’s portfolio management personnel and that Dreyfus also provides oversight of day-to-day fund operations, including fund accounting and administration and assistance in meeting legal and regulatory requirements.The Board also considered Dreyfus’ extensive administrative, accounting, and compliance infrastructures.

46



Comparative Analysis of the Fund’s Performance and Management Fee and Expense Ratio. The Board reviewed reports prepared by Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, which included information comparing (1) the fund’s performance with the performance of a group of comparable funds (the “Performance Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Performance Universe”), all for various periods ended March 31, 2012, and (2) the fund’s actual and contractual management fees and total expenses with those of a group of comparable funds (the “Expense Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Expense Universe”), the information for which was derived in part from fund financial statements available to Lipper as of the date of its analysis. Dreyfus previously had furnished the Board with a description of the methodology Lipper used to select the Performance Group and Performance Universe and the Expense Group and Expense Universe.

Dreyfus representatives stated that the usefulness of performance comparisons may be affected by a number of factors, including different investment limitations that may be applicable to the fund and comparison funds.The Board discussed the results of the comparisons and noted that the fund’s total return performance was generally below the Performance Group median and variably above and below the Performance Universe median for the various periods. Dreyfus also provided a comparison of the fund’s calendar year total returns to the returns of the fund’s Lipper category average, noting that the fund’s return was higher than the category average return in eight of the past ten calendar years.

The Board also reviewed the range of actual and contractual management fees and total expenses of the Expense Group and Expense Universe funds and discussed the results of the comparisons.The Board noted that the fund’s contractual management fee was above the Expense Group median, the fund’s actual management fee was above

The Fund 47



INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited) (continued)

the Expense Group median and the Expense Universe median and the fund’s total expenses were above the Expense Group median and the Expense Universe median.

The Board received a presentation from the fund’s portfolio managers, who described the strategy as implemented for the fund, the fund’s structure to defend against interest rate volatility, and credit review policies and strategies that seek to mitigate credit risk. The portfolio managers also explained the fund’s performance in light of its duration structure, credit structure, and the market and economic environment, and the strategy for managing the fund in the current environment. The Board noted the managers’ strategies for de-risking the fund in recent years and comments on their risk-reward investor strategies. The Board also noted the generally compressed spread in recent periods among the returns of the Performance Group funds as well as the fund’s generally high absolute returns over the past three years relative to other asset classes.

Dreyfus representatives reviewed with the Board the management or investment advisory fees (1) paid by funds advised or administered by Dreyfus that are in the same Lipper category as the fund and (2) paid to Dreyfus or the Dreyfus-affiliated primary employer of the fund’s primary portfolio manager(s) for advising any separate accounts and/or other types of client portfolios that are considered to have similar investment strategies and policies as the fund (the “Similar Clients”), and noted from these reports that there were no Similar Clients.

Analysis of Profitability and Economies of Scale. Dreyfus representatives reviewed the expenses allocated and profit received by Dreyfus and the resulting profitability percentage for managing the fund, and the method used to determine the expenses and profit. The Board concluded that the profitability results were not unreasonable, given the services rendered and service levels provided by Dreyfus.The Board previously had been provided with information prepared by an independent consulting firm regarding Dreyfus’ approach to allocating costs to, and determining the profitability of, individual funds and the entire Dreyfus fund complex. The consulting firm also had analyzed where any economies of scale might emerge in connection with the management of a fund.

48



The Board’s counsel stated that the Board should consider the profitability analysis (1) as part of their evaluation of whether the fees under the Agreement bear a reasonable relationship to the mix of services provided by Dreyfus, including the nature, extent and quality of such services, and (2) in light of the relevant circumstances for the fund and the extent to which economies of scale would be realized if the fund grows and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of fund shareholders. Dreyfus representatives noted that a discussion of economies of scale is predicated on a fund having achieved a substantial size with increasing assets and that, if a fund’s assets had been stable or decreasing, the possibility that Dreyfus may have realized any economies of scale would be less. Dreyfus representatives also noted that, as a result of shared and allocated costs among funds in the Dreyfus fund complex, the extent of economies of scale could depend substantially on the level of assets in the complex as a whole, so that increases and decreases in complex-wide assets can affect potential economies of scale in a manner that is disproportionate to, or even in the opposite direction from, changes in the fund’s asset level.The Board also considered potential benefits to Dreyfus from acting as investment adviser and noted that there were no soft dollar arrangements in effect for trading the fund’s investments.

At the conclusion of these discussions, the Board agreed that it had been furnished with sufficient information to make an informed business decision with respect to the renewal of the Agreement. Based on the discussions and considerations as described above, the Board concluded and determined as follows.

  • The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Dreyfus are adequate and appropriate.

  • The Board generally was satisfied with the fund’s overall perfor- mance, in light of the considerations described above.

  • The Board concluded that the fee paid to Dreyfus was reasonable in light of the considerations described above.

The Fund 49



INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Unaudited) (continued)

  • The Board determined that the economies of scale which may accrue to Dreyfus and its affiliates in connection with the management of the fund had been adequately considered by Dreyfus in connection with the fee rate charged to the fund pursuant to the Agreement and that, to the extent in the future it were determined that material economies of scale had not been shared with the fund, the Board would seek to have those economies of scale shared with the fund.

In evaluating the Agreement, the Board considered these conclusions and determinations and also relied on its previous knowledge, gained through meetings and other interactions with Dreyfus and its affiliates, of the fund and the services provided to the fund by Dreyfus.The Board also relied on information received on a routine and regular basis throughout the year relating to the operations of the fund and the investment management and other services provided under the Agreement, including information on the investment performance of the fund in comparison to similar mutual funds and benchmark performance indices; general market outlook as applicable to the fund; and compliance reports. In addition, it should be noted that the Board’s consideration of the contractual fee arrangements for this fund had the benefit of a number of years of reviews of prior or similar agreements during which lengthy discussions took place between the Board and Dreyfus representatives. Certain aspects of the arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than in others, and the Board’s conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of the same or similar arrangements in prior years.The Board determined that renewal of the Agreement through November 30, 2012 was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

50



BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited)

Joseph S. DiMartino (68) 
Chairman of the Board (1995) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• Corporate Director and Trustee 
Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5Years: 
• CBIZ (formerly, Century Business Services, Inc.), a provider of outsourcing functions for small 
and medium size companies, Director (1997-present) 
• Sunair Services Corporation, a provider of certain outdoor-related services to homes and 
businesses, Director (2005-2009) 
• The Newark Group, a provider of a national market of paper recovery facilities, paperboard 
mills and paperboard converting plants, Director (2000-2010) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 157 
——————— 
William Hodding Carter III (77) 
Board Member (1988) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• Professor of Leadership & Public 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) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 
——————— 
Gordon J. Davis (70) 
Board Member (2006) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• Partner in the law firm of Venable, LLP 
• Partner in the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP (1994-2012) 
Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5Years: 
• Consolidated Edison, Inc., a utility company, Director (1997-present) 
• The Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life insurance company, Director (2000-present) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 40 

 

The Fund 51



BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)

Joni Evans (70) 
Board Member (2006) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• 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) 
• Senior Vice President of the William Morris Agency (1994-2006) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 
——————— 
Ehud Houminer (71) 
Board Member (1994) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• Executive-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School, Columbia University (1992-present) 
Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5Years: 
• Avnet Inc., an electronics distributor, Director (1993-present) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 60 
——————— 
Richard C. Leone (72) 
Board Member (1980) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• Senior Fellow of The Century Foundation (formerly, The Twentieth Century Fund, Inc.), a tax 
exempt research foundation engaged in the study of economic, foreign policy and domestic issues 
Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5Years: 
• Partnership for a Secure America, Director 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 
——————— 
Hans C. Mautner (74) 
Board Member (1980) 
Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
• President—International Division and an Advisory Director of Simon Property Group, a real 
estate investment company (1998-2010) 
• Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simon Global Limited (1999-2010) 
No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 

 

52



  Robin A. Melvin (48) 
  Board Member (1995) 
  Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
  • 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: 50 
——————— 
  Burton N.Wallack (61) 
  Board Member (2006) 
  Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
  • President and Co-owner of Wallack Management Company, a real estate management company 
  No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 
——————— 
  John E. Zuccotti (74) 
  Board Member (1980) 
  Principal Occupation During Past 5Years: 
  • Chairman of Brookfield Properties, Inc. 
  • Senior Counsel of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP 
  • Emeritus Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York 
  Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5Years: 
  • Emigrant Savings Bank, Director (2004-present) 
  • Doris Duke Charitable Foundation,Trustee (2006-present) 
  • New York Private Bank & Trust, Director 
  No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 27 
——————— 
  Once elected all Board Members serve for an indefinite term, but achieve Emeritus status upon reaching age 80.The 
  address of the Board Members and Officers is c/o The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue, NewYork, NewYork 
  10166.Additional information about the Board Members is available in the fund’s Statement of Additional Information 
  which can be obtained from Dreyfus free of charge by calling this toll free number: 1-800-DREYFUS. 
  David W. Burke, Emeritus Board Member 
  Arnold S. Hiatt, Emeritus Board Member 

 

The Fund 53



OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited)


54




The Fund 55



NOTES






 

 

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").   Mr. 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 $    30,312 in 2011 and $31,401 in 2012.

 

(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 $6,000 in 2011 and $12,000 in 2012. 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 and (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.

 

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 2011 and $0 in 2012.

 

(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 $3,991 in 2011 and $3,326 in 2012. 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; (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 2011 and $0 in 2012.

 

 


 

 

(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 $806 in 2011 and $1,068 in 2012. These services consisted of a review of the Registrant's anti-money laundering program.

 

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 2011 and $0 in 2012. 

 

(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 $19,526,919 in 2011 and $34,285,599 in 2012. 

 

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.

                        Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY]

Item 6.                        Investments.

(a)                    Not applicable.

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

                        Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY]

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

Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY, beginning with reports for periods ended on and after December 31, 2005]

 


 

 

Item 9.                        Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and             Affiliated Purchasers.

                        Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY]

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 PREMIER CALIFORNIA AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.

-          Dreyfus California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

 

By: /s/ Bradley J. Skapyak

Bradley J. Skapyak,

President

 

Date:

July 24, 2012

 

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:

July 24, 2012

 

By: /s/ James Windels

James Windels,

Treasurer

 

Date:

July 24, 2012

 

 

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)