485APOS 1 dreyprem-485apos_091508.htm 485APOS

Securities Act File No. 333-34474

Investment Company Act File No. 811-09891

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933      x

 

PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                o

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 37        x

 

AND/OR

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940    x

 

AMENDMENT NO. 37      x

 

 

 

DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FUNDS

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

c/o The Dreyfus Corporation

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10116

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 922-6000

Michael A. Rosenberg, Esq.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10116

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

COPY TO:

David Stephens, Esq.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

180 Maiden Lane

New York, New York 10038-4982

 

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

 

 

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

on (DATE) pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (1)

 

on (DATE) pursuant to paragraph (a) (1)

X

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (2)

 

on (DATE) pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

 

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. The Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 

Subject to Completion, Dated September 16, 2008

 

 

DREYFUS GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND

Seeks capital growth by investing primarily in

companies that meet certain sustainability

and fundamental investment criteria

PROSPECTUS December __, 2008

 

 

As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

[LOGO]

BNY MELLON

®Dreyfus [LOGO]

ASSET MANAGEMENT

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

THE FUND

 

 

Goal/Approach

 

 

Main Risks

 

 

Past Performance

 

 

Expenses

 

 

Management

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

YOUR INVESTMENT

 

 

Shareholder Guide

 

 

Distributions and Taxes

 

 

Services for Fund Investors

 

 

Instructions for Regular Accounts

 

 

Instructions for IRAs

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

 

See back cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Global Sustainability Fund

THE FUND

 

Ticker Symbols

Class A:

n/a

Class C:

n/a

Class I:

n/a

      

[ICON]

GOAL/APPROACH

The fund seeks capital growth. To pursue this goal, the fund normally invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are instituting sustainable operating practices or producing sustainable products and services and that meet certain fundamental investment criteria as described below. Companies that maintain sustainable operating practices are those, for example, that use best industry practices in their operations, provide leadership in an industry, offer highest levels of transparency of operations and demand accountability of vendors, suppliers and customers. Companies that produce sustainable products are those, for example, that produce products specifically for the renewable energy market, provide services that improve energy efficiency, produce products that meet the highest levels of efficiency and provide technologies to improve environmental performance.

The fund may invest in the securities of companies of any market capitalization, although it invests primarily in large capitalization companies. The fund’s stock investments may include common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities of both U.S. and foreign issuers. The fund ordinarily invests in at least three countries, and, at times, may invest a substantial portion of its assets in a single country. Although the fund’s investments are focused among the major developed markets of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and Western Europe, the fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in emerging markets. The fund, however, will not invest more than 10% of its assets in any one emerging market country.

The fund’s benchmark is the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), which tracks the performance of the largest companies in the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Index assessed to be leaders in corporate sustainability. Corporate sustainability is defined as a business approach to create long-term shareholder value by taking advantage of opportunities and managing risks created by economic, environmental and social developments. The DJSI World component companies are selected based on the application of general and industry specific criteria to assess corporate sustainability. The fund’s investable universe includes the companies comprising the DJSI World and companies not included in the DJSI World that meet the manager’s sustainability criteria. Any potential investment by the fund must pass both the sustainability criteria and the investment criteria established by the manager.

Once the portfolio managers have a list of potential investments that meet the manager’s sustainability criteria, they will use a proprietary earnings sustainability model to rank those stocks within geographic regions and economic sectors, to further screen the investment pool. This model focuses on the predictability of future cash flows through analysis of the following criteria:

 

earnings quality, through an examination of inventory, receivables, accruals and pensions

 

profitability analysis, through an examination of gross margins, return on sales, return on equity, asset turnover and interest coverage

The fund’s portfolio managers then select the stocks that meet the manager’s sustainability criteria and investment criteria where the expected growth rate is available at reasonable valuations. The portfolio managers manage risk by diversifying the fund’s investments across regions, countries, sectors and industries. The fund’s investment process is designed to provide investors with investment exposure to region, country, sector and industry characteristics generally similar to those of the DJSI World.

The fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives, such as futures, options and forward contracts, as a substitute for investing directly in an underlying asset, to increase returns, to manage foreign currency risk, or as part of a hedging strategy.

[Side Bar]

Concepts to understand

Sustainable: capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.

DJSI World: is a free-float, market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the stock performance of the top 10%, in terms of market capitalization, of the approximately 2,500 companies in the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Index that lead the field in terms of corporate sustainability. The companies in the DJSI World represent primarily developed markets and the weighting of any component company is capped at no more than 10% of the total market capitalization of the DJSI World.

Large capitalization companies: generally, established companies that are considered “known quantities,” with market capitalizations of $[_] billion or more at the time of purchase. Large cap companies often have the resources to weather economic shifts, though they can be slower to innovate than small cap companies.

[ICON]

MAIN RISKS

The fund’s principal risks are discussed below. The value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

    Market risk. The market value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. A security’s market value also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

    Issuer risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s products or services.

    Large cap stock risk. By focusing on large capitalization stocks, the fund may underperform funds that invest in the stocks of lower quality, smaller capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in favor.

    Investment strategy risk. The fund’s sustainability investment criteria may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the fund, and, as a result, at times the fund’s returns may be lower than those of funds that are not subject to such special investment considerations.

    Market sector risk. The fund may significantly overweight or underweight certain companies, industries or market sectors, which may cause the fund’s performance to be more or less sensitive to developments affecting those companies, industries or sectors.

    Growth and value stock risk. By investing in a mix of growth and value companies, the fund assumes the risks of both. Because different types of stocks tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, the fund’s performance may sometimes be lower or higher than that of other types of funds. Investors often expect growth companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately, even if earnings do increase. In addition, growth stocks typically lack the dividend yield that can cushion stock prices in market downturns. Value stocks involve the risk that they may never reach what the portfolio managers believe is their full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the stock’s intrinsic worth, or the portfolio managers misgauged that worth. They also may decline in price even though in theory they are already undervalued.

    Foreign investment risk. To the extent the fund invests in foreign securities, its performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign companies. Special risks associated with investments in foreign companies include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political instability and differing auditing and legal standards. The securities of issuers located in emerging markets can be more volatile and less liquid than those of issuers in more mature economies.

    Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by the fund and denominated in those currencies. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

    Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund’s share price may fall dramatically. Investments in foreign securities tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.

    Derivatives risk. The fund may use derivative instruments, such as options, futures and options on futures (including those relating to stocks, indexes, foreign currencies and interest rates), forward contracts and swaps. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the fund’s performance. The use of derivatives involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value, and there is the risk that changes in the value of a derivative held by the fund will not correlate with the underlying instruments or the fund’s other investments. Derivative instruments also involve the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the derivative instruments to make required payments or otherwise comply with the derivative instruments’ terms.

[Side Bar]

Other potential risks

Under adverse market conditions, the fund could invest some or all of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities and money market securities. Although the fund would do this for temporary defensive purposes, it could reduce the benefit from any upswing in the market. During such periods, the fund may not achieve its investment objective.

The fund may engage in short-term trading, which could produce higher transaction costs and taxable distributions and lower the fund’s after-tax performance.

The fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. In connection with such loans, the fund will receive collateral from the borrower equal to at least 100% of the value of the loaned securities. If the borrower of the securities fails financially, there could be delays in recovering the loaned securities or exercising rights to the collateral.

Although the fund typically invests in seasoned issuers, it may purchase securities of companies in initial public offerings (IPOs) or shortly thereafter. The prices of securities purchased in IPOs can be very volatile. The effect of IPOs on the fund’s performance depends on a variety of factors, including the number of IPOs the fund invests in relative to the size of the fund and whether and to what extent a security purchased in an IPO appreciates or depreciates in value. As a fund’s asset base increases, IPOs often have a diminished effect on such fund’s performance.

 

[Left Side Bar]

What this fund is — and isn’t

This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to reach its stated goal, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer guaranteed results.

An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the potential to make money.

__________________________________

 

[ICON]

PAST PERFORMANCE

As a new fund, past performance information is not available for the fund as of the date of this prospectus.

 

[ICON]

EXPENSES

As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund, which are described in the table below.

Fee table

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Shareholder transaction fees

(fees paid from your account)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum front-end sales charge on

purchases % of offering price

 

5.75

 

none

 

none

 

 

 

 

Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

 

 

none*

 

 

1.00

 

 

none

 

 

 

 

Annual fund operating expenses

(expenses paid from fund assets)

% of average daily net assets

 

 

 

Management fees

.__

.__

.__

Rule 12b-1 fee

    none

.75

none

Shareholder services fee

.25

.25

none

Other expenses

.__

.__

.__

Total

___

___

___

 

__________________

 

*

Shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a CDSC of 1.00% if redeemed within one year.

 

 

Expense example

 

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

Class A

$

$

 

 

 

Class C

 

 

with redemption

$

$

without redemption

$

$

 

 

 

Class I

$

$

 

 

 

 

This example shows what you could pay in expenses over time. It uses the same hypothetical conditions other funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in expenses.  Because actual returns and expenses will be different, the example is for comparison only.

 

 

 

[Right Side Bar]

Concepts to understand

Management fee: the fee paid to Dreyfus for managing the fund’s portfolio and assisting in all aspects of the fund’s operations. Dreyfus has contractually agreed, until _______, 20__, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the expenses of the fund so that the expenses of none of the classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed ____%.

Rule 12b-1 fee: the fee paid to the fund’s distributor for financing the sale and distribution of Class C shares. Because this fee is paid out of the fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time it will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Shareholder services fee: the fee paid to the fund’s distributor for providing shareholder account service and maintenance.

Other expenses: estimated fees to be paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer agency, custody, professional and registration fees. The fund also makes payments to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, who provide sub-administration, recordkeeping and/or sub-transfer agency services to beneficial owners of the fund. Actual expenses may be greater or less than the amounts listed in the table above.

__________________________________

 

[ICON]

MANAGEMENT

Investment adviser

The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation (Dreyfus), 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages approximately $327 billion in approximately 180 mutual fund portfolios. The fund has agreed to pay the investment adviser an investment advisory fee at the annual rate of __% of the fund’s average daily net assets. Dreyfus is the primary mutual fund business of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon), a global financial services company focused on helping clients move and manage their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing asset and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. BNY Mellon has more than $23 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.1 trillion in assets under management, and it services more than $13 trillion in outstanding debt. Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com.

The Dreyfus asset management philosophy is based on the belief that discipline and consistency are important to investment success. For each fund, Dreyfus seeks to establish clear guidelines for portfolio management and to be systematic in making decisions. This approach is designed to provide each fund with a distinct, stable identity.

John R. O’Toole, CFA and Jocelin A. Reed, CFA serve as the fund’s co-primary portfolio managers, positions they have held since the fund’s inception. Mr. O’Toole has been employed by Dreyfus as a portfolio manager since October 1994. He also is a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for Mellon Capital Management Corporation (Mellon Capital), an affiliate of Dreyfus. Ms. Reed has been employed by Dreyfus as a portfolio manager since November 1997. She also is a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for Mellon Capital.

The fund’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers’ ownership of fund shares.

Distributor

The fund’s distributor is MBSC Securities Corporation (MBSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dreyfus. Dreyfus or MBSC may provide cash payments out of its own resources to financial intermediaries that sell shares of the fund or provide other services. Such payments are separate from any sales charges, 12b-1 fees and/or shareholder services fees or other expenses paid by the fund to those intermediaries. Because those payments are not made by you or the fund, the fund’s total expense ratio will not be affected by any such payments. These additional payments may be made to intermediaries, including affiliates, that provide shareholder servicing, sub-administration, recordkeeping and/or sub-transfer agency services, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the financial intermediary. Cash compensation also may be paid from Dreyfus’ or MBSC’s own resources to intermediaries for inclusion of the fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list or in other sales programs. These payments sometimes are referred to as “revenue sharing.” From time to time, Dreyfus or MBSC also may provide cash or non-cash compensation to financial intermediaries or their representatives in the form of occasional gifts; occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; support for due diligence trips; educational conference sponsorship; support for recognition programs; and other forms of cash or non-cash compensation permissible under broker-dealer regulations. In some cases, these payments or compensation may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its employees to recommend or sell shares of the fund to you. Please contact your financial representative for details about any payments they or their firm may receive in connection with the sale of fund shares or the provision of services to the fund.

Code of ethics

The fund, Dreyfus and MBSC have each adopted a code of ethics that permits its personnel, subject to such code, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the fund. The Dreyfus code of ethics restricts the personal securities transactions of its employees, and requires portfolio managers and other investment personnel to comply with the code’s preclearance and disclosure procedures. The primary purpose of the code is to ensure that personal trading by Dreyfus employees does not disadvantage any Dreyfus-managed fund.

________________________________

 

[ICON]

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

As a new fund, financial highlights information is not available for the fund as of the date of this prospectus.

_________________________________

 

YOUR INVESTMENT

[ICON]

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

The fund is designed primarily for people who are investing through a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or financial adviser, or in a 401(k) or other retirement plan. Third parties with whom you open a fund account may impose policies, limitations and fees which are different from those described in this prospectus. Consult a representative of your plan or financial institution for further information.

This prospectus offers Class A, C and I shares of the fund.

Your financial representative may receive different compensation for selling one class of shares than for selling another class. It is important to remember that the CDSCs and Rule 12b-1 fees have the same purpose as the front-end sales charge: to compensate the distributor for concessions and expenses it pays to dealers and financial institutions in connection with the sale of fund shares. A CDSC is not charged on fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of fund dividends.

Deciding which class of shares to buy

The different classes of fund shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will likely have different share prices. When choosing a class, you should consider your investment amount, anticipated holding period, the potential costs over your holding period and whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of the sales charge.

When you invest in Class A shares you generally pay an initial sales charge. Class A shares have no ongoing Rule 12b-1 fees and Class C shares have ongoing Rule 12b-1 fees. Class A and Class C shares are subject to a shareholder service fee. Class I shares are available only to limited types of investors. Please see below for more information regarding the eligibility requirements.

A more complete description of each class follows. You should review these arrangements with your financial representative before determining which class to invest in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Initial sales charge

up to 5.75%

none

none

Ongoing distribution fee
(Rule 12b-1 fee)

none

0.75%

none

Ongoing shareholder service fee

0.25%

0.25%

none

Contingent deferred sales charge

1% on sale of shares bought within one year without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more

1% on sale of shares held for one year or less

none

Conversion feature

no

no

no

Recommended purchase maximum

none

$1 million

none

 

Class A share considerations

When you invest in Class A shares, you pay the public offering price, which is the share price, or net asset value (NAV), plus the initial sales charge that may apply to your purchase. The amount of the initial sales charge is based on the size of your investment, as the following table shows. We also describe below how you may reduce or eliminate the initial sales charge. (See “Sales charge reductions and waivers.”)

Since some of your investment goes to pay an up-front sales charge when you purchase Class A shares, you purchase fewer shares than you would with the same investment in Class C shares. Nevertheless, you are usually better off purchasing Class A shares, rather than Class C shares, and paying an up-front sales charge if you:

 

plan to own the shares for an extended period of time, since the ongoing Rule 12b-1 fees on Class C shares may eventually exceed the cost of the up-front sales charge; and

 

qualify for a reduced or waived sales charge

If you invest $1 million or more (and are not eligible to purchase Class I shares), Class A shares will always be the most advantageous choice.

 

 

 

Class A sales charges

 

 

Purchase amount

Sales charge
as a % of
offering price

Sales charge
as a % of
NAV

Less than $50,000

5.75%

6.10%

$50,000 to $99,999

4.50%

4.70%

$100,000 to $249,999

3.50%

3.60%

$250,000 to $499,999

2.50%

2.60%

$500,000 to $999,999

2.00%

2.00%

$1 million or more*

none

none

*No sales charge applies on investments of $1 million or more, but a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares within one year of the date of purchase.

 

Sales charge reductions and waivers

To receive a reduction or waiver of your initial sales charge, you must let your financial intermediary or the fund know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction or waiver. If you do not let your financial intermediary or the fund know that you are eligible for a reduction or waiver, you may not receive the reduction or waiver to which you are otherwise entitled. In order to receive a reduction or waiver, you may be required to provide your financial intermediary or the fund with evidence of your qualification for the reduction or waiver, such as records regarding shares of Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds held in accounts with that financial intermediary and other financial intermediaries. Additional information regarding reductions and waivers of sales loads is available, free of charge, at www.dreyfus.com and in the SAI.

You can reduce your initial sales charge in the following ways:

 

Rights of accumulation. You can count toward the amount of your investment your total account value in all share classes of the fund and certain other Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds that are subject to a sales charge. For example, if you have $1 million invested in shares of certain other Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds that are subject to a sales charge, you can invest in Class A shares of any fund without an initial sales charge. We may terminate or change this privilege at any time on written notice.

 

Letter of intent. You can sign a letter of intent, in which you agree to invest a certain amount (your goal) in the fund and certain other Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds over a 13-month period, and your initial sales charge will be based on your goal. A 90-day back-dated period can also be used to count previous purchases toward your goal. Your goal must be at least $50,000, and your initial investment must be at least $5,000. The sales charge will be adjusted if you do not meet your goal.

 

Combine with family members. You can also count toward the amount of your investment all investments in certain Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds, in any class of shares that is subject to a sales charge, by your spouse and your children under age 21 (family members), including their rights of accumulation and goals under a letter of intent. Certain other groups may also be permitted to combine purchases for purposes of reducing or eliminating sales charges. (See “How to Buy Shares” in the SAI.)

Class A shares may be purchased at NAV without payment of a sales charge by the following individuals and entities:

 

full-time or part-time employees, and their family members, of Dreyfus or any of its affiliates

 

board members of Dreyfus and board members of the Dreyfus Family of Funds

 

full-time employees, and their family members, of financial institutions that have entered into selling agreements with the fund’s distributor

 

“wrap” accounts for the benefit of clients of financial institutions, provided they have entered into an agreement with the fund’s distributor specifying operating policies and standards

 

qualified separate accounts maintained by an insurance company; any state, county or city or instrumentality thereof; charitable organizations investing $50,000 or more in fund shares; and charitable remainder trusts

 

 

qualified investors who (i) purchase Class A shares directly through the fund’s distributor, and (ii) have, or whose spouse or minor children have, beneficially owned shares and continuously maintained an open account directly through the distributor in a Dreyfus-managed fund, including the fund, or a Founders-managed fund since on or before February 28, 2006

 

investors with cash proceeds from the investor’s exercise of employment-related stock options, whether invested in the fund directly or indirectly through an exchange from a Dreyfus-managed money market fund, provided that the proceeds are processed through an entity that has entered into an agreement with the fund’s distributor specifically relating to processing stock options. Upon establishing the account in the fund or the Dreyfus-managed money market fund, the investor and the investor’s spouse or minor children become eligible to purchase Class A shares of the fund at NAV, whether or not using the proceeds of the employment-related stock options

 

members of qualified affinity groups who purchase Class A shares directly through the fund’s distributor, provided that the qualified affinity group has entered into an affinity agreement with the distributor

 

employees participating in qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans

 

shareholders in Dreyfus-sponsored IRA rollover accounts funded with the distribution proceeds from qualified and non-qualified retirement plans or a Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan, provided that, in the case of a qualified or non-qualified retirement plan, the rollover is processed through an entity that has entered into an agreement with the fund’s distributor specifically relating to processing rollovers. Upon establishing the Dreyfus-sponsored IRA rollover account in the fund, the shareholder becomes eligible to make subsequent purchases of Class A shares of the fund at NAV in such account

Class C share considerations

Since you pay no initial sales charge, an investment of less than $1 million in Class C shares buys more shares than the same investment would in Class A shares. However, you will pay ongoing Rule 12b-1 fees. Over time these fees may cost you more than paying an initial sales charge on Class A shares.

Because Class A shares will always be a more favorable investment than Class C shares for investments of $1 million or more, the fund will generally not accept a purchase order for Class C shares in the amount of $1 million or more. While the fund will take reasonable steps to prevent investments of $1 million or more in Class C shares, it may not be able to identify such investments made through certain financial intermediaries or omnibus accounts.

Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1% CDSC.

Class I share considerations

Since you pay no initial sales charge, an investment of less than $1 million in Class I shares buys more shares than the same investment would in Class A shares. There is also no CDSC imposed on redemptions of Class I shares, and you do not pay any ongoing service or distribution fees.

Class I shares may be purchased by:

 

bank trust departments, trust companies and insurance companies that have entered into agreements with the fund’s distributor to offer Class I shares to their clients

 

institutional investors acting in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity for qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans, including pension, profit-sharing and other deferred compensation plans, whether established by corporations, partnerships, non-profit entities, trade or labor unions, or state and local governments, and IRAs set up under Simplified Employee Pension Plans that have entered into agreements with the fund’s distributor to offer Class I shares to such plans.

 

law firms or attorneys acting as trustees or executors/administrators

 

foundations and endowments that make an initial investment in the fund of at least $1 million

 

sponsors of college savings plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, that maintain an omnibus account with the fund and do not require shareholder tax reporting or 529 account support responsibilities from the fund’s distributor

 

advisory fee-based accounts offered through financial intermediaries who, depending on the structure of the selected advisory platform, make Class I shares available

CDSC waivers

The CDSC on Class A and C shares may be waived in the following cases:

 

permitted exchanges of shares, except if shares acquired by exchange are then redeemed within the period during which a CDSC would apply to the initial shares purchased

 

redemptions made within one year of death or disability of the shareholder

 

redemptions due to receiving required minimum distributions from retirement accounts upon reaching age 70½

 

redemptions of Class C shares made through the fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, if such redemptions do not exceed 12% of the value of the account annually

 

 

redemptions from qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans

 

Buying shares

The NAV of each class is generally calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on days the NYSE is open for regular business. Your order will be priced at the next NAV calculated after your order is received in proper form by the fund’s transfer agent or other authorized entity. When calculating NAV, the fund’s equity investments are valued on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. If 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 materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market), but before the fund calculates its NAV), the fund may value those investments at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the fund’s board. Fair value of investments may be determined by the fund’s board, its pricing committee or its valuation committee in good faith using such information as it deems appropriate under the circumstances. Fair value of foreign equity securities may be determined with the assistance of a pricing service using correlations between the movement of prices of foreign securities and indexes of domestic securities and other appropriate indicators, such as closing market prices of relevant ADRs and futures contracts. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their net asset values. Foreign securities held by the fund may trade on days when the fund does not calculate its NAV and thus may affect the fund’s NAV on days when investors have no access to the fund.

Investments in foreign securities and other thinly traded securities may provide short-term traders arbitrage opportunities with respect to the fund’s shares. For example, arbitrage opportunities may exist when trading in a portfolio security or securities is halted and does not resume, or the market on which such securities are traded closes before the fund calculates its NAV. If short-term investors in the fund were able to take advantage of these arbitrage opportunities they could dilute the NAV of fund shares held by long-term investors. Portfolio valuation policies can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that such valuation policies will prevent dilution of the fund’s NAV by short-term traders. While the fund has a policy regarding frequent trading, it too may not be completely effective to prevent short-term NAV arbitrage trading, particularly in regard to omnibus accounts. Please see “Your Investment—Shareholder Guide—General Policies” for further information about the fund’s frequent trading policy.

Orders to buy and sell shares received by dealers by the close of trading on the NYSE and transmitted to the distributor or its designee by the close of its business day (normally 5:15 p.m. Eastern time) will be based on the NAV determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE that day.

______________________________

 

Minimum investments

 

 

Initial

Additional

 

 

 

Regular accounts

$1,000

$100

Traditional IRAs

   $750

no minimum*

Spousal IRAs

   $750

no minimum*

Roth IRAs

   $750

no minimum*

Education Savings Accounts

   $500

no minimum*

 

All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party checks cannot be accepted. You may be charged a fee for any check that does not clear. Maximum Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase is $150,000 per day.

_________________________

*Minimum Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase is $100.

____________________

 

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Concept to understand

Net asset value (NAV): the market value of one share, computed by dividing the total net assets of a fund or class by its shares outstanding. The fund’s shares are offered at NAV, but Class A shares are subject to a front-end sales charge, and Class C shares generally are subject to higher annual operating expenses and a CDSC.

____________________

 

Selling shares

You may sell (redeem) shares at any time. Your shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after your order is received in proper form by the fund’s transfer agent or other authorized entity. Any certificates representing fund shares being sold must be returned with your redemption request. Your order will be processed promptly and you will generally receive the proceeds within a week.

To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you request to sell shares we will first sell shares that are not subject to a CDSC, and then those subject to the lowest charge. The CDSC is based on the lesser of the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold, and is not charged on fund shares you acquired by reinvesting your fund dividends. As described above in this prospectus, there are certain instances when you may qualify to have the CDSC waived. Consult your financial representative or the SAI for additional details.

Before selling shares recently purchased by check, Dreyfus TeleTransfer or Automatic Asset Builder, please note that:

if you send a written request to sell such shares, the fund may delay sending the proceeds for up to eight business days following the purchase of those shares

the fund will not process wire, telephone, online or Dreyfus TeleTransfer redemption requests for up to eight business days following the purchase of those shares

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Written sell orders

Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees. These include:

 

amounts of $10,000 or more on accounts whose address has been changed within the last 30 days

 

requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address

Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.

A signature guarantee helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts, each signature must be guaranteed. Please call to ensure that your signature guarantee will be processed correctly.

Limitations on selling shares by phone or online

Proceeds

sent by

Minimum
phone/online

Maximum
phone/online

 

 

 

Check*

no minimum

$250,000 per day

 

 

 

Wire

$1,000

$500,000 for joint accounts

every 30 days/$20,000 per day

 

 

 

Dreyfus TeleTransfer

$500

$500,000 for joint accounts every 30 days/$20,000 per day

 

__________________________________

*

Not available online on accounts whose address has been changed within the last 30 days.

 

General policies

Unless you decline teleservice privileges on your application, the fund’s transfer agent is authorized to act on telephone or online instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be you and reasonably believed by the transfer agent to be genuine. You may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone or online order as long as the fund’s transfer agent takes reasonable measures to confirm that instructions are genuine.

The fund is designed for long-term investors. Frequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm fund performance by diluting the value of fund shares and increasing brokerage and administrative costs. As a result, Dreyfus and the fund’s board have adopted a policy of discouraging excessive trading, short-term market timing, and other abusive trading practices (frequent trading) that could adversely affect the fund or its operations. Dreyfus and the fund will not enter into arrangements with any person or group to permit frequent trading.

The fund reserves the right to:

 

 

change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend the privilege during unusual market conditions

 

change its minimum or maximum investment amounts

 

delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to seven days (generally applies only during unusual market conditions or in cases of very large redemptions or excessive trading)

 

“redeem in kind,” or make payments in securities rather than cash, if the amount redeemed is large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it exceeds 1% of the fund’s assets)

 

refuse any purchase or exchange request, including those from any individual or group who, in Dreyfus’ view, is likely to engage in frequent trading

 

More than four roundtrips within a rolling 12-month period generally is considered to be frequent trading. A roundtrip consists of an investment that is substantially liquidated within 60 days. Based on the facts and circumstances of the trades, the fund may also view as frequent trading a pattern of investments that are partially liquidated within 60 days.

Transactions made through Automatic Investment Plans, Automatic Withdrawal Plans, Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privileges, automatic non-discretionary rebalancing programs, and minimum required retirement distributions generally are not considered to be frequent trading. For employer-sponsored benefit plans, generally only participant-initiated exchange transactions are subject to the roundtrip limit.

Dreyfus monitors selected transactions to identify frequent trading. When its surveillance systems identify multiple roundtrips, Dreyfus evaluates trading activity in the account for evidence of frequent trading. Dreyfus considers the investor’s trading history in other accounts under common ownership or control, in other Dreyfus Funds, Dreyfus Founders Funds, Mellon Institutional Funds and BNY Mellon Funds, and if known, in non-affiliated mutual funds and accounts under common control. These evaluations involve judgments that are inherently subjective, and while Dreyfus seeks to apply the policy and procedures uniformly, it is possible that similar transactions may be treated differently. In all instances, Dreyfus seeks to make these judgments to the best of its abilities in a manner that it believes is consistent with shareholder interests. If Dreyfus concludes the account is likely to engage in frequent trading, Dreyfus may cancel or revoke the purchase or exchange on the following business day. Dreyfus may also temporarily or permanently bar such investor’s future purchases into the fund in lieu of, or in addition to, canceling or revoking the trade. At its discretion, Dreyfus may apply these restrictions across all accounts under common ownership, control or perceived affiliation.

Fund shares often are held through omnibus accounts maintained by financial intermediaries, such as brokers and retirement plan administrators, where the holdings of multiple shareholders, such as all the clients of a particular broker, are aggregated. Dreyfus’ ability to monitor the trading activity of investors whose shares are held in omnibus accounts is limited. However, the agreements between the distributor and financial intermediaries include obligations to comply with the terms of this prospectus and to provide Dreyfus, upon request, with information concerning the trading activity of investors whose shares are held in omnibus accounts. If Dreyfus determines that any such investor has engaged in frequent trading of fund shares, Dreyfus may require the intermediary to restrict or prohibit future purchases or exchanges of fund shares by that investor.

Certain retirement plans and intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts with the fund may have developed policies designed to control frequent trading that may differ from the fund’s policy. At its sole discretion, the fund may permit such intermediaries to apply their own frequent trading policy. If you are investing in fund shares through an intermediary (or in the case of a retirement plan, your plan sponsor), please contact the intermediary for information on the frequent trading policies applicable to your account.

To the extent that the fund significantly invests in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the fund calculates its NAV, events that influence the value of these foreign securities may occur after the close of these foreign markets and before the fund calculates its NAV. As a result, certain investors may seek to trade fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these foreign securities at the time the fund calculates its NAV (referred to as price arbitrage). This type of frequent trading may dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders. The fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign equity securities under certain circumstances to reflect what it believes to be their fair value.

To the extent that the fund significantly invests in thinly traded small-capitalization equity securities, certain investors may seek to trade fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities (referred to as price arbitrage). Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the fund’s portfolio to a greater degree than funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the fund may have difficulty selling these portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent redemption requests. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.

Although the fund’s frequent trading and fair valuation policies and procedures are designed to discourage market timing and excessive trading, none of these tools alone, nor all of them together, completely eliminates the potential for frequent trading.

 

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Small account policy

If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance. If it is still below $500 after 45 days, the fund may close your account and send you the proceeds.

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

The fund earns dividends, interest and other income from its investments, and distributes this income (less expenses) to shareholders as dividends. The fund also realizes capital gains from its investments, and distributes these gains (less any losses) to shareholders as capital gain distributions. The fund normally pays dividends and capital gain distributions annually. Fund dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you instruct the fund otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on reinvestments.

Distributions paid by the fund are subject to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local taxes (unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account). For federal tax purposes, in general, certain fund distributions, including distributions of short-term capital gains, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Other fund distributions, including dividends from U.S. companies and certain foreign companies and distributions of long-term capital gains, generally are taxable to you as qualified dividends and capital gains, respectively.

High portfolio turnover and more volatile markets can result in significant taxable distributions to shareholders, regardless of whether their shares have increased in value. The tax status of any distribution generally is the same regardless of how long you have been in the fund and whether you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash.

If you buy shares of a fund when the fund has realized but not yet distributed income or capital gains, you will be “buying a dividend” by paying the full price for the shares and then receiving a portion back in the form of a taxable distribution.

Your sale of shares, including exchanges into other funds, may result in a capital gain or loss for tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment in the fund generally is the difference between the cost of your shares and the amount you receive when you sell them.

The tax status of your distributions will be detailed in your annual tax statement from the fund. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, please consult your tax advisor before investing.

 

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SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS  

The third party through whom you purchased fund shares may impose different restrictions on these services and privileges offered by the fund, or may not make them available at all. Consult your financial representative for more information on the availability of these services and privileges.

Automatic services

Buying or selling shares automatically is easy with the services described below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application, or by calling your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611.

For investing

Dreyfus Automatic
Asset Builder®

For making automatic investments from a designated bank account.

Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan

For making automatic investments through a payroll deduction.

Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege

For making automatic investments from your federal employment, Social Security or other regular federal government check.

Dreyfus Dividend Sweep

For automatically reinvesting the dividends and distributions from the fund into another Dreyfus Fund or certain Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds (not available for IRAs).

For exchanging shares

 

Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege

For making regular exchanges from the fund into another Dreyfus Fund or certain Dreyfus Founders Funds or Mellon Institutional Funds.

For selling shares

 

 

Dreyfus Automatic Withdrawal Plan

For making regular withdrawals from most Dreyfus funds. There will be no CDSC on Class C shares, as long as the amount of any withdrawal does not exceed on an annual basis 12% of the greater of the account value at the time of the first withdrawal under the plan, or at the time of the subsequent withdrawal.

 

Exchange privilege

You can exchange shares worth $500 or more (no minimum for retirement accounts) from one class of the fund into the same class of another Dreyfus Fund, Dreyfus Founders Fund or Mellon Institutional Fund. You can request your exchange by contacting your financial representative. Be sure to read the current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging before investing. Any new account established through an exchange will generally have the same privileges as your original account (as long as they are available). There is currently no fee for exchanges, although you be charged a sales load when exchanging into any fund that has a higher one.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege

To move money between your bank account and your Dreyfus fund account with a phone call or online, use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up Dreyfus TeleTransfer on your account by providing bank account information and following the instructions on your application, or contacting your financial representative. Shares held in an IRA or Education Savings Account may not be redeemed through the Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege.

Reinvestment privilege

Upon written request, you can reinvest up to the number of Class A shares you redeemed within 45 days of selling them at the current share price without any sales charge. If you paid a CDSC, it will be credited back to your account. This privilege may be used only once.

Account statements

Every fund investor automatically receives regular account statements. You will also be sent a yearly statement detailing the tax characteristics of any dividends and distributions you have received.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS

TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT

[ICON]

In Writing

Complete the application.

Mail your application and a check to:

Name of Fund

P.O. Box 55268, Boston, MA 02205-8502

Attn: Institutional Processing

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By Telephone

Wire Call to request an account application and an account number. Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York Mellon, with these instructions:

ABA# 021000018

DDA# 8900480025

the fund name

the share class

your account number

name(s) of investor(s)

dealer number if applicable

Return your application with the account number on the application.

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Online (www.dreyfus.com)

 

________

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Automatically

With an initial investment Indicate on your application which automatic service(s) you want. Return your application with your investment.

TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT

Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.

Mail the slip and the check to:

Name of Fund

P.O. Box 55268, Boston, MA 02205-8502

Attn: Institutional Processing

Wire Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York Mellon, with these instructions:

ABA# 021000018

DDA# 8900480025

the fund name

the share class

your account number

name(s) of investor(s)

dealer number if applicable

Electronic check Same as wire, but insert “666” before your 14-digit account number.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Request Dreyfus TeleTransfer on your application. Call to request your transaction.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Request Dreyfus TeleTransfer on your application. Visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction.

All services Call to request a form to add any automatic investing service (see “Services for Fund Investors”). Complete and return the form along with any other required materials.

 

TO SELL SHARES

Write a letter of instruction that includes:

your name(s) and signature(s)

your account number

the fund name

the share class

the dollar amount you want to sell

how and where to send the proceeds

Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see “Shareholder Guide—Selling Shares”).

Mail your request to:

The Dreyfus Family of Funds

P.O. Box 55268, Boston, MA 02205-8502

Attn: Institutional Processing

Wire Call to request your transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be wired to your bank.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Call to request your transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic check.

Check Call to request your transaction. A check will be sent to the address of record.

Wire Visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be wired to your bank.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic check.

Check Visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction. A check will be sent to the address of record.

Dreyfus Automatic Withdrawal Plan Call to request a form to add the plan. Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of withdrawals you would like.

Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.

[Left Side Bar]

To open an account, make subsequent investments or to sell shares, please contact your financial representative or call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-554-4611.

Make checks payable to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds.

[Right Side Bar]

Concepts to understand

Wire transfer: for transferring money from one financial institution to another. Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a $1,000 minimum.

Electronic check: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear. Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing House (ACH) banks.

__________________________________

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRAS

TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT

[ICON]

In Writing

Complete an IRA application, making sure to specify the fund name and to indicate the year the contribution is for.

Mail your application and a check to:

The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian

P.O. Box 55552, Boston, MA 02205-8568

Attn: Institutional Processing

[ICON]

By Telephone

 

____________________

[ICON]

Online (www.dreyfus.com)

 

____________________

[ICON]

 

Automatically

 

____________________

TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT

Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check. Indicate the year the contribution is for.

Mail the slip and the check to:

The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian

P.O. Box 55552, Boston, MA 02205-8568

Attn: Institutional Processing

Wire Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York Mellon, with these instructions:

ABA# 021000018

DDA# 8900480025

the fund name

the share class

your account number

name of investor

the contribution year

dealer number if applicable

Electronic check Same as wire, but insert “666” before your 14-digit account number.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Request Dreyfus TeleTransfer on your application. Call to request your transaction.

Telephone Contribution Call to request to move money from a regular Dreyfus account to an IRA (both accounts must be held in the same shareholder name).

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Request Dreyfus TeleTransfer on your application. Visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction.

All services Call to request a form to add any automatic investing service (see “Services for Fund Investors”). Complete and return the form along with any other required materials. All contributions will count as current year.

 

TO SELL SHARES

Write a letter of instruction that includes:

your name and signature

your account number 

the fund name

the share class

the dollar amount you want to sell

how and where to send the proceeds

whether the distribution is qualified or premature

whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld

Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see “Shareholder Guide—Selling Shares”).

Mail your request to:

The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian

P.O. Box 55552, Boston, MA 02205-8568

Attn: Institutional Processing

_________________

 

Systematic Withdrawal Plan Call to request instructions to establish the plan.

[Side Bar]

For information and other assistance, contact your financial representative or call toll free in the U.S.

1-800-554-4611.

Make checks payable to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Dreyfus Global Sustainability Fund

A series of Dreyfus Premier Opportunity Funds

SEC file number: 811-9891

More information on this fund is available free upon request, including the following:

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A current SAI is available at www.dreyfus.com and is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SAI is incorporated by reference (is legally considered part of this prospectus).

Portfolio Holdings

 

The fund will disclose its complete schedule of portfolio holdings, as reported on a month-end basis, at www.dreyfus.com, under Mutual Fund Center – Dreyfus Mutual Funds – Mutual Fund Total Holdings. The information will be posted with a one-month lag and will remain accessible until the fund files a report on Form N-Q or Form N-CSR for the period that includes the date as of which the information was current. In addition, fifteen days following the end of each calendar quarter, the fund will publicly disclose at www.dreyfus.com its complete schedule of portfolio holdings as of the end of such quarter.

 

A complete description of the fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the fund’s portfolio securities is available in the fund’s SAI.

 

[Left Side Bar]

To obtain information:

By telephone

Call your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611

By mail Write to:

The Dreyfus Family of Funds

144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard

Uniondale, NY 11556-0144

On the Internet Text-only versions of certain fund documents can be viewed online or downloaded from:

 

SEC http://www.sec.gov

Dreyfus http://www.dreyfus.com

You can also obtain copies, after paying a duplicating fee, by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (for information, call 1-202-551-8090) or by E-mail request to publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

© 2008 MBSC Securities Corporation

 

 

 

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. The Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

 

 

   DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FUNDS

 

DREYFUS GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND
CLASS A, CLASS C AND CLASS I SHARES


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DECEMBER ___, 2008

 

 

This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus, supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of Dreyfus Global Sustainability Fund (the “Fund”), dated December __, 2008, a separate series of Dreyfus Premier Opportunity Funds (the “Company”), as the Prospectus may be revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the Fund’s Prospectus, please call your financial adviser, or write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, visit www.dreyfus.com, or call 1-800-554-4611.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

Description of the Company and Fund

B-2

Management of the Company and Fund

B-17

Management Arrangements

B-21

How to Buy Shares

B-26

Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan

B-32

How to Redeem Shares

B-33

Shareholder Services

B-36

Determination of Net Asset Value

B-40

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

B-41

Portfolio Transactions

B-44

Summary of The Proxy Voting Policy, Procedures and Guidelines of 

 

The Dreyfus Family of Funds

B-48

Information About the Company and Fund

B-49

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

B-51

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND FUND

 

The Company is a Massachusetts business trust that commenced operations on June 26, 2000. The Fund is a separate series of the Company, an open-end management investment company, known as a mutual fund. The Fund is a diversified fund, which means that, with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities of any single issuer nor hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer (other than, in each case, securities of other investment companies, and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).

The Dreyfus Corporation (the “Manager” or “Dreyfus”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

MBSC Securities Corporation (the “Distributor”) is the distributor of the Fund’s shares.

Certain Portfolio Securities

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus.

Common and Preferred Stocks. Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stock has a specified dividend and ranks after bonds and before common stocks in its claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis; profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the Fund may purchase preferred stock where the issuer has omitted, or is in danger of omitting, payment of its dividend. Such investments would be made primarily for their capital appreciation potential. The Fund may purchase trust preferred securities which are preferred stocks issued by a special purpose trust subsidiary backed by subordinated debt of the corporate parent. These securities typically bear a market rate coupon comparable to interest rates available on debt of a similarly rated company. Holders of the trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust and no voting rights with respect to the parent company.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities may be converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock. Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both fixed-income and equity securities. Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. Because of the subordination feature, however, convertible securities typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities.

Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.

Convertible securities provide for a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks, but there can be no assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations. A convertible security, in addition to providing fixed income, offers the potential for capital appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock. There can be no assurance of capital appreciation, however, because securities prices fluctuate. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of the potential for capital appreciation.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in “foreign securities.” Foreign securities include securities of companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States and debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments other than the U.S. government or by foreign supranational entities. They also include securities of companies whose principal trading market is in a country other than the United States or of companies (including those that are located in the United States or organized under U.S. law) that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from foreign businesses, investments or sales, or that have a majority of their assets outside the United States. They may be traded on foreign securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets. Supranational entities include international organizations designated or supported by government entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, the Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank.

Depositary Receipts. The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares (collectively, “ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Shares (collectively, “GDRs”) and other forms of depositary receipts. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. GDRs are receipts issued outside the United States typically by non-United States banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and GDRs in bearer form are designed for use outside the United States.

These securities may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary. A depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities. Purchases or sales of certain ADRs may result, indirectly, in fees being paid to the Depositary Receipt Division of The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of the Manager, by brokers executing the purchases or sales.

Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities issued by registered and unregistered investment companies, including exchange-traded funds described below. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund’s investment in such securities, subject to certain exceptions, currently is limited to (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the aggregate. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, it pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory fees and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

Exchange-Traded Funds. The Fund may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (collectively, “ETFs”) which are designed to provide investment results corresponding to a securities (or commodities) index. These may include Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts (“SPDRs”), DIAMONDS, Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (also referred to as “Nasdaq-100 Shares”) and iShares exchange-traded funds (“iShares”), such as iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund. ETFs usually are units of beneficial interest in an investment trust or represent undivided ownership interests in a portfolio of securities, in each case with respect to a portfolio of all or substantially all of the component securities of, and in substantially the same weighting as, the relevant benchmark index. The benchmark indices of SPDRs, DIAMONDS and Nasdaq-100 Shares are the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq-100 Index, respectively. The benchmark index for iShares varies, generally corresponding to the name of the particular iShares fund. ETFs are designed to provide investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the component securities (or commodities) of the benchmark index. ETFs are listed on an exchange and trade in the secondary market on a per-share basis.

The values of ETFs are subject to change as the values of their respective component securities (or commodities) fluctuate according to market volatility. Investments in ETFs that are designed to correspond to an equity index involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly based portfolio of common stocks, including the risk that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of ETFs invested in by the Fund. Moreover, the Fund’s investments in ETFs may not exactly match the performance of a direct investment in the respective indices to which they are intended to correspond due to the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or other extraordinary circumstances, such as discrepancies with respect to the weighting of securities.

Warrants. A warrant is a form of derivative that gives the holder the right to subscribe to a specified amount of the issuing corporation’s capital stock at a set price for a specified period of time. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in warrants, except that this limitation does not apply to warrants purchased by the Fund that are sold in units with, or attached to, other securities.

Corporate Debt Securities. Corporate debt securities include corporate bonds, debentures, notes and other similar instruments, including certain convertible securities. Debt securities may be acquired with warrants attached. Corporate income-producing securities also may include forms of preferred or preference stock. The rate of interest on a corporate debt security may be fixed, floating or variable, and may vary inversely with respect to a reference rate. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government securities include a variety of U.S. Treasury Securities, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance: Treasury Bills have initial maturities of one year or less; Treasury Notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and Treasury Bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others, such as those issued by the Student Loan Marketing Association, only by the credit of the instrumentality. These securities bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. Principal and interest may fluctuate based on generally recognized reference rates or the relationship of rates. While the U.S. Government provides financial support to such U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so since it is not so obligated by law. The Fund will invest in such securities only when the Fund is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to the issuer is minimal.

Real Estate Investment Trusts. The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level Federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for Federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

REITs are characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs, which may include operating or finance companies, own real estate directly and the value of, and income earned by, the REITs depends upon the income of the underlying properties and the rental income they earn. Equity REITs also can realize capital gains (or losses) by selling properties that have appreciated (or depreciated) in value. Mortgage REITs can make construction, development or long-term mortgage loans and are sensitive to the credit quality of the borrower. Mortgage REITs derive their income from interest payments on such loans. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs, generally by holding both ownership interests and mortgage interests in real estate. The value of securities issued by REITs is affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.

Money Market Instruments. When the Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market instruments, including U.S. Government securities, repurchase agreements, bank obligations and commercial paper. The Fund also may purchase money market instruments when it has cash reserves or in anticipation of taking a market position.

Illiquid Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist, provided such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives. Such securities may include securities that are not readily marketable, such as securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice, and certain privately negotiated, non-exchange traded options and securities used to cover such options. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund’s net assets could be adversely affected.

Investment Techniques

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus.

Borrowing Money. The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund, however, currently intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes. While such borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments. In addition, the Fund may borrow for investment purposes on a secured basis through entering into reverse repurchase agreements, as described below under “Reverse Repurchase Agreements.”

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may borrow for investment purposes on a secured basis through entering into reverse repurchase agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks, broker/dealers or other financial institutions. This form of borrowing involves the transfer by the Fund of an underlying debt instrument in return for cash proceeds based on a percentage of the value of the security. The Fund retains the right to receive interest and principal payments on the security. At an agreed upon future date, the Fund repurchases the security at principal plus accrued interest. As a result of these transactions, the Fund is exposed to greater potential fluctuations in the value of its assets and its net asset value per share. To the extent the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will segregate permissible liquid assets at least equal to the aggregate amount of its reverse repurchase obligations, plus accrued interest, in certain cases, in accordance with releases promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC views reverse repurchase transactions as collateralized borrowings by the Fund. Except for these transactions, the Fund’s borrowings generally will be unsecured.

Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may invest directly in foreign currencies or hold financial instruments that provide exposure to foreign currencies, in particular “hard currencies,” or may invest in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies. “Hard currencies” are currencies in which investors have confidence and are typically currencies of economically and politically stable industrialized nations. To the extent the Fund invests in such currencies, the Fund will be subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.

The Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars, between trade and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed to buy or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already owns, particularly if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which the foreign security is denominated; or to gain or reduce exposure to the foreign currency in an attempt to realize gains.

Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund’s purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short positions in foreign currencies. A short position would involve the Fund agreeing to exchange an amount of a currency it did not currently own for another currency at a future date in anticipation of a decline in the value of the currency sold relative to the currency the Fund contracted to receive. The Fund’s success in these transactions may depend on the Manager’s ability to predict accurately the future exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.

The Fund also may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“forward contracts”) for the purchase or sale of a specified currency at a specified future date. The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. Generally, secondary markets do not exist for forward contracts, with the result that closing transactions can be made for forward contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty to the contract.

Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

Derivatives. The Fund may invest in, or enter into, derivatives for a variety of reasons, including to hedge certain market or interest rate risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities or to increase potential returns. Generally, a derivative is a financial contract whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, and related indexes. Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way for the Fund to invest than “traditional” securities would. Examples of derivative instruments the Fund may use include options contracts, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and swaps. The Fund’s portfolio managers, however, may decide not to employ any of these strategies and there is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by the Fund will succeed.

Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular derivative and the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making investments in specific securities. However, derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in derivatives could have a large potential impact on the Fund’s performance.

If the Fund invests in derivatives at inopportune times or judges market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund’s return or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if its derivatives were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.

Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter derivatives. Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives. This guarantee usually is supported by a variation margin payment system operated by the clearing agency in order to reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives purchased on an exchange. In contrast, no clearing agency guarantees over-the-counter derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-the-counter derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default. Accordingly, the Manager will consider the credit-worthiness of counterparties to over-the-counter derivatives in the same manner as it would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by the Fund. Over-the-counter derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it.

Some derivatives the Fund may use may involve leverage (e.g., an instrument linked to the value of a securities index may return income calculated as a multiple of the price movement of the underlying index). This economic leverage will increase the volatility of these instruments as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying security, index, futures contract, currency or other economic variable. Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the SEC, the Fund may be required to segregate permissible liquid assets, or engage in other measures approved by the SEC or its staff, to “cover” the Fund’s obligations relating to its transactions in derivatives. For example, in the case of futures contracts or forward contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value (generally, the total numerical value of the asset underlying a future or forward contract at the time of valuation) while the positions are open. With respect to futures contracts or forward contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligation (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under cash-settled futures and forward contracts, the Fund may employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts.

Neither the Company nor the Fund will be a commodity pool. The Company has filed notice with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and National Futures Association of its eligibility as a registered investment company for an exclusion from the definition of commodity pool operator and that neither the Company nor the Fund is subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

Futures Transactions--In General. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security or commodity for a set price on a future date. These contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the security or commodity. An option on a futures contract gives the holder of the option the right to buy from or sell to the writer of the option a position in a futures contract at a specified price on or before a specified expiration date.

Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities or commodities, generally these obligations are closed out before delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity with the same delivery date. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Transaction costs also are included in these calculations.

The Fund may enter into futures contracts in U.S. domestic markets or on exchanges located outside the United States. Foreign markets may offer advantages such as trading opportunities or arbitrage possibilities not available in the United States. Foreign markets, however, may have greater risk potential than domestic markets. For example, some foreign exchanges are principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and an investor may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. In addition, any profits the Fund might realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the currency exchange rate, or the Fund could incur losses as a result of those changes. Transactions on foreign exchanges may include both commodities which are traded on domestic exchanges and those which are not. Unlike trading on domestic commodity exchanges, trading on foreign commodity exchanges is not regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Engaging in these transactions involves risk of loss to the Fund which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s net assets. Although the Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an active market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.

Successful use of futures by the Fund also is subject to the Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant market and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract. For example, if the Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such securities instead increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. The Fund may have to sell such securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Specific Futures Transactions. The Fund may invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including those with respect to securities indexes, interest rates and currencies.

The Fund may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts and options thereon. A stock index future obligates the Fund to pay or receive an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the futures contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price of the contract on the contract’s last trading day and the value of the index based on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the opening of trading in such securities on the next business day.

The Fund may purchase and sell currency futures and options thereon. A foreign currency future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific currency at a future date at a specific price.

The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts and options thereon. An interest rate future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific debt security at a future date at a specific price.

Options--In General. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. The Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of the value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or at a specific date. Conversely, a put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or at a specific date.

A covered call option written by the Fund is a call option with respect to which the Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the transaction such as by segregating permissible liquid assets. A put option written by the Fund is covered when, among other things, the Fund segregates permissible liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option to fulfill the obligation undertaken or otherwise covers the transaction. The principal reason for writing covered call and put options is to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. The Fund receives a premium from writing covered call or put options which it retains whether or not the option is exercised.

There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may cease to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher than anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events, at times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or suspensions in one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of customers’ orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options. If, as a covered call option writer, the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise or it otherwise covers its position.

Specific Options Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options in respect of specific securities (or groups or “baskets” of specific securities) or stock indices listed on national securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. An option on a stock index is similar to an option in respect of specific securities, except that settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. Instead, the option holder receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. Thus, the effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index options will depend upon price movements in the level of the index rather than the price of a particular stock.

The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currency. These options convey the right to buy or sell the underlying currency at a price which is expected to be lower or higher than the spot price of the currency at the time the option is exercised or expires.

The Fund may purchase cash-settled options on swaps, as described below, denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currency in pursuit of its investment objective. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date.

Successful use by the Fund of options and options on futures will be subject to the Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual stocks, the stock market generally, foreign currencies or interest rates. To the extent the Manager’s predictions are incorrect, the Fund may incur losses.

Swap Transactions. The Fund may engage in swap transactions, including currency swaps, index swaps and interest rate swaps. The Fund may enter into swaps for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. The Fund also may enter into options on swap agreements, sometimes called “swaptions.”

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of swaps or securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange.

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund are cash settled and calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Thus, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement generally will be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation of permissible liquid assets of the Fund.

A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions, including securities brokerage firms. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally will incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than it will incur when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

The use of swap agreements is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Manager is incorrect in its forecasts of applicable market factors, or a counterparty defaults, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. In addition, it is possible that developments in the swap market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

The Fund will enter into swap agreements only when the Manager believes it would be in the best interests of the Fund to do so. In addition, the Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness (generally, such counterparties would have to be eligible counterparties under the terms of the Fund’s repurchase agreement guidelines).

Future Developments. The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts and any other derivatives which are not presently contemplated for use by the Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and legally permissible for the Fund. Before the Fund enters into such transactions or makes any such investment, the Fund will provide appropriate disclosure in its Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.

Lending Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. In connection with such loans, the Fund remains the owner of the loaned securities and continues to be entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable on the loaned securities. The Fund also has the right to terminate a loan at any time. The Fund may call the loan to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the Fund’s investment is to be voted upon. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan). The Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. If the collateral consists of a letter of credit or securities, the borrower will pay the Fund a loan premium fee. If the collateral consists of cash, the Fund will reinvest the cash and pay the borrower a pre-negotiated fee or “rebate” from any return earned on the investment. The Fund may participate in a securities lending program operated by The Bank of New York Mellon, as lending agent (the “Lending Agent”). The Lending Agent will receive a percentage of the total earnings of the Fund derived from lending its portfolio securities. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund may experience delays in recovering the loaned securities or exercising its rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the Manager to be of good financial standing. In a loan transaction, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund will minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to money market funds advised by the Manager, repurchase agreements or other high quality instruments with short maturities.

Short-Selling. In these transactions, the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. The Fund may make short-sales to hedge positions, for duration and risk management, to maintain portfolio flexibility or to enhance returns. To complete a short-sale transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it subsequently at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund, which would result in a loss or gain, respectively.

The Fund will not sell securities short if, after effect is given to any short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund also may make short sales “against the box,” in which the Fund enters into a short sale of a security it owns or has the immediate and unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost at the time of the sale. At no time will more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets be in deposits on short sales against the box.

Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will: (a) segregate permissible liquid assets in an amount that, together with the amount provided as collateral, always equals the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position.

Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, which means that delivery and payment take place in the future after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery security are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. The Fund will segregate permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of the Fund’s purchase commitments.

Securities purchased on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are subject to changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise) based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities purchased on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s net assets and its net asset value per share.

Certain Investment Considerations and Risks

Investment Criteria. To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are instituting sustainable operating practices or producing sustainable products and services and that meet certain fundamental investment criteria as described in the Prospectus. The Fund’s sustainability investment criteria may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Fund, and, as a result, at times the Fund’s returns may be lower than those of funds that are not subject to such special investment considerations. In addition, if after purchasing a company’s stock, the Fund determines that the company no longer meets the Manager’s sustainability criteria, the Fund may dispose of such company’s stock at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Equity Securities. Equity securities, including common stocks, and certain preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants, fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be pronounced. Changes in the value of the Fund’s investment will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the Fund’s total return to investors.

The Fund may purchase securities of companies offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) or shortly thereafter. An IPO is a corporation’s first offering of stock to the public. Shares are given a market value reflecting expectations for the corporation’s future growth. Special rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) apply to the distribution of IPOs. Corporations offering IPOs generally have limited operating histories and may involve greater investment risk. The prices of these companies’ securities can be very volatile, rising and falling rapidly, sometimes based solely on investor perceptions rather than economic reasons.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the technology sector, which has been among the most volatile sectors of the stock market. Most technology companies involve greater risks because their revenues and earnings tend to be less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses) and their share prices tend to be more volatile. Certain technology companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or may depend on a limited management group. In addition, these companies are strongly affected by worldwide technological developments, and their products and services may not be economically successful or may quickly become outdated. Investor perception may play a greater role in determining the day-to-day value of technology stocks than it does in other sectors. Fund investments made in anticipation of future products and services may decline dramatically in value if the anticipated products or services are delayed or cancelled.

Foreign Securities. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers, as well as instruments that provide investment exposure to foreign securities and markets, involves risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of domestic issuers. Investments in foreign issuers may be affected by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments and in exchange control regulations (e.g., currency blockage). A decline in the exchange rate of the currency (i.e., weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S. dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. A change in the value of such foreign currency against the U.S. dollar also will result in a change in the amount of income a Fund has available for distribution. Because a portion of the Fund’s investment income may be received in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the Fund will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. After the Fund has distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the Fund having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was available from investment income, which could result in a return of capital to shareholders. In addition, if the exchange rate for the currency in which the Fund receives interest payments declines against the U.S. dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to shareholders, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to enable the Fund to pay such dividends. Commissions on transactions in foreign securities may be higher than those for similar transactions on domestic stock markets and foreign custodial costs are higher than domestic custodial coats. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have on occasion been able to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct such transactions.

Foreign securities markets generally are not as developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility of price can be greater than in the United States.

Because evidences of ownership of foreign securities usually are held outside the United States, by investing in such securities the Fund will be subject to additional risks which include possible adverse political and economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and interest on the foreign securities to investors located outside the country of the issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise. Foreign securities held by the Fund may trade on days when the Fund does not calculate its net asset value and thus may affect the Fund’s net asset value on days when investors have no access to the Fund.

Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange control regulations.

The risks associated with investing in foreign securities are often heightened for investments in emerging market countries. These heightened risks include (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small size of the markets for securities of emerging market issuers and the currently low or nonexistent volume of trading, resulting in lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests; and (iv) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment and private property. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging market countries may be constrained by limitations as to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. In certain cases, such limitations may be computed based upon the aggregate trading by or holdings of the Fund or the Manager and their affiliates and clients and other service providers. The Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached. These limitations may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investment to the extent that it invests in certain emerging market countries. In addition, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies which are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain emerging market countries’ currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. If a Fund does not hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities it owns denominated in currencies that are devalued, the Fund’s net asset value will be adversely affected. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years.  Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have adverse effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these countries.

Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by ADRs or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad. A U.S. dollar investment in ADRs or shares of foreign issuers traded on U.S. exchanges may be impacted differently by currency fluctuations than would an investment made in a foreign currency on a foreign exchange in shares of the same issuer.

Investment Restrictions

The Fund’s investment objective is a fundamental policy, which cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 9 as fundamental policies. Investment restrictions numbered 10 through 14 are not fundamental policies and may be changed by a vote of a majority of the Company’s Board members at any time. Except as described below or as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by, or exemptive or other relief from, the SEC or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, and disclosed to investors, the Fund may not:

1.

Invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry, provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or as otherwise permitted by the SEC.

2.

Invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any single issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested, and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or its agencies or instrumentalities and securities of other investment companies may be purchased, without regard to any such limitation.

3.

Hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer. This Investment Restriction applies only with respect to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

4.

Invest in physical commodities or physical commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those related to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices and enter into swap agreements and other derivative instruments.

5.

Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or other mineral leases or exploration or development programs, but the Fund may purchase and sell securities that are secured by real estate or issued by companies that invest or deal in real estate or real estate investment trusts and may acquire and hold real estate or interests therein through exercising rights or remedies with regard to such securities.

6.

Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act (which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets).

7.

Lend any securities or make loans to others, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act (which currently limits such loans to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets). For purposes of this Investment Restriction, the purchase of debt obligations (including acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments) and the entry into repurchase agreements shall not constitute loans by the Fund. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made according to guidelines established by the SEC and the Company’s Board.

 

8.

Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.

9.

Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of borrowing money in accordance with the Fund’s borrowing policies. For purposes of this Investment Restriction, collateral, escrow, or margin or other deposits with respect to the making of short sales, the purchase or sale of futures contracts or options, purchase or sale of forward foreign currency contracts, and the writing of options on securities are not deemed to be an issuance of senior security.

10.

Purchase securities on margin, except for use of short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, but the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts, and except that effecting short sales will be deemed not to constitute a margin purchase for purposes of this Investment Restriction.

11.

Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the purchase of securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed-delivery basis and the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call options and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect to permitted transactions.

12.

Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid, if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets would be so invested.

13.

Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control, but the Fund will vote the securities it owns in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.

14.

Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction. With respect to Investment Restriction No. 6, however, if borrowings exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets as a result of a change in values or assets, the Fund must take steps to reduce such borrowing at least to the extent of such excess.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY AND FUND

 

The Company’s Board is responsible for the management and supervision of the Fund and approves all significant agreements with those companies that furnish services to the Fund. These companies are as follows:

The Dreyfus Corporation

Investment Adviser

MBSC Securities Corporation

Distributor

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.

Transfer Agent

The Bank of New York Mellon

Custodian

 

Board Members of the Company1

 

Board members of Company, together with information as to their positions with the Company, principal occupations and other Board memberships and affiliations, are shown below.

Name (Age)

Position with Company (Since)

 

Principal Occupation

During Past 5 Years

 

 

Other Board Memberships and Affiliations

 

Joseph S. DiMartino (64)

Chairman of the Board (2000)

Corporate Director and Trustee

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Director

Century Business Services, Inc., a provider of outsourcing functions for small and medium size companies, Director

The Newark Group, a provider of a national market of paper recovery facilities, paperboard mills and paperboard converting plants, Director

Sunair Services Corporation, a provider of certain outdoor-related services to homes and businesses, Director

 

 

 

Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. (74)

Board Member (2000)

President of Alexander & Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm (January 1981-present)

Chairman of the Board of Moody’s Corporation (October 2000-October 2003)

Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, Director

 

 

 

David W. Burke (72)

Board Member (2003)

 

Corporate Director and Trustee

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Director

 

 

 

 

Whitney I. Gerard (73)

Board Member (2003)

Partner of Chadbourne & Parke LLP

None

 

 

 

George L. Perry (74)

Board Member (2003)

Economist and Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution

None

_________________________

None of the Board members are "interested persons" of the Company, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Board members are elected to serve for an indefinite term. The Company has standing audit, nominating and compensation committees, each comprised of its Board members who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as defined in the 1940 Act. The function of the audit committee is (1) to oversee the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund’s financial statements and (2) to assist in the Board members’ oversight of the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance. The Company’s nominating committee is responsible for selecting and nominating persons as members of the Board for election or appointment by the Board and for election by shareholders. In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by shareholders, the committee takes into consideration various factors listed in the nominating committee charter, including character and integrity, business and professional experience, and whether the committee believes the person has the ability to apply sound and independent business judgment and would act in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders. The nominating committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders submitted to the Secretary of the Company, c/o The Dreyfus Corporation Legal Department, 200 Park Avenue, 8th Floor East, New York, New York, 10166, which includes information regarding the recommended nominee as specified in the nominating committee charter. The function of the compensation committee is to establish the appropriate compensation for serving on the Board. The Company also has a standing pricing committee comprised of any one Board member. The function of the pricing committee is to assist in valuing the Fund’s investments. The audit committee met [four] times and the pricing committees met [once] during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. The nominating and compensation committees had no meetings during the last fiscal year.

The table below indicates the dollar range of each Board member’s ownership of shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which he or she is a Board member as of December 31, 2007. As the Fund had not commenced offering its shares prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information, none of the Board members owned any shares of the Fund.

Name of Board Member

Aggregate Holding of Funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which Responsible as a Board Member

Joseph S. DiMartino

Over $100,000

Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.

Over $100,000

David W. Burke

Over $100,000

Whitney I. Gerard

Over $100,000

George L. Perry

None

 

As of December 31, 2007, none of the Board members or their immediate family members owned securities of the Manager, the Distributor or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Manager or the Distributor.

The Company pays its Board members its allocated portion of an annual retainer of $80,000 and a fee of $10,000 per in-person meeting ($1,000 per telephone meeting) attended for the Company and thirteen other funds (comprised of 25 portfolios) in the Dreyfus Family of Funds (with a minimum of $5,000 per in-person meeting if the meeting is for fewer than all of such other funds), and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Each Emeritus Board member is entitled to receive an annual retainer of one-half the amount paid as a retainer at the time the Board member became Emeritus and a per meeting attended fee of one-half the amount paid to Board members. The aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Board member by the Company for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, and by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person is a Board member (the number of portfolios of such funds is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board member’s total compensation) for the year ended December 31, 2007, was as follows:

Name of Board Member

 

Aggregate Compensation From the Company*

 

Total Compensation From the Company and Fund Complex Paid to Board Member(**)

Joseph S. DiMartino

 

$[854]

 

$819,865 (196)

Clifford S. Alexander

 

$[684]

 

$235,000 (67)

Lucy Wilson Benson+

 

$[595]

 

$111,660 (35)

David W. Burke

 

$[684]

 

$347,479 (105)

Whitney I. Gerard

 

$[684]

 

$120,782 (35)

Arthur A. Hartman++

 

$[684]

 

$41,750 (33)

George L. Perry

 

$[250]

 

$115,500 (33)

 

___________________________

*

Amount does not include the cost of office space, secretarial services and health benefits for the Chairman and expenses reimbursed to Board members for attending Board meetings, which in the aggregate amounted to $[2,765].

**

Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment companies in the Fund Complex, including the Fund, for which the Board member serves.

+

Emeritus Board member as of August 25, 2007.

++

Emeritus Board member as of March 12, 2006.

 

Officers of the Fund

J. DAVID OFFICER, President since December 2006. Chief Operating Officer, Vice Chairman and a director of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 160 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 60 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1998.

 

PHILLIP N. MAISANO, Executive Vice President since July 2007. Chief Investment Officer, Vice Chair and a director of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 160 portfolios) managed by the Manager. Mr. Maisano also is an officer and/or board member of certain other investment management subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), each of which is an affiliate of the Manager. He is 61 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 2006. Prior to joining the Manager, Mr. Maisano served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EACM Advisors, an affiliate of the Manager, since August 2004, and served as Chief Executive Officer of Evaluation Associates, a leading institutional investment consulting firm, from 1988 until 2004.

 

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001. Director-Mutual Fund Accounting of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 50 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1985.

 

MICHAEL A. ROSENBERG, Vice President and Secretary since August 2005. Assistant General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 48 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1991.

 

JAMES BITETTO, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon and Secretary of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 42 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since December 1996.

 

JONI LACKS CHARATAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1988.

 

JOSEPH M. CHIOFFI, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 46 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 2000.

 

JANETTE E. FARRAGHER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Assistant General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 45 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1984.

 

JOHN B. HAMMALIAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 45 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1991.

 

ROBERT R. MULLERY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 56 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since May 1986.

 

JEFF PRUSNOFSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005. Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 43 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1990.

 

RICHARD S. CASSARO, Assistant Treasurer since January 2008. Senior Accounting Manager – Money Market and Municipal Bond Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 49 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1982.

 

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005. Tax Manager of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 40 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1991.

 

ROBERT S. ROBOL, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005. Senior Accounting Manager – Fixed Income Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1988.

 

ROBERT SALVIOLO, Assistant Treasurer since July 2007. Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 41 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 1989.

 

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since December 2003. Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 177 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 41 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 1990.

 

WILLIAM GERMENIS, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since October 2002. Vice President and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the Distributor, and the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of 73 investment companies (comprised of 173 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 38 years old and has been an employee of the Distributor since October 1998.

 

JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY, Chief Compliance Officer since October 2004. Chief Compliance Officer of the Manager and The Dreyfus Family of Funds (77 investment companies, comprised of 177 portfolios). From November 2001 through March 2004, Mr. Connolly was first Vice-President, Mutual Fund Servicing for Mellon Global Securities Services. In that capacity, Mr. Connolly was responsible for managing Mellon’s Custody, Fund Accounting and Fund Administration services to third-party mutual fund clients. He is 51 years old and has served in various capacities with the Manager since 1980, including manager of the firm’s Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

 

The address of each Board member and officer of the Company is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

As the Fund had not commenced offering its shares prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information, none of the Board members or officers of the Trust owned any shares of the Fund.

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

 

Investment Adviser. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a global financial services company focused on helping clients move and manage their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing asset and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team.

The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Company and the Manager. As to the Fund, the Agreement will continue until _______, 2010, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (i) the Company’s Board or (ii) vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, provided that in either event the continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60 days’ notice, by the Company’s Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s shares or, upon not less than 90 days’ notice, by the Manager. The Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager: Jonathan Little, Chair of the Board; Jonathan Baum, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director; J. Charles Cardona, Vice Chair and a director; Diane P. Durnin, Vice Chair and a director; Phillip N. Maisano, Chief Investment Officer, Vice Chair and a director; J. David Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Vice Chair and a director; Dwight Jacobsen, Executive Vice President; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications; Jill Gill, Vice President–Human Resources; Anthony Mayo, Vice President–Information Systems; Theodore A. Schachar, Vice President–Tax; John E. Lane, Vice President; Jeanne M. Login, Vice President; Gary Pierce, Controller; Joseph W. Connolly, Chief Compliance Officer; James Bitetto, Secretary; and Mitchell E. Harris, Ronald P. O’Hanley III and Scott E. Wennerholm, directors.

The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Company, and furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required services to the Fund. The Manager may pay the Distributor for shareholder services from the Manager’s own assets, including past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The Distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay certain financial institutions (which may include banks), securities dealers (“Selected Dealers”) and other industry professionals (collectively, “Service Agents”) in respect of these services. The Manager also may make such advertising and promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it from time to time deems appropriate.

BNY Mellon and its affiliates may have deposit, loan and commercial banking or other relationships with the issuers of securities purchased by the Fund. The Manager has informed management of the Company that in making its investment decisions it does not obtain or use material inside information that BNY Mellon or its affiliates may possess with respect to such issuers.

The Company, the Manager and the Distributor each have adopted a Code of Ethics that permits its personnel, subject to such Code of Ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The Code of Ethics subjects the personal securities transactions of the Manager’s employees to various restrictions to ensure that such trading does not disadvantage any fund advised by the Manager. In that regard, portfolio managers and other investment personnel of the Manager must preclear and report their personal securities transactions and holdings, which are reviewed for compliance with the Code of Ethics and also are subject to the oversight of BNY Mellon’s Investment Ethics Committee (the “Committee”). Portfolio managers and other investment personnel, who comply with the preclearance and disclosure procedures of the Code of Ethics and the requirements of the Committee, may be permitted to purchase, sell or hold securities which also may be or are held in fund(s) they manage or for which they otherwise provide investment advice.

Portfolio Management. The Manager provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio of investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Company’s Board. The Manager also maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by the Manager. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute purchases and sales of securities. The Fund’s portfolio managers are John R. O’Toole and Jocelin A. Reed. The portfolio managers are dual employees of Dreyfus and Mellon Capital Management Corporation (“Mellon Capital”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of the Manager.

Portfolio Manager Compensation. Mellon Capital portfolio managers responsible for mutual funds and other accounts are generally eligible for compensation consisting of base salary, bonus, and payments under Mellon Capital’s long-term incentive compensation program. All compensation is paid by Mellon Capital and not by the mutual funds.

Mutual fund portfolio managers are also eligible for the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Mellon Capital employees. Certain portfolio managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Mellon Capital provides to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of certain limits due to the tax laws. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement benefits. In addition, mutual fund portfolio managers whose compensation exceeds certain limits may elect to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonus under the BNY Mellon deferred compensation plan.

A portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by the manager’s experience and performance in the role, taking into account the ongoing compensation benchmark analyses. A portfolio manager’s base salary is generally a fixed amount that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties, or when a market adjustment of the position occurs.

A portfolio manager’s bonus is determined by a number of factors. One factor is performance of the mutual fund relative to expectations for how the mutual fund should have performed, given its objectives, policies, strategies and limitations, and the market environment during the measurement period. Additional factors include the overall financial performance of Mellon Capital, the performance of all accounts (relative to expectations) for which the portfolio manager has responsibility, the portfolio manager’s contributions to the investment management functions within the sub-asset class, contributions to the development of other investment professionals and supporting staff, and overall contributions to strategic planning and decisions for the investment group. The target bonus is expressed as a percentage of base salary. The actual bonus paid may be more or less than the target bonus, based on how well the manager satisfies the objectives stated above. The bonus is paid on an annual basis.

Under the long-term incentive compensation program, certain portfolio managers are eligible to receive a payment from Mellon Capital’s long-term incentive compensation plan based on their years of service, job level and, if applicable, management responsibilities. Each year, a portion of the firm’s profits is allocated to the long-term incentive compensation award. The annual awards are paid after three years.

Additional Information About Portfolio Managers. The following table lists the number and types of other accounts advised by each primary portfolio manager and assets under management in those accounts as of ________, 2008:

Portfolio

Manager

Registered Investment Company Accounts

Assets
Managed

Pooled Accounts

Assets Managed

Other Accounts

Assets Managed

John R. O’Toole

[5

$957.6 MM

3

$77.3 MM

15

$395.0 MM]

Jocelin A. Reed

[7

$736.9 MM

3

$153.2 MM

23

$783.1 MM]

 

[Two of the other accounts managed by Mr. O’Toole (approximately $32.2 MM in aggregate assets) and one of the other accounts managed by Ms. Reed (approximately $35.8 MM in aggregate assets) are subject to performance-based advisory fees.]

As the Fund had not offered its shares prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information, none of the portfolio managers owned any shares of the Fund.           

 

Portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for a diverse client base, including mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions such as pension funds, insurance companies and foundations), bank common trust accounts and wrap fee programs (“Other Accounts”).

Potential conflicts of interest may arise because of Dreyfus’ management of the Fund and Other Accounts. For example, conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities, as Dreyfus may be perceived as causing accounts it manages to participate in an offering to increase Dreyfus’ overall allocation of securities in that offering, or to increase Dreyfus’ ability to participate in future offerings by the same underwriter or issuer. Allocations of bunched trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially filled due to limited availability, and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as Dreyfus may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to preferred accounts. IPOs, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. Additionally, portfolio managers may be perceived to have a conflict of interest if there are a large number of Other Accounts, in addition to the Fund, that they are managing on behalf of Dreyfus. Dreyfus periodically reviews each portfolio manager’s overall responsibilities to ensure that he or she is able to allocate the necessary time and resources to effectively manage the Fund. In addition, Dreyfus could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that Dreyfus or its affiliates and/or portfolio managers have a materially larger investment in Other Accounts than their investment in the Fund.

Other Accounts may have investment objectives, strategies and risks that differ from those of the Fund. For these or other reasons, the portfolio managers may purchase different securities for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and the performance of securities purchased for the Fund may vary from the performance of securities purchased for Other Accounts. The portfolio managers may place transactions on behalf of Other Accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made for the Fund, which could have the potential to adversely impact the Fund, depending on market conditions.

A potential conflict of interest may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in another account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by the other account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account.

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

Dreyfus’ goal is to provide high quality investment services to all of its clients, while meeting Dreyfus’ fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly. Dreyfus has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Dreyfus monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with Fund guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with Dreyfus’ Code of Ethics. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Dreyfus periodically review the performance of the portfolio managers for Dreyfus-managed funds.

Expenses. All expenses incurred in the operation of the Company, with respect to the Fund, are borne by the Company, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The expenses borne by the Company, with respect to the Fund, include: taxes, interest, loan commitment fees, interest and distributions paid on securities sold short, brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board members who are not officers, directors, employees or holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Manager or its affiliates, SEC fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees, advisory fees, charges of registrars and custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents’ fees, certain insurance premiums, industry association fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of independent pricing services, costs of maintaining the Company’s existence, costs attributable to investor services (including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of shareholders’ reports and corporate meetings, costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, and any extraordinary expenses. In addition, each Class of shares bears any Class specific expenses allocated to such Class, such as expenses related to the distribution and/or shareholder servicing of such Class. Shares of Class A and Class C are subject to separate annual shareholder services fees, and Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee. See “Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan.”

As compensation for the Manager’s services, the Company has agreed to pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of ___% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets. As the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information is provided on management fees paid by the Fund to the Manager.

The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to reduction as the value of the Fund’s net assets increases.

Distributor. The Distributor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, serves as the Fund’s distributor on a best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement with the Fund which is renewable annually. The Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, BNY Mellon Funds Trust and the Mellon Institutional Funds. Before June 30, 2007, the Distributor was known as “Dreyfus Service Corporation.”

The Distributor compensates certain Service Agents for selling Class A shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), and Class C shares at the time of purchase from its own assets. The proceeds of the CDSC and fees pursuant to the Fund’s Distribution Plan (described below), in part, are used to defray these expenses. The Distributor also may act as a Service Agent and retain sales loads and CDSCs and Distribution Plan fees. For purchases of Class A shares subject to a CDSC and Class C shares, the Distributor generally will pay Service Agents on new investments made through such Service Agents a commission of up to 1% of the net asset value of such shares purchased by their clients. As the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information on retained sales loads is available.

The Distributor may pay Service Agents that have entered into agreements with the Distributor a fee based on the amount invested through such Service Agents in Fund shares by employees participating in qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans, including pension, profit-sharing and other deferred compensation plans, whether established by corporations, partnerships, non-profit entities, trade or labor unions, or state and local governments (“Retirement Plans”), or other programs. The term “Retirement Plans” does not include IRAs, IRA “Rollover Accounts” or IRAs set up under Simplified Employee Pension Plans (“SEP-IRAs”). Generally, the Distributor may pay such Service Agents a fee of up to 1% of the amount invested through the Service Agents. The Distributor, however, may pay Service Agents a higher fee and reserves the right to cease paying these fees at any time. The Distributor will pay such fees from its own funds, other than amounts received from the Fund, including past profits or any other source available to it. Sponsors of such Retirement Plans or the participants therein should consult their Service Agent for more information regarding any such fee payable to the Service Agent.

The Manager or the Distributor may provide additional cash payments out of its own resources to financial intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund or provide other services. Such payments are separate from any sales charges, 12b-1 fees and/or shareholder services fees or other expenses paid by the Fund to those intermediaries. Because those payments are not made by you or the Fund, the Fund’s total expense ratio will not be affected by any such payments. These additional payments may be made to Service Agents, including affiliates, that provide shareholder servicing, sub-administration, recordkeeping and/or sub-transfer agency services, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the Service Agent. Cash compensation also may be paid from the Manager’s or the Distributor’s own resources to Service Agents for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list or in other sales programs. These payments sometimes are referred to as “revenue sharing.” From time to time, the Manager or the Distributor also may provide cash or non-cash compensation to Service Agents in the form of: occasional gifts; occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; support for due diligence trips; educational conference sponsorship; support for recognition programs; and other forms of cash or non-cash compensation permissible under broker-dealer regulations. In some cases, these payments or compensation may create an incentive for a Service Agent to recommend or sell shares of the Fund to you. Please contact your Service Agent for details about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to the Fund.

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Custodian. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, is the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund, the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account records for the Fund, the handling of certain communications between shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and distributions payable by the Fund. For these services, the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of the Manager, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund’s custodian. Under a custody agreement with the Fund, the Custodian holds the Fund’s securities and keeps all necessary accounts and records. For its custody services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on the market value of the Fund’s assets held in custody and receives certain securities transaction charges.

HOW TO BUY SHARES

 

General. Class A and Class C shares of the Fund may be purchased only by clients of certain Service Agents, including the Distributor. Subsequent purchases may be sent directly to the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent. You will be charged a fee if an investment check is returned unpayable. Share certificates are issued only upon your written request. No certificates are issued for fractional shares.

Class I shares are offered only to (i) bank trust departments, trust companies and insurance companies that have entered into agreements with the Distributor to offer Class I shares to their clients, (ii) institutional investors acting in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity for Retirement Plans and SEP-IRAs (Class I shares may be purchased for a Retirement Plan or SEP-IRA only by a custodian, trustee, investment manager or other entity authorized to act on behalf of such Retirement Plan or SEP-IRA that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer Class I shares to such Retirement Plan or SEP-IRA), (iii) law firms or attorneys acting as trustees or executors/administrators, (iv) foundations and endowments that make an initial investment in the Fund of at least $1 million, (v) sponsors of college savings plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under Section 529 of the Code, that maintain an omnibus account with the Fund and do not require shareholder tax reporting or 529 account support responsibilities from the Distributor, and (vi) advisory fee-based accounts offered through financial intermediaries who, depending on the structure of the selected advisory platform, make Class I shares available. Institutions effecting transactions in Class I shares for the accounts of their clients may charge their clients direct fees in connection with such transactions.

The Company reserves the right to reject any purchase order. The Company will not establish an account for a “foreign financial institution,” as that term is defined in Department of the Treasury rules implementing section 312 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. Foreign financial institutions include: foreign banks (including foreign branches of U.S. depository institutions); foreign offices of U.S. securities broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, and mutual funds; non-U.S. entities that, if they were located in the United States, would be securities broker-dealers, futures commission merchants or mutual funds; and non-U.S. entities engaged in the business of a currency dealer or exchanger or a money transmitter.

When purchasing Fund shares, you must specify which Class is being purchased. Your Service Agent can help you choose the share class that is appropriate for your investment. The decision as to which Class of shares is most beneficial to you depends on a number of factors, including the amount and the intended length of your investment in the Fund. Please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus for a further discussion of those factors.

In many cases, neither the Distributor nor the Transfer Agent will have the information necessary to determine whether a quantity discount or reduced sales charge is applicable to a purchase. You or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor whenever a quantity discount or reduced sales charge is applicable to a purchase and must provide the Distributor with sufficient information at the time of purchase to verify that each purchase qualifies for the privilege or discount.

Service Agents may receive different levels of compensation for selling different Classes of shares. Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those described in the Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional information, and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority, may charge their clients direct fees. As discussed under “Management Arrangements—Distributor,” Service Agents may receive revenue sharing payments from the Manager or the Distributor. The receipt of such payments could create an incentive for a Service Agent to recommend or sell shares of the Fund instead of other mutual funds where such payments are not received. Please contact your Service Agent for details about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to the Fund.

For each Class of shares, the minimum initial investment is $1,000. Subsequent investments in the Fund must be at least $100. However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education Savings Accounts, with no minimum for subsequent purchases. The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account Application. For full-time or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50. Fund shares are offered without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements to Board members of a fund advised by the Manager, including members of the Company’s Board, who elect to have all or a portion of their compensation for serving in that capacity automatically invested in the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum purchase requirements to government-sponsored programs or to employees participating in certain Retirement Plans or other programs where contributions or account information can be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the Fund. Fund shares are offered without regard to the minimum initial or subsequent investment amount requirements to investors purchasing Fund shares through wrap fee accounts or other fee-based programs. The Fund reserves the right to vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time.

The Code imposes various limitations on the amount that may be contributed to certain Retirement Plans or government-sponsored programs. These limitations apply with respect to participants at the plan level and, therefore, do not directly affect the amount that may be invested in the Fund by a Retirement Plan or government-sponsored program. Participants and plan sponsors should consult their tax advisers for details.

Fund shares also may be purchased through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder®, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan as described under “Shareholder Services.” These services enable you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware, however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.

Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis. Net asset value per share of each Class is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular business. For purposes of determining net asset value, certain options and futures contracts may be valued 15 minutes after the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset value per share of each Class is computed by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets represented by such Class (i.e., the value of its assets less liabilities) by the total number of shares of such Class outstanding. For information regarding the methods employed in valuing the Fund’s investments, see “Determination of Net Asset Value.”

If an order is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a regular business day, Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on the next regular business day, except where shares are purchased through a dealer as provided below.

Orders for the purchase of Fund shares received by dealers by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on any business day and transmitted to the Distributor or its designee by the close of its business day (usually 5:15 p.m., Eastern time) will be based on the public offering price per share determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, the orders will be based on the next determined public offering price. It is the dealer’s responsibility to transmit orders so that they will be received by the Distributor or its designee before the close of its business day. For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days after the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution could be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.

Class A Shares. The public offering price for Class A shares of the Fund is the net asset value per share of that Class plus a sales load as shown below:

 

Total Sales Load—Class A Shares*

 

Amount of Transaction

As a % of Offering Price Per Share

As a % of Net Asset Value Per Share

Dealers’ Reallowance as a % of
Offering Price

Less than $50,000

5.75

6.10

5.00

$50,000 to less than $100,000

4.50

4.70

3.75

$100,000 to less than $250,000

3.50

3.60

2.75

$250,000 to less than $500,000

2.50

2.60

2.25

$500,000 to less than $1,000,000

2.00

2.00

1.75

$1,000,000 or more

-0-

-0-

-0-

 

*

Due to rounding, the actual sales load you pay may be more or less than that calculated using these percentages.

 

Class A shares purchased without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more will be assessed at the time of redemption a 1% CDSC if redeemed within one year of purchase. The Distributor may pay Service Agents an up-front commission of up to 1% of the net asset value of Class A shares purchased by their clients as part of a $1,000,000 or more investment in Class A shares that are subject to a CDSC. See “Management Arrangements—Distributor.”

The scale of sales loads applies to purchases of Class A shares made by any “purchaser,” which term includes an individual and/or spouse purchasing securities for his, her or their own account or for the account of any minor children, or a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing securities for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account (including a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit trust created pursuant to a plan qualified under Section 401 of the Code), although more than one beneficiary is involved; or a group of accounts established by or on behalf of the employees of an employer or affiliated employers pursuant to an employee benefit plan or other program (including accounts established pursuant to Sections 403(b), 408(k) and 457 of the Code); or an organized group that has been in existence for more than six months, provided that it is not organized for the purpose of buying redeemable securities of a registered investment company and provided that the purchases are made through a central administration or a single dealer, or by other means that result in economy of sales effort or expense.

Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering price of the Fund’s Class A shares. The example assumes a purchase of Class A shares of the Fund aggregating less than $50,000, subject to the schedule of sales charges set forth above at a price based upon a net asset value of $12.50 per share.

 

Class A Shares

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE, per share

$12.50

Per Share Sales Charge – 5.75% of offering price (6.10% of net asset value per share)

0.76

Per Share Offering Price to Public

$13.26

 

Dealers’ Reallowance—Class A Shares. The dealer reallowance provided with respect to Class A shares may be changed from time to time but will remain the same for all dealers.

Class A Shares Offered at Net Asset Value. Full-time employees of member firms of FINRA and full-time employees of other financial institutions that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor pertaining to the sale of Fund shares (or which otherwise have a brokerage related or clearing arrangement with a FINRA member firm or financial institution with respect to the sale of such shares) may purchase Class A shares for themselves directly or pursuant to an employee benefit plan or other program (if Fund shares are offered to such plans or programs), or for their spouses or minor children, at net asset value without a sales load, provided they have furnished the Distributor such information as it may request from time to time in order to verify eligibility for this privilege. This privilege also applies to full-time employees of financial institutions affiliated with FINRA member firms whose full-time employees are eligible to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. In addition, Class A shares are offered at net asset value to full-time or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of the Manager, Board members of a fund advised by the Manager or its affiliates, including members of the Fund’s Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing.

Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load through certain broker-dealers and other financial institutions that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor, which includes a requirement that such shares be sold for the benefit of clients participating in a “wrap account” or a similar program under which such clients pay a fee to such broker-dealer or other financial institution.

Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load, subject to appropriate documentation, by (i) qualified separate accounts maintained by an insurance company pursuant to the laws of any State or territory of the United States, (ii) a State, county or city or instrumentality thereof, (iii) a charitable organization (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code) investing $50,000 or more in Fund shares, and (iv) a charitable remainder trust (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code).

Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load by qualified investors who (i) purchase Class A shares directly through the Distributor, and (ii) have, or whose spouse or minor children have, beneficially owned shares and continuously maintained an open account directly through the Distributor in a Dreyfus-managed fund or a fund managed by Founders Asset Management LLC (“Founders”), an indirect subsidiary of the Manager, since on or before February 28, 2006.

Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load with the cash proceeds from an investor’s exercise of employment-related stock options, whether invested in the Fund directly or indirectly through an exchange from a Dreyfus-managed money market fund, provided that the proceeds are processed through an entity that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor specifically relating to processing stock options. Upon establishing the account in the Fund or Dreyfus-managed money market fund, the investor and the investor’s spouse or minor children become eligible to purchase Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value, whether or not using the proceeds of the employment-related stock options.

Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load by members of qualified affinity groups who purchase Class A shares directly through the Distributor, provided that the qualified affinity group has entered into an affinity agreement with the Distributor.

Class A shares are offered at net asset value without a sales load to employees participating in Retirement Plans. Class A shares also may be purchased (including by exchange) at net asset value without a sales load for Dreyfus-sponsored IRA “Rollover Accounts” with the distribution proceeds from a Retirement Plan or a Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan, provided that, in the case of a Retirement Plan, the rollover is processed through an entity that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor specifically relating to processing rollovers. Upon establishing the Rollover Account in the Fund, the shareholder becomes eligible to make subsequent purchases of Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value in such account.

Right of Accumulation—Class A Shares. Reduced sales loads apply to any purchase of Class A shares by you and any related “purchaser” as defined above, where the aggregate investment including such purchase is $50,000 or more. If, for example, you previously purchased and still hold shares of the Fund or shares of certain other funds advised by the Manager or Founders, or shares of certain Mellon Institutional Funds, that are subject to a front-end sales load or a CDSC or shares acquired by a previous exchange of such shares (hereinafter referred to as “Eligible Funds”), or combination thereof, with an aggregate current market value of $40,000 and subsequently purchase Class A shares of the Fund having a current value of $20,000, the sales load applicable to the subsequent purchase would be reduced to 4.50% of the offering price. All present holdings of Eligible Funds may be combined to determine the current offering price of the aggregate investment in ascertaining the sales load applicable to each subsequent purchase.

To qualify for reduced sales loads at the time of purchase, you or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor if orders are made by wire, or the Transfer Agent if orders are made by mail. The reduced sales load is subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of appropriate records.

Class C Shares. The public offering price for Class C shares is the net asset value per share of that Class. No initial sales charge is imposed at the time of purchase. A CDSC is imposed, however, on redemptions of Class C shares made within the first year of purchase. See “How to Redeem Shares—Contingent Deferred Sales Charge—Class C Shares.”

Class I Shares. The public offering price for Class I shares is the net asset value per share of that Class.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may purchase shares by telephone or online if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents and your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) member may be so designated.

Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders may be made at any time. If purchase orders are received by 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on any day the Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for regular business, Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price determined on that day. If purchase orders are made after 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on any day the Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for regular business, or on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York Stock Exchange is not open for business), Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price determined on the next bank business day following such purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the initial payment for purchase of Fund shares must be drawn on, and redemption proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account Application or Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a particular redemption are to be sent to an account at any other bank, the request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See “How to Redeem Shares—Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege.”

Reopening an Account. You may reopen an account with a minimum investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the calendar year the account is closed or during the following calendar year, provided the information on the old Account Application is still applicable.

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN

 

Class C shares of the Fund are subject to a Distribution Plan, and Class A and Class C shares of the Fund are subject to a Shareholder Services Plan.

Distribution Plan. Rule 12b-1 (the “Rule”) adopted by the SEC under the 1940 Act provides, among other things, that an investment company may bear expenses of distributing its shares only pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with the Rule. The Company’s Board has adopted such a plan (the “Distribution Plan”) with respect to Class C shares of the Fund, pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for distributing such Class of shares a fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class C shares. The Distributor may pay one or more Service Agents in respect of advertising, marketing and other distribution services, and determines the amounts, if any, to be paid to Service Agents and the basis on which such payments are made. The Company’s Board believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Distribution Plan will benefit the Fund and the holders of its Class C shares.

A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Distribution Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the Board for its review. In addition, the Distribution Plan provides that it may not be amended to increase materially the costs that holders of the Fund’s Class C shares may bear pursuant to the Distribution Plan without the approval of the holders of such shares and that other material amendments of the Distribution Plan must be approved by the Company’s Board, and by the Board members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Distribution Plan, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. The Distribution Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Distribution Plan. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not “interested persons” and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Distribution Plan or by vote of the holders of a majority of such class of shares.

As the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information as to the fees paid by Class C pursuant to the Distribution Plan is available.

Shareholder Services Plan. The Company has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan with respect to Class A and Class C shares of the Fund. Pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor for the provision of certain services to the holders of such shares a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class A and Class C shares. 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 such shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Distributor may make payments to certain Service Agents in respect of these services.

A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Shareholder Services Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the Board for its review. In addition, the Shareholder Services Plan provides that material amendments must be approved by the Company’s Board and by the Board members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Shareholder Services Plan, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. As to the Fund, the Shareholder Services Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board members cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Shareholder Services Plan. As to the Fund and relevant Class of shares, the Shareholder Services Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not “interested persons” and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Shareholder Services Plan.

As the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information as to the fees paid by Class A or Class C pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan is available.

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

General. The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form, except as provided by the rules of the SEC. However, if you have purchased Fund shares by check, by Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege or through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder®, and subsequently submit a written redemption request to the Transfer Agent, the Fund may delay sending the redemption proceeds for up to eight business days after the purchase of such shares. In addition, the Fund will reject requests to redeem shares by wire or telephone, online or pursuant to the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, for a period of up to eight business days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the purchase check, the Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase or the Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder order against which such redemption is requested. These procedures will not apply if your shares were purchased by wire payment, or if you otherwise have a sufficient collected balance in your account to cover the redemption request. Fund shares may not be redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.

If you hold shares of more than one Class of the Fund, any request for redemption must specify the Class of shares being redeemed. If you fail to specify the Class of shares to be redeemed or if you own fewer shares of the Class than specified to be redeemed, the redemption request may be delayed until the Transfer Agent receives further instructions from you or your Service Agent.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge—Class C Shares. A CDSC of 1% payable to the Distributor is imposed on any redemption of Class C shares made within one year of the date of purchase. No CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of the Class C shares redeemed does not exceed (i) the current net asset value of Class C shares acquired through reinvestment of Fund dividends or capital gain distributions, plus (ii) increases in the net asset value of your Class C shares above the dollar amount of all your payments for the purchase of Class C shares held by you at the time of redemption.

If the aggregate value of Class C shares redeemed has declined below their original cost as a result of the Fund’s performance, a CDSC may be applied to the then-current net asset value rather than the purchase price.

In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the calculation will be made in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate. It will be assumed that the redemption is made first of amounts representing Class C shares of the Fund acquired pursuant to the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions; then, of amounts representing the increase in net asset value of Class C shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of Class C shares made during the preceding year; and finally, of amounts representing the cost of shares held for the longest period.

For example, assume an investor purchased 100 shares of the Fund at $10 per share for a cost of $1,000. Subsequently, the shareholder acquired five additional Fund shares through the reinvestment of Fund dividends. Within a year after the purchase the investor decided to redeem $500 of the investment. Assuming at the time of the redemption the net asset value had appreciated to $12 per share, the value of the investor’s shares would be $1,260 (105 shares at $12 per share). The CDSC would not be applied to the value of the reinvested dividend shares and the amount that represents appreciation ($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500 redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260) would be charged at a rate of 1% for a total CDSC of $2.40.

Waiver of CDSC. The CDSC may be waived in connection with (a) redemptions made within one year after the death or disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code, of the shareholder, (b) redemptions by employees participating in Retirement Plans, (c) redemptions as a result of a combination of any investment company with the Fund by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise, (d) a distribution following retirement under a tax-deferred retirement plan or upon attaining age 70½ in the case of an IRA or Keogh plan or custodial account pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code, and (e) redemptions pursuant to the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, as described below. If the Company’s Board determines to discontinue the waiver of the CDSC, the disclosure herein will be revised appropriately. Any Fund shares subject to a CDSC which were purchased prior to the termination of such waiver will have the CDSC waived, as provided in the Fund’s Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information at the time of the purchase of such shares.

To qualify for a waiver of the CDSC, at the time of redemption you or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such qualification is subject to confirmation of your entitlement.

Reinvestment Privilege. Upon written request, you may reinvest up to the number of Class A shares you have redeemed, within 45 days of redemption, at the then-prevailing net asset value without a sales load, or reinstate your account for the purpose of exercising Fund Exchanges. Upon reinstatement, if such shares were subject to a CDSC, your account will be credited with an amount equal to the CDSC previously paid upon redemption of the shares reinvested. The Reinvestment Privilege may be exercised only once.

Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephone, letter or online redemption instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be you, or a representative of your Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Ordinarily, the Company will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum) will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the commercial bank account specified by you on the Account Application or Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if your bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are imposed by such bank and borne by the investor. Immediate notification by the correspondent bank to your bank is necessary to avoid a delay in crediting the funds to your bank account.

To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent. This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature guaranteed as described below under “Stock Certificates; Signatures.”

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone or online that redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an ACH member may be designated. You should be aware that if you have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction will be effected through the ACH system unless more prompt transmittal specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two business days after receipt of the redemption request. Shares held in an IRA or Education Savings Account may not be redeemed through the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. See “How to Buy Shares—Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege.”

Redemption Through a Selected Dealer. If you are a customer of a Selected Dealer, you may make redemption requests to your Selected Dealer. If the Selected Dealer transmits the redemption request so that it is received by the Transfer Agent prior to the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption request will be effective on that day. If the Transfer Agent receives a redemption request after the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, the redemption request will be effective on the next business day. It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to transmit a request so that it is received in a timely manner. The proceeds of the redemption are credited to your account with the Selected Dealer. See “How to Buy Shares” for a discussion of additional conditions or fees that may be imposed upon redemption.

In addition, the Distributor or its designee will accept orders from Selected Dealers with which the Distributor has sales agreements for the repurchase of shares held by shareholders. Repurchase orders received by dealers by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on any business day and transmitted to the Distributor or its designee prior to the close of its business day (usually 5:15 p.m., Eastern time), are effected at the price determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, the shares will be redeemed at the next determined net asset value. It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to transmit orders on a timely basis. The Selected Dealer may charge the shareholder a fee for executing the order. This repurchase arrangement is discretionary and may be withdrawn at any time.

Share Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request. A fee may be imposed to replace lost or stolen certificates, or certificates that were never received. Written redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including each holder of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed. Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor and “Signature-Guaranteed” must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent may request additional documentation from corporations, executors, administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept other suitable verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as consular verification. For more information with respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers listed on the cover.

Redemption Commitment. The Company has committed itself to pay in cash all redemption requests by any shareholder of record of the Fund, limited in amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable without the prior approval of the SEC. In the case of requests for redemption from the Fund in excess of such amount, the Company’s Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets of the Fund in case of an emergency or any time a cash distribution would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the existing shareholders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the same manner as the Fund’s portfolio is valued. If the recipient sells such securities, brokerage charges would be incurred.

Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b) when the SEC determines that trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or when an emergency exists as determined by the SEC so that disposal of the Fund’s investments or determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable or (c) for such other periods as the SEC by order may permit to protect the Fund’s shareholders.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

 

Fund Exchanges. You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, shares of the same Class of certain funds advised by Founders, shares of the same Class of certain Mellon Institutional Funds, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Shares of other funds purchased by exchange will be purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:

 

A.

Exchanges for shares of funds offered without a sales load will be made without a sales load.

 

B.

Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.

 

C.

Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged without a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a sales load.

 

D.

Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales load, and additional shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively referred to herein as “Purchased Shares”) may be exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein as “Offered Shares”), but if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load that could have been imposed in connection with the Purchased Shares (at the time the Purchased Shares were acquired), without giving effect to any reduced loads, the difference may be deducted.

 

E.

Shares of funds subject to a CDSC that are exchanged for shares of another fund will be subject to the higher applicable CDSC of the two funds and, for purposes of calculating CDSC rates and conversion periods, if any, will be deemed to have been held since the date the shares being exchanged were initially purchased.

To accomplish an exchange under item D above, you, or your Service Agent acting on your behalf, must notify the Transfer Agent of your prior ownership of Fund shares and your account number.

You also may exchange your Fund shares that are subject to a CDSC for shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. The shares so purchased will be held in a special account created solely for this purpose (“Exchange Account”). Exchanges of shares for an Exchange Account only can be made into certain other funds managed or administered by the Manager. No CDSC is charged when an investor exchanges into an Exchange Account; however, the applicable CDSC will be imposed when shares are redeemed from an Exchange Account or other applicable Fund account. Upon redemption, the applicable CDSC will be calculated without regard to the time such shares were held in an Exchange Account. See “How to Redeem Shares.” Redemption proceeds for Exchange Account shares are paid by Federal wire or check only. Exchange Account shares also are eligible for the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege and the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

To request an exchange, you, or your Service Agent acting on your behalf, must give exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in writing, by telephone or online. The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone or online is given to all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable “No” box on the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this privilege. By using this privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic and online instructions (including over the Dreyfus Express® voice response telephone system) from any person representing himself or herself to be you or a representative of your Service Agent and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Exchanges may be subject to limitations as to the amount involved or the number of exchanges permitted. Shares issued in certificate form are not eligible for telephone or online exchange. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the SEC.

Exchanges of Class I shares held by a Retirement Plan may be made only between the investor’s Retirement Plan account in one fund and such investor’s Retirement Plan account in another fund.

To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment required for shares of the same class of the fund into which the exchange is being made.

During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Company may suspend Fund Exchanges temporarily without notice and treat exchange requests based on their separate components--redemption orders with a simultaneous request to purchase the other fund’s shares. In such a case, the redemption request would be processed at the Fund’s next determined net asset value but the purchase order would be effective only at the net asset value next determined after the fund being purchased receives the proceeds of the redemption, which may result in the purchase being delayed.

Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege permits you to purchase (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, shares of the same Class of certain funds advised by Founders, shares of the same Class of certain Mellon Institutional Funds, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. This Privilege is available only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of relative net asset value as described above under “Fund Exchanges.” Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three business days following notification by you. You will be notified if your account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged under this Privilege. In this case, your account will fall to zero unless additional investments are made in excess of the designated amount prior to the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares held under an IRA and other retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares may be made between IRA accounts and from regular accounts to IRA accounts, but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts. With respect to all other retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only among those accounts.

Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be obtained by calling 1-800-554-4611 or visiting www.dreyfus.com. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange request in whole or in part. Shares may be exchanged only between accounts having certain identical identifying designations. The Fund Exchanges service or Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders.

Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder®. Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.

Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege. Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social Security, or certain veterans’, military or other payments from the U.S. Government automatically deposited into your Fund account.

Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a regular basis. Depending upon your employer’s direct deposit program, you may have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus account electronically through the ACH system at each pay period. To establish a Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an authorization form with your employer’s payroll department. It is the sole responsibility of your employer to arrange for transactions under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan.

Dreyfus Dividend Options. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows you to invest automatically your dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, shares of the same Class of certain funds advised by Founders, shares of the same Class of certain Mellon Institutional Funds, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Shares of the same Class of other funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:

 

A.

Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested without a sales load in shares of other funds offered without a sales load.

 

B.

Dividends and distributions paid by a fund that does not charge a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.

 

C.

Dividends and distributions paid by a fund that charges a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein as “Offered Shares”), but if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load charged by the fund from which dividends or distributions are being swept (without giving effect to any reduced loads), the difference may be deducted.

 

D.

Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in shares of other funds that impose a CDSC and the applicable CDSC, if any, will be imposed upon redemption of such shares.

Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an ACH member may be so designated. Banks may charge a fee for this service.

Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and distributions, your shares will be reduced and eventually may be depleted. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be established by filing an Automatic Withdrawal Plan application with the Transfer Agent or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on the account by calling 1-800-554-4611. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

No CDSC with respect to Class C shares will be imposed on withdrawals made under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, provided that any amount withdrawn under the plan does not exceed on an annual basis 12% of the greater of (1) the account value at the time of the first withdrawal under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, or (2) the account value at the time of the subsequent withdrawal. Withdrawals with respect to Class C shares under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan that exceed such amounts will be subject to a CDSC. Withdrawals of Class A shares subject to a CDSC under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Purchases of additional Class A shares where the sales load is imposed concurrently with withdrawals of Class A shares generally are undesirable.

Certain Retirement Plans, including Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plans, may permit certain participants to establish an automatic withdrawal plan from such Retirement Plans. Participants should consult their Retirement Plan sponsor and tax adviser for details. Such a withdrawal plan is different than the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

Letter of Intent—Class A Shares. By signing a Letter of Intent form, you become eligible for the reduced sales load on purchases of Class A shares based on the total number of shares of Eligible Funds (as defined under “Right of Accumulation” above) purchased by you and any related “purchaser” (as defined above) in a 13-month period pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Letter of Intent. Shares of any Eligible Fund purchased within 90 days prior to the submission of the Letter of Intent may be used to equal or exceed the amount specified in the Letter of Intent. A minimum initial purchase of $5,000 is required. You can obtain a Letter of Intent form by calling 1-800-554-4611.

Each purchase you make during the 13-month period (which begins on the date you submit the Letter of Intent) will be at the public offering price applicable to a single transaction of the aggregate dollar amount you select in the Letter of Intent. The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow 5% of the amount indicated in the Letter of Intent, which may be used for payment of a higher sales load if you do not purchase the full amount indicated in the Letter of Intent. When you fulfill the terms of the Letter of Intent by purchasing the specified amount the escrowed amount will be released and additional shares representing such amount credited to your account. If your purchases meet the total minimum investment amount specified in the Letter of Intent within the 13-month period, an adjustment will be made at the conclusion of the 13-month period to reflect any reduced sales load applicable to shares purchased during the 90-day period prior to submission of the Letter of Intent. If your purchases qualify for a further sales load reduction, the sales load will be adjusted to reflect your total purchase at the end of 13 months. If total purchases are less than the amount specified, the offering price of the shares you purchased (including shares representing the escrowed amount) during the 13-month period will be adjusted to reflect the sales load applicable to the aggregate purchases you actually made (which will reduce the number of shares in your account), unless you have redeemed the shares in your account, in which case the Transfer Agent, as attorney-in-fact pursuant to the terms of the Letter of Intent, will redeem an appropriate number of Class A shares of the Fund held in escrow to realize the difference between the sales load actually paid and the sales load applicable to the aggregate purchases actually made and any remaining shares will be credited to your account. Signing a Letter of Intent does not bind you to purchase, or the Fund to sell, the full amount indicated at the sales load in effect at the time of signing, but you must complete the intended purchase to obtain the reduced sales load. At the time you purchase Class A shares, you must indicate your intention to do so under a Letter of Intent. Purchases pursuant to a Letter of Intent will be made at the then-current net asset value plus the applicable sales load in effect at the time such Letter of Intent was submitted.

Corporate Pension/Profit-Sharing and Retirement Plans. The Company makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and profit-sharing plans, including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan. In addition, the Company makes available Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, and rollover IRAs), Education Savings Accounts and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are available.

If you wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan, an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, you may request from the Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.

The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares. All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.

Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may not be made in advance of receipt of funds.

You should read the prototype retirement plan and the appropriate form of custodial agreement for further details on eligibility, service fees and tax implications, and should consult a tax adviser.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

Valuation of Portfolio Securities. The Fund’s investments are valued on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. The Fund’s portfolio securities, including covered call options written by the Fund, are valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange or national market on which such securities primarily are traded. Securities listed on the Nasdaq National Market System for which market quotations are available are valued at the official closing price or, if there is no official closing price on that day, at the last sale price. Securities not listed on an exchange or national securities market, or securities for which there were no transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices, except that open short positions are valued at the asked price. Bid price is used when no asked price is available. Market quotations of foreign securities in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Any assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currency will be translated into U.S. dollars at the midpoint of the New York interbank market spot exchange rate as quoted on the day of such translation by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if no such rate is quoted on such date, such other quoted market exchange rate as may be determined to be appropriate by the Manager. Forward currency contracts will be valued at the current cost of offsetting the contract. If the Fund has to obtain prices as of the close of trading on various exchanges throughout the world, the calculation of net asset value may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of prices of certain of the Fund’s securities. Short-term investments may be carried at amortized cost, which approximates value. Expenses and fees, including the management fee (reduced by the expense limitation, if any) and fees pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan, with respect to Class A and Class C shares only, and pursuant to the Distribution Plan, with respect to Class C shares only, are accrued daily and are taken into account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of the relevant Class of shares. Because of the difference in operating expenses incurred by each Class, the per share net asset value of each Class will differ.

Restricted securities, as well as securities or other assets for which recent market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available or are determined by the Fund not to reflect accurately fair value (such as when the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) but before the Company calculates its NAV) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith based on procedures approved by the Company’s Board. Fair value of investments may be determined by the Company’s Board, its pricing committee or its valuation committee using such information as it deems appropriate. The factors that may be considered when fair valuing a security include 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 or sold, and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers. Fair value of foreign equity securities may be determined with the assistance of a pricing service using correlations between the movement of prices of foreign securities and indices of domestic securities and other appropriate indicators, such as closing market prices of relevant ADRs and futures contracts. The valuation of a security based on fair value procedures may differ from the security’s most recent closing price, and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their net asset values. Foreign securities held by the Fund may trade on days that the Fund is not open for business, thus affecting the value of the Fund’s assets on days when Fund investors have no access to the Fund. Restricted securities which are, or are convertible into, securities of the same class of other securities for which a public market exists usually will be valued at such market value less the same percentage discount at which the restricted securities were purchased. This discount will be revised periodically by the Board if the Board members believe that it no longer reflects the value of the restricted securities. Restricted securities not of the same class as securities for which a public market exists usually will be valued initially at cost. Any subsequent adjustment from cost will be based upon considerations deemed relevant by the Company’s Board.

New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Management expects that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders. As a RIC, the Fund will pay no Federal income tax on net investment income and net realized securities gains to the extent that such income and gains are distributed to shareholders in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. To qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things: (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, securities or foreign currencies or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stocks, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code) (all such income items, “qualifying income”); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of a single issuer, two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code); and (c) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) to its shareholders each taxable year. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC, it will be treated for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation subject to Federal income tax. The term “regulated investment company” does not imply the supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency.

If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash, and your dividend or distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest such dividend or distribution and all future dividends and distributions payable to you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.

Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor’s purchase of Fund shares may have the effect of reducing the aggregate net asset value of the shares below the cost of the investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a return of capital taxable as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds shares of the Fund for six months or less and has received a capital gain distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain distribution received.

In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends) paid by the Fund to U.S. individual shareholders may be eligible for the 15% preferential maximum tax rate to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations on shares that have been held by the Fund for at least 61 days during the 121-day period commencing 60 days before the shares become ex-dividend. In order to be eligible for the preferential rate, the investor in the Fund must have held his or her shares in the Fund for at least 61 days during the 121-day period commencing 60 days before the Fund shares become ex-dividend. Additional restrictions on an investor’s qualification for the preferential rate may apply.

In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends) paid by the Fund to U.S. corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations on shares that have been held by the Fund for at 46 days during the 91-day period commencing 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend. In order to claim the dividends received deduction, the investor in the Fund must have held its shares in the Fund for a least 46 days during the 91-day period commencing 45 days before the Fund shares become ex-dividend. Additional restrictions on an investor’s ability to claim the dividends received deduction may apply.

Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will be treated as capital gains and losses. However, a portion of the gain or loss realized from the disposition of foreign currencies and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities (including debt instruments and certain futures or forward contracts and options) may be treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition, all or a portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as ordinary income. Finally, all or a portion of the gain realized from engaging in “conversion transactions” (generally including certain transactions designed to convert ordinary income into capital gain) may be treated as ordinary income.

Gain or loss, if any, realized by the Fund from certain financial futures or forward contracts and options transactions (“Section 1256 contracts”) will be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss will arise upon exercise or lapse of Section 1256 contracts as well as from closing transactions. In addition, any Section 1256 contracts remaining unexercised at the end of the Fund’s taxable year will be treated as sold for their then fair market value, resulting in additional gain or loss to the Fund.

Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain financial futures or forward contracts or options transactions with respect to actively traded personal property may be considered, for tax purposes, to constitute “straddles.” To the extent the straddle rules apply to positions established by the Fund, losses realized by the Fund may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in the offsetting position. In addition, short-term capital loss on straddle positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gains on straddle positions may be treated as short-term capital gains or ordinary income. Certain of the straddle positions held by the Fund may constitute “mixed straddles.” The Fund may make one or more elections with respect to the treatment of “mixed straddles,” resulting in different tax consequences. In certain circumstances, the provisions governing the tax treatment of straddles override or modify certain of the provisions discussed above.

If the Fund either (1) holds an appreciated financial position with respect to stock, certain debt obligations, or partnership interests (“appreciated financial position”) and then enters into a short sale, futures, forward, or offsetting notional principal contract (collectively, a “Contract”) with respect to the same or substantially identical property or (2) holds an appreciated financial position that is a Contract and then acquires property that is the same as, or substantially identical to, the underlying property, the Fund generally will be taxed as if the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market value on the date the Fund enters into the financial position or acquires the property, respectively. The foregoing will not apply, however, to any transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day period is the Fund’s risk of loss regarding that position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale, or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).

If the Fund enters into certain derivatives (including forward contracts, long positions under notional principal contracts, and related puts and calls) with respect to equity interests in certain pass-thru entities (including other regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, partnerships, real estate mortgage investment conduits and certain trusts and foreign corporations), long-term capital gain with respect to the derivative may be recharacterized as ordinary income to the extent it exceeds the long-term capital gain that would have been realized had the interest in the pass-thru entity been held directly by the Fund during the term of the derivative contract. Any gain recharacterized as ordinary income will be treated as accruing at a constant rate over the term of the derivative contract and may be subject to an interest charge. The Treasury has authority to issue regulations expanding the application of these rules to derivatives with respect to debt instruments and/or stock in corporations that are not pass-thru entities.

If the Fund invests in an entity that is classified as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for Federal income tax purposes, the operation of certain provisions of the Code applying to PFICs could result in the imposition of certain Federal income taxes on the Fund. In addition, gain realized from the sale or other disposition of PFIC securities may be treated as ordinary income.

Investment by the Fund in securities issued or acquired at a discount, or providing for deferred interest or for payment of interest in the form of additional obligations could under special tax rules affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders by causing the Fund to recognize income prior to the receipt of cash payments. For example, the Fund could be required each year to accrue a portion of the discount (or deemed discount) at which the securities were issued and to distribute such income in order to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company. In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of securities which it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash to satisfy the distribution requirements.

Federal regulations require that you provide a certified taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) upon opening or reopening an account. See the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement. Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Company could subject you to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

 

General. The Manager assumes general supervision over the placement of securities purchase and sale orders on behalf of the funds it manages. Funds managed by dual employees of the Manager and an affiliated entity, and funds with a sub-investment adviser, execute portfolio transactions through the trading desk of the affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser, as applicable (the “Trading Desk”). Those funds use the research facilities, and are subject to the internal policies and procedures, of applicable affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser.

The Trading Desk generally has the authority to select brokers (for equity securities) or dealers (for fixed income securities) and the commission rates or spreads to be paid. Allocation of brokerage transactions is made in the best judgment of the Trading Desk and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable. In choosing brokers or dealers, the Trading Desk evaluates the ability of the broker or dealer to execute the transaction at the best combination of price and quality of execution.

In general, brokers or dealers involved in the execution of portfolio transactions on behalf of a fund are selected on the basis of their professional capability and the value and quality of their services. The Trading Desk attempts to obtain best execution for the funds by choosing brokers or dealers to execute transactions based on a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) price; (ii) liquidity; (iii) the nature and character of the relevant market for the security to be purchased or sold; (iv) the quality and efficiency of the broker’s or dealer’s execution; (v) the broker’s or dealer’s willingness to commit capital; (vi) the reliability of the broker or dealer in trade settlement and clearance; (vii) the level of counter-party risk (i.e., the broker’s or dealer’s financial condition); (viii) the commission rate or the spread; (ix) the value of research provided;  (x) the availability of electronic trade entry and reporting links; and (xi) the size and type of order (e.g., foreign or domestic security, large block, illiquid security). In selecting brokers or dealers no factor is necessarily determinative; however, at various times and for various reasons, certain factors will be more important than others in determining which broker or dealer to use. Seeking to obtain best execution for all trades takes precedence over all other considerations.

Investment decisions for one fund or account are made independently from those for other funds or accounts managed by the portfolio managers. Under the Trading Desk’s procedures, portfolio managers and their corresponding Trading Desks may seek to aggregate (or “bunch”) orders that are placed or received concurrently for more than one fund or account. In some cases, this policy may adversely affect the price paid or received by a fund or an account, or the size of the position obtained or liquidated. As noted above, certain brokers or dealers may be selected because of their ability to handle special executions such as those involving large block trades or broad distributions, provided that the primary consideration of best execution is met. Generally, when trades are aggregated, each fund or account within the block will receive the same price and commission. However, random allocations of aggregate transactions may be made to minimize custodial transaction costs. In addition, at the close of the trading day, when reasonable and practicable, the completed securities of partially filled orders will generally be allocated to each participating fund and account in the proportion that each order bears to the total of all orders (subject to rounding to “round lot” amounts and other relevant factors).

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year. In periods in which extraordinary market conditions prevail, the portfolio managers will not be deterred from changing the Fund’s investment strategy as rapidly as needed, in which case higher turnover rates can be anticipated which would result in greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by the Trading Desk based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. Higher portfolio turnover rates usually generate additional brokerage commissions and transaction costs, and any short-term gains realized from these transactions are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

To the extent that a fund invests in foreign securities, certain of such fund’s transactions in those securities may not benefit from the negotiated commission rates available to funds for transactions in securities of domestic issuers. For funds that permit foreign exchange transactions, such transactions are made with banks or institutions in the interbank market at prices reflecting a mark-up or mark-down and/or commission.

The portfolio managers may deem it appropriate for one fund or account they manage to sell a security while another fund or account they manage is purchasing the same security. Under such circumstances, the portfolio managers may arrange to have the purchase and sale transactions effected directly between the funds and/or accounts (“cross transactions”). Cross transactions will be effected in accordance with procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Funds and accounts managed by the Manager, an affiliated entity or a sub-investment adviser may own significant positions in portfolio companies which, depending on market conditions, may affect adversely the ability to dispose of some or all of such positions.

As the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information on brokerage fees or commissions paid by the Fund is provided.

The Fund contemplates that, consistent with the policy of seeking best price and execution, brokerage transactions may be conducted through affiliates of the Manager. The Board has adopted procedures in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act to ensure that all brokerage commissions paid to affiliates of the Manager are reasonable and fair.

Soft Dollars. The term “soft dollars” is commonly understood to refer to arrangements where an investment adviser uses client (or fund) brokerage commissions to pay for research and other services to be used by the investment adviser. Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 provides a “safe harbor” that permits investment advisers to enter into soft dollar arrangements if the investment adviser determines in good faith that the amount of the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. Eligible products and services under Section 28(e) include those that provide lawful and appropriate assistance to the investment adviser in the performance of its investment decision-making responsibilities.

Subject to the policy of seeking best execution, Dreyfus-managed funds may execute transactions with brokerage firms that provide research services and products, as defined in Section 28(e). Any and all research products and services received in connection with brokerage commissions will be used to assist the applicable affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser in its investment decision-making responsibilities, as contemplated under Section 28(e). Under certain conditions, higher brokerage commissions may be paid in connection with certain transactions in return for research products and services.

The products and services provided under these arrangements permit the Trading Desk to supplement its own research and analysis activities, and provide it with information from individuals and research staffs of many securities firms. Such services and products may include, but are not limited to the following: fundamental research reports (which may discuss, among other things, the value of securities, or the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, or the availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities, or issuers, industries, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and performance); current market data and news; technical and portfolio analyses; economic forecasting and interest rate projections; and historical information on securities and companies. The Trading Desk also may defray the costs of certain services and communication systems that facilitate trade execution (such as on-line quotation systems, direct data feeds from stock exchanges and on-line trading systems with brokerage commissions generated by client transactions) or functions related thereto (such as clearance and settlement). Some of the research products or services received by the Trading Desk may have both a research function and a non-research administrative function (a “mixed use”). If the Trading Desk determines that any research product or service has a mixed use, the Trading Desk will allocate in good faith the cost of such service or product accordingly. The portion of the product or service that the Trading Desk determines will assist it in the investment decision-making process may be paid for in soft dollars. The non-research portion is paid for by the Trading Desk in hard dollars.

The Trading Desk generally considers the amount and nature of research, execution and other services provided by brokerage firms, as well as the extent to which such services are relied on, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage business of its clients on the basis of that consideration. Neither the services nor the amount of brokerage given to a particular brokerage firm are made pursuant to any agreement or commitment with any of the selected firms that would bind the Trading Desk to compensate the selected brokerage firm for research provided. The Trading Desk endeavors, but is not legally obligated, to direct sufficient commissions to broker/dealers that have provided it with research and other services to ensure continued receipt of research the Trading Desk believes is useful. Actual commissions received by a brokerage firm may be more or less than the suggested allocations.

There may be no correlation between the amount of brokerage commissions generated by a particular fund or client and the indirect benefits received by that fund or client. The affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser may receive a benefit from the research services and products that is not passed on to a fund in the form of a direct monetary benefit. Further, research services and products may be useful to the affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser in providing investment advice to any of the funds or clients it advises. Likewise, information made available to the affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser from brokerage firms effecting securities transactions for a fund may be utilized on behalf of another fund or client. Information so received is in addition to, and not in lieu of, services required to be performed by the affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser and fees are not reduced as a consequence of the receipt of such supplemental information. Although the receipt of such research services does not reduce the normal independent research activities of the affiliated entity or sub-investment adviser, it enables them to avoid the additional expenses that might otherwise be incurred if it were to attempt to develop comparable information through its own staff.

As the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no information on the amount of soft dollar transactions is provided.

IPO Allocations. Certain funds advised by the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) may participate in IPOs. In deciding whether to purchase an IPO, the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) generally considers the capitalization characteristics of the security, as well as other characteristics of the security, and identifies funds and accounts with investment objectives and strategies consistent with such a purchase. Generally, as more IPOs involve small- and mid-cap companies, the funds and accounts with a small- and mid-cap focus may participate in more IPOs than funds and accounts with a large-cap focus. The Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate), when consistent with the fund’s and/or account’s investment guidelines, generally will allocate shares of an IPO on a pro rata basis. In the case of “hot” IPOs, where the Manager (and if applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) only receives a partial allocation of the total amount requested, those shares will be distributed fairly and equitably among participating funds or accounts managed by the Manager (or where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate). “Hot” IPOs raise special allocation concerns because opportunities to invest in such issues are limited as they are often oversubscribed. The distribution of the partial allocation among funds and/or accounts will be based on relevant net asset values. Shares will be allocated on a pro rata basis to all appropriate funds and accounts, subject to a minimum allocation based on trading, custody, and other associated costs. International hot IPOs may not be allocated on a pro rata basis due transaction costs, market liquidity and other factors unique to international markets.

Regular Broker-Dealers. The Fund may acquire securities issued by one or more of its “regular brokers or dealers,” as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. Rule 10b-1 provides that a “regular broker or dealer” is one of the ten brokers or dealers that, during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year (i) received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions from participating, either directly or indirectly, in the Fund’s portfolio transactions, (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of the Fund’s portfolio transactions or (iii) sold the largest dollar amount of the Fund’s securities.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. It is the policy of Dreyfus to protect the confidentiality of fund portfolio holdings and prevent the selective disclosure of non-public information about such holdings. Each fund, or its duly authorized service providers, may publicly disclose its portfolio holdings in accordance with regulatory requirements, such as periodic portfolio disclosure in filings with the SEC. Each non-money market fund, or its duly authorized service providers, may publicly disclose its complete schedule of portfolio holdings at month-end, with a one-month lag, at www.dreyfus.com. In addition, fifteen days following the end of each calendar quarter, each non-money market fund, or its duly authorized service providers, may publicly disclose on the website its complete schedule of portfolio holdings as of the end of such quarter. Each money market fund will disclose daily on www.dreyfus.com the fund’s complete schedule of holdings as of the end of the previous business day. The schedule of holdings will remain on the website until the date on which the fund files its Form N-Q or Form N-CSR for the period that includes the date of the posted holdings.

If a fund’s portfolio holdings are released pursuant to an ongoing arrangement with any party, such fund must have a legitimate business purpose for doing so, and neither the fund, nor Dreyfus or its affiliates, may receive any compensation in connection with an arrangement to make available information about the fund’s portfolio holdings. Funds may distribute portfolio holdings to mutual fund evaluation services such as Standard & Poor’s, Morningstar or Lipper Analytical Services; due diligence departments of broker-dealers and wirehouses that regularly analyze the portfolio holdings of mutual funds before their public disclosure; and broker-dealers that may be used by the fund, for the purpose of efficient trading and receipt of relevant research, provided that: (a) the recipient does not distribute the portfolio holdings to persons who are likely to use the information for purposes of purchasing or selling fund shares or fund portfolio holdings before the portfolio holdings become public information; and (b) the recipient signs a written confidentiality agreement.

Funds may also disclose any and all portfolio information to their service providers and others who generally need access to such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities and are subject to duties of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on non-public information, imposed by law and/or contract. These service providers include the fund’s custodian, independent registered public accounting firm, investment adviser, administrator, and each of their respective affiliates and advisers.

Disclosure of portfolio holdings may be authorized only by the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, and any exceptions to this policy are reported quarterly to the Company’s Board.

SUMMARY OF THE PROXY VOTING POLICY, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES OF THE
DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

The Board of each fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds has delegated to the Manager the authority to vote proxies of companies held in the fund’s portfolio. The Manager, through its participation on the BNY Mellon Proxy Policy Committee (the “PPC”), applies BNY Mellon’s Proxy Voting Policy, related procedures, and voting guidelines when voting proxies on behalf of the funds.

The Manager recognizes thatan investment adviser is a fiduciary that owes its clients, including funds it manages, a duty of utmost good faith and full and fair disclosure of all material facts. An investment adviser’s duty of loyalty requires an adviser to vote proxies in a manner consistent with the best interest of its clients and precludes the adviser from subrogating the clients’ interests to its own. In addition, an investment adviser voting proxies on behalf of a fund must do so in a manner consistent with the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

The Manager seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest by participating in the PPC, which applies detailed, pre-determined written proxy voting guidelines (the “Voting Guidelines”) in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on internal and external research and recommendations provided by a third party vendor, and without consideration of any client relationship factors. Further, the Manager and its affiliates engage a third party as an independent fiduciary to vote all proxies of funds managed by BNY Mellon or its affiliates (including the Dreyfus Family of Funds), and may engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of other issuers at its discretion.

All proxies received by the funds are reviewed, categorized, analyzed and voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and any changes in BNY Mellon’s or the Manager’s policies on specific issues. Items that can be categorized under the Voting Guidelines are voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines or referred to the PPC, if the applicable guidelines so require. Proposals that cannot be categorized under the Voting Guidelines are referred to the PPC for discussion and vote. Additionally, the PPC reviews proposals where it has identified a particular company, industry or issue for special scrutiny. With regard to voting proxies of foreign companies, the Manager weighs the cost of voting and potential inability to sell the securities (which may occur during the voting process) against the benefit of voting the proxies to determine whether or not to vote. With respect to securities lending transactions, the Manager seeks to balance the economic benefits of continuing to participate in an open securities lending transaction against the inability to vote proxies.

When evaluating proposals, the PPC recognizes that the management of a publicly-held company may need protection from the market’s frequent focus on short-term considerations, so as to be able to concentrate on such long-term goals as productivity and development of competitive products and services. In addition, the PPC generally supports proposals designed to provide management with short-term insulation from outside influences so as to enable them to bargain effectively with potential suitors to the extent such proposals are discrete and not bundled with other proposals. The PPC believes that a shareholder’s role in the governance of a publicly-held company is generally limited to monitoring the performance of the company and its management and voting on matters which properly come to a shareholder vote. However, the PPC generally opposes proposals designed to insulate an issuer’s management unnecessarily from the wishes of a majority of shareholders. Accordingly, the PPC generally votes in accordance with management on issues that the PPC believes neither unduly limit the rights and privileges of shareholders nor adversely affect the value of the investment.

On questions of social responsibility where economic performance does not appear to be an issue, the PPC attempts to ensure that management reasonably responds to the social issues. Responsiveness will be measured by management’s efforts to address the particular social issue including, where appropriate, assessment of the implications of the proposal to the ongoing operations of the company. The PPC will pay particular attention to repeat issues where management has failed in its commitment in the intervening period to take actions on issues.

In evaluating proposals regarding incentive plans and restricted stock plans, the PPC typically employs a shareholder value transfer model. This model seeks to assess the amount of shareholder equity flowing out of the company to executives as options are exercised. After determining the cost of the plan, the PPC evaluates whether the cost is reasonable based on a number of factors, including industry classification and historical performance information. The PPC generally votes against proposals that permit the repricing or replacement of stock options without shareholder approval or that are silent on repricing and the company has a history of repricing stock options in a manner that the PPC believes is detrimental to shareholders.

Information regarding how the Manager voted proxies for the Fund is available at www.dreyfus.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov on the Fund’s Form N-PX filed with the SEC.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND FUND

Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and non-assessable. Fund shares have equal rights as to dividends and in liquidation. Shares have no preemptive, subscription, or conversion rights and are freely transferable.

The Company is organized as an unincorporated business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Fund, under certain circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of that Fund. However, the Company’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Trust Agreement”) disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Company and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Company or a Trustee. The Trust Agreement provides for indemnification from a Fund’s property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations, a possibility which management believes is remote. Upon payment of any liability incurred by a Fund, the shareholder paying such liability will be entitled to reimbursement from the general assets of the Fund. The Company intends to conduct its operations in such a way so as to avoid, as far as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for liabilities of the Fund.

Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result, Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or the appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least 10% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Fund to hold a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of removing a Board member from office. Fund shareholders may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Board will call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board members if, at any time, less than a majority of the Board members then holding office have been elected by shareholders.

The Company is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios, each of which is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act and for other purposes. A shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. For certain matters shareholders vote together as a group; as to others they vote separately by portfolio. To date, the Board has authorized the creation of four series of shares. All consideration received by the Company for shares of a series, and all assets in which such consideration is invested, will belong to that series (subject only to the rights of creditors of the Company) and will be subject to the liabilities related thereto. The income attributable to, and the expenses of, a series will be treated separately from those of the other series of the Company. The Company has the ability to create, from time to time, new series without shareholder approval.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted under the provisions of the 1940 Act or applicable state law or otherwise to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company, such as the Company, will not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each series in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of such series. Rule 18f-2 exempts the selection of independent accountants and the election of Board members from the separate voting requirements of the Rule.

The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market movements. A pattern of frequent purchases and exchanges can be disruptive to efficient portfolio management and, consequently, can be detrimental to the Fund’s performance and its shareholders. If Fund management determines that an investor is following an abusive investment strategy, it may reject any purchase request, or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege, with or without prior notice. Such investors also may be barred from purchasing shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Accounts under common ownership or control may be considered as one account for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive or abusive trading. In addition, the Fund may refuse or restrict purchase or exchange requests for Fund shares by any person or group if, in the judgment of the Fund’s management, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies or could otherwise be adversely affected or if the Fund receives or anticipates receiving simultaneous orders that may significantly affect the Fund. If an exchange request is refused, the Company will take no other action with respect to the Fund shares until it receives further instructions from the investor. While the Company will take reasonable steps to prevent excessive short term trading deemed to be harmful to the Fund, it may not be able to identify excessive trading conducted through certain financial intermediaries or omnibus accounts.

To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the Fund will charge regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The valuation of accounts and the deductions are expected to take place during the last four months of each year. The fee will be waived for any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund investments total at least $25,000, and will not apply to IRA accounts or to accounts participating in automatic investment programs or opened through a securities dealer, bank or other financial institution, or to other fiduciary accounts.

The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all of its shareholders.

 

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038-4982 as counsel for the Fund, has rendered its opinion as to certain legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of the shares being sold pursuant to the Fund’s Prospectus.

___________________, an independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund.

 

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 23.

Exhibits

 

 

(a)

Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 10, 2000.

 

 

(b)

Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 28, 2006.

 

 

(d)(1)

Management Agreement, as revised.*

 

 

(d)(2)

Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) of Post Effective Amendment No. 29.

 

 

(e)(1)

Distribution Agreement, as revised.*

 

 

(e)(2)

Form of Service Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 28, 2007 (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 33).

 

 

(e)(3)

Form of Supplemental Service Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 33.

 

 

(g)

Custody Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 29, 2002.

 

 

(h)(1)

Shareholder Services Plan, as revised.*

 

 

(h)(2)

Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on January 28, 2008 (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 34”).

 

 

(i)

Opinion and Consent of Registrant’s counsel is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N- 1A, filed on May 22, 2000.

 

 

(j)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.*

 

 

(m)

Distribution Plan (Rule 12b-1 Plan), as revised.*

 

 

(n)

Rule 18f-3 Plan, as revised.*

 

 

(p)

Code of Ethics adopted by Registrant is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 27, 2008.*

 

 

Other Exhibits

 

 

(a)

Power of Attorney of certain officers of Registrant is incorporated by reference to Other Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32.

 

 

(b)

Certificate of Assistant Secretary is incorporated by reference to Other Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 26, 2005.

 

 

(c)

Notification of Election pursuant to Rule 18f-1 is incorporated by reference to Other Exhibit (c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on October 3, 2000.

 

 

* To be filed by Amendment.

 

Item 24.   Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant:

Not Applicable.

Item 25.   Indemnification:

The Registrant’s charter documents set forth the circumstances under which indemnification shall be provided to any past or present Board member or officer of the Registrant. The Registrant also has entered into a separate agreement with each of its Board members that describes the conditions and manner in which the Registrant indemnifies each of its Board members against all liabilities incurred by them (including attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses, settlements, fines and penalties), or which may be threatened against them, as a result of being or having been a Board member of the Registrant. These indemnification provisions are subject to applicable state law and to the limitation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that no board member or officer of a fund may be protected against liability for willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for the duties of his or her office. Reference is hereby made to the following:

Article VIII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust and any amendments thereto, Article 10 of Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws and Section 1.11 of the Distribution Agreement.

Item 26(a).   Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser:

The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus”) and subsidiary companies comprise a financial service organization whose business consists primarily of providing investment management services as the investment adviser, manager and distributor for sponsored investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as an investment adviser to institutional and individual accounts. Dreyfus also serves as sub-investment adviser to and/or administrator of other investment companies. MBSC Securities Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dreyfus, serves primarily as a registered broker-dealer of shares of investment companies sponsored by Dreyfus and other investment companies for which Dreyfus acts as investment adviser, sub-investment adviser or administrator.

Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser

Name and Position
With Dreyfus

 

Other Businesses

 

Position Held

 

Dates

             

Jonathan Baum
Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

 

Director
Executive Vice President

 

6/07 – Present
6/07 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Corporation++

 

Director
Executive Vice President

 

8/06 - 6/07
3/06 - 6/07

             
   

Scudder Investments
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154

 

Chief Operating Officer

 

7/02 - 1/05

             
   

Scudder Distributors, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154

 

President
Chief Executive Officer

 

7/02 - 1/05
7/02 - 1/05

             

J. Charles Cardona
President and Director

 

Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.++

 

Chairman of the Board

 

2/02 - Present

             
   

Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.++

 

Director

 

10/01 - Present

             
   

MBSC Securities Corporation++

 

Executive Vice President

Director

 

2/97 – Present
8/00 - Present

             

Diane P. Durnin
Vice Chair and Director

 

Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc. ++
MBSC Securities Corporation**

 

Director
Executive Vice President

Director

 

4/02 – Present
2/97 – Present
8/00 - Present

             

Jonathan Little

Chair of the Board

 

Mellon Global Investments

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

5/02 - Present

5/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon Fund Managers Limited

 

Director

 

5/03 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investments (Holdings) Ltd.

 

Director

 

9/03 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investing Corp.

 

Director

 

5/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon International Investment Corp.

 

Director

 

4/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon Overseas Investment Corp.

 

Director

 

12/02 - Present

             
   

Hamon Investment Group PTE Ltd.

 

Director

 

3/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon Chile Holdings, S.A.

 

Director

 

7/03 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Funds, plc

 

Director

 

12/00 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Management Ltd.

 

Director

 

11/00 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investments Japan Ltd.

 

Director

 

6/02 - Present

             
   

Universal Liquidity Funds, plc

 

Director

 

11/00 - Present

             
   

Pareto Investment Management Ltd.

 

Director

 

11/04 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investments (Asia) Ltd.

 

Director

 

5/01 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investments Australia Ltd.

 

Director

 

10/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon Australia Ltd.

 

Director

 

7/02 - Present

             
   

Mellon Alternative Strategies Ltd.

 

Director

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

NSP Financial Services Group Pty Ltd.

 

Director

 

12/01 - Present

             
   

Kiahan Ltd.

 

Director

 

12/01 - Present

             

Phillip N. Maisano
Director, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer

 

Mellon Financial Corporation+

 

Senior Vice President

 

4/06 - Present

   

EACM Advisors LLC
200 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854-1940

 

Chairman of Board
Chief Executive Officer

 

8/04 – Present
8/04 - 5/06

             
   

Founders Asset Management LLC****

 

Member, Board of Managers

 

11/06 - Present

             
   

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02211

 

Board Member

 

12/06 - Present

             
   

Mellon Capital Management Corporation***

 

Director

 

12/06 - Present

             
   

Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*

 

Board Member

 

12/06 - Present

             
   

Newton Management Limited
London, England

 

Board Member

 

12/06 - Present

             
   

Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC*

 

Board Member

 

12/06 - Present

             

Mitchell E. Harris
Director

 

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02211

 

Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Member, Board of Managers

 

2/05 – Present
8/04 – Present
10/04 - Present

             
   

Palomar Management
London, England

 

Director

 

12/97 - Present

             
   

Palomar Management Holdings Limited
London, England

 

Director

 

12/97 - Present

             
   

Pareto Investment Management Limited
London, England

 

Director

 

9/04 - Present

             
   

MAM (DE) Trust+++++

 

President
Member of Board of Trustees

 

10/05 - 1/07
10/05 - 1/07

             
   

MAM (MA) Holding Trust+++++

 

President
Member of Board of Trustees

 

10/05 - 1/07
10/05 - 1/07

             

Ronald P. O’Hanley
Vice Chair and Director

 

Mellon Financial Corporation+

 

Vice Chairman

 

6/01 - Present

             
   

The Bank of New York Mellon+

 

Vice Chairman

 

6/01 - Present

             
   

Mellon Growth Advisors, LLC*

 

Board Member

 

1/02 - 7/03

             
   

TBC General Partner, LLC*

 

President

 

7/03 - Present

             
   

Standish Mellon Asset Management Holdings, LLC
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02211

 

Board Member

 

7/01 - 7/03

             
   

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02211

 

Board Member

 

7/01 - Present

             
   

Franklin Portfolio Holdings, LLC*

 

Director

 

12/00 - Present

             
   

Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC*

 

Director

 

4/97 - Present

             
   

Pareto Partners (NY)
505 Park Avenue
NY, NY 10022

 

Partner Representative

 

2/00 - Present

             
   

Buck Consultants, Inc.++

 

Director

 

7/97 - Present

             
   

Newton Management Limited
London, England

 

Executive Committee Member

 

10/98 - Present

        Director  

10/98 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investments Japan Ltd.
Tokyo, Japan

 

Non-Resident Director

 

11/98 - Present

             
   

TBCAM Holdings, LLC*

 

Director

 

1/98 - Present

             
   

Fixed Income (MA) Trust*

 

Trustee

 

6/03 - Present

             
   

Fixed Income (DE) Trust*

 

Trustee

 

6/03 - Present

             
   

Pareto Partners
271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP

 

Partner Representative

 

5/97 - Present

             
   

Mellon Capital Management Corporation***

 

Director

 

2/97 - Present

             
   

Certus Asset Advisors Corp.**

 

Director

 

2/97 - 7/03

             
   

Mellon Bond Associates, LLP+

 

Executive Committee Member

 

1/98 - 7/03

       

Chairman

 

1/98 - 7/03

             
   

Mellon Equity Associates, LLP+

 

Executive Committee Member
Chairman

 

1/98 – Present
1/98 - Present

             
   

Mellon Global Investing Corp.*

 

Director
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer

 

5/97 – Present
5/97 – Present
5/97 - Present



Scott E. Wennerholm
Director

Mellon Capital Management Corporation***

Director

10/05 - Present

 
   

Newton Management Limited
London, England

 

Director

 

1/06 - Present

             
   

Pareto Investment Management Limited

 

Director

 

3/06 - Present

   

London, England

       
             
   

Mellon Equity Associates, LLP+

 

Executive Committee Member

 

10/05 - Present

             
   

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02211

 

Member, Board of Managers

 

10/05 - Present

             
   

The Boston Company Holding, LLC*

 

Member, Board of Managers

 

4/06 - Present

             
   

The Bank of New York Mellon+

 

Senior Vice President

 

10/05 - Present

             
   

Mellon Trust of New England, N.A.*

 

Director
Senior Vice President

 

4/06 – Present
10/05 - Present

             
   

MAM (DE) Trust+++++

 

Member of Board of Trustees

 

1/07 - Present

             
   

MAM (MA) Holding Trust*

 

Member of Board of Trustees

 

1/07 - Present

             

J. David Officer
Vice Chair and Director

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

 

President
Director

 

3/00 – Present
3/99 - Present

             
   

MBSC, LLC++

 

Manager, Board of Managers
President

 

4/02 – Present
4/02 - Present

             
   

Boston Safe Advisors, Inc. ++

 

Director

 

10/01 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. ++

 

Chairman and Director

 

2/02 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++

 

Director

 

3/99 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc.++

 

Director

 

5/98 - Present

             
   

Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.++

 

Director

 

10/98 - Present

             
   

Mellon Residential Funding Corp. +

 

Director

 

4/97 - Present

             
   

The Bank of New York Mellon+

 

Executive Vice President

 

2/94 - Present

             
   

Mellon United National Bank
1399 SW 1st Ave., Suite 400
Miami, Florida

 

Director

 

3/98 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Financial Services Corp. +

 

Director
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer

 

9/96 - 4/02
6/99 - 4/02
6/99 - 4/02

             
   

Dreyfus Investment Services Company LLC+

 

Manager
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer

 

11/01 - 12/02
11/01 - 12/02
11/01 - 12/02

             

Patrice M. Kozlowski
Senior Vice President -
Corporate Communications

 

None

       
             

Gary Pierce
Controller

 

Lighthouse Growth Advisors LLC++

 

Member, Board of Managers

 

7/05 - 9/05

             
       

Vice President and Treasurer

 

7/05 - 9/05

             
   

The Dreyfus Trust Company+++

 

Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer

 

7/05 – Present
7/05 - Present

             
   

MBSC, LLC++

 

Chief Financial Officer
Manager, Board of Managers

 

7/05 - 6/07
7/05 - 6/07

             
   

MBSC Securities Corporation++

 

Director
Chief Financial Officer

 

6/07 – Present
6/07 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Corporation++

 

Director
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President – Finance
Vice President - Finance

 

7/05 - 6/07
7/05 - 6/07
1/05 - 7/05

3/03 - 1/05

             
   

Founders Asset Management, LLC****

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

7/06 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation++

 

Treasurer

 

7/05 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.++

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

7/05 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++

 

Treasurer

 

7/05 - Present

             
   

Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.++

 

Treasurer

 

4/99 - Present

             

Joseph W. Connolly
Chief Compliance Officer

 

The Dreyfus Family of Funds ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

The Mellon Funds Trust ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc. ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

Lighthouse Growth Advisors, LLC ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

MBSC, LLC ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

MBSC Securities Corporation ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

Boston Service Corporation ++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

10/04 - Present

             
   

Mellon Securities Services +

 

First Vice President

 

11/01 - 2/04

             

Anthony Mayo
Vice President -
Information Systems

 

None

       
             

Theodore A. Schachar
Vice President - Tax

 

Lighthouse Growth Advisors LLC++

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

9/02 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Corporation++

 

Vice President - Tax

 

10/96 - Present

             
   

MBSC, LLC++

 

Vice President - Tax

 

4/02 - Present

             
   

The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation ++

 

Chairman

 

6/99 - Present

       

President

 

6/99 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.++

 

Vice President - Tax

 

10/96 - Present

             
   

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++

 

Vice President - Tax

 

10/96 - Present

             

John E. Lane
Vice President

 

A P Colorado, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

A P East, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

A P Management, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

A P Properties, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

A P Rural Land, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

Allomon Corporation+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

MBC Investments Corporation +

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

MBSC Securities Corporation++

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

MELDEL Leasing Corporation Number 2, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon Capital Management Corporation+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon Financial Services Corporation #1+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon Financial Services Corporation #4+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon International Leasing Company+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon Leasing Corporation+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             
   

Mellon Trust Company of Illinois+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

MFS Leasing Corp.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             
   

MMIP, LLC+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

Pontus, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

7/07 - Present

             

Jeanne M. Login
Vice President

 

A P Colorado, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

             
   

A P East, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

               
   

A P Management, Inc.+

 

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

 

8/07 - Present

 

A P Properties, Inc.+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

A P Rural Land, Inc.+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Allomon Corporation+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

APT Holdings Corporation+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

BNY Investment Management Services LLC ++++

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

1/07 - Present

 

MBC Investments Corporation+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

MELDEL Leasing Corporation Number 2, Inc.+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

Mellon Capital Management Corporation+

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Mellon Financial Services Corporation #1+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Mellon Financial Services Corporation #4+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

Mellon International Leasing Company+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

Mellon Leasing Corporation+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

Mellon Trust Company of Illinois+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

MFS Leasing Corp.+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

MMIP, LLC+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Pontus, Inc.+

Vice President – Real
Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

James Bitetto
Secretary

The TruePenny Corporation++

Secretary

9/98 - Present

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Assistant Secretary

8/98 - Present

 

Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.++

Assistant Secretary

7/98 - Present

 

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++

Assistant Secretary

7/98 - Present

 

The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation++

Vice President and Director

2/02 - Present

 

*

The address of the business so indicated is One Boston Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108.

 

 

**

The address of the business so indicated is One Bush Street, Suite 450, San Francisco, California 94104.

 

 

***

The address of the business so indicated is 595 Market Street, Suite 3000, San Francisco, California 94105

 

 

****

The address of the business so indicated is 2930 East Third Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80206.

 

 

+

The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.

 

 

++

The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

 

 

+++

The address of the business so indicated is 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144.

 

Item 26(b)Business and Other Connections of the Sub-Investment Adviser

Name and Position
with Founders

Other Businesses

Position Held

Dates

 

 

 

 

J. David Officer,
Chairman, Board of Managers, President and Chief Executive Officer

The Dreyfus Corporation5

Chief Operating Officer,
Vice Chair and Director

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation5

President and Director

06/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Corporation5

President

3/00-6/07

 

 

Director

3/99-6/07

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC, LLC5

Manager, Board of Managers
and President

4/02-6/07

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.5

Chairman and Director

2/02-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.5

Director

3/99-3/07

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.5

Director

10/98-4/07

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Residential Funding Corp.4

Director

4/97-Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon6

Executive Vice President

7/08-Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association4

Executive Vice President

7/08-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Bank, N.A.4

Executive Vice President

2/94-6/08

 

 

 

 

 

Laurel Capital Advisors4

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

1/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon United National Bank7

Director

3/98-Present

 

 

 

 

Kenneth R. Christoffersen,
Senior Vice President — Legal, General Counsel and Secretary

MBSC Securities Corporation5

Assistant Secretary

8/03 - Present

 

 

 

 

Janelle Belcher,
Vice President-Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

John B. Jares,
Vice President-Investments

The Boston Company
Asset Management, LLC1

Senior Vice President

8/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

David T. Buhler,
Assistant Secretary

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Shea,
Treasurer

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Pierce,
Assistant Treasurer

The Dreyfus Corporation

Controller

7/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation5

Director and Chief Financial Officer

6/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Corporation5

Director and Chief Financial Officer

7/05-6/07

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC, LLC5

Chief Financial Officer and Manager, Board of Managers

7/05-6/07

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.5

Chief Financial Officer

7/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.5

Treasurer

7/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.5

Treasurer

7/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation5

Treasurer

7/05-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Founders Asset Management, LLC8

Assistant Treasurer

7/06-Present

 

 

 

 

Philip N. Maisano,
Board of Managers

The Dreyfus Corporation5

Director, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon6

Senior Vice President

7/08-Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association4

Senior Vice President

7/08-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Bank, N.A.4

Senior Vice President

4/06-6/08

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Alcentra Group Holdings, Inc.5

Director

10/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon Investment Office GP LLC1

Manager

4/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Global Alternative Investments Limited
London, England

Director

8/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Pareto Investment Management Limited
London, England

Director

4/08-Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management NY, LLC1

Manager

10/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC1

Manager

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Urdang Capital Management, Inc.
630 West Germantown Pike,
Suite 300
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Director

10/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Urdang Securities Management, Inc.
630 West Germantown Pike,
Suite 300
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Director

10/07-Present

 

 

 

 

 

EACM Advisors LLC
200 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854-1940

Chairman of Board
Chief Executive Officer

8/04-Present
8/04-5/06

 

 

 

 

 

Founders Asset Management LLC8

Member, Board of Managers

11/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC
Mellon Financial Center
201 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108-4408

Board Member

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Capital Management Corporation3

Director

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Equity Associates, LLP4

Board Member

12/06-12/07

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newton Management Limited
London, England

Board Member

12/06-Present

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC4

Board Member

12/06-Present

 

The address of the businesses so indicated are:

1

One Boston Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108

2

144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556

3

595 Market Street, Suite 3000, San Francisco, California 94105

4

One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258

5

200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166

6

One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286

7

1399 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 400 Miami, FL 33130

8

210 University Blvd., Suite 3000, Denver, Colorado 80206

Item 27. Principal Underwriters:

(a)     Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or exclusive distributor:

1.

Advantage Funds, Inc.

2.

CitizensSelect Funds

3.

Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.

4.

Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.

5.

Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.

6.

Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Mortgage Securities Fund

7.

Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund

8.

Dreyfus Bond Funds, Inc.

9.

Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

10.

Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund

11.

Dreyfus Cash Management

12.

Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.

13.

Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

14.

Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

15.

Dreyfus Fixed Income Securities

16.

Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

17.

Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund

18.

Dreyfus Founders Funds, Inc.

19.

The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated

20.

Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.

21.

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds

22.

Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.

23.

Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.

24.

Dreyfus Index Funds, Inc.

25.

Dreyfus Institutional Cash Advantage Funds

26.

Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund

27.

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Money Market Funds

28.

Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

29.

Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

30.

Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.

31.

Dreyfus Investment Grade Funds, Inc.

32.

Dreyfus Investment Portfolios

33.

The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.

34.

The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust

35.

The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds

36.

Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.

37.

Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.

38.

Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

39.

Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund

40.

Dreyfus Midcap Index Fund, Inc.

41.

Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.

42.

Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

43.

Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus

44.

Dreyfus Municipal Funds, Inc.

45.

Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

46.

Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

47.

Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

48.

Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management

49.

Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.

50.

Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund

51.

Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund

52.

Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund

53.

Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund

54.

Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund

55.

Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

56.

Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund

57.

Dreyfus Premier California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.

58.

Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.

59.

Dreyfus Premier Fixed Income Funds

60.

Dreyfus Premier International Funds, Inc.

61.

Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund

62.

Dreyfus Premier Manager Funds I

63.

Dreyfus Premier Manager Funds II

64.

Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund

65.

Dreyfus Premier New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

66.

Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund

67.

Dreyfus Premier Opportunity Funds

68.

Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund

69.

Dreyfus Premier Stock Funds

70.

The Dreyfus Premier Third Century Fund, Inc.

71.

The Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds

72.

Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.

73.

Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund

74.

Dreyfus Premier Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

75.

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.

76.

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.

77.

Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management

78.

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management

79.

Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management

80.

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund

81.

Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.

82.

General California Municipal Money Market Fund

83.

General Government Securities Money Market Funds, Inc.

84.

General Money Market Fund, Inc.

85.

General Municipal Money Market Funds, Inc.

86.

General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

87.

General New York Municipal Money Market Fund

88.

Mellon Funds Trust

89.

Strategic Funds, Inc.

 

(b)

 

    Name and Principal
      Business Address
    Positions and Offices with the Distributor Positions and Offices
  with the Registrant
     
J. David Officer * President and Director President
Jon R. Baum* Executive Vice President and Director None
Ken Bradle** Executive Vice President None
J. Charles Cardona * Executive Vice President and Director None
Robert G. Capone***** Executive Vice President and Director None
Mark A. Keleher***** Executive Vice President None
William H. Maresca* Executive Vice President None
Timothy M. McCormick* Executive Vice President None
David K. Mossman**** Executive Vice President None
James Neiland* Executive Vice President None
Sean O' Neil**** Executive Vice President None
Irene Papadoulis** Executive Vice President and Director None
Noreen Ross* Executive Vice President None
Gary Pierce* Chief Financial Officer and Director None
Sue Ann Cormack** Senior Vice President None
Marc S. Isaacson** Senior Vice President None
Matthew Perrone** Executive Vice President None
Bradley J. Skapyak* Senior Vice President None
Ronald Jamison* Chief Legal Officer and Secretary None
Joseph W. Connolly* Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer
Stephen Storen* Chief Compliance Officer None
Maria Georgopoulos* Vice President - Facilities Management None
William Germenis* Vice President - Compliance AML Compliance Officer
Jill Gill* Vice President None
Tracy Hopkins* Vice President None
Mary Merkle* Vice President - Compliance None
Jennifer M. Mills* Vice President - Compliance None
Paul Molloy* Vice President None
James Muir* Vice President - Compliance None
Anthony Nunez* Vice President - Finance None
David Ray*** Vice President None
Theodore A. Schachar* Vice President - Tax None
William Schalda* Vice President None
John Shea* Vice President - Finance None
Susan Verbil* Vice President - Finance None
William Verity* Vice President - Finance None
James Windels * Vice President Treasurer
James Bitetto* Assistant Secretary VP and Assistant Secretary
Ken Christoffersen*** Assistant Secretary None


 

*

Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166.

**

Principal business address is 144 Glenn Curtiss Blvd., Uniondale, NY 11556-0144.

***

Principal business address is 210 University Blvd., Suite 800, Denver, CO 80206.

****

Principal business address is One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15258.

 

Item 28.   Location of Accounts and Records:

1.

The Bank of New York Mellon
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258

 

 

2.

DST Systems, Inc.
1055 Broadway
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

 

 

3.

The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166

 

Item 29.   Management Services:

Not Applicable.

Item 30.   Undertakings:

None.

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 16th day of September, 2008.

 

DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FUNDS

 

 

By:

/s/ J. David Officer*

 

J. David Officer
President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name

Title

Date

 

 

 

/s/ J. David Officer*
J. David Officer

President (Principal Executive Officer)

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ James Windels*
James Windels

Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ Joseph S. Dimartino*
Joseph S. DiMartino

Chairman of the Board

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.*
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. 

Trustee

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ David W. Burke*
David W. Burke

Trustee

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ Whitney I. Gerard*
Whitney I. Gerard

Trustee

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

/s/ George L. Perry*
George L. Perry

Trustee

September 16, 2008

 

 

 

*By:

/s/ Jeff Prusnofsky

 

 

 

Jeff Prusnofsky,
Attorney-in-Fact