485BPOS 1 lp1.htm POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 69 lp1.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

 

File No. 2-88816 

811-3940

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N‑1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933              [X]

 

     Pre‑Effective Amendment No.                                          [__]

 

     Post‑Effective Amendment No.69                                  [X]

 

                                      and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940      [X]

 

     Amendment No.69                                            [X]

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

 

STRATEGIC FUNDS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

c/o The Dreyfus Corporation

200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

 

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

 

Michael A. Rosenberg, Esq.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

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

 

           immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

     ----

     X    on May 1, 2011 pursuant to paragraph (b)

     ----

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

     ----

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

     ----

           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.

     ----

 

 


 

Dreyfus Active MidCap Fund

       
     

 

Prospectus

May 1, 2011

 
   

Class

Ticker

A

DNLDX

B

DNLBX

C

DNLCX

I

DNLRX

   

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.

 

 

 

Contents

Fund Summary
   

Fund Summary

1

Fund Details
   

Goal and Approach

4

Investment Risks

4

Management

6

Shareholder Guide
   

Choosing a Share Class

8

Buying and Selling Shares

11

General Policies

13

Distributions and Taxes

14

Services for Fund Investors

15

Financial Highlights

16

For More Information

See back cover.

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The fund seeks to maximize capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section on page 8 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section on page B-31 of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year.

                     

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class I

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)

5.75


none

none

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load)
(as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price)

none


4.00

1.00

none

         

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Class A

 Class B

Class C

Class I

Management fees

.75

.75

.75

.75

Distribution (12b-1) fees

none

.75

.75

none

Other expenses (including shareholder services fees)

.47

.59

.55

.43

Total annual fund operating expenses

1.22

2.09

2.05

1.18

Example

The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

         
 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Class A

$692

$940

$1,207

$1,967

Class B

$612

$955

$1,324

$1,993

Class C

$308

$643

$1,103

$2,379

Class I

$120

$375

$649

$1,432

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

         
 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Class A

$692

$940

$1,207

$1,967

Class B

$212

$655

$1,124

$1,993

Class C

$208

$643

$1,103

$2,379

Class I

$120

$375

$649

$1,432

1

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 124.37% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategy

To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in the stocks of midsize companies. The fund's portfolio managers apply a systematic, quantitative investment approach designed to identify and exploit relative misvaluations primarily within mid-cap stocks in the U.S. stock market. The portfolio managers use a proprietary valuation model that identifies and ranks stocks to construct the fund's portfolio, focusing on stock selection as opposed to making proactive decisions as to industry or sector exposure. The portfolio managers construct the fund's portfolio through a systematic structured approach, focusing on stock selection as opposed to making proactive decisions as to industry or sector exposure. Within each sector and style subset, the fund overweights the most attractive stocks and underweights or zero weights the stocks that have been ranked least attractive. The fund typically will hold between 100 and 250 securities.

Principal Risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

· Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general weakness in the stock market or because of factors that affect the company or its particular industry.

· Small and midsize company risk. Small and midsize companies carry additional risks because the operating histories of these companies tend to be more limited, their earnings and revenues less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses), and their share prices more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

· Growth and value stock risk. By investing in a mix of growth and value companies, the fund assumes the risks of both. 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 their expected full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth, or the expected value was misgauged. They also may decline in price even though in theory they are already undervalued.

· 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.

Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class A shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com.

2

 

 

   

Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%)

Class A

Best Quarter
Q2, 2009: 20.71%

Worst Quarter
Q4, 2008: -28.18%

After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

       

Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/10)

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Class A returns before taxes

10.86%

-2.17%

2.22%

Class A returns after taxes on distributions

10.80%

-3.04%

1.22%

Class A returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares

7.13%

-1.76%

1.79%

Class B returns before taxes

12.69%

-2.09%

2.52%*

Class C returns before taxes

15.61%

-1.78%

2.19%*

Class I returns before taxes

17.66%

-1.12%

2.83%*

Russell Midcap Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes

25.48%

4.66%

6.54%

* For the fund's Class B, C, and I shares, periods prior to 11/27/02 reflect the performance of the fund's Class A shares adjusted to reflect any applicable sales loads. Such performance figures have not been adjusted, however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class B and C shares for such periods may have been lower.

Portfolio Management

The fund's investment adviser is The Dreyfus Corporation. Warren Chiang, CFA, and C. Wesley Boggs serve as the fund's primary portfolio managers, positions they have held since February 2009. Mr. Chiang is a Managing Director, active equity strategies, with Mellon Capital Management Corporation (Mellon Capital), an affiliate of The Dreyfus Corporation, and Mr. Boggs is a vice president and senior portfolio manager at Mellon Capital. Messrs. Chiang and Boggs also are employees of The Dreyfus Corporation.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

In general, the fund's minimum initial investment is $1,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $100. You may sell your shares on any business day by calling 1-800-554-4611 or by visiting www.dreyfus.com. You may also mail your request to sell shares to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 55268, Boston, MA 02205-5268.

Tax Information

The fund's distributions are taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is through an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

3

 

 

Fund Details

Goal and Approach

The fund seeks to maximize capital appreciation. This objective may be changed by the fund's board, upon 60 day's prior notice to shareholders. To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in the stocks of midsize companies. The fund's stock investments may include common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, including those purchased in initial public offerings (IPOs).

The fund defines "midsize companies" as companies included in the Russell Midcap Index at the time of purchase. The fund may continue to own stocks subsequently removed from the Index, but would not expect to do so for extended periods due to the application of the portfolio managers' quantitative investment process.

The fund's portfolio managers apply a systematic, quantitative investment approach designed to identify and exploit relative misvaluations primarily within mid-cap stocks in the U.S. stock market. The fund also may invest in foreign stocks.

The portfolio managers use a proprietary valuation model that identifies and ranks stocks (Composite Alpha Ranking or CAR) based on:

· a long-term relative valuation model that utilizes forward looking estimates of risk and return;

· an Earnings Sustainability (ES) model that gauges how well earnings forecasts are likely to reflect changes in future cash flows. Measures of ES help stock selection strategy by tilting the fund's portfolio away from stocks with poor ES and tilting it towards stocks with strong ES; and

· a set of Behavioral Factors, including earnings revisions and share buybacks that provide the portfolio managers with information about potential misvaluations of stocks.

The portfolio managers construct the fund's portfolio through a systematic structured approach, focusing on stock selection as opposed to making proactive decisions as to industry or sector exposure. Within each sector and style subset, the fund overweights the most attractive stocks and underweights or zero weights the stocks that have been ranked least attractive. This approach differs from conventional portfolio management in that, generally, the portfolio managers will strictly adhere to underlying models in selecting portfolio securities. In unusual circumstances, the portfolio managers may deviate from the models.

The fund typically will hold between 100 and 250 securities selected using these models. The fund's portfolio managers will periodically rebalance the fund's portfolio, which will result in changes in fund holdings. The portfolio managers may enhance the models from time to time, depending on their ongoing research efforts.

The fund generally attempts to have a neutral exposure to sectors, industries and capitalizations relative to the Russell Midcap Index. The Russell Midcap Index is an unmanaged index constructed to provide a comprehensive barometer for the midcap segment of the U.S. stock market. As of March 31, 2011, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Index was $62.91billion, and the weighted average and median market capitalizations of the Index were $8.55 billion and $4.59 billion, respectively. The Index is reconstituted annually to ensure that larger stocks do not distort the characteristics of the Index.

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

Investment Risks

An investment in the 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. The value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

· Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles,

4

 

 

with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general market conditions that are not related to the particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the 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, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry, or factors that affect a particular company, such as management performance, financial leverage, and reduced demand for the company's products or services.

· Small and midsize company risk. Small and midsize companies carry additional risks because the operating histories of these companies tend to be more limited, their earnings and revenues less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses), and their share prices more volatile than those of larger, more established companies. The shares of smaller companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can adversely affect the pricing of these securities and the fund's ability to sell these securities. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or may depend on a limited management group. Some of the fund's investments will rise and fall based on investor perception rather than economic factors. Other investments are made in anticipation of future products, services or events whose delay or cancellation could cause the stock price to drop.

· Growth and value stock risk. By investing in a mix of growth and value companies, the fund assumes the risks of both. 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 their expected full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth, or the expected value was misgauged. They also may decline in price even though in theory they are already undervalued.

· 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.

In addition to the principal risks described above, the fund is subject to the following additional risks.

· Foreign investment risk. 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. Emerging markets tend to be more volatile and less liquid than the markets of more mature economies, and generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries.

· 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 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 may have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.

· Derivatives risk. 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. Certain types of derivatives involve greater risks than the underlying obligations because, in addition to general market risks, they are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk, credit risk and pricing risk. Additionally, some derivatives involve economic leverage, which could increase the volatility of these investments as they may fluctuate in value more than the underlying instrument.

· IPO risk. 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.

· 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 exchange rates 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 are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

5

 

 

· Other potential risks. 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 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.

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.

Management

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 $297 billion in 196 mutual fund portfolios. For the past fiscal year, the fund paid Dreyfus a management fee at the annual rate of 0.71% of the fund's average daily net assets. A discussion regarding the basis for the board's approving the fund's management agreement with Dreyfus is available in the fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. 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 36 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 $25.0 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.17 trillion in assets under management, and it services more than $12.0 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.

Warren Chiang, CFA, and C. Wesley Boggs serve as the fund's primary portfolio managers, positions they have held since February 2009. Mr. Chiang has been a member of the investment management team of Mellon Capital Management Corporation (Mellon Capital), an affiliate of Dreyfus, since 1997, and has been a Managing Director, active equity strategies, since January 2006. Mr. Boggs has been with Mellon Capital since 1993, and has been a vice president and senior portfolio manager at Mellon Capital since January 2001. In September 2007, Messrs. Chiang and Boggs became dual employees of Dreyfus and Mellon Capital.

The fund's Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides additional portfolio manager information, including compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of fund shares.

MBSC Securities Corporation (MBSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dreyfus, serves as distributor of the fund and of the other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Rule 12b-1 fees and shareholder services fees are paid to MBSC for financing the sale and distribution of fund shares and for providing shareholder account service and maintenance, respectively. Dreyfus or MBSC may provide cash payments out of its own resources to financial intermediaries that sell shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds or provide other services. Such payments are separate from any sales charges, 12b-1 fees and/or shareholder services fees or other expenses that may be paid by a fund to those intermediaries. Because those payments are not made by fund shareholders or the fund, the fund's total expense ratio will not be affected by any such payments. These 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 a 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 sponsorships; 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.

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. Each code of ethics restricts the

6

 

 

personal securities transactions of employees, and requires portfolio managers and other investment personnel to comply with the code's preclearance and disclosure procedures. The primary purpose of the respective codes is to ensure that personal trading by employees does not disadvantage any fund managed by Dreyfus or its affiliates.

7

 

 

Shareholder Guide

Choosing a Share Class

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 retirment plan. Third parties with whom you open a fund account may impose policies, limitations and fees that are different from those described in this prospectus. Consult a representative of your financial institution for further information.

This prospectus offers Class A, B, 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 any contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) or 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. Because the Rule 12b-1 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.

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.

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

Class A Shares

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"). Class A shares are subject to an annual shareholder services fee of .25%.

Since some of your investment  goes to pay an upfront 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. Shareholders who received Class A shares in exchange for Class T shares of the fund may be eligible for lower sales charges. See the SAI for further details.

     
 

Total Sales Load -- Class A Shares

Amount of Transaction

As a % of Offering
Price per Share

As a % of Net Asset

Value per Share

Less than $50,000

5.75

6.10

$50,000 to less than $100,000

4.50

4.71

$100,000 to less than $250,000

3.50

3.63

$250,000 to less than $500,000

2.50

2.56

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

2.00

2.04

$1,000,000 or more

-0-

-0-

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

8

 

 

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 certain Dreyfus 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 that are subject to a sales charge. For example, if you have $1 million invested in shares of certain other Dreyfus 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 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 other Dreyfus 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 of a Dreyfus Fund and continuously maintained an open account with the distributor in that 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 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 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 the investor uses the proceeds of the employment-related stock options to establish the account

· 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

9

 

 

Class C Shares

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, Class C shares are subject to an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of .75% and an annual shareholder services fee of .25%. Over time, the Rule 12b-1 fees may cost you more than paying an initial sales charge on Class A shares. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1% CDSC.

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 I Shares

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 a class that charges an initial sales charge. 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

Class B Shares

Class B shares are offered only in connection with dividend reinvestment and exchanges of Class B shares of certain other Dreyfus Funds or certain eligible shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.

Class B shares are subject to an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of .75% and an annual shareholder services fee of .25%. Class B shares convert to Class A shares approximately six years after the date they were purchased. Class B shares sold within six years of purchase are subject to the following CDSCs:

   

Year Since Purchase Payment Was Made

CDSC as a % of Amount
Invested or Redemption Proceeds
(whichever is less)

First

4.00

Second

4.00

Third

3.00

Fourth

3.00

Fifth

2.00

Sixth

1.00

CDSC Waivers

The fund's CDSC on Class A, B 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

10

 

 

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

· redemptions 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 and Selling Shares

Dreyfus generally calculates fund NAVs  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 NAVs, Dreyfus values equity investments on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. Dreyfus generally values fixed income investments based on values supplied by an independent pricing service approved by the fund's board. The pricing service's procedures are reviewed under the general supervision of the board. If market quotations or prices from a pricing service are not readily available, or are determined not to reflect accurately fair value, 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. Under certain circumstances, the fair value of foreign equity securities will be provided by an independent pricing service. Using fair value to price investments 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 a 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 certain types of 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 of 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 "Shareholder Guide — General Policies" for further information about the fund's frequent trading policy.

Orders to buy and sell shares received by an authorized entity (such as a bank, broker-dealer or financial adviser, or 401(k) or other retirement plan that has entered into an agreement with the fund's distributor) by the close of trading on the NYSE 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 NAV determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE that day.

How to Buy Shares

By Mail – Regular Accounts. To open a regular account, complete an application and mail it, together with a check payable to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, to:

The Dreyfus Family of Funds

P.O. Box 55268

Boston, MA 02205-5268

To purchase additional shares in a regular account, mail a check payable to The Dreyfus Family of Funds (with your account number on your check), together with an investment slip, to the above address.

By Mail – IRA Accounts. To open an IRA account or make additional investments in an IRA account, be sure to specify the fund name and the year for which the contribution is being made. When opening a new account include a completed IRA application, and when making additional investments include an investment slip. Make checks payable to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, and mail to:

The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian

P.O. Box 55552

Boston, MA 02205-5552

Electronic Check or Wire. To purchase shares in a regular or IRA account by wire or electronic check, please call 1-800-554-4611 (inside the U.S. only) for more information.

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Dreyfus TeleTransfer.  To purchase additional shares in a regular or IRA account by Dreyfus TeleTransfer, which will transfer money from a pre-designated bank account, request the account service on your application. Call 1-800-554-4611 (inside the U.S. only) or visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction.

Automatically. You may purchase additional shares in a regular or IRA account by selecting one of Dreyfus' automatic investment services made available to the fund on your account application or service application. See "Services for Fund Investors."

In Person. Visit a Dreyfus Financial Center. Please call us for locations.

The minimum initial and subsequent investment for regular accounts is $1,000 and $100, respectively. The minimum initial investment for IRAs is $750, with no minimum subsequent investment. The minimum initial investment for educational savings accounts is $500, with no minimum subsequent investment. Investments made through Dreyfus TeleTransfer are subject to a $100 minimum and a $150,000 maximum. All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party checks, cash, travelers' checks or money orders will not be accepted. You may be charged a fee for any check that does not clear.

How to Sell 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 refer to 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

By Mail – Regular Accounts. To redeem shares in a regular account by mail, send a letter of instruction that includes your name, your account number, the name of the fund, the share class, the dollar amount to be redeemed and how and where to send the proceeds. Mail your request to:

The Dreyfus Family of Funds

P.O. Box 55268

Boston, MA 02205-5268

By Mail – IRA Accounts. To redeem shares in an IRA account by mail, send a letter of instruction that includes all of the same information for regular accounts and indicate whether the distribution is qualified or premature and whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld. Mail your request to:

The Bank of New York Mellon, Custodian

P.O. Box 55552

Boston, MA 02205-5552

A signature guarantee is required for some written sell orders. 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

· amounts of $100,000 or more

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.

Telephone or Online. To sell shares in a regular account, call Dreyfus at 1-800-554-4611 (inside the U.S. only) or visit www.dreyfus.com to request your transaction.

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A check will be mailed to your address of record or you may request a wire or electronic check (Dreyfus TeleTransfer). For wires or Dreyfus TeleTransfer, be sure that the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be wired or sent by electronic check to your bank account.

If you are over the age of 59 ½, you may redeem shares in an IRA account by calling Dreyfus at 1-800-554-4611. A check will be mailed to your address of record (maximum $250,000 per day).

You may request that redemption proceeds be paid by check and mailed to your address of record (maximum $250,000 per day). You may request that redemption proceeds be sent to your bank by wire (minimum $1,000/maximum $20,000 per day) or by Dreyfus TeleTransfer (minimum $500/maximum $20,000 per day). Holders of jointly registered fund or bank accounts may redeem by wire or through Dreyfus TeleTransfer up to $500,000 within any 30-day period.

Automatically. You may sell shares in a regular account by calling 1-800-554-4611 (inside the U.S. only) for instructions on how to establish the Dreyfus Automatic Withdrawal Plan. You may sell shares in an IRA account by calling the above number for instructions on the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

In Person. Visit a Dreyfus Financial Center. Please call us for locations.

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 also 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 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.

13

 

 

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 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. Dreyfus 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 the fund significantly invests in thinly traded 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.

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.

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.

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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 adviser before investing.

Services for Fund Investors

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. If you purchase shares through a third party, the third party may impose different restrictions on these services and privileges, or may not make them available at all. For information, call your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611.

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 Payroll Savings Plan permits you to purchase fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically through a payroll deduction.

Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit permits you to purchase fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000 per transaction) automatically from your federal employment, Social Security or other regular federal government check.

Dreyfus Dividend Sweep permits you to automatically reinvest dividends and distributions from the fund into another Dreyfus Fund (not available for IRAs).

Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege permits you to exchange at regular intervals your fund shares for shares of other Dreyfus Funds.

Dreyfus Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to make withdrawals (minimum of $50) on a monthly or quarterly basis, provided your account balance is at least $5,000. Any CDSC will be waived, 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

Generally, you can exchange shares worth $500 or more (no minimum for retirement accounts) into other Dreyfus Funds. 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 generally will have the same privileges as your original account (as long as they are available). There is currently no fee for exchanges, although you may be charged a sales load when exchanging into any fund that has one. See the SAI for more information regarding exchanges.

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.

Account Statements

Every Dreyfus 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.

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.

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Financial Highlights

These financial highlights describe the performance of the fund's shares for the fiscal periods indicated. "Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions. These financial highlights have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the fund's financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.

           
 

Year Ended December 31,

Class A Shares

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Per Share Data ($):

  

  

  

  

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

28.02

20.87

38.24

47.92

47.02

Investment Operations:

  

  

  

  

  

Investment income--neta

.08

.21

.13

.24

.14

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

4.86

7.15

(17.22)

(2.51)

6.16

Total from Investment Operations

4.94

7.36

(17.09)

(2.27)

6.30

Distributions:

         

Dividends from investment income--net

(.11)

(.21)

(.28)

(.18)

(.08)

Dividends from net realized gain on investments

-

-

(.00)b

(7.23)

(5.32)

Total Distributions

(.11)

(.21)

(.28)

(7.41)

(5.40)

Net asset value, end of period

32.85

28.02

20.87

38.24

47.92

Total Return (%)c

17.62

35.24

(44.73)

(4.76)

13.56

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

1.22

1.32

1.22

1.19

1.20

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

1.18

1.21

1.21

1.19

1.20

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

.28

.90

.40

.50

.29

Portfolio Turnover Rate

124.37

189.84

91.38

88.97

40.30

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

424,220

445,290

414,176

1,021,924

1,131,962

aBased on average shares outstanding at each month end.

bAmount represents less than $0.1 per share.

cExclusive of sales charge.

           
 

Year Ended December 31,

Class B Shares

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Per Share Data ($):

  

  

  

  

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

26.85

20.03

36.56

46.33

45.86

Investment Operations:

  

  

  

  

  

Investment (loss)--neta

(.15)

(.00)b

(.14)

(.14)

(.23)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

4.63

6.82

(16.39)

(2.40)

6.02

Total from Investment Operations

4.48

6.82

(16.53)

(2.54)

5.79

Distributions:

         

Dividends from net realized gain on investments

-

-

(.00)b

(7.23)

(5.32)

Net asset value, end of period

31.33

26.85

20.03

36.56

46.33

Total Return (%)c

16.69

34.05

(45.21)

(5.51)

12.78

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

2.09

2.24

2.07

1.97

1.97

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

2.01

2.12

2.06

1.97

1.97

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

(.56)

(.01)

(.45)

(.30)

(.49)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

124.37

189.84

91.38

88.97

40.30

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

2,766

4,929

6,752

17,435

22,388

aBased on average shares outstanding at each month end.

bAmount represents less than $0.1 per share.

cExclusive of sales charge.

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Financial Highlights (cont'd)
           
 

Year Ended December 31,

Class C Shares

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Per Share Data ($):

  

  

  

  

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

26.91

20.07

36.60

46.36

45.90

Investment Operations:

  

  

  

  

  

Investment income (loss)--neta

(.15)

.02

(.12)

(.12)

(.20)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

4.62

6.83

(16.41)

(2.41)

5.98

Total from Investment Operations

4.47

6.85

(16.53)

(2.53)

5.78

Distributions:

         

Dividends from investment income--net

-

(.01)

-

-

-

Dividends from net realized gain on investments

-

-

(.00)b

(7.23)

(5.32)

Total Distributions

-

(.01)

(.00)b

(7.23)

(5.32)

Net asset value, end of period

31.38

26.91

20.07

36.60

46.36

Total Return (%)c

16.61

34.13

(45.16)

(5.48)

12.75

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

2.05

2.14

2.02

1.94

1.93

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

2.01

2.03

2.01

1.94

1.93

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

(.54)

.09

(.41)

(.26)

(.43)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

124.37

189.84

91.38

88.97

40.30

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

7,919

8,407

8,005

21,231

26,406

aBased on average shares outstanding at each month end.

bAmount represents less than $0.1 per share.

cExclusive of sales charge.

           
 

Year Ended December 31,

Class I Shares

2010

2009

2008

2007a

2006

Per Share Data ($):

  

  

  

  

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

28.36

21.10

38.49

48.25

47.37

Investment Operations:

  

  

  

  

  

Investment income (loss)--netb

.10

.16

(.04)

.29

.16

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

4.91

7.23

(17.27)

(2.54)

6.19

Total from Investment Operations

5.01

7.39

(17.31)

(2.25)

6.35

Distributions:

         

Dividends from investment income--net

(.11)

(.13)

(.08)

(.28)

(.15)

Dividends from net realized gain on investments

-

-

(.00)c

(7.23)

(5.32)

Total Distributions

(.11)

(.13)

(.08)

(7.51)

(5.47)

Net asset value, end of period

33.26

28.36

21.10

38.49

48.25

Total Return (%)

17.66

35.01

(45.03)

(4.67)

13.56

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

1.18

1.61

1.68

1.09

1.18

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

1.13

1.50

1.66

1.09

1.18

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

.33

.70

(.13)

.60

.32

Portfolio Turnover Rate

124.37

189.84

91.38

88.97

40.30

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

4,602

4,112

4,524

20,696

15,328

aEffective June 1, 2007, Class R shares were redesignated as Class I shares.

bBased on average shares outstanding at each month end.

cAmount represents less than $0.1 per share.

17

 

 

For More Information

Dreyfus Active MidCap Fund

A series of Strategic Funds, Inc.
SEC file number: 811-3940

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

Annual/Semiannual Report

Describes the fund's performance, lists portfolio holdings and contains a letter from the fund's manager discussing recent market conditions, economic trends and fund strategies that significantly affected the fund's performance during the last fiscal year. The fund's most recent annual and semiannual reports are available at www.dreyfus.com.

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

Dreyfus funds generally disclose their complete schedule of portfolio holdings monthly with a 30-day lag at www.dreyfus.com under Mutual Fund Center – Dreyfus Mutual Funds – Mutual Fund Total Holdings. Complete holdings as of the end of the calendar quarter are disclosed 15 days after the end of such quarter. Dreyfus money market funds generally disclose their complete schedule of holdings daily. The schedule of holdings for a fund will remain on the website until the fund files its Form N-Q or Form N-CSR for the period that includes the dates of the posted holdings.

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.

To obtain information:

By telephone. Call 1-800-554-4611

By mail.
The Dreyfus Family of Funds
144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard
Uniondale, NY 11556-0144

By E-mail. Send your request to info@dreyfus.com

On the Internet. 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.

   

© 2011 MBSC Securities Corporation
0085P0511

 

 

STRATEGIC FUNDS, INC.

 

DREYFUS ACTIVE MIDCAP FUND

(Class/Ticker: A/DNLDX, B/DNLBX,C/DNLCX and I/DNLRX)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MAY 1, 2011

 

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), which is not a prospectus, supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus, dated May 1, 2011, of Dreyfus Active MidCap Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Strategic Funds, Inc. (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.

 

The Fund’s most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders are separate documents supplied with this SAI, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and report of the independent registered public accounting firm appearing in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference in this SAI.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

 

Description of the Company and the Fund

Management of the Company and the Fund

Management Arrangements

How to Buy Shares

Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan

How to Redeem Shares

Shareholder Services

Determination of Net Asset Value

Dividends and Distributions

Taxation

Portfolio Transactions

Summary of the Proxy Voting Policy, Procedures and Guidelines of the Dreyfus Family of Funds

Information About the Company and the Fund

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

B-2

B-15

B-24

B-31

B-39

B-40

B-45

B-50

B-51

B-52

B-63

 

B-68

B-69

B-72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND THE FUND

 

The Company is a Maryland corporation that commenced operations on January 29, 1985.  The Fund is a separate portfolio 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.  These securities include equity and debt 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 any of their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, or by foreign supranational entities.  They also include securities 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 significant portion 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 governmental 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.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign securities traded on foreign securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets. The foreign securities in which a Fund may invest include securities of foreign companies located in emerging market countries. 

 

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 and shares.  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 U. S. 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-U.S. banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities.  Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in the U.S. 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 Receipts 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 other 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, its 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.  The Fund also may invest its uninvested cash reserves or cash it receives as collateral from borrowers of its portfolio securities in connection with the Fund’s securities lending program in shares of one or more money market funds advised by the Manager.  Such investment will not be subject to the limitations described above.  See “Lending Portfolio Securities.”

 

Exchange-Traded Funds.  The Fund may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (collectively, “ETFs”) which are designed typically 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”).  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.  These types of 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 of the underlying common stocks, including the risk that component 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 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 2% 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.

 


 

 

 

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 objective.  These 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.

 

Zero Coupon Securities.  The Fund may invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities, which are Treasury Notes and Bonds that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves and receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons.  Zero coupon securities also are issued by corporations and financial institutions and constitute a proportionate ownership of the issuer’s pool of underlying U.S. Treasury securities.  A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life and is sold at a discount to its face value at maturity.  The amount of the discount fluctuates with the market price of the security.  The market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than the market prices of securities that pay cash interest periodically having similar maturities and credit qualities.  In addition, unlike bonds that pay cash interest throughout the period to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment.  Federal income tax law requires the holder of a zero coupon security to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments.  To maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid liability for Federal income taxes, the Fund may be required to distribute such income accrued with respect to these securities and may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements.  See “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

 

U.S. Government Securities.  The Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury securities which include Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds that 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.  In addition to U.S. Treasury securities, each Fund, may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.  Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality.  These securities bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. While the U.S. Government currently 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.

 

 


 

 

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.

 

Bank Obligations.  Bank obligations in which the Fund may invest include certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, and fixed time deposits.  Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.  Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.  Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate.  Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties that vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation.  There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits.

 

Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks, broker-dealers or other financial institutions.  A repurchase agreement is a contract under which the Fund would acquire a security for a relatively short period subject to the obligation of the seller to repurchase and the Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price (representing the Fund's cost plus interest).  In the case of repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, the value of the underlying securities (or collateral) will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including the interest factor.  The Fund bears a risk of loss if the other party to the repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities.  This risk includes the risk of procedural costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price.

 

Commercial Paper.  The Fund may invest in commercial paper.  Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies.  The commercial paper purchased by the Fund may consist of U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of domestic issuers and foreign currency-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign issuers.

 

Investment Techniques

 

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

 

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; or 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.

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 by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

 

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.  Such borrowings may be for temporary or emergency purposes or for leveraging. The Fund currently intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made.  While such borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.

 

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 such 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 may not make a short sale which results in the Fund having sold short in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any class of an issuer.

 

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.

 

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 loaned securities 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, an affiliate of the Manager, 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.

 

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.  A portfolio manager 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.  By 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 creditworthiness 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.  Derivatives that are considered illiquid will be subject to the Fund's illiquid investments.

 

Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund may be required to segregate permissible liquid assets or otherwise cover its obligations relating to its transactions in derivatives.

 

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.

 

Successful use by the Fund of options will be subject to the Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual securities or the relevant securities market generally.  To the extent the Manager’s predictions are incorrect, the Fund may incur losses.

 

Future Developments.  The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in options 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 objective 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 this SAI.

 

Forward Commitments.  The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a forward commitment or when-issued 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 or when-issued 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 or when-issued 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 or when-issued basis may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery.  Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued 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 or when-issued 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

 

Equity Securities.  Equity securities, including common stocks, 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 investments will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the Fund’s total return to investors.

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the technology sector. Many technology companies involve greater risk 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 its 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 canceled.

 

The Fund may purchase securities of small capitalization companies, the prices of which may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies.  These securities typically are traded in lower volume and the issuers typically are more subject to changes in earnings and prospects.

 

The Fund may purchase securities of companies 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.

 

Foreign SecuritiesInvesting 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 the 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 costs.  In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have on occasion been unable 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, interest and dividends 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 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.

 

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 SAI 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

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in stocks (or other instruments with similar economic characteristics) of midsize companies.  The Fund has adopted a policy to provide its shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change in its policy to so invest 80% of its assets.  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 securities.  In addition, the Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 14 as fundamental policies.  Investment restrictions numbered 15 and 17 are not fundamental policies and may be changed by a vote of a majority of the Company’s Board members at any time.  The Fund may not:

 

1.         Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than a bank) if such purchase would cause more than 5% of the value of its total assets to be invested in securities of such issuer, or invest more than 15% of its assets in the obligations of any one bank, 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 may be purchased, without regard to such limitations.

 

2.         Purchase the securities of any issuer if such purchase would cause the Fund to hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.  This restriction applies only with respect to 75% of the Fund’s assets.

 

3.         Purchase securities of any company having less than three years’ continuous operations (including operations of any predecessors) if such purchase would cause the value of the Fund’s investments in all such companies to exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

4.         Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if the officers or Board members of the Company or of the Manager who individually own beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.

 

5.         Purchase, hold or deal in commodities or commodity contracts or in real estate, but this shall not prohibit the Fund from investing in securities of companies engaged in real estate activities or investments.

 

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) or as otherwise permitted by the SEC.  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.

 


 

 

 

9.         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.

 

10.       Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may obtain such short‑term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities.

 

11.       Engage in the purchase and sale of put, call, straddle or spread options or in writing such options, except that the Fund (a) may purchase put and call options to the extent that the premiums paid by it on all outstanding options at any one time do not exceed 5% of its total assets and may enter into closing sale transactions with respect to such options and (b) may write and sell covered call option contracts on securities owned by the Fund not exceeding 20% of the value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written.  The Fund also may purchase call options without regard to the 5% limitation set forth above to enter into closing purchase transactions.  In connection with the writing of covered call options, the Fund may pledge assets to an extent not greater than 20% of the value of its total assets at the time such options are written.

 

12        Invest more than 25% of its assets in investments in any particular industry or industries, provided that, when the Fund has adopted a temporary defensive posture, there shall be no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, bankers’ acceptances of domestic issuers, time deposits and certificates of deposit.

 

13.       Purchase warrants in excess of 2% of net assets.  For purposes of this restriction, such warrants shall be valued at the lower of cost or market, except that warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to securities shall not be included within this 2% restriction.

 

14.              Invest in interests in oil, gas or mineral exploration or development programs.

 

15.       Pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise encumber 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 or forward commitment 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 options and forward contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on indices.

 

16.       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.

 

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

 

While not a fundamental policy, the Fund will not invest in oil, gas, and other mineral leases, or real estate limited partnerships.

 

 


 

 

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 such 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 changes in values or assets, the Fund must take steps to reduce such borrowings within three business days at least to the extent of such excess.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY AND THE FUND

Board of the Company

 

Board's Oversight Role in Management.  The Board's role in management of the Company is oversight.  As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the Company, primarily the Manager and its affiliates, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management (including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk).  As part of its oversight, the Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including the Manager's Chief Investment Officer (or a senior representative of his office), the Company's and the Manager's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel.  The Board's audit committee (which consists of all Board members) meets during its scheduled meetings, and between meetings the audit committee chair maintains contact, with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and the Company's Chief Financial Officer.  The Board also receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of the Manager or its affiliates regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as business continuity, anti-money laundering, personal trading, valuation, credit, investment research and securities lending.  The Board also receives reports from counsel to the Manager and the Board's own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory compliance and governance matters.  The Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Fund.  In addition, the Manager and other service providers to the Company have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund.  Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks.  However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Fund, and the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to inherent limitations.

 

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

 


 

 

 

Information About Each Board Member's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.  Board members of the Company, together with information as to their positions with the Company, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below.

 

Name (Age)
Position with Company (Since)

Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years

 

 

 

Joseph S. DiMartino (67)
Chairman of the Board (1995)

Corporate Director and Trustee

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

 

The Newark Group, a provider of a national market of paper recovery facilities, paperboard mills and paperboard converting plants, Director (2000 – 2010)

 

Sunair Services Corporation, a provider of certain outdoor-related services to homes and business, Director (2005 – 2009)

 

 

 

 

David W. Burke (74)

Board Member (1994)

Corporate Director and Trustee

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Hodding Carter III (75)
Board Member (1988)

Professor of Leadership & Public Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2006 – present)

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (1998 – 2006)

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon J. Davis (69)

Board Member (2006)

Partner in the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP

 

Consolidated Edison, Inc., a utility company, Director  (1997 –  present)

 

Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life insurance company, Director  (2000 – present)

 

 

 

 

 

Joni Evans (68)

Board Member (2006)

Chief Executive Officer, www.wowOwow.com, an online community dedicated to women's conversations and publications

 

Principal, Joni Evans Ltd. (publishing)

 

Senior Vice President of the William Morris Agency (1994 – 2006)

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Ehud Houminer (70)
Board Member (1994)

Executive-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School, Columbia University

 

Avnet Inc., an electronics distributor, Director 

(1993 –  present)

 

Richard C. Leone (70)

Board Member (1984)

President of The Century Foundation (formerly, The Twentieth Century Fund, Inc.), a tax exempt research foundation engaged in the study of economic, foreign policy and domestic issues

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Hans C. Mautner (73)

Board Member (1984)

President – International Division and an Advisory Director of Simon Property Group, a real estate investment company

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simon Global Limited, a real estate company (1999 – present)

N/A

 

 

 

 

Robin A. Melvin (47)

Board Member (1995)

Director, Boisi Family Foundation, a private family foundation that supports youth-serving organizations that promote the self sufficiency of youth from disadvantaged circumstances (1995 – present)

N/A

 

 

 

Burton N. Wallack (60)

Board Member (2006)

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

N/A

 

 

 

John E. Zuccotti (73)

Board Member (1984)

Chairman of Brookfield Financial Properties, Inc.

 

Senior Counsel of  Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

 

Emeritus Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York

Wellpoint, Inc., a health benefits company, Director  (2005 – present)

 


 

 

 

Each Board member has been a Board member of Dreyfus mutual funds for over 10 years.  Additional information about each Board member follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Board member possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Board members.  The Board believes that the significance of each Board member's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Board member may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the board level, with no single Board member, or particular factor, being indicative of board effectiveness.  However, the Board believes that Board members need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Company management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; the Board believes that its members satisfy this standard.  Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Board member's educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., medicine, accounting or law), public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board of the Company) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences.  The charter for the Board's nominating committee contains certain other factors considered by the committee in identifying and evaluating potential Board member nominees.  To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Board members are counseled by their own independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with the Manager, and also may benefit from information provided by the Manager's counsel; counsel to the Company and to the Board have significant experience advising funds and fund board members.  The Board and its committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate.  The Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.

 


 

 

 

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

 

·         David W. Burke – Mr. Burke was previously a member of the Labor-Management Committee for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Executive Secretary to the President's Advisory Committee on Labor-Management Policy, Secretary to the Governor of the State of New York and Chief of Staff for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.  In addition, Mr. Burke previously served as the President of CBS News and as the Chairman of the federal government's Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and other U.S. government-sponsored international broadcasts.  Mr. Burke also was a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Dreyfus (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of BNY Mellon in August 1994 and related management changes).

 

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

 

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

 


 

 

 

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

 

·         Ehud Houminer – Mr. Houminer currently serves on Columbia Business School's Board of Overseers.  Prior to his association with Columbia Business School beginning in 1991, Mr. Houminer held various senior financial, strategic and management positions at Philip Morris Companies Inc., including serving as Senior Corporate Vice President for Corporate Planning, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris USA, Inc. (now part of Altria Group, Inc.).  Mr. Houminer is Chairman of the Business School Board and a Trustee of Ben Gurion University.

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 


 

 

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

 

Additional Information About the Board and its Committees.  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 (i) to oversee the Company's accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund's financial statements and (ii) to assist in the Board's oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial statements, the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the 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.  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 Company’s audit committee met four times and the Company’s compensation committee and nominating committee each met once during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The Company’s pricing committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 


 

 

 

 

The table below indicates the dollar range of each Board member’s ownership of Fund shares and shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which he or she is a Board member, in each case as of December 31, 2010.

 


Name of Board Member

 

The Fund

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

Joseph S. DiMartino

None

Over $100,000

David W. Burke

None

Over $100,000

William Hodding Carter III

None

$10,001 - $50,000

Gordon J. Davis

None

Over $100,000

Joni Evans

None

Over $100,000

Ehud Houminer

$1 - $10,000

Over $100,000

Richard C. Leone

None

Over $100,000

Hans C. Mautner

None

Over $100,000

Robin A. Melvin

None

Over $100,000

Burton N. Wallack

None

None

John E. Zuccotti

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

 

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company pays its Board members its allocated portion of an annual retainer of $65,000 and a fee of $7,500 per meeting (with a minimum of $500 per meeting and per telephone meeting) attended for the Company and 15 other funds (comprising 28 portfolios) in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation.  Emeritus Board members are 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 Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and the amount paid by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person was a Board member (the number of portfolios of such funds is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) during the year ended December 31, 2010, were as follows:

 

Name of Board Member

Aggregate Estimated Compensation From the Fund*

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

Joseph S. DiMartino

$4,482

$1,060,250 (175)

David W. Burke

$3,585

$491,500 (92)

William Hodding Carter III

$3,585

$105,500 (30)

Gordon J. Davis

$3,585

$179,500 (45)

Joni Evans

$3,585

$106,000 (30)

Arnold S. Hiatt+

$967

$26,500 (30)

Ehud Houminer

$3,585

$242,000 (63)

Richard C. Leone

$3,585

$105,000 (30)

Hans C. Mautner

$3,316

$97,500 (30)

Robin A. Melvin

$3,585

$143,750 (30)

Burton N. Wallack

$3,585

$106,500 (30)

John E. Zuccotti

$3,585

$105,000 (30)

*  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 $812.

**  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.

 

 


 

 

Officers of the Company

 

J BRADLEY J. SKAPYAK, President since January 2010. Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Manager since June 2009.  From April 2003 to June 2009, Mr. Skapyak was the head of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager.  He is an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 171 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1988.

 

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.  Director-Mutual Fund Accounting of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 52 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1991.

KIESHA ASTWOOD, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.  Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  She is 38 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since July 1995.

 

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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 44 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  She is 55 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 49 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 2000.

 

KATHLEEN DENICHOLAS, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  She is 36 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 2001.

 

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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  She is 48 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 47 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1991.

 

M. CRISTINA MEISER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.  Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 196 portfolios) managed by The Manager.  She is 41 years old and has been an employee of The Manager since August 2001.

 

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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 59 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 45 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 52  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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 42 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 47 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 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 43  years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 1989.

 

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.  Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 196 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 1990.

 

NATALIA GRIBAS, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since July 2010.  Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the Distributor, and the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of 73 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  She is 41 years old and has been an employee of the Distributor since September 2008.

 


 

 

 

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 196 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 53 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.

 

The Company’s Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Fund’s voting securities outstanding on April 11, 2011.  See “Information About the Company and the Fund” for a list of shareholders known by the Company to own of record 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities as of April 11, 2011.

 

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

 

Investment AdviserThe Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a global financial holding company focused on helping clients move and manage their financial assets, operating in 36 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 to the Fund pursuant to a Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Manager and the Company.  As to the Fund, the Agreement 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 outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that in either event its con­tinuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund 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 the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, or, on 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 Baum, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; J. Charles Cardona, President and a director; Diane P. Durnin, Vice Chair and a director;  Bradley J. Skapyak, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Dwight Jacobsen, Executive Vice President and a director; Jeffrey D. Landau, Executive Vice President and a director; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Senior Vice President--Corporate Communications; Gary E. Abbs, Vice President-Tax; Jill Gill, Vice President--Human Resources; Joanne S. Huber, Vice President-Tax; Anthony Mayo, Vice President--Information Systems;  John E. Lane, Vice President; Jeanne M. Login, Vice President; Gary Pierce, Controller; Joseph W. Connolly, Chief Compliance Officer;  James Bitetto, Secretary; and Robert G. Capone, Mitchell E. Harris, Cyrus Taraporevala and Scott E. Wennerholm, directors.

 


 

 

 

The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, 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.

 

The Fund, the Manager and the Distributor each have adopted a Code of Ethics that permits its respective personnel, subject to the Code of Ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.  The Manager’s Code of Ethics subjects its employees’ personal securities transactions 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 are also subject to the oversight of BNY Mellon’s Investment Ethics Committee (the “Committee”).  Portfolio managers and other investment personnel of the Manager 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 is responsible for investment decisions and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Company’s Board to execute purchases and sales of securities.  The Fund’s portfolio managers are Warren Chiang and C. Wesley Boggs, each of whom is a dual employee of Mellon Capital Management Corporation (“Mellon Capital”), an affiliate of Dreyfus, and Dreyfus and will manage the Fund in that capacity.

 

Portfolio Manager Compensation.  The Fund’s Portfolio managers are compensated by Mellon Capital, and not the Fund. The primary objectives of Mellon Capital’s compensation plans are to:

 

·         Motivate and reward continued growth and profitability

·         Attract and retain high-performing individuals critical to the on-going success of Mellon Capital

·         Motivate and reward superior business/investment performance

·         Create an ownership mentality for all plan participants

 

The investment professionals' cash compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based base salary and (variable) incentives (cash and deferred). An investment professional's base salary is determined by the employees' 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. Funding for the Mellon Capital Annual and Long Term Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall Mellon Capital profitability. Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on Mellon Capital's financial performance. Annual incentive opportunities are pre-established for each individual, expressed as a percentage of base salary ("target awards"). These targets are derived based on a review of competitive market data for each position annually. Annual awards are determined by applying multiples to this target award. Awards are 100% discretionary. Factors considered in awards include individual performance, team performance, investment performance of the associated portfolio(s) including both short and long term returns and qualitative behavioral factors. Other factors considered in determining the award are the asset size and revenue growth/retention of the products managed. Awards are paid in partially in cash with the balance deferred through the Long Term Incentive Plan.

 


 

 

 

These positions that participate in the Long Term Incentive Plan have a high level of accountability and a large impact on the success of the business due to the position's scope and overall responsibility. This plan provides for an annual award, payable in cash after a three-year cliff vesting period as well as a grant of BNY Mellon Restricted Stock for senior level roles.

 

The same methodology described above is used to determine portfolio manager compensation with respect to the management of mutual funds and other accounts. 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 Bank of New York Mellon Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees.

 

Additional Information About the Portfolio Managers.  The following table lists the number and types of other accounts advised by the Funds’ primary portfolio managers and assets under management in those accounts as of Fund’s fiscal year:

 

Portfolio Manager

Registered Investment Company Accounts

Assets
Managed

Pooled Accounts

Assets Managed

Other Accounts

Assets Managed

Warren Chiang

21

$7,580 million

11

$891 million

80

$7,016 million

C. Wesley Boggs

21

$7,580 million

11

$891 million

80

$7,016 million

 

 The information set forth above reflects information about other accounts managed by a team that includes the portfolio manager.  The portfolio manager does not individually manage any registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles or other accounts.  Due to the team approach, all members of the team report the same number of accounts and assets.  On their team, 1 Mutual Fund with a total of $4,534 million in assets, 1 Pooled Account with a total of $31 million, and 18 Other Accounts with a total of $2,457 million have performance based fees.

 

The dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the primary portfolio managers are as follows as of the end of Fund’s fiscal year:

 


 

 

 

Portfolio Manager

Dollar Rangeof Fund Shares Beneficially Owned

Warren Chiang

0

C. Wesley Boggs

0

     

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

 

BNY Mellon and its affiliates, including Dreyfus and others involved in the management, sales, investment activities, business operations or distribution of the Fund, are engaged in businesses and have interests other than that of managing the Fund.  These activities and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial and other interests in securities, instruments and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Fund and the Fund's service providers, which may cause conflicts that could disadvantage the Fund.

 


 

 

 

BNY Mellon and its affiliates may have deposit, loan and commercial banking or other relationships with the issuers of securities purchased by the Fund.  BNY Mellon has no obligation to provide to Dreyfus or the Fund, or effect transactions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with, any market or other information, analysis, or research in its possession.  Consequently, BNY Mellon (including, but not limited to, BNY Mellon’s central Risk Management Department) may have information that could be material to the management of the Fund and may not share that information with relevant personnel of Dreyfus. Accordingly, Dreyfus has informed management of the Fund that in making investment decisions for the Fund it does not obtain or use material inside information that BNY Mellon or its affiliates may possess with respect to such issuers.

 

Dreyfus will make investment decisions for the Fund as it believes is in the best interests of the Fund.  Investment decisions made for the Fund may differ from, and may conflict with, investment decisions made for other investment companies and accounts advised by Dreyfus or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates.  Actions taken with respect to such other investment companies or accounts may adversely impact the Fund, and actions taken by the Fund may benefit BNY Mellon or other investment companies or accounts (including the Fund) advised by Dreyfus or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates.  Regulatory restrictions (including, but not limited to, those related to the aggregation of positions among different other investment companies and accounts) and internal BNY Mellon policies, guidance or limitations (including, but not limited to, those related to the aggregation of positions among all fiduciary accounts managed or advised by BNY Mellon and all its affiliates (including Dreyfus) and the aggregated exposure of such accounts) may restrict investment activities of the Fund.  While the allocation of investment opportunities among the Fund and other investment companies and accounts advised by Dreyfus or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates may raise potential conflicts because of financial, investment or other interests of BNY Mellon or its personnel, Dreyfus will make allocation decisions consistent with the interests of the Fund and the other investment companies and accounts and not solely based on such other interests.

 

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, without limitation, the following:  taxes, interest, 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 custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents’ fees, certain insurance premiums, industry association fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of maintaining corporate existence, costs of independent pricing services, costs attributable to investor services (including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of printing prospectuses and statements of additional information for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing stockholders, costs of shareholder reports and corporate meetings and any extraordinary expenses.  Expenses attributable to the Fund are charged against the assets of the Fund; other expenses of the Company are allocated among the Fund and the Company’s other series on the basis determined by the Company’s Board, including, but not limited to, proportionately in relation to the net assets of each.  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.  The Fund’s Class B and Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee, and Class A, Class B and Class C shares are subject to an annual shareholder services fee.  See “Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan.”  All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before the declaration of dividends to shareholders.

 


 

 

 

As compensation for the Manager’s services, the Company has agreed to pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the management fees payable by the Fund to the Manager amounted to $5,845,744, $3,196,911 and $3,344,821, respectively, which amount for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were reduced by $35,707, $426,184 and $196,772, respectively, pursuant to an undertaking, resulting in net fees paid by the Fund of $5,810,037 in fiscal year 2008, $2,770,727 in fiscal year 2009 and $3,148,049 in fiscal year 2010.

 

The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses of Class A shares of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee, exceed 1-1/2% the average value of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Class A shares for the fiscal year, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense.  Such deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated daily, reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on a monthly basis.

 

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

 

The 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 Company which is renewable annually.  The Distributor also serves as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust. 

 

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 Distributor also compensated certain Service Agents for selling Class B shares at the time of purchase from its own assets when the Fund offered Class B shares; the Fund no longer offers Class B shares except in connection with dividend reinvestment and permitted exchanges. The proceeds of the CDSC and fees pursuant to the Company’s Distribution Plan (described below), in part, are used to defray the expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with the sale of the applicable Class of Fund shares.  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.  The Distributor generally paid Service Agents on new investments of Class B shares made through such Service Agents 4% of the net asset value of such shares purchased by their clients.  With respect to Class B shares of the Fund issued to shareholders in exchange for shares originally issued by a series of The Bear Stearns Funds (the “Acquired Fund”), the proceeds of any CDSC and fees pursuant to the Distribution Plan are payable to the Acquired Fund’s former distributor to defray the expenses it incurred in connection with the sale of such shares when originally issued by the Acquired Fund.

 


 

 

 

The amounts retained on the sale of Fund shares by the Distributor from sales loads and from CDSC’s, as applicable, with respect to the Fund’s Class A, Class B, and Class C shares are set forth below:

 

 

Fiscal Year ended 2008

Fiscal Year ended 2009

Fiscal Year ended 2010

Class A

$17,939

$4,626

$5,830

Class B

$28,486

$7,722

$7,936

Class C

$  3,223

$   342

$6,058

 

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 fee and/or shareholder services fee 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 certain 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 sponsorships; 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 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, is the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent.  Under a transfer agency agreement with the Company, 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 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 Fund shares.

 


 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of the Manager, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as custodian for the investments of the Fund.  Under a custody agreement with the Company, 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 transactions charges.

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

General.  The Fund offers Class A, Class C and Class I shares. Class A shares and Class C shares may be purchased only by clients of 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.  No certificates are issued for fractional shares.

 

The Company reserves the right to reject any purchase order.  The Fund 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 currency dealer or exchanger or money transmitter.  The Fund will not accept cash, travelers’ checks or money orders as payment for shares.

 

As of June 1, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), Class B shares of the Fund are offered only in connection with dividend reinvestment and exchanges of Class B shares of certain other funds advised by Dreyfus or shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. or General Money Market fund, Inc. held in an Exchange Account (as defined under “Shareholder Services--Fund Exchanges”) as a result of a previous exchange of Class B shares.  No new or subsequent investments, including thorough automatic investment plans, are allowed in Class B shares of the Fund, except through dividend reinvestment or permitted exchanges.  If you hold Class B shares and make a subsequent investment in Fund shares, unless you specify the Class of shares you wish to purchase, such subsequent investment will be made in Class A shares and will be subject to any applicable sales load.  For Class B shares outstanding on the Effective Date and Class B shares acquired upon reinvestment of dividends, all Class B share attributes, including associated CDSC schedules, conversion to Class A features and Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan fees, continue in effect.

 

 


 

 

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. In addition, holders of Class I shares of the Fund who have held their shares since June 5, 2003 may continue to purchase Class I shares of the Fund for their existing accounts whether or not they would otherwise be eligible to do so. Institutions effecting transactions in Class I shares for the accounts of their clients may charge their clients direct fees in connection with such transactions.

 

When purchasing shares of the Fund, 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. You should consult your Service Agent in this regard.  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 Class A, C, and I shares of the Fund, the minimum initial investment is $1,000.  Subsequent investments 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.    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 servicing in that capacity automatically invested in the Fund.  The Company 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 Company.  Fund shares are offered without regard to the minimum initial or subsequent investment amount requirements to investors purchasing Fund shares through wrap fee programs or other fee-based programs.  The Company reserves the right to vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time.

 


 

 

 

The minimum initial investment through an exchange for Class B shares of the Fund is $1,000.  Subsequent exchanges for Class B shares of the Fund must be at least $500.

 

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (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 other government-sponsored programs.  Participants and plan sponsors should consult their tax advisers for details.

 

Class A, C, and I shares of the Fund also may be purchased through Dreyfus-Automatic  Asset Builder®, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege and Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan 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 is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (currently 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 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 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 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 (currently 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 a Fund is the net asset value per share of that Class plus, except as otherwise set forth below, a sales load as shown below:

 

 

Total Sales Load* – Class A

 

 

 

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

 

4.71

 

3.75

$100,000 to less than $250,000

3.50

 

3.63

 

2.75

$250,000 to less than $500,000

2.50

 

2.56

 

2.25

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

2.00

 

2.04

 

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

 

For shareholders who beneficially owned shares of the Fund on November 25, 2003, the public offering price for Class A shares of the Fund is the net asset value per share of that Class.  In addition, shareholders of Dreyfus Aggressive Growth Fund or Dreyfus Premier Aggressive Growth Fund who received Fund Class A shares as a result of the merger of each such fund into the Fund on March 28, 2003, may not have to pay a sales load or may qualify for a reduced sales load to purchase additional Class A shares of the Fund.  Specifically, for such shareholders of Dreyfus Aggressive Growth Fund the public offering price for Class A shares of the Fund is the net asset value per share of Class A for as long as the shareholder’s account is open.  For such shareholders of Dreyfus Premier Aggressive Growth Fund who beneficially owned shares of

 

 

 

 

 

such fund on December 31, 1995, the public offering price for Class A shares of the Fund for as long as the shareholder’s account is open is the net asset value per share of Class A plus a sales load as shown below:

 

 

Total Sales Load* – Class A

 

 

 

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 $100,000

3.00

 

3.10

 

2.75

$100,000 to less than $250,000

2.75

 

2.80

 

2.50

$250,000 to less than $500,000

2.25

 

2.30

 

2.00

$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

 

 Effective February 4, 2009 (the “Exchange Date”), the Fund no longer offers Class T shares.  Holders of Class T shares of the Fund as of the Exchange Date received automatically in exchange for their Class T shares Class A shares of the Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate value of the shareholder’s Class T shares.  For shareholders of the Fund who received Class A shares of the Fund in exchange for their Class T shares of the Fund on the Exchange Date, 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

4.50

4.71

4.00

$50,000 to less than $100,000

4.00

4.17

3.50

$100,000 to less than $250,000

3.00

3.09

2.50

$250,000 to less than $500,000

2.00

2.04

1.75

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

1.50

1.52

1.25

$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 may 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.  If the Service Agent waives receipt of such commission, the CDSC applicable to such Class A shares will not be assessed at the time of redemption. 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 Class A shares of the Fund.  The example assumes a purchase of Class A shares aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of sales charges set forth above at a price based upon the net asset value of the Fund’s Class A shares on December 31, 2010:

 

 

Class A

Net Asset Value per Share

$32.85

 

 

Per Share Sales Charge - 5.75%*

of offering price (6.10% of

net asset value per share)

 

 

$2.00

 

 

Per Share Offering Price to

the Public

 

$34.85

_______________________

*  Class A shares of the Fund purchased by shareholders beneficially owning shares on November 25, 2003 and by certain other shareholders are not subject to a sales load or are subject to different charges as described above.

 

Dealer Reallowance – Class A.  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.  The Distributor, at its own expense, may provide additional promotional incentives to dealers that sell shares of funds advised by Dreyfus, which are sold with a sales load, such as Class A shares.  In some instances, these incentives may be offered only to certain dealers who have sold or may sell significant amounts of such shares.  See “Management Arrangements—Distributor.”

 

Class A Shares Offered at Net Asset Value.  Full-time employees of FINRA member firms and full-time employees of other financial institutions which 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, or for their spouses or minor children, at net asset value without a sales load, provided they have furnished the Distributor with 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 its affiliates, including members of the Company’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 which 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 since on or before February 28, 2006.

 

Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load with 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 though an entity that has entering 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 of the Fund may be purchased at net asset value without a sales load by accountholders under the “ACS/Mellon HSA Solution”, an integrated health savings account solution.  Health Savings Accounts are flexible accounts that provide employers and/or employees covered under qualified high deductible health plans the ability to make contributions to special savings accounts generally without federal or state tax consequences.

 

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 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 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 4.5% 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 B SharesClass B shares of the Fund are offered only in connection with dividend reinvestment and permitted exchanges of Class B shares of certain other funds.  The public offering price for such Class B shares is the net asset value per share of that Class.  No initial sales charge is imposed at the time of dividend reinvestment or exchange.  A CDSC is imposed on certain redemptions of Class B shares as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information under “How to Redeem Shares–Contingent Deferred Sales Charge–Class B Shares.”

 

Approximately six years after the date of purchase, Class B shares automatically will convert to Class A shares, based on the relative net asset values for shares of each such Class.  Class B shares of the Fund that have been acquired through the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions will be converted on a pro rata basis together with other Class B shares, in the proportion that a shareholder’s Class B shares converting to Class A shares bears to the total Class B shares not acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

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 “Class B Shares” above and “How to Redeem Shares—Contingent Deferred Sales Charge—Class C Shares.”

 

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

 

Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege.  You may purchase Fund 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 that 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 made 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 business day following such purchase order.  To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer  Privilege, the initial payment for the 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 in which the account is closed or during the following calendar year, provided the information on the old Account Application is still applicable.

 

Converting Shares.  Under certain circumstances, Fund shares may be converted from one Class of shares to another Class of shares of the Fund.  The aggregate dollar value of the shares of the Class received upon any such conversion will equal the aggregate dollar value of the converted shares on the date of the conversion.  An investor whose Fund shares are converted from one Class to another Class of the Fund will not realize taxable gain or loss as a result of the conversion.

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN

 

Class B and Class C shares are subject to a Distribution Plan and Class A, Class B, and Class C shares 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 its Class B and Class C shares of the Fund, pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for distributing each such Class of shares a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B and 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 holders of its Class B and 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 which holders of the Fund’s Class B or 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 cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Distribution Plan.  As to the relevant Class of shares, the Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Company’s 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.

 

 


 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Fund paid $22,539 and $60,628 with respect to its Class B and Class C shares, respectively, to the Distributor pursuant to the Distribution Plan.

 

Shareholder Services Plan.  The Company has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for the provision of certain services to the holders of the Fund’s Class A, Class B, and Class C shares a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the value of the average daily net assets of each such Class.  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 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 Company’s Board members for their 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 Fund 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 relevant Class of shares, the Shareholder Services 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 Shareholder Services Plan. As to the relevant Class of shares, the Shareholder Services Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a majority of the Company’s Board members who are not “interested persons” and who 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.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Fund paid $1,075,339, $8,777, and $20,209 with respect to Class A, Class B, and Class C shares, respectively, to the Distributor pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.

 

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 a 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 Fund shares, 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 B Shares.  A CDSC payable to the Distributor is imposed on any redemption of Class B shares which reduces the current net asset value of your Class B shares to an amount which is lower than the dollar amount of all payments by you for the purchase of Class B shares of the Fund held by you at the time of redemption.  No CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of the Class B shares redeemed does not exceed (i) the current net asset value of Class B shares of the Fund acquired through reinvestment of Fund dividends or capital gain distributions, plus (ii) increases in the net asset value of your Class B shares above the dollar amount of all your payments for the purchase of Class B shares held by you at the time of redemption.

 

If the aggregate value of Class B 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 circumstances where the CDSC is imposed, the amount of the charge will depend on the number of years from the time you purchased the Class B shares until the time of redemption of such shares.  Solely for purposes of determining the number of years from the time of any payment for the purchase of Class B shares, all payments during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the first day of the month.

 

The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC and the conversion to Class A schedule for Class B shares of the Fund, except for certain Class B shares issued in exchange for shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund:

 

 

Year Since Purchase Payment Was Made

CDSC as a % of Amount Invested or Redemption Proceeds (whichever is less)

 

 

First

4.00

Second

4.00

Third

3.00

Fourth

3.00

Fifth

2.00

Sixth

1.00

______________

* These Class B shares will automatically convert into Class A shares approximately six years after the date of purchase.

 

The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC payable to the Acquired Fund’s former distributor and the conversion to Class A schedule for Class B shares of the Fund issued in exchange for Class B shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund before December 1, 2003:

 

 

 

Year Since Purchase Payment Was Made

CDSC as a % of Amount Invested or Redemption Proceeds (whichever is less)

 

 

First

5.00

Second

4.00

Third

3.00

Fourth

3.00

Fifth

2.00

Sixth

1.00

Seventh

0.00

Eighth

0.00** 

 


 

 

_________________

** These Class B shares will automatically convert into Class A shares a the end of the calendar quarter that is eight years after the initial purchase of the Class B shares of the Acquired Fund (applies to such Class B shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund before December 1, 2003).

 

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 B 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 B shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of Class B shares made during the preceding six year (or eight years for certain shares issued in exchange for shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund); 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 shares through the reinvestment of Fund dividends. During the second 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 which represents appreciation ($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500 redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260) would be charged at a rate of 4% (the applicable rate in the second year after purchase) for a total CDSC of $9.60.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge–Class C Shares.  A CDSC of 1% payable to the Distributor is imposed on any redemption of Class C shares within one year of the date of purchase.  The basis for calculating the payment of any such CDSC will be the method used in calculating the CDSC for Class B shares.  See “Contingent Deferred Sales Charge–Class B Shares” above.

 

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 SAI at the time of the purchase of such shares.

 

 


 

 

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

 

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 a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent 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.

 

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.

 

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."

 

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 acting on your behalf, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine.  Ordinarily, the Fund will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to the Privilege on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a 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 the investor’s 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 “Share Certificates; Signatures.”

 

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 owner 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 Fund has committed itself to pay in cash all redemption requests by any shareholder of record, 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 in excess of such amount, the Company’s Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or 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 investments are 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 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, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of residence.  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 Class A 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 Purchases 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.

 

As of the Effective Date, you also may exchange your Class B shares for Class B shares of General Money Market Fund, Inc. (the “General Fund”), a money market fund advised by the Manager.  The shares so purchased will be held in a special account created solely for this purpose (“Exchange Account”).  Exchanges of shares from an Exchange Account only can be made into Class B shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.  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 taking into account the time such shares were held in the General Fund’s Exchange Account.  In addition, the time Class B shares are held in the General Fund’s Exchange Account will be taken into account for purposes of calculating when such shares convert to Class A shares.  If your Class B shares are held in the General Fund’s Exchange Account at the time such shares are scheduled to convert to Class A shares, you will receive Class A shares of the General Fund.  Prior to the Effective Date, shareholders were permitted to exchange their Class B shares for shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. (“Worldwide Dollar Fund”), and such shares were held in an Exchange Account. Shareholders who held shares of Worldwide Dollar Fund in an Exchange Account on the Effective Date may continue to hold those shares and upon redemption from Exchange Account or other applicable fund account, the applicable CDSC and conversion to Class A schedule will be calculated, except for Fund shares issued in exchange for shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund, without regard to the time such shares were held in Worldwide Dollar Fund’s Exchange Account; for Fund shares issued in exchange for shares originally issued by the Acquired Fund, the applicable CDSC and conversion to Class A schedule will be calculated taking into account the time such shares were held in the Worldwide Dollar Fund’s Exchange Account.  Exchanges of shares from an Exchange Account in Worldwide Dollar Fund only can be made into Class B shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.  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, as described below.

 


 

 

 

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, 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 may not be exchanged by telephone or online.  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.

 

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 the fund into which the exchange is being made.

 

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.

 

During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Fund 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, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of the same Class of another Fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder (including, for Class B shares, Class B shares of the General Fund held in an Exchange Account).  This Privilege is available only for existing accounts.  With respect to Class I shares held by a Retirement Plan, exchanges may be made only between the investor’s Retirement Plan account in one fund and such investor’s Retirement Plan account in another fund.  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 the investor.  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 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 for other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, for financial intermediaries, 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 the 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 Class A, Class C, or Class I 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 Class A, Class C, or Class I 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 Class A, Class C, or Class I 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 Class A, Class C, or Class I shares of the Fund in shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder.  Shares 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 that are 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 the 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 B (including Class B shares held in an exchange account) or 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 B or 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 tour 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 Personal Retirement Plans.  The Fund makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and profit-sharing plans, including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan.  In addition, the Fund 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 are also available.

 

If you wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan, an Education Savings Account or 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 as to 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.  Portfolio securities, including covered call options written by the Fund, are valued at the last sale price on the securities exchange or national securities 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 in which there were no transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices.  Bid price is used when no asked price is available.  Certain short‑term investments may be carried at amortized cost, which approximates value.  Market quotations for foreign securities in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. and foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked quotations obtained from a pricing service (the "Service") approved by the board.  Expenses and fees, including the management fee and fees under the Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan, as applicable, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of Fund shares.  Because of the difference in operating expenses incurred by each Class, the per share net asset value of each Class will differ.

 

Generally, over-the-counter option contracts will be valued by the Service at the average of the most recent bid and asked quotations obtained from the Service.  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 accurately reflect 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 Net Asset Value), or are not valued by a pricing service approved by the Company’s Board, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith based on procedures approved by the Board.  Fair value of investments may be determined by the Company’s Board, its pricing committee or its valuation committee in good faith 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 the 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. 

 

 


 

 

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 AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

            If a fund investor elects to receive dividends and distributions in cash, and the investor's 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 dividends or distributions 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 in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the fund's prospectus.  In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds shares of a fund for six months or less and has (or is deemed to have) received a capital gain distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain distribution received or deemed to have been received.  The Code further provides that if a shareholder holds shares of a municipal or other tax-exempt fund for six months or less and has received an exempt-interest dividend with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be disallowed to the extent of the exempt-interest dividend received.

 

            A fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis than is described in its prospectus to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.  A fund may not make distributions from net realized securities gains unless capital loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have expired.  Dividends and distributions among share classes in the same fund may vary due to the different expenses of such share classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAXATION

 

            See the Prospectus and elsewhere in this SAI to determine which sections of the discussion below apply to your funds.

 

            The following is only a general summary of some of the important federal income tax considerations generally affecting the funds and their shareholders.  No attempt is made to present a complete explanation of the federal tax treatment of the funds' activities or to discuss state and local tax matters affecting the funds.  Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning the tax implications of investments in the funds.

 

            Taxation of the Fund. The Fund has qualified for treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Code for its last fiscal year and intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders.  To qualify as a RIC, a fund must, among other things: (a) derive in each taxable year (the "gross income test") 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" ("QPTPs") (as defined in the Code); (b) diversify its holdings (the "asset diversification test") 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 QPTPs; and (c) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction) and net tax-exempt interest income, if any, for such year.

 


 

 

 

Pursuant to the recently enacted Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the "Modernization Act"), a RIC that fails the gross income test for a taxable year shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the test for such year if (i) the RIC satisfies certain procedural requirements, and (ii) the RIC's failure to satisfy the gross income test is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.  However, in such case, a tax is imposed on the RIC for the taxable year in which, absent the application of the above cure provision, it would have failed the gross income test equal to the amount by which (x) the RIC's non-qualifying gross income exceeds (y) one-ninth of the RIC's qualifying gross income, each as determined for purposes of applying the gross income test for such year.

 

Also pursuant to the Modernization Act, a RIC that fails the asset diversification test as of the end of a quarter shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the test as of the end of such quarter in the following circumstances.  If the RIC's failure to satisfy the asset diversification test at the end of the quarter is due to the ownership of assets the total value of which does not exceed the lesser of (i) one percent of the total value of the RIC's assets at the end of such quarter and (ii) $10,000,000 (a "de minimis failure"), the RIC shall be considered to have satisfied the asset diversification test as of the end of such quarter if, within six months of the last day of the quarter in which the RIC identifies that it failed the asset diversification test (or such other prescribed time period), the RIC either disposes of assets in order to satisfy the asset diversification test, or otherwise satisfies the asset diversification test.

 

In the case of a failure to satisfy the asset diversification test at the end of a quarter under circumstances that do not constitute a de minimis failure, a RIC shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the asset diversification test as of the end of such quarter if (i) the RIC satisfies certain procedural requirements; (ii) the RIC's failure to satisfy the asset diversification test is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; and (iii) within six months of the last day of the quarter in which the RIC identifies that it failed the asset diversification test (or such other prescribed time period), the RIC either disposes of the assets that caused the asset diversification failure, or otherwise satisfies the asset diversification test.  However, in such case, a tax is imposed on the RIC, at the current rate of 35%, on the net income generated by the assets that caused the RIC to fail the asset diversification test during the period for which the asset diversification test was not met.  In all events, however, such tax will not be less than $50,000.

 


 

 

 

As a RIC, a fund will pay no federal income tax on its net investment income and net realized capital gains to the extent that such income and gains are distributed to shareholders in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code.  If a fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC in any taxable year, the fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such date is extended by future legislation), may be eligible for a 15% preferential maximum tax rate in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided in both cases, the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the fund's shares (as described below).  In addition, a fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

 

A nondeductible excise tax at a rate of 4% will be imposed on the excess, if any, of a fund's "required distribution" over its actual distributions in any calendar year.  Generally, the required distribution is 98% of a fund's ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98% (98.2% for calendar years after 2010) of its capital gain net income, determined under prescribed rules for this purpose, recognized during the one-year period ending on October 31st of such year (or December 31st of that year if the fund is permitted to so elect and so elects) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.  Each fund generally intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.

 

Although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP.  A fund's investments in partnerships, including in QPTPs, may result in a fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

 

            Taxation of Fund Distributions (Funds Other Than Municipal or Other Tax-Exempt Funds).  For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of a fund's earnings and profits, regardless of whether you receive your distributions in cash or have them reinvested in additional fund shares.  Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares.  In general, a fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on assets it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less.  Distributions of "net capital gains," that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, that are properly characterized by the fund as capital gain dividends ("capital gain dividends") will generally be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain.  Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced, in general to 15%, with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013.  Distributions of net short-term capital gains that exceed net long-term capital losses will generally be taxable as ordinary income.  The determination of whether a distribution is from capital gains is generally made taking into account available net capital loss carryforwards, if any.  Under the Modernization Act, if a RIC has a "net capital loss" (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year, that portion of the net capital loss consisting of the excess (if any) of the RIC's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the RIC's next taxable year, and that portion of the net capital loss consisting of the excess (if any) of the RIC's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the RIC's next taxable year.  Any such capital losses of a RIC may be carried forward to succeeding taxable years of the RIC without limitation.  Net capital loss carryforwards of a RIC arising in taxable years of the RIC beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the Modernization Act) may be applied against any net realized capital gains of the RIC in each succeeding year, or until their respective expiration dates, whichever is first.

 


 

 

 

Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a fund before a shareholder's investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares).  Distributions are taxable regardless of whether shareholders receive them in cash or in additional shares.  Distributions declared and payable by a fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the fund during the following January generally will be treated for federal tax purposes as paid by the fund and received by shareholders on December 31st of the year in which the distributions are declared rather than the calendar year in which they are received.

 

A fund may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained.  In such case, the fund may designate its retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who will be treated as if each received a distribution of his or her pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder in the fund will (i) be required to report his or her pro rata share of such gain on his or her tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for his or her pro rata share of tax paid by the fund on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for his or her shares in the fund by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

 

In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends) paid by a 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 "qualified 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.  Dividends paid on shares held by a fund will not be taken into account in determining the applicability of the preferential maximum tax rate to the extent that the fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property.  Dividends paid by REITs are not generally eligible for the preferential maximum tax rate.  Further, a "qualified foreign corporation" does not include any foreign corporation, which for its taxable year in which its dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year, is a passive foreign investment company.  Unless extended, this favorable provision will expire on December 31, 2012, and ordinary dividends will again be taxed at tax rates applicable to ordinary income.  In order to be eligible for the preferential rate, the shareholder 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 a shareholder's qualification for the preferential rate may apply.

 

 


 

 

In general, dividends (other than capital gain dividends) paid by a 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 (other than REITs) on shares that have been held by the fund for at least 46 days during the 91-day period commencing 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.  Dividends paid on shares held by a fund will not be taken into account for this purpose if the stock on which the dividend is paid is considered to be "debt-financed" (generally, acquired with borrowed funds), or to the extent that the fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property.  Moreover, the dividend received deduction may be disallowed or reduced if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing holding period and other requirements with respect to its shares of the fund or by application of the Code.

 

If a fund makes a distribution that is or is considered to be in excess of its current and accumulated "earnings and profits" for the relevant period, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain.  A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder's basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to shareholders of RICs from interest income earned by the fund from direct obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the fund.  At the end of each calendar year, as applicable, shareholders will be provided with the percentage of any dividends paid that may qualify for such tax-free treatment.  Shareholders should then consult with their tax advisors with respect to the application of state and local laws to these distributions.

 

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares.  A sale, exchange or redemption of shares in a fund will give rise to a gain or loss.  Any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months.  Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.

However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares.  Further, all or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of fund shares will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of the fund are purchased (including by means of a dividend reinvestment plan) within 30 days before or after the disposition.  In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

As discussed below under "Funds Investing in Municipal Securities," any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares in a municipal or other tax-exempt fund that have been held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares.  Under the Modernization Act, this loss disallowance rule, however, does not apply with respect to a regular dividend paid by a RIC which declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis.

 

 


 

 

Generally, if a shareholder sells or redeems shares of a fund within 90 days of their original acquisition, the shareholder cannot claim a loss on the original shares attributable to the amount of their load charge if the load charge is reduced or waived on a future purchase of shares of any fund (on account of the prior load charge), but instead is required to reduce the basis of the original shares by the amount of their load charge and carry over that amount to increase the basis of the newly acquired fund shares.  Under the Modernization Act, this rule applies only if the acquisition of the new fund shares occurs on or before January 31 of the calendar year following the year in which the original shares were sold or redeemed.

 

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.  Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted.  Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs.  The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper.  Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Legislation passed by Congress in 2008 requires the funds (or their administrative agent) to report to the IRS and furnish to fund shareholders the cost basis information and holding period for fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and redeemed on or after that date.  The funds will permit fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including average cost.  In the absence of an election, the funds will use a default cost basis method that has not yet been determined.  The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of shares after the settlement date of the redemption.  Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules apply to them.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Companies.  Funds that invest in foreign securities may own shares in certain foreign entities that are treated as "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"), which could potentially subject such a fund to U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or gains from a disposition of shares in the PFIC.  To avoid this treatment, each fund owning PFIC shares intends to make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in a PFIC "to the market" as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of the fund's taxable year.  Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss.  Alternatively, a fund may in certain cases elect to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" (i.e., make a "QEF election"), in which case that fund will be required to include in its income annually its share of the PFIC's income and net capital gains, regardless of whether the fund receives any distribution from the PFIC.

The mark-to-market and QEF elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by a fund to avoid taxation.  Making either of these elections therefore may require a fund to liquidate investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the fund's total return.  Dividends paid by PFICs generally will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 


 

 

 

Non-U.S. Taxes.  Investment income that may be received by a fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign taxes.  Tax treaties between the United States and certain countries may reduce or eliminate such taxes.  If more than 50% of the value of a fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, or, as provided in the Modernization Act, if at least 50% of the value of a fund's total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other RICs (such as a Fund of Funds), that fund may elect to "pass through" to its shareholders the amount of foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by that fund.  If that fund so elects, each of its shareholders would be required to include in gross income, even though not actually received, his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by that fund, but would be treated as having paid his or her pro rata share of such foreign taxes and would therefore be allowed to either deduct such amount in computing taxable income or use such amount (subject to various Code limitations) as a foreign tax credit against federal income tax (but not both).  For purposes of the foreign tax credit limitation rules of the Code, each shareholder would treat as foreign source income his or her pro rata share of such foreign taxes plus the portion of dividends received from the fund representing income derived from foreign sources.  No deduction for foreign taxes could be claimed by an individual shareholder who does not itemize deductions.  In certain circumstances, a shareholder that (i) has held shares of the fund for less than a specified minimum period during which it is not protected from risk of loss or (ii) is obligated to make payments related to the dividends will not be allowed a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes deemed imposed on dividends paid on such shares.  Additionally, the fund must also meet this holding period requirement with respect to its foreign stocks and securities in order for "creditable" taxes to flow-through.  Each shareholder should consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the potential application of foreign tax credits.

Foreign Currency Transactions.  Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time that fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss.  Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, also are treated as ordinary income or loss.

Financial Products.  A fund's investments in options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and derivatives, as well as any of its other hedging, short sale or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including notional principal contract, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the fund (including, potentially, without a corresponding receipt of cash with which to make required distributions), defer fund losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of fund securities, convert capital gains into ordinary income, render dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the dividends received deduction or a preferential rate of taxation ineligible for such treatment, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses.  These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders of a fund.  In addition, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the applicable requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid fund-level taxation.

 


 

 

Securities Issued or Purchased at a Discount and Payment-in-Kind Securities.  A fund's investments, if any, in securities issued or purchased at a discount, as well as certain other securities (including zero coupon obligations and certain redeemable preferred stock), may require the fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received.  Similarly, a fund's investment in payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed even though the fund receives no payment in cash on the security during the year.  In order to generate sufficient cash to make its requisite distributions, a fund may be required to borrow money or sell securities in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold.

Inflation-Indexed Treasury Securities.  The taxation of inflation-indexed Treasury securities is similar to the taxation of conventional bonds.  Both interest payments and the difference between original principal and the inflation-adjusted principal will be treated as interest income subject to taxation.  Interest payments are taxable when received or accrued.  The inflation adjustment to the principal is subject to tax in the year the adjustment is made, not at maturity of the security when the cash from the repayment of principal is received.  Accordingly, as in the case of securities issued or purchased at a discount and zero coupon obligations, a fund’s investments in inflation-indexed Treasury securities may require the fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received.  Decreases in the indexed principal can be deducted only from current or previous interest payments reported as income.  If inflation-indexed Treasury securities are sold prior to maturity, capital losses or gains are realized in the same manner as traditional debt instruments. 

Certain Higher-Risk and High Yield Securities.  A fund may invest in lower-quality fixed income securities, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or that are in default.  Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or are in default present special tax issues for a fund.  Tax rules are not entirely clear on the treatment of such debt obligations, including as to whether and to what extent a fund should recognize market discount on such a debt obligation, when a fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a fund shall allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and interest.  These and other related issues will be addressed by each fund if it invests in such securities as part of the fund's efforts to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Funds Investing in Municipal Securities (Municipal or Other Tax-Exempt Funds).  It is anticipated that substantially all of the income dividends to be paid by municipal or other tax-exempt funds that invest substantially all of their assets in municipal securities will be exempt from federal income taxes.  It is possible, however, that a portion of the income dividends from such funds will not be exempt from federal income taxes.  Municipal or other tax-exempt funds may realize capital gains from the sale or other disposition of municipal securities or other securities.  Distributions by such funds of capital gains will be treated in the same manner as described under "Taxation of Fund Distributions."  Recipients of social security and/or certain railroad retirement benefits who receive income dividends from municipal bond or other tax-exempt funds may have to pay taxes on a portion of their benefits.  Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV, Form 1099-INT or other IRS forms, as required, reporting the taxability of all dividends.  Certain municipal or other tax-exempt funds may invest in municipal securities the income from which is subject to AMT.  Such funds will advise shareholders of the percentage of dividends, if any, which should be included in the computation of AMT. 

 


 

 

Because the income dividends of municipal or other tax-exempt funds are expected to be derived from tax-exempt interest on municipal securities, any interest on money a shareholder of such a fund borrows that is directly or indirectly used to purchase shares in the fund is not deductible.  Further, entities or persons that are "substantial users" (or persons related to "substantial users") of facilities financed by private activity bonds or industrial development bonds should consult their tax advisors before purchasing shares of these funds.  The income from such bonds may not be tax-exempt for such substantial users.  There also may be collateral federal income tax consequences regarding the receipt of dividends exempt from federal income tax by shareholders such as S corporations, financial institutions and property and casualty insurance companies.  A shareholder falling into any such category should consult its tax adviser concerning its investment in a fund that is intended to generate dividends exempt from federal income tax.

 

Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares in a municipal or other tax-exempt fund that have been held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares.  Under the Modernization Act, this loss disallowance rule, however, does not apply with respect to a regular dividend paid by a RIC which declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis.

 

Under the Modernization Act, if at least 50% of the value of a fund's total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other RICs (such as a Fund of Funds), the fund may pass through to its shareholders its exempt interest income in the form of dividends that are exempt from federal income tax.

 

Proposals have been and may be introduced before Congress that would restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption of interest on municipal securities.  If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of such securities for investment by a fund that would otherwise invest in tax-exempt securities and the value of such a fund's portfolio would be affected.  In that event, such a fund would reevaluate its investment objective and policies.

 

The treatment under state and local tax law of dividends from a fund that invests in municipal securities may differ from the federal income tax treatment of such dividends under the Code.

 

Investing in Mortgage Entities.  Special tax rules may apply to the investments by a fund in entities which invest in or finance mortgage debt.  Such investments include residual interests in REMICs and interests in a REIT which qualifies as a taxable mortgage pool under the Code or has a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a taxable mortgage pool under the Code.  Although it is the practice of each fund not to make such investments, there is no guarantee that a fund will be able to sustain this practice or avoid an inadvertent investment.

 

Such investments may result in a fund receiving excess inclusion income ("EII") in which case a portion of its distributions will be characterized as EII and shareholders receiving such distributions, including shares held through nominee accounts, will be deemed to have received EII.  This can result in the funds being required to pay tax on the portion of its EII that is allocated to disqualified organizations, including certain cooperatives, agencies or instrumentalities of a government or international organization, and tax-exempt organizations that are not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income ("UBTI").  In addition, such amounts generally cannot be offset by net operating losses, will be treated as UBTI to tax-exempt organizations that are not disqualified organizations, and will be subject to a 30% withholding tax for shareholders who are not U.S. persons, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable exemptions or rate reductions in any relevant tax treaties.

 


 

 

 

Special tax consequences also apply where charitable remainder trusts invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in taxable mortgage pools.  Furthermore, any investment in residual interests of a REMIC can create complex tax consequences to both a fund and its shareholders, especially if a fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders.  Under current law, each fund serves to "block" (that is, prevent the attribution to shareholders of) UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders (including, among others, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a fund if shares in the fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code.  As noted above, a tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if a fund recognizes EII derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or taxable mortgage pools.  If a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust (each as defined in Section 664 of the Code) has UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax on the UBTI is imposed on the trust.

 

Backup Withholding.  Each fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to a shareholder who fails to properly furnish the fund with a correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN"), who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the applicable fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.  Corporate shareholders, certain foreign persons and other shareholders specified in the Code and applicable regulations are generally exempt from backup withholding, but may need to provide documentation to the fund to establish such exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax.  Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Shareholders.  Dividends paid by a fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, if any, to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains.  In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable tax form certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty.  The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States.  Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder.  A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional "branch profits tax" imposed at a rate of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate).  A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to back-up withholding at the appropriate rate.  All non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the appropriate tax forms to provide to a fund to claim a reduced rate or exemption from U.S. federal withholding taxes, and the proper completion of those forms.

 


 

 

In general, and subject to the exceptions described below, U.S. withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a non-U.S. shareholder in respect of any distributions of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, exempt-interest dividends or upon the sale or other disposition of shares of a fund.

 

For non-U.S. shareholders of a fund, a distribution by a fund that is attributable to the fund's receipt of certain capital gain distributions from a REIT and, for calendar years before 2012, gains from sales or exchanges of "United States real property interests" ("USRPIs") generally will be treated as "effectively connected" real property gain that is subject to tax in the hands of the non-U.S. shareholder at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. shareholders (subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals), a potential 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation and a 35% withholding tax (which can be credited against the non-U.S. shareholder's direct U.S. tax liabilities) if the fund is a "United States real property holding corporation" (as such term is defined in the Code, and referred to herein as a "USRPHC") or would be but for the operation of certain exclusions.  An exception to such treatment is provided if the non-U.S. shareholder has not owned more than 5% of the class of stock of the fund in respect of which the distribution was made at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.  In that case, the distribution generally is treated as an ordinary dividend subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate).  In addition, non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to certain tax filing requirements if the fund is a USRPHC.

 

Gains from the disposition of fund shares by a non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to withholding tax and treated as income effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business if at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition (or if shorter, the non-U.S. shareholder's holding period for the shares), the fund was a USRPHC and the foreign shareholder actually or constructively held more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the fund.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, gains recognized upon a disposition of fund shares in calendar years before 2012 will not be subject to U.S. income or withholding taxes if the fund is "domestically controlled" (as such term is defined in the Code).

 

Non-U.S. shareholders that engage in certain "wash sale" and/or substitute dividend payment transactions the effect of which is to avoid the receipt of distributions from a fund that would be treated as gain effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business generally will be treated as having received such distributions. All shareholders of a fund should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the foregoing rule.

 

For calendar years before 2012, a distribution of a USRPI in redemption of a non-U.S. shareholder's shares of a fund generally will cause that fund to recognize gain if the fund is considered "domestically controlled."  If a fund is required to recognize gain, the amount of gain recognized will equal a percentage of the excess of the fair market value of the distributed USRPI over the fund's adjusted basis in the distributed USRPI, with such percentage based on the greatest foreign ownership percentage of the fund during the five-year period ending on the date of the redemption.

 


 

 

For taxable years of RICs beginning before January 1, 2012, properly-designated dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a fund's "qualified short-term capital gains" (generally, the excess of the fund's net short-term capital gain over the fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year).  However, depending on its circumstances, a fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding.  In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form).  In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain.  Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

 

Under legislation that is generally effective in respect of payments made after December 31, 2012, certain payments of U.S. source interest, dividends, and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income, as well as gross proceeds from the sale or disposition of property of a type that can produce U.S. source dividends and interest (all such payments, "withholdable payments"), which are made to a "foreign financial institution," which term may include certain non-U.S. shareholders of a fund, may be subject to a 30% withholding tax, if the foreign financial institution does not, among other things, comply, under an agreement with the Secretary of the Treasury or his/her delegate, with prescribed due diligence requirements necessary to determine which of its accounts (including equity interests in the foreign financial institution) are held by specified United States persons or United States owned foreign entities (such accounts, "United States accounts"), and prescribed reporting requirements in respect of its United States accounts.  Further, a 30% withholding tax may apply in respect of payments by a foreign financial institution to certain account holders that do not comply with reasonable information requests aimed at enabling the foreign financial institution to identify its United States accounts and meet applicable reporting obligations.  The legislation further imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain payments to non-financial foreign entities.  The scope of this legislation is not entirely clear and no assurance can be given that some or all of the income of a fund and certain of its shareholders will not be subject to any of the new withholding taxes or that information will not be required to be reported to the IRS in respect of a shareholder's interest in a fund.  To comply with the requirements of the legislation, a fund may, in appropriate circumstances, require shareholders to provide information and tax documentation regarding their direct and indirect owners.

 

The legislation also imposes information reporting requirements on individuals (and, to the extent provided in future regulations, certain domestic entities) that hold any interest in a "specified foreign financial asset" if the aggregate value of all such assets held by such individual exceeds $50,000.  Significant penalties can apply upon a failure to make the required disclosure and in respect of understatements of tax attributable to undisclosed foreign financial assets.  This information reporting requirement is generally applicable for taxable years beginning after March 18, 2010.  The scope of this reporting requirement is not entirely clear and all shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to whether reporting may be required in respect of their indirect interests in the investments of a fund.

 


 

 

All non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a fund.

 

Other Tax Matters.  Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans.  Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of such an investment in their particular tax situation.

Dividends, distributions and gains from the sale of fund shares may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes.  Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local and, where applicable, foreign taxes.

 

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 that employ 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 the Fund are made independently from those of the other investment companies and accounts advised by Dreyfus and its affiliates  If, however, such other investment companies or accounts desire to invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, Dreyfus or its affiliates may, but are not required to, aggregate (or "bunch") orders that are placed or received concurrently for more than one investment company or account and available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitability to each.  In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the Fund.  When transactions are aggregated, but it is not possible to receive the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold, the various prices may be averaged, and the Fund will be charged or credited with the average price.

 


 

 

 

Dreyfus may buy for the Fund securities of issuers in which other investment companies or accounts advised by Dreyfus or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates have made, or are making, an investment in securities that are subordinate or senior to the securities purchased for the Fund.  For example, the Fund may invest in debt securities of an issuer at the same time that other investment companies or accounts are investing, or currently have an investment, in equity securities of the same issuer.  To the extent that the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges which may impact the price of its securities and its ability to meet its obligations, decisions by BNY Mellon or its affiliates (including Dreyfus) relating to what actions are to be taken may raise conflicts of interests and Dreyfus or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates may take actions for certain accounts that have negative impacts on other advisory accounts, including the Fund.

 

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 a 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.

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the amounts paid by the Fund for brokerage commissions as well as spreads or concessions paid on principal transactions, were as follows:

 

Fiscal Years

Brokerage Commission Paid

Brokerage Concessions

2008

$1,293,368

$0

2009

$952,080

$28,771

2010

$784,621

$0

 


 

 

 

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.  For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Fund paid no brokerage commissions to affiliates of the Manager.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Fund did not acquire any securities issued by its regular brokers or dealers.

 


 

 

 

Disclosure of Portfolio HoldingsIt 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, publicly discloses 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 the Fund’s 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 Dreyfus the authority to vote proxies of companies held in a fund’s portfolio.  Dreyfus, 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.

  

Dreyfus recognizes that an investment adviser is a fiduciary that owes its clients a duty of utmost good faith and full and fair disclosure of all material facts.  Dreyfus further recognizes that the right to vote proxies is an asset, just as the economic investment represented by the shares is an asset.  An investment adviser's duty of loyalty precludes an adviser from subrogating its clients' interests to its own.  Accordingly, in voting proxies, Dreyfus seeks to act solely in the best financial and economic interests of the funds. 

 

Dreyfus seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest through its participation in the PPC, which applies detailed, pre-determined proxy voting guidelines in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on internal and external research and recommendations provided by third party vendors, and without consideration of any client relationship factors.  Further, Dreyfus engages a third party as an independent fiduciary to vote all proxies for Fund securities. 

 

Each proxy is reviewed, categorized and analyzed in accordance with the PPC’s written guidelines in effect from time to time.  The guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and changes to the PPC’s policies on specific issues.  Items that can be categorized will be voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines or referred to the PPC, if the applicable guidelines so require.  Proposals for which a guideline has not yet been established are referred to the PPC for discussion and vote.  Additionally, the PPC may elect to review any proposal where it has identified a particular issue for special scrutiny in light of new information. The PPC will also consider specific interests and issues raised by a fund, which interests and issues may require that a vote for a fund be cast differently from the collective vote in order to act in the best interests of such fund.

 

 Dreyfus 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 managers and voting on matters which properly come to a shareholder vote.  Dreyfus carefully reviews proposals that would limit shareholder control or could affect shareholder values.

 

Dreyfus generally opposes proposals that seem designed to insulate management unnecessarily from the wishes of a majority of the shareholders and that would lead to a determination of a company’s future by a minority of its shareholders.  Dreyfus generally supports proposals that seem to have as their primary purpose providing management with temporary or short-term insulation from outside influences so as to enable them to bargain effectively with potential suitors and otherwise achieve identified long-term goals to the extent such proposals are discrete and not bundled with other proposals.

 

On questions of social responsibility where economic performance does not appear to be an issue, Dreyfus attempts to ensure that management reasonably responds to the social issues.  Responsiveness is 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. Dreyfus pays particular attention to repeat issues where management has failed in its commitment to take specific actions.  With respect to funds having investment policies that require proxies to be cast in a certain manner on particular social responsibility issues, Dreyfus votes such issues in accordance with those investment policies.

 


 

 

 

Information regarding how Dreyfus voted proxies for the funds is available on the Dreyfus website at www.dreyfus.com and on the SEC’s website at www.SEC.gov on the fund’s Form N-PX.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE 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 or subscription rights and are freely transferable.

 

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 an independent registered public accounting firm.  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 ten series of shares.  All consideration received by the Company for shares of a series, and all assets in which such consideration is interested, 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 identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of such series.  The Rule exempts the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm 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 Fund will take no other action with respect to the shares until it receives further instructions from the investor.  While the Fund 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.

 

            On November 27, 2002 the Fund commenced offering Class B, C, and I shares. The performance of the Fund’s B, C and I shares for periods prior to November 27, 2002 reflects the performance of the fund’s Class A shares adjusted to reflect any applicable sales loads. Such performance figures have not been adjusted, however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class B and Class C shares for such periods may have been lower.

 

Effective May 17, 2006, the Company changed its name from Dreyfus Premier New Leaders Fund, Inc. to its current name.  Effective April 9, 2009, the Fund changed its name from Dreyfus New Leaders Fund to its current name.

 

Effective June 1, 2007, the Fund’s “Class R” shares were redesignated as “Class I” shares.

 

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

 

The following entities are known by the Company to own of record 5% or more of the indicated Class of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities on April 11, 2011.  A shareholder who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the Fund’s voting securities may be deemed a “control person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.



National Financial Services

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA  02109-3605

 

5.4031%  (Class A)

National Financial Services

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA  02109-3605

 

15.1663%  (Class B)

First Clearing, LLC

10750 Wheat First Drive

Glen Allen, VA  23060-9243

 

14.1712%  (Class B)

 

Pershing LLC

P.O. Box 2052

Jersey City, NJ  07303-2052

 

10.7193%  (Class B)

OFI Trust Company

24 Lohmaier Lane

Lake Katrine, NY  12449-5245

 

17.5959% (Class C)

Pershing LLC

P.O. Box 2052

Jersey City, NJ  07303-2052

 

11.9850%  (Class C)

National Financial Services

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA  02109-3605

 

11.5057% (Class C)

Morgan Stanley & Co

Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2

3rd Floor

Jersey City, NJ  07311

 

10.5793 (Class C)

UBS WM USA

499 Washington Blvd.

Jersey City NJ, 07310-1995

 

7.2986% (Class C)

First Clearing, LLC

10750 Wheat First Drive

Glen Allen, VA  23060-9243

7.1227%  (Class C)

 

Merrill Lynch

4800 Deer Lake Drive East

2nd Floor

Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484

 

32.9769% (Class I)

Pershing LLC

P.O. Box 2052

Jersey City, NJ  07303-2052

 

14.1485% (Class I)

First Clearing, LLC

10750 Wheat First Drive

Glen Allen, VA  23060-9245

13.1593%  (Class I)

 

ICMA-RC Services LLC

777 North Capitol Street NE

Washington, DC  20002-4239

 

11.0816%  (Class I)

Wilmington Trust Company

Mutual Funds

P.O. Box 8880

Wilmington, DE  19899-8880

 

10.4654%  (Class I)

Orchard Trust Corporation

8515 E Orchard Rd

Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002

6.2271% (Class I)

 


 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038-4982, as counsel for the Company, 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.

 

Ernst & Young LLP, 5 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, an independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Funds, Inc.

 

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits.   

 

      (a)(i)                 Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Amendment are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 25, 1996.

          

      (a)(ii)                Articles of Amendment and Articles Supplementary, as amended, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 27, 2002.

 

(a)(iii)               Articles of Amendment are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 16, 2006.

 

(a)(iv)               Articles Supplementary are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 16, 2006.

 

(a)(v)                Articles Supplementary, as revised, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

 

(a)(vi)               Articles of Amendment are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 30, 2009.

 

(a)(vii)            Articles of Supplementary are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 25, 2009.

 

(a)(viii)             Articles of Supplementary are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

         (b)           Registrant's By‑Laws, as amended are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 26, 2006.

 

      (d)(i)                 Management Agreement, as revised, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

       

(d)(ii)            Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Walter Scott & Partners Limited, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 27, 2008.

                     

      (d)(iii)           Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Riverbridge Partners, LLC. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

                     

      (d)(iv)           Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Walthausen & Co., LLC. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

                     

      (d)(v)            Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Thompson, Siegel and Walmsley LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

                     

(d)(vi)           Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with WestLB Mellon Asset Management (USA) LLC. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 16, 2006.

 


 

 

                     

(d)(vii)           Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Mellon Equity Associates, LLP. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on November 22, 2006.

       

      (d)(viii)             Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Neuberger Berman Management LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 30, 2010.

       

(d)(ix)               Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Cupps Capital Management, LLC, with respect to Dreyfus Select Managers Large Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

                                    

     (d)(x)                 Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., with respect to Dreyfus Select    Managers Large Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

                                    

     (d)(xi)                Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Mar Vista Investment Partners, LLC, with respect to Dreyfus Select Managers Large Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

                                    

     (d)(xii)               Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Riverbridge Partners, LLC, with respect to Dreyfus Select Managers Small Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

                                    

     (d)(xiii)              Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Geneva Capital Management Ltd, with respect to Dreyfus Select Managers Small Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xiii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

                                    

     (d)(xiv)              Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement with Cupps Capital Management, LLC, with respect to Dreyfus Select Managers Small Cap Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

      

     (d)(xv)               Portfolio Allocation Management Agreement, as revised, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

      (e)(i)                 Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated October 1, 2010 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 30, 2011.

 

(e)(ii)                 Distribution and Shareholders Services Plan Agreements, as amended, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 27, 2002.

 

(e)(iii)                Forms of Supplement to Service Agreements are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 27, 2007.

 

(g)(i)                  Amended and Restated Custody Agreement with Mellon Bank, N.A. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (8)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 25, 1996. Sub-Custodian Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (8)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 25, 1996.

 

(g)(ii)                 Sub-Custodian Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (8)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 25, 1996.

 

(g)(iii)                Custody Agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon dated January 1, 2011 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 30, 2011.

 

 


 

 

(g)(iv)                Foreign Custody Manager Agreement with The Bank of New York is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 16, 2006.

 

      (h)(i)                 Shareholder Services Plan, as revised, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

      (h) (ii)               Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 28, 2008.

 

      (i)                      Opinion and Consent of Registrant's counsel are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 25, 1996.

 

(j)                                 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is filed herewith.

 

(m)                             Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan, as revised, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

(n)                               Rule 18f-3 Plan, as revised, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

       

(p)(i)                 Code of Ethics of the Bank of New York Mellon, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 28, 2008.

 

      (p)(ii)            Code of Ethics for Walthausen & Co. LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

                     

      (p)(iii)           Code of Ethics for Riverbridge Partners, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

 

      (p)(iv)           Code of Ethics for Thompson, Siegel and Walmsley LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 16, 2008.

                                           

      (p)(v)                Code of Ethics for Cupps Capital Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

      (p)(vi)               Code of Ethics for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

      (p)(vii)              Code of Ethics for Mar Vista Investment Partners, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

 

      (p)(viii)             Code of Ethics for Geneva Capital Management Ltd. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 2010.

       

(p)(ix)               Code of Ethics for the Nonmanagement Board members of the Dreyfus Family of Funds is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 30, 2010.

 

 

Item 28.                 Exhibits. ‑ List (continued)

_______                _____________________________________________________

 

                                Other Exhibits

                                ______________

 

 


 

 

a)       Power of Attorney of certain officers of the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Other Exhibits (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on January 29, 2010.

 

b)       Certificate of Assistant Secretary is  incorporated by reference to Other Exhibits (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 30, 2010.

 

Item 29.                 Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

_______                ______________________________________________________________

 

                                Not Applicable

 

 


 

Item 30.                 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 SEVENTH of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation, Article VIII of the Registrant's By-Laws, as amended, Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, and Section 1.11 of the Distribution Agreement.

 

Item 31.                 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 of other investment companies for which Dreyfus acts as investment adviser, sub-investment adviser or administrator. 


 

 

ITEM 31.              Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)

 

                                Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser

 

Name and Position

With Dreyfus

 

Other Businesses

 

Position Held

 

Dates

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Baum

Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Chief Executive Officer

Chairman of the Board

Director

Executive Vice President

3/08 - Present

3/08 - Present

6/07 - 3/08

6/07 - 3/08

 

 

 

 

J. Charles Cardona

President and Director

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Director

Executive Vice President

6/07 - Present

6/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Universal Liquidity Funds plc+

Director

4/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

Diane P. Durnin

Vice Chair and Director

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phillip N. Maisano

Director, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer

The Bank of New York Mellon *****

Senior Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Senior Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Bank, N.A.+

Senior Vice President

4/06 - 6/08

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Alcentra Group Holdings, Inc.++

Director

10/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon Investment Office GP LLC*

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, LLC*

Manager

10/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC*

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

 

8/04 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Phillip N. Maisano

Director, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer

(continued)

Founders Asset Management LLC****

Member, Board of Managers

11/06 - 12/09

 

 

 

 

 

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC

Mellon Financial Center
201 Wa
shington Street
Boston, MA 02108-4408

Board Member

12/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Capital Management Corporation***

Director

12/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Newton Management Limited

London, England

Board Member

12/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC*

Board Member

12/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

Robert G. Capone

Director

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Executive Vice President Director

4/07 - Present
4/07 - Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon*****

Vice President

2/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

Mitchell E. Harris

Director

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC

Mellon Financial Center
201 Washington Street
Boston, MA 0210
8-4408

Chairman

Chief Executive Officer

Member, Board of Managers

2/05 - Present

8/04 - Present

10/04 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Alcentra NY, LLC++

Manager

1/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Alcentra US, Inc. ++

Director

1/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Alcentra, Inc. ++

Director

1/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Alcentra Group Holdings, Inc.

Director

10/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Pareto New York LLC ++

Manager

11/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Standish Ventures LLC

Mellon Financial Center
201 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108-4408

President

Manager

12/05 - Present

12/05 - 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

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey D. Landau

Director

The Bank of New York Mellon+

Executive Vice President

4/07 - Present

 

Allomon Corporation+

Treasurer

12/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

APT Holdings Corporation+

Treasurer

12/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, N.A.+

Treasurer

7/07 - 0/10

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Funding Corporation+

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation+

Treasurer

 

Treasurer

12/07 - 12/09

 

7/07 - 01/10

 

 

 

 

Cyrus Taraporevala

Director

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

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management NY, LLC*

Manager

08/06 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management LLC*

Manager

01/08 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association+

Senior Vice President

07/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon*****

Senior Vice President

07/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

Scott E. Wennerholm

Director

Mellon Capital Management Corporation***

Director

10/05 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Newton Management Limited

London, England

Director

1/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Gannett Welsh & Kotler LLC

Manager

11/07 - Present

 

222 Berkley Street

Boston, MA 02116

Administrator

11/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Alcentra Group Holdings, Inc. ++

Director

10/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Ivy Asset Management Corp.

One Jericho Plaza

Jericho, NY 11753

Director

12/07 - 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

Manager

6/04 - Present

 

 

 

 

Scott E. Wennerholm

Director

(continued)

Franklin Portfolio Associates LLC*

Manager

1/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management NY, LLC*

Manager

10/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Company Asset Management LLC*

Manager

10/05 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Pareto Investment Management Limited

London, England

Director

3/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC

Mellon Financial Center
201 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108-4408

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

 

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Senior Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Bank, N.A. +

Senior Vice President

10/05 - 6/08

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Trust of New England, N. A.*

Director

Senior Vice President

4/06 - 6/08

10/05 - 6/08

 

 

 

 

 

MAM (DE) Trust+++++

Member of Board of Trustees

1/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

MAM (MA) Holding Trust+++++

Member of Board of Trustees

1/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

Bradley J. Skapyak

Chief Operating Officer and Director

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Executive Vice President

 

6/07 - Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon****

Senior Vice President

4/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Dreyfus Family of Funds++

President

1/10 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. ++

Senior Vice President

Director

5/10  - Present

5/10  - Present

 

 

 

 

Dwight Jacobsen

Executive Vice President and Director

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrice M. Kozlowski

Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Pierce

Controller

 

The Bank of New York Mellon *****

Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Dreyfus Trust Company+++

Chief Financial Officer

Treasurer

7/05 - 6/08

7/05 - 6/08

 

 

 

 

 

Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP+

Chief Financial Officer

5/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Director

Chief Financial Officer

6/07 - Present

6/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Founders Asset Management, LLC****

Assistant Treasurer

7/06 - 12/09

 

 

Dreyfus Consumer Credit

Corporation ++

Treasurer

 

7/05 - 08/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP+

Chief Compliance Officer

4/05 - Present

 

BNY Mellon Funds Trust++

 

Chief Compliance Officer

10/04 - Present

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Chief Compliance Officer

6/07 – Present

 

 

 

 

Gary E. Abbs

Vice PresidentTax

The Bank of New York Mellon+

First Vice President and Manager of Tax Compliance

12/96 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Organization++

Vice President – Tax

01/09 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation++

Chairman

President

01/09 – 08/10

01/09 – 08/10

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Vice President – Tax

01/09 – Present

 

 

 

 

Jill Gill

Vice President –

Human Resources

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Vice President

6/07 – Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon *****

Vice President

7/08 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Vice President

7/08 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Mellon Bank N.A. +

Vice President

10/06 – 6/08

 

 

 

 

Joanne S. Huber

Vice President – Tax

The Bank of New York Mellon+

State & Local Compliance Manager

07/1/07 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Organization++

Vice President – Tax

01/09 – Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation++

Vice President – Tax

01/09 – 08/10

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Vice President – Tax

01/09 – Present

 

 

 

 

Anthony Mayo

Vice President –

Information Systems

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Allomon Corporation+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

AP Residential Realty, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

AP Wheels, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

7/08 - Present

 

Citmelex Corporation+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Eagle Investment Systems LLC

65 LaSalle Road

West Hartford, CT 06107

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

East Properties Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

FSFC, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Holiday Properties, Inc. +

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 Bank Community Development Corporation+

 

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

11/07 - 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 Funding Corporation+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

12/07 - Present

John E. Lane

Vice President

(continued)

Mellon Holdings, LLC+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

12/07 - 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 Securities Trust Company+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 7/08

 

Mellon Trust Company of Illinois+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 07/08

 

Mellon Trust Company of New England, N.A.+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 6/08

 

Mellon Trust Company of New York LLC++

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 6/08

 

Mellon Ventures, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Melnamor Corporation+

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

 

Pareto New York LLC ++

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

10/07 - Present

 

Pontus, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

7/07 - Present

 

Promenade, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

RECR, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Technology Services Group, Inc.*****

Senior Vice President

6/06 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Tennesee Processing Center LLC*****

Managing Director

5/08 - Present

 

 

Senior Vice President

4/04 - 5/08

 

 

 

 

 

Texas AP, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon*****

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

7/08 - Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation*****

Executive Vice President

8/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Trilem, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 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

 

Allomon Corporation+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

AP Residential Realty, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

Jeanne M. Login

Vice President

(continued)

AP Wheels, Inc. +

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

1/01 - Present

 

BNY Mellon, National Association +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

7/08 - Present

 

Citmelex Corporation+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Eagle Investment Systems LLC+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

East Properties Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

FSFC, Inc. +

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Holiday Properties, Inc. +

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 Bank Community Development Corporation+

 

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

11/07 - 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 Funding Corporation+

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

12/07 - Present

 

Mellon Holdings LLC+

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

12/07 - 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 Securities Trust Company+

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 7/08

 

Mellon Trust of New England, N.A. *

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 6/08

 

Mellon Trust Company of Illinois+

Vice President– Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - 7/08

 

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

 

Promenade, Inc. +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

Jeanne M. Login

Vice President

(continued)

RECR, Inc. +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

Tennesee Processing Center LLC*****

Managing Director

5/08 - Present

 

 

Senior Vice President

4/04 - 5/08

 

 

 

 

 

Texas AP, Inc. +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

The Bank of New York Mellon*****

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

7/08 - Present

 

Trilem, Inc. +

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

8/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

James Bitetto

Secretary

The Dreyfus Family of Funds++

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

8/05 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

MBSC Securities Corporation++

Assistant Secretary

6/07 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++

Secretary

8/05 - Present

 

 

 

 

 

The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation++

Vice President

2/02 - 08/10

 

 

 

 

 

Founders Asset Management LLC****

Assistant Secretary

3/09 - 12/09

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               


 

 

                                                               

*

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 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, California 94104.

****

The address of the business so indicated is 210 University Blvd., Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206.

*****

The address of the business so indicated is One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.

+

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.

++++

The address of the business so indicated is White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711.

+++++

The address of the business so indicated is 4005 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19804.

 

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               


 

 

Item 32.           Principal Underwriters

 

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

 

Advantage Funds, Inc.

BNY Mellon Funds Trust

CitizensSelect Funds

Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund

Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Mortgage Securities Fund

Dreyfus Bond Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Cash Management

Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.

Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Dynamic Alternatives Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Funds, Inc.

The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated

Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds

Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Index Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Institutional Cash Advantage Funds

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Money Market Funds

Dreyfus Institutional Reserves Funds

Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Investment Funds

Dreyfus Investment Grade Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Investment Portfolios

The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.

The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust

The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds

Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.

Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.

Dreyfus Manager Funds I

Dreyfus Manager Funds II

Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund

Dreyfus Midcap Index Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.

Dreyfus Municipal Bond Opportunity Fund

Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus

Dreyfus Municipal Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

Dreyfus New York AMT-Free Municipal Money Market Fund

Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management

Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Opportunity Funds

Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund

Dreyfus Premier California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Premier Investment Funds, Inc.

Dreyfus Premier Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Research Growth Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus State Municipal Bond Funds

Dreyfus Stock Funds

Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management Funds

The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management

Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management

Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund

Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund

Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund

Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.

General California Municipal Money Market Fund

General Government Securities Money Market Funds, Inc.

General Money Market Fund, Inc.

General Municipal Money Market Funds, Inc.

General New York Municipal Money Market Fund

Strategic Funds, Inc.

 

 

 


 

 

(b)

 

 

Name and principal

Business address

 

Positions and offices with the Distributor

Positions and Offices with Registrant

Jon R. Baum*

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

None

Ken Bradle**

President and Director

None

Robert G. Capone****

Executive Vice President and Director

None

J. Charles Cardona*

Executive Vice President and Director

None

Sue Ann Cormack**

Executive Vice President

None

John M. Donaghey***

Executive Vice President and Director

None

Dwight D. Jacobsen*

Executive Vice President and Director

None

Mark A. Keleher*****

Executive Vice President

None

James D. Kohley***

Executive Vice President

None

Jeffrey D. Landau*

Executive Vice President and Director

None

William H. Maresca*

Executive Vice President and Director

None

Timothy M. McCormick*

Executive Vice President

None

David K. Mossman***

Executive Vice President

None

Irene Papadoulis**

Executive Vice President

None

Matthew Perrone**

Executive Vice President

None

Noreen Ross*

Executive Vice President

None

Bradley J. Skapyak*

Executive Vice President

President

Gary Pierce*

Chief Financial Officer and Director

None

Tracy Hopkins*

Senior Vice President

None

Denise B. Kneeland****

Senior Vice President

None

Mary T. Lomasney****

Senior Vice President

None

Barbara A. McCann****

Senior Vice President

None

Kevin L. O’Shea***

Senior Vice President

None

Christine Carr Smith*****

Senior Vice President

None

Ronald Jamison*

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

None

Joseph W. Connolly*

Chief Compliance Officer (Investment Advisory Business)

Chief Compliance Officer

Stephen Storen*

Chief Compliance Officer

None

Maria Georgopoulos*

Vice President – Facilities Management

None

Stewart Rosen*

Vice President – Facilities Management

None

Natalia Gribas*

Vice President – Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering Officer

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer

Karin L. Waldmann*

Privacy Officer

None

Gary E. Abbs***

Vice President - Tax

None

Timothy I. Barrett**

Vice President

None

Gina DiChiara*

Vice President

None

Jill Gill*

Vice President

None

Joanne S. Huber***

Vice President - Tax

None

John E. Lane******

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

None

Jeanne M. Login******

Vice President – Real Estate and Leases

None

Donna M. Impagliazzo**

Vice President – Compliance

None

Edward A. Markward*

Vice President – Compliance

None

Anthony Nunez*

Vice President – Finance

None

William Schalda*

Vice President

None

John Shea*

Vice President – Finance

None

Christopher A. Stallone**

Vice President

None

Susan Verbil*

Vice President – Finance

None

William Verity*

Vice President – Finance

None

James Windels*

Vice President

Treasurer

James Bitetto*

Assistant Secretary

Vice President and

Assistant Secretary

James D. Muir*

Assistant Secretary

None

Barbara J. Parrish***

Assistant Secretary

None

Cristina Rice***

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 One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15258.

****

Principal business address is One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108.

*****

Principal business address is 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94104.

******

Principal business address is 101 Barclay Street, New York 10286.

 

 


 

 

Item 33.     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, MO 64105

 

                  3.         The Dreyfus Corporation

                              200 Park Avenue

                              New York, New York 10166

     

Item 34.     Management Services

 

                  Not Applicable

 

Item 35.     Undertakings

 

                  None

 

 


 

 

SIGNATURES

 

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and 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, and State of New York on the 26th day of April, 2011.

 

 

Strategic Funds, Inc.

 

 

BY:      /s/Bradley J. Skapyak*

____________________________

Bradley J. Skapyak, PRESIDENT

 

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

 

       Signatures                         Title                                 Date  

__________________________     ______________________________                 __________

 

/s/Bradley J. Skapyak*               President                                 04/26/11

______________________________       (Principal Executive

Bradley J. Skapyak                   Officer)                                  

 

 

/s/James Windels*                    Treasurer                                 

____________________________________ (Principal Financial and Accounting        04/26/11

       

James Windels                        Officer)

 

 

/s/Joseph S. DiMartino*              Chairman of the Board                      04/26/11

__________________________________  

Joseph S. DiMartino

 

 

/s/David W. Burke*                   Board Member                               04/26/11

_________________________________

David W. Burke

 

 

/s/William Hodding Carter III*       Board Member                               04/26/11

_________________________________

William Hodding Carter III

 

 

/s/Gordon J. Davis*                  Board Member                               04/26/11 

_________________________________

Gordon J. Davis

 

 

/s/Joni Evans*                       Board Member                               04/26/11 

__________________________________

Joni Evans

 

 

 

   
 

                                   C-13

 
 


 

 

/s/Ehud Houminer*                    Board Member                               04/26/11 

_________________________________

Ehud Houminer

 

 

/s/Richard C. Leone*                 Board Member                               04/26/11 

________________________________

Richard C. Leone

 

 

 

/s/Hans C. Mautner*                  Board Member                               04/26/11 

___________________________________

Hans C. Mautner

 

 

/s/Robin A. Melvin*                  Board Member                               04/26/11 

___________________________________

Robin A. Melvin

 

 

/s/Burton N. Wallack*                Board Member                               04/26/11 

__________________________________

Burton N. Wallack

 

 

/s/John E. Zuccotti*                 Board Member                               04/26/11 

_________________________________

John E. Zuccotti

 

 

 

*BY:  /s/John B. Hammalian

      John B. Hammalian,

      Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

   
 

                                   C-13

 
 


 

 

 

 

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit No

 

28 (j)                Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.