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DREYFUS WORLDWIDE DOLLAR MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.

(Ticker: DWDXX)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MARCH 1, 2011

______________________________________________________________________________

            This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus, supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus, dated March 1, 2011, of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), as the Prospectus may be revised from time to time.  To obtain a copy of the Fund's Prospectus, please contact your financial adviser, or write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556‑0144, visit www.dreyfus.com website, or call one of the following numbers:

 

Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561

Outside the U.S.--Call 516-794-5452

 

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

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                                                    

 Page 

 

Description of the Fund

B-2

Management of the Fund

B-11

Management Arrangements

B-19

How to Buy Shares

B-24

Shareholder Services Plan

B-27

How to Redeem Shares

B-27

Shareholder Services

B-30

Determination of Net Asset Value

B-33

Dividends and Distributions

B-34

Taxation

B-35

Portfolio Transactions

B-46

Information about the Fund

B-50

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

B-50

Appendix

B-51

 

 

 

 


 
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND

 

            The Fund is a Maryland corporation formed on February 2, 1989.  The Fund is an open-end management investment company, known as a money market 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.

 

            Bank Obligations.  The Fund may purchase certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and other short-term obligations issued by domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, domestic savings and loan associations and other banking institutions.

 

            Certificates of deposit ("CDs") are negotiable certificates evidencing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time.

 

            Time deposits ("TDs") are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven days) at a stated interest rate.

 

            Bankers' acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer.  These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.  The other short-term obligations may include uninsured, direct obligations bearing fixed, floating or variable interest rates.

 

            Domestic commercial banks organized under Federal law are supervised and examined by the Comptroller of the Currency and are required to be members of the Federal Reserve System and to have their deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC").  Domestic banks organized under state law are supervised and examined by state banking authorities but are members of the Federal Reserve System only if they elect to join.  In addition, state banks whose CDs may be purchased by the Fund are insured by the FDIC (although such insurance may not be of material benefit to the Fund, depending upon the principal amount of the CDs of each bank held by the Fund) and are subject to Federal examination and to a substantial body of Federal law and regulation.  As a result of Federal or state laws and regulations, domestic banks, among other things, generally are required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amounts which they can loan to a single borrower and subject to other regulations designed to promote financial soundness.  However, not all of such laws and regulations apply to the foreign branches of domestic banks.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Obligations of foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent banks in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and governmental regulation.  Such obligations are subject to different risks than are those of domestic banks.  These risks include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign exchange controls and foreign withholding and other taxes on interest income.  These foreign branches and subsidiaries are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply to domestic banks, such as mandatory reserve requirements, loan limitations, and accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping requirements.  In addition, less information may be publicly available about a foreign branch of a domestic bank or about a foreign bank than about a domestic bank.

 

            Obligations of United States branches of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by Federal or state regulation as well as governmental action in the country in which the foreign bank has its head office.  A domestic branch of a foreign bank with assets in excess of $1 billion may be subject to reserve requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve System or by the state in which the branch is located if the branch is licensed in that state.

 

            In addition, Federal branches licensed by the Comptroller of the Currency and branches licensed by certain states ("State Branches") may be required to:  (1) pledge to the regulator, by depositing assets with a designated bank within the state, a certain percentage of their assets as fixed from time to time by the appropriate regulatory authority; and (2) maintain assets within the state in an amount equal to a specified percentage of the aggregate amount of liabilities of the foreign bank payable at or through all of its agencies or branches within the state. 

 

            In view of the foregoing factors associated with the purchase of CDs and TDs issued by foreign branches of domestic banks, by foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks, by foreign branches of foreign banks or by domestic branches of foreign banks, the Manager carefully evaluates such investments on a case‑by‑case basis.

 

            U.S. Government Securities.  The Fund may invest in U.S. Government 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, the 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.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Foreign Government Obligations; Securities of Supranational Entities.  The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by one or more foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities that are determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest.  Such securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities.  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.

 

            Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks or non-bank dealers.  In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and the seller agrees to repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time and price.  The repurchase agreement thereby determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security.  The Fund's custodian or sub-custodian will have custody of, and will segregate securities acquired by the Fund under a repurchase agreement.  Repurchase agreements are considered by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to be loans by the Fund that enters into them.  In connection with its third-party repurchase transactions, the Fund will engage only eligible sub-custodians that meet requirements set forth in section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").  Repurchase agreements could involve risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the other party to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities.  The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions that are collateralized by U.S. Government securities (which are deemed to be "collateralized fully" pursuant to the 1940 Act) or collateralized by securities other than U.S. Government securities such as corporate bonds, asset backed securities and privately issued mortgage-related securities of investment grade or below investment grade credit quality ("credit collateral").  Transactions that are collateralized fully enable the Fund to look to the collateral for diversification purposes under the 1940 Act.  Conversely, transactions secured with credit collateral require the Fund to look to the counterparty to the repurchase agreement for determining diversification.  Because credit collateral is subject to certain credit and liquidity risks that U.S. Government securities are not subject to, the amount of collateral posted in excess of the principal value of the repurchase agreement is expected to be higher in the case of repurchase agreements secured with credit collateral compared to repurchase agreements secured with U.S. Government securities.  Fixed income securities rated Baa/BBB or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"), or Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") are known as investment grade bonds.  Investment grade and below investment grade bonds involve degrees of credit risks, which relates to the likelihood that the bond issuer will pay interest and repay principal on a timely basis.  Fixed income securities rated Ba/BB or lower by Moody's, S&P, and Fitch are regarded as below investment grade (i.e., "junk" bonds) and are considered speculative in terms of the issuer's creditworthiness. In an attempt to reduce the risk of incurring a loss on a repurchase agreement, the Fund will require that additional securities be deposited with it if the value of the securities purchased should decrease below resale price.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Commercial Paper.  The Fund may purchase commercial paper consisting of short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued to finance short-term credit needs.  The commercial paper purchased by the Fund will consist only of direct obligations issued by domestic and foreign entities.  The other corporate obligations in which the Fund may invest consist of high quality, U.S. dollar denominated short-term bonds and notes (including variable amount master demand notes) issued by domestic and foreign corporations, including banks.

 

            Floating and Variable Rate Obligations.  The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate demand notes and bonds, which are obligations ordinarily having stated maturities in excess of 13 months, but which permit the holder to demand payment of principal at any time, or at specified intervals not exceeding 13 months, in each case upon not more than 30 days' notice.  Variable rate demand notes include master demand notes which are obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, at varying rates of interest, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and the borrower.  These obligations permit daily changes in the amounts borrowed.  Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments generally will be traded, and there generally is no established secondary market for these obligations, although they are redeemable at face value, plus accrued interest.  Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.

 

            Participation Interests.  The Fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which the Fund may invest.  A participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that the Fund's participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the security.  These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable rates of interest, with remaining maturities of 13 months or less.  If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by the Fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by U.S. Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interests, the Manager must have determined that the instrument is of comparable quality to those instruments in which the Fund may invest.

 

 

 


 
 

 

            Illiquid Securities.  The Fund may invest up to 5% 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, and repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice.  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.

 

            Asset-Backed Securities.  The Fund may purchase asset-backed securities, which are securities issued by special purpose entities whose primary assets consist of a pool of mortgages, loans, receivables or other assets.  Payment of principal and interest may depend largely on the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, supported by letters of credit, surety bonds or other forms of credit or liquidity enhancements.  The value of these asset-backed securities also may be affected by the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool of assets, the originator of the loans or receivables or the financial institution providing the credit support.

 

Investment Techniques

 

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

 

            Borrowing Money.  The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets.  The Fund currently intends to borrow money from banks 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 cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made.  While such borrowings exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.  In addition, the fund may borrow for investment purposes on a secured basis through entering into reverse repurchase agreements, as described below under "Reverse Repurchase Agreements."

 

            Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks, brokers or dealers or other financial institutions.  This form of borrowing involves the transfer by the Fund of an underlying debt instrument in return for cash proceeds based on a percentage of the value of the security.  The Fund retains the right to receive interest and principal payments on the security.  The Fund will use the proceeds of reverse repurchase agreements only to make investments which generally either mature or have a demand feature to resell to the issuer at a date simultaneous with or prior to the expiration of the reverse repurchase agreement.  At an agreed upon future date, the Fund repurchases the security at principal plus accrued interest.  As a result of these transactions, the Fund is exposed to greater potential fluctuations in the value of its assets and its net asset value per share.  These borrowings will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs may exceed the return received on the securities purchased.  The Fund's Board has considered the risks to the Fund and its shareholders which may result from the entry into reverse repurchase agreements and has determined that the entry into such agreements is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and management policies.  The Fund will segregate permissible liquid assets equal to the aggregate amount of its reverse repurchase obligations, plus accrued interest, in certain cases, in accordance with releases promulgated by the SEC.  The SEC views reverse repurchase agreement transactions as collateralized borrowings by the Fund. 

 

 


 
 

 

 

            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.  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, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities or other high quality liquid debt securities 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 cash, the Fund will reinvest the cash and pay the borrower a pre-negotiated fee or "rebate" from any return earned on the investment.  The Fund may participate in a securities lending program operated by The Bank of New York Mellon as lending agent (the "Lending Agent").  The Lending Agent will receive a percentage of the total earnings of the Fund derived from lending its portfolio securities.  Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund may experience delays in recovering the loaned securities or exercising its rights in the collateral.  Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the Manager to be of good financial standing.  In a loan transaction, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral.  The Fund will minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to repurchase agreements or other high quality instruments with short maturities.

 

            Forward Commitments.  The Fund may purchase money market instruments 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 changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates.  Securities purchased on a 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.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program.  Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Fund may lend money to, and/or borrow money from, certain other funds advised by Dreyfus or its affiliates.  All interfund loans and borrowings must comply with the conditions set forth in the exemptive order, which are designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds.  The Fund's participation in the Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations  The Fund will borrow through the Program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the costs of bank loans, and will lend through the Program only when the returns are higher than those available from an investment in repurchase agreements.  Interfund loans and borrowings are normally expected to extend overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days.  Loans may be called on one day's notice.  Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs. 

 

Certain Investment Considerations and Risks

 

            General.  The Fund attempts to increase yields by trading to take advantage of short-term market variations.  This policy is expected to result in high portfolio turnover but should not adversely affect the Fund since the Fund usually does not pay brokerage commissions when purchasing short-term obligations.  The value of the portfolio securities held by the Fund will vary inversely to changes in prevailing interest rates.  Thus, if interest rates have increased from the time a security was purchased, such security, if sold, might be sold at a price less than its cost.  Similarly, if interest rates have declined from the time a security was purchased, such security, if sold, might be sold at a price greater than its purchase cost.  In either instance, if the security was purchased at face value and held to maturity, no gain or loss would be realized.

 

Foreign Securities.  Because the Fund's portfolio may contain U.S. dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments, or any of their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, and by foreign subsidiaries and foreign branches of domestic banks, domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, and commercial paper issued by foreign issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional investment risks with respect to such securities that are different in some respects from those incurred by a fund which invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers, although such obligations may be higher yielding when compared to the securities of U.S. domestic issuers.  Such risks include possible future political and economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, imposition of foreign withholding taxes on interest income payable on securities, establishment of exchange controls or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Bank Securities.  To the extent the Fund's investments are concentrated in the banking industry, the Fund will have correspondingly greater exposure to the risk factors which are characteristic of such investments.  Sustained increases in interest rates can adversely affect the availability or liquidity and cost of capital funds for a bank's lending activities, and a deterioration in general economic conditions could increase the exposure to credit losses.  In addition, the value of and the investment return on the Fund's shares could be affected by economic or regulatory developments in or related to the banking industry, which industry also is subject to the effects of competition within the banking industry as well as with other types of financial institutions.  The Fund, however, will seek to minimize its exposure to such risks by investing only in debt securities which are determined to be of high quality.

 

Simultaneous Investments.  Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of the other investment companies advised by the Manager.  If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, the Manager will ordinarily seek to aggregate (or "bunch") orders that are placed or received concurrently for more than one investment company and available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each investment company.  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.

 

Investment Restrictions

 

            The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy, which cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting securities.  In addition, the Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 7 as fundamental policies.  Investment restrictions numbered 8 through 14 are not fundamental policies and may be changed by vote of a majority of the Fund's Board members at any time.  The Fund may not:

 

            1.         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).

 

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

 

            3.         Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust securities, commodities, or oil and gas interests.

 

            4.         Lend 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 interpretations or modifications by, or exemptive or other relief from, the SEC or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, and disclosed to investors.  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 Fund's Board.

 

            5.         Invest more than 15% of its assets in the obligations of any one bank, or invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any other issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested without regard to any such limitations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent required by the rules of the SEC, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any one bank.

 

            6.         Invest less than 25% of its total assets in securities issued by banks or invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of issuers in any other industry, provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentali­ties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for temporary defensive purposes the Fund may invest less than 25% of its assets in bank obligations.

 

            7.         Purchase securities on margin.

 

            8.         Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, corporate bonds or debentures, state bonds, municipal bonds or industrial revenue bonds (except through the purchase of debt obligations referred to in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information).

 

            9.         Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and in connection with the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis.

 

            10.       Sell securities short.

 

            11.       Write or purchase put or call options or combinations thereof.

 

            12.       Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.

 

            13.       Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

            14.       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 5% of the value of the Fund's net assets would be so invested.

 

            If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, 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. 1, 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 FUND

 

Board of the Fund

 

            Board's Oversight Role in Management.  The Board's role in management of the Fund is oversight.  As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the Fund, 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 Fund'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 Fund's independent registered public accounting firm and the Fund'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 Fund have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund.  Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks.  However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to 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 Fund's Board members not be "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund 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 Fund'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 Fund'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 Fund 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 Fund, together  with information as to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below.  

 

Name (Age)

Position with Fund (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) 

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

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

Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. (77)

Board Member (2003)

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

N/A

 

 

 

David W. Burke (74)

Board Member (1994)

Corporate Director and Trustee

N/A

 

 

 

 

Whitney I. Gerard (76)

Board Member (1989)

Partner of Chadbourne & Parke LLP

N/A

 

 

 

Nathan Leventhal (68)

Board Member (2009)

Commissioner, NYC Planning Commission

    (March 2007- present)

Chairman of the Avery-Fisher Artist Program (November 1997-present)

Movado Group, Inc., Director   

   (2003-present) 

 

 

 

 

George L. Perry (77)

Board Member (1990)

Economist and Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution

N/A

 

 

 

Benaree Pratt Wiley (64)

Board Member (2009)

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

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

 

 

Each Board member has been a Board member of Dreyfus mutual funds for over ten 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 the Fund's 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 Fund) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences.  The charter for 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 Fund 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.  From 1986 to 2010, Mr. DiMartino served as a Director of The Muscular Dystrophy Association.

 

·         Clifford L. Alexander – Mr. Alexander is the President of Alexander & Associates, Inc. a management consulting firm.  Prior to forming Alexander & Associates, Inc., Mr. Alexander served as chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1967 to 1969 and as Secretary of the Army from 1977 through 1981.  Mr. Alexander has been a Director of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company since 1989. 

 

·         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 of Dreyfus (prior to its acquisition by a predecessor of BNY Mellon in August 1994 and related management changes).

 

 

 


 
 

 

·         Whitney I. Gerard – Mr. Gerard is a partner in the law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, where his practice focuses on the representation and counseling of international companies and individuals doing business and/or engaged in litigation in the United States.

 

·         Nathan Leventhal - Mr. Leventhal is a Commissioner of the New York City Planning Commission.  Previously, Mr. Leventhal served as Chief of Staff to Mayor John Lindsay, Deputy Mayor to Mayor Ed Koch, and Transition Chairman for both Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg.  Mr. Leventhal is a former partner in the law firm Poletti Freidin Prashker Feldman & Gartner.  In the not-for-profit sector, Mr. Leventhal served for 17 years as President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where he is now President Emeritus and Chairman of the Avery Fisher Artist Program. 

 

·         George L. Perry – Dr. Perry is an Economist and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.  Dr. Perry was the founder and long time director of the Brookings Panel on Economic Activity and editor of its journal, the Brookings Papers.  Dr. Perry is a Director Emeritus of and a consultant to the State Farm Mutual Automobile Association and State Farm Life Insurance Company.  Prior to joining the Brookings Institution, Dr. Perry served as the Senior Economist to the President's Council of Economic Advisers and was a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota. 

 

·         Benaree Pratt Wiley – Ms. Wiley has been a business entrepreneur and management consultant for over 18 years.  Ms. Wiley is a Principal of The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in personnel strategy, talent management and leadership development primarily for global insurance and consulting firms.  Prior to that, Ms. Wiley served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Partnership, Inc., a talent management organization for multicultural professionals in the greater Boston region.  Ms. Wiley has served on the boards of several public companies and charitable foundations.


           
Additional Information About the Board and its Committees.  Board members are elected to serve for an indefinite term.  The Fund has standing audit, nominating and compensation committees, each comprised of its Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act.  The function of the audit committee is (i) to oversee the Fund'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 Fund's nominating committee is responsible for selecting and nominating persons as members of the Board for election or appointment by the Board and for election by shareholders.  In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by shareholders, the committee takes into consideration various factors listed in the nominating committee charter, including character and integrity, business and professional experience, and whether the committee believes the person has the ability to apply sound and independent business judgment and would act in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders.  The nominating committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, 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 Fund 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.  During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the audit committee met four times and the nominating committee and compensation committee each met once. The pricing committee did not meet during the last fiscal year.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            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

Fund

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

 

 

 

Joseph S. DiMartino

$50,001 - $100,000

Over $100,000

 

 

 

Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.

None

Over $100,000

 

 

 

David W. Burke

None

None

 

 

 

Whitney I. Gerard

$1,001-$10,000

Over $100,000

 

 

 

Nathan Leventhal

None

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

George L. Perry

None

None

 

 

 

Benaree Pratt Wiley

None

$50,001 - $100,000

 

            As of December 31, 2010, none of the Board members or their immediate family members owned securities of the Manager, the Distributor or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Manager or the Distributor.

 

            Effective January 1, 2010, the Fund pays its Board members its allocated portion of an annual retainer of $100,000 and a fee of $12,500 per in-person meeting ($2,000 per telephone meeting) attended for the Fund and fourteen other funds (comprised of 24 portfolios) in the Dreyfus Family of Funds ($7,500 per in-person meeting if the meeting is for fewer than all of such other funds), and reimburses them for their expenses.  Prior to January 1, 2010, the Fund paid its allocated portion of an annual retainer of $80,000 and a fee of $10,000 per in-person meeting attended (with a minimum of $5,000 per in-person meeting if the meeting was for fewer than all funds and $1,000 per telephone meeting).  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation.  An Emeritus Board member is entitled to receive an annual retainer of one-half the amount paid as a retainer at the time the Board member became Emeritus and a per meeting attended fee of one-half the amount paid to Board members.  The aggregate amount of compensation paid to each Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, and by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person is a Board member (the number of portfolios of such funds is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) during the year ended December 31, 2010, were as follows:

 

 


 
 

 

Name of Board

Member

Aggregate

Compensation From

the Fund*

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

 

 

 

Joseph S. DiMartino

$1,726

$1,060,250 (175)

 

 

 

Clifford L. Alexander

$1,348

$345,250 (51)

 

 

 

Lucy Wilson Benson+

$620

$86,875 (29)

 

 

 

David W. Burke

$1,348

$491,500 (90)

 

 

 

Whitney I. Gerard

$1,382

$201,250 (29)

 

 

 

Arthur A. Hartman++

$395

$48,750 (27)

Nathan Leventhal

 

$1,236

 

$334,000 (49)

 

 

 

George L. Perry

$1,348

$180,000 (27)

 

 

 

Benaree Pratt Wiley+

$1,236

$356,000 (73)

_________________

*              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 $3,068.

 

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

 

+              Emeritus Board member as of August 25, 2007.

 

++           Emeritus Board member as of March 12, 2006.

 

Officers of the Fund

 

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 168 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1988.

 

 


 
 

 

PHILLIP N. MAISANO, Executive Vice President since July 2007.  Chief Investment Officer, Vice Chair and a director of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 168 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  Mr. Maisano also is an officer and/or board member of certain other investment management subsidiaries of BNY Mellon, each of which is an affiliate of the Manager.  He is 63 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 2006.  Prior to joining the Manager, Mr. Maisano served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EACM Advisors, an affiliate of the Manager, since August 2004.

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.  Director—Mutual Fund Accounting of the Manager, and an officer of the 77 investment companies (comprised of 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 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 193 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 45 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1990.

RICHARD 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 193 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since September 1982.

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005.  Tax Manager of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 193 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 March 2003.   Senior Accounting Manager – Fixed-Income Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 77 investment companies (comprised of 193 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 46 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 193 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 193 portfolios) managed by the Manager.  He is 43 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 189 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 193 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 firms' Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

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

 

The Fund's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Fund's shares outstanding on February 4, 2011.

 

            The following persons were known by the Fund to own of record 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund as of February 4, 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:

 

 

First Clearing, LLC                                                                                                     20.1842%

10750 Wheat First Drive

Glen Allen, VA 23060-9243   

 

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

            Investment Adviser. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon a global financial services company focused on helping clients move and manage their financial assets, operating in 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 the Management Agreement (the "Agreement") between the Fund and the Manager.  The Agreement is subject to annual approval by (i) the Fund'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 the continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the 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 Fund's Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, or, upon not less than 90 days' notice, by the Manager.  The Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

 


 
 

 

 

            The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager:  Jonathan Baum, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; J. Charles Cardona, President and a director; Diane P. Durnin, Vice Chair and a director; Phillip N. Maisano, Chief Investment Officer, Vice Chair and a director; Bradley J. Skapyak, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Dwight Jacobsen, 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 Capone, Mitchell E. Harris, Jeffrey D. Landau, Cyrus Taraporevala and Scott E. Wennerholm, directors.

 

            The Fund, the Manager and the Distributor each have adopted a Code of Ethics that permits its personnel, subject to such Code of Ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.  The Code of Ethics subjects the personal securities transactions of the Manager's employees to various restrictions to ensure that such trading does not disadvantage any fund advised by the Manager.  In that regard, portfolio managers and other investment personnel of the Manager must preclear and report their personal securities transactions and holdings, which are reviewed for compliance with the Code of Ethics and 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.

 

            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 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.

 

 

 


 
 

 

Portfolio Management.  The Manager provides day-to-day management of the Fund's investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's Board.  The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's Board to execute purchases and sales of securities.  The Fund's portfolio managers are Bernard Kiernan, Jr., Patricia A. Larkin, Thomas Riordan and James C. O'Connor.  The Manager also maintains a research department with professional portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by the Manager.

 

In managing the Fund, Dreyfus will draw upon BNY Mellon Cash Investment Strategies ("CIS").  CIS is a division of Dreyfus that provides credit risk management and approves all money market fund eligible securities for the Fund and other investment companies and accounts managed by Dreyfus or its affiliates that invest primarily in money market instruments.  CIS, through a team of professionals who contribute a combination of industry analysis and fund-specific expertise, monitors all issuers approved for investment by such investment companies and other accounts by analyzing third party inputs, such as financial statements and media sources, ratings releases and company meetings, as well as internal research.  CIS investment and credit professionals also utilize inputs and guidance from BNY Mellon’s central Risk Management Department (the “Risk Department”) as part of the investment process.  These inputs and guidance focus primarily on concentration levels and market and credit risks and are based upon independent analysis done by the Risk Department relating to fundamental characteristics such as the sector, sovereign, tenor and rating of investments or potential investment.  The Risk Department also may perform stress and scenario testing on various money market type portfolios advised by CIS or BNY Mellon and its other affiliates, and provides various periodic and ad-hoc reporting to the investment and credit professionals at CIS.  In the event a security is removed from the "approved" credit list after being purchased by the Fund, the Fund is not required to sell that security.

 

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 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 buy 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 Fund are borne by the Fund, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager.  The expenses borne by the Fund include: 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, 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 independent pricing services, costs of maintaining the Fund's existence, costs attributable to investor services (including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and statements of additional information used for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, costs of shareholders' reports and meetings, and any extraordinary expenses.  In addition, Fund shares are subject to an annual service fee.  See "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 to the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets.  The management fees payable for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 amounted to $3,556,964, $3,225,415 and $2,860,037 respectively; however, such amounts were reduced by $166,909, $305,823 and $1,027,493, respectively, pursuant to undertakings by the Manager in effect, resulting in $3,390,055, $2,919,592 and $1,832,544 being paid in fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

 

            The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee, exceed the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the Fund, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense to the extent required by state law.  Such deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated daily, and 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.


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

 

            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 shareholder services fees or other expenses paid by the Fund to those intermediaries.  Because those payments are not made by you or the Fund, the Fund's total expense ratio will not be affected by any such payments.  These additional payments may be made to Service Agents, including affiliates, that provide shareholder servicing, sub-administration, recordkeeping and/or sub-transfer agency services, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the Service Agent.  Cash compensation also may be paid from the Manager's or the Distributor's own resources to Service Agents for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list or in other sales programs.  These payments sometimes are referred to as "revenue sharing."  From time to time, the Manager or the Distributor also may provide cash or non-cash compensation to Service Agents in the form of:  occasional gifts, occasional meals, tickets, or other entertainment; support for due diligence trips; educational conference 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, located at 200 Park Avenue, New York New York 10166, is the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent.  Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund, the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account records for the Fund, the handling of certain communications between shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and distributions payable by the Fund.  For these services, the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.  The 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, serves as custodian for the Fund’s investments. The Custodian has no part in determining the investment policies of the Fund or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Fund.  Under a custody agreement with the Fund, the Custodian holds the Fund's securities and keeps all necessary accounts and records.  For its custody services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on the market value of the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain securities transaction charges.

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

            General.  Fund shares are sold without a sales charge.  You may be charged a fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a Service Agent.  You will be charged a fee if an investment check is returned unpayable.  Stock certificates are issued only upon your written request.  No certificates are issued for fractional shares.   

 

            The Fund 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.

 

 


 
 

 

 

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

 

            The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a client of a Service Agent which maintains an omnibus account in the Fund and has made an aggregate minimum initial purchase for its customers of $2,500.  Subsequent investments in the Fund must be at least $100.  However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education Savings Accounts with no minimum for subsequent purchases.  The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account Application.  For full-time or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of the Manager, Board members of a fund advised by the Manager, including members of the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing, the minimum initial investment is $1,000.  For full-time or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50.  Fund shares are offered without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements to Board members of a fund advised by the Manager, including members of the Fund's Board, who elected to have all or a portion of their compensation for serving in that capacity automatically invested in the Fund.  Fund shares are offered without regard to the minimum subsequent investment requirements to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through wrap fee accounts or other fee-based programs.  The Fund reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum purchase requirements to government-sponsored programs or to employees participating in certain Retirement Plans or other programs where contributions or account information can be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the Fund.  The Fund reserves the right to vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time. 

 

            The Fund may, in its discretion, accept securities in payment for Fund shares.  Securities may be accepted in payment for shares only if they are, in the judgment of the Manager, appropriate investments for the Fund.  These securities are valued by the same method used to value the Fund's existing portfolio holdings.  The contribution of securities to the Fund may be a taxable transaction to the shareholder.

 

            Fund shares also are offered without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements through Dreyfus-Automatic  Asset Builder®, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or 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 you against loss in a declining market.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per share next determined after an order in proper form is received by the Transfer Agent or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund.  Net asset value per share is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on days the New York Stock Exchange or the Transfer Agent are open for regular business.  The Fund also may process purchase and sale orders and calculate its net asset value on days that the Fund's primary trading markets are open and the Fund's management determines to do so.  Net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets (i.e., the value of its assets less liabilities) by the total number of Fund shares outstanding.  See "Determination of Net Asset Value."

 

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

 

            Dreyfus TeleTransfer  purchase orders may be made at any time.  If purchase orders are received by 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on any day that the Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for regular business, Fund shares will be purchased at the share 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 share price determined on the next bank business day following such purchase order.  To qualify to use Dreyfus TeleTransfer  Privilege, the initial payment for purchase of Fund shares must be drawn on, and redemption proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account Application or Shareholder Services Form on file.  If the proceeds of a particular redemption are to be sent to an account at any other bank, the request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed.  See "How to Redeem Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer  Privilege."

 

            Transactions Through Securities Dealers.  Fund shares may be purchased and redeemed through securities dealers which may charge a transaction fee for such services.  Some dealers will place the Fund's shares in an account with their firm.  Dealers also may require the following: that the customer invest more than the $1,000 minimum investment; the customer not take physical delivery of share certificates; the customer not request redemption checks to be issued in the customer's name; fractional shares not be purchased; monthly income distributions be taken in cash; or other conditions.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            There is no sales or service charge by the Fund or the Dis­tributor, although investment dealers, banks and other institu­tions may make reasonable charges to investors for their services.  The services provided and the applicable fees are established by each dealer or other institution acting inde­pendently of the Fund.  The Fund has been given to understand that these fees may be charged for customer services including, but not limited to, same‑day investment of client funds; same‑day access to client funds; advice to customers about the status of their accounts, yield currently being paid or income earned to date; provision of periodic account statements showing security and money market positions; other services available from the dealer, bank or other institution; and assistance with inquiries related to their investment.  Any such fees will be deducted from your account monthly and on smaller accounts could constitute a substantial portion of the distribution.  Small, inactive, long‑term accounts involving monthly service charges may not be in the best interest of investors.  You should be aware that you may purchase shares of the Fund directly from the Fund without imposition of any maintenance or service charges, other than those already described herein.

 

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

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN

            The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan pursuant to which the Fund reimburses the Distributor an amount not to exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining shareholder accounts.  The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.

 

            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 Fund's Board for its review.  In addition, the Shareholder Services Plan provides that material amendments of the Shareholder Services Plan must be approved by the Fund'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 by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments.  The Shareholder Services Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board members cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Shareholder Services Plan.  The Shareholder Services Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan.

 

            For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund paid the Distributor $838,876 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 BuilderÒ  and subsequently submit a written redemption request to the Transfer Agent, the Fund may delay redemption of such shares, and the redemption proceeds may not be transmitted to you, for up to eight business days after the purchase of such shares.  In addition, the Fund will not honor redemption checks under the Checkwriting Privilege, and 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 BuilderÒ  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.  Prior to the time any redemption is effective, dividends on such shares will accrue and be payable, and you will be entitled to exercise all other rights of beneficial ownership.  Fund shares may not be redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.

 

CheckWriting Privilege.  The Fund provides redemption checks ("Checks") automatically upon opening an account, unless you specifically refuse the CheckWriting Privilege by checking the applicable "No" box on the Account Application.  The CheckWriting Privilege may be established for an existing account by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form.  Checks will be sent only to the registered owner(s) of the account and only to the address of record.  The Account Application, Shareholder Services Form or later written request must be manually signed by the registered owner(s).  Checks may be made payable to the order of any person in an amount of $500 or more.  When a Check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent, as your agent, will cause the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of shares in your account to cover the amount of the Check.  Dividends are earned until the Check clears.  After clearance, a copy of the Check will be returned to you.  You generally will be subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to checking accounts, although the election of this Privilege creates only a shareholder‑transfer agent relationship with the Transfer Agent.

 

            Checks are free, but the Transfer Agent will impose a fee for stopping payment of a Check upon your request or if the Transfer Agent cannot honor a Check due to insufficient funds or other valid reason.  If the amount of the Check is greater than the value of the shares in your account, the Check will be returned marked insufficient funds.  Checks should not be used to close an account.

 

            You should date your Checks with the current date when you write them.  Please do not postdate the Checks.  If you do, the Transfer Agent will honor, upon presentment, even if presented before the date of the check, all postdated Checks which are dated within six months of presentment of payment, if they are otherwise in good order.  If you hold shares in a Dreyfus sponsored IRA account, you may be permitted to make withdrawals from your IRA account using checks furnished to you by The Bank of New York Mellon.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Wire Redemption Privilege.  By using this Privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephone, online or letter redemption instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be you and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine.  Ordinarily, the Fund will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this 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 your bank account.

 

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

 

            Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone or online that redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank account.  Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an ACH member may be designated.  Investors should be aware that if they 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."

 

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

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Redemption Commitment.  The 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 Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets of the Fund in case of an emergency or any time a cash distribution would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the existing shareholders.  In such event, the securities would be valued in the same manner as the Fund's portfolio is valued.  If the recipient sold such securities, brokerage charges might 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 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 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 any funds acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales load, and additional shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), but if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load that could have been imposed in connection with the Purchased Shares (at the time the Purchased Shares were acquired), without giving effect to any reduced loads, the difference may be deducted.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            To accomplish an exchange under item D above, you must notify the Transfer Agent of your prior ownership of fund shares and your account number.

 

            To request an exchange, you 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 are not eligible for telephone or online exchange.  No fees currently are charged shareholders directly in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the SEC. 

 

            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.

 

            Certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds offer multiple classes of shares to the public.  If you, as an investor in a fund offering multiple classes of shares, exchange shares of such fund subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") for shares of the Fund, the Fund shares obtained in the exchange will be held in a separate Exchange Account for you.  Shares held in an Exchange Account may be exchanged only for shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.  No CDSC will be imposed on such shares at the time of exchange; however, you should review carefully the current prospectus of the fund from which such shares were exchanged and into which such shares are being exchanged to determine the CDSC applicable on redemption.  Exchange Account shares are eligible for the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege, and the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, and redemption proceeds on such shares will be paid only by Federal wire or by check.

 

            Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege.  Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege permits you to purchase (on a monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder.  This Privilege is available only for existing accounts.  Shares will be exchanged on the basis of relative net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges."  Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three business days following notification by 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 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.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            Fund Exchanges and the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege are available to shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the fund being acquired may legally be sold.  Shares may be exchanged only between accounts having certain identical identifying designations.

 

            Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses for the other funds in The Dreyfus Family of Funds may be obtained by calling 1-800-654-6561, or visiting www.dreyfus.com.  The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange request in whole or in part.  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 Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you.  Fund shares are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


 
 

 

            Dreyfus Dividend Options.  Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows you to invest automatically your dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of another fund 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 offered without a sales load.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

            Automatic Withdrawal Plan.  The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account.  Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the yield on the shares.  If with­drawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and distributions, your shares will be reduced and eventually may be depleted.  The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be established by filing an Automatic Withdrawal Plan application with the Transfer Agent or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561.  The Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent.  Shares for which share certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan. 

 

            Monthly or Quarterly Distribution Plans.  These plans permit you to receive monthly or quarterly payments from the Fund consisting of proceeds from the redemption of shares purchased for your account through the automatic reinvestment of dividends declared on your account during the preceding month or calendar quarter.

 

 

 


 
 

 

            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, Education IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts"), Education Savings Accounts and 403(b)(7) Plans.  Plan support services also are available. 

 

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

 

            A fee may be charged by the entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans, an ESA or IRAs, 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 which acts 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

            Amortized Cost Pricing.  The valuation of the Fund's port­folio securities is based upon their amortized cost which does not take into account unrealized gains or losses.  This involves valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a con­stant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument.  While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument.

 

            The Board has established, as a particular responsibility within the overall duty of care owed to the Fund's investors, procedures reasonably designed to stabilize the Fund's price per share as computed for the purpose of purchases and redemptions at $1.00.  Such procedures include review of the Fund's portfolio holdings by the Board, at such intervals as it deems appropriate, to determine whether the Fund's net asset value calculated by using available market quotations or market equivalents deviates from $1.00 per share based on amortized cost.  In such review, investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the most recent bid price or yield equivalent for such securities or for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type, as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for the securities to be valued.  Other investments and assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

 

 

 


 
 

 

            The extent of any deviation between the Fund's net asset value based upon available market quotations or market equiva­lents and $1.00 per share based on amortized cost will be ex­amined by the Board.  If such deviation exceeds 1/2%, the Board promptly will consider what action, if any, will be initiated.  In the event the Board determines that a deviation exists which may result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders, it has agreed to take such corrective action as it deems necessary and appropriate, including:  selling portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity; withholding dividends or paying distributions from capital or capital gains; redeeming shares in kind; or establishing a net asset value per share by using available market quotations or market equivalents.

 

            New York Stock Exchange and Transfer Agent Closings.  The holidays (as observed) on which the New York Stock Exchange and the Transfer Agent are closed currently are:  New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, 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.

The Fund ordinarily declares dividends from its net investment income on each day the New York Stock Exchange or Transfer Agent is open for business.  Dividends usually are paid on the last calendar day of each month and are automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value or, at your option, paid in cash.  The Fund's earnings for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are declared as dividends on the next business day.  Fund shares begin earning income dividends on the day following the date of purchase.  If you redeem all shares in your account at any time during the month, all dividends to which you are entitled will be paid to you along with the proceeds of the redemption, after deduction of any fees.  If you are an omnibus accountholder and indicate in a partial redemption request that a portion of any accrued dividends to which such account is entitled belongs to an underlying accountholder who has redeemed all shares in his or her account, such portion of the accrued dividends will be paid to you along with the proceeds of the redemption, after the deduction of any fees.  Distributions from net realized securities, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

 

 


 

 

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 Funds

Each fund intends to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Code 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 in order to satisfy the asset diversification test, or otherwise satisfies the asset diversification test.  However, in such case, a tax is imposed on the RIC, at the current rate of 35 percent, 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.  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.


 

 

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.

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.  In cases where the Manager employs a sub-adviser, the sub-adviser, under the supervision of the Manager, places orders on behalf of the applicable fund(s) for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.  Certain funds are managed by dual employees of the Manager and an affiliated entity in the BNY Mellon organization.  Funds managed by dual employees use the research and trading facilities, and are subject to the internal policies and procedures, of the affiliated entity.  In this regard, the Manager places orders on behalf of those funds for the purchase and sale of securities through the trading desk of the affiliated entity, applying the written trade allocation procedures of such affiliate.

 

 


 
 

 

 

            The Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) 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, including their frequency, is made in the best judgment of the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders.  The primary consideration in placing portfolio transactions is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.  In choosing brokers or dealers, the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) evaluates the ability of the broker or dealer to execute the particular transaction (taking into account the market for the security and the size of the order) 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 Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) 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 measured 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.

 

            With respect to the receipt of research, the brokers or dealers selected may include those that supplement the Manager's (and where applicable, a sub-adviser's or Dreyfus affiliate's) research facilities with statistical data, investment information, economic facts and opinions.  Such information may be useful to the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) in serving funds or accounts that it advises and, conversely, supplemental information obtained by the placement of business of other clients may be useful to the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) in carrying out its obligations to the funds.  Information so received is in addition to, and not in lieu of, services required to be performed by the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate), and the Manager's (and where applicable, a sub-adviser's or Dreyfus affiliate's) 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 Manager's (and where applicable, a sub-adviser's or Dreyfus affiliate's) normal independent research activities, it enables it to avoid the additional expenses that might otherwise be incurred if it were to attempt to develop comparable information through its own staff.

 

 


 

 

 

            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 equitably 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.

 

            To the extent that a fund invests in foreign securities, certain of a fund's transactions in those securities may not benefit from the negotiated commission rates available to a fund 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 Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) may deem it appropriate for one of its accounts to sell a security while another of its accounts is purchasing the same security. Under such circumstances, the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) may arrange to have the purchase and sale transactions effected directly between its accounts ("cross transactions").  Cross transactions will be effected in accordance with procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act.

 

 

 


 

 

            All portfolio transactions of each money market fund are placed on behalf of the fund by the Manager.  Debt securities purchased and sold by a fund generally are traded on a net basis (i.e., without a commission) through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly with the issuer of the instrument.  This means that a dealer makes a market for securities by offering to buy at one price and sell at a slightly higher price.  The difference between the prices is known as a "spread."  Other portfolio transactions may be executed through brokers acting as agent.  A fund will pay a spread or commission in connection with such transactions. The Manager uses its best efforts to obtain execution of portfolio transactions at prices that are advantageous to a fund and at spreads and commission rates (if any) that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.  The Manager also places transactions for other accounts that it provides with investment advice. 

 

            When more than one fund or account is simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same investment instrument, the prices and amounts are allocated in accordance with a formula considered by the Manager (and where applicable, a sub-adviser or Dreyfus affiliate) to be equitable to each fund or account.  In some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the investment instrument as far as a fund or account is concerned.  In other cases, however, the ability of a fund or account to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the fund or account. 

 

            When transactions are executed in the over-the-counter market (i.e., with dealers), the Manager will typically deal with the primary market makers unless a more favorable price or execution otherwise is obtainable.

 

            The Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

 

            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 or (iii) sold the largest dollar amount of the Fund's securities.  The following is a list of the securities of the Fund's regular brokers or dealers acquired by the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the issuer of the securities and the aggregate value per issuer, as of October 31, 2010, of such securities:

 

 

 

Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer)

 

Value of any Securities Owned at end of current period

 

 

Credit Agricole Cheuvreux North America, Inc.

$75,000,000

Barclays Capital Inc.

$68,000,000

Credit Suisse (USA) Inc.

$50,000,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

$25,000,000

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

$25,000,000

 

 


 

 

 

            Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings.  It is the policy of Dreyfus to protect the confidentiality of fund portfolio holdings and prevent the selective disclosure of non-public information about such holdings.  Each fund, or its duly authorized service providers, 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 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.  The fund 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.

 

            The 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 Fund's Chief Compliance Officer, and any exceptions to this policy are reported quarterly to the Fund's Board.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

 

 


 

 

            The 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 are of one class and have equal rights as to dividends and in liquidation.  Shares have no preemptive, subscription or conversion 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 Fund sends annual and semi‑annual financial statements to all its shareholders.

 

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

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

 

            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 Fund.

 

 


 

 

APPENDIX

            Description of the two highest commercial paper, bond and other short- and long-term rating categories assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), and Thomson BankWatch, Inc. ("BankWatch").

 

Commercial Paper and Short-Term Ratings

 

            The designation A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong.  Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.  Capacity for timely payment on issues with an A-2 designation is strong.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

 

            The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Moody's.  Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations, and ordinarily will be evidenced by leading market positions in well established industries, high rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. Issues rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a strong capacity for repayment of short‑term promissory obligations.  This ordinarily will be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.  Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

 

            The rating Fitch-1 (Highest Credit Quality) is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch and indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.  The rating Fitch-2 (Good Credit Quality) is the second highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch which reflects a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

 

            The rating TBW-1 is the highest short-term obligation rating assigned by BankWatch.  Obligations rated TBW-1 are regarded as having the strongest capacity for timely repayment.  Obligations rated TBW-2 are supported by a strong capacity for timely repayment, although the degree of safety is not as high as for issues rated TBW-1.

 

Bond and Long-Term Ratings

 

            Bonds rated AAA are considered by S&P to be the highest grade obligations and possess an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Bonds rated AA by S&P are judged by S&P to have a very strong capacity to pay principal and interest, and in the majority of instances, differ only in small degree from issues rated AAA.

 

 


 

 

 

            Bonds rated Aaa are judged by Moody's to be of the best quality.  Bonds rated Aa by Moody's are judged by Moody's to be of high quality by all standards and, together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as high‑grade bonds.  Bonds rated Aa are rated lower than Aaa bonds because margins of protection may not be as large or fluctuations of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long‑term risks appear somewhat larger.  Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in the Aa rating category.  The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of this rating category, the modifier 2 indicates a mid‑range ranking, and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of the rating category. 

 

            Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be of the highest credit quality.  The AAA rating by Fitch denotes the lowest expectation of credit risk.  The AAA rating is assigned by Fitch only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; the capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.  Bonds rated AA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be of very high credit quality.  The AA rating by Fitch denotes a very low expectation of credit risk.  The AA rating by Fitch indicates a very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; the capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

            Fitch also assigns a rating to certain international and U.S. banks.  A Fitch bank rating represents Fitch's current assessment of the strength of the bank and whether such bank would receive support should it experience difficulties.  In its assessment of a bank, Fitch uses a dual rating system comprised of Legal Ratings and Individual Ratings.  In addition, Fitch assigns banks Long- and Short-Term Ratings as used in the corporate ratings discussed above.  Legal Ratings, which range in gradation from 1 through 5, address the question of whether the bank would receive support provided by central banks or shareholders if it experienced difficulties, and such ratings are considered by Fitch to be a prime factor in its assessment of credit risk.  Individual Ratings, which range in gradations from A through E, represent Fitch's assessment of a bank's economic merits and address the question of how the bank would be viewed if it were entirely independent and could not rely on support from state authorities or its owners.

 

            In addition to its ratings of short-term obligations, BankWatch assigns a rating to each issuer it rates, in gradations of A through E.  BankWatch examines all segments of the organization, including, where applicable, the holding company, member banks or associations, and other subsidiaries.  In those instances where financial disclosure is incomplete or untimely, a qualified rating (QR) is assigned to the institution.  BankWatch also assigns, in the case of foreign banks, a country rating which represents an assessment of the overall political and economic stability of the country in which the bank is domiciled.