File Nos. 2-9455
811-0523
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [__]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 144 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 922-6000
Mark N. Jacobs, Esq.
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box)
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
X on May 1, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
----
If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective
date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
----
Registrant has registered an indefinite number of shares of its capital
stock under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24(f) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Registrant's Rule 24f-2 Notice for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 was filed on February 17, 1998.
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a)
Items in
Part A of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ ____
1 Cover Page Cover
2 Synopsis 3
3 Condensed Financial Information 4
4 General Description of Registrant 5
5 Management of the Fund 6
5(a) Management's Discussion of Fund's Performance *
6 Capital Stock and Other Securities 17
7 Purchase of Securities Being Offered 7
8 Redemption or Repurchase 12
9 Pending Legal Proceedings *
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A
_________
10 Cover Page Cover
11 Table of Contents Cover
12 General Information and History B-22
13 Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
14 Management of the Fund B-7
15 Control Persons and Principal B-7
Holders of Securities
16 Investment Advisory and Other B-11
Services
_________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORTED
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a) (continued)
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ _____
17 Brokerage Allocation B-20
18 Capital Stock and Other Securities B-21
19 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing B-13 and B-18
of Securities Being Offered
20 Tax Status *
21 Underwriters B-11
22 Calculations of Performance Data B-21
23 Financial Statements B-23
Items in
Part C of
Form N-1A
_________
24 Financial Statements and Exhibits C-1
25 Persons Controlled by or Under C-3
Common Control with Registrant
26 Number of Holders of Securities C-3
27 Indemnification C-3
28 Business and Other Connections of C-4
Investment Adviser
29 Principal Underwriters C-10
30 Location of Accounts and Records C-13
31 Management Services C-13
32 Undertakings C-13
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
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PROSPECTUS MAY 1, 1998
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END,
DIVERSIFIED, MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE
FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL. CURRENT INCOME IS A SECONDARY
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM FUND SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT
CHARGE OR PENALTY. YOU CAN PURCHASE OR REDEEM SHARES BY TELEPHONE USING
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S
PORTFOLIO.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR
FUTURE REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 1998, WHICH
MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
AREAS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME
INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND
IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
MAINTAINS A WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, AND OTHER
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND. FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT 144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD,
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL 1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK
FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY
OTHER AGENCY. THE NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE WILL FLUCTUATE FROM
TIME TO TIME.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Annual Fund Operating Expenses......................... 3
Condensed Financial Information........................ 4
Description of the Fund................................ 5
Management of the Fund................................. 6
How to Buy Shares...................................... 7
Shareholder Services................................... 10
How to Redeem Shares................................... 12
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes..................... 15
Performance Information................................ 16
General Information.................................... 17
Appendix............................................... 18
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
[Page 2]
<TABLE>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Management Fees.................................. .63%
Other Expenses .................................. .08%
Total Fund Operating Expenses.................... .71%
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXAMPLE: 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
You would pay the following expenses
on a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5%
annual return and (2) redemption at the
end of each time period: $7 $23 $40 $88
</TABLE>
THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL
EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE
EXAMPLE ASSUMES A 5% ANNUAL RETURN, THE FUND'S ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY
AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACTUAL RETURN GREATER OR LESS THAN 5%.
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in
understanding the costs and expenses borne by the Fund, the payment of which
will reduce investors' annual return. You can purchase Fund shares without
charge directly from the Fund's distributor; you may be charged a fee if you
effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer, bank or other
financial institution. See "Management of the Fund" and "How to Buy Shares."
[Page 3]
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors. Further financial data and
related notes and the report of independent auditors accompany the Statement
of Additional Information, which is available upon request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share
of Capital Stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net
assets and other supplemental data for each year indicated. This information
has been derived from the Fund's financial statements.
<TABLE>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value,
beginning of year.. $10.28 $10.55 $12.07 $10.80 $13.14 $13.27 $13.10 $11.93 $10.42 $10.82
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net .51 .58 .50 .34 .27 .24 .21 .22 .08 .10
Net realized
and unrealized
gain (loss)
on investments .38 1.89 (.89) 2.63 .44 .58 (.76) 2.57 1.57 1.01
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
TOTAL FROM
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .89 2.47 (.39) 2.97 .71 .82 (.55) 2.79 1.65 1.11
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from
investment income-net (.46) (.59) (.51) (.35) (.24) (.30) (.22) (.22) (.09) (.08)
Dividends in excess
of investment
income-net...... __ __ __ __ __ (.03) __ __ __ __
Dividends from
net realized
gain on investments (.16) (.36) (.37) (.28) (.34) (.66) (.40) (4.08) (1.16) (1.78)
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Dividends in excess of
net realized
gain on investments __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (.14)
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.62) (.95) (.88) (.63) (.58) (.99) (.62) (4.30) (1.25) (2.00)
_____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Net asset value,
end of year $10.55 $12.07 $10.80 $13.14 $13.27 $13.10 $11.93 $10.42 $10.82 $9.93
====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN 8.74%(1) 23.64%(1) (3.33%) 28.02% 5.53% 6.36% (4.26%) 23.77% 15.85% 10.75%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses
to average
net assets...... .77% .75% .77% .78% .74% .74% .74% .74% .73% .71%
Ratio of net
investment income
to average
net assets 4.62% 4.73% 4.20% 2.65% 2.08% 1.67% 1.63% 1.56% .70% .85%
Portfolio
Turnover Rate 179.38% 104.28% 98.58% 79.70% 55.42% 39.29% 27.70% 269.26% 220.92% 201.10%
Average commission
rate paid(2) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ $.06 $.06
Net Assets,
end of year
(000's omitted) $2,262,433 $2,536,151 $2,525,321 $2,996,663 $3,148,858 $2,850,523 $2,445,300 $2,653,539 $2,698,767 $2,628,072
(1) Exclusive of sales charge.
(2) For years beginning January 1, 1996, the Fund is required to disclose its
average commission rate paid per share for purchases and sales of
investment securities.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the
Fund's annual report, which may be obtained without charge by writing to the
address or calling the number set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
Debt Outstanding
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996(1)
_______________________________
PER SHARE DATA:
<S> <C> <C>
Amount of debt outstanding at end of year (in thousands)......................... __
Average amount of debt outstanding throughout year (in thousands)(2)............. $53
Average number of shares outstanding throughout year (in thousands)(3)........... 243,601
Average amount of debt per share throughout year................................. __
(1) From January 1, 1988 through December 31, 1995, and for the year ended
December 31, 1997, the Fund had no outstanding debt.
(2) Based upon daily outstanding borrowings.
(2) Based upon month end balances.
</TABLE>
[Page 4]
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with
long-term capital growth consistent with the preservation of capital. Current
income is a secondary investment objective. The Fund's investment objectives
cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"))of the Fund's
outstanding voting shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment
objectives will be achieved.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Depending on market conditions, the Fund attempts to be fully
invested in common stocks. If market conditions warrant, the Fund may
purchase fixed-income securities such as preferred stocks, bonds and
debentures. The Fund will invest primarily in the securities of seasoned
companies. Although the Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets in new
enterprises, very few companies with an operating record of less than three
years would be considered appropriate for the Fund's portfolio. The Fund may
invest up to 20% of the value of its assets in foreign securities which are
not publicly traded in the United States. By investing in foreign securities,
the Fund seeks to further its goal of capital growth.
When The Dreyfus Corporation determines that adverse market
conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary defensive posture and invest
without limitation in money market instruments consisting of U.S. Government
securities, certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances,
short-term investment grade corporate bonds and other short-term debt
instruments, and repurchase agreements, as set forth under "Appendix-Certain
Portfolio Securities-Money Market Instruments."
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
250%. Higher portfolio turnover rates usually generate additional brokerage
commissions and expenses and the short-term gains realized from these
transactions are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund
currently intends to engage in various investment techniques, such as foreign
currency transactions, lending portfolio securities and, to a limited extent,
options transactions. For a discussion of the investment techniques and their
related risks, see "Investment Considerations and Risks" and
"Appendix-Investment Techniques" below and "Investment Objectives and
Management Policies-Management Policies" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL - The Fund's net asset value per share should be expected to
fluctuate. Investors should consider the Fund as a supplement to an overall
investment program and should invest only if they are willing to undertake
the risks involved. See "Investment Objectives and Management Policies" in
the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of certain
risks.
EQUITY SECURITIES - Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on
factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such
fluctuations can be pronounced. Changes in the value of the Fund's
investments will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the
Fund's total return to investors.
The securities of the smaller companies in which the Fund may invest
may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more
established companies, because these securities typically are traded in lower
volume and the issuers typically are subject to a greater degree to changes
in earnings and prospects.
FOREIGN SECURITIES - Foreign securities markets generally are not as
developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some
foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign
securities markets are less than in the United States and, at times,
volatility of price can be greater than in the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of such securities usually are held
outside the United States, the Fund will be subject to additional risks which
include possible adverse political and economic developments, seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions
which
[Page 5]
might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and interest on
the foreign securities to investors located outside the country of the
issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in
currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in
U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
rates and exchange control regulations.
FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES - Even though interest-bearing securities are
investments which promise a stable stream of income, the prices of such
securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates and,
therefore, are subject to the risk of market price fluctuations. The values
of fixed-income securities also may be affected by changes in the credit
rating or financial condition of the issuer. Certain securities purchased by
the Fund, such as those rated Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") and BBB by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), Fitch
Investors Service, L.P. ("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.
("Duff"), may be subject to such risk with respect to the issuing entity and
to greater market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated
fixed-income securities. Once the rating of a portfolio security has been
changed, the Fund will consider all circumstances deemed relevant in
determining whether to continue to hold the security. See "Appendix" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
USE OF DERIVATIVES - The Fund may invest, to a limited extent, in
derivatives ("Derivatives"). These are financial instruments which derive
their performance, at least in part, from the performance of an underlying
asset, index or interest rate. The Derivatives the Fund may use include
options. While Derivatives can be used effectively in furtherance of the
Fund's investment objectives, under certain market conditions, they can
increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value, can decrease the
liquidity of the Fund's portfolio and make more difficult the accurate
pricing of the Fund's portfolio. See "Appendix - Investment Techniques - Use
of Derivatives" below and "Investment Objectives and Management Policies -
Management Policies - Derivatives" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS - Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of the other investment companies advised by The
Dreyfus Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to
invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, 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.
Year 2000 Risks - Like other mutual funds, financial and business
organizations and individuals around the world, the Fund could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by Dreyfus and the Fund's other service
providers do not properly process and calculate date-related information and
data from and after January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000
Problem." Dreyfus is taking steps to address the Year 2000 Problem with
respect to the computer systems that it uses and to obtain assurances that
comparable steps are being taken by the Fund's other major service providers.
At this time, however, there can be no assurance that these steps will be
sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER - The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Mellon Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of February 28, 1998, The Dreyfus Corporation
managed or administered approximately $99 billion in assets for approximately
1.7 million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the Fund,
subject to the authority of the Fund's Board in accordance with Maryland law.
The Fund's primary portfolio manager is Timothy M. Ghriskey. He has held that
position since May 1997 and has been employed by The Dreyfus Corporation
since July 1995. Prior
[Page 6]
to joining The Dreyfus Corporation, Mr. Ghriskey was a Vice President and
Associate Managing Partner of Loomis Sayles & Co. since 1985. The Fund's other
portfolio managers are identified in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation also provides research services for the Fund and for
other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation through a professional staff of
portfolio managers and securities analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned
subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association,
Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a
number of companies known as Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through
its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than
$305 billion in assets as of December 31, 1997, including approximately $104
billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As of December 31, 1997, Mellon,
through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $1.532 trillion in
assets, including approximately $60 billion in mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund paid The
Dreyfus Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .63 of 1%
of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The
Dreyfus Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume
certain expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the
expense ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will
not pay The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive,
nor will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks
to obtain the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among
other things, the receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of
the Fund or other funds managed, advised or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including
past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The
Fund's distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay securities
dealers, banks or other financial institutions in respect of these services.
DISTRIBUTOR - The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN - Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). Mellon Bank, N.A., One Mellon Bank
Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, serves as the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be charged a
fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer,
bank or other financial institution. 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. See "Appendix _
Additional Information About Purchases, Exchanges and Redemptions."
[Page 7]
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a
client of a securities dealer, bank or other financial institution which
maintains an omnibus account in the Fund and has made an aggregate minimum
initial purchase for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be
at least $100. However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, Spousal IRAs for
a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7)
Plans with only one participant and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education
IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent purchases. Subsequent investments in a
spousal IRA must be at least $250. The initial investment must be accompanied
by the Account Application. For full-time or part-time employees of The
Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of
The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation, 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 Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly
deposited into their Fund account, the minimum initial investment is $50. The
Fund reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum
purchase requirements to employees participating in certain qualified and
non-qualified employee benefit 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
minimum investment requirements at any time. Fund shares also are offered
without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements through
Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder Registration Mark, Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus
Step Program described under "Shareholder Services." These services enable
you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a conveni
ent way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware,
however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will
not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds," or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to
"The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian." Payments to open new accounts which
are mailed should be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application.
For subsequent investments, your Fund account number should appear on the
check and an investment slip should be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus
Family of Funds, P.O. Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. For Dreyfus
retirement plan accounts, both initial and subsequent investments should be
sent to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Neither initial nor subsequent investments should be
made by third party check. Purchase orders may be delivered in person only to
a Dreyfus Financial Center. These orders will be forwarded to the Fund and
will be processed only upon receipt thereby. For the location of the nearest
Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers listed
under "General Information."
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having
a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA #8900051779/The Dreyfus Fund
Incorporated, for purchase of Fund shares in your name. The wire must include
your Fund account number (for new accounts, your Taxpayer Identification
Number ("TIN") should be included instead), account registration and dealer
number, if applicable. If your initial purchase of Fund shares is by wire,
please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your wire payment to obtain your
Fund account number. Please include your Fund account number on the Account
Application and promptly mail the Account Application to the Fund, as no
redemptions will be permitted until the Account Application is received. You
may obtain further information about remitting funds in this manner from your
bank. All payments should
[Page 8]
be made in U.S. dollars and, to avoid fees and delays, should be drawn only on
U.S. banks. A charge will be imposed if any check used for investment in your
account does not clear. The Fund makes available to certain large institutions
the ability to issue purchase instructions through compatible computer
facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House system to The Bank of New York with instructions to credit
your Fund account. The instructions must specify your Fund account
registration and your Fund account number PRECEDED BY THE DIGITS "1111."
Fund 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 (currently 4:00 p.m., New York
time), on each day the New York Stock Exchange or the Transfer Agent is open
for business. 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 shares outstanding. The Fund's investments are valued based
on market value or, where market quotations are not readily available, based
on fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board. For further
information regarding the methods employed in valuing Fund investments, see
"Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and
must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the
order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days
after the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution
could be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
The Distributor may pay dealers a fee of up to .5% of the amount
invested through such dealers in Fund shares by employees participating in
qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where
(i) the employers or affiliated employers maintaining such plans or programs
have a minimum of 250 employees eligible for participation in such plans or
programs, or (ii) such plan's or program's aggregate investment in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products made available by the
Distributor to such plans or programs exceeds $1,000,000 ("Eligible Benefit
Plans"). Shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds then held by Eligible
Benefit Plans will be aggregated to determine the fee payable. The
Distributor 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.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE
You may purchase shares (minimum $500, maximum $150,000 per day) by
telephone 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 member may be so designated. The Fund may modify or
terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee upon notice to
shareholders. No such fee currently is contemplated.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
[Page 9]
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
FUND EXCHANGES
You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of
certain other funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus Corporation, to
the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of residence. These
funds have different investment objectives which may be of interest to you.
If you desire to use this service, please call 1-800-645-6561 to determine if
it is available and whether any conditions are imposed on its use.
To request an exchange, you must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. Before any exchange, you must
obtain and should review a copy of the current prospectus of the fund into
which the exchange is being made. Prospectuses may be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of personal retirement plans, the shares
being exchanged must have a current value of at least $500; furthermore, when
establishing a new account by exchange, the shares being exchanged must have
a value of at least the minimum initial investment required for the fund into
which the exchange is being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions
by telephone 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. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be
established for an existing account by written request signed by all
shareholders on the account, by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form,
available by calling 1-800-645-6561, or by oral request from any of the
authorized signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have
established the Telephone Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange
instructions (including over The Dreyfus Touch Registration Mark automated
telephone system) by telephoning 1-800-645-6561. If you are calling from
overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How to Redeem Shares-Procedures." Upon an
exchange into a new account, the following shareholder services and
privileges, as applicable and where available, will be automatically carried
over to the fund into which the exchange is made: Telephone Exchange
Privilege, Wire Redemption Privilege, Telephone Redemption Privilege, Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege and the dividend/capital gain distribution option
(except for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep) selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. If you are exchanging into a fund that charges a
sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not include the sales
load or which reflect a reduced sales load, if the shares you are exchanging
were: (a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange
from shares of the fund purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the foregoing
categories of shares. To qualify, at the time of the exchange you must notify
the Transfer Agent. Any such qualification is subject to confirmation of your
holdings through a check of appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services"
in the Statement of Additional Information. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the
right to reject any exchange request in whole or in part. See "Appendix -
Additional Information About Purchases, Exchanges and Redemptions."The
availability of Fund Exchanges may be modified or terminated at any time upon
notice to shareholders. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables you to invest regularly (on
a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for shares
of the Fund, in shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds
of which you are a shareholder. The amount you designate, which can be
expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or share amount ($100
minimum), will be exchanged
[Page 10]
automatically on the first and/or fifteenth of the month according to the
schedule you have selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current
net asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with respect to
exchanges into funds sold with a sales load. See "Shareholder Services" in
the Statement of Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege
may be modified or cancelled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may
modify or cancel your exercise of this Privilege at any time by mailing
written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. The Fund may charge a service fee for
the use of this Privilege. No such fee currently is contemplated. For more
information concerning this Privilege and the funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds eligible to participate in this Privilege, or to obtain a Dreyfus
Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER Registration Mark
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. Only an account maintained at a
domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member
may be so designated. To establish a Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder account,
you must file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent. You may obtain
the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
your participation in this Privilege or change the amount of purchase at any
time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427, and the notification will be effective three
business days following receipt. The Fund may modify or terminate this
Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
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 Federal
government automatically deposited into your Fund account. You may deposit as
much of such payments as you elect. To enroll in Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit, you must file with the Transfer Agent a completed Direct Deposit
Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that you desire to include in the
Privilege. The appropriate form may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561.
Death or legal incapacity will terminate your participation in the Privilege.
You may elect at any time to terminate your participation by notifying in
writing the appropriate Federal agency. The Fund may terminate your
participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
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 Automated Clearing House 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. Your
employer must complete the reverse side of the form and return it to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may change the amount of purchase or cancel the authorization only by
written notification to your employer. It is the sole responsibility of your
employer, not the Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the
Transfer Agent or any other person to arrange for transactions under the
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege
at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM - Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase Fund
shares without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements
through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder Registration Mark, Dreyfus
[Page 11]
Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To
establish a Dreyfus Step Program account, you must supply the necessary
information on the Account Application and file the required authorization
form(s) with the Transfer Agent. For more information concerning this
Program, or to request the necessary authorization form(s), please call toll
free 1-800-782-6620. You may terminate your participation in this Program at
any time by discontinuing your participation in Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll
Savings Plan, as the case may be, as provided under the terms of such
Privilege(s). The Fund may modify or terminate this Program at any time.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares through the Dreyfus Step Program
in conjunction with a Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plan may do so only for
IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts."
DREYFUS DIVIDEND OPTIONS - Dreyfus Dividend Sweep enables you to invest
automatically dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any,
paid by the Fund in shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds of which you are a shareholder. Shares of the other fund will be
purchased at the then-current net asset value; however, a sales load may be
charged with respect to investments in shares of a fund sold with a sales
load. If you are investing in a fund that charges a sales load, you may
qualify for share prices which do not include the sales load or which reflect
a reduced sales load. If you are investing in a fund that charges a
contingent deferred sales charge, the shares purchased will be subject on
redemption to the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, applicable to the
purchased shares. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional
Information. 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 Automated Clearing House member may be so
designated. Banks may charge a fee for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a
Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
these privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 6527, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6527. Enrollment in or
cancellation of these privileges is effective three business days following
receipt. These privileges are available only for existing accounts and may
not be used to open new accounts. Minimum subsequent investments do not apply
for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or terminate these privileges
at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other retirement plans are not
eligible for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep.
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. An 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 Plan may be ended at any time by you, the Fund or the
Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been issued may not be
redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
RETIREMENT PLANS - The Fund offers a variety of pension and profit-sharing
plans, including Keogh Plans, (including regular IRAs, Spousal IRAs for a
non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, rollover IRAs and Education IRAs),
401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also
are available. You can obtain details on the various plans by calling the
following numbers: for Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566; for IRAs
(except SEP-IRAs), please call 1-800-645-6561; or for SEP-IRAs, 401(k) Salary
Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-7880.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption
requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When
a request is received in proper form by the Transfer
[Page 12]
Agent or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund, the
Fund will redeem the shares at the next determined net asset value.
The Fund imposes no charges when shares are redeemed. Securities
dealers, banks and other financial institutions may charge their clients a
fee for effecting redemptions of Fund shares. Any certificates representing
Fund shares being redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request. The
value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original cost,
depending on the Fund's then-current net asset value.
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 Securities and
Exchange Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY CHECK, BY
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER
Registration Mark AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE
TRANSFER AGENT, THE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY
UPON BANK CLEARANCE OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS
DAYS OR MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY
WIRE OR TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE FOR A
PERIOD OF EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE
PURCHASE CHECK, THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC
ASSET BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED. THESE
PROCEDURES WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF
YOU OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO COVER THE
REDEMPTION REQUEST. 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 will not be
redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or through the Telephone Redemption Privilege
which is granted automatically unless you specifically refuse it by checking
the applicable "No" box on the Account Application. The Telephone Redemption
Privilege may be established for an existing account by a separate signed
shareholder services form or by oral request from any of the authorized
signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. You also may redeem
shares through the Wire Redemption Privilege or the Dreyfus TeleTransfer
Privilege, if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary
information on the Account Application. The Fund makes available to certain
large institutions the ability to issue redemption instructions through
compatible computer facilities. The Fund reserves the right to refuse any
request made by wire or telephone, including requests made shortly after a
change of address, and may limit the amount involved or the number of such
requests. The Fund may modify or terminate any redemption Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans, and shares for which certificates have been issued, are not
eligible for the Wire Redemption, Telephone Redemption or Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege.
The Telephone Redemption Privilege or Telephone Exchange Privilege
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions (including
over The Dreyfus Touch Registration Mark automated telephone system) from any
person representing himself or herself to be you and reasonably believed by
the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to
employ reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal
identification, to confirm that instructions are genuine and, if it does not
follow such procedures, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor
the Transfer Agent will be liable for following telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
[Page 13]
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used. During the delay, the Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION - Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Redemption requests may be delivered in person only
to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND
AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the
nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed under "General Information." Redemption requests must be signed by
each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account, and each signature
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. If you
have any questions with respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of
the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE - You may request by wire, telephone or letter
that redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank
which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if
your bank is not a member. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank
accounts may have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within
any 30-day period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Statement of Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting
redemption requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE - You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to
your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Telephone Redemption Privilege is granted automatically unless you refuse it.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE - You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund
account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an
Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may
redeem through the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank
account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
REDEMPTION THROUGH DEALERS - The Distributor or its designee will accept
orders from dealers with which it has sales agreements for the repurchase of
shares held by shareholders. Repurchase orders received by the dealer prior
to the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on any
business day and transmitted to the Distributor or its designee prior to the
close of its business day (normally 5:15 p.m., New York time) are effected at
the price determined as of the close of trading on the
[Page 14]
floor of the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, the shares will
be redeemed at the next determined net asset value. It is the responsibility
of the dealer to transmit orders on a timely basis. The dealer may charge the
shareholder a fee for executing the order. This repurchase arrangement is
discretionary and may be withdrawn at any time.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily pays dividends from net investment income
quarterly and distributes net realized securities gains, if any, once a year,
but it may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the
distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the
1940 Act. The Fund will not make distributions from net realized securities
gains unless capital loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have
expired. You may choose whether to receive dividends and distributions of
securities gains in cash or to reinvest such amounts in additional shares at
net asset value. You also may elect to receive only dividends and
distributions of short-term securities gains in cash and automatically
reinvest all distributions of long-term securities gains at net asset value.
You may make these elections by sending a written request to the Transfer
Agent or, if you have purchased shares through a securities dealer, by
notifying your dealer at the time the shares are purchased. If you elect to
receive dividends and distributions in cash, and your dividend or
distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remains
uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest such
dividend or distribution and all future dividends and distributions payable
to you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest will accrue
on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks. All
expenses are accrued daily and deducted before declaration of dividends to
investors.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gain realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund will be taxable to U.S. shareholders
as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund
shares. Depending upon the composition of the Fund's income, a portion of the
dividends from net investment income may qualify for the dividends received
deduction allowable to certain U.S. corporations. Distributions from net
realized long-term securities gains of the Fund will be taxable to U.S.
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long shareholders
have held their Fund shares and whether such distributions are received in
cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares. The Code provides that the net
capital gains of an individual generally will be taxed on his or her net
capital gain at a maximum rate of 28% with respect to capital gain from
securities held for more than one year but not more than 18 months and at a
maximum rate of 20% with respect to capital gain from securities held for
more than 18 months. Dividends and distributions may be subject to state and
local taxes.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gain realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to a foreign investor generally are
subject to U.S. nonresident withholding taxes at the rate of 30%, unless the
foreign investor claims the benefit of a lower rate specified in a tax
treaty. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains paid by the
Fund to a foreign investor as well as the proceeds of any redemptions from a
foreign investor's account, regardless of the extent to which gain or loss
may be realized, generally will not be subject to U.S. nonresident
withholding tax. However, such distributions may be subject to backup
withholding, as described below, unless the foreign investor certifies his
non-U.S. residency status.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and distributions
will be mailed to you annually. You also will receive periodic summaries of
your account which will include information as to dividends and distributions
from securities gains, if any, paid during the year.
[Page 15]
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated
for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by
the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a
taxable gain or loss.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold ("backup
withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of dividends, distributions
from net realized securities gains of the Fund and the proceeds of any
redemption, regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized,
paid to a shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the
TIN furnished in connection with opening an account is correct, or that such
shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or
interest income on a Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may
notify the Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines a
shareholder's TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly
report taxable dividend and interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number, IRS individual taxpayer
identification number, or employer identification number of the record owner
of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of backup withholding does not
constitute an additional tax imposed on the record owner of the account, and
may be claimed as a credit on the record owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Fund believes that the Fund has qualified for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 as a "regulated investment company" under
the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is
in the best interests of its shareholders. Such qualification relieves the
Fund of any liability for Federal income tax to the extent its net investment
income and realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with
applicable provisions of the Code. The Fund is subject to a non-deductible 4%
excise tax, measured with respect to certain undistributed amounts of taxable
investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes, if any.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance will be calculated on the
basis of average annual total return and/or total return.
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a
standardized formula which assumes that an investment in the Fund was
purchased with an initial payment of $1,000 and that the investment was
redeemed at the end of a stated period of time, after giving effect to the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions during the period. The return is
expressed as a percentage rate which, if applied on a compounded annual
basis, would result in the redeemable value of the investment at the end of
the period. Advertisements of the Fund's performance will include the Fund's
average annual total return for one, five and ten year periods.
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total return generally is
expressed as a percentage rate which is calculated by combining the income
and principal changes for a specified period and dividing by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include
the percentage rate of total return or may include the value of a
hypothetical investment at the end of the period which assumes the
application of the percentage rate of total return.
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not
necessarily representative of future results. You should remember that
performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the type and
quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating expenses.
Performance information, such as that described above, may not provide a
basis for comparison with other investments or other investment companies
using a different method of calculating performance.
[Page 16]
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time
in advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Morningstar,
Inc., Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index and other industry
publications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund, a Maryland corporation incorporated on January 2, 1947,
began operations under its present name on May 24, 1951. The Fund is
authorized to issue 300 million shares of Capital Stock, par value $1 per
share. Each share has one vote.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not
be necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a
result, Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board
members or the appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least 10%
of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Fund to hold a
special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing a Board member
from office and the holders of at least 25% of such shares may require the
Fund to hold a special meeting of shareholders for any other purpose. Fund
shareholders may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Fund's 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 Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends
you confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Fund at 144
Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by calling toll
free 1-800-645-6561. In New York City, call
1-718-895-1206; outside the U.S. and Canada, call 516-794-5452.
[Page 17]
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS - Foreign currency transactions may be entered
into for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars, between
trade and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed to buy
or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already owns,
particularly if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which
the foreign security is denominated; or to gain exposure to the foreign
currency in an attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund's
purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short
positions in foreign currencies, which would involve the Fund agreeing to
exchange an amount of a currency it did not currently own for another
currency at a future date in anticipation of a decline in the value of the
currency sold relative to the currency the Fund contracted to receive in the
exchange. The Fund's success in these transactions will depend principally on
The Dreyfus Corporation's ability to predict accurately the future exchange
rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short
periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and
demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments
in different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates and
other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency
exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or
foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by
currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.
BORROWING MONEY - The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an
amount up to 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund currently
intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging)
purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets (including
the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities
(not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. While
borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any
additional investments.
USE OF DERIVATIVES - The Fund may invest in, or enter into, the types of
Derivatives enumerated under "Description of the Fund - Investment
Considerations and Risks - Use of Derivatives." These instruments and
certain related risks are described more specifically under "Investment
Objectives and Management Policies - Management Policies - Derivatives" in
the Statement of Additional Information.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than
their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives
could have a large potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inopportune times or judges
market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return
or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if its Derivatives
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable
to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market
for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in
liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the
prices for Derivatives.
The Fund may invest up to 2% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. When required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set aside permissible
liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its obligations relating to
its transactions in Derivatives. To maintain this required cover, the Fund
may have to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times
since it may not be possible to liquidate a Derivative position at a
reasonable price.
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. The Fund continues
[Page 18]
to be entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or
other distributions payable on the loaned securities which affords the Fund
an opportunity to earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned
securities' collateral. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 10% of
the value of the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will receive collateral
consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of
credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least
100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Such loans are
terminable by the Fund at any time upon specified notice. The Fund might
experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a
portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS - The Fund may invest in the following types of
money market instruments.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury
securities that differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of
issuance. 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 provides financial
support to such U.S. Government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities, no
assurance can be given that it will always do so since it is not so obligated
by law.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and
the seller agrees to repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time
and price (usually within seven days). 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. 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 enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks
or non-bank dealers.
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. With respect to such securities
issued by foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, and
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, the Fund may be subject to
additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those
incurred by a fund which invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic
issuers. See "Description of the Fund - Investment Considerations and Risks
- - Foreign Securities."
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the
obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period
of time.
Time deposits 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.
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper consists 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 which, at
the time of their purchase, are (a) rated not lower than Prime-1 by Moody's,
[Page 19]
A-1 by Standard & Poor's ("S&P"), F-1 by Fitch or Duff-1 by Duff, (b) issued
by companies having an outstanding unsecured debt issue currently rated at
least A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P, Fitch or Duff, or (c) if unrated,
determined by The Dreyfus Corporation to be of comparable quality to those
rated obligations which may be purchased by the Fund.
INVESTMENT COMPANIES - The Fund may invest in securities issued by other
investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund's investment in such securities, subject to
certain exceptions, currently is limited to (i) 3% of the total voting stock
of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund's total assets with
respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund's total
assets in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment
companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other
expenses.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES - The Fund may invest up to 10% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objectives. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice, and certain privately
negotiated, non-exchange traded options and securities used to cover such
options. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should
the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price
the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net
assets could be adversely affected.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES, EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS. The Fund
is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to
provide investors with a means of speculation on short-term market movements.
A pattern of frequent purchases and exchanges can be disruptive to efficient
portfolio management and, consequently, can be detrimental to the Fund's
performance and its shareholders. Accordingly, if the Fund's management
determines that an investor is engaged in excessive trading, the Fund, with
or without prior notice, may temporarily or permanently terminate the
availability of Fund exchanges, or reject in whole or part any purchase or
exchange request, with respect to such investor's account. Such investors
also may be barred from purchasing other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds. Generally, an investor who makes more than four exchanges out of the
Fund during any calendar year (for calendar year 1998, beginning on January
15th) or who makes exchanges that appear to coincide with an active
market-timing strategy may be deemed to be engaged in excessive trading.
Accounts under common ownership or control will be considered as one account
for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive trading. In addition, the
Fund may refuse or restrict purchase or exchange requests by any person or
group if, in the judgment of the Fund's management, the Fund would be unable
to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment objective
and policies or could otherwise be adversely affected or if the Fund receives
or anticipates receiving simultaneous orders that may significantly affect
the Fund (e.g., amounts equal to 1% or more of the Fund's total assets). If
an exchange request is refused, the Fund will take no other action with
respect to the shares until it receives further instructions from the
investor. The Fund may delay forwarding redemption proceeds for up to seven
days if the investor redeeming shares is engaged in excessive trading or if
the amount of the redemption request otherwise would be disruptive to
efficient portfolio management or would adversely affect the Fund. The Fund's
policy on excessive trading applies to investors who invest in the Fund
directly or through financial intermediaries, but does not apply to the
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege, to any automatic investment or withdrawal
privilege described herein, or to participants in employer-sponsored
retirement plans.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Fund may
suspend the Exchange Privilege temporarily without notice and treat exchange
requests based on their separate components - redemption orders with a
simultaneous request to purchase the other fund's shares. In such a case, the
[Page 20]
redemption request would be processed at the Fund's next determined net asset
value but the purchase order would be effective only at the net asset value
next determined after the fund being purchased receives the proceeds of the
redemption, which may result in the purchase being delayed.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE
FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S
SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
[Page 21]
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[Page 23]
The Dreyfus Fund
Incorporated
Prospectus
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1998 Dreyfus Service Corporation
B-2
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
MAY 1, 1998
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated (the "Fund"), dated May 1, 1998 as it may be
revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the Fund's Prospectus,
please write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York
11556-0144, or call the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S. -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") is the Fund's investment
adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of the Fund's shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Investment Objectives and Management Policies B-2
Management of the Fund B-7
Management Agreement B-11
Purchase of Shares B-13
Redemption of Shares B-14
Shareholder Services B-15
Determination of Net Asset Value B-18
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes B-19
Portfolio Transactions B-20
Performance Information B-21
Information About the Fund B-22
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian,
Counsel and Independent Auditors B-23
Financial Statements and Report of Independent Auditors B-23
Appendix B-24
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the sections in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Description of the
Fund" and "Appendix."
Investment Approach
Fund management is chiefly concerned with two factors:
1. Individual Securities Values - These are determined through
fundamental studies of the relative worth and position of
individual companies.
2. Major Trends - These are evaluated through technical studies
which give a broad picture of overall market trends.
Portfolio Securities
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will have
custody of, and will hold in a segregated account, securities acquired by
the Fund under a repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements are considered
by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be loans by the
Fund. In an attempt to reduce the risk of incurring a loss on a repurchase
agreement, the Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with domestic
banks with total assets in excess of $1 billion, or primary government
securities dealers reporting to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with
respect to securities of the type in which the Fund may invest, and will
require that additional securities be deposited with it if the value of the
securities purchased should decrease below resale price.
Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations. These
instruments include variable amount 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 notes 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, at any time. 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. Such obligations frequently are not
rated by credit rating agencies, and the Fund may invest in them only if at
the time of an investment the borrower meets the criteria set forth in the
Fund's Prospectus for other commercial paper issuers.
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities may be converted at
either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock.
Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both fixed-income and
equity securities. Convertible securities generally are subordinated to
other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although
convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right
of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is
senior to common stock, of the same issuer. Because of the subordination
feature, however, convertible securities typically have lower ratings than
similar non-convertible securities.
Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the
market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates
increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In
addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible
securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the
underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that
as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible
securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not
experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common
stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the
prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the
value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are
without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less
risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream
of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no
assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible
securities may default on their obligations. A convertible security, in
addition to providing fixed income, offers the potential for capital
appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to
benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.
There can be no assurance of capital appreciation, however, because
securities prices fluctuate. Convertible securities, however, generally
offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of
similar quality because of the potential for capital appreciation.
Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts. These securities, commonly
referred to as "spiders," represent an interest in a fixed portfolio of
common stocks designed to track the price and dividend yield performance of
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index or the Standard &
Poor's MidCap 400 Index, as the case may be.
Illiquid Securities. When purchasing securities that have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are not readily
marketable, the Fund will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to obtain the
right to registration at the expense of the issuer. Generally, there will
be a lapse of time between the Fund's decision to sell any such security and
the registration of the security permitting sale. During any such period,
the price of the securities will be subject to market fluctuations.
However, where a substantial market of qualified institutional buyers
develops for certain restricted securities purchased by the Fund pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Fund intends to
treat such securities as liquid securities in accordance with procedures
approved by the Fund's Board. Because it is not possible to predict with
assurance how the market for restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144A
will develop, the Fund's Board has directed the Manager to monitor carefully
the Fund's investments in such securities with particular regard to trading
activity, availability of reliable price information and other relevant
information. To the extent that, for a period of time, qualified
institutional buyers cease purchasing restricted securities pursuant to Rule
144A, the Fund's investing in such securities may have the effect of
increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund's portfolio during such
period.
Management Policies
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in, or enter into, Derivatives (as
defined in the Fund's Prospectus) for a variety of reasons, including to
hedge certain market risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or
selling particular securities or to increase potential income gain.
Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way
for the Fund to invest than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and
the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which
its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its
portfolio by making investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through
privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter
Derivatives. Exchange-traded Derivatives generally are guaranteed by the
clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such Derivatives.
This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment system (i.e.,
variation margin requirements) operated by the clearing agency in order to
reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency
defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated
with Derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency
guarantees over-the-counter Derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-
the-counter Derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default.
Accordingly, the Manager will consider the creditworthiness of
counterparties to over-the-counter Derivatives in the same manner as it
would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by the Fund.
Over-the-counter Derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded
Derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only
investor with sufficient understanding of the Derivative to be interested in
bidding for it.
Options. The Fund may purchase call or put options with respect to
specific securities. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the
right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security or
securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or at
a specific date. Conversely, a put option gives the purchaser of the option
the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security
or securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or
at a specific date.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a
liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such
secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may
cease to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher
than anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events,
at times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and
resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading
rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or
suspensions in one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar
events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of
customers' orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible
to effect closing transactions in particular options.
Lending Portfolio Securities. In connection with its securities
lending transactions, the Fund may return to the borrower or a third party
which is unaffiliated with the Fund, and which is acting as a "placing
broker," a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral
received for securities loaned.
The Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that the
following conditions must be met whenever portfolio securities are loaned:
(1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower;
(2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of
the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must
be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive
reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other
distributions payable on the loaned securities, and any increase in market
value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection
with the loan; and (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass
to the borrower, the Fund's Board must terminate the loan and regain the
right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the
investment occurs.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 15 as
fundamental policies, which cannot be changed without approval by the
holders of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares.
Investment restrictions numbered 16 and 17 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. Purchase any securities on margin.
3. Sell any securities short.
4. Lend any funds or other assets. This shall not prevent the
purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures
or other evidences of indebtedness of corporations, or the purchase of
bankers' acceptances and commercial paper of corporations listed on the New
York Stock Exchange or their subsidiaries. However, the Fund may lend
securities to broker-dealers or other institutional investors, but only when
the borrower pledges cash collateral to the Fund and agrees to maintain such
collateral so that it amounts at all times to at least 100% of the value of
the securities loaned. Such loans will not be made if, as a result, the
aggregate value of the securities loaned exceeds 10% of the value of the
Fund's total assets.
5. Participate in any underwriting or selling group in connection
with the public distribution of securities, except for its own capital
stock.
6. Invest more than 5% of the market value of its net assets in the
securities of any one issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the
Fund's total assets may be invested, and securities issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Government, or its agencies or instrumentalities may be purchased,
without regard to such limitation.
7. Hold more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer.
This restriction applies only with respect to 75% of the Fund's total
assets.
8. Purchase from or sell to any of its officers or directors, or
firms of which any of them are members, any securities (other than capital
stock of the Fund), but such persons or firms may act as brokers for the
Fund for customary commissions.
9. Retain securities of any issuer in which those officers or
directors of the Fund who beneficially own more than 1/2 of 1% of the
securities of the issuer together own more than 5% of the securities of the
issuer.
10. Purchase any securities issued by any investment company, except
in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization,
if more than 10% of the market value of the Fund's total assets would be
invested in securities of other investment companies, more than 5% of the
market value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities
of any one investment company or the Fund would own more than 3% of the
total voting stock of any one investment company. This limitation, however,
shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities issued by a real
estate investment trust, provided that such trust is not permitted to invest
in real estate or interests in real estate other than mortgages or other
security interests.
11. Purchase the securities of any issuer the business of which has
been in continuous operation for less than three years if such purchase
would cause the Fund's investments in such issuers to exceed 5% of the
market value of the Fund's net assets.
12. Lease, acquire or hold real estate, except for office purposes.
This limitation, however, shall not prevent the Fund from investing in
securities issued by a real estate investment trust, provided that such
trust is not permitted to invest in real estate or interests in real estate
other than mortgages or other security interests.
13. Purchase and sell commodities or commodity contracts.
14. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of
management or the exercise of control, but the Fund votes the securities it
owns in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its own views.
The Manager may make recommendations to portfolio companies on financial and
operating matters relevant to the conduct of their business if the Manager
believes it desirable to do so for the best interests of the Fund and the
protection of the value of the Fund's investments.
15. Invest in a particular industry if any such investment would
result in the Fund holding more than 25% of the value of its assets in any
single industry.
16. Pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise encumber its assets,
except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings.
17. 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 10% 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 increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values
or assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction.
In addition to the foregoing, while not a fundamental policy, the Fund
has undertaken not to invest in oil, gas or mineral programs.
The Fund may make commitments more restrictive than the restrictions
listed above so as to permit the sale of Fund shares in certain states.
Should the Fund determine that a commitment is no longer in the best
interest of the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to
revoke the commitment by terminating the sale of Fund shares in the state
involved.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years,
are shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
LUCY WILSON BENSON, Board Member. President of Benson and Associates,
consultants to business and government. Mrs. Benson is a director of
Communications Satellite Corporation, General RE Corporation and
Logistics Management Institute. She is also a trustee of the Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette
College, Vice Chairman of the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs and
a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. From 1980 to 1994, Mrs.
Benson was a director of The Grumman Corporation. Mrs. Benson served
as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and to SRI
International from 1980 to 1981. From 1977 to 1980, she was Under
Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology.
She is 69 years old and her address is 46 Sunset Avenue, Amherst,
Massachusetts 01002.
DAVID W. BURKE, Board Member. Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, an independent board within the United States Information
Agency, since August 1995. From August 1994 to December 1994, Mr.
Burke was a Consultant to the Manager, and from October 1990 to August
1994, he was Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the
Manager. From 1977 to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the management
of national television news, as Vice President and Executive Vice
President of ABC News, and subsequently as President of CBS News. He
is 60 years old and his address is Box 654, Eastham, Massachusetts
02642.
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He is also
a director of The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services
Corporation, a provider of marketing, administrative and risk
management services to health and other benefit programs, The Noel
Group, Inc., a venture capital company, Carlyle Industries, Inc.
(formerly, Belding Heminway, Inc.), a button packager and distributor,
Staffing Resources, Inc., a temporary placement agency, and Century
Business Services, Inc., a provider of various outsourcing services to
small and medium size companies. For more than five years prior to
January 1995, he was President, a director and, until August 1994,
Chief Operating Officer of the Manager and Executive Vice President and
a director of Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Manager and, until August 24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From
August 1994 until December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank
Corporation. He is 54 years old and his address is 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166.
MARTIN D. FIFE, Board Member. Chairman of the Board of Magar Inc., a
company specializing in financial products and developing early stage
companies. In addition, Mr. Fife is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Skysat Communications Network Corporation, a
company developing telecommunications systems. Mr. Fife also serves on
the boards of various other companies. He is 69 years old and his
address is The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New
York 10174.
WHITNEY I. GERARD, Board Member. Partner of the New York City law firm of
Chadbourne & Parke. He is 62 years old and his address is 30
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112.
ROBERT R. GLAUBER, Board Member. Research Fellow, Center for Business and
Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, since January 1992. Mr. Glauber was Under Secretary of the
Treasury for Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department from May 1989 to
January 1992. For more than 5 years prior thereto, he was a Professor
of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of Harvard
University and, from 1985 to 1989, Chairman of its Advanced Management
Program. He is also a director of MidOcean Reinsurance Co. Ltd. and
Cooke and Bieler, Inc., investment counselors. He is 57 years old and
his address is 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
02138.
ARTHUR A. HARTMAN, Board Member. Senior consultant with APCO Associates
Inc. From 1981 to 1987, he was United States Ambassador to the former
Soviet Union. He is a director of the ITT Hartford Insurance Group,
Ford Meter Box Corporation and Lawter International, and a member of
the advisory councils of several other companies, research institutes
and foundations. Ambassador Hartman is Chairman of First NIS Regional
Fund (ING/Barings Management). He is a former President of the Harvard
Board of Overseers. He is 70 years old and his address is 2738
McKinley Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015.
GEORGE L. PERRY, Board Member. An economist and Senior Fellow at the
Brookings Institution since 1969. He is co-director of the Brookings
Panel on Economic Activity and editor of its journal, The Brookings
Papers. He is also a director of the State Farm Mutual Automobile
Association, State Farm Life Insurance Company and Federal Realty
Investment Trust. He is 62 years old and his address is 1775
Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015.
PAUL D. WOLFOWITZ, Board Member. Dean of The Paul H. Nitze School of
Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. From 1989
to 1993, he was Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. From 1986 to
1989, he was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. From
1982 to 1986, he was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs of the Department of State. He is a director of
Hasbro, Inc. He is 51 years old and his address is 1740 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a per
meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the
Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board
members are entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of
one-half the amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Board member by the Fund and by all other funds in
the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person is a Board member (the
number of which is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board member's
total compensation) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, were as
follows:
Total Compensation
Aggregate from Fund and Fund
Name of Board Compensation from Complex Paid to
Member Fund Board Members
Lucy Wilson Benson $ 9,000 $ 74,055 (15)
David W. Burke $ 9,000 $239,000 (49)
Joseph S. DiMartino $11,250 $597,128 (96)
Martin D. Fife $ 9,000 $ 60,500 (12)
Whitney I. Gerard $ 9,000 $ 60,500 (12)
Robert R. Glauber $ 9,000 $102,500 (10)
Arthur A. Hartman $ 8,500 $ 55,750 (12)
George L. Perry $ 9,000 $ 60,500 (12)
Paul D. Wolfowitz $ 9,000 $ 52,750 (11)
_________________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $3,926 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. She is 40 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary. Senior Vice President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From December 1989 through November 1996, he was employed by
GE Investments where he held various financial, business development
and compliance positions. He also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds
and as a Director of GE Investment Services. He is 36 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of the
Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From July
1988 to August 1994, he was employed by The Boston Company, Inc. where
he held various management positions in the Corporate Finance and
Treasury areas. He is 35 years old.
RICHARD W. INGRAM, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
March 1994 to November 1995, he was Vice President and Division Manager
for First Data Investor Services Group. From 1989 to 1994, he was Vice
President, Assistant Treasurer and Tax Director - Mutual Funds of The
Boston Company, Inc. He is 42 years old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of
the Distributor and of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
September 1989 to July 1994, she was an Assistant Vice President and
Client Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. She is 33 years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. From December 1991 to March 1993, he
was employed as a Fund Accountant at The Boston Company, Inc. He is 28
years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of Funds Distributor,
Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From April 1994 to July 1996, he was
Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. From October 1992 to March
1994, he was employed by Putnam Investments in legal and compliance
capacities. He is 33 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Assistant Secretary of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant
for Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 25 years old.
ELBA VASQUEZ, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
March 1990 to May 1996, she was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New
York where she held various sales and marketing positions. She is 36
years old.
The address of each 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 April 9, 1998.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Management of the Fund."
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Contract (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994 with the Fund, which 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 Fund's outstanding voting
securities, provided that in either event the continuance also is approved
by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, by vote cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Fund's
Board, including a majority of the Board members who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Agreement, last
voted to renew the Agreement at a meeting held on June 18, 1997.
Shareholders last approved the Agreement on August 4, 1994. The Agreement
is terminable upon 60 days' notice by either party and 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: W.
Keith Smith, Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Stephen E.
Canter, Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S.
Kash, Vice Chairman-Distribution and a director; J. David Officer, Vice
Chairman; William T. Sandalls, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer; Ronald P. O'Hanley III, Vice Chairman; Mark N. Jacobs,
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice
President-Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President-Human
Resources; Jeffrey N. Nachman, Vice President-Mutual Fund Accounting; Andrew
S. Wasser, Vice President-Information Systems; William V. Healey, Assistant
Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman, Burton C. Borgelt, Frank V. Cahouet and
Richard F. Syron, directors.
The Manager manages 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 Board to execute purchases
and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are Timothy M.
Ghriskey and Douglas D. Ramos. The Manager also maintains a research
department with a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities
analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds
advised by the Manager.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes, among other things, statistical and research data, clerical help,
accounting, data processing, bookkeeping, internal auditing services and
certain other required services to the Fund. The Manager also may make such
advertising and promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it
from time to time deems appropriate.
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 directors who are not officers, directors,
employees or holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
the Manager, Securities and Exchange Commission fees, advisory fees, state
Blue Sky qualification fees, charges of custodians, transfer and dividend
disbursing agents' fees, certain insurance premiums, industry association
fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of maintaining corporate
existence, costs of independent pricing services, costs attributable to
investor services (including, without limitation, telephone and personnel
expenses), costs of shareholders' reports and corporate meetings, costs of
preparing and printing prospectuses and statements of additional information
for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, and
any extraordinary expenses.
As compensation for its services, the Fund has agreed to pay the
Manager an annual fee, payable monthly, as follows:
Annual Fee Average Daily Net Assets
.65 of 1% of the first $1.5 billion
.625 of 1% between $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion
.60 of 1% between $2.0 billion and $2.5 billion
.55 of 1% over $2.5 billion
The Agreement also provides that if the aggregate expenses of the Fund,
exclusive of taxes and brokerage commissions but including the management
fee, exceed 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for any
full fiscal year, the Manager will bear such expenses or refund to the Fund
the amount of such excess. No expense reimbursement was required for the
last three fiscal years.
The management fees paid by the Fund to the Manager for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 amounted to $16,964,640,
$17,295,175 and $17,536,594, respectively.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
The Distributor. The Distributor serves as the Fund's distributor on a
best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
The Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds and for certain other investment companies.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders
may be made at any time. Purchase orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York
time, on any business day that Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the Fund's transfer
and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent"), and the New York Stock
Exchange are open for business will be credited to the shareholder's Fund
account on the next bank business day following such purchase order.
Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any business day the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business, or
orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York
Stock Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the
initial payment for purchase of 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 wired to an account at any other bank, the
request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See "Redemption of
Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. An investor 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.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Redeem Shares."
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption
instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be the
investor 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 if the Transfer Agent
receives the redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000
minimum) will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the commercial
bank account specified by the investor on the Account Application or
Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if the investor's 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 the investor's bank is necessary to avoid a delay in
crediting the funds to the investor's bank account.
Investors with access to telegraphic equipment may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
Investors who do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment may
have the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at
1-800-654-7171, toll free. Investors should advise the operator that the
above transmittal code must be used and should inform the operator of the
Transfer Agent's answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive wire
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Investors should be aware that if they
have also selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a
wire redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction
through the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") system unless more prompt
transmittal specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on
deposit in the investor's account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two
business days after receipt of the redemption request. See "Purchase of
Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Stock Certificates; Signatures. Any stock certificates representing
Fund shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
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 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 Securities and Exchange Commission and is
a fundamental policy of the Fund which may not be changed without
shareholder approval. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of
such amount, the Fund's Board reserves the right to make payments in whole
or in part in securities or other assets of the Fund in case of an emergency
or any time a cash distribution would impair the liquidity of the Fund to
the detriment of the existing shareholders. In such event, the securities
would be valued in the same manner as the Fund's portfolio is valued. If
the recipient sells such securities, brokerage charges would be incurred.
Suspension of Redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or
when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission 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 Securities and Exchange Commission by order may permit to
protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Services."
Fund Exchanges. 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 that are offered without a
sales load will be made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be
exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and
the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged
without a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a
sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds
acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales
load and additional shares acquired through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively
referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein
as "Offered Shares"), provided that, 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 will be deducted.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, shareholders must notify
the Transfer Agent of their prior ownership of fund shares and their account
number.
To request an exchange, a shareholder must give exchange instructions
to the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue
exchange instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders
automatically, unless the investor checks the applicable "No" box on the
Account Application, indicating that the investor specifically refuses this
privilege. By using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic (including over The
Dreyfus Touchr automated telephone system) instructions from any person
representing himself or herself to be the investor, and reasonably believed
by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to
limitations as to the amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges
permitted. Shares issued in certificate form are not eligible for telephone
exchange.
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.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits an investor to purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares
of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. 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. An investor
will be notified if his account falls below the amount designated to be
exchanged under this Privilege. In this case, an investor's 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 identical names and other identifying designations.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Fund reserves the right to reject
any exchange request in whole or in part. Fund Exchanges or the Dreyfus
Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time upon
notice to shareholders.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a specified
dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the
yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and eventually may be
depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the
investor, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which stock
certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest automatically their 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 the investor is 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 the Fund may be invested
without imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds that
are offered without a sales load.
B. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not
charge a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold
with the sales load, and the applicable sales load will be
deducted.
C. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which charges a
sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a
sales load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), provided
that, 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 will be deducted.
D. Dividends and distributions paid by a Fund may be invested in
shares of other funds that impose a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") and the applicable CDSC, if any, will be imposed
upon redemption of such shares.
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, IRAs set up under a
Simplified Employee Pension Plan ("SEP-IRAs"), Education IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts") and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services are also
available.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adopting such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares.
All fees charged are described in the appropriate forms.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may
not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
The minimum initial investment for corporate plans, Salary Reduction
plans, 403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, is
$2,500 with no minimum for subsequent purchases. 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 IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent purchases.
Each investor should read the prototype retirement plan and the 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
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. Portfolio securities are valued at
the last sale price on the securities exchange or national securities market
on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities not listed on an
exchange or national securities market, or securities in which there were no
transactions, are valued at the average of the most recently reported bid
and asked prices. Bid price is used when no asked price is available.
Options are valued at the last sale price on an exchange. Options for which
there were no transactions are valued at the average of the most recently
reported bid and asked prices. Market quotations of foreign securities in
foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of
exchange. Any securities or other assets for which market quotations are
not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith
by the Fund's Board. Expenses and fees, including the management fee,
reduced by the expense limitation, if any, are accrued daily and taken into
account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of Fund shares.
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Dividends, Distributions
and Taxes."
Management believes that the Fund qualified for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997 as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund intends to continue
to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its
shareholders. Such qualification relieves the Fund of any liability for
Federal income taxes to the extent its net investment income and net
realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the Code. The term "regulated investment company" does not
imply the supervision of management or investment practices or policies by
any government agency.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the aggregate net asset value of the shares
below the cost of the investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be
a return of investment in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in
the Fund's Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder
holds shares of a Fund for six months or less and has received a capital
gain distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale
of such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of
the capital gain distribution received.
Depending upon the composition of the Fund's income, the entire amount
or a portion of the dividends from net investment income may qualify for the
dividends received deduction allowable to qualifying U.S. corporate
shareholders ("dividends received deduction"). In general, dividend income
from the Fund distributed to qualifying corporate shareholders will be
eligible for the dividends received deduction only to the extent that the
Fund's income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. However,
Section 246(c) of the Code provides that if a qualifying corporate
shareholder has disposed of Fund shares not held for less than 46 days,
which 46 days generally must be during the 90-day period commencing 45 days
before the shares become ex-divided, and has received a dividend from net
investment income with respect to such shares, the portion designated by the
Fund as qualifying for the dividends received deduction will not be eligible
for such shareholder's dividends received deduction. In addition, the Code
provides other limitations with respect to the ability of a qualifying
corporate shareholder to claim the dividends received deduction in
connection with holding Fund shares.
Ordinarily, gains or losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gains or losses. However, a portion of the gain or
loss realized from the disposition of certain non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities (including debt instruments and certain futures or forward
contracts and options) may be treated as ordinary income or loss under
Section 988 of the Code. In addition, all or a portion of the gain realized
from the disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. Finally, all or a portion
of the gains realized from engaging in "conversion transactions" may be
treated as ordinary income under Section 1258 of the Code. "Conversion
transactions" are defined to include certain forward, futures, option and
straddle transactions, transactions marketed or sold to produce capital
gains, or transactions described in Treasury regulations to be issued in the
future.
Under Section 1256 of the Code, any gain or loss realized by the Fund
from certain forward contracts and options transactions, (other than those
taxed under Section 988 of the Code), will be treated as 60% long-term
capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss
will arise upon exercise or lapse of such contracts and options as well as
from closing transactions. In addition, any such contract or option
remaining unexercised at the end of the Fund's taxable year will be treated
as sold for its then fair market value, resulting in additional gain or loss
to the Fund characterized in the manner described above.
Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving forward contracts or
options transactions may be considered, for tax purposes, to constitute
"straddles." "Straddles" are defined to include "offsetting positions" in
actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of "straddles" is
governed by Sections 1092 and 1258 of the Code, which, in certain
circumstances, overrides or modifies the provisions of Sections 1256 and 988
of the Code. As such, all or a portion of any short or long-term capital
gain from certain "Straddle" and/or conversion transactions may be
recharacterized as ordinary income.
If the Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in forward contracts or options transactions, such "straddles"
would be characterized as "mixed straddles" if the forward contracts or
options transactions comprising a part of such "straddles" were governed by
Section 1256 of the Code. The Fund may make one or more elections with
respect to "mixed straddles." If no election is made, to the extent the
"straddle" rules apply to positions established by the Fund, losses realized
by the Fund will be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any related
offsetting position. Moreover, as a result of the "straddle" and conversion
transaction rules, short-term capital loss on "straddle" positions may be
recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be
treated as short-term capital gain or ordinary income.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included constructive sale provisions
that generally will apply if the Fund either (1) holds an appreciated
financial position with respect to stock, certain debt obligations, or
partnership interests ("appreciated financial position") and then enters
into a short sale, futures, forward, or offsetting notional principal
contract (collectively, a "Contract") respecting the same or substantially
identical property or (2) holds an appreciated financial position that is a
Contract and then acquires property that is the same as, or substantially
identical to, the underlying property. In each instance, with certain
exceptions, the Fund generally will be taxed as if the appreciated financial
position were sold at its fair market value on the date the Fund enters into
the financial position or acquires the property, respectively. Transactions
that are identified hedging or straddle transactions under other provisions
of the Code can be subject to the constructive sale provisions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Manager supervises the placement of orders on behalf of the Fund
for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Allocation of brokerage
transactions, including their frequency, is made according to the best
judgment of the Manager and the Fund's portfolio managers and in a manner
deemed fair and reasonable to the shareholders. The primary consideration
is prompt and effective execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this consideration, the brokers selected include those that
supplement the Manager's research facilities with statistical data,
investment information, economic facts and opinions. Information so
received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be
performed by the Manager and the Manager's fee is not reduced as a
consequence of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such
information may be useful to the Manager in serving both the Fund and other
funds which it advises and, conversely, supplemental information obtained by
the placement of business of other clients may be useful to the Manager in
carrying out its obligation to the Fund. Brokers also will be selected for
their ability to handle special executions, such as are involved in large
block trades or broad distributions, provided the primary consideration is
met. Large block trades may, in certain cases, result from two or more
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds being engaged simultaneously in the
purchase or sale of the same security. The overall reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by the Manager based upon its
knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions
paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. When
transactions are executed in the over-the-counter market, the Fund will deal
with the primary market makers unless a more favorable price is otherwise
obtainable.
In connection with its portfolio securities transactions for 1995, 1996
and 1997, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $17,593,586, $13,708,783
and $12,990,105, respectively, none of which was paid to the Distributor.
The above figures for brokerage commissions paid do not include gross
spreads and concessions on principal transactions, which, where
determinable, amounted to $114,250, $536,930 and $335,495 in 1995, 1996 and
1997, respectively, none of which was paid to the Distributor.
The aggregate amount of transactions during the last fiscal year in
securities effected on an agency basis through a broker for, among other
things, research services, and the commissions and concessions related to
such transactions were as follows:
Transaction Commissions and
Amount Concessions
$829,501,680 $952,108
The Fund's investment policy, which stresses flexibility, may result in
more trading of securities than would be the case for a fund with more
restricted investment policies, although the Fund's portfolio turnover rate
generally should not exceed 250%. Portfolio turnover rates for 1996 and
1997 were 220.92% and 201.10%, respectively.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Performance
Information."
The Fund's average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 10 year periods
ended December 31, 1997 was 10.75%, 10.09% and 11.00%, respectively.
Average annual total return is calculated by determining the ending
redeemable value of an investment purchased with a hypothetical $1,000
payment made at the beginning of the period (assuming the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions), dividing by the amount of the initial
investment, taking the "n"th root of the quotient (where "n" is the number
of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
The Fund's total return for the period May 24, 1951 to December 31,
1997 was 22,119.65%. Total return is calculated by subtracting the amount
of the Fund's net asset value per share at the beginning of a stated period
from the net asset value per share at the end of the period (after giving
effect to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions during the
period), and dividing the result by the net asset value per share at the
beginning of the period.
From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may provide
historical information about the Fund or the Manager such as: the aggregate
size of the Fund's assets for the number of shareholder accounts in the Fund
at various points in time; causes for the Fund's growth in assets during
various time periods; portfolio philosophy and practices utilized in
managing the Fund's assets; past promotional efforts on behalf of the Fund
such as the use of the "Dreyfus Lion" as a logo or the "Dreyfus Lion/Subway"
television commercial; biographical information about Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr.,
the Fund's first President; the public offering of shares of the Manager in
1965; the public awareness of the concept of growth funds at the time of the
Fund's inception; or the role played by Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr. and/or the Fund
in popularizing the concept of mutual funds as an investment vehicle or the
growth of assets in the mutual fund industry since the Fund's inception.
From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to or
discuss current or past business, political, economic or financial
conditions, such as any U.S. monetary or fiscal policies. In addition, from
time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may include information
concerning retirement and investing for retirement.
From time to time, advertising material for the Fund may include
biographical information relating to its portfolio managers and may refer
to, or include commentary by, a portfolio manager relating to, investment
strategy, asset growth, current or past business, political, economic or
financial conditions and other matter of general interest to investors.
From time to time, Fund advertisements may include statistical data or
general discussions about the growth and development of Dreyfus Retirement
Services (in terms of new customers, assets under management, market share,
etc.) and its presence in the defined contribution plan market.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "General Information."
Each Fund share has one vote, and when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and nonassessable.
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.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT, CUSTODIAN, COUNSEL
AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, 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. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund
paid the Transfer Agent $1,224,939.
Mellon Bank, N.A. (the "Custodian"), the Manager's parent, One Mellon
Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, serves as the Fund's custodian.
Under a custody agreement with the Fund, the Custodian holds the Fund's
securities and keeps all necessary accounts and records. For its custody
services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on the market value of
the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain securities
transactions charges. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund
paid the Custodian $300,478.
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, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as auditors of the Fund.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997 is a separate document supplied with this Statement of
Additional Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes,
and report of independent auditors appearing therein are incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
APPENDIX
Description of certain ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch IBCA, Inc.
("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff"):
S&P
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A
Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher rated categories.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances
are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay
principal for bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated
categories.
S&P's letter ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign designation, which is used to show relative standing within
the major rating categories, except in the AAA (Prime Grade) category.
Commercial Paper Rating
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.
Moody's
Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally are
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat
larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may
be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the
future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable
over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major rating categories, except in the Aaa category.
The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of a
rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the
modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of a rating category.
Commercial Paper Rating
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.
Fitch
Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to
meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The ratings
take into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to
other obligations of the issuer, the current financial condition and
operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the
political and economic environment that might affect the issuer's future
financial strength and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to
pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
reasonably foreseeable events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds
rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is
generally rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse
impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood
that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher
than for bonds with higher ratings.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate
the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal
and investment notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating
analysis, the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-
1+.
Duff
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered highest credit quality. The risk
factors are negligible, being only slightly more than for risk-free U.S.
Treasury debt.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered high credit quality. Protection factors
are strong. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to time because
of economic conditions.
A
Bonds rated A have protection factors which are average but adequate.
However, risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
stress.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to have below average protection factors
but still considered sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable
variability in risk during economic cycles.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol (except AAA)
to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Commercial Paper Rating
The rating Duff-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by
Duff. Paper rated Duff-1 is regarded as having very high certainty of
timely payment with excellent liquidity factors which are supported by ample
asset protection. Risk factors are minor.
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
_________________________
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List
_______ _________________________________________
(a) Financial Statements:
Included in Part A of the Registration Statement
Condensed Financial Information for each of the ten
years in the period ended December 31, 1997.
Incorporated by reference in Part B of the Registration
Statement:
Statement of Investments--December 31, 1997.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities--December 31,
1997.
Statement of Operations--year ended December 31,
1997.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets--for each of
the two years ended December 31, 1997.
Financial Highlights.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, dated
February 2, 1998.
All Schedules and other financial statement information, for which provision
is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are either omitted because they are not required under
the related instructions, they are inapplicable, or the required information
is presented in the financial statements or notes thereto which are
incorporated by reference in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Items are incorporated by reference to the Fund's Annual and Semi-
Annual Reports on Forms N-30D, filed on March 5, 1998 and September 2, 1997,
respectively.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Registrant's Articles of Restatement is incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1996.
(2) Registrant's By-Laws.
(4) Specimen certificate for the Registrant's securities is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 65 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on July 1, 1977.
(5) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (5) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on February 27, 1995.
(6) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on February 27, 1995.
(8)(a) Amended and Restated Custody Agreement is incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (8)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 27, 1995.
(8)(b) Sub-Custodian Agreements are incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(8)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 27, 1995.
(10) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1996.
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors.
(14) Documents making up model plans in the establishment of retirement
plans in conjunction with which Registrant offers its securities
are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (14) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A,
filed on February 27, 1995.
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Data are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 20, 1994.
(17) Financial Data Schedule.
Other Exhibits
______________
(a) Powers of Attorney.
(b) Certificate of Secretary.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
_______ ______________________________________________________________
Not Applicable
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
_______ ________________________________
(1) (2)
Number of Record
Title of Class Holders as of April 9, 1998
______________ _____________________________
Capital Stock
(Par value $1.00) 92,118
Item 27. Indemnification
_______ _______________
Reference is made to Article SEVENTH of the Registrant's
Articles of Incorporation filed herein as Exhibit 1. The
application of these provisions is limited by Article VIII of
the Registrant's By-Laws previously filed as Exhibit 2 to Post-
Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A on February 27, 1995 and by the following
undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission: Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 27. Indemnification (continued)
_______ _______________
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer of controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it
is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Reference is also made to the Distribution Agreement
attached as Exhibit (6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 27,
1995.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
_______ ____________________________________________________
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") and subsidiary
companies comprise a financial service organization whose
business consists primarily of providing investment management
services as the investment adviser, manager and distributor
for sponsored investment companies registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and as an investment adviser to
institutional and individual accounts. Dreyfus also serves as
sub-investment adviser to and/or administrator of other
investment companies. Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Dreyfus, serves primarily as a registered
broker-dealer of shares of investment companies sponsored by
Dreyfus and of other investment companies for which Dreyfus
acts as investment adviser, sub-investment adviser or
administrator. Dreyfus Management, Inc., another wholly-owned
subsidiary, provides investment management services to various
pension plans, institutions and individuals.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
________ ________________________________________________________________
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
____________________________________________
Name and Position
with Dreyfus Other Businesses
_________________ ________________
MANDELL L. BERMAN Real estate consultant and private investor
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 370
Southfield, Michigan 48034;
Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees:
Skillman Foundation;
Member of The Board of Vintners Intl.
BURTON C. BORGELT Chairman Emeritus of the Board and
Director Past Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
Director:
DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
1 Gorham Island
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***
FRANK V. CAHOUET Chairman of the Board, President and
Director Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Avery Dennison Corporation
150 North Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103;
Saint-Gobain Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482;
Teledyne, Inc.
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, California 90067
W. KEITH SMITH Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Chairman of the Board The Boston Company****;
Vice Chairman of the Board:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON Vice Chairman:
President, Chief Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Executive Officer, The Boston Company****;
Chief Operating Deputy Director:
Officer and a Mellon Trust***;
Director Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company Asset Management,
Inc.****;
President:
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company****
STEPHEN E. CANTER Director:
Vice Chairman and The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Chief Investment Officer, Formerly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
and a Director Kleinwort Benson Investment Management
Americas Inc.*
LAWRENCE S. KASH Chairman, President and Chief
Vice Chairman-Distribution Executive Officer:
and a Director The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
53 State Street
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.**;
Director:
Dreyfus America Fund+++;
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
President:
The Boston Company****;
Laurel Capital Advisors***;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.;
Executive Vice President:
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company****
RICHARD F. SYRON Chairman of the Board and
Director Chief Executive Officer:
American Stock Exchange
86 Trinity Place
New York, New York 10006;
Director:
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Place, Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts 02117;
Thermo Electron Corporation
81 Wyman Street, Box 9046
Waltham, Massachusetts 02254-9046;
American Business Conference
1730 K Street, NW, Suite 120
Washington, D.C. 20006;
Trustee:
Boston College - Board of Trustees
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167-3934
J. DAVID OFFICER Vice Chairman:
Vice Chairman The Dreyfus Corporation*;
Director:
Dreyfus Financial Services Corporation*****;
Dreyfus Investment Services Corporation*****;
Mellon Trust of Florida
2875 Northeast 191st Street
North Miami Beach, Florida 33180;
Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation****;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.****;
Mellon Trust of New York
1301 Avenue of the Americas - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019;
Mellon Trust of California
400 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071-2806;
Executive Vice President:
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Vice Chairman and Director:
The Boston Company, Inc.****;
President and Director:
RECO, Inc.****;
The Boston Company Financial Services,
Inc.****;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company****;
RONALD P. O'HANLEY Vice Chairman:
Vice Chairman The Dreyfus Corporation*;
Director:
The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC****;
TBCAM Holding, Inc.****;
Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.
Two International Place - 22nd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation
595 Market Street, Suite #3000
San Francisco, California 94105;
Certus Asset Advisors Corporation
One Bush Street, Suite 450
San Francisco, California 94104;
Mellon-France Corporation***;
Chairman and Director:
Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.****;
Partner Representative:
Pareto Partners
271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP;
Chairman and Trustee:
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP***;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP***;
Trustee:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP***;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Global Investing Corp.***;
Partner:
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
WILLIAM T. SANDALLS, JR. Director:
Senior Vice President and Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.*;
Chief Financial Officer Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.*;
Chairman and Director:
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
President and Director:
Lion Management, Inc.*;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.*;
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director:
Dreyfus America Fund+++;
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Truepenny Corporation*;
Treasurer, Financial Officer and Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Treasurer and Director:
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Formerly, President and Director:
Sandalls & Co., Inc.
MARK N. JACOBS Vice President, Secretary and Director:
Vice President, Lion Management, Inc.*;
General Counsel Secretary:
and Secretary The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.**;
Major Trading Corporation*;
The Truepenny Corporation*
PATRICE M. KOZLOWSKI None
Vice President-
Corporate Communications
MARY BETH LEIBIG None
Vice President-
Human Resources
JEFFREY N. NACHMAN President and Director:
Vice President-Mutual Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
Fund Accounting One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
ANDREW S. WASSER Vice President:
Vice President-Information Mellon Bank Corporation***
Services
WILLIAM V. HEALEY President:
Assistant Secretary The Truepenny Corporation*;
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
Secretary and Director:
Dreyfus Partnership Management Inc.*;
Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.*;
Assistant Clerk:
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts,
Inc.+++++
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New York,
New York 10166.
** The address of the business so indicated is 131 Second Street,
Lewes, Delaware 19958.
*** The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
**** The address of the business so indicated is One Boston Place,
Boston, Massachusetts 02108.
***** The address of the business so indicated is Union Trust Building,
501 Grant Street, Room 179, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15259;
+ The address of the business so indicated is Atrium Building,
80 Route 4 East, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.
++ The address of the business so indicated is 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard,
Uniondale, New York 11556-0144.
+++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route `d'Esch, L-
1470 Luxembourg.
++++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route `d'Esch, L-
2953 Luxembourg.
+++++ The address of the business so indicated is 53 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02103.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
________ ______________________
(a) Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal
underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or
exclusive distributor:
1) Comstock Partners Funds, Inc.
2) Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.
3) Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.
4) Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
5) Dreyfus Balanced Fund, Inc.
6) Dreyfus BASIC GNMA Fund
7) Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.
8) Dreyfus BASIC Municipal Fund, Inc.
9) Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund
10) Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
11) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
12) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
13) Dreyfus Cash Management
14) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
15) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
17) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
18) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
19) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
20) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
21) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
22) Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
23) Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds
24) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
25) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Income Funds
28) Dreyfus Index Funds, Inc.
29) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
30) Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Money Market Fund
31) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
32) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
33) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
34) Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
35) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
36) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
37) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
38) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
39) Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
40) Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
41) Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
42) Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
43) Dreyfus Massachusetts Tax Exempt Bond Fund
44) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund
45) Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.
46) Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
47) Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus
48) Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
49) Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
50) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
51) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
52) Dreyfus New Leaders Fund, Inc.
53) Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund
54) Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management
55) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
56) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund
57) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
58) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
59) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
60) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
61) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
62) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
63) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
64) Dreyfus Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
65) Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
66) Dreyfus Premier International Funds, Inc.
67) Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund
68) Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
69) Dreyfus Premier Insured Municipal Bond Fund
70) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
71) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
72) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
73) Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
74) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
75) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
76) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
77) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
78) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
79) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
80) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
81) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
82) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
83) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
84) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
85) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
86) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
87) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
88) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
89) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
90) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
91) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
(b)
Positions and
Name and principal Positions and offices with offices with
business address the Distributor Registrant
__________________ ___________________________ _____________
Marie E. Connolly+ Director, President, Chief President and
Executive Officer and Compliance Treasurer
Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Director, Senior Vice President, Vice President
Treasurer and Chief Financial and Assistant
Officer Treasurer
Richard W. Ingram Executive Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
John W. Gomez+ Director None
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
________________________________
1. First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.,
a subsidiary of First Data Corporation
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
2. Mellon Bank, N.A.
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
3. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
4. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 31. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 32. Undertakings
________ ____________
(1) To file a post-effective amendment, using financial statements
which need not be certified, within four to six months, from the
effective date of Registrant's 1933 Act Registration Statement
with respect to the Registrant's Dreyfus Technology Growth Fund.
(2) To call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a Board member or Board members when
requested in writing to do so by the holders of at least 10% of
the Registrant's outstanding shares and in connection with such
meeting to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to shareholder
communications.
(3) To furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered with a
copy of the Fund's latest Annual Report to Shareholders, upon
request and without charge.
SIGNATURES
____________
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all
of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has
duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New
York, and State of New York on the 27th day of April, 1998.
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
BY: /s/Marie E. Connolly*
__________________________________
Marie E. Connolly, PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, this Amendment to the Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
__________________________ _______________________________ _________
/s/Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer (Principal
Executive Officer) and Trustee 4/27/98
______________________________
Marie E. Connolly
/s/ Joseph F. Tower, III* Assistant Treasurer (Principal 4/27/98
______________________________ Financial and Accounting Officer)
Joseph F. Tower, III
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino * Chairman of the Board 4/27/98
______________________________
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/ Lucy Wilson Benson * Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Lucy Wilson Benson
/s/David W. Burke* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
David W. Burke
/s/Martin D. Fife* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Martin D. Fife
/s/Whitney I. Gerard* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Whitney I. Gerard
/s/Robert R. Glauber* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Robert R. Glauber
/s/Arthur A. Hartman* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Arthur A. Hartman
/s/Paul D. Wolfowitz* Board Member 4/27/98
______________________________
Paul D. Wolfowitz
*BY: /s/ Douglas Conroy-
Douglas Conroy,
Attorney-in-Fact
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
(2) By Laws
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors
(17) Financial Data Schedule
Other Exhibits
(a) Power of Attorney
(b) Certificate of Secretary
BY-LAWS OF
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
(A Maryland Corporation)
___________
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING STOCK. Certificates
representing shares of stock shall set forth thereon the statements
prescribed by Section 2-211 of the Maryland General Corporation Law
("General Corporation Law") and by any other applicable provision of law
and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice
President and countersigned by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and may be sealed with the
corporate seal. The signatures of any such officers may be either manual
or facsimile signatures and the corporate seal may be either facsimile or
any other form of seal. In case any such officer who has signed manually
or by facsimile any such certificate ceases to be such officer before the
certificate is issued, it nevertheless may be issued by the corporation
with the same effect as if the officer had not ceased to be such officer as
of the date of its issue.
No certificate representing shares of stock shall be issued for
any share of stock until such share is fully paid, except as otherwise
authorized in Section 2-206 of the General Corporation Law.
The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of
any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require, in its discretion,
the owner of any such certificate or the owner's legal representative to
give bond, with sufficient surety, to the corporation to indemnify it
against any loss or claim that may arise by reason of the issuance of a new
certificate.
2. SHARE TRANSFERS. Upon compliance with provisions
restricting the transferability of shares of stock, if any, transfers of
shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer
books of the corporation by the record holder thereof or by his attorney
thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the
Secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent or a registrar, if
any, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares of
stock properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes due thereon.
3. RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDERS. The Board of Directors may
fix, in advance, a date as the record date for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of
stockholders, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend
or the allotment of any rights or in order to make a determination of
stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall
be not more than 90 days, and in case of a meeting of stockholders not less
than 10 days, prior to the date on which the meeting or particular action
requiring such determination of stockholders is to be held or taken. In
lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the
stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed
20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of
determining stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of
stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days immediately
preceding such meeting. If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer
books are not closed for the determination of stockholders: (1) The record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, or to
vote at, a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the
day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the day 30 days before the
meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (2) The record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or an allotment of any rights shall be at the close of business on
the day on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring the
dividend or allotment of rights is adopted, provided that the payment or
allotment date shall not be more than 60 days after the date on which the
resolution is adopted.
4. MEANING OF CERTAIN TERMS. As used herein in respect of the
right to notice of a meeting of stockholders or a waiver thereof or to
participate or vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of
a meeting, as the case may be, the term "share of stock" or "shares of
stock" or "stockholder" or "stockholders" refers to an outstanding share or
shares of stock and to a holder or holders of record of outstanding shares
of stock when the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of
shares of stock and said reference also is intended to include any
outstanding share or shares of stock and any holder or holders of record of
outstanding shares of stock of any class or series upon which or upon whom
the Charter confers such rights where there are two or more classes or
series of shares or upon which or upon whom the General Corporation Law
confers such rights notwithstanding that the Charter may provide for more
than one class or series of shares of stock, one or more of which are
limited or denied such rights thereunder.
5. STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS.
ANNUAL MEETINGS. If a meeting of the stockholders of the
corporation is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
to elect the directors, then there shall be submitted to the stockholders
at such meeting the question of the election of directors, and a meeting
called for that purpose shall be designated the annual meeting of
stockholders for that year. In other years in which no action by
stockholders is required for the aforesaid election of directors, no annual
meeting need be held.
SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special stockholder meetings for any
purpose may be called by the Board of Directors or the President and shall
be called by the Secretary for the purpose of removing a Director whenever
the holders of shares entitled to at least ten percent of all the votes
entitled to be cast at such meeting shall make a duly authorized request
that such meeting be called.
The Secretary shall call a special meeting of stockholders
for all other purposes whenever the holders of shares entitled to at least
a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting shall make
a duly authorized request that such meeting be called. Such request shall
state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on
thereat, and no other business shall be transacted at any such special
meeting. The Secretary shall inform such stockholders of the reasonably
estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the corporation of such costs, the Secretary shall give notice in
the manner provided for below.
PLACE AND TIME. Stockholder meetings shall be held at such
place, either within the State of Maryland or at such other place within
the United States, and at such date or dates as the directors from time to
time may fix.
NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER OF NOTICE. Written
or printed notice of all meetings shall be given by the Secretary and shall
state the time and place of the meeting. The notice of a special meeting
shall state in all instances the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called. Written or printed notice of any meeting shall be given to each
stockholder either by mail or by presenting it to the stockholder
personally or by leaving it at his or her residence or usual place of
business not less than 10 days and not more than 90 days before the date of
the meeting, unless any provisions of the General Corporation Law shall
prescribe a different elapsed period of time, to each stockholder at his or
her address appearing on the books of the corporation or the address
supplied by the stockholder for the purpose of notice. If mailed, notice
shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail
addressed to the stockholder at his or her post office address as it
appears on the records of the corporation with postage thereon prepaid.
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
stockholders is required to be given under the provisions of these by-laws
or of the General Corporation Law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by
the stockholder and filed with the records of the meeting, whether before
or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance or representation at the
meeting shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such
stockholder. The foregoing requirements of notice also shall apply,
whenever the corporation shall have any class of stock which is not
entitled to vote, to holders of stock who are not entitled to vote at the
meeting, but who are entitled to notice thereof and to dissent from any
action taken thereat.
STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS. The President of the corporation or,
if the Board of Directors shall determine otherwise, some other executive
officer thereof, shall prepare or cause to be prepared annually a full and
correct statement of the affairs of the corporation, including a balance
sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal
year, which shall be filed at the principal office of the corporation in
the State of Maryland.
QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in
person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast one-third of the votes
thereat shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the
stockholders present in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without
notice other than by announcement, may adjourn the meeting from time to
time, but not for a period exceeding 120 days after the original record
date until a quorum shall attend.
ADJOURNED MEETINGS. A meeting of stockholders convened on
the date for which it was called (including one adjourned to achieve a
quorum as provided in the paragraph above) may be adjourned from time to
time without further notice to a date not more than 120 days after the
original record date, and any business may be transacted at any adjourned
meeting which could have been transacted at the meeting as originally
called.
CONDUCT OF MEETING. Meetings of the stockholders shall be
presided over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority
and if present and acting: the President, a Vice President or, if none of
the foregoing is in office and present and acting, by a chairman to be
chosen by the stockholders. The Secretary of the corporation or, in his or
her absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every
meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present
the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.
PROXY REPRESENTATION. Every stockholder may authorize
another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a
stockholder is entitled to participate, whether for the purposes of
determining the stockholder's presence at a meeting, or whether by waiving
notice of any meeting, voting or participating at a meeting, expressing
consent or dissent without a meeting or otherwise. Every proxy shall be
executed in writing by the stockholder or by his or her duly authorized
attorney-in-fact or be in such other form as may be permitted by the
Maryland General Corporation Law, including documents conveyed by
electronic transmission and filed with the Secretary of the corporation. A
copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction of the writing or
transmission may be substituted for the original writing or transmission
for any purpose for which the original transmission could be used. No
unrevoked proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its
execution, unless a longer time is expressly provided therein. The placing
of a stockholder's name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically
transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably
designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by such
stockholder shall constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of
such stockholder.
INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. The directors, in advance of
any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors to act at
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are
not appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not,
appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as
an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by
appointment made by the directors in advance of the meeting or at the
meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, if any, before
entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to
execute faithfully the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if
any, shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power
of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum
and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or
consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in
connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or
consents, determine the result and do such acts as are proper to conduct
the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the
person presiding at the meeting or any stockholder, the inspector or
inspectors, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge,
question or matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of
any fact found by him or them.
VOTING. Each share of stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to one vote, except in the election of directors, at which each
said vote may be cast for as many persons as there are directors to be
elected. Except for election of directors, a majority of the votes cast at
a meeting of stockholders, duly called and at which a quorum is present,
shall be sufficient to take or authorize action upon any matter which may
come before a meeting, unless more than a majority of votes cast is
required by the corporation's Articles of Incorporation. A plurality of
all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
sufficient to elect a director.
6. INFORMAL ACTION. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a
consent in writing, setting forth such action, is signed by all the
stockholders entitled to vote on the subject matter thereof and any other
stockholders entitled to notice of a meeting of stockholders (but not to
vote thereat) have waived in writing any rights which they may have to
dissent from such action and such consent and waiver are filed with the
records of the corporation.
For Funds offered exclusively to insurance products and
retirement plans:
7. LIMITATION ON THE SALE OF SHARES OF STOCK IN THE
CORPORATION. Shares of stock in the corporation shall not be sold to
individuals and entities other than Participating Insurance Companies, as
defined by the Board of Directors, pursuant to variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts, and Eligible Plans, as defined by the
Board of Directors. Sales of shares of stock in the corporation to
individuals or entities other than Participating Insurance Companies or
Eligible Plans are unauthorized and shall be deemed invalid and void ab
ibnitio.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. FUNCTIONS AND DEFINITION. The business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed under the direction of a Board of Directors.
The use of the phrase "entire board" herein refers to the total number of
directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBER. Each director shall be a
natural person of full age. A director need not be a stockholder, a
citizen of the United States or a resident of the State of Maryland. The
initial Board of Directors shall consist of one person. Thereafter, the
number of directors constituting the entire board shall never be less than
three or the number of stockholders, whichever is less. At any regular
meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of
the entire Board of Directors may increase or decrease the number of
directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than three
or the number of stockholders, whichever is less, nor more than twelve and
further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be
affected by any decrease in the number of directors.
3. ELECTION AND TERM. The first Board of Directors shall
consist of the director named in the Articles of Incorporation and shall
hold office until the first meeting of stockholders or until his or her
successor has been elected and qualified. Thereafter, directors who are
elected at a meeting of stockholders, and directors who are elected in the
interim to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold
office until their successors have been elected and qualified, as amended.
Newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors,
other than vacancies resulting from the removal of directors by the
stockholders, may be filled by the Board of Directors, subject to the
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Newly
created directorships filled by the Board of Directors shall be by action
of a majority of the entire Board of Directors then in office. All
vacancies to be filled by the Board of Directors may be filled by a
majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although such
majority is less than a quorum thereof.
4. MEETINGS.
TIME. Meetings shall be held at such time as the Board of
Directors shall fix, except that the first meeting of a newly elected Board
of Directors shall be held as soon after its election as the directors
conveniently may assemble.
PLACE. Meetings shall be held at such place within or
without the State of Maryland as shall be fixed by the Board.
CALL. No call shall be required for regular meetings for
which the time and place have been fixed. Special meetings may be called
by or at the direction of the President or of a majority of the directors
in office.
NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER. Whenever any
notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of directors or any
committee thereof is required to be given under the provisions of the
General Corporation Law or of these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed by the director or committee member entitled to such notice and
filed with the records of the meeting, whether before or after the holding
thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting shall be deemed equivalent to
the giving of such notice to such director or such committee member.
QUORUM AND ACTION. A majority of the entire Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies
prevents such majority, whereupon a majority of the directors in office
shall constitute a quorum, provided such majority shall constitute at least
one-third of the entire Board and, in no event, less than two directors. A
majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may
adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Except as otherwise
specifically provided by the Articles of Incorporation, the General
Corporation Law or these by-laws, the action of a majority of the directors
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of
the Board of Directors.
CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING. The Chairman of the Board, if any
and if present and acting, or the President or any other director chosen by
the Board, shall preside at all meetings.
5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Any or all of the directors may be
removed for cause or without cause by the stockholders, who may elect a
successor or successors to fill any resulting vacancy or vacancies for the
unexpired term of the removed director or directors.
6. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may appoint from among
its members an Executive Committee and other committees composed of one or
more directors and may delegate to such committee or committees, in the
intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, any or all of the
powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation, except the power to amend the by-laws, to
approve any merger or share exchange which does not require stockholder
approval, to authorize dividends, to issue stock (except to the extent
permitted by law) or to recommend to stockholders any action requiring the
stockholders' approval. In the absence of any member of any such committee,
the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute
a quorum, may appoint a member of the Board of Directors to act in the
place of such absent member.
7. INFORMAL ACTION. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent to such action is
signed by all members of the Board of Directors or any such committee, as
the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board or any such committee.
Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated
thereby may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of
a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the
same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person
at a meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The corporation may have a Chairman of the Board and shall have a
President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Board
of Directors, and may have such other officers, assistant officers and
agents as the Board of Directors shall authorize from time to time. Any
two or more offices, except those of President and Vice President, may be
held by the same person, but no person shall execute, acknowledge or verify
any instrument in more than one capacity, if such instrument is required by
law to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.
Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors
whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the corporation will be
served thereby.
ARTICLE IV
PRINCIPAL OFFICE - RESIDENT AGENT - STOCK LEDGER
The address of the principal office of the corporation in the
State of Maryland prescribed by the General Corporation Law is 300 East
Lombard Street, c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, Baltimore, Maryland
21202. The name and address of the resident agent in the State of Maryland
prescribed by the General Corporation Law are: The Corporation Trust
Incorporated, 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
The corporation shall maintain, at its principal office in the
State of Maryland prescribed by the General Corporation Law or at the
business office or an agency of the corporation, an original or duplicate
stock ledger containing the names and addresses of all stockholders and the
number of shares of each class held by each stockholder. Such stock ledger
may be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into
written form within a reasonable time for visual inspection.
The corporation shall keep at said principal office in the State
of Maryland the original or a certified copy of the by-laws, including all
amendments thereto, and shall duly file thereat the annual statement of
affairs of the corporation prescribed by Section 2-313 of the General
Corporation Law.
ARTICLE V
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
corporation and shall be in such form and contain such other words and/or
figures as the Board of Directors shall determine or the law require.
ARTICLE VI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation or any series thereof shall be
fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
CONTROL OVER BY-LAWS
The power to make, alter, amend and repeal the by-laws is vested
exclusively in the Board of Directors of the corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
1. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The corporation
shall indemnify its directors to the fullest extent that indemnification of
directors is permitted by the law. The corporation shall indemnify its
officers to the same extent as its directors and to such further extent as
is consistent with law. The corporation shall indemnify its directors and
officers who while serving as directors or officers also serve at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan to the same
extent as its directors and, in the case of officers, to such further
extent as is consistent with law. The indemnification and other rights
provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person. This Article shall not
protect any such person against any liability to the corporation or any
stockholder thereof to which such person would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office ("disabling
conduct").
2. ADVANCES. Any current or former director or officer of the
corporation seeking indemnification within the scope of this Article shall
be entitled to advances from the corporation for payment of the reasonable
expenses incurred by him in connection with the matter as to which he is
seeking indemnification in the manner and to the fullest extent permissible
under the General Corporation Law. The person seeking indemnification
shall provide to the corporation a written affirmation of his good faith
belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the
corporation has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such
advance if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct
has not been met. In addition, at least one of the following additional
conditions shall be met: (a) the person seeking indemnification shall
provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the corporation for his
or her undertaking; (b) the corporation is insured against losses arising
by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of directors of the
corporation who are neither "interested persons" as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, nor parties to
the proceeding ("disinterested non-party directors"), or independent legal
counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of
facts readily available to the corporation at the time the advance is
proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that the person
seeking indemnification will ultimately be found to be entitled to
indemnification.
3. PROCEDURE. At the request of any person claiming
indemnification under this Article, the Board of Directors shall determine,
or cause to be determined, in a manner consistent with the General
Corporation Law, whether the standards required by this Article have been
met. Indemnification shall be made only following: (a) a final decision
on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was
brought that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of
disabling conduct or (b) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the person to be
indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct by (i) the vote
of a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party directors or (ii) an
independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
4. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. Employees and
agents who are not officers or directors of the corporation may be
indemnified, and reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or
agents, as may be provided by action of the Board of Directors or by
contract, subject to any limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
5. OTHER RIGHTS. The Board of Directors may make further
provision consistent with law for indemnification and advance of expenses
to directors, officers, employees and agents by resolution, agreement or
otherwise. The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other right, with respect to indemnification or
otherwise, to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any
insurance or other agreement or resolution of stockholders or disinterested
non-party directors or otherwise.
6. AMENDMENTS. References in this Article are to the General
Corporation Law and to the Investment Company Act of 1940 as from time to
time amended. No amendment of the by-laws shall affect any right of any
person under this Article based on any event, omission or proceeding prior
to the amendment.
Dated: ______________, 199_
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Condensed
Financial Information" and "Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent,
Custodian, Counsel and Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report
dated February 2, 1998, which is incorporated by reference, in this
Registration Statement (Form N-1A 2-9455) of The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
April 24, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000030146
<NAME> THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2383585
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2605132
<RECEIVABLES> 26815
<ASSETS-OTHER> 5389
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2637336
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 9264
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 9264
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2433369
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 264663
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 249382
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 4840
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (31684)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 221547
<NET-ASSETS> 2628072
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 38477
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5218
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 19993
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 23702
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 368614
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (101443)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 290873
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (18862)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (438494)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 247569
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (271283)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 38995
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (70695)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 38195
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17537
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 19993
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2801866
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> .10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.08)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.92)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .007
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> .000
</TABLE>
Item 29(a)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Marie E. Connolly,
Richard W. Ingram, Christopher J. Kelley, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S.
Petrucelli and Elba Vasquez and each of them, with full power to act without
the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (until revoked in writing)
to sign any and all amendments to the Registration Statement of The Dreyfus
Fund Incorporated (including post-effective amendments and amendments
thereto), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
/s/Lucy Wilson Benson
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Lucy Wilson Benson
/s/David W. Burke
_______________________ April 27, 1998
David W. Burke
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/Martin D. Fife
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Martin D. Fife
/s/Whitney I. Gerard
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Whitney I. Gerard
/s/Robert R. Glauber
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Robert R. Glauber
/s/Arthur A. Hartman
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Arthur A. Hartman
/s/George L. Perry
_______________________ April 27, 1998
George L. Perry
/s/Paul D. Wolfowitz
_______________________ April 27, 1998
Paul D. Wolfowitz
ITEM 24 (b)
THE DREYFUS FUND INCORPORATED
Certificate of Assistant Secretary
The undersigned, Douglas C. Conroy, Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated (the "Fund"), hereby certifies
that set forth below is a copy of the resolution adopted by the Fund's Board
authorizing the signing by Marie E. Connolly, Richard W. Ingram, Christopher
J. Kelly, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S. Petrucelli and Elba Vasquez on
behalf of the proper officers of the Fund pursuant to a power of attorney:
RESOLVED, that the Registration Statement and any and
all amendments and supplements thereto, may be signed by
any one of Marie E. Connolly, Richard W. Ingram,
Christopher J. Kelly, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S.
Petrucelli and Elba Vasquez as the attorney-in-fact for
the proper officers of the Fund, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution; and that the
appointment of each of such persons as such attorney-in-
fact hereby is authorized and approved; and that such
attorney-in-fact, and each of them, shall have full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection with such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments and supplements thereto, as whom he or
she is acting as attorney-in-fact, might or could do in
person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal
of the Fund on April 27, 1998.
/s/Douglas C. Conroy
---------------------------
Douglas C. Conroy
Vice President and
Assistant Secretary
