File Nos. 2-33733
811-1899
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. 42 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 42 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 922-6000
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 July 1, 1996 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 common
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 February 29, 1996 because Registrant did not sell any
securities pursuant to such 24(f)-2 declaration.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
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 16
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-26
13 Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
14 Management of the Fund B-9
15 Control Persons and Principal B-14
Holders of Securities
16 Investment Advisory and Other B-14
Services
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a) (continued)
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ _____
17 Brokerage Allocation B-22
18 Capital Stock and Other Securities B-26
19 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing B-15, B-17
of Securities Being Offered B-23
20 Tax Status *
21 Underwriters B-1, B-15
22 Calculation of Performance Data B-25
23 Financial Statements B-27
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-11
30 Location of Accounts and Records C-14
31 Management Services C-14
32 Undertakings C-14
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS JULY 1, 1996
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END,
DIVERSIFIED, MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE
FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL. INCOME IS A SECONDARY
CONSIDERATION. THE FUND INVESTS PRINCIPALLY IN COMMON STOCKS OF DOMESTIC
ISSUERS AND SECURITIES OF FOREIGN COMPANIES AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. IN
ADDITION TO USUAL INVESTMENT PRACTICES, THE FUND MAY USE SPECULATIVE
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES SUCH AS SHORT-SELLING AND OPTIONS AND FUTURES
TRANSACTIONS.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM 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 JULY 1, 1996, 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. FOR A FREE COPY, 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 BANKS, 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.............................. 13
Shareholder Services Plan......................... 15
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 15
Performance Information........................... 16
General Information............................... 17
Appendix.......................................... 18
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Page 2
<TABLE>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
<S> <C> <C>
Management Fees ...................................................................... .75%
Other Expenses........................................................................ .29%
Total Fund Operating Expenses......................................................... 1.04%
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: $11 $33 $57 $127
</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 nominal fee if you
effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer, bank or other
financial institution. See "Management of the Fund" and "Shareholder Services
Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report thereon appears in
the Statement of Additional Information. Further financial data and related
notes are included in the Statement of Additional Information, available upon
request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share
of common 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>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28/29,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning
of year.... $12.21 $11.99 $9.42 $10.42 $9.77 $10.27 $13.20 $12.21 $10.89 $8.67
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income
(loss)-net... .18 .41 .32 .42 .24 .11 .01 (.02) .10 .10
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments...... 2.61 (.49) 1.12 .20 .56 2.95 (.98) 1.30 (.38) 2.19
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL FROM
INVESTMENT
OPERATIONS.... 2.79 (.08) 1.44 .62 .80 3.06 (.97) 1.28 (.28) 2.29
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment
income-net.... (.21) (.42) (.41) (.46) (.28) (.13) (.02) -- (.09) (.12)
Dividends from net realized
gain on investments... (2.80) (2.07) (.03) (.81) (.02) -_ -_ (2.60) (1.80) (1.26)
Dividends in excess of
net realized gain
on investments....... -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ (.05) (.02)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.... (3.01) (2.49) (.44) (1.27) (.30) (.13) (.02) (2.60) (1.94) (1.40)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net asset value,
end of year... $11.99 $9.42 $10.42 $9.77 $10.27 $13.20 $12.21 $10.89 $8.67 $9.56
======= ====== ====== ======= ====== ======= ======== ======= ====== ======
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN....... 24.95% (.06%) 15.59% 5.71% 8.53% 29.91% (7.36%) 11.07% (2.11%) 27.37%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets... .95% .91% 1.04% 1.00% .98% .95% 1.00% 1.09% 1.10% 1.04%
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to
average net assets... 1.62% 3.69% 3.50% 3.13% 2.32% .85% .11% (.14%) 1.09% .91%
Portfolio Turnover Rate... 73.06% 129.38% 82.85% 126.11% 146.93% 56.95% 90.03% 194.59% 242.75% 268.40%
Net Assets, end of year
(000's omitted)... $516,332 $492,184 $570,714 $525,529 $511,854 $631,436 $569,791 $463,323 $372,313 $419,240
</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.
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. Income
is a secondary objective. These 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
During periods which the Fund's management judges to be of market
strength, the Fund acts aggressively to increase shareholders' capital by
investing principally in common stocks of domestic issuers and securities of
foreign companies and foreign governments. The Fund is particularly alert to
companies, both domestic and foreign, which it considers undervalued by the
stock market in terms of current earnings, assets or overall growth
prospects. The Fund may invest up to 25% of the value of its total assets in
securities of foreign companies and foreign governments which are not
publicly traded in the United States. The Fund also may invest in convertible
securities and depositary receipts. See "Appendix -- Certain Portfolio
Securities."
While seeking desirable investments, the Fund may invest 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." Under normal conditions, the Fund does not expect
to have a substantial portion of its assets invested in money market
instruments. However, when The Dreyfus Corporation determines that adverse
market conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary defensive posture and
invest all of its assets in money market instruments.
In an effort to increase returns, the Fund expects to trade actively
and that the annual portfolio turnover rate could exceed 200%. 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. In addition, the Fund may engage
in various investment techniques, such as lending portfolio securities,
foreign currency transactions, options and futures transactions and short-sell
ing. 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 --
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 more subject to changes in earnings and
prospects.
Page 5
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 or adoption of governmental restrictions
which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on the
foreign securities or restrict the payment of principal and interest 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.
USE OF DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may invest 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 and futures. 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.
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 May 31, 1996, The Dreyfus Corporation managed
or administered approximately $80 billion in assets for more than 1.7 million
investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the 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 March 1996, and has been an employed by The Dreyfus Corporation since
July 1995. Prior to joining The DreyfusCorporation, Mr. Ghriskey was a Vice
President and Associate Managing Partner at 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.
Page 6
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
$237 billion in assets as of March 31, 1996, including approximately $83
billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As of March 31, 1996, Mellon,
through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $886 billion in assets,
including approximately $61 billion in mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the Fund paid The
Dreyfus Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .75 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
overall 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 for the Fund, 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
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
nominal fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities
dealer, bank or other financial institution. Share certificates are issued
only upon your written request. No certificates are issued for fractional
shares. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a
client of a securities dealer, bank or other financial institution which 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 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and 403(b)(7)
Plans with only one participant is $750, with no minimum for subsequent
purchases. Individuals who open an IRA also may open a non-working spousal
IRA with a minimum initial investment of $250. Subsequent investments in a
spousal IRA must be at least $250. The initial investment must be accompanied
by the Account Application.
Page 7
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 or 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 investment minimum requirements at
any time. Fund shares also are offered without regard to the minimum initial
investment requirements through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset BuilderRegistration
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
convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware,
however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will
not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.
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 #8900051752/Dreyfus Growth
Opportunity Fund, Inc., 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 redemption 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 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 main-
Page 8
tained 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 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 agent. 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 is open
for business. For purposes of determining net asset value, options and
futures contracts will be valued 15 minutes after the close of trading on the
floor of the New York Stock Exchange. 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 the Fund's 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 or 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 about this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may purchase Fund 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 telephoning
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-792-5452.
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 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, or by a separate signed Shareholder Services
Form, also available by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the
Telephone Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions by
calling 1-800-645-6561 or, 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 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 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. 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 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 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
Page 10
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 BUILDERRegistration Mark -- Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder permits you to purchase 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.
At your option, the bank account designated by you will be debited in the
specified amount, and Fund shares will be purchased, once a month, on either
the first or fifteenth day, or twice a month, on both days. 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 a completed 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 your 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. 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 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 this Privilege. The
appropriate form may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. Death or legal
incapacity will terminate your participation in this Privilege. You may elect
at any time to terminate your participation by notifying in writing the
appropriate Federal agency. Further, the Fund may terminate your
participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN -- Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to
purchase 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.
Page 11
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 BuilderRegistration Mark, Dreyfus 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 another fund 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 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. To select a new
fund after cancellation, you must submit a new Dividend Options Form.
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 to 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
application for the Automatic Withdrawal Plan can be obtained 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, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts,"
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 toll free: for Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566; for
IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts," 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.
Page 12
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, 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
nominal 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 upon 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 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.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its option upon
not less than 45 days' written notice if your account's net asset value is
$500 or less and remains so during the notice period.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or, 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, through the Wire
Redemption Privilege, the Telephone Redemption Privilege, or the Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege. 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.
You may redeem shares by telephone if you have checked the
appropriate box on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder
Services Form with the Transfer Agent. If you select a telephone redemption
privilege or telephone exchange privilege (which is granted automatically
unless you refuse
Page 13
it), you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions 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 Transfer Agent or the Fund 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.
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
nearestDreyfus 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 or telephone 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. You also may direct that redemption proceeds be paid by
check (maximum $150,000 per day) made out to the owners of record and mailed
to your address. Redemption proceeds of less than $1,000 will be paid
automatically by check. 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.
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
Page 14
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 or, at your request, paid by check (maximum $150,000
per day) and mailed to your address. 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 telephoning
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan pursuant to which it
reimburses Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The
Dreyfus Corporation, an amount not to exceed an annual rate of .25 of 1% of
the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for certain allocated
expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining shareholder
accounts. The services provided may include personal services relating to
shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the
Fund and providing reports and other information, and services related to the
maintenance of shareholder accounts.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily pays dividends from net investment income 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 in cash or to reinvest
in additional Fund shares at net asset value. 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 gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to U.S. shareholders will be taxable
as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in additional
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 for Federal income tax purposes,
regardless of how long shareholders have held their shares and whether such
distributions are received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. The
Code provides that the net capital gain of an individual generally will not
be subject to Federal income tax at a rate in excess of 28%. 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 gains 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 and redemption proceeds may be
subject to backup withholding, as described below, unless the foreign
investor certifies his non-U.S. residency status.
Page 15
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.
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 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 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 February 29, 1996 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 taxes to the extent its earnings 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, if any.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance may 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
Page 16
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.
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., Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's
500 Composite Stock Price Index, Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index,
Morningstar, Inc. or other industry publications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund was organized as a corporation under Delaware law on June
23, 1969, and commenced operations on February 4, 1972. On July 30, 1982, the
Fund changed its state of incorporation to Maryland. The Fund is authorized
to issue 100 million shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 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, pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, the
holders of at least 10% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may
require the Fund to hold a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of
removing a Board member from office 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
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 331/3% 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.
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. TheFund continues 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 of the loan and on the loaned
securities' collateral. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 331/3%
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.
SHORT-SELLING _ In these transactions, the Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. To
complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery
to the buyer. The Fund is obligated to replace the security borrowed by
purchasing it subsequently at the market price at the time of replacement.
The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the
security was sold by the Fund, which would result in a loss or gain,
respectively.
Page 18
Securities will not be sold short if, after effect is given to any
such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would
exceed 25% of the value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund may not sell short
the securities of any single issuer listed on a national securities exchange
to the extent of more than 5% of the value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund
may not make a short sale which results in the Fund having sold short in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any class of an
issuer.
The Fund also may make short sales "against the box," in which the
Fund enters into a short sale of a security it owns in order to hedge an
unrealized gain on the security. At no time will more than 15% of the value
of the Fund's net assets be in deposits on short sales against the box.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in 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 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 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 inappropriate 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 it 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.
Although the Fund will not be a commodity pool, Derivatives subject
the Fund to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission which limit
the extent to which the Fund can invest in certain Derivatives. The Fund may
invest in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for hedging
purposes without limit. However, the Fund may not invest in such contracts
and options for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial margin
deposits and premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such
contracts, other than for bona fide hedging purposes, exceed 5% of the
liquidation value of the Fund's assets, after taking into account unrealized
profits and unrealized losses on such contracts and options; provided,
however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. The Fund may write
(i.e., sell) covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of
the value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written.
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 requ
ired 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.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
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
Page 19
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.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS -- The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and other forms of depositary receipts. These
securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically
issued by a United States bank or trust company which evidence ownership of
underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs, which are
sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts ("CDRs"), are
receipts issued in Europe typically by non-United States banks and trust
companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities.
Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in the United States
securities markets and EDRs and CDRs in bearer form are designed for use in
Europe.
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, short-term investment grade corporate bonds
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
Page 20
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
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("S&P"), F-1 by Fitch Investors Service, L.P. ("Fitch") or Duff-1 by Duff &
Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff"), (b) issued by companies having an
outstanding unsecured debt issue currently rated at least Aa3 by Moody's or
AA- 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.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objectives. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as 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.
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
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 22
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 23
DREYFUS
Growth Opportunity
Fund, Inc.
Prospectus
(LION LOGO)
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1996 Dreyfus Service Corporation
018p070196
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
JULY 1, 1996
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated July 1, 1996, 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. and Canada -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as 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-9
Management Agreement B-14
Purchase of Shares B-15
Shareholder Services Plan B-17
Redemption of Shares B-17
Shareholder Services B-19
Portfolio Transactions B-22
Determination of Net Asset Value B-23
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes B-23
Performance Information B-25
Information About the Fund B-26
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing
Agent, Custodian, Counsel and Independent Auditors B-26
Financial Statements B-27
Report of Independent Auditors B-36
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."
Portfolio Securities
Depositary Receipts. These securities may be purchased through
onsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established
jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas
a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by
the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary
receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary
of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute
shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security
or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect
of the deposited securities.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund's custodian or sub-custodian will have
custody of, and will hold in a segregated account, securities acquired by a
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 the 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 generally, 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.
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 has developed
for certain unregistered securities purchased by the Fund pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Funds 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 specific restricted securities sold 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, a Fund's investing in such securities may have the effect of increasing
the level of illiquidity in its investment portfolio during such period.
Management Policies
Short-Selling. Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the
borrowed security, it will: (a) maintain a segregated account, containing
cash or U.S. Government securities, at such a level that the amount deposited
in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral always
equals the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover
its short position.
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.
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in 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 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.
Futures Transactions--In General. The Fund may enter into futures contracts
in U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of Trade and the
International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, or on
exchanges located outside the United States, such as the London International
Financial Futures Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange Limited. Foreign
markets may offer advantages such as trading opportunities or arbitrage
possibilities not available in the United States. Foreign markets, however,
may have greater risk potential than domestic markets. For example, some
foreign exchanges are principal markets so that no common clearing facility
exists and an investor may look only to the broker for performance of the
contract. In addition, any profits that the Fund might realize in trading
could be eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange rate, or the Fund
could incur losses as a result of those changes. Transactions on foreign
exchanges may include both commodities which are traded on domestic exchanges
and those which are not. Unlike trading on domestic commodity exchanges,
trading on foreign commodity exchanges is not regulated by the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission.
Engaging in these transactions involves risk of loss to the Fund which
could adversely affect the value of its net assets. Although the Fund
intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an active
market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid market
will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many futures
exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in
futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the daily limit
has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at
a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified periods
during the trading day. Futures contract prices could move to the limit for
several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby
preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting
the Fund to substantial losses.
Successful use of futures by the Fund also is subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant
market and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging
purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction
being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract. For example,
if the Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the
market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such
securities instead increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of
the increased value of securities which it has hedged because it will have
offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such
circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities
to meet daily variation margin requirements. The Fund may have to sell such
securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fund may be required to segregate cash or high
quality money market instruments in connection with its commodities
transactions in an amount generally equal to the value of the underlying
commodity. The segregation of such assets will have the effect of limiting
the Fund's ability otherwise to invest those assets.
Specific Futures Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell stock index
futures contracts. A stock index future obligates the Fund to pay or receive
an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the futures
contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price of the
contract on the contract's last trading day and the value of the index based
on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the opening of
trading in such securities on the next business day.
The Fund may purchase and sell currency futures. A foreign currency
future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific
currency at a future date at a specific price.
Options--In General. The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) 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.
A covered call option written by the Fund is a call option with respect
to which the Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the
transaction by segregating cash or other securities. A put option written by
the Fund is covered when, among other things, cash or liquid securities
having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option are
placed in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian to fulfill the
obligation undertaken. The principal reason for writing covered call and put
options is to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than
would be realized on the underlying securities alone. The Fund receives a
premium from writing covered call or put options which it retains whether or
not the option is exercised.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a
liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such
secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may cease
to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher than
anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events, at
times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and
resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading rotations,
restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or suspensions in
one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar events, or
events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of customers'
orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible to effect
closing transactions in particular options. If, as a covered call option
writer, the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a
secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until
the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise or it
otherwise covers its position.
Specific Options Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options in respect of specific securities (or groups or "baskets" of specific
securities) or stock indices listed on national securities exchanges or
traded in the over-the-counter market. An option on a stock index is similar
to an option in respect of specific securities, except that settlement does
not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. Instead, the
option holder receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock
index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call,
or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. Thus,
the effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index options will depend
upon price movements in the level of the index rather than the price of a
particular stock.
The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currency.
These options convey the right to buy or sell the underlying currency at a
price which is expected to be lower or higher than the spot price of the
currency at the time the option is exercised or expires.
The Fund may purchase cash-settled options on interest rate swaps,
interest rate swaps denominated in foreign currency and equity index swaps in
pursuit of its investment objective. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to
pay or receive interest (for example, an exchange of floating-rate payments
for fixed-rate payments) denominated in U.S. dollar or foreign currency.
Equity index swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of
cash flows based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index of
securities which usually includes dividends. A cash-settled option on a swap
gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for the
premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the
underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are
purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions,
including securities brokerage firms.
Successful use by the Fund of options will be subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual stocks,
the stock market generally, foreign currencies or interest rates. To the
extent such predictions are incorrect, the Fund may incur losses.
Future Developments. The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in
the area of options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts
and any other Derivatives which are not presently contemplated for use by the
Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the
extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such
transactions or making any such investment, the Fund will provide appropriate
disclosure in its Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis, which means that delivery and payment take
place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The
payment obligation and the interest rate receivable on a forward commitment
or when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment,
but the Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the
counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase such securities only with the
intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may sell these
securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. A
segregated account of the Fund consisting of cash, cash equivalents or U.S.
Government securities or other high quality liquid debt securities at least
equal at all times to the amount of the commitments will be established and
maintained at the Fund's custodian bank.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis are
subject to changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e.,
appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates
rise) based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of the
issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis may expose
the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to
their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued basis can
involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the
transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-
issued basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully invested may result in
greater potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund's net assets and its
net asset value per share.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 14 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 15 through 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. Purchase the securities of any issuer if such purchase would
cause more than 5% of the value of its total assets to be invested in
securities of such issuer (except securities of the United States Government
or any instrumentality thereof).
2. Purchase the securities of any issuer if such purchase would
cause the Fund to hold more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer.
3. Purchase securities of any company having less than three
years' continuous operations (including operations of any predecessors) if
such purchase would cause the value of the Fund's investments in all such
companies to exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
4. Purchase securities of closed-end investment companies, except
in the open market where no commission except the ordinary broker's
commission is paid, which purchases are limited to a maximum of 10% of its
net assets, or as part of a merger or consolidation. This practice has not
been employed by the Fund in the past. The Fund may not purchase or retain
securities issued by open-end investment companies other than itself.
5. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if the
officers or directors of the Fund or of the Manager, who own beneficially
more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer, together own
beneficially more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
6. Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and
sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating
to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
7. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the Act
(which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the
Fund's total assets).
8. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations and the entry into repurchase agreements referred to in the
Fund's Prospectus. However, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an
amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets. Any loans of
portfolio securities will be made according to guidelines established by the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund's Board.
9. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers.
10. Purchase from or sell to any of its officers or directors or firms of which
any of them are affiliated persons, any securities (other than capital stock of
the Fund), but such persons or firms may act as brokers for
the Fund for customary commissions.
11. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising
management or control, but the Fund will vote the securities it owns in
its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.
12. Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may obtain such
short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and
sales of securities.
13. Concentrate its investments in any particular industry or
industries, except that the Fund may invest up to 25% of the value of its
total assets in a single industry.
14. Purchase warrants in excess of 2% of net assets. Such warrants
shall be valued at the lower of cost or market (for purposes of this
restriction), except that warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached
to securities shall not be included within this 2% restriction.
15. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls, or combinations thereof,
except as described in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
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 15% of the value of the Fund's net assets would be
so invested.
While not fundamental policies, the Fund has undertaken to comply with
the following limitations for the purpose of registering the Fund's shares
for sale in certain states. The Fund will not: (a) invest in oil, gas or
other mineral leases, or (b) invest in real estate limited partnerships.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time an investment is
made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in values or
assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction.
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. Each Board member who is deemed to be an "interested person" of
the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.
Board Members of the Fund
*JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. For more
than five years prior thereto, he was President and 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 to December 31, 1994, he was a director
of Mellon Bank Corporation. Mr. DiMartino is Chairman of the Board of
the Noel Group, Inc.; and a trustee of Bucknell University; a director
of The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services Corporation,
Belding Heminway Company, Inc., Curtis Industries, Inc. and Staffing
Resources, Inc. Mr. DiMartino is 52 years old and his address is 200
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
*DAVID P. FELDMAN, Board Member. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
AT&T. He is also a trustee of Corporate Property Investors, a real
estate investment company. Mr. Feldman is 56 years old and his address
is one Oak Way, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922.
JOHN M. FRASER, JR., Board Member. President of Fraser Associates, a service
company for planning and arranging corporate meetings and other events.
He was Executive Vice President of Flagship Cruises Ltd. from September
1975 to June 1978. Prior thereto, he was Senior Vice President and
Resident Director of the Swedish-American Line for the United States and
Canada. Mr. Fraser is 74 years old and his address is 133 East 64th
Street, New York, New York 10021.
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. He was Under Secretary of the Treasury
for Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department from May 1989 to January
1992. For more than five years prior thereto, he was a Professor of
Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of Harvard
University. He is also a director of MidOcean Reinsurance Co. Ltd.,
Cooke & Bieler, Inc., investment counselors, NASD Regulation, Inc. and
the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Mr. Glauber is 57 years old and his
address is 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
JAMES F. HENRY, Board Member. President of the CPR Institute for Dispute
Resolution, a non-profit organization principally engaged in the
development of alternatives to business litigation. He was of counsel
to the law firm of Lovejoy, Wasson & Ashton from October 1975 to
December 1976 and from October 1979 to June 1983, and was a partner of
that firm from January 1977 to September 1979. He was President and
director of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, a philanthropic
organization, from September 1971 to December 1976. Mr. Henry is 65
years old and his address is c/o CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution,
366 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
ROSALIND GERSTEN JACOBS, Board Member. Director of Merchandise and Marketing
for Corporate Property Investors, a real estate investment company.
From 1974 to 1976, she was owner and manager of a merchandise and
marketing consulting firm. Prior to 1974, she was a Vice President of
Macy's, New York. Mrs. Jacobs is 70 years old and her address is c/o
Corporate Property Investors, 305 East 47th Street, New York, New York
10017.
IRVING KRISTOL, Board Member. John M. Olin Distinguished Fellow of American
Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, co-editor of The Public
Interest magazine, and an author or co-editor of several books. From
May 1981 to December 1994, he was a consultant to the Manager on
economic matters; from 1969 to 1988, he was Professor of Social Thought
at the Graduate School of Business Administration, New York University;
from September 1969 to August 1979, he was Henry R. Luce Professor of
Urban Values at New York University; from 1975 to 1990, he was a
director of Lincoln National Corporation, an insurance company; and from
1977 to 1990, he was a director of Warner-Lambert Company, a
pharmaceutical and consumer products company. Mr. Kristol is 76 years
old and his address is c/o The Public Interest, 1112 16th Street, N.W.,
Suite 530, Washington, D.C. 20036.
DR. PAUL A. MARKS, Board Member. President and Chief Executive Officer of
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was Vice President for
Health Sciences and Director of the Cancer Center at Columbia University
from 1973 to 1980, and Professor of Medicine and of Human Genetics and
Development at Columbia University from 1968 to 1982. From 1976 to
1991, he was a director of the Charles H. Revson Foundation; from 1992
to 1993, he was a director of Biotechnology General, Inc., a
biotechnology development company; and from 1991 to 1995 he was a
director of National Health Laboratories, a national clinical diagnostic
laboratory. He is also a director of Pfizer, Inc., a pharmaceutical
company, LINC Venture Lease Partners II, L.P., a limited partnership
engaged in leasing, and Tularik, Inc., a biotechnology company. Dr.
Marks is 69 years old and his address is c/o Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021.
DR. MARTIN PERETZ, Board Member. Editor-in-Chief of The New Republic
magazine and a lecturer in Social Studies at Harvard University, where
he has been a member of the faculty since 1965. He is a trustee of The
Center for Blood Research at the Harvard Medical School and of the
Academy for Liberal Education, an accrediting agency for colleges and
universities certified by the U.S. Department of Education, and a
director of LeukoSite Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 1988 to
1989, he was a director of Bank Leumi Trust Company of New York; and
from 1988 to 1991 he was a director of Carmel Container Corporation.
Dr. Peretz is 56 years old and his address is c/o The New Republic, 1220
19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
BERT W. WASSERMAN, Board Member. Financial Consultant. From January 1990 to
March 1995, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and
from January 1990 to March 1993 a director, of Time Warner Inc.; from
1981 to 1990, he was a member of the office of the President and a
director of Warner Communications, Inc. He is also a director of The
New Germany Fund, Mountasia Entertainment International, Inc., the
Lillian Vernon Corporation, Winstar Communications, Inc. and
International Discount Telecommunications Corp. Mr. Wasserman is 63
years old and his address is 126 East 56th Street, Suite 12 North, New
York, New York 10022-3613.
For so long as the Fund's plan described in the section captioned
"Shareholder Services Plan" remains in effect, the Board members of the Fund
who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act,
will be selected and nominated by the Board members who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund.
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. The aggregate amount
of compensation paid to each Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year
ended February 29, 1996, 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
year ended December 31, 1995, were as follows:
Total
Compensation from
Aggregate Fund and Fund
Name of Board Compensation from Complex Paid to
Member Fund* Board Members
- ------------ ----------------- ---------------
Joseph S. DiMartino $8,565 $448,618 (94)
David P. Feldman $7,000 $113,783 (37)
John M. Fraser, Jr. $7,000 $58,606 (14)
Robert R. Glauber $7,000 $97,503 (20)
James F. Henry $7,000 $53,500 (10)
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs $7,000 $92,500 (20)
Irving Kristol $7,000 $53,500 (10)
Dr. Paul A. Marks $7,000 $49,427 (10)
Dr. Martin Peretz $7,000 $53,500 (10)
Bert W. Wasserman $7,000 $54,739 (10)
___________________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $1,245 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director of the Distributor and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
December 1991 to July 1994, she was President and Chief Compliance
Officer of Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is
Boston Institutional Group, Inc. Prior to December 1991, she served as
Vice President and Controller, and later as Senior Vice President, of
The Boston Company Advisors, Inc. She is 38 years old.
JOHN E. PELLETIER, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary of the Distributor and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
February 1992 to July 1994, he served as Counsel for The Boston Company
Advisors, Inc. From August 1990 to February 1992, he was employed as an
Associate at Ropes & Gray. He is 31 years old.
FREDERICK C. DEY, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. From 1988 to August
1994, he was manager of the High Performance Fabric Division of Springs
Industries Inc. He is 34 years old.
ERIC B. FISCHMAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President and
Associate General Counsel of the Distributor and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
September 1992 to August 1994, he was an attorney with the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He is 31 years old.
ELIZABETH A. BACHMAN. Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant
Vice President of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. She is 26 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer of the Distributor 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 33 years old.
MARGARET M. PARDO. Assistant Secretary. Legal Assistant with the
Distributor and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From June 1992 to April 1995, she was a
Medical Coordination Officer at ORBIS International. Prior to June
1992, she worked as Program Coordinator at Physicians World
Communications Group. She is 27 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 June 10, 1996.
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
Agreement (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 outstanding voting securities of the
Fund, provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a
majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Shareholders approved the
Agreement on August 2, 1994. The Fund's Board, including a majority of the
Board members who are not "interested persons" of any party to the Agreement,
last voted to renew the Agreement at a meeting held on May 29, 1996. The
Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60 days' notice, by the Fund's
Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund's shares or, upon not less than 90
days notice, by the Manager. The Agreement will terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager:
Howard Stein, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; W. Keith
Smith, Vice Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, 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; Philip L. Toia, Vice Chairman--Operations and
Administration and a director; William T. Sandalls, Jr., Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer; Elie M. Genadry, Vice President--
Institutional Sales; William F. Glavin, Jr., Vice President--Corporate
Development; 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; Elvira Oslapas, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman, Frank V.
Cahouet, Alvin E. Friedman, Lawrence M. Greene and Julian M. Smerling,
directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance 1
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 Thomas
A. Frank, Timothy M. Ghriskey and Ernest G. Wiggins, Jr. The Manager also
maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio
managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund
as well as for other funds advised by the Manager. All purchases and sales
are reported for the Board's review at the meeting subsequent to such
transactions.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting data,
bookkeeping and 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 Board members who are not officers, directors, employees or
holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Manager, Se
curities and Exchange Commission fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees,
advisory fees, charges of registrars and custodians, transfer and dividend
disbursing agents' fees, industry association fees, outside auditing and
legal expenses, costs of independent pricing services, costs of maintaining
corporate existence, all costs of insurance obtained other than under a
blanket policy covering one or more other investment companies managed by the
Manager, costs attributable to investor services (including, without
limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of shareholders' reports
and corporate meetings, costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for
regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, and any
extraordinary expenses.
As compensation for the Manager's services, the Fund has agreed to pay
the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .75 of 1% of the
average daily value of the Fund's net assets. The management fees paid by
the Fund to the Manager for the fiscal years ended February 28/29, 1994, 1995
and 1996 amounted to $3,784,920, $2,924,725 and $2,998,203, respectively.
The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses
of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and
(with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities
commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee, exceed
1 1/2% of the average value of the Fund's net assets, the Manager will reduce
its fee to the extent of the excess over 1 1/2%. There was no reduction in
management fee for fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
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 other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds and for certain other investment companies. In some states, certain
financial institutions effecting transactions in Fund shares may be required
to register as dealers pursuant to state law.
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."
Transactions Through Securities Dealers. Fund shares may be purchased
and redeemed through securities dealers which may charge a nominal
transaction fee for such services. Some dealers will place the Fund's shares
in an account with their firm. Dealers also may require the following: that
the customer invest more than the $1,000 minimum investment through dealers;
the customer not take physical delivery of stock certificates; the customer
not request redemption checks to be issued in the customer's name; fractional
shares not be purchased; monthly income distributions be taken in cash; or
other conditions.
There is no sales or service charge by the Fund or the Distributor
although investment dealers, banks and other institutions may make reasonable
charges to investors for their services. The services provided and the
applicable fees are established by each dealer or other institution acting
independently of the Fund. The Fund has been given to understand that these
fees may be charged for customer services including, but not limited to,
same-day investment of client funds; same-day access to client funds; advice
to customers about the status of their accounts, yield currently being paid
or income earned to date; provision of periodic account statements showing
security and money market positions; other services available from the
dealer, bank or other institution; and assistance with inquiries related to
their investment. Any such fees will be deducted monthly from the investor's
account, which on smaller accounts could constitute a substantial portion of
distributions. Small, inactive, long-term accounts involving monthly service
charges may not be in the best interest of investors. Investors should be
aware that they may purchase shares of the Fund directly from the Fund
without imposition of any maintenance or service charges, other than those
already described herein.
Reopening An Account. 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.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Services
Plan."
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the "Plan") pursuant
to which the Fund reimburses Dreyfus Service Corporation for certain
allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining
shareholder accounts. The services provided may include personal services
relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries
regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and services
related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Plan, and the
purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the Board
for its review. In addition, the Plan provides that material amendments of
the Plan must be approved by the Board and by the Board members who are not
"interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan by vote
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such
amendments. The Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board
members cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Plan. The Plan was last so approved on May 29, 1996. The Plan is terminable
at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not
"interested persons" and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan.
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the Fund was charged
$431,739 pursuant to the Plan.
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, an investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire or telephone 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 usually are 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 also inform the operator of
the Transfer Agent's answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Investors should be aware that if they
have 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 owner of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant
to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be accepted from
domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities
exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings
associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. Guarantees must be
signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor and "Signature-Guaranteed"
must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent may request additional
documentation from corporations, executors, administrators, trustees or
guardians, and may accept other suitable verification arrangements from
foreign investors, such as consular verification. For more information with
respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed on the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash all
redemption requests by any shareholder of record, limited in amount during
any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the Fund's
net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable
without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the
case of requests for redemption in excess of such amounts, the Fund's Board
reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in securities (which
may include non-marketable securities) or other assets of the Fund in case of
an emergency or any time a cash distribution would impair the liquidity of
the Fund to the detriment of the existing shareholders. In such event, the
securities would be valued in the same manner as the Fund's portfolio is
valued. If the recipient sold such securities, brokerage charges would be
incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or
when an emergency exists as determined by the 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, an investor 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 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. For
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs and IRAs set up under a Simplified
Employee Pension Plan ("SEP-IRAs") with only one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $750. To exchange shares held in corporate plans,
403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $100 if the plan has at least $2,500 invested among the
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. To exchange shares held in personal
retirement plans, the shares exchanged must have a current value of at least
$100.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits an investor to purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares
of certain other funds 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 set forth 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 and from regular accounts to IRA accounts,
but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts. With respect to all other
retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only among those accounts.
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. The Fund Exchanges service or the
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated 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 de
pleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the investor,
the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been
issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest on the payment date 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 a 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 a 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 SEP-IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts," and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are
available.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including an SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares.
All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may
not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
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 on subsequent purchases. The minimum initial investment for
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and 403(b)(7) Plans with only
one participant, is normally $750, with no minimum on subsequent purchases.
Individuals who open an IRA may also open a non-working spousal IRA with a
minimum investment of $250.
The investor should read the prototype retirement plan and the form of
custodial agreement for further details on eligibility, service fees and tax
implications, and should consult a tax adviser.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Manager assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of
the Fund for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Allocation of
brokerage transactions, including their frequency, is made in the best
judgment of the Manager and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to
shareholders. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the
most favorable net price. Subject to this consideration, the brokers
selected will 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
because of 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. Sales of shares of the Fund and other
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds by a broker may be taken into con
sideration in allocating brokerage transactions.
The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by
the Manager based upon its knowledge of available information about 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 or execution otherwise is obtainable.
Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year.
High turnover rates are likely to result in comparatively greater brokerage
expenses. For the fiscal years ended February 28/29, 1995 and 1996, the
Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 242.75% and 268.40%, respectively.
The Fund paid total brokerage commissions for its portfolio securities
transactions of $2,092,609, $2,573,994 and $2,914,538 for the fiscal years
ended February 28/29, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, none of which was
paid to the Distributor. The Fund's increased brokerage commissions for
fiscal 1995 and 1996, reflect an increase in the Fund's trading activity and
the greater brokerage expenses associated therewith. The above amounts do
not include gross spreads and concessions in connection with principal
transactions, which, where determinable, totaled $975,125, $303,479 and
$765,842 for fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, none of which was paid
to the Distributor.
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, including
covered call options written, are valued at the last sales price on the
securities exchange or national market on which such securities primarily are
traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or national securities market,
or securities for which there were no transactions, are valued at the average
of the most recent bid and asked prices, except in the case of open short
positions where the asked price is used for valuation purposes. Bid price is
used when no asked price is available. Market quotations of foreign
securities in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the
prevailing rates of exchange. Any securities or other assets for which
recent market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value
as determined in good faith by the 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,
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 as a "regulated investment
company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996. The Fund intends to continue to
so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its
shareholders. At present, such qualification relieves the Fund from any
liability for Federal income taxes to the extent its net investment income
and realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with 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.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gains and losses. However, a portion of the gain or
loss realized from the disposition of foreign currencies (including foreign
currency denominated bank deposits) and non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities (including debt instruments and certain 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 1278 of the Code. Finally, all or a portion of the gain
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 the Fund realizes from
certain forward contracts and options transactions 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 contracts or
options remaining unexercised at the end of the Fund's taxable year will be
treated as sold for their then fair market value, resulting in additional
gain or loss to the Fund characterized in the manner described above.
Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain foreign currency
forward contracts or options may 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 certain 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." Depending on which election is
made, if any, the results to the Fund may differ. If no election is made to
the extent the "straddles" rules apply to positions established by the Fund,
losses realized by the Fund will be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain
in the offsetting position. Moreover, as a result of the "straddle" and the
conversion transaction rules, short-term capital loss on "straddle" positions
may be
recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gains may be
treated as short-term capital gains or ordinary income.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the net asset value of his shares below the
original cost of his investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a
return on investment in an economic sense although taxable as stated above.
In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds shares of the Fund
for six months (or such shorter period as the Internal Revenue Service may
prescribe by regulation) and has received a capital gain distribution with
respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain
distribution received.
Depending on the composition of the Fund's income, all or a portion of
the dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income may qualify for the
dividends received deduction allowable to certain U.S. corporate shareholders
("dividends received deduction"). In general, dividend income of the Fund
distributed to qualifying corporate shareholders will be eligible for the
dividends received deduction only to the extent that (i) 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 46 days or more 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.
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 one, five and ten year
periods ended February 29, 1996 was 27.37%, 10.76% and 10.69%, 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 February 4, 1972 to February 29,
1996 was 1263.45%. 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 material for a Fund may include
biographical information relating to one or more of 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 matters of general interest to
investors. In addition, from time to time advertising materials for the Fund
may refer to Morningstar ratings and related analyses supporting the rating.
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.
On June 20, 1983, the Fund changed its name from "Dreyfus Number Nine,
Inc." to "Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc."
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 period December 1, 1995 (effective date of the
transfer agency agreement) through February 29, 1996, the Fund paid the
Transfer Agent $70,241.
Mellon Bank, N.A., the Manager's parent, One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, acts as custodian of the Fund's investments.
Under a custody agreement with the Fund, Mellon Bank, N.A. holds the Fund's
securities and keeps all necessary accounts and records. For its custody
services, Mellon Bank, N.A. receives a monthly fee based on the market value
of the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain securities
transactions charges.
The Transfer Agent and Mellon Bank, N.A. have no part in determining the
investment policies of the Fund or which securities are to be purchased or
sold by the Fund.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, 7 Hanover Square, New York, New York
10004-2696, 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.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS FEBRUARY 29, 1996
COMMON STOCKS-97.0% SHARES VALUE
_______ _______
<S> <C> <C>
COMMERCIAL SERVICES-2.1% Sensormatic Electronics 421,000 $ 8,788,375
____________
CONSUMER DURABLES-4.5%........Eastman Kodak 145,000 10,367,500
General Motors......................... 165,000 8,456,250
____________
18,823,750
____________
CONSUMER
NON-DURABLES-9.2%....... Fila Holdings A.D.S. 196,000 10,731,000
First Brands........................... 360,000 9,630,000
Kimberly-Clark......................... 113,100 8,638,013
Philip Morris Cos...................... 95,000 9,405,000
____________
38,404,013
____________
CONSUMER SERVICES-2.2%..... .Grand Casinos 292,500 (a) 9,323,438
____________
ELECTRONIC
TECHNOLOGY-15.1%...... Boeing 115,000 9,329,375
Digital Equipment...................... 145,000 (a) 10,440,000
Hewlett-Packard........................ 100,000 10,075,000
International Business Machines........ 80,000 9,810,000
Perkin-Elmer........................... 180,000 8,280,000
Storage Technology..................... 290,000 (a) 8,772,500
Teradyne............................... 335,000 (a) 6,825,625
____________
63,532,500
____________
ENERGY MINERALS-6.7%......... Amerada Hess 180,000 9,270,000
Mobil.................................. 80,000 8,770,000
Texaco................................. 125,000 9,968,750
____________
28,008,750
____________
FINANCE-8.1%...... Aetna Life & Casualty 110,000 8,318,750
CIGNA.................................. 75,000 8,887,500
FINOVA Group........................... 175,000 9,340,625
PMI Group.............................. 160,000 7,320,000
____________
33,866,875
____________
HEALTH CARE-4.7%........ Astra A 205,000 9,393,939
Sandoz AG.............................. 11,000 10,325,969
____________
19,719,908
____________
HEALTH SERVICES-1.8%..... Humana 305,000 (a) 7,472,500
____________
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY-6.3%.. Baxter International 195,000 8,921,250
Bristol-Myers Squibb................... 100,000 8,512,500
Warner-Lambert......................... 90,000 8,898,750
____________
26,332,500
____________
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES-1.5%. ENSCO International 265,000 (a) 6,393,125
____________
PROCESS INDUSTRIES-7.8%........ Grace (W.R.) 55,500 3,829,500
Monsanto............................... 82,000 11,039,250
Praxair................................ 300,000 10,350,000
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 29, 1996
COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED) SHARES VALUE
_______ _______
PROCESS
INDUSTRIES (CONTINUED)........... Witco 225,000 $ 7,340,625
____________
32,559,375
____________
PRODUCER
MANUFACTURING-11.1%..... AlliedSignal 200,000 11,125,000
General Electric....................... 125,000 9,437,500
Olin................................... 105,000 8,688,750
Tenneco................................ 160,000 8,940,000
Westinghouse Electric.................. 462,500 8,556,250
____________
46,747,500
____________
RETAIL TRADE-3.3%............ Eckerd 195,000 (a) 8,750,625
Intimate Brands, Cl. A................. 303,000 5,037,375
____________
13,788,000
____________
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES-.1%.. Elcom International 50,000 (a) 387,500
____________
TRANSPORTATION-2.5%...............Tidewater 315,000 10,749,375
____________
UTILITIES-10.0%............ AT&T 125,000 7,953,125
Ameritech.............................. 160,000 9,220,000
Entergy................................ 290,000 8,228,750
GTE.................................... 185,000 7,931,875
Texas Utilities........................ 210,000 8,478,750
____________
41,812,500
____________
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(cost $355,265,277).................. $406,709,984
=============
PRINCIPAL
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS-4.5% AMOUNT
__________
U.S GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; Federal Home Loan Mortgage,
5.33%, 3/1/1996
(cost $18,700,000)................... $ 18,700,000 $ 18,700,000
=============
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $373,965,277) 101.5% $425,409,984
======= =============
LIABILITIES, LESS CASH AND RECEIVABLES (1.5%) $ (6,170,431)
======= =============
NET ASSETS .................................................................... 100.0% $419,239,553
======= =============
NOTE TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS;
(a) Non-income producing.
</TABLE>
See notes to financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FEBRUARY 29, 1996
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(cost $373,965,277)-see statement..................................... $425,409,984
Receivable for investment securities sold............................... 6,432,400
Dividends receivable.................................................... 899,456
Net unrealized appreciation on forward currency
exchange contracts-Note 3(a).......................................... 374,789
Receivable for subscriptions to Common Stock subscribed................. 192,310
Prepaid expenses........................................................ 31,747
____________
433,340,686
LIABILITIES:
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and subsidiaries......................... $ 301,661
Due to Custodian........................................................ 3,331,668
Payable for investment securities purchased............................. 10,308,438
Payable for Common Stock redeemed....................................... 18,566
Accrued expenses........................................................ 140,800 14,101,133
____________ ____________
NET ASSETS.................................................................. $419,239,553
============
REPRESENTED BY:
Paid-in capital......................................................... $368,061,128
Accumulated undistributed investment income-net-Note 1(d)............... 91,637
Accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain
on investments-Note 1(d).............................................. (729,910)
Accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments
and foreign currency transactions-Note 3(b)........................... 51,816,698
____________
NET ASSETS at value applicable to 43,858,147 shares outstanding
(100 million shares of $.01 par value Common Stock authorized).......... $419,239,553
============
NET ASSET VALUE, offering and redemption price per share
($419,239,553 / 43,858,147 shares)...................................... $9.56
=======
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 1996
<S> <C> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
INCOME:
Cash dividends (net of $104,088 foreign taxes withheld at source)..... $ 7,239,575
Interest.............................................................. 579,061
___________
TOTAL INCOME...................................................... $ 7,818,636
EXPENSES:
Management fee-Note 2(a).............................................. 2,998,203
Shareholder servicing costs-Note 2(b)................................. 909,013
Custodian fees........................................................ 82,387
Directors' fees and expenses-Note 2(c)................................ 74,060
Professional fees..................................................... 53,543
Registration fees..................................................... 34,645
Prospectus and shareholders' reports.................................. 10,710
Miscellaneous......................................................... 3,202
___________
TOTAL EXPENSES.................................................... 4,165,763
____________
INVESTMENT INCOME-NET............................................. 3,652,873
____________
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency
transactions-Note 3(a)................................................ $52,291,644
Net realized (loss) on forward currency exchange
contracts-Note 3(a)................................................... (1,361,000)
___________
NET REALIZED GAIN....................................................... 50,930,644
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency
transactions.......................................................... 42,207,027
____________
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS................... 93,137,671
____________
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS........................ $96,790,544
==============
</TABLE>
See notes to financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
YEAR ENDED
______________________________________
FEBRUARY 28, FEBRUARY 29,
1995 1996
____________ ____________
<S>
OPERATIONS: <C> <C>
Investment income-net..................................................... $ 4,243,022 $ 3,652,873
Net realized gain on investments.......................................... 3,313,992 50,930,644
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments for the year.... (19,554,876) 42,207,027
____________ ____________
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS......... (11,997,862) 96,790,544
____________ ____________
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
From investment income-net................................................ (3,800,200) (4,560,750)
From net realized gain on investments..................................... (67,229,655) (49,121,207)
In excess of net realized gain on investments............................. (1,809,542) (729,910)
____________ ____________
TOTAL DIVIDENDS......................................................... (72,839,397) (54,411,867)
____________ ____________
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS:
Net proceeds from shares sold............................................. 215,640,180 328,651,642
Dividends reinvested...................................................... 70,652,644 52,738,775
Cost of shares redeemed................................................... (292,465,535) (376,842,186)
____________ ____________
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS....... (6,172,711) 4,548,231
____________ ____________
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS............................. (91,009,970) 46,926,908
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of year......................................................... 463,322,615 372,312,645
____________ ____________
End of year (including undistributed investment income-net of $490,420 in 1995
and $91,637 in 1996).................................................... $ 372,312,645 $ 419,239,553
============= =============
SHARES SHARES
____________ ____________
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
Shares sold............................................................... 22,977,606 34,615,381
Shares issued for dividends reinvested.................................... 8,225,621 5,855,690
Shares redeemed........................................................... (30,788,833) (39,577,869)
____________ ____________
NET INCREASE IN SHARES OUTSTANDING...................................... 414,394 893,202
============= =============
</TABLE>
See notes to financial statements.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Refernce is made to page 4 of the Fund's Prospectus dated July 1, 1996.
See notes to financial statements.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1-SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Act") as a diversified open-end
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to provide
long-term capital growth consistent with the preservation of capital. The
Dreyfus Corporation ("Manager") serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The
Manager is a direct subsidiary of Mellon Bank, N.A. Premier Mutual Fund
Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as the distributor of the Fund's
shares, which are sold to the public without a sales charge.
(A) PORTFOLIO VALUATION: Investments in securities (including options)
are valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such
securities are primarily traded or at the last sales price on the national
securities market. Securities not listed on an exchange or the national
securities market, or securities for which there were no transactions, are
valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices. Bid price is
used when no asked price is available. Securities for which there are no such
valuations are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under the
direction of the Board of Directors. Investments denominated in foreign
currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of
exchange. Forward currency exchange contracts are valued at the forward rate.
(B) FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS: The Fund does not isolate that portion
of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates
on investments from the fluctuations arising from change in market prices of
securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and
unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales and
maturities of short-term securities, sales of foreign currencies, currency
gains or losses realized on securities transactions, the difference between
the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on
the Fund's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually
received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from
changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in
securities, resulting from changes in exchange rates. Such gains and losses
are included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.
(C) SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME: Securities
transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gain and loss from
securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend
income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income, including,
where applicable, amortization of discounts on investments, is recognized on
the accrual basis.
(D) DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS: Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend
date. Dividends from investment income-net and dividends from net realized
capital gain are normally declared and paid annually, but the Fund may make
distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. This may result in distributions
that are in excess of investment income-net and net realized gain on a fiscal
year basis. To the extent that net realized capital gain can be offset by
capital loss carryovers, if any, it is the policy of the Fund not to
distribute such gain.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
In accordance with Statement of Position (SOP 93-02) certain permanent
book to tax differences have been reclassified. This
resulted primarily from distributions necessary to avoid an excise tax. As a
result, the Fund reclassified $509,094 to accumulated undistributed
investment income-net, $105 to accumulated undistributed net realized gains
and $509,199 from paid-in-capital.
(E) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to
qualify as a regulated investment company, if such qualification is in the
best interests of its shareholders, by complying with the applicable
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of taxable
income sufficient to relieve it from substantially all Federal income and
excise taxes.
NOTE 2-MANAGEMENT FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES:
(A) Pursuant to a management agreement ("Agreement") with the Manager,
the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .75 of 1% of the average
daily value of the Fund's net assets and is payable monthly.
The Agreement provides for an expense reimbursement from the Manager
should the Fund's aggregate expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest on
borrowings, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses, exceed 11\2% of
the average value of the Fund's net assets for any full fiscal year. No
expense reimbursement was required for the year ended February 29, 1996.
(B) Pursuant to the Fund's Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund reimburses
Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, an
amount not to exceed an annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the Fund's
average daily net assets for certain allocated expenses of providing personal
services and/or maintaining shareholder accounts. The services provided may
include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering
shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund and providing reports and other
information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
During the year ended February 29, 1996, the Fund was charged an aggregate of
$431,739 pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.
Effective December 1, 1995, the Fund compensates Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, under a transfer agency agreement
for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services
for the Fund. Such compensation amounted to $70,241 for the period from
December 1, 1995 through February 29, 1996.
(C) Each director who is not an "affiliated person" as defined in the Act
receives from the Fund an annual fee of $4,500 and an attendance fee of $500
per meeting. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional 25% of such
compensation.
NOTE 3-SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS:
(A) The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities,
excluding short-term securities and forward currency exchange contracts,
during the year ended February 29, 1996, amounted to $1,043,296,694 and
$1,086,421,153, respectively.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
In addition, the following summarizes open forward currency exchange
contracts at February 29, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOREIGN
CURRENCY U.S. DOLLAR UNREALIZED
FORWARD CURRENCY SALES CONTRACTS AMOUNTS PROCEEDS VALUE APPRECIATION
______ _______ ______ _________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Swiss Francs, expiring 3/18/96............... 9,864,250 $ 8,516,024 $ 8,235,306 $280,718
Swedish Krona, expiring 3/18/96.............. 48,528,000 7,260,684 7,166,613 94,071
________
$374,789
=========
</TABLE>
The Fund enters into forward currency exchange contracts in order to
hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its
foreign portfolio holdings. When executing forward currency exchange
contracts, the Fund is obligated to buy or sell a foreign currency at a
specified rate on a certain date in the future. With respect to sales of
forward currency exchange contracts, the Fund would incur a loss if the value
of the contract increases between the date the forward contract is opened and
the date the forward contract is closed. The Fund realizes a gain if the
value of the contract decreases between those dates. With respect to
purchases of forward currency exchange contracts, the Fund would incur a loss
if the value of the contract decreases between the date the forward contract
is opened and the date the forward contract is closed. The Fund realizes a
gain if the value of the contract increases between those dates. The Fund is
also exposed to credit risk associated with counter party nonperformance on
these forward currency exchange contracts which is typically limited to the
unrealized gains on such contracts that are recognized in the statement of
assets and liabilities.
(B) At February 29, 1996, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on
investments and forward currency exchange contracts was $51,819,496,
consisting of $56,823,397 gross unrealized appreciation and $5,003,901 gross
unrealized depreciation.
At February 29, 1996, the cost of investments for Federal income tax
purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting
purposes (see the Statement of Investments).
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
SHAREHOLDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of
Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc., including the statement of
investments, as of February 29, 1996, and the related statement of operations
for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of
the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of
the years indicated therein. These financial statements and financial
highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial
highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and
financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of
securities owned as of February 29, 1996 by correspondence with the custodian
and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc. at February 29, 1996, the
results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net
assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial
highlights for each of the indicated years, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
[Ernst & Young LLP signature logo]
New York, New York
April 2, 1996
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
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 February 28/29, 1996.
Included in Part B of the Registration Statement:
Statement of Investments--February 29, 1996.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities--February 29, 1996.
Statement of Operations--year ended February 29, 1996.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets--for each of the two
years in the period ended February 28/29, 1996.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, dated
April 2, 1996.
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 included
in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits (continued)
(b) Exhibits
(1)(a) Registrant's Articles of Incorporation.
(b) Registrant's Articles of Amendment.
(2) Registrant's Amended By-Laws.
(5) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 24, 1995.
(6) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (6)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 24, 1995.
(8) Custody Agreement.
(9) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 24, 1995.
(10) Opinion and consent of the Registrant's counsel.
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors.
(12) Financial Data Schedule.
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Data are
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (15) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 38 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on April 20, 1994.
Other Exhibits
______________
(a) Powers of Attorney of the Directors and officers are
incorporated by reference to "Other Exhibits" of Post-
Effective Amendments Nos. 28, 34 and 38 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 29, 1989, June 26, 1992
and April 29, 1994, respectively.
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 June 10, 1996
______________ _____________________________
Common Stock 24,347
par value $.01 per
share
Item 27. Indemnification
_______ _______________
Reference is made to Article SEVENTH of the Registrant's Article
of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 1(a) hereto and to Section 2-418
of the Maryland General Corporation law. The application of these
provisions is limited by Article VIII of the Registrant's By-Laws
filed as Exhibit 2 hereto 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. 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 or
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, as amended,
which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (6)(a) and to
the Management Agreement, as amended, which is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit (5), filed on June 24, 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 of 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.
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
ALVIN E. FRIEDMAN Senior Adviser to Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.
Director 535 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022;
Director and Member of the Executive
Committee of Avnet, Inc.**
LAWRENCE M. GREENE Director:
Director Dreyfus America Fund
JULIAN M. SMERLING None
Director
HOWARD STEIN Chairman of the Board:
Chairman of the Board and Dreyfus Acquisition Corporation*;
Chief Executive Officer The Dreyfus Consumer Credit
Corporation*;
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer:
Major Trading Corporation*;
Director:
Avnet, Inc.**;
Dreyfus America Fund++++;
The Dreyfus Fund International
Limited+++++;
World Balanced Fund+++;
Dreyfus Partnership Management,
Inc.*;
Dreyfus Personal Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.***;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.*;
Trustee:
Corporate Property Investors
New York, New York
W. KEITH SMITH Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Vice 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****;
Operating Officer The Boston Company*****;
and a Director Deputy Director:
Mellon Trust****;
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:
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*****;
PHILIP L. TOIA Chairman of the Board and Trust Investment
Vice Chairman-Operations Officer:
and Administration The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
and a Director Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating
Officer:
Major Trading Corporation*;
Chairman and Director:
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Director:
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.*;
President and Director:
Dreyfus Acquisition Corporation*;
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit
Corporation*;
Dreyfus-Lincoln, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Personal Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.+;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.***;
The Truepenny Corporation*;
Formerly, Senior Vice President:
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. and
The Chase Manhattan Capital Markets
Corporation
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, New York 10081
WILLIAM T. SANDALLS, JR. Director:
Senior Vice President and Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.*;
Chief Financial Officer Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.*;
President and Director:
Lion Management, Inc.*;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.*;
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director:
Dreyfus Acquisition Corporation*;
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 Personal Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Major Trading Corporation*;
Formerly, President and Director:
Sandalls & Co., Inc.
ELIE M. GENADRY President:
Vice President- Institutional Services Division of
Dreyfus
Institutional Sales Service Corporation*;
Broker-Dealer Division of Dreyfus
Service
Corporation*;
Group Retirement Plans Division of
Dreyfus Service Corporation;
Executive Vice President:
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.***;
Vice President:
The Dreyfus Trust Company++
WILLIAM F. GLAVIN, JR. Executive Vice President:
Vice President-Corporate Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Development Senior Vice President:
The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
53 State Street
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
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 Fund Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
Accounting One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
ANDREW S. WASSER Vice President:
Vice President-Information Mellon Bank Corporation****
Services
ELVIRA OSLAPAS Assistant Secretary:
Assistant Secretary Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Acquisition Corporation, Inc.*;
The Truepenny Corporation+
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
** The address of the business so indicated is 80 Cutter Mill Road,
Great Neck, New York 11021.
*** 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 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 One Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, New York 10020.
++++ The address of the business so indicated is 2 Boulevard Royal,
Luxembourg.
+++++ The address of the business so indicated is Nassau, Bahama Islands.
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 Strategy Fund, 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 Capital Value Fund, Inc.
14) Dreyfus Cash Management
15) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
17) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
18) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
19) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
20) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
21) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
22) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
23) Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
24) Dreyfus Government Cash Management
25) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
28) Dreyfus Income Funds
29) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
30) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
31) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
32) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
33) Dreyfus International Equity Fund, Inc.
34) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
35) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
36) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
37) The Dreyfus/Laurel Investment Series
38) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
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 Michigan Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
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 Ohio Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
59) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
60) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
61) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
62) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
63) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
64) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
65) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
66) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
67) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
68) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
69) Premier Strategic Investing
70) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
71) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
72) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
73) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
74) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
75) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
76) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
77) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
78) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
79) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
80) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
81) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
82) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
83) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
84) Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
85) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund
86) Premier Insured Municipal Bond Fund
87) Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
88) Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
89) Premier Global Investing, Inc.
90) Premier GNMA Fund
91) Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
92) Premier Municipal Bond Fund
93) Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
94) Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
95) Premier Strategic Growth 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+ Senior Vice President, Treasurer Assistant
and Chief Financial Officer Treasurer
John E. Pelletier+ Senior Vice President, General Vice President
Counsel, Secretary and Clerk and Secretary
Frederick C. Dey++ Senior Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Eric B. Fischman++ Vice President and Associate Vice President
General Counsel and Assistant
Secretary
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Elizabeth Bachman++ Assistant Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
Mary Nelson+ Assistant Treasurer None
John J. Pyburn++ Assistant Treasurer Assistant
Treasurer
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
John W. Gomez+ Director None
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is One Exchange Place, 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 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 call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a director or directors when
requested in writing to do so by the holders of at least 10% of
the Registrant's outstanding shares of common stock 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.
(2) 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 26th day of June, 1996.
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
BY: /s/Marie E. Connolly*
---------------------------
Marie E. Connolly, PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
__________________________ ______________________________ __________
/s/ Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer (Principal 06/26/96
- ---------------------- Executive and Financial Officer)
Marie E. Connolly
/s/Joseph F. Tower* Assistant Treasurer (Principal 06/26/96
- ------------------- Accounting Officer)
Joseph F. Tower
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Director 06/26/96
- -----------------------
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/David P. Feldman* Director 06/26/96
- -------------------
David P. Feldman
/s/John M. Fraser, Jr.* Director 06/26/96
- -----------------------
John M. Fraser, Jr.
/s/Robert R. Glauber* Director 06/26/96
- ---------------------
Robert R. Glauber
/s/James F. Henry* Director 06/26/96
- ------------------
James F. Henry
/s/Rosalind Gersten Jacobs* Director 06/26/96
- ---------------------------
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs
/s/Irving S. Kristol* Director 06/26/96
- -----------------------
Irving S. Kristol
/s/Paul A. Marks* Director 06/26/96
- -----------------
Paul A. Marks
/s/Martin Peretz* Director 06/26/96
- -------------------
Martin Peretz
/s/Bert W. Wasserman* Director 06/26/96
- ---------------------
Bert W. Wasserman
*BY:
-----------------
Eric B. Fischman
Attorney-in-Fact
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
(1)(a) Articles of Incorporation
(1)(b) Articles of Amendment
(2) By-Laws
(8) Custody Agreement
(10) Opinion and Consent of Counsel
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors
(12) Financial Data Schedule
EXHIBIT (1)(A)
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
DREYFUS NUMBER NINE, INC.
For the purposes of forming a stock corporation for one or
more lawful purposes under the provisions of Title 2 of the
General Corporation Law of Maryland (hereinafter sometimes
referred to as the "General Corporation Law"), the natural
person hereinafter named as the person acting as the
incorporator of the said corporation does hereby adopt and sign
the following Articles of Incorporation of the corporation and
does hereby acknowledge that his adoption and signing thereof
are his act:
FIRST: (1) The name, including the full given name and
surname, of the incorporator is Susan N. Perkins.
(2) The said incorporator's post office address, including
the street and number, if any, including the city or county, and
including the state or country, is 767 Fifth Avenue, New York,
New York 10153.
(3) The said incorporator is at least eighteen years of
age.
(4) The said incorporator is forming the corporation named
in these Articles of Incorporation under the General Corporation
Law of Maryland.
SECOND: The name of the corporation (hereinafter called
the "corporation") is Dreyfus Number Nine, Inc.
THIRD: The corporation is formed for the following purpose
or purposes:
(a) to conduct, operate and carry on the business of
an investment company;
(b) to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in,
purchase or otherwise acquire, purchase on margin, own,
hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, effect short sales
of, exchange, distribute or otherwise dispose of,
securities of every nature, kind, character, type and form,
including without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing, all types of stocks, shares, bonds, debentures,
obligations, notes, evidences of interest, evidences of
indebtedness, certificates of interest, certificates of
participation, certificates of deposit, certificates,
interests, evidences of ownership, guarantees, warrants or
options, issued or created by any and all corporations,
associations, trusts, entities or persons, public or
private, whether incorporated, created, established or
organized under the laws of the United States of America,
any of the States of the United States of America, or any
territory or district or colony or possession thereof, or
under the laws of any foreign country, and including
domestic and foreign government and municipal securities
and obligations, bank acceptances, commercial paper and
secured call loans; to pay for the same in cash or by the
issue of stock, including treasury stock, bonds or notes of
the corporation or otherwise; and to exercise any and all
the rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest
in respect of any and all such securities of every kind and
description, including, without limitation, the right to
vote thereof and to consent and otherwise act with respect
thereto, with power to designate one or more persons,
firms, associations or corporations to exercise any said
rights, powers and privileges in respect of any said
securities.
(c) to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit and to
secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise
subjecting as security the assets of the corporation, and
to endorse, guarantee or undertake the performance of any
obligation, contract or engagement of any other person,
firm, association or corporation.
(d) to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire,
cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of,
transfer, and otherwise deal in, shares of Common Stock of
the corporation, including shares of Common Stock of the
corporation in fractional denominations, and to apply to
any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation
or acquisition of shares of Common Stock of the corporation
any funds or property of the corporation whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter
permitted by the laws of the State of Maryland.
(e) to conduct its business, promote its purposes and
carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and
maintain offices both within and without the State of
Maryland, in any States of the United States of America, in
the District of Columbia and in any other parts of the
world; and
(f) to do all and everything necessary, suitable,
convenient, or proper for the conduct, promotion, and
attainment of any of the businesses and purposes herein
specified or which at any time may be incidental thereto or
may appear conducive to or expedient for the accomplishment
of any of such businesses and purposes and which might be
engaged in or carried on by a corporation incorporated or
organized under the General Corporation Law, and to have
and exercise all of the powers conferred by the laws of the
State of Maryland upon corporations incorporated or
organized under the General Corporation Law.
The foregoing provisions of this Article THIRD shall be
construed both as purposes and powers and each as an independent
purpose and power. The foregoing enumeration of specific
purposes and powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in
any manner the purposes and powers of the corporation, and the
purposes and powers herein specified shall, except when
otherwise provided in this Article THIRD, be in no wise limited
or restricted by reference to, or inference from, the terms of
any provision of this or any other Article of these Articles of
Incorporation; provided, that the corporation shall not conduct
any business, promote any purpose, or exercise any power or
privilege within or without the State of Maryland which, under
the laws thereof, the corporation may not lawfully conduct,
promote, or exercise.
FOURTH: The post office address, including street and
number, if any, and the city or county of the principal office
of the corporation within the State of Maryland, and of the
resident agent of the corporation within the State of Maryland,
is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, First Maryland Building,
25 South Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The words
"principal office" and "resident agent" as used herein shall
have the meanings ascribed to them by the General Corporation
Law.
FIFTH: (1) The total number of shares of stock which the
corporation has authority to issue is sixty million
(60,000,000), all of which are of a par value of one cent ($.01)
each and are designated as Common Stock.
(2) The aggregate par value of all the authorized shares
of stock is six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000).
(3) The Board of Directors of the corporation is
authorized, from time to time, to fix the price or the minimum
price or the consideration or minimum consideration for, and to
issue, the shares of stock of the corporation.
(4) The Board of Directors of the corporation is
authorized, from time to time, to classify or to reclassify, as
the case may be, any unissued shares of stock of the
corporation.
(5) Notwithstanding any provisions of the General
Corporation Law requiring a greater proportion than a majority
of the votes of stockholders entitled to be cast in order to
take or authorize any action, any such action may be taken or
authorized upon the concurrence of at least a majority of the
aggregate number of votes entitled to be cast thereon.
(6) The corporation may issue shares of its Common Stock
in fractional denominations to the same extent as its whole
shares, and shares in fractional denominations shall be shares
of Common Stock having proportionately to the respective
fractions represented thereby all the rights of whole shares,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, the right to
receive dividends and distributions and the right to participate
upon liquidation of the corporation.
(7) All shares of Common Stock of the corporation now or
hereafter authorized shall be "subject to redemption" and
"redeemable", in the sense used in the General Corporation Law
authorizing the formation of corporations, at the redemption or
purchase price for any such shares, determined in the manner set
out in these Articles of Incorporation or in any amendment
thereto; provided, however, that the corporation shall have the
right, at its option, to refuse to redeem the shares of stock at
less than the par value thereof. In the absence of any
specification as to the purpose for which shares of Common Stock
of the corporation are redeemed, shares so redeemed shall be
deemed to be "purchased for retirement" in the sense
contemplated by the laws of the State of Maryland and the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock of the corporation shall
not be reduced by the number of any shares repurchased by it.
(8) No holder of any shares of any class of the
corporation shall be entitled as of right to subscribe for,
purchase, or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of the
corporation which the corporation proposes to grant for the
purchase of shares of any class of the corporation or for the
purchase of any shares, bonds, securities, or obligations of the
corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable for, or
which carry any rights to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise
acquire shares of any class of the corporation; and any and all
of such shares, bonds, securities or obligations of the
corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized or created, may
be issued, or may be reissued or transferred if the same have
been reacquired and have treasury status, and any and all of
such rights and options may be granted by the Board of Directors
to such persons, firms, corporations and associations, and for
such lawful consideration, and on such terms, as the Board of
Directors in its discretion may determine, without first
offering the same, or any thereof, to any said holder.
SIXTH: (1) The number of directors of the corporation,
until such number shall be increased or decreased pursuant to
the by-laws of the corporation, is seven. The number of
directors shall never be less than the number prescribed by the
General Corporation Law.
(2) The name of the person who shall act as director of
the corporation until the first annual meeting or until his
successors are duly chosen and qualify is as follows:
Daniel H. Brill Dr. Paul A. Marks
John M. Fraser, Jr. Dr. Martin Peretz
James F. Henry Howard Stein
Irving Kristol
(3) The initial by-laws of the corporation shall be
adopted by the directors at their organizational meeting or by
their informal written action, as the case may be. Thereafter,
the power to make, alter, and repeal the by-laws of the
corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors of the
corporation.
(4) Any determination made in good faith and, so far as
accounting matters are involved, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, by or pursuant to the direction
of the Board of Directors, as to: the amount of the assets,
debts, obligations, or liabilities of the corporation; the
amount of any reserves or charges set up and the propriety
thereof; the time of or purpose for creating such reserves or
charges; the use, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or
charges (whether or not any debt, obligation or liability for
which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall
have been paid or discharged or shall be then or thereafter
required to be paid or discharged); the price or closing bid or
asked price of any investment owned or held by the corporation;
the market value of any investment or fair value of any other
asset of the corporation; the number of shares of the
corporation outstanding; the estimated expense to the
corporation in connection with purchases of its shares; the
ability to liquidate investments in orderly fashion; the extent
to which it is practicable to deliver a cross-section of the
portfolio of the corporation in payment for any such shares, or
as to any other matters relating to the issue, sale, purchase
and/or other acquisition or disposition of investments or shares
of the corporation, shall be final and conclusive, and shall be
binding upon the corporation and all holders of its shares,
past, present and future, and shares of the corporation are
issued and sold on the condition and understanding that any and
all such determinations shall be binding as aforesaid.
SEVENTH: (1) To the maximum extent permitted by the
General Corporation Law as from time to time amended, the
corporation shall indemnify its currently acting and its former
directors, officers, and employees and those persons who, at the
request of the corporation serve or have served another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise in one or more of such capacities. The
indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
(2) Anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, no officer or director of the corporation shall
be indemnified for any liability to the corporation or its
security holders to which he 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.
EIGHTH: Any holder of shares of Common Stock of the
corporation shall be entitled to require the corporation to
repurchase and the corporation shall be obligated to repurchase
at the option of such holder all or any part of the shares of
Common Stock of the corporation owned by said holder, at the
repurchase price, pursuant to the method, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth:
(a) Certificates (if issued) for shares of Common
Stock shall be presented for repurchase in proper form for
transfer to the corporation or the agent of the corporation
appointed for such purpose and there shall be presented a
written request that the corporation repurchase all or any
part of the shares represented thereby;
(b) The repurchase price per share shall be the net
asset value pere share as determined by the corporation at
such time or times as the Board of Directors of the
corporation shall designate on the bank business day next
succeeding the time of presentation of certificates for
shares, if issued, and an appropriate request for
repurchase, or such later time as the Board of Directors
may designate in accordance with any provision of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, any rule or regulation
thereunder, or any rule or regulation made or adopted by
any securities association registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as determined by the Board of
Directors of the corporation.
(c) Net asset value shall be determined by dividing:
(i) The total value of the assets of the
corporation determined as provided in Subsection (d)
below less, to the extent determined by or pursuant to
the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, all
debts, obligations and liabilities of the corporation
(which debts, obligations and liabilities shall
include, without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing, any and all debts, obligations,
liabilities, or claims, of any and every kind and
nature, fixed, accrued, unmatured or contingent,
including the estimated accrued expenses of management
and supervision, administration and distribution and
any reserves or charges for any or all of the
foregoing, whether for taxes, expenses, contingencies,
or otherwise, and the price of Common Stock redeemed
but not paid for) but excluding the corporation's
liability upon its shares and its surplus by:
(ii) The total number of shares of the
corporation outstanding. (Shares sold by the
corporation whether or not paid for shall be treated
as outstanding and shares purchased or redeemed by the
corporation whether or not paid for and treasury
shares shall be treated as not outstanding, provided,
that the Board of Directors may determine whether
shares sold or redeemed on the date of computation
shall be included.)
The Board of Directors is empowered, in its absolute
discretion, to establish other methods for determining such
net asset value whenever such other methods are deemed by
it to be necessary in order to enable the corporation to
comply with, or are deemed by it to be desirable provided
they are not inconsistent with, any provision of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or any rule or regulation
thereunder including any rule or regulation made or adopted
pursuant to Section 22 of the Investment Company Act of
1940 by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
securities association registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
(d) In determining for the purposes of these Articles
of Incorporation the total value of the assets of the
corporation at any time, investments and any other assets
of the corporation shall be valued in such manner as may be
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(e) Payment of the repurchase price by the
corporation may be made either in cash or in securities or
other assets at the time owned by the corporation or partly
in cash and partly in securities or other assets at the
time owned by the corporation. The value of any part of
such payment to be made in securities or other assets of
the corporation shall be the value employed in determining
the repurchase price. Payment of the repurchase price
shall be made on or before the seventh day following the
day on which the shares are properly presented for
repurchase hereunder, except that delivery of any
securities included in any such payment shall be made as
promptly as any necessary transfers on the books of the
issuers whose securities are to be delivered may be made,
and, except as postponement of the date of payment may be
permissible under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the Rules and Regulations thereunder.
The corporation, pursuant to resolution of the Board
of Directors, may deduct from the payment made for any
shares repurchased a liquidating charge not in excess of
one per cent (1%) of the repurchase price of the shares so
repurchased, and the Board of Directors may alter or
suspend any such liquidating charge from time to time.
(f) The right of any holder of shares of Common Stock
repurchased by the corporation as provided in this Article
EIGHTH to receive dividends or distributions thereon and
all other rights of such holder with respect to such shares
shall terminate at the time as of which the repurchase
price of such shares is determined, except the right of
such holder to receive (i) the repurchase price of such
shares from the corporation in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and (ii) any dividend or distribution to
which such holder had previously become entitled as the
record holder of such shares on the record date for such
dividend or distribution.
(g) Repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the
corporation is conditional upon the corporation having
funds or property legally available therefor.
(h) The corporation, either directly or through an
agent, may repurchase its shares, out of funds legally
available therefor, upon such terms and conditions and for
such consideration as the Board of Directors shall deem
advisable, by agreement with the owner at a price not
exceeding the net asset value per share as determined by
the corporation at such time or times as the Board of
Directors of the corporation shall designate, less a charge
not to exceed one per cent (1%) of such net asset value, if
and as fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
corporation from time to time, and take all other steps
deemed necessary or advisable in connection therewith.
(i) The corporation, pursuant to resolution of the
Board of Directors, may cause the repurchase, upon the
terms set forth in such resolution and in subsections (b)
through (g) and subsection (j) of this Article EIGHTH, of
shares of Common Stock owned by stockholders whose shares
have an aggregate net asset value of five hundred dollars
or less. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article EIGHTH, if certificates representing such shares
have been issued, the repurchase price need not be paid by
the corporation until such certificates are presented in
proper form for transfer to the corporation or the agent of
the corporation appointed for such purpose; however, the
repurchase shall be effective, in accordance with the
resolution of the Board of Directors, regardless of whether
or not such presentation has been made.
(j) The obligations set forth in this Article EIGHTH
may be suspended or postponed, (1) for any period (a)
during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed other
than for customary week-end and holiday closings or (b)
during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
restricted, (2) for any period during which an emergency
exists as a result of which (a) the disposal by the
corporation of investments owned by it is not reasonably
practicable, or (b) it is not reasonably practicable for
the corporation fairly to determine the value of its net
assets or (3) for such other periods as the Federal
Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
governmental authority may by order permit for the
protection of security holders of the corporation.
NINTH: From time to time any of the provisions of
these Articles of Incorporation may be amended, altered or
repealed, and other provisions authorized by the General
Corporation Law at the time in force may be added or inserted in
the manner and at the time prescribed by said Law, and all
rights at any time conferred upon the stockholders of the
corporation by these Articles of Incorporation are granted
subject to the provisions of this Article.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have adopted and signed these
Articles of Incorporation and do hereby acknowledge that the
adoption and signing are my act.
Dated: July 9, 1981
/s/Susan N. Perkins
Susan N. Perkins, Incorporator STATE OF NEW
YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on July 9, 1981 before me the
subscriber, a notary public of the State of New York in and for
the County of New York, personally appeared Susan N. Perkins,
known to me, and acknowledged that he is the Incorporator who
executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation and further
made oath in due form of law that the matters and facts set
forth in said Articles of Incorporation are true to the best of
his knowledge, information and belief.
WITNESS my hand and notarial seal, the day and year
last above written.
/s/ Ann M. Ippolito
Notary Public
EXHIBIT (1)(B)
DREYFUS NUMBER NINE, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
DREYFUS NUMBER NINE, INC., a Maryland corporation
having its principal office in the State of Maryland at 32 South
Street, Baltimore, Maryland (hereinafter called the
Corporation), hereby certifies to the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (hereinafter called the
Department), that:
FIRST: The charter of the Corporation is hereby
amended by striking out Article SECOND and paragraphs (1) and
(2) of Article FIFTH of the Articles of Incorporation and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"SECOND: The name of the Corporation (hereinafter
called the `corporation') is Dreyfus Growth Opportunity
Fund, Inc."; and
"FIFTH: (1) The total number of shares of stock which
the corporation has authority to issue is one hundred
million (100,000,000) shares, all of which are a par value
of one cent ($.01) each and are designated as Common Stock.
(2) The aggregate par value of all
authorized shares of stock is one million dollars
($1,000,000)."
SECOND: By unanimous written consent pursuant to
Section 2-408 of Corporations and Associations Article of
Annotated Code of Maryland, the board of directors of the
Corporation on May 9, 1983, duly adopted resolutions in which
was set forth the foregoing amendment to the charter, declaring
that the said amendment of the charter as proposed was advisable
and directing that it be submitted for action thereon by the
stockholders of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting to be held
on June 20, 1983.
THIRD: Notice setting forth the said amendment of the
charter and stating that a purpose of the meeting of
stockholders would be to take action thereon, was given, as
required by law, to all stockholders entitled to vote thereon.
The Amendment of the charter of the Corporation as hereinabove
set forth was approved by the stockholders of the Corporation at
said meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the
votes entitled to be cast thereon.
FOURTH: The amendment of the charter of the
Corporation as hereinabove set forth has been duly advised by
the board of directors and approved by the stockholders of the
Corporation.
FIFTH: (a) The total number of shares of stock
which the Corporation was heretofore authorized to issue is
sixty million (60,000,000) shares, all of one class, of the par
value of one cent ($.01) each and of the aggregate part value of
six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000).
(b) The total number of shares of stock is
increased by this amendment to one hundred million (100,000,000)
shares all of one class, of the par value of one cent ($.01),
and of the aggregate par value of one million dollars
($1,000,000).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Dreyfus Number Nine, Inc. has
caused these Articles to be signed in its name and on its behalf
by its President and witnessed by its Assistant Secretary on
June 20, 1983.
DREYFUS NUMBER NINE, INC.
By /s/ Jeffrey F. Friedman
Jeffrey F. Friedman, President
Witness:
/s/ Christine Pavalos
Christine Pavalos, Assistant Secretary
THE UNDERSIGNED, President of Dreyfus Number Nine,
Inc., who executed on behalf of said Corporation the foregoing
Articles of Amendment, of which this Certificate is made a part,
hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of said
Corporation, the foregoing Articles of Amendment to be the
corporate act of said Corporation and further certifies that, to
the best of his knowledge, information and belief, the matters
and facts set forth therein with respect to the approval thereof
are true in all material respects, under penalties of perjury.
/s/ Jeffrey F. Friedman
Jeffrey F. Friedman, President
Sworn to before me this
20th day of June 1983.
/s/ Ann M. Ippolito
Notary Public
Exhibit (2)
BY-LAWS
OF
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
(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 President
or a Vice President and countersigned by the Secretary or an As-
sistant 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 2-207 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
his 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 pre-
ceding such meeting. If no record date is fixed and the stock
transfer books are not closed for the determination of stock-
holders: (1) The record date for the determination of stock-
holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of stock-
holders 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 "stock-
holders" 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 twenty-five percent 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless requested by stockholders
entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at
the meeting, a special meeting of the stockholders need not be
called at the request of stockholders to consider any matter that
is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any special
meeting of the stockholders held during the preceding twelve (12)
months.
- 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 him personally or by leaving
it at his residence or usual place of business not less than ten
days and not more than ninety 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 address appearing on the books of the corporation or the
address supplied by him 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 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 Corpora-
tion 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 submitted at the Annual Meeting and filed within
twenty days thereafter at the principal office of the corporation
in the State of Maryland.
- 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, the
Chairman of the Board, 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 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 his 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 stock-
holder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact and filed with
the Secretary of the corporation. No unrevoked proxy shall be
valid after eleven months from the date of its execution, unless a
longer time is expressly provided therein.
- 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 direc-
tors 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.
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 Mary-
land. 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 meet-
ing called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of
Directors may increase or decrease the number of directors, pro-
vided 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 direc-
tor shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of dir-
ectors.
3. ELECTION AND TERM. The first Board of Directors
shall consist of the director named in the Articles of Incorpora-
tion and shall hold office until the first meeting of stockholders
or until his successor has been elected and qualified. There-
after, 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. 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. Newly
created directorships filled by the Board of Directors shall be by
action of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. All other
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 shall fix, except that the first meeting of a newly elected
Board 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 direc-
tors 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 two 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
consolidation, merger, share exchange or transfer of assets, to
declare dividends, to issue stock 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 32 South 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 Corpora-
tion Law are: The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 32 South
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 2-314 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 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 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 or 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 the 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 con-
nection 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 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 avail-
able 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.
As amended, July 1, 1989
Exhibit (8)
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of May 10, 1996, between Dreyfus Growth Opportunity
Fund, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland
(the "Fund"), having its principal office and place of business at 200 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10166, and Mellon Bank, N.A., (the "Custodian"), a
national banking association with its principal place of business at One
Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15258.
W I T N E S S E T H:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth, the Fund and the Custodian agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Whenever used in this Agreement or in any Schedules to this Agreement,
the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall
have the following meanings:
(a) "Affiliated Person" shall have the meaning of the term within
Section 2(a)3 of the 1940 Act.
(b) "Authorized Person" shall mean those persons duly authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Fund to give Oral Instructions and Written
Instructions on behalf of the Fund and listed in the certification
annexed hereto as Appendix A or such other certification as may be
received by the Custodian from time to time.
(c) "Book-Entry System" shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-
entry system for United States and federal agency Securities, its
successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, in which the
Custodian is hereby specifically authorized and instructed on a
continuous and on-going basis to deposit all Securities eligible for
deposit therein, and to utilize the Book-Entry System to the extent
possible in connection with its performance hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean each day on which the Fund is required to
determine its net asset value, and any other day on which the Securities
and Exchange Commission may require the Fund to be open for business.
(e) "Certificate" shall mean any notice, instruction or other instrument
in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the
Custodian, which is actually received by the Custodian and signed on
behalf of the Fund by any two Authorized Persons or any two officers
thereof.
(f) "Articles of Incorporation" shall mean the Articles of Incorporation
of the Fund dated June 23, 1981 as the same may be amended from time to
time.
(g) "Depository" shall mean The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), a
clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, in which the
Custodian is hereby specifically authorized and instructed on a
continuous and on-going basis to deposit all Securities eligible for
deposit therein, and to utilize the Book-Entry System to the extent
possible in connection with its performance hereunder. The term
"Depository" shall further mean and include any other person to be named
in a Certificate authorized to act as a depository under the 1940 Act,
its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees.
(h) "Money Market Security" shall be deemed to include, without
limitation, debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to interest and
principal by the government of the United States or agencies or
instrumentalities thereof ("U.S. government securities"), commercial
paper, bank certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and short-term
corporate obligations, where the purchase or sale of such securities
normally requires settlement in federal funds on the same day as such
purchase or sale, and repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements with
respect to any of the foregoing types of securities and bank time
deposits.
(i) "Oral Instructions" shall mean verbal instructions actually received
by the Custodian from a person reasonably believed by the Custodian to be
an Authorized Person.
(j) "Prospectus" shall mean the Fund's current prospectus and statement
of additional information relating to the registration of the Fund's
Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(k) "Shares" shall mean all or any part of each class of Common Stock of
the Fund listed in the Certificate annexed hereto as Appendix B, as it
may be amended from time to time, which from time to time are authorized
and/or issued by the Fund.
(l) "Security" or "Securities" shall be deemed to include bonds,
debentures, notes, stocks, shares, evidences of indebtedness, and other
securities, commodities interests and investments from time to time
owned by the Fund.
(m) "Transfer Agent" shall mean the person which performs the transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent
functions for the Fund.
(n) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication actually
received by the Custodian from a person reasonably believed by the
Custodian to be an Authorized Person by any system, including, without
limitation, electronic transmissions, facsimile and telex, whereby the
receiver of such communication is able to verify by codes or otherwise
with a reasonable degree of certainty the authenticity of the sender of
such communication.
(o) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the
Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time.
2. Appointment of Custodian.
(a) The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian
of all the Securities and monies at the time owned by or in the
possession of the Fund during the period of this Agreement.
(b) The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such custodian and
agrees to perform the duties thereof as hereinafter set forth.
3. Compensation.
(a) The Fund will compensate the Custodian for its services rendered
under this Agreement in accordance with the fees set forth in the Fee
Schedule annexed hereto as Schedule A and incorporated herein. Such Fee
Schedule does not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the Custodian
for which the Custodian shall be entitled to bill separately. Out-of-
pocket disbursements shall consist of the items specified in the Schedule
of Out-of-pocket charges annexed hereto as Schedule B and incorporated
herein, which schedule may be modified by the Custodian upon not less
than thirty days prior written notice to the Fund.
(b) Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from time to
time by attaching to Schedule A of this Agreement a revised Fee Schedule,
dated and signed by an Authorized Officer or authorized representative of
each party hereto.
(c) The Custodian will bill the Fund as soon as practicable after the
end of each calendar month, and said billings will be detailed in
accordance with Schedule A, as amended from time to time. The Fund will
promptly pay to the Custodian the amount of such billing. The Custodian
may charge against any monies held on behalf of the Fund pursuant to this
Agreement such compensation and disbursements incurred by the Custodian
in the performance of its duties pursuant to this Agreement. The
Custodian shall also be entitled to charge against any money held on
behalf of the Fund pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any loss,
damage, liability or expense incurred with respect to the Fund, including
counsel fees, for which it shall be entitled to reimbursement under the
provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Cash and Securities.
(a) Receipt and Holding of Assets.
The Fund will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian or its
permitted Sub-Custodians all Securities and monies owned by it at any
time during the period of this Agreement. The Custodian will not be
responsible for such Securities and monies until actually received by it.
The Fund shall instruct the Custodian from time to time in its sole
discretion, by means of Written Instructions, or, in connection with the
purchase or sale of Money Market Securities, by means of Oral
Instructions confirmed in writing in accordance with Section 11(h) hereof
or Written Instructions, as to the manner in which and in what amounts
Securities and monies are to be deposited on behalf of the Fund in the
Book-Entry System or the Depository. Securities and monies of the Fund
deposited in the Book-Entry System or the Depository will be represented
in accounts which include only assets held by the Custodian for
customers, including but not limited to accounts for which the Custodian
acts in a fiduciary or representative capacity.
(b) Accounts and Disbursements. The Custodian shall establish and
maintain a separate account for the Fund and shall credit to the separate
account all monies received by it for the account of such Fund and shall
disburse the same only:
1. In payment for Securities purchased for the Fund, as
provided in Section 5 hereof;
2. In payment of dividends or distributions with respect to
the Shares, as provided in Section 7 hereof;
3. In payment of original issue or other taxes with respect
to the Shares, as provided in Section 8 hereof;
4. In payment for Shares which have been redeemed by the
Fund, as provided in Section 8 hereof;
5. Pursuant to a Certificate setting forth the name and
address of the person to whom the payment is to be made, the amount
to be paid and the purpose for which payment is to be made, provided
that in the event of disbursements pursuant to this Sub-section
4(b)(5), the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless
from any claims or losses arising out of such disbursements in
reliance on such Certificate; or
6. In payment of fees and in reimbursement of the expenses
and liabilities of the Custodian attributable to the Fund, as
provided in Sections 3 and 11(i).
(c) Confirmation and Statements. Promptly after the close of business
on each day, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with confirmations and
a summary of all transfers to or from the account of the Fund during said
day. Where securities purchased by the Fund are in a fungible bulk of
securities registered in the name of the Custodian (or its nominee) or
shown on the Custodian's account on the books of the Depository or the
Book-Entry System, the Custodian shall by book entry or otherwise
identify the quantity of those securities belonging to the Fund. At
least monthly, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a detailed
statement of the Securities and monies held for the Fund under this
Agreement.
(d) Registration of Securities and Physical Separation. All Securities
held for the Fund which are issued or issuable only in bearer form,
except such Securities as are held in the Book-Entry System, shall be
held by the Custodian in that form; all other Securities held for the
Fund may be registered in the name of the Fund, in the name of the
Custodian, in the name of any duly appointed registered nominee of the
Custodian as the Custodian may from time to time determine, or in the
name of the Book-Entry System or the Depository or their successor or
successors, or their nominee or nominees. The Fund reserves the right to
instruct the Custodian as to the method of registration and safekeeping
of the Securities. The Fund agrees to furnish to the Custodian
appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in
proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of its registered
nominee or in the name of the Book-Entry System or the Depository, any
Securities which it may hold for the account of the Fund and which may
from time to time be registered in the name of the Fund. The Custodian
shall hold all such Securities specifically allocated to the Fund which
are not held in the Book-Entry System or the Depository in a separate
account for the Fund in the name of the Fund physically segregated at all
times from those of any other person or persons.
(e) Segregated Accounts. Upon receipt of a Certificate the Custodian
will establish segregated accounts on behalf of the Fund to hold liquid
or other assets as it shall be directed by a Certificate and shall
increase or decrease the assets in such segregated accounts only as it
shall be directed by subsequent Certificate.
(f) Collection of Income and Other Matters Affecting Securities. Unless
otherwise instructed to the contrary by a Certificate, the Custodian by
itself, or through the use of the Book-Entry System or the Depository
with respect to Securities therein deposited, shall with respect to all
Securities held for the Fund in accordance with this Agreement:
1. Collect all income due or payable;
2. Present for payment and collect the amount payable upon
all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, retired or
otherwise become payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Custodian only shall have such responsibility to the Fund for
Securities which are called if either (i) the Custodian received a
written notice of such call; or (ii) notice of such call appears in
one or more of the publications listed in Appendix C annexed hereto,
which may be amended at any time by the Custodian upon five (5)
Business Days prior notification to the Fund;
3. Surrender Securities in temporary form for definitive
Securities;
4. Execute any necessary declarations or certificates of
ownership under the Federal income tax laws or the laws or
regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in
effect; and
5. Hold directly, or through the Book-Entry System or the
Depository with respect to Securities therein deposited, for the
account of the Fund all rights and similar Securities issued with
respect to any Securities held by the Custodian hereunder for the
Fund.
(g) Delivery of Securities and Evidence of Authority. Upon receipt of a
Certificate, the Custodian, directly or through the use of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository, shall:
1. Execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered
to such persons as may be designated in such Certificate, proxies,
consents, authorizations, and any other instruments whereby the
authority of the Fund as owner of any Securities may be exercised;
2. Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for
the Fund in exchange for other Securities or cash issued or paid in
connection with the liquidation, reorganization, refinancing,
merger, consolidation or recapitalization of any corporation, or the
exercise of any conversion privilege;
3. Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for
the Fund to any protective committee, reorganization committee or
other person in connection with the reorganization, refinancing,
merger, consolidation or recapitalization or sale of assets of any
corporation, and receive and hold under the terms of this Agreement
in the separate account for the Fund such certificates of deposit,
interim receipts or other instruments or documents as may be issued
to it to evidence such delivery;
4. Make or cause to be made such transfers or exchanges of
the assets specifically allocated to the separate account of the
Fund and take such other steps as shall be stated in a Certificate
to be for the purpose of effectuating any duly authorized plan of
liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or
recapitalization of the Fund;
5. Deliver Securities upon the receipt of payment in
connection with any repurchase agreement related to such Securities
entered into by the Fund;
6. Deliver Securities owned by the Fund to the issuer thereof
or its agent when such Securities are called or otherwise become
payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no
responsibility for monitoring or ascertaining any call, redemption
or retirement dates with respect to put bonds which are owned by the
Fund and held by the Custodian or its nominees. Nor shall the
Custodian have any responsibility or liability to the Fund for any
loss by the Fund for any missed payments or other defaults resulting
therefrom; unless the Custodian received timely notification from
the Fund specifying the time, place and manner for the presentment
of any such put bond owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian or
its nominee. The Custodian shall not be responsible and assumes no
liability to the Fund for the accuracy or completeness of any
notification the Custodian may furnish to the Fund with respect to
put bonds
7. Deliver Securities for delivery in connection with any
loans of Securities made by the Fund but only against receipt of
adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Fund which may be in the form of cash or U.S.
government securities or a letter of credit;
8. Deliver Securities for delivery as security in connection
with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of Fund assets,
but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;
9. Deliver Securities upon receipt of a Certificate from the
Fund for delivery to the Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares
in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from
time to time in the Fund's Prospectus, in satisfaction of requests
by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;
10. Deliver Securities as collateral in connection with short
sales by the Fund of common stock for which the Fund owns the stock
or owns preferred stocks or debt securities convertible or
exchangeable, without payment or further consideration, into shares
of the common stock sold short;
11. Deliver Securities for any purpose expressly permitted by
and in accordance with procedures described in the Fund's
Prospectus; and
12. Deliver Securities for any other proper business purpose,
but only upon receipt of, in addition to Written Instructions, a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors signed by
an Authorized Person and certified by the Secretary of the Fund,
specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose
for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be
a proper business purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom
delivery of such Securities shall be made.
(h) Endorsement and Collection of Checks, Etc. The Custodian is hereby
authorized to endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders for
the payment of money received by the Custodian for the account of the
Fund.
5. Purchase and Sale of Investments of the Fund.
(a) Promptly after each purchase of Securities for the Fund, the Fund
shall deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each purchase of
Securities which are not Money Market Securities, a Certificate; and (ii)
with respect to each purchase of Money Market Securities, either a
Written Instruction or Oral Instruction, in either case specifying with
respect to each purchase: (1) the name of the issuer and the title of
the Securities; (2) the number of shares or the principal amount
purchased and accrued interest, if any; (3) the date of purchase and
settlement; (4) the purchase price per unit; (5) the total amount payable
upon such purchase; (6) the name of the person from whom or the broker
through whom the purchase was made, if any; and (7) whether or not such
purchase is to be settled through the Book-Entry System or the
Depository. The Custodian shall receive the Securities purchased by or
for the Fund and upon receipt of Securities shall pay out of the monies
held for the account of the Fund the total amount payable upon such
purchase, provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as
set forth in such Certificate, Written or Oral Instruction.
(b) Promptly after each sale of Securities of the Fund, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each sale of Securities
which are not Money Market Securities, a Certificate, and (ii) with
respect to each sale of Money Market Securities, either Written
Instruction or Oral Instructions, in either case specifying with respect
to such sale: (1) the name of the issuer and the title of the
Securities; (2) the number of shares or principal amount sold, and
accrued interest, if any; (3) the date of sale; (4) the sale price per
unit; (5) the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale; (6) the
name of the broker through whom or the person to whom the sale was made;
and (7) whether or not such sale is to be settled through the Book-Entry
System or the Depository. The Custodian shall deliver or cause to be
delivered the Securities to the broker or other person designated by the
Fund upon receipt of the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale,
provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable to the Fund
as set forth in such Certificate, Written or Oral Instruction. Subject
to the foregoing, the Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall
be satisfactory to it, and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment
in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.
6. Lending of Securities.
If the Fund is permitted by the terms of the Articles of
Incorporation and as disclosed in its Prospectus to lend securities,
within 24 hours after each loan of Securities, the Fund shall deliver to
the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such loan:
(a) the name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (b) the
number of shares or the principal amount loaned; (c) the date of loan and
delivery; (d) the total amount to be delivered to the Custodian, and
specifically allocated against the loan of the Securities, including the
amount of cash collateral and the premium, if any, separately identified;
and (e) the name of the broker, dealer or financial institution to which
the loan was made.
Promptly after each termination of a loan of Securities, the Fund
shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to
each such loan termination and return of Securities: (a) the name of the
issuer and the title of the Securities to be returned; (b) the number of
shares or the principal amount to be returned; (c) the date of
termination; (d) the total amount to be delivered by the Custodian
(including the cash collateral for such Securities minus any offsetting
credits as described in said Certificate); and (e) the name of the
broker, dealer or financial institution from which the Securities will be
returned. The Custodian shall receive all Securities returned from the
broker, dealer or financial institution to which such Securities were
loaned and upon receipt thereof shall pay the total amount payable upon
such return of Securities as set forth in the Certificate. Securities
returned to the Custodian shall be held as they were prior to such loan.
7. Payment of Dividends or Distributions.
(a) The Fund shall furnish to the Custodian a Certificate specifying the
date of payment of any dividend or distribution, and the total amount
payable to the Transfer Agent on the payment date.
(b) Upon the payment date specified in such Certificate, the Custodian
shall pay out the total amount payable to the Transfer Agent of the Fund.
8. Sale and Redemption of Shares of the Fund.
(a) Whenever the Fund shall sell any Shares, or whenever any shares are
redeemed, the Fund shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Custodian a Written Instruction from the Transfer Agent duly specifying:
1. The net amount of money to be received by the Custodian,
where the sale of such Shares exceeds redemption; and
2. The net amount of money to be paid for such Shares, where
redemptions exceed purchases.
The Custodian understands and agrees that Written Instructions may
be furnished subsequent to the purchase of Shares and that the
information contained therein will be derived from the sales of Shares as
reported to the Fund by the Transfer Agent.
(b) Upon receipt of money from the Transfer Agent, the Custodian shall
credit such money to the separate account of the Fund.
(c) Upon issuance of any Shares in accordance with the foregoing
provisions of this Section 8, the Custodian shall pay all original issue
or other taxes required to be paid in connection with such issuance upon
the receipt of a Written Instruction specifying the amount to be paid.
(d) Upon receipt from the Transfer Agent of Written Instructions setting
forth the net amount of money to be paid for Shares received by the
Transfer Agent for redemption, the Custodian shall make payment to the
Transfer Agent of such net amount.
9. Indebtedness.
(a) The Fund will cause to be delivered to the Custodian by any bank
(excluding the Custodian) from which the Fund borrows money for
investment or for temporary administrative or emergency purposes using
Securities as collateral for such borrowings, a notice or undertaking in
the form currently employed by any such bank setting forth the amount
which such bank will loan to the Fund against delivery of a stated amount
of collateral. The Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate stating with respect to each such borrowing: (1) the name of
the bank; (2) the amount and terms of the borrowing, which may be set
forth by incorporating by reference an attached promissory note, duly
endorsed by the Fund, or other loan agreement; (3) the time and date, if
known, on which the loan is to be entered into (the "borrowing date");
(4) the date on which the loan becomes due and payable; (5) the total
amount payable to the Fund on the borrowing date; (6) the market value of
Securities to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the
name of the issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal
amount of any particular Securities; and (7) a statement that such loan
is in conformance with the 1940 Act and the Fund's Prospectus.
(b) Upon receipt of the Certificate referred to in subparagraph (a)
above, the Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date the specified
collateral and the executed promissory note, if any, against delivery by
the lending bank of the total amount of the loan payable, provided that
the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the
Certificate. The Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep
such collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject
to all rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory
note or loan agreement. The Custodian shall deliver as additional
collateral in the manner directed by the Fund from time to time such
Securities as may be specified in the Certificate to collateralize
further any transaction described in this Section 9. The Fund shall
cause all Securities released from collateral status to be returned
directly to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall receive from time to
time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event
that the Fund fails to specify in the Certificate all of the information
required by this Section 9, the Custodian shall not be under any
obligation to deliver any Securities. Collateral returned to the
Custodian shall be held hereunder as it was prior to being used as
collateral.
10. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Fund.
(a) No trustee or agent of the Fund, and no officer, director, employee
or agent of the Fund's investment adviser, of any sub-investment adviser
of the Fund, or of the Fund's administrator, shall have physical access
to the assets of the Fund held by the Custodian or be authorized or
permitted to withdraw any investments of the Fund, nor shall the
Custodian deliver any assets of the Fund to any such person. No officer,
director, employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar
position with the Fund's investment adviser, with any sub-investment
adviser of the Fund or with the Fund's administrator shall have access to
the assets of the Fund.
(b) Nothing in this Section 10 shall prohibit any duly authorized
officer, employee or agent of the Fund, or any duly authorized officer,
director, employee or agent of the investment adviser, of any sub-
investment adviser of the Fund or of the Fund's administrator, from
giving Oral Instructions or Written Instructions to the Custodian or
executing a Certificate so long as it does not result in delivery of or
access to assets of the Fund prohibited by paragraph (a) of this Section
10.
11. Concerning the Custodian.
(a) Standard of Conduct. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall be liable for any
loss or damage, including counsel fees, resulting from its action or
omission to act or otherwise, except for any such loss or damage arising
out of the negligence, misfeasance or willful misconduct of the Custodian
or any of its employees, Sub-Custodians or agents. The Custodian may,
with respect to questions of law, apply for and obtain the advice and
opinion of counsel to the Fund or of its own counsel, at the expense of
the Fund, and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or
omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice or opinion.
The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage
resulting from the use of the Book-Entry System or the Depository, except
to the extent such loss or damage arises by reason of any negligence,
misfeasance or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any of
its employees or agents.
(b) Limit of Duties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire into, and
shall not be liable for:
1. The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased by
the Fund, the legality of the purchase thereof, or the propriety of
the amount paid therefor;
2. The legality of the sale of any Securities by the Fund or
the propriety of the amount for which the same are sold;
3. The legality of the issue or sale of any Shares, or the
sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor;
4. The legality of the redemption of any Shares, or the
propriety of the amount to be paid therefor;
5. The legality of the declaration or payment of any
distribution of the Fund;
6. The legality of any borrowing for temporary or emergency
administrative purposes.
(c) No Liability Until Receipt. The Custodian shall not be liable for,
or considered to be the Custodian of, any money, whether or not
represented by any check, draft, or other instrument for the payment of
money, received by it on behalf of the Fund until the Custodian actually
receives and collects such money directly or by the final crediting of
the account representing the Fund's interest in the Book-Entry System or
the Depository.
(d) Amounts Due from Transfer Agent. The Custodian shall not be under
any duty or obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount
due to the Fund from the Transfer Agent nor to take any action to effect
payment or distribution by the Transfer Agent of any amount paid by the
Custodian to the Transfer Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
(e) Collection Where Payment Refused. The Custodian shall not be under
any duty or obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount,
if the Securities upon which such amount is payable are in default, or if
payment is refused after due demand or presentation, unless and until (a)
it shall be directed to take such action by a Certificate and (b) it
shall be assured to its satisfaction of reimbursement of its costs and
expenses in connection with any such action.
(f) Appointment of Agents and Sub-Custodians. The Custodian may appoint
one or more banking institutions, including but not limited to banking
institutions located in foreign countries, to act as Depository or
Depositories or as Sub-Custodian or as Sub-Custodians of Securities and
monies at any time owned by the Fund. The Custodian shall use reasonable
care in selecting a Depository and/or Sub-Custodian located in a country
other than the United States ("Foreign Sub-Custodian"), which selection
shall be in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 under the 1940
Act, and shall oversee the maintenance of any Securities or monies of the
Fund by any Foreign Sub-Custodian. In addition, the Custodian shall hold
the Fund harmless from, and indemnify the Fund against, any loss, action,
claim, demand, expense and proceeding, including counsel fees, that
occurs as a result of the failure of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or
Depository to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of
Securities and monies of the Fund. Notwithstanding the generality of the
foregoing, however, the Custodian shall not be liable for any losses
resulting from the general risk of investing or holding Securities and
monies in a particular country, including, but not limited to, losses
resulting from nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, revaluation,
confiscation, seizure, cancellation, destruction or similar action by any
governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation,
imposition or enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency
restrictions, exchange controls, taxes, levies or other charges affecting
the Fund's property; or acts of war, terrorism, insurrection or
revolution; or any other similar act or event beyond the Custodian's
control.
(g) No Duty to Ascertain Authority. The Custodian shall not be under
any duty or obligation to ascertain whether any Securities at any time
delivered to or held by it for the Fund are such as may properly be held
by the Fund under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and the
Prospectus.
(h) Reliance on Certificates and Instructions. The Custodian shall be
entitled to rely upon any Certificate, notice or other instrument in
writing received by the Custodian and reasonably believed by the
Custodian to be genuine and to be signed by an officer or Authorized
Person of the Fund. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
Written Instructions or Oral Instructions actually received by the
Custodian pursuant to the applicable Sections of this Agreement and
reasonably believed by the Custodian to be genuine and to be given by an
Authorized Person. The Fund agrees to forward to the Custodian Written
Instructions from an Authorized Person confirming such Oral Instructions
in such manner so that such Written Instructions are received by the
Custodian, whether by hand delivery, telex or otherwise, by the close of
business on the same day that such Oral Instructions are given to the
Custodian. The Fund agrees that the fact that such confirming
instructions are not received by the Custodian shall in no way affect the
validity of the transactions or enforceability of the transactions hereby
authorized by the Fund. The Fund agrees that the Custodian shall incur
no liability to the Fund in acting upon Oral Instructions given to the
Custodian hereunder concerning such transactions provided such
instructions reasonably appear to have been received from a duly
Authorized Person.
(i) Overdraft Facility and Security for Payment. In the event that the
Custodian is directed by Written Instruction (or Oral Instructions
confirmed in writing in accordance with Section 11(h) hereof) to make any
payment or transfer of monies on behalf of the Fund for which there would
be, at the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer,
insufficient monies held by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund, the
Custodian may, in its sole discretion, provide an overdraft (an
"Overdraft") to the Fund in an amount sufficient to allow the completion
of such payment or transfer. Any Overdraft provided hereunder: (a) shall
be payable on the next Business Day, unless otherwise agreed by the Fund
and the Custodian; and (b) shall accrue interest from the date of the
Overdraft to the date of payment in full by the Fund at a rate agreed
upon in writing, from time to time, by the Custodian and the Fund. The
Custodian and the Fund acknowledge that the purpose of such Overdraft is
to temporarily finance the purchase of Securities for prompt delivery in
accordance with the terms hereof, to meet unanticipated or unusual
redemption, to allow the settlement of foreign exchange contracts or to
meet other emergency expenses not reasonably foreseeable by the Fund.
The Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in writing (an "Overdraft
Notice") of any Overdraft by facsimile transmission or in such other
manner as the Fund and the Custodian may agree in writing. To secure
payment of any Overdraft, the Fund hereby grants to the Custodian a
continuing security interest in and right of setoff against the
Securities and cash in the Fund's account from time to time in the full
amount of such Overdraft. Should the Fund fail to pay promptly any
amounts owed hereunder, the Custodian shall be entitled to use available
cash in the Fund's account and to liquidate Securities in the account as
is necessary to meet the Fund's obligations under the Overdraft. In any
such case, and without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall be
entitled to take such other actions(s) or exercise such other options,
powers and rights as the Custodian now or hereafter has as a secured
creditor under the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code or any other
applicable law.
(j) Inspection of Books and Records. The books and records of the
Custodian shall be open to inspection and audit at reasonable times by
officers and auditors employed by the Fund and by the appropriate
employees of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository and with such reports on its own systems of
internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time
to time.
12. Term and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth
above (the "Effective Date") and shall continue in effect thereafter
until such time as this Agreement may be terminated in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
(b) Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving
to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such
termination, which shall be not less than 60 days after the date of
receipt of such notice. In the event such notice is given by the Fund,
it shall be accompanied by a certified vote of the Board of Directors of
the Fund, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating a
successor custodian or custodians, which shall be a person qualified to
so act under the 1940 Act.
In the event such notice is given by the Custodian, the Fund shall,
on or before the termination date, deliver to the Custodian a certified
vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund, designating a successor
custodian or custodians. In the absence of such designation by the Fund,
the Custodian may designate a successor custodian, which shall be a
person qualified to so act under the 1940 Act. If the Fund fails to
designate a successor custodian, the Fund shall upon the date specified
in the notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by
the Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities held in the Book-
Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Fund) and monies then owned
by the Fund, be deemed to be its own custodian and the Custodian shall
thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this
Agreement, other than the duty with respect to Securities held in the
Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Fund.
(c) Upon the date set forth in such notice under paragraph (b) of this
Section 12, this Agreement shall terminate to the extent specified in
such notice, and the Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of
acceptance by the successor custodian on that date deliver directly to
the successor custodian all Securities and monies then held by the
Custodian on behalf of the Fund, after deducting all fees, expenses and
other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be
entitled.
13. Limitation of Liability.
The Fund and the Custodian agree that the obligations of the Fund
under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the Directors,
shareholders, nominees, officers, employees or agents, whether past,
present or future, of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon
the assets and property of the Fund, as provided in the Articles of
Incorporation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Directors of the Fund, and signed by an authorized
officer of the Fund, acting as such, and neither such authorization by
such Directors nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be
deemed to have been made by any of them or any shareholder of the Fund
individually or to impose any liability on any of them or any shareholder
of the Fund personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of
the Fund as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Annexed hereto as Appendix A is a certification signed by the
Secretary of the Fund setting forth the names and the signatures of the
present Authorized Persons. The Fund agrees to furnish to the Custodian
a new certification in similar form in the event that any such present
Authorized Person ceases to be such an Authorized Person or in the event
that other or additional Authorized Persons are elected or appointed.
Until such new certification shall be received, the Custodian shall be
fully protected in acting under the provisions of this Agreement upon
Oral Instructions or signatures of the present Authorized Persons as set
forth in the last delivered certification.
(b) Annexed hereto as Appendix B is a certification signed by the
Secretary of the Fund setting forth the names and the signatures of the
present officers of the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish to the
Custodian a new certification in similar form in the event any such
present officer ceases to be an officer of the Fund or in the event that
other or additional officers are elected or appointed. Until such new
certification shall be received, the Custodian shall be fully protected
in acting under the provisions of this Agreement upon the signature of an
officer as set forth in the last delivered certification.
(c) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Custodian, shall be sufficiently given
if addressed to the Custodian and mailed or delivered to it at its
offices at One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15258 or at such other
place as the Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.
(d) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund, shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to the Fund and mailed or delivered to it at its offices at 200
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166 or at such other place as the Fund
may from time to time designate in writing.
(e) This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except
by a written agreement executed by both parties with the same formality
as this Agreement, (i) authorized, or ratified and approved by a vote of
the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the members
of the Board of Directors of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or (ii) authorized, or ratified
and approved by such other procedures as may be permitted or required by
the 1940 Act.
(f) This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the
written consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written
consent of the Fund authorized or approved by a vote of the Board of
Directors of the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement shall give or be
construed to give or confer upon any third party any rights hereunder.
(g) The Fund represents that a copy of the Articles of Incorporation is
on file with the Secretary of the State of Maryland.
(h) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(i) The captions of the Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(j) This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall,
together, constitute only one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their respective representatives duly authorized as of the day
and year first above written.
Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
By:
Name:
Title:
MELLON BANK, N.A.
By:
Name:
Title:
CUSTODIAN ACCOUNT FOR PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
APPENDIX A
John E. Pelletier, Secretary of Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland (the "Fund"),
do hereby certify that:
The following individuals have been duly authorized as Authorized Persons
to give Oral Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund and
the specimen signatures set forth opposite their respective names are their
true and correct signatures:
Name Signature
Jim Windels
Frank Brensic
Rob Robol
Lucy Dermezis
Helen Minaya
Secretary
Dated: May 10, 1996
APPENDIX B
DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
I, Eric B. Fischman, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Dreyfus
Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Maryland (the "Fund"), do hereby certify that the
only series of shares of the Fund issued and/or authorized by the Fund as of
the date of this Custody Agreement are shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value.
Dated: May 10, 1996
APPENDIX C
The following are designated publications for purposes of Section 4 (f)
2:
The Bond Buyer
Depository Trust Company Notices
Financial Daily Card Service
New York Times
Standard & Poor's Called Bond Record
Wall Street Journal
SCHEDULE A
I. Asset Based Charges
A. U.S. Securities (Net Asset Value)
First $1 Billion 0.70 Basis
Points
Next $1 Billion 0.50 Basis
Points
Excess 0.25
Basis Points
B. International Securities (Market Value)
Foreign Assets in all funds will be totaled by country and charged a basis
point fee
by category.
Euroclear 5.00
Basis Points
Category I 8.00
Basis Points
Category II 14.00
Basis Points
Category III 16.00
Basis Points
Category IV 45.00
Basis Points
(A complete listing of countries is on page 2 of this fee schedule)
II. Transaction Charges
A. Domestic
U.S. Buy/Sell transaction (DTC, PTC, Fed) $10
Physical U.S. Buy/Sell transaction $20
B. International
Euroclear $ 25
Category I $ 35
Category II $ 60
Category III $ 80
Category IV $100
C. Other Transactions
Futures Transaction $ 8
Paydown Transaction $ 5
Margin Variation Wire $ 10
F/X not executed at BSDT $ 20
Options Round Trip $ 20
Wire Transfer $ 5
III. Out-of-Pocket Expenses
The Custodian will pass through to the client any out-of-pocket expenses
including, but not limited to, postage, courier expense, registration fees,
stamp duties telex charges, custom reporting or custom programming,
internal/external tax, legal or consulting
costs, proxy voting expenses, etc.
The Custodian reserves the right to amend its fees if the service
requirements change in a way that materially affects our responsibilities or
costs. Support of other derivative investment strategies or special processing
requirements (e.g. external cash sweep, third party securities lending etc.)
may result in additional fees.
IV.Country by Country Categories:
Category I Category II Category III CategoryIV
Australia Argentina Austria Bangladesh
Belgium Denmark Indonesia Brazil
Canada Finland Israel Colombia
France Hong Kong South Korea China
Germany Malaysia Philippines Czech Republic
Ireland Mexico Singapore Greece
Italy Norway Thailand India
Japan Spain Jordan
Netherlands Luxembourg
New Zealand Pakistan
South Africa Peru
Sweden Poland
Switzerland Portugal
United Kingdom Sri Lanka
Cedel Taiwan
Turkey
Uruguay
Venezuela
SCHEDULE B
The Fund will pay to the Custodian as soon as possible after the end of
each month all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
the assets of the Fund.
EXHIBIT (10)
[LETTERHEAD OF STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN]
January 31, 1972
The Dreyfus Group Equity Fund, Inc.
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
Dear Sirs:
We have acted as counsel to your corporation (the
"Company") since its organization and in connection with the
filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-5
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
In so acting we have examined a copy of the
Certificates of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, each
as amended to date, the original or reproduced or certified
copies of all such records of the Company, and all such
agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of
officers and representatives of the Company and others, and such
other documents, papers, statutes and authorities as we deem
necessary to form the basis of the opinions hereinafter
expressed. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures
and the conformity to original documents of the copies of such
documents, supplied to us as certified or conformed or
reproduced copies.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
(a) The 20,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the date hereof have been validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(b) The shares of Common Stock of the Company which
are the subject of Registration Statement No. 2-33733 on Form S-
5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, will, when issued in
accordance with the Prospectus which constitutes a part thereof,
be legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to being named in said Registration
Statement and in the Prospectus which constitutes a part thereof
as attorneys who have acted upon the legality of said shares of
Common Stock.
We further consent to your filing a copy of this
opinion as an Exhibit to said Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN
Exhibit (11)
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 April 2,
1996, in this Registration Statement (Form N-1A 2-33733) of Dreyfus Growth
Opportunity Fund, Inc.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
June 24, 1996
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000030162
<NAME> DREYFUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-29-1996
<PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 373965
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 425410
<RECEIVABLES> 7524
<ASSETS-OTHER> 407
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 433341
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10308
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3793
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14101
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 368061
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 43858
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 42965
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 92
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (730)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 51817
<NET-ASSETS> 419240
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 7240
<INTEREST-INCOME> 579
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4166
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3653
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 50931
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 42207
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 96791
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (4561)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (49121)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (730)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 34615
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (39578)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5856
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 46927
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 490
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1810)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2998
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4166
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 399540
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.67
<PER-SHARE-NII> .10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.19
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.12)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.26)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.56
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .010
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
