File Nos. 2-95553
811-4215
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. 20 [ X ]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [ X ]
Amendment No. 20 [ X ]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
DREYFUS GNMA 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 September 2, 1997 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 April 30, 1997 was filed on June 25, 1997.
DREYFUS GNMA 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 17
7 Purchase of Securities Being Offered 7
8 Redemption or Repurchase 12
9 Pending Legal Proceedings *
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A
- ---------
10 Cover Page Cover
11 Table of Contents Cover
12 General Information and History B-22
13 Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
14 Management of the Fund B-6
15 Control Persons and Principal B-10
Holders of Securities
16 Investment Advisory and Other B-10
Services
_____________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
DREYFUS GNMA 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-20
18 Capital Stock and Other Securities B-22
19 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing B-12, B-13
of Securities Being Offered B-19
20 Tax Status *
21 Underwriters B-12
22 Calculations of Performance Data B-21
23 Financial Statements B-24
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-6
Investment Adviser
29 Principal Underwriters C-10
30 Location of Accounts and Records C-13
31 Management Services C-13
32 Undertakings C-13
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
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PROSPECTUS SEPTEMBER 2, 1997
DREYFUS GNMA FUND, INC.
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DREYFUS GNMA FUND, INC. (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END, DIVERSIFIED,
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE FUND'S INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AS HIGH A LEVEL OF CURRENT INCOME AS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL. THE FUND INVESTS PRINCIPALLY IN
INSTRUMENTS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT CHARGE
OR PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE FUND.
THE FUND PROVIDES FREE REDEMPTION CHECKS, WHICH YOU CAN USE IN
AMOUNTS OF $500 OR MORE FOR CASH OR TO PAY BILLS. YOU CONTINUE TO EARN INCOME
ON THE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK UNTIL IT CLEARS. 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 SEPTEMBER 2, 1997,
WHICH MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF
CERTAIN AREAS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST
TO SOME INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION MAINTAINS A WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE,
AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND. FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT 144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD,
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL 1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK
FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER
AGENCY. THE NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE WILL FLUCTUATE FROM TIME TO
TIME.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Annual Fund Operating Expenses.................... 3
Condensed Financial Information................... 4
Description of the Fund........................... 5
Management of the Fund............................ 6
How to Buy Shares................................. 7
Shareholder Services.............................. 9
How to Redeem Shares.............................. 12
Service Plan...................................... 14
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 15
Performance Information........................... 16
General Information............................... 17
Appendix.......................................... 18
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Management Fees............................................................................. .60%
12b-1 Fees (distribution and servicing)..................................................... .20%
Other Expenses.............................................................................. .16%
Total Fund Operating Expenses............................................................... .96%
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: $10 $31 $53 $118
</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. Long-term investors could pay more in 12b-1 fees
than the economic equivalent of paying a front-end sales charge. Certain
Service Agents (as defined below) may charge their clients direct fees for
effecting transactions in Fund shares; such fees are not reflected in the
foregoing table. See "Management of the Fund," "How to Buy Shares" and
"Service Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors. Further financial data, related
notes and report of independent auditors accompany 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>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED APRIL 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value,
beginning of year... $15.08 $14.75 $14.18 $14.07 $14.74 $14.90 $15.35 $14.48 $14.32 $14.50
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income_net 1.33 1.28 1.29 1.27 1.20 1.10 .99 .98 .96 .92
Net realized and
unrealized gain
(loss) on investment (.33) (.57) (.10) .68 .17 .46 (.87) (.18) .18 (.05)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
OPERATIONS.......... 1.00 .71 1.19 1.95 1.37 1.56 .12 .80 1.14 .87
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment
income-net......... (1.33) (1.28) (1.30) (1.28) (1.21) (1.11) (.99) (.96) (.96) (.93)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net asset value,
end of year $14.75 $14.18 $14.07 $14.74 $14.90 $15.35 $14.48 $14.32 $14.50 $14.44
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN 7.03% 5.06% 8.56% 14.44% 9.65% 10.80% .71% 5.81% 8.11% 6.17%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets 1.01% .99% .97% .97% .95% .94% .95% .97% .96% .96%
Ratio of net
investment income
to average net assets 8.98% 8.89% 8.98% 8.81% 8.05% 7.20% 6.54% 6.90% 6.57% 6.38%
Portfolio Turnover
Rate 287.82% 473.01% 272.40% 25.85% 61.00% 155.90% 211.40% 362.70% 144.43% 323.99%
Net Assets,
end of year
(000's omitted) $1,981,864 $1,616,280 $1,496,469 $1,583,793 $1,756,776 $1,857,468 $1,601,947 $1,435,873 $1,373,618 $1,240,459
</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 OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is to provide you with as high a
level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital. It
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 objective will be achieved.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that it will invest at least
65% of the value of its net assets (except when maintaining a temporary
defensive position) in "GNMA Certificates" (popularly called "Ginnie Maes").
Ginnie Maes are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States. Ginnie Maes are mortgage-backed securities representing part
ownership of a pool of mortgage loans which are insured by the Federal
Housing Administration or Farmers' Home Administration or guaranteed by the
Veterans' Administration. The Fund invests in Ginnie Maes only of the "fully
modified pass-through" type which are guaranteed as to timely payment of
principal and interest by the Government National Mortgage Association, a U.S.
Government corporation. The Fund may purchase Ginnie Maes on a forward
commitment basis as described under "Appendix _ Investment Techniques _
Forward Commitments."
The Fund may purchase other securities issued or guaranteed by, or
exchangeable for securities issued or guaranteed by, the U.S. Government or
issued by its agencies or instrumentalities that are backed by the full faith
and credit of the U.S Government, and may enter into repurchase agreements
with respect to securities of the type in which the Fund may invest. For
temporary defensive purposes, the entire portfolio may be so invested. A
security guaranteed by the U.S. Government is guaranteed only as to principal
and interest, and there is no guarantee of the security's market value. The
value of Fund shares is not guaranteed.
Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which differ
in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance. Obligations issued
or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities that are
supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury include those
issued by the United States Maritime Administration. These securities bear
fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. Principal and interest may
fluctuate based on generally recognized reference rates or the relationship
of rates.
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
500%. A turnover rate of 100% is equivalent to the Fund buying and selling
all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of a year. 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 leveraging, options transactions
and forward roll transactions. For a discussion of the investment techniques
and their related risks, see "Investment Considerations and Risks" and
"Appendix _ Investment Techniques"below and "Investment Objective 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 Objective and Management Policies" in the
Statement of Additional Information for further discussion of certain risks.
MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES _ Mortgage-related securities are complex
derivative instruments, subject to both credit and prepayment risk, and may
be more volatile and less liquid than more traditional debt securities.
Although certain mortgage-related securities, such as Ginnie Maes, are
guaranteed by a third party or otherwise similarly secured, the market value
of the security, which may fluctuate, is not
Page 5
secured. If the Fund purchases a Ginnie Mae at a premium, all or part of the
premium may be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security,
whether resulting from changes in interest rates or prepayments on the
underlying mortgage collateral. As with other interest-bearing securities,
the prices of Ginnie Maes are inversely affected by changes in interest rates.
However, although the value of a Ginnie Mae may decline when interest rates
rise, the converse is not necessarily true, since in periods of declining
interest rates the mortgages underlying the security are more likely to be
prepaid. For this and other reasons, a Ginnie Mae's stated maturity may be
shortened by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages, and,
therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the security's return to
the Fund. During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of
mortgage-related securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower
prepayments effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected
maturity which generally would cause the value of such security to fluctuate
more widely in response to changes in interest rates. Were the prepayments on
Ginnie Maes held by the Fund to decrease broadly, the Fund's effective
duration, and thus sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations, would increase.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ In addition to Ginnie Maes, the Fund may invest in, or
enter into, other derivatives ("Derivatives"), such as options. These are
financial instruments which derive their value, at least in part, from the
performance of an underlying asset, index or interest rate. While Derivatives
can be used effectively in furtherance of the Fund's investment objective,
under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility of the
Fund's net asset value, 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 Objective 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 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 July 31, 1997, The Dreyfus Corporation managed
or administered approximately $92 billion in assets for approximately 1.7
million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the Fund,
subject to the authority of the Fund's Board in accordance with Maryland
law. The Fund's primary portfolio manager is Michael Hoeh. He has held that
position since March 1997 and has been employed by The Dreyfus Corporation
since October 1996. Prior to joining The Dreyfus Corporation, he was Senior
Vice President of the Portfolio Management division of ARM Capital Advisors,
Inc. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Hoeh was Vice President of the Risk Management
division of Blackrock Financial Management where he was employed since
January 1992. The Fund's other portfolio managers are identified in the
Statement of Additional Information. The Dreyfus Corporation also provides
research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation through a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities
analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total
Page 6
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 $286 billion in assets as of
June 30, 1997, including approximately $94 billion in proprietary mutual fund
assets. As of June 30, 1997, Mellon, through various subsidiaries, provided
non-investment services, such as custodial or administration services, for
more than $1.306 trillion in assets, including approximately $63 billion in
mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1997, the Fund paid The Dreyfus
Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The Dreyfus
Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain
expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the expense
ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will not pay
The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive, nor
will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks
to obtain the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among
other things, the receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of
the Fund or other funds managed, advised or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in the State
ment 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 Service Agents
in respect of these services.
DISTRIBUTOR _ The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN _ Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). Mellon Bank, N.A., One Mellon Bank
Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, is the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
You can purchase Fund shares directly from the Distributor or certain
financial institutions (which may include banks), selected dealers and other
industry professionals (collectively, "Service Agents") that have entered
into service agreements with the Distributor. 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 Service Agent which maintains an omnibus account in the Fund and
which has made an aggregate minimum initial purchase for its customers of
$2,500. Subsequent investments must be at least $100. The initial investment
must be accompanied by the Account Application. For full-time or part-time
employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or
subsidiaries, directors of The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund
advised by The Dreyfus Corporation, including members of the Fund's Board, or
the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing, the minimum initial
investment is $1,000. For full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus
Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a
portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund accounts, 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
Page 7
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 #8900051973/Dreyfus GNMA
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
redemptions will be permitted until the Account Application is received. You
may obtain further information about remitting funds in this manner from your
bank. All payments should 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 instruct
ions through compatible computer facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House 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."
Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are different from those described in this
Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority,
may charge their clients direct fees. You should consult your Service Agent
in this regard.
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per
share next determined after the Transfer Agent or other agent receives an
order in proper form. 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.
Net asset value per share is com-
Page 8
puted 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 generally by using available market quotations or at
fair value which may be determined by one or more independent pricing services
approved by the Fund's Board. Each pricing service's procedures are reviewed
under the general supervision of the 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.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may purchase 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 calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The services and privileges described under this heading may not be
available to clients of certain Service Agents and some Service Agents may
impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those
described in this Prospectus. You should consult your Service Agent in this
regard.
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 consult your Service Agent or 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 or your Service Agent acting on your
behalf must give exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in writing or by
telephone. Before any exchange, you must obtain and should review a copy of
the current prospectus of the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of
personal retirement plans, the shares being exchanged must have a current
value of at least $500; furthermore, when establishing a new account by
exchange, the shares being exchanged must have a value of at least the
minimum initial investment required for the fund into which the exchange is
being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given
to all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No"
box on the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this
Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an
existing account by written request signed by all shareholders on the
account, by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form, available by calling
1-800-645-6561, or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on
the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the Telephone
Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions (including over
The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated telephone system) by calling
1-800-645-6561. If you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How
to Redeem Shares_Procedures."
Page 9
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, Check Redemption 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 or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such
qualification is subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of
appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly
in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not
less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal
administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange
request in whole or in part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may be
modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE _ Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables
you to invest regularly (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual
basis), in exchange for shares of the Fund, in shares of certain other funds
in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. The amount you
designate, which can be expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or
share amount ($100 minimum), will be exchanged automatically on the first
and/or fifteenth day of the month according to the schedule you have
selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege may be modified
or cancelled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your
exercise of this Privilege at any time by mailing written notification to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
The Fund may charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee
currently is contemplated. For more information concerning this Privilege and
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this
Privilege, or to obtain a Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please
call toll free 1-800-645-6561. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration Mark _ Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of
$150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares
are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
At your option, the 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 an authorization form with the Transfer Agent.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may cancel your participation in this Privilege or change the amount of
purchase at any time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus
retirement plan accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box
6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427, and the notification will be
effective three business days following receipt. The Fund may modify or
terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated.
Page 10
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE _ Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social
Security, or certain veterans', military or other payments from the Federal
government automatically deposited into your Fund account. You may deposit as
much of such payments as you elect. To enroll in Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit, you must file with the Transfer Agent a completed Direct Deposit
Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that you desire to include in 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. The Fund may terminate
your participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN _ Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to
purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may
have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus
account electronically through the Automated Clearing House system at each
pay period. To establish a Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must
file an authorization form with your employer's payroll department. Your
employer must complete the reverse side of the form and return it to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may change the amount of purchase or cancel the authorization only by
written notification to your employer. It is the sole responsibility of your
employer, not the Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the
Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for transactions under the
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege
at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM _ Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase Fund
shares without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements
through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, 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.
Page 11
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 for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or
terminate these privileges at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans are not eligible for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN _ The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An
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.
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. Service Agents
may charge their clients a fee for effecting redemptions of Fund shares. Any
certificates representing Fund shares being redeemed must be submitted with
the redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less
than their original cost, depending 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 BUILDERRegistration
Mark AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER
AGENT, THE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK
CLEARANCE OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-
AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR
MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND WILL NOT HONOR REDEMPTION CHECKS UNDER THE CHECK
REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE, AND 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.
Page 12
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 through the Telephone Redemption Privilege,
which is granted automatically unless you specifically refuse it by checking
the applicable "No" box on the Account Application. The Telephone Redemption
Privilege may be established for an existing account by a separate signed
Shareholder Services Form or by oral request from any of the authorized
signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. You also may redeem
shares through the Check Redemption Privilege, the Wire Redemption Privilege,
or the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, if you have checked the appropriate
box and supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have
filed a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. Other redemption
procedures may be in effect for clients of certain Service Agents. 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 Check Redemption, Wire Redemption, Telephone
Redemption or Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege.
The Telephone Redemption Privilege or Telephone Exchange Privilege
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions (including
over The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated telephone system) from any
person representing himself or herself to be you, or a representative of your
Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine.
The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to employ reasonable procedures,
such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that
instructions are genuine and, if it does not follow such procedures, the Fund
or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent will be
liable for following telephone instructions reasonably believed to be
genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used. During the delay, the Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION _ Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Redemption requests may be delivered in person only
to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND
AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the
nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed under "General Information." Redemption requests must be signed by
each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account, and each signature
must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP"), and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. If
you have any questions with respect to signature-guarantees, please call one
of the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Page 13
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.
CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may write Redemption Checks drawn on your
Fund account. Redemption Checks may be made payable to the order of any
person in the amount of $500 or more. Potential fluctuations in the net asset
value of the Fund's shares should be considered in determining the amount of
the check. Redemption Checks should not be used to close your account.
Redemption Checks are free, but the Transfer Agent will impose a fee for
stopping payment of a Redemption Check upon your request or if the Transfer
Agent cannot honor the Redemption Check due to insufficient funds or other
valid reason. You should date your Redemption Checks with the current date
when you write them. Please do not postdate your Redemption Checks. If you
do, the Transfer Agent will honor, upon presentment, even if presented before
the date of the check, all postdated Redemption Checks which are dated within
six months of presentment for payment, if they are otherwise in good order.
Shares for which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed by
Redemption Check. This Privilege will be terminated immediately, without
notice, with respect to any account which is, or becomes, subject to backup
withholding on redemptions (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes"). Any
Redemption Check written on an account which has become subject to backup
withholding on redemptions will not be honored by the Transfer Agent. If you
hold shares in a Dreyfus-sponsored IRA account, you may be permitted to make
withdrawals from your IRA account using checks furnished to you by The
Dreyfus Trust Company.
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. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may
have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within any 30-day
period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling 1-800-645-6561 or,
if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The Statement of
Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting redemption
requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to
your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Telephone Redemption Privilege is granted automatically unless you refuse it.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund
account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an
Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may
redeem through the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank
account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SERVICE PLAN
Under the Service Plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940
Act, the Fund (a) reimburses the Distributor for payments to certain Service
Agents for distributing Fund shares and servicing shareholder accounts
("Servicing") and (b) pays The Dreyfus Corporation, Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, and any
affiliate of either of them (collectively, "Dreyfus") for advertising and
marketing relating to the Fund and for Servicing, at an aggregate annual rate
of .20 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. Both of the
Distributor and Dreyfus may pay one or more Service Agents a fee in respect
of Fund shares owned by shareholders with whom the Service Agent has a
servicing relationship or for whom the Service Agent is the dealer or holder
of
Page 14
record. The Distributor and Dreyfus determine the amounts, if any, to be
paid to Service Agents under the Service Plan and the basis on which such
payments are made. The fees payable under the Service Plan are payable
without regard to actual expenses incurred.
The Fund also bears the costs of preparing and printing prospectuses
and statements of additional information used for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders. Under the Service Plan, the Fund bears
(a) the costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information used for other purposes, and (b) the
costs associated with implementing and operating the Service Plan (such as
costs of printing and mailing service agreements), the aggregate of such
amounts not to exceed in any fiscal year of the Fund the greater of $100,000
or .005 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for such
fiscal year.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily declares and pays dividends from its net
investment income monthly. Distributions from net realized securities gains,
if any, are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make
distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with 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 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 gain realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund will be taxable to U.S. shareholders
as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares. No
dividend paid by the Fund will qualify for the dividends received deduction
allowable to certain U.S. corporations. Distributions from net realized
long-term securities gains of the Fund generally will be subject to Federal
income tax as long-term capital gains for Federal income tax purposes,
regardless of how long shareholders have held their Fund shares and whether
such distributions are received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares. The
Code provides that the net capital gain of an individual generally will not
be taxed 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 gain realized from the the sale or other disposition of
certain market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to a foreign investor
generally are subject to U.S. nonresident withholding taxes at the rate of
30%, unless the foreign investor claims the benefit of a lower rate specified
in a tax treaty. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains
paid by the Fund to a foreign investor as well as the proceeds of any
redemptions from a foreign investor's account, regardless of the extent to
which gain or loss may be realized, generally will not be subject to U.S.
nonresident withholding tax. However, such distributions may be subject to
backup withholding, as described below, unless the foreign investor certifies
his non-U.S. residency status.
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.
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.
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
Page 15
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 April 30, 1997 as a "regulated investment company" under
the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is
in the best interests of its shareholders. Such qualification relieves the
Fund of any liability for Federal income 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.
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 several
bases, including current yield, average annual total return and/or total
return.
Current yield refers to the Fund's annualized net investment income
per share over a 30-day period, expressed as a percentage of the net asset
value per share at the end of the period. For purposes of calculating current
yield, the amount of net investment income per share during that 30-day
period, computed in accordance with regulatory requirements, is compounded by
assuming that it is reinvested at a constant rate over a six-month period. An
identical result is then assumed to have occurred during a second six-month
period which, when added to the result for the first six months, provides an
"annualized" yield for an entire one-year period. Calculations of the Fund's
current yield may reflect absorbed expenses pursuant to any undertaking that
may be in effect. See "Management of the Fund."
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a standardized
formula which assumes that an investment in the Fund was purchased with an
initial payment of $1,000 and that the investment was redeemed at the end of
a stated period of time, after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends
and distributions during the period. The return is expressed as a percentage
rate which, if applied on a compounded annual basis, would result in the
redeemable value of the investment at the end of the period. Advertisements
of the Fund's performance will include the Fund's average annual total return
for one, five and ten year periods.
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total return generally is
expressed as a percentage rate which is calculated by combining the income
and principal changes for a specified period and dividing by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include
the percentage rate of total return or may include the value of a
hypothetical investment at the end of the period which assumes the
application of the percentage rate of total return.
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not
necessarily representative of future results. You should remember that
performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the type and
quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating expenses.
Performance information, such as that described above, may not provide a
basis for comparison with other investments or other investment companies
using a different method of calculating performance.
Page 16
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Bank Rate Monitortrademark, N. Palm Beach, Fla.
33408, Merrill Lynch Mortgage Master Index, Moody's Bond Survey Bond Index,
Lehman Brothers Bond Indices, Salomon Brothers Bond Indices, Morningstar,
Inc. and other industry publications. In addition, data may be used comparing
the difference in yields between Ginnie Maes and comparable term Treasury
Notes (which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government).
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on January 24, 1985, and
commenced operations on May 29, 1985. The Fund is authorized to issue 1.1
billion 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 to your Service Agent or 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., call 516-794-5452.
Page 17
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
FORWARD ROLL TRANSACTIONS _ To enhance current income, the Fund may enter
into forward roll transactions with respect to Ginnie Maes and other
mortgage-related securities. In a forward roll transaction, the Fund sells a
mortgage-related security to a financial institution, such as a bank or
broker-dealer, and simultaneously agrees to purchase a similar security from
the institution at a later date at an agreed upon price. The securities that
are purchased will bear the same interest rate as those sold, but generally
will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages with different
pre-payment histories than those sold. During the period between the sale and
purchase, the Fund will not be entitled to receive interest and principal
payments on the securities sold. Proceeds of the sale typically will be
invested in short-term instruments, particularly repurchase agreements, and
the income from these investments, together with any additional fee income
received on the sale, will generate income for the Fund exceeding the yield
on the securities sold. Forward roll transactions involve the risk that the
market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the
purchase price of those securities. A segregated account of the Fund
consisting of permissible liquid assets at least equal to the amount of the
repurchase price (including accrued interest) will be established and
maintained at the Fund's custodian bank.
FORWARD COMMITMENTS _ The Fund may purchase or sell Ginnie Maes securities
on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means
that delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the
commitment to purchase or sell the securities at a predetermined price and/or
yield. Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is
delivered. When purchasing a security on a forward commitment basis, the Fund
assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk
of price fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when
determining its net asset value. Because the Fund is not required to pay for
these securities until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the
risks associated with the Fund's other investments. If the Fund is fully or
almost fully invested when forward commitment purchases are outstanding, such
purchases may result in a form of leverage. The Fund intends to engage in
forward commitments to increase its portfolio's financial exposure to the
types of securities in which it invests. Leveraging the portfolio in this
manner will increase the Fund's exposure to changes in interest rates and
will increase the volatility of its returns. A segregated account of the Fund
consisting of permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the
amount of the Fund's purchase commitments will be established and maintained
at the Fund's custodian bank. At no time will the Fund have more than 331/3%
of its assets committed to purchase securities on a forward commitment basis.
LEVERAGE _ Leveraging exaggerates the effect on net asset value of any
increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund's portfolio. Money
borrowed for leveraging will be limited to 331/3% of the value of the Fund's
total assets. These borrowings would be subject to interest costs which may
or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased; in
certain cases, interest costs may exceed the return received on the securities
purchased.
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks,
brokers or dealers. This form of borrowing involves the transfer by the Fund
of an underlying debt instrument in return for cash proceeds based on a
percentage of the value of the security. The Fund retains the right to
receive interest and principal payments on the security. At an agreed upon
future date, the Fund repurchases the security at principal plus accrued
interest. Except for these transactions, the Fund's borrowings generally will
be unsecured.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in, or enter into, Derivatives,
such as options. These instruments and certain related risks are described
more specifically under "Investment Objective 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
Page 18
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 its Derivatives
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable
to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market
for many Derivatives is, or suddenly could become, illiquid. Changes in
liquidity may result in significant rapid and unpredictable changes in the
prices for Derivatives.
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 required cover, the Fund may have to sell portfolio
securities at disadvantageous prices or times since it may not be possible to
liquidate a Derivative position at a reasonable price.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
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.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES _ The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, and repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice. As to these securities, the
Fund is subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a
ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund deems representative of
their value, the value of the Fund's net assets could be adversely affected.
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 19
GNMA
Fund, Inc.
Prospectus
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1997 Dreyfus Service Corporation
265p090297
Page 20
DREYFUS GNMA FUND, INC.
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
SEPTEMBER 2, 1997
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated September 2, 1997, as it may be
revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the Fund's Prospectus, please
write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York
11556-0144, or call the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S. -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") 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 Objective and Management Policies B-2
Management of the Fund B-6
Management Agreement B-10
Purchase of Shares B-12
Service Plan B-13
Redemption of Shares B-14
Shareholder Services B-16
Determination of Net Asset Value B-19
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes B-19
Portfolio Transactions B-20
Performance Information B-21
Information About the Fund B-22
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian,
Counsel and Independent Auditors B-22
Financial Statements and Report of Independent Auditors B-24
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 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
Ginnie Maes. Ginnie Maes are created by an "issuer," which is a Federal
Housing Administration ("FHA") approved mortgagee that also meets criteria
imposed by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"). The issuer
assembles a pool of FHA, Farmers' Home Administration or Veterans'
Administration ("VA") insured or guaranteed mortgages which are homogeneous
as to interest rate, maturity and type of dwelling. Upon application by the
issuer, and after approval by GNMA of the pool, GNMA provides its commitment
to guarantee timely payment of principal and interest on the Ginnie Maes
backed by the mortgages included in the pool. The Ginnie Maes, endorsed by
GNMA, then are sold by the issuer through securities dealers.
GNMA is authorized under the National Housing Act to guarantee timely
payment of principal and interest on Ginnie Maes. This guarantee is backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA may borrow U.S.
Treasury funds to the extent needed to make payments under its guarantee.
When mortgages in the pool underlying a Ginnie Mae are prepaid by
mortgagors or by result of foreclosure, such principal payments are passed
through to the certificate holders. Accordingly, the life of the Ginnie Mae
is likely to be substantially shorter than the stated maturity of the
mortgages in the underlying pool. Because of such variation in prepayment
rates, it is not possible to predict the life of a particular Ginnie Mae, but
FHA statistics indicate that 25- to 30-year single family dwelling mortgages
have an average life of approximately 12 years. The majority of Ginnie Maes
are backed by mortgages of this type, and, accordingly, the generally
accepted practice treats Ginnie Maes as 30-year securities which prepay fully
in the 12th year.
Ginnie Maes bear a stated "coupon rate" which represents the effective
FHA-VA mortgage rate at the time of issuance, less 0.5%, which constitutes
GNMA's and the issuer's fees. For providing its guarantee, GNMA receives an
annual fee of 0.06% of the outstanding principal on certificates backed by
single family dwelling mortgages, and the issuer receives an annual fee of
0.44% for assembling the pool and for passing through monthly payments of
interest and principal.
Payments to holders of Ginnie Maes consist of the monthly distributions
of interest and principal less GNMA's and the issuer's fees. The actual
yield to be earned by a holder of a Ginnie Mae is calculated by dividing
interest payments by the purchase price paid for the Ginnie Mae (which may be
at a premium or a discount from the face value of the certificate).
Monthly distributions of interest, as contrasted to semi-annual
distributions which are common for other fixed interest investments, have the
effect of compounding and thereby raising the effective annual yield earned
on Ginnie Maes. Because of the variation in the life of the pools of
mortgages which back various Ginnie Maes, and because it is impossible to
anticipate the rate of interest at which future principal payments may be
reinvested, the actual yield earned from a portfolio of Ginnie Maes will
differ significantly from the yield estimated by using an assumption of a
12-year life for each Ginnie Mae included in such a portfolio as described
above.
Illiquid Securities. Where a substantial market of qualified
institutional buyers develops for certain restricted securities purchased by
the Fund pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Fund intends to treat such securities as liquid securities in accordance
with procedures approved by the Fund's Board. Because it is not possible to
predict with assurance how the market for restricted securities pursuant to
Rule 144A will develop, the Fund's Board has directed the Manager to monitor
carefully the Fund's investments in such securities with particular regard to
trading activity, availability of reliable price information and other
relevant information. To the extent that, for a period of time, qualified
institutional buyers cease purchasing restricted securities pursuant to Rule
144A, the Fund's investing in such securities may have the effect of
increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund's portfolio during such
period.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund's custodian or sub-custodian will have
custody of, and will hold in a segregated account, securities acquired by the
Fund under a repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements are considered by
the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be loans by the Fund.
In an attempt to reduce the risk of incurring a loss on a repurchase
agreement, the Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with domestic
banks with total assets in excess of $1 billion, or primary government
securities dealers reporting to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with
respect to securities of the type in which the Fund may invest, and will
require that additional securities be deposited with it if the value of the
securities purchased should decrease below resale price.
Management Policies
Leverage. For borrowings for investment purposes, the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), requires the Fund to
maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including
borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount
borrowed. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market
fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its
portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the amount of its borrowings
and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous
from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time. The Fund also
may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such
borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit;
either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the
stated interest rate. To the extent the Fund enters into a reverse
repurchase agreement, the Fund will maintain in a segregated custodial
account cash or U.S. Government securities or other high quality liquid debt
securities at least equal to the aggregate amount of its reverse repurchase
obligations, plus accrued interest, in certain cases, in accordance with
releases promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Securities and Exchange Commission views reverse repurchase transactions as
collateralized borrowings by the Fund.
Forward Commitments. Ginnie Maes and other mortgage-related 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.
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in, or enter into, Derivatives (as
defined in the Fund's Prospectus) for a variety of reasons, including to
hedge certain market risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities or to increase potential income gain. Derivatives may
provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way for the Fund to
invest than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives 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 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.
Writing and Purchasing Options. To earn additional income on its portfolio,
the Fund, to a limited extent, may write covered call options on securities
owned by the Fund ("covered options" or "options") and purchase call options
to close option transactions, as described below.
A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and
obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price
at any time during the option period, regardless of the market price of the
security. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for
undertaking the obligations under the option contract. When a covered call
option is written by the Fund, the Fund will make arrangements with its
custodian to segregate the underlying securities until the option either is
exercised, expires or the Fund closes out the option as described below. A
covered call option sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the
option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market
price of the underlying security or to possible continued holding of a
security which might otherwise have been sold to protect against depreciation
in the market price of the security. To limit this exposure, the value of
the portfolio securities underlying covered call options written by the Fund
will be limited to an amount not in excess of 20% of the value of the Fund's
net assets at the time such options are written.
To close out a position, the Fund may make a "closing purchase
transaction," which involves purchasing a call option on the same security
with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option which it has
previously written on a particular security. The Fund will realize a profit
(or loss) from a closing purchase transaction if the amount paid to purchase
a call option is less (or more) than the amount received from the sale
thereof.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 9 as
fundamental policies, which cannot be changed without approval by the holders
of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. Investment restrictions numbered 10 and 11 are not fundamental
policies and may be changed by vote of a majority of the Fund's Board at any
time. The Fund may not:
1. Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants or other equity
securities, or purchase corporate bonds or debentures, state bonds, municipal
bonds or industrial revenue bonds.
2. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act
(which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the
Fund's total assets).
3. Sell securities short or purchase securities on margin or write or
purchase put or call options or combinations thereof, except that the Fund
may write and sell covered call option contracts on securities owned by the
Fund not exceeding 20% of the value of its net assets at the time such option
contracts are written. In connection with the writing of covered call
options, the Fund may pledge assets to an extent not greater than 20% of the
value of its net assets at the time such options are written.
4. Underwrite the securities of other issuers.
5. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust
securities, commodities, or oil and gas interests, provided that the Fund may
purchase Ginnie Maes without limitation.
6. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations referred to in the Prospectus.
7. Invest more than 25% of its assets in securities of issuers in any
industry, provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of
Ginnie Maes or other securities issued, guaranteed or backed by the U.S.
Government, as described in the Prospectus.
8. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.
9. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except as they
may be acquired as part of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of assets.
10. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets,
except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings.
11. 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.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later increase 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
interests of the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to
revoke the commitment by terminating the sale of Fund shares in the state
involved.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years, are
shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board for various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is
Chairman of the Board of Noel Group, Inc., a venture capital company,
and Staffing Resources, Inc. a temporary placement agency; and a
director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services
Corporation, Carlyle Industries, Inc. (formerly, Belding Heminway
Company, Inc.), a button packager and distributor, and Curtis
Industries, Inc., a national distributor of security products, chemicals
and automotive and other hardware. For more than five years prior
thereto, he was President, a director and, until August 1994, Chief
Operating Officer of the Manager and Executive Vice President and a
director of Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Manager and, until August 24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From
August 1994 to December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank
Corporation. Mr. DiMartino is 53 years old and his address is 200 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
DAVID W. BURKE, Board Member. Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, an independent board within the United States Information
Agency, since August 1995. From August 1994 to December 1994, Mr. Burke
was a consultant to the Manager and from October 1990 to August 1994, he
was Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Manager.
From 1997 to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the management of national
television news, as Vice-President and Executive Vice President of ABC
News, and subsequently as President of CBS News. Mr. Burke is 61 years
old and his address is Box 654, Eastham, Massachusetts 02642.
SAMUEL CHASE, Board Member. Since 1982, Mr. Chase has been President of
Samuel Chase & Company, Ltd., an economic consulting firm. Mr. Chase is
65 years old and his address is 10380 Springhill Road, Belgrade, Montana
59714.
GORDON J. DAVIS, Board Member. Since October 1994, Mr. Davis has been a
senior partner with the firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae. From
1983 to September 1994, Mr. Davis was a senior partner with the law firm
of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith. He was Commissioner of Parks and
Recreation for the City of New York from 1978 to 1983. He is also a
director of Consolidated Edison, a utility company, and Phoenix Home
Life Insurance Company and a member of various other corporate and not-
for-profit boards. Mr. Davis is 55 years old and his address is 241
Central Park West, New York, New York 10023.
JONI EVANS, Board Member. Senior Vice President of the William Morris Agency
since September 1993. From September 1987 to May 1993, Executive Vice
President of Random House, Inc., and from January 1991 to May 1993,
President and Publisher of Turtle Bay Books, from January 1987 to
December 1990, Publisher of Random House-Adult Trade Division; from
September 1985 to September 1987, President of Simon and Schuster-Trade
Division. Ms. Evans is 54 years old and her address is 1325 Avenue of
the Americas, 33rd floor, New York, New York 10019.
ARNOLD S. HIATT, Board Member. Chairman of The Stride Rite Foundation. From
1969 to June 1992, Mr. Hiatt was Chairman of the Board, President or
Chief Executive Officer of The Stride Rite Corporation, a
multi-divisional footwear manufacturing and retailing company. Mr.
Hiatt is also a director of the Cabot Corporation. Mr. Hiatt is 69
years old and his address is 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02142.
DAVID J. MAHONEY, Board Member. President of David Mahoney Ventures since
1983. From 1968 to 1983, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Norton Simon Inc., a producer of consumer products and services. Mr.
Mahoney is also a director of Intra Health Systems, Inc. Mr. Mahoney is
74 years old and his address is 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 700, New York,
New York 10151.
BURTON N. WALLACK, Board Member. President and co-owner of Wallack
Management Company, a real estate management company managing real
estate in the New York City area. Mr. Wallack is 46 years old and his
address is 18 East 64th Street, Suite 3D, New York, New York 10021.
For so long as the Fund's plan described in the section captioned
"Service 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.
Ordinarily, meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board
members will not be held unless and until such time as less than a majority
of the Board members holding office have been elected by shareholders, at
which time the Board members then in office will call a shareholders' meeting
for the election of Board members. Under the 1940 Act, shareholders of
record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Fund may
remove a Board member through a declaration in writing or by vote cast in
person or by proxy at a meeting called for that purpose. The Board members
are required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of any such Board member when requested in writing to
do so by the shareholders of record of not less than 10% of the Fund's
outstanding shares.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a per
meeting fee and reimbursement for their expenses. The Chairman of the Board
receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board members are
entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of one-half the
amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of compensation
payable to each Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30,
1997, 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, 1996, were as follows:
Total Compensation
Aggregate From Fund and
Name of Board Compensation From Fund Complex
Member Fund* Paid to Board Member
Joseph S. DiMartino $9,375 $517,075 (94)
David W. Burke $7,500 $232,699 (51)
Samuel Chase $7,500 $49,370 (12)
Gordon J. Davis $7,000 $88,536 (24)
Joni Evans $7,000 $45,620 (12)
Arnold S. Hiatt $7,500 $45,620 (12)
David J. Mahoney $5,500 $40,312 (16)
Burton N. Wallack $7,500 $49,370 (12)
_____________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board meetings,
which amounted to $180 for all Directors 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. She is 40 years old.
JOHN E. PELLETIER, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President and
General Counsel 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.
He is 33 years old.
ELIZABETH A. KEELEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
of the Distributor and an officer of other investment companies advised
or administered by the Manager. She has been employed by the
Distributor since September 1995. She is 27 years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Supervisor of
Treasury Services and Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc. and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund
Accountant for Investors Bank & Trust Company. From December 1991 to
March 1993, he was employed as a Fund Accountant at The Boston Company.
He is 28 years old.
MARK A. KARPE, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Senior Paralegal of
the Distributor and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. Prior to August 1993, he was employed as
an Associate Examiner at the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. He is 27 years old.
JOSEPH S. TOWER, III, Vice President and 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 34 years old.
RICHARD W. INGRAM, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President and Director of Client Services and Treasury Operations of
Funds Distributor, Inc. and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. From March 1994 to November
1995, he was Vice President and Division Manager for First Data Investor
Services Group. From 1989 to 1994, he was Vice President, Assistant
Treasurer and Tax Director of Mutual Funds of The Boston Company. He is
41 years old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President and
Manager of Treasury Services and Administration of Funds Distributor,
Inc. and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From September 1989 to July 1994, she was
an Assistant Vice President and Client Manager for The Boston Company.
She is 33 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Director of
Strategic Client Initiatives for Funds Distributor, Inc. and an officer
of other investment companies advised or administered by the Manager.
From December 1989 through November 1996, he was employed by GE
Investments where he held various financial, business developments and
compliance positions. He also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds and
as director of GE Investment Services. He is 35 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 August 4, 1997.
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 April 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. The Agreement was
approved by shareholders on August 2, 1994, and was last approved by the
Fund's Board, including a majority of the Board members who are not
"interested persons" of any party to the Agreement, at a meeting held on
April 16, 1997. The Agreement is terminable without penalty, on not more
than 60 days' notice, by the Fund's Board or by vote of the holders 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: W.
Keith Smith, Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and a director; Stephen E.
Canter, Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S.
Kash, Vice Chairman--Distribution and a director; William T. Sandalls, Jr.,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Mark N. Jacobs, Vice
President, General Counsel, and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice
President--Corporate Communication; Jeffrey N. Nachman, Vice President--
Mutual Fund Accounting; Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President--Information
Services; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human Resources; William V.
Healey, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman, Burton C. Borgelt, and
Frank V. Cahouet, directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance
with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's
Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions and provides the
Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute
purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are Roger
King, Kevin McClintock, Michael Hoeh, Matthew Olson and Gerald E. Thunelius.
The Manager also maintains a research department with a professional staff of
portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services for
the Fund and for other funds advised by the Manager.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing 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,
Securities and Exchange Commission and state Blue Sky qualification fees,
advisory fees, charges of custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing
agents' fees, certain insurance premiums, industry association fees, outside
auditing and legal expenses, costs of independent pricing services, costs of
maintaining corporate existence, costs attributable to investor services
(including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of
shareholders' reports and corporate meetings, and any extraordinary expenses.
The Fund bears certain servicing expenses in accordance with a written plan
and also bears certain costs associated with implementing and operating such
plan and costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and statements of
additional information. See "Service Plan."
As compensation for the Manager's services, the Fund has agreed to pay
the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. The management fees for the
fiscal years ended April 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997 amounted to $8,957,493,
$8,616,559 and $7,906,732, 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 net assets of the Fund for the fiscal year,
the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under the
Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense. Such deduction or
payment, if any, will be estimated, reconciled and effected or paid, as the
case may be, on a monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
The Distributor. The Distributor serves as the Fund's distributor on a
best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually. The
Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds and for certain other investment companies.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders
may be made at any time. Purchase orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York
time, on any business day that Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the Fund's transfer
and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent"), and the New York Stock
Exchange are open for business will be credited to the shareholder's Fund
account on the next bank business day following such purchase order.
Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any business day the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business, or
orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York
Stock Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the
initial payment for purchase of Fund shares must be drawn on, and redemption
proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account
Application or Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a
particular redemption are to be wired to an account at any other bank, the
request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See "Redemption of
Shares--TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. An investor may reopen an account with a minimum
investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the
calendar year in which the account is closed or during the following calendar
year, provided the information on the old Account Application is still
applicable.
SERVICE PLAN
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Service Plan."
Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule"), adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the 1940 Act, provides, among other things, that an
investment company may bear expenses of distributing its shares only pursuant
to a plan adopted in accordance with the Rule. The Fund's Board has adopted
such a plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund (a) reimburses the
Distributor for payments to certain financial institutions (which may include
banks), securities dealers and other financial industry professionals
(collectively, "Service Agents") for distributing Fund shares and servicing
shareholder accounts ("Servicing") and (b) pays the Manager, Dreyfus Service
Corporation and any affiliates of either of them (collectively, "Dreyfus")
for advertising and marketing relating to the Fund and for Servicing. The
Fund's Board believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan
will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Plan, and the
purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the
Fund's Board for its review. In addition, the Plan provides that it may not
be amended to increase materially the costs which the Fund may bear for
distribution pursuant to the Plan without shareholder approval and that other
material amendments of the Plan must be approved by the Fund's Board, and by
the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan or in the related service agreements, by vote cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments.
The Plan and the related service agreements are subject to annual approval by
such vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Plan. The Plan was approved by shareholders on August 2, 1994, and was last
approved by Board members at a meeting held on April 16, 1997. 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 or in any of the related service agreements or by vote
of a majority of the Fund's shares. Any service agreement is terminable
without penalty, at any time, by such vote of the Board members or, upon not
more than 60 days' written notice to the Service Agent, by vote of the
holders of a majority of the Fund's shares, or, upon 15 days' notice, by the
Distributor. Each service agreement will terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1997, the total amount payable by
the Fund was $2,652,885, of which $2,371,926 was payable to Dreyfus for
advertising and marketing and Servicing, $263,652 was reimbursed to the
Distributor for payments made to Service Agents and $17,307 was payable by
the Fund for preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements
of additional information and for costs associated with implementing and
operating 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."
Check Redemption Privilege. An investor may indicate on the Account
Application, Shareholder Services Form, or by later written request that the
Fund provide Redemption Checks ("Checks") drawn on the investor's Fund
account. Checks will be sent only to the registered owner(s) of the account
and only to the address of record. The Account Application, Shareholder
Services Form or later written request must be manually signed by the
registered owners(s). Checks may be made payable to the order of any person
in an amount of $500 or more. When a Check is presented to the Transfer
Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent, as the investor's agent, will cause
the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of full or fractional shares in the
investor's account to cover the amount of the Check. Dividends are earned
until the Check clears. After clearance, a copy of the Check will be
returned to the investor. Investors generally will be subject to the same
rules and regulations that apply to checking accounts, although the election
of this Privilege creates only a shareholder-transfer agent relationship with
the Transfer Agent.
If the amount of the Check is greater than the value of the shares in an
investor's account, the Check will be returned marked insufficient funds.
Checks should not be used to close an account.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire or telephone redemption
instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be the
investor or a representative of the investor's Service Agent acting on the
investor's behalf, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be
genuine. Ordinarily, the Fund will initiate payment for shares redeemed
pursuant to this Privilege on the next business day after receipt by the
Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds
($1,000 minimum) will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the
commercial bank account specified by the investor on the Account Application
or Shareholder Services Form or to a correspondent bank if the investor's
bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are
imposed by such bank and borne by the investor. Immediate notification by
the correspondent bank to the investor's bank is necessary to avoid a delay
in crediting the funds to the investor's bank account.
Investors with access to telegraphic equipment may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
Investors who do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment may
have the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at
1-800-654-7171, toll free. Investors should advise the operator that the
above transmittal code must be used and should 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 certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request. Written
redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including each holder
of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed. Signatures on
endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be guaranteed. The
Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant to which
signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be accepted from domestic
banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges,
registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings
associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP"), and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. Guarantees must be
signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor and "Signature-Guaranteed"
must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent may request additional
documentation from corporations, executors, administrators, trustees or
guardians, and may accept other suitable verification arrangements from
foreign investors, such as consular verification. For more information with
respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed on the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed 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 amount, the Fund's Board
reserves the right to make payments in whole or part in securities or other
assets of the Fund in case of an emergency or any time a cash distribution
would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the existing share
holders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the same manner as
the Fund's portfolio is valued. If the recipient sold such securities,
brokerage charges might be incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or
when an emergency exists as determined by 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 the fund shares and their
account number.
To request an exchange, an investor, or the investor's Service Agent
acting on the investor's behalf, 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 (including
over The Dreyfus Touchr automated telephone system) 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 another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is available
only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of
relative net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges."
Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective
three business days following notification by the investor. An investor will
be notified if his account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged
under this Privilege. In this case, the 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
Dreyfus-Auto Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time
upon notice to shareholders.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a specified
dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the yield
on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and eventually may be
depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the
investor, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have
been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest automatically their dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds of which the investor is a shareholder. Shares of other
funds purchased pursuant to the 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 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 are also
available.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
A fee may be charged by the entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans,
403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs, payment of which could require the liquidation of
shares. All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity which acts as custodian. Purchases for these plans
may not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
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 also may open a nonworking
spousal IRA with a minimum investment of $250.
The investor should read the prototype retirement plan and the
appropriate form of custodial agreement for further details as to
eligibility, service fees and tax implications, and should consult a tax
adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
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. The Fund's investments are valued
each business day using available market quotations or at fair value as
determined by one or more independent pricing services (collectively, the
"Service") approved by the Fund's Board. The Service may use available
market quotations, employ electronic data processing techniques and/or a
matrix system to determine valuations. The Service's procedures are reviewed
by the Fund's officers under the general supervision of the Fund's Board.
Expenses and fees, including the management fee (reduced by the expense
limitation, if any) and the fees under the Service Plan, are accrued daily
and are 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 April 30, 1997. The Fund intends to continue to so
qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders.
To qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must distribute at
least 90% of its net income (consisting of net investment income from taxable
obligations and net short-term capital gains) to its shareholders, and must
meet certain asset diversification and other requirements. The term
"regulated investment company" does not imply the supervision of management
or investment practices or policies by any government agency.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after a shareholder's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the net asset value of his shares below the
cost of his investment. Such a distribution would be a return on investment
in an economic sense although taxable as stated in the Prospectus. In
addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder has not held his shares for
more than six months and has received a capital gain dividend with respect to
such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be treated as
long-term capital loss.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gain or loss. However, all or a portion of any gain
realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds
will be treated as ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. In
addition, all or a portion of the gain realized from engaging in "conversion
transaction" 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
covered call options that it writes which are traded on a "qualified board or
exchange" 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 options as well as from closing purchase transactions. In
addition, such 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.
The writing of covered call options on securities that the Fund holds
may be considered, for tax purposes, to constitute "straddles." "Straddles"
are defined to include "offsetting positions" in actively traded personal
property. The tax treatment of "straddles" is governed by Section 1092 of
the Code, which, in certain circumstances, overrides or modifies the
provisions of Section 1256 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 to ordinary income. If the Fund were
treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of engaging in covered call
option transactions, such straddles will be characterized as "mixed
straddles" if the options 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, to the
extent the "straddle" rules apply to positions established by the Fund,
losses realized by the Fund will be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain
in the offsetting position. Moreover, as a result of the "straddle" and
conversion transaction rules, short-term capital loss on "straddle" positions
may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain
may be treated as short-term capital gain or ordinary income.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Portfolio securities ordinarily are purchased from and sold to parties
acting as either principal or agent. Newly-issued securities ordinarily are
purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter; other purchases
and sales usually are placed with those dealers from whom it appears that the
best price or execution will be obtained. Usually no brokerage commissions,
as such, are paid by the Fund for such purchases and sales, although the
price paid usually includes an undisclosed compensation to the dealer acting
as agent. The prices paid to underwriters of newly-issued securities usually
include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases of
after-market securities from dealers normally are executed at a price between
the bid and asked price. No brokerage commissions have been paid by the Fund
to date.
Transactions are allocated to various dealers by the Fund's portfolio
managers in their best judgment. The primary consideration is prompt and
effective execution of orders at the most favorable price. Subject to that
primary consideration, dealers may be selected for research, statistical or
other services to enable the Manager to supplement its own research and
analysis with the views and information of other securities firms.
Research services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects
securities transactions may be used by the Manager in advising other funds it
advises and, conversely, research services furnished to the Manager by
brokers in connection with other funds the Manager advises may be used by the
Manager in advising the Fund. Although it is not possible to place a dollar
value on these services, it is the opinion of the Manager that the receipt
and study of such services should not reduce the overall expenses of its
research department.
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. The portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years ended April 30,
1996 and 1997 were 144.43% and 323.99%, respectively. The significant
increase in the Fund's turnover rate for the fiscal years ended April 30, 1997
was principally attributable to the Fund's increased participation in forward
roll transactions.
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 current yield for the 30-day period ended April 30, 1997, was
6.39%. Current yield is computed pursuant to a formula which operates as
follows: The amount of the Fund's expenses accrued for the 30-day period
(net of reimbursements) is subtracted from the amount of the dividends and
interest earned (computed in accordance with regulatory requirements) by the
Fund during the period. That result is then divided by the product of: (a)
the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that were
entitled to receive dividends and (b) the net asset value per share on the
last day of the period less any undistributed earned income per share
reasonably expected to be declared as a dividend shortly thereafter. The
quotient is then added to 1, and that sum is raised to the 6th power, after
which 1 is subtracted. The current yield is then arrived at by multiplying
the result by 2.
The Fund's average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 10 year periods
ended April 30, 1997, was 6.17%, 6.27% and 7.58%, respectively. Average
annual total return is calculated by determining the ending redeemable value
of an investment purchased with a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the
beginning of the period (assuming the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions), dividing by the amount of the initial investment, taking the
"n"th root of the quotient (where "n" is the number of years in the period)
and subtracting 1 from the result.
The Fund's total return for the period May 29, 1985 (commencement of
operations) through April 30, 1997, was 157.49%. Total return is calculated
by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net asset value per share at the
beginning of a stated period from the net asset value per share at the end of
the period (after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions during the period), and dividing the result by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period.
From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to or
discuss then- current or past economic conditions, developments and/or
events, and actual or proposed tax legislation. From time to time,
advertising materials for the Fund also may refer to statistical or other
information concerning trends relating to investment companies, as compiled
by industry associations such as the Investment Company Institute. From time
to time, advertising materials for the Fund also 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.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT, CUSTODIAN,
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's transfer and
dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund,
the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account
records for the Fund, the handling of certain communications between
shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and distributions
payable by the Fund. For these services, the Transfer Agent receives a
monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder accounts it
maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for certain out-of-
pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1997, the Fund paid the
Transfer Agent $816,287.
Mellon Bank, N.A. (the "Custodian"), the Manager's parent, One Mellon
Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, serves as custodian of the
Fund's investments. Under a custody agreement with the Fund, the Custodian
holds the Fund's securities and keeps all necessary accounts and records.
For its custody services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on the
market value of the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain
securities transactions charges. For the period May 10, 1996 (effective date
of the custody agreement) through April 30, 1997, the Fund paid the Custodian
$55,807.
First Interstate Bank of California, 707 Wilshire Boulevard, Los
Angeles, California 90017, serves as a sub-custodian of the Fund's
investment.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-498, 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 independent auditors of the Fund.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT and REPORT INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April
30, 1997 is a separate document supplied with this Statement of Additional
Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and report of
independent auditors appearing therein are incorporated by reference in this
Statement of Additional Information.
DREYFUS GNMA 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 April 30, 1997.
Included (by Reference) in Part B of the Registration
Statement:
Statement of Investments--April 30, 1997.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities--April 30, 1997.
Statement of Operations--year ended April 30, 1997.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets--for each of the
years ended April 30, 1996 and 1997.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, dated
June 12, 1997.
All Schedules and other financial statement information, for which provision
is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are either omitted because they are not required under
the related instructions, they are inapplicable, or the required information
is presented in the financial statements or notes thereto which are
incorporated by reference to in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Registrant's Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (1)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 24, 1994.
(2) Registrant's By-Laws are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (2)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on July 12, 1995.
(4) Specimen certificate for the Registrant's securities is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4) of Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on May 24, 1985.
(5) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (5)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on July 12, 1995.
(6)(a) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(6)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 12, 1995.
(8)(a) Custody Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (8)(a)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on August 29, 1996.
(10) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (10) of Post Effective Amendment No. 19 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 29, 1996.
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors.
(14) Model Retirement Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (14)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on August 29, 1996.
(15) Service Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (15) of Post-
Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A filed on July 12. 1995.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Data is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June 24, 1994.
(17) Financial Data Schedule.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
Other Exhibits
______________
(a) Powers of Attorney of Directors are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
August 29, 1996.
(b) Power of Attorney of Officer is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
August 29, 1996.
(c) Certificate of Assistant Secretary is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (c) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
August 29, 1996.
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 August 4, 1997
______________ _____________________________
Common Stock 58,385
(Par value $.01)
Item 27. Indemnification
_______ _______________
Reference is made to Article VIII of the Registrant's
Articles of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 24, 1994. The
application of these provisions is limited by Article 10 of
the Registrant's By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 12, 1995, and by the
following undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
is 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 such 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 attached as
Exhibit (6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 12, 1995.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
_______ ____________________________________________________
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") and subsidiary
companies comprise a financial service organization whose
business consists primarily of providing investment management
services as the investment adviser, manager and distributor for
sponsored investment companies registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and as an investment adviser to
institutional and individual accounts. Dreyfus also serves as
sub-investment adviser to and/or administrator of other
investment companies. Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Dreyfus, serves primarily as a registered
broker-dealer of shares of investment companies sponsored by
Dreyfus and of other investment companies for which Dreyfus
acts as investment adviser, sub-investment adviser or
administrator. Dreyfus Management, Inc., another wholly-owned
subsidiary, provides investment management services to various
pension plans, institutions and individuals.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
________ ________________________________________________________________
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
____________________________________________
Name and Position
with Dreyfus Other Businesses
_________________ ________________
MANDELL L. BERMAN Real estate consultant and private investor
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 370
Southfield, Michigan 48034;
Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees:
Skillman Foundation;
Member of The Board of Vintners Intl.
BURTON C. BORGELT Chairman Emeritus of the Board and
Director Past Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
Director:
DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
1 Gorham Island
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***
FRANK V. CAHOUET Chairman of the Board, President and
Director Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Avery Dennison Corporation
150 North Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103;
Saint-Gobain Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482;
Teledyne, Inc.
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, California 90067
W. KEITH SMITH Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Chairman of the Board The Boston Company****;
Vice Chairman of the Board:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON Vice Chairman:
President, Chief Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Executive Officer, The Boston Company****;
Chief Operating Deputy Director:
Officer and a Mellon Trust***;
Director Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company Asset Management,
Inc.****;
President:
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company****
STEPHEN E. CANTER Director:
Vice Chairman and The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Chief Investment Officer, Formerly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
and a Director Kleinwort Benson Investment Management
Americas Inc.*
LAWRENCE S. KASH Chairman, President and Chief
Vice Chairman-Distribution Executive Officer:
and a Director The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
53 State Street
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.**;
Director:
Dreyfus America Fund+++;
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
World Balanced Fund++++;
President:
The Boston Company****;
Laurel Capital Advisors***;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.;
Executive Vice President:
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company****
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 America Fund+++;
World Balanced Fund++++;
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Truepenny Corporation*;
Treasurer, Financial Officer and Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Treasurer and Director:
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Formerly, President and Director:
Sandalls & Co., Inc.
MARK N. JACOBS Vice President, Secretary and Director:
Vice President, Secretary:
General Counsel The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
and Secretary 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
WILLIAM V. HEALEY
Assistant Secretary
President:
The Truepenny Corporation
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation
Secretary and Director:
Dreyfus Partnership Management Inc.
Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Corporation
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.
Assistant Clerk:
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts,
Inc.
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
** The address of the business so indicated is 131 Second Street, Lewes,
Delaware 19958.
*** The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
**** The address of the business so indicated is One Boston Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02108.
+ The address of the business so indicated is Atrium Building, 80 Route
4 East, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.
++ The address of the business so indicated is 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144.
+++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route 'd'Esch,
L-1470 Luxembourg.
++++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route 'd'Esch,
L-2953 Luxembourg.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
________ ______________________
(a) Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal
underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or
exclusive distributor:
1) Comstock Partners Funds, Inc.
2) Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.
3) Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.
4) Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
5) Dreyfus Balanced Fund, Inc.
6) Dreyfus BASIC GNMA Fund
7) Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.
8) Dreyfus BASIC Municipal Fund, Inc.
9) Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund
10) Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
11) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
12) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
13) Dreyfus Cash Management
14) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
15) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
17) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
18) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
19) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
20) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
21) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
22) Dreyfus Government Cash Management
23) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
24) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
25) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Income Funds
27) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
28) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
29) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
30) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
31) Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
32) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
33) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
34) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
35) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
36) Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
37) Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
38) Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
39) Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
40) Dreyfus Massachusetts Tax Exempt Bond Fund
41) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund
42) Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.
43) Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
44) Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus
45) Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
46) Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
47) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
48) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
49) Dreyfus New Leaders Fund, Inc.
50) Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund
51) Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management
52) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
53) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund
54) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
55) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
56) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
57) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
58) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
59) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
60) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
61) Dreyfus Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
62) Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
63) Dreyfus Premier International Growth Fund, Inc.
64) Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund
65) Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
66) Dreyfus Premier Insured Municipal Bond Fund
67) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
68) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
69) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
70) Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
71) Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
72) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
73) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
74) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
75) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
76) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
77) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
78) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
79) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
80) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
81) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
82) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
83) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
84) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
85) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
86) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
87) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
88) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
89) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
(b)
Positions and
Name and principal Positions and offices with offices with
business address the Distributor Registrant
__________________ ___________________________ _____________
Marie E. Connolly+ Director, President, Chief President and
Executive Officer and Compliance Treasurer
Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Senior Vice President, Treasurer Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant
Treasurer
John E. Pelletier+ Senior Vice President, General Vice President
Counsel, Secretary and Clerk and Secretary
Richard W. Ingram Senior Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Roy M. Moura+ First Vice President None
Elizabeth A. Keeley++ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
Dale F. Lampe+ Vice President None
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
John W. Gomez+ Director None
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10166.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
________________________________
1. First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.,
a subsidiary of First Data Corporation
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
2. Mellon Bank, N.A.
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
3. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
4. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 31. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 32. Undertakings
________ ____________
(1) To call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a Board member or Board members when
requested in writing to do so by the holders of at least 10% of
the Registrant's outstanding shares and in connection with such
meeting to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to shareholder
communications.
(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 21th day of August, 1997.
DREYFUS GNMA 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 dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
___________________________ _____________________________ _________
/s/Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer 8/21/97
____________________________ (Principal Executive, Financial
Marie E Connolly and Accounting Officer)
/s/Samuel Chase* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Samuel Chase
/s/Gordon J.Davis* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Gordon J. Davis
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/Joni Evans* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Joni Evans
/s/Arnold S. Hiatt* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Arnold S. Hiatt
/s/David J. Mahoney* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
David J. Mahoney
/s/Burton Wallack* Director 8/21/97
____________________________
Burton Wallack
*BY: /s/Elizabeth A. Keeley
__________________________
Elizabeth A. Keeley,
Attorney-in-Fact
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
(II) Consent of Independent Auditors
(17) Financial Data Schedule.
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 incorporation by reference of
our report dated June 12, 1997, in this Registration Statement (Form N-1A
No. 2-95553) of Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
August 18, 1997
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</TABLE>
