File No.33-06013
811-04688
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. 22 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 22 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
DREYFUS PREMIER VALUE EQUITY FUNDS
(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)
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(date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
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X on March 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
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If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
Investing in value stocks for capital growth
PROSPECTUS March 1, 1999
(reg.tm)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
The Fund
Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
---------------------------------
Ticker Symbols CLASS A: DRSIX
CLASS B: DSTBX
CLASS C: PPVCS
CLASS R: XXXXX
Contents
The Fund
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Goal/Approach INSIDE COVER
Main Risks 1
Past Performance 1
Expenses 2
Management 3
Financial Highlights 4
Your Investment
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Account Policies 6
Distributions and Taxes 8
Services for Fund Investors 9
Instructions for Regular Accounts 10
Instructions for IRAs 11
For More Information
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INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S RECENT STRATEGIES AND HOLDINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT. SEE BACK COVER.
GOAL/APPROACH
The fund seeks capital growth. To pursue this goal, it invests primarily in
equity securities of value companies of any size. The fund's equity investments
may include common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities of both
U.S. and foreign issuers. The fund can be expected to invest mainly in the
stocks of U.S. issuers, as the fund limits its foreign stock holdings to 30% of
the value of its assets.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager looks for value companies that provide
opportunities for capital growth. The manager uses proprietary computer models
to identify stocks that appear favorably priced and that may benefit from the
current market and economic environment. The manager then reviews these stocks
for factors that could signal a rise in price, such as:
(pound) new products or markets
(pound) opportunities for greater market share
(pound) more effective management
(pound) positive changes in corporate structure or market perception
(pound) potential for improved earnings
The fund typically sells a stock when it is no longer considered a value
company, appears less likely to benefit from the current market and economic
environment, shows deteriorating fundamentals or falls short of the manager's
expectations.
The fund also may invest in bonds which offer opportunities for capital growth.
These bonds may be investment grade or below investment grade quality (but no
lower than "CCC/Caa").
Concepts to understand
VALUE COMPANIES: companies that appear underpriced according to certain
financial measurements of their intrinsic worth or business prospects (such as
price-to-earnings or price-to-book ratios). Because a stock can remain
undervalued for years, value investors often look for factors that could trigger
a rise in price.
INSIDE COVER
<PAGE>
MAIN RISKS
While stocks have historically been a leading choice of long-term investors,
they do fluctuate in price. The value of your investment in the fund will go up
and down, which means that you could lose money.
Value stocks involve the risk that they may never reach what the manager
believes is their full market value either because the market fails to recognize
the stock's intrinsic worth or the manager misgauged that worth. They also may
decline in price, even though in theory they are already underpriced. Because
different types of stocks tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market
and economic conditions, the fund's performance may sometimes be lower or higher
than that of other types of funds (such as those emphasizing growth stocks).
The fund may invest in companies of any size. Investments in small and mid-size
companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less
predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid
than larger, more established companies.
In searching for attractive value stocks, the fund may invest a portion of its
assets in foreign securities, which include special risks such as changes in
currency exchange rates, a lack of adequate company information, political
instability, and potentially less liquidity.
Under adverse market conditions, the fund could invest some or all of its assets
in money market securities. Although the fund would do this only in seeking to
avoid losses, it could have the effect of reducing the benefit from any upswing
in the market.
Other potential risks
The fund may invest some assets in derivative securities, such as options and
futures, and foreign currencies. It may also sell short. These practices are
used primarily to hedge the fund's portfolio but may be used to increase
returns; however, such practices sometimes may reduce returns or increase
volatility. Derivatives can be illiquid, and a small investment in certain
derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the fund's performance.
At times, the fund may engage in short-term trading, which could produce higher
brokerage costs and taxable distributions.
The fund can buy securities with borrowed money (a form of leverage), which
could have the effect of magnifying the fund's gains or losses.
PAST PERFORMANCE
The first table shows how the performance of the fund's Class A shares has
varied from year to year. Sales loads are not reflected in that table; if they
were, returns would be less than those shown. The second table compares the
performance of each share class over time to that of the S&P 500 Index, a widely
recognized unmanaged index of overall stock performance. The returns reflect any
applicable sales loads. Both tables assume the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions. As with all mutual funds, the past is not a prediction of the
future.
<TABLE>
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Year-by-year total return AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR (%)
BEST QUARTER: Q ' +X.XX%
WORST QUARTER: Q ' -X.XX%
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Average annual total return AS OF 12/31/98
Inception date 1 Year 3 Years Life of fund
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS A (10/16/86) X.XX% X.XX% X.XX%
CLASS B (1/15/93) X.XX% X.XX% X.XX%
CLASS C (9/1/95) X.XX% X.XX% X.XX%
CLASS R (9/1/95) X.XX% X.XX% X.XX%
S&P 500 INDEX X.XX% X.XX% X.XX%*
* FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES, THE VALUE OF THE INDEX ON XX/XX/XX IS USED AS THE
BEGINNING VALUE ON XX/XX/XX.
</TABLE>
What this fund is -- and isn't
This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed
and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to
reach its stated goal, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer
guaranteed results.
An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete
investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the
potential to make money.
The Fund 1
<PAGE>
EXPENSES
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund,
which are described in the tables below.
<TABLE>
Fee table
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS R
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION FEES (FEES PAID FROM YOUR ACCOUNT)
Maximum sales charge on purchases
AS A % OF OFFERING PRICE 5.75 NONE NONE NONE
Maximum deferred sales charge (CDSC)
AS A % OF PURCHASE OR SALE PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LESS NONE* 4.00 1.00 NONE
Maximum account fee
CHARGED ONLY TO REGULAR ACCOUNTS WITH BALANCES BELOW $2,000
(SEE "YOUR INVESTMENT--ACCOUNT POLICIES") $12 $12 $12 $12
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES PAID FROM FUND ASSETS)
% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS
Management fees 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75
12b-1 fee NONE 0.75 0.75 NONE
Shareholder services fee 0.25 0.25 0.25 NONE
Other expenses X.XX X.XX X.XX X.XX
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TOTAL X.XX X.XX X.XX X.XX
* SHARES BOUGHT WITHOUT AN INITIAL SALES CHARGE AS PART OF AN INVESTMENT OF $1
MILLION OR MORE MAY BE CHARGED A CDSC OF 1.00% IF REDEEMED WITHIN ONE YEAR.
Expense example
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
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CLASS A $XXX $XXX $XXX $XXX
CLASS B
WITH REDEMPTION $XXX $XXX $XXX $XXX**
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $XXX $XXX $XXX
CLASS C
WITH REDEMPTION $XXX $XXX $XXX $XXX
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $XXX
CLASS R $XXX $XXX $XXX $XXX
** ASSUMES CONVERSION OF CLASS B TO CLASS A AT END OF THE SIXTH YEAR FOLLOWING
THE DATE OF PURCHASE.
</TABLE>
This example shows what you could pay in expenses over time. It uses the same
hypothetical conditions other funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial
investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in expenses. Because actual
return and expenses will be different, the example is for comparison only.
Concepts to understand
MANAGEMENT FEE: the fee paid to Dreyfus for managing the fund's portfolio and
assisting in all aspects of its operation.
12B-1 FEE: the fee paid to the fund's distributor for distributing Class B and
Class C shares. Because this fee is paid out of the fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time it will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you
more than paying other types of sales charges.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE: a fee paid to the fund's distributor for providing
shareholder services.
OTHER EXPENSES: fees paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer
agency, custody, professional and registration fees.
2
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages one of the nation's
leading mutual fund complexes, with more than $110 billion in more than 160
mutual fund portfolios. Dreyfus is the mutual fund business of Mellon Bank
Corporation, a broad-based financial services company with a bank at its core.
With more than $350 billion of assets under management and $1.7 trillion of
assets under administration and custody, Mellon provides a full range of
banking, investment and trust products and services to individuals, businesses
and institutions. Its mutual fund companies place Mellon as the leading bank
manager of mutual funds. Mellon is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Management philosophy
The Dreyfus asset management philosophy is based on the belief that discipline
and consistency are important to investment success. For each fund, the firm
seeks to establish clear guidelines for portfolio management and to be
systematic in making decisions. This approach is designed to provide each fund
with a distinct, stable identity.
Portfolio manager
The fund's primary portfolio manager is Timothy M. Ghriskey. Mr. Ghriskey, CFA,
Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Value Equities at Dreyfus, has managed the
fund since August 1995. He joined Dreyfus in July 1995 after ten years as an
analyst and money manager for Loomis Sayles & Co., and today manages several
other funds at Dreyfus.
Concepts to understand
YEAR 2000 ISSUES: the fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
used by Dreyfus and the fund's other service providers do not properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000.
Dreyfus is working to avoid year 2000-related problems in its systems and to
obtain assurances from other service providers that they are taking similar
steps. In addition, issuers of securities in which the fund invests may be
adversely affected by year 2000-related problems. This could have an impact on
the value of the fund's investments and its share price.
The Fund 3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following tables describe the performance of each share class for the fiscal
periods indicated. "Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund
would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had
reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been
independently audited by [ ], whose report, along with
the fund's financial statements, is included in the annual report.
<TABLE>
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS A 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 22.42 21.59 19.83 23.77
Investment operations: Investment income -- net .12 .22 .31 .01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 5.40 3.01 2.04 (1.54)
Total from investment operations 5.52 3.23 2.35 (1.53)
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net (.20) (.31) (.05) --
Dividends in excess of investment income -- net -- -- -- (.12)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (3.44) (2.09) (.54) (2.29)
Total distributions (3.64) (2.40) (.59) (2.41)
Net asset value, end of period 24.30 22.42 21.59 19.83
Total return (%)(1) 27.43 15.95 12.43 (6.92)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets (%) 1.18 1.19 1.22 1.29
Ratio of interest expense, loan commitment fees
and dividends on securities sold short to average net assets (%) -- -- .05 .25
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) .51 .94 1.51 .04
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 123.53 147.64 244.82 199.13
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 206,333 207,388 208,786 239,407
(1) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES LOAD. (2) NOT ANNUALIZED. (3) AMOUNT REPRESENTS LESS THAN .01%.
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS B 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 21.92 21.17 19.58 23.62
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net (.04) .04 .14 (.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 5.29 2.96 2.02 (1.62)
Total from investment operations 5.25 3.00 2.16 (1.66)
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net (.03) (.16) (.03) --
Dividends in excess of investment income -- net -- -- -- (.09)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (3.44) (2.09) (.54) (2.29)
Total distributions (3.47) (2.25) (.57) (2.38)
Net asset value, end of period 23.70 21.92 21.17 19.58
Total return (%)(1) 26.55 15.05 11.50 (7.58)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets (%) 1.93 1.94 1.97 1.84
Ratio of interest expense, loan commitment fees and dividends on
securities sold short to average net assets (%) -- -- .05 .24
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (.27) .19 .71 (.61)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 123.53 147.64 244.82 199.13
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 52,847 44,152 44,365 40,864
(1) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES LOAD. (2) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(3) AMOUNT REPRESENTS LESS THAN .01%.
4
<PAGE>
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS C 1998 1997 1996 1995(1)
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 21.90 21.16 21.21
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net (.14)(2) .06 (.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 5.35 3.05 (.01)
Total from investment operations 5.21 3.11 (.05)
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net -- (.28) --
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (3.44) (2.09) --
Total distributions (3.44) (2.37) --
Net asset value, end of period 23.67 21.90 21.16
Total return (%)(3) 26.38 15.74 (.24)(4)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 2.00 1.94 .36(4)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (.56) (.51) (.18)(4)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 123.53 147.64 244.82
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 594 6 1
(1) FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 1995 (COMMENCEMENT OF INITIAL OFFERING) TO OCTOBER 31, 1995.
(2) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING. (3) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES LOAD. (4) NOT ANNUALIZED.
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS R 1998 1997 1996 1995(1)
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 22.42 21.60 21.61
Investment operations: Investment income -- net .19 .40 --
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 5.38 2.87 (.01)
Total from investment operations 5.57 3.27 (.01)
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net (.25) (.36) --
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (3.44) (2.09) --
Total distributions (3.69) (2.45) --
Net asset value, end of period 24.30 22.42 21.60
Total return (%) 27.74 16.17 (.05)(2)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) .94 .97 .17(2)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) .71 1.07 --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 123.53 147.64 244.82
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 5 4 1
(1) FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1995 (COMMENCEMENT OF INITIAL OFFERING) TO OCTOBER 31, 1995.
(2) NOT ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
The Fund 5
<PAGE>
Your Investment
ACCOUNT POLICIES
THE DREYFUS PREMIER FUNDS are designed primarily for people who are investing
through a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or financial adviser, or in
a 401(k) or other retirement plan. Third parties with whom you open a fund
account may impose policies, limitations and fees which are different from
those described here. Consult your financial representative for more
information.
YOU WILL NEED TO CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS before making your initial investment. In
making your choice, you should weigh the impact of all potential costs over the
length of your investment, including sales charges and annual fees. For example,
in some cases, it can be more economical to pay an initial sales charge than to
choose a class with no initial sales charge but higher annual fees and a CDSC.
(pound) Class A shares can be the most cost-effective choice, if you are
investing for the long term, especially if you are investing $100,000 or more.
(pound) Class B shares can make sense if you have a long time horizon and are
investing less than $50,000.
(pound) Class C shares may be appropriate if you have a shorter or less certain
time horizon and are investing less than $50,000.
(pound) Class R shares are designed for eligible institu-
tions on behalf of their clients. Individuals may not purchase these shares
directly.
Share class charges
EACH SHARE CLASS has its own fee structure. In some cases, you may not have to
pay a sales charge to buy or sell shares. Consult your financial representative
or the SAI to see if this may apply to you. Shareholders owning shares on or
prior to November 30, 1996, may be eligible for lower sales loads.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
Sales charges
CLASS A -- CHARGED WHEN YOU BUY SHARES
Sales charge Sales charge as
deducted as a % a % of your
Your investment of offering price net investment
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Up to $49,999 5.75% 6.10%
$50,000 -- $99,999 4.50% 4.70%
$100,000 -- $249,999 3.50% 3.60%
$250,000 -- $499,999 2.50% 2.60%
$500,000 -- $999,999 2.00% 2.00%
$1 million or more* 0.00% 0.00%
* A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge may be charged on any shares sold
within one year of purchase (except shares bought through reinvestment).
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CLASS B -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
Contingent deferred sales charge
Time since you bought as a % of your initial investment or
the shares you are selling your redemption (whichever is less)
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Up to 2 years 4.00%
2 -- 4 years 3.00%
4 -- 5 years 2.00%
5 -- 6 years 1.00%
More than 6 years Shares will automatically
convert to Class A
Class B shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
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CLASS C -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
A 1.00% CDSC is imposed on redemptions made within the first year of purchase.
Class C shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
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</TABLE>
CLASS R -- NO SALES LOAD OR RULE 12B-1 FEES
Reduced Class A sales charge
LETTER OF INTENT: lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period and
receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at once.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION: lets you add the value of any Class A shares you already
own to the amount of your next Class A investment for purposes of calculating
the sales charge.
CONSULT THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) OR YOUR FINANCIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR MORE DETAILS.
6
<PAGE>
Buying shares
THE NET ASSET VALUE (NAV) of each class is generally calculated as of the close
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) every day the exchange is open. Your order will be priced at the NAV next
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or any
other entity authorized on behalf of the fund. The fund's investments are valued
based on market value or, where market quotations are not readily available,
based on fair value as determined in good faith by the fund's board.
ORDERS RECEIVED BY DEALERS by the close of trading on the NYSE and transmitted
to the distributor or its designee by the close of its business day (normally 5:
15 p.m. Eastern time) will be based on the NAV determined as of the close of
trading on the NYSE that day.
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Minimum investments
Initial Additional
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGULAR ACCOUNTS $1,000 $100; $500 FOR
TELETRANSFER INVESTMENTS
TRADITIONAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
SPOUSAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
ROTH IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
EDUCATION IRAS $500 NO MINIMUM
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC $100 $100
INVESTMENT PLANS
All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party checks cannot be accepted.
You may be charged a fee for any check that does not clear. Maximum TeleTransfer
purchase is $150,000 per day.
Concepts to understand
NET ASSET VALUE (NAV): the market value of one share, computed by dividing the
total net assets of a fund or class by its shares outstanding. The fund's Class
A shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a sales charge. Classes B, C and
R are offered at NAV, but Classes B and C are subject to higher annual
distribution fees and a sales charge upon redemption.
Selling shares
YOU MAY SELL SHARES AT ANY TIME through your financial representative, or you
can contact the fund directly. Your shares will be sold at the next NAV
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or any
other entity authorized on behalf of the fund. Any certificates representing
fund shares being sold must be returned with your redemption request. Your order
will be processed promptly and you will generally receive the proceeds within a
week.
TO KEEP YOUR CDSC AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, each time you request to sell shares we
will first sell shares that are not subject to a CDSC, and then those subject to
the lowest charge. The CDSC is based on the lesser of the original purchase cost
or the current market value of the shares being sold, and is not charged on
shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends. Certain investors may qualify
to have the CDSC waived. Consult your financial representative or the SAI for
details.
BEFORE SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES, please note that if the fund has not
yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it may delay sending the
proceeds until it has collected payment, which may take up to eight business
days.
Written sell orders
Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees.
These include:
(pound) amounts of $1,000 or more on accounts whose address has been changed
within the last 30 days
(pound) requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most
banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts,
each signature must be guaranteed. Please call us to ensure that your signature
guarantee will be processed correctly.
Your Investment 7
<PAGE>
ACCOUNT POLICIES (CONTINUED)
General policies
UNLESS YOU DECLINE TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES on your application, you may be
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order as long as Dreyfus takes
reasonable measures to verify the order.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request that could adversely affect the
fund or its operations, including those from any individual or group who, in the
fund's view, is likely to engage in excessive trading (usually defined as more
than four exchanges out of the fund within a calendar year)
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request in excess of 1% of the fund's
total assets
(pound) change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend
this privilege during unusual market conditions
(pound) change its minimum investment amounts
(pound) delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to seven days (generally
applies only in cases of very large redemptions, excessive trading or during
unusual market conditions)
The fund also reserves the right to make a "redemption in kind" -- payment in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount you are redeeming is
large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it represents more than
1% of the fund's assets).
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
THE FUND GENERALLY PAYS ITS SHAREHOLDERS dividends from its net investment
income, and distributes any net capital gains that it has realized, once a
year. Each share class will generate a different dividend because each has
different expenses. Your distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you
instruct the fund otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on
reinvestments.
FUND DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TAXABLE to most investors (unless your
investment is in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). The tax status of any
distribution is the same regardless of how long you have been in the fund and
whether you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash. In general,
distributions are taxable as follows:
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Taxability of distributions
Type of Tax rate for Tax rate for
distribution 15% bracket 28% bracket or above
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME ORDINARY ORDINARY
DIVIDENDS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
SHORT-TERM ORDINARY ORDINARY
CAPITAL GAINS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
LONG-TERM
CAPITAL GAINS 10% 20%
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional
about federal, state and local tax consequences.
Small account policies
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the fund
charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The
fee will be imposed during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.
The fee will be waived for any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund
investments total at least $25,000; IRA accounts; accounts participating in
automatic investment programs and accounts opened through a financial
institution.
If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If it is still below $500 after 30 days, the fund may close your account and
send you the proceeds.
Taxes on transactions
Except between tax-deferred accounts, any sale or exchange of fund shares may
generate a tax liability. Of course, withdrawals or distributions from
tax-deferred accounts are taxable when received.
The table above can provide a guide for potential tax liability when selling or
exchanging fund shares. "Short-term capital gains" applies to fund shares sold
up to 12 months after buying them. "Long-term capital gains" applies to shares
sold after 12 months.
8
<PAGE>
SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS
THE THIRD PARTY THROUGH WHOM YOU PURCHASED fund shares may impose different
restrictions on these services and privileges offered by the fund, or may not
make them available at all. Consult your financial representative for more
information on the availability of these services and privileges.
Automatic services
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES AUTOMATICALLY is easy with the services described
below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain
restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application, or by
calling your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For investing
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making automatic investments
ASSET BUILDER((reg.tm)) from a designated bank account.
DREYFUS PAYROLL For making automatic investments
SAVINGS PLAN through a payroll deduction.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT For making automatic investments
DIRECT DEPOSIT from your federal employment,
PRIVILEGE Social Security or other regular
federal government check.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND For automatically reinvesting the
SWEEP dividends and distributions from
one Dreyfus fund into another
(not available for IRAs).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For exchanging shares
DREYFUS AUTO- For making regular exchanges
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE from one Dreyfus fund into
another.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For selling shares
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making regular withdrawals
WITHDRAWAL PLAN from most Dreyfus funds. There will be no CDSC
on Class B shares, as long as the amounts withdrawn do not exceed 12% annually
of the account value at the time the shareholder elects to participate in the
plan.
Exchange privilege
YOU CAN EXCHANGE SHARES WORTH $500 OR MORE (no minimum for retirement accounts)
from one class of the fund into the same class of another Dreyfus Premier fund.
You can request your exchange by contacting your financial representative. Be
sure to read the current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging
before investing. Any new account established through an exchange will generally
have the same privileges as your original account (as long as they are
available). There is currently no fee for exchanges, although you may be charged
a sales load when exchanging into any fund that has a higher one.
TeleTransfer privilege
TO MOVE MONEY BETWEEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT and your Dreyfus fund account with a
phone call, use the TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up TeleTransfer on your
account by providing bank account information and following the instructions on
your application, or contact your financial representative.
Reinvestment privilege
UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, YOU CAN REINVEST up to the number of Class A or B shares
you redeemed within 45 days of selling them at the current share price without
any sales charge. If you paid a CDSC, it will be credited back to your account.
This privilege may be used only once.
Account statements
EVERY FUND INVESTOR automatically receives regular account statements. You'll
also be sent a yearly statement detailing the tax characteristics of any
dividends and distributions you have received.
Your Investment 9
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete the application.
Mail your application and a check to:
Name of Fund
P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI 02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Mail the slip and the check to: Name of Fund P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your
investment to The Bank of New York, with these instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900119365
* the fund name
* the share class
* your Social Security or tax ID number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
Call us to obtain an account number. Return your application with the account
number on the application.
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900119365
* the fund name
* the share class
* your account number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but before your account number insert "1111"
TELETRANSFER Request TeleTransfer on your application. Call us to request your
transaction.
Automatically
WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT Indicate on your application which automatic
service(s) you want. Return your application with your investment.
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name(s) and signature(s)
* your account number
* the fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 7).
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
WIRE Call us or your financial representative to request your transaction. Be
sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be wired
to your bank.
TELETRANSFER Call us or your financial representative to request your
transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file.
Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic check.
CHECK Call us or your financial representative to request your transaction. A
check will be sent to the address of record.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us or your financial representative to request a
form to add the plan. Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of
withdrawals you would like.
Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.
To open an account, make subsequent investments or to sell shares, please
contact your financial representative or call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a
$1,000 minimum.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
10
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRAS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete an IRA application, making sure to specify the fund name and to
indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian P.O. Box 6427, Providence, RI 02940-6427
Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail in the slip and the check to: The Dreyfus Trust Company P.O. Box 6427,
Providence, RI 02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* DDA# 8900119365
* the fund name
* the share class * your account number
* name of investor
* the contribution year
* dealer number if applicable
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but before your account number insert "1111"
Automatically
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials. All contributions
will count as current year.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name and signature
* your account number and fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
* whether the distribution is qualified or premature
* whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 7).
Mail in your request to: The Dreyfus Trust Company P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
RI 02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request instructions to establish the
plan.
For information and assistance, contact your financial representative or call
toll free in the U.S. 1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS TRUST
COMPANY, CUSTODIAN
Your Investment 11
<PAGE>
For More Information
Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
A Series of Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds
- ---------------------------------------
SEC file number: 811-4688
More information on this fund is available free upon request, including the
following:
Annual/Semiannual Report
Describes the fund's performance, lists portfolio holdings and contains a letter
from the fund's manager discussing recent market conditions, economic trends
and fund strategies that significantly affected the fund's performance during
the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A current SAI is on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by
reference (is legally considered part of this prospectus).
To obtain information:
BY TELEPHONE Call your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611
BY MAIL Write to: The Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard Uniondale, NY 11556-0144
ON THE INTERNET Text-only versions of fund documents can be viewed online or
downloaded from: http://www.sec.gov
You can also obtain copies by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC (phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or by sending your request and a
duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC
20549-6009.
(c) 1999, Dreyfus Service Corporation
037P0399
<X>
<PAGE>
[Application p 1 here]
<PAGE>
[Application p 2 here]
<PAGE>
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund
Investing in value stocks of foreign companies for long-term capital growth
PROSPECTUS March 1, 1999
(reg.tm)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
The Fund
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund
----------------------------------
Ticker Symbols: NOT YET AVAILABLE
Contents
The Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goal/Approach INSIDE COVER
Main Risks 1
Past Performance 1
Expenses 2
Management 3
Financial Highlights 4
Your Investment
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account Policies 6
Distributions and Taxes 8
Services for Fund Investors 9
Instructions for Regular Accounts 10
Instructions for IRAs 11
For More Information
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S RECENT STRATEGIES AND HOLDINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT. SEE BACK COVER.
GOAL/APPROACH
The fund seeks long-term capital growth. To pursue this goal, the fund
ordinarily invests most of its assets in equity securities of foreign issuers
which Dreyfus considers to be value companies, and to a limited extent in debt
securities of foreign issuers. Though not specifically limited, the fund
ordinarily can be expected to invest in companies in at least three foreign
countries, limit its investments in any single company to no more than 2% of its
assets, and hold no more than twice the MSCI-EAFE index (a standard benchmark of
international investing) weighting of any major economic sector.
The fund's investment approach is value oriented, research driven, and risk
adverse. In selecting stocks, the portfolio manager identifies potential
investments through extensive quantitative and fundamental research. Emphasizing
individual stock selection rather than economic and industry trends, the fund
focuses on three key factors:
(pound) VALUE, or how a stock is valued relative to its intrinsic worth based
on traditional value measures
(pound) BUSINESS HEALTH, or overall efficiency and profitability as measured by
return on assets and return on equity
(pound) BUSINESS MOMENTUM, or the presence of a catalyst (such as corporate
restructuring, change in management or spin-off) that potentially will trigger a
price increase near term to midterm
The fund typically sells a stock when it is no longer considered a value
company, appears less likely to benefit from the current market and economic
environment, shows deteriorating fundamentals or declining momentum, or falls
short of the manager's expectations.
Concepts to understand
VALUE COMPANIES: companies that appear underpriced according to certain
financial measurements of their intrinsic worth or business prospects (such as
price-to-earnings or price-to-book ratios). For international investing, "value"
is determined relative to a company's home market. Because a stock can remain
undervalued for years, value investors often look for factors that could trigger
a rise in price.
INSIDE COVER
<PAGE>
MAIN RISKS
While stocks have historically been a leading choice of long-term investors,
they do fluctuate in price. The value of your investment in the fund will go up
and down, which means that you could lose money.
Foreign securities include special risks, such as exposure to changing currency
exchange rates, changing political climates, a lack of adequate company
information, and potentially less liquidity. These factors can enhance the
volatility of a stock portfolio.
Value stocks involve the risk that they may never reach what the manager
believes is their full market value either because the market fails to recognize
the stock's intrinsic worth or the manager misgauged that worth. They also may
decline in price, even though in theory they are already underpriced. Because
different types of stocks tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market
and economic conditions, the fund's performance may sometimes be lower or higher
than that of other types of funds (such as those emphasizing growth stocks).
The fund may invest in companies of any size. Investments in smaller companies
carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their
share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more
established companies.
Under adverse market conditions, the fund could invest some or all of its assets
in money market securities. Although the fund would do this only in seeking to
avoid losses, it could reduce the benefit from any upswing in the market.
Other potential risks
The fund may invest some of its assets in derivative securities, such as options
and futures, and in foreign currencies. These practices are used primarily to
hedge the fund's portfolio, but may be used to increase returns; however, such
practices may lower returns or increase volatility. Derivatives can be illiquid
and a small investment in certain derivatives could have a potentially large
impact on the fund's performance.
At times, the fund may engage in short-term trading. This could increase the
fund's transaction costs and taxable distributions, lowering its after-tax
performance accordingly.
PAST PERFORMANCE
Since the fund has less than one calendar year of performance, past performance
information is not included. For performance as of the end of the fund's fiscal
year, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
What this fund is -- and isn't
This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed
and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to
reach its stated goal, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer
guaranteed results.
An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete
investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the
potential to make money.
The Fund 1
<PAGE>
EXPENSES
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund,
which are described in the tables below.
<TABLE>
Fee table
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS R
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION FEES (FEES PAID FROM YOUR ACCOUNT)
Maximum sales charge on purchases
AS A % OF OFFERING PRICE 5.75 NONE NONE NONE
Maximum deferred sales charge (CDSC)
AS A % OF PURCHASE OR SALE PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LESS NONE* 4.00 1.00 NONE
Maximum account fee
CHARGED ONLY TO REGULAR ACCOUNTS WITH BALANCES BELOW $2,000
(SEE "YOUR INVESTMENT--ACCOUNT POLICIES") $12 $12 $12 $12
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES PAID FROM FUND ASSETS)
% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS
Management fees 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
12b-1 fee NONE .75 .75 NONE
Shareholder services fee .25 .25 .25 NONE
Other expenses X.XX X.XX X.XX X.XX
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL X.XX X.XX X.XX X.XX
* SHARES BOUGHT WITHOUT AN INITIAL SALES CHARGE AS PART OF AN INVESTMENT OF $1
MILLION OR MORE MAY BE CHARGED A CDSC OF 1.00% IF REDEEMED WITHIN ONE YEAR.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
Expense example
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS A $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
CLASS B
WITH REDEMPTION $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
CLASS C
WITH REDEMPTION $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
CLASS R $0,000 $0,000 $0,000 $0,000
** ASSUMES CONVERSION OF CLASS B TO CLASS A AT END OF THE SIXTH YEAR FOLLOWING
THE DATE OF PURCHASE.
</TABLE>
This example shows what you could pay in expenses over time. It uses the same
hypothetical conditions other funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial
investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in expenses. Because actual
return and expenses will be different, the example is for comparison only.
Concepts to understand
MANAGEMENT FEE: the fee paid to Dreyfus for managing the fund's portfolio and
assisting in all aspects of its operation.
12B-1 FEE: the fee paid to the fund's distributor for distributing Class B and
Class C shares. Because this fee is paid out of the fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time it will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you
more than paying other types of sales charges.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE: a fee paid to the fund's distributor for providing
shareholder services.
OTHER EXPENSES: fees paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer
agency, custody, professional and registration fees.
2
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages one of the nation's
leading mutual fund complexes, with more than $112 billion in more than 160
mutual fund portfolios. Dreyfus is the mutual fund business of Mellon Bank
Corporation, a broad-based financial services company with a bank at its core.
With more than $350 billion of assets under management and $1.7 trillion of
assets under administration and custody, Mellon provides a full range of
banking, investment and trust products and services to individuals, businesses
and institutions. Its mutual fund companies place Mellon as the leading bank
manager of mutual funds. Mellon is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Management philosophy
The Dreyfus asset management philosophy is based on the belief that discipline
and consistency are important to investment success. For each fund, the firm
seeks to establish clear guidelines for portfolio management and to be
systematic in making decisions. This approach is designed to provide each fund
with a distinct, stable identity.
Portfolio manager
The fund's primary portfolio manager is Sandor Cseh. He has managed the fund
since its inception. Mr. Cseh has been a portfolio manager for The Boston
Company Asset Management, an affiliate of Dreyfus since 1994. In May 1996, he
became a dual employee of Dreyfus and The Boston Company.
Concepts to understand
YEAR 2000 ISSUES: the fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
used by Dreyfus and the fund's other service providers do not properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000.
Dreyfus is working to avoid year 2000-related problems in its systems and to
obtain assurances from other service providers that they are taking similar
steps. In addition, issuers of securities in which the fund invests may be
adversely affected by year 2000-related problems. This could have an impact on
the value of the fund's investments and its share price.
The Fund 3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following tables describe the performance of each share class for the fiscal
period indicated. "Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund
would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had
reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been
independently audited by [ ], whose report, along with the
fund's financial statements, is included in the annual report.
YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31,
CLASS A 1998(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net(1)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
Net asset value, end of period
Total return (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of dividends on securities sold short to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)(2)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%)(2)
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)
(1) FROM MARCH 31, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1998.
YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31,
CLASS B 1998(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net(1)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
Net asset value, end of period
Total return (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of dividends on securities sold short to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)(2)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%)(2)
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)
(1) FROM MARCH 31, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1998.
4
<PAGE>
YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31,
CLASS C 1998(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net(1)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
Net asset value, end of period
Total return (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of dividends on securities sold short to average net assets (%)(2)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)(2)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%)(2)
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)
(1) FROM MARCH 31, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1998.
YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31,
CLASS R 1998(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
Net asset value, end of period
Total return (%)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)
Ratio of dividends on securities sold short to average net assets (%)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%)(2)
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)
(1) FROM MARCH 31, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1998.
The Fund 5
<PAGE>
Your Investment
ACCOUNT POLICIES
THE DREYFUS PREMIER FUNDS are designed primarily for people who are investing
through a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or financial adviser, or in
a 401(k) or other retirement plan. Third parties with whom you open a fund
account may impose policies, limitations and fees which are different from
those described here. Consult your financial representative for more
information.
YOU WILL NEED TO CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS before making your initial investment. In
making your choice, you should weigh the impact of all potential costs over the
length of your investment, including sales charges and annual fees. For example,
in some cases, it can be more economical to pay an initial sales charge than to
choose a class with no initial sales charge but higher annual fees and a CDSC.
(pound) Class A shares can be the most cost-effective choice, if you are
investing for the long term, especially if you are investing $100,000 or more.
(pound) Class B shares can make sense if you have a long time horizon and are
investing less than $100,000.
(pound) Class C shares may be appropriate if you have a shorter or less certain
time horizon and are investing less than $100,000.
(pound) Class R shares are designed for eligible institu-
tions on behalf of their clients. Individuals may not purchase these shares
directly.
Share class charges
EACH SHARE CLASS has its own fee structure. In some cases, you may not have to
pay a sales charge to buy or sell shares. Consult your financial representative
or the SAI to see if this may apply to you.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
Sales charges
CLASS A -- CHARGED WHEN YOU BUY SHARES
Sales charge Sales charge as
deducted as a % a % of your
Your investment of offering price net investment
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Up to $49,999 5.75% 6.10%
$50,000 -- $99,999 4.50% 4.70%
$100,000 -- $249,999 3.50% 3.60%
$250,000 -- $499,999 2.50% 2.60%
$500,000 -- $999,999 2.00% 2.00%
$1 million or more* 0.00% 0.00%
* A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge may be charged on any shares sold
within one year of purchase (except shares bought through reinvestment).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
CLASS B -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
Contingent deferred sales charge
Time since you bought as a % of your initial investment or
the shares you are selling your redemption (whichever is less)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 2 years 4.00%
2 -- 4 years 3.00%
4 -- 5 years 2.00%
5 -- 6 years 1.00%
More than 6 years Shares will automatically
convert to Class A
Class B shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS C -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
A 1.00% CDSC is imposed on redemptions made within the first year of purchase.
Class C shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS R -- NO SALES LOAD OR RULE 12B-1 FEES
Reduced Class A sales charge
LETTER OF INTENT: lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period and
receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at once.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION: lets you add the value of any Class A shares you already
own to the amount of your next Class A investment for purposes of calculating
the sales charge.
CONSULT THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) OR YOUR FINANCIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR MORE DETAILS.
6
<PAGE>
Buying shares
THE NET ASSET VALUE (NAV) of each class is generally calculated as of the close
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) every day the exchange is open. Your order will be priced at the NAV next
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other
entity authorized to accept orders on behalf of the fund. The fund's investments
are valued based on market value or, where market quotations are not readily
available, based on fair value as determined in good faith by the fund's board.
ORDERS RECEIVED BY DEALERS by the close of trading on the NYSE and transmitted
to the distributor or its designee by the close of its business day (normally 5:
15 p.m. Eastern time) will be based on the NAV determined as of the close of
trading on the NYSE that day.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum investments
Initial Additional
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGULAR ACCOUNTS $1,000 $100; $500 FOR
TELETRANSFER INVESTMENTS
TRADITIONAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
SPOUSAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
ROTH IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
EDUCATION IRAS $500 NO MINIMUM
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC $100 $100
INVESTMENT PLANS
All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party checks cannot be accepted.
You may be charged a fee for any check that does not clear. Maximum TeleTransfer
purchase is $150,000 per day.
Concepts to understand
NET ASSET VALUE (NAV): the market value of one share, computed by dividing the
total net assets of a fund or class by its shares outstanding. The fund's Class
A shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a sales charge. Classes B, C and
R are offered at NAV, but Classes B and C are subject to higher annual
distribution fees and a sales charge upon redemption.
Selling shares
YOU MAY SELL SHARES AT ANY TIME through your financial representative, or you
can contact the fund directly. Your shares will be sold at the next NAV
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other
entity authorized to accept orders on behalf of the fund. Any certificates
representing fund shares being sold must be returned with your redemption
request. Your order will be processed promptly and you will generally receive
the proceeds within a week.
TO KEEP YOUR CDSC AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, each time you request to sell shares we
will first sell shares that are not subject to a CDSC, and then those subject to
the lowest charge. The CDSC is based on the lesser of the original purchase cost
or the current market value of the shares being sold, and is not charged on
shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends. Certain investors may qualify
to have the CDSC waived. Consult your financial representative or the SAI for
details.
BEFORE SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES, please note that if the fund has not
yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it may delay sending the
proceeds until it has collected payment, which may take up to eight business
days.
Written sell orders
Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees.
These include:
(pound) amounts of $1,000 or more on accounts whose address has been changed
within the last 30 days
(pound) requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most
banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts,
each signature must be guaranteed. Please call us to ensure that your signature
guarantee will be processed correctly.
Your Investment 7
<PAGE>
ACCOUNT POLICIES (CONTINUED)
General policies
UNLESS YOU DECLINE TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES on your application, you may be
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order as long as Dreyfus takes
reasonable measures to verify the order.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request that could adversely affect the
fund or its operations, including those from any individual or group who, in the
fund's view, is likely to engage in excessive trading (usually defined as more
than four exchanges out of the fund within a calendar year)
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request in excess of 1% of the fund's
total assets
(pound) change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend
this privilege during unusual market conditions
(pound) change its minimum investment amounts
(pound) delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to seven days (generally
applies only in cases of very large redemptions, excessive trading or during
unusual market conditions)
The fund also reserves the right to make a "redemption in kind" -- payment in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount you are redeeming is
large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it represents more than
1% of the fund's assets).
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
THE FUND GENERALLY PAYS ITS SHAREHOLDERS dividends from its net investment
income, and distributes any net capital gains that it has realized, once a
year. Each share class will generate a different dividend because each has
different expenses. Your distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you
instruct the fund otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on
reinvestments.
FUND DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TAXABLE to most investors (unless your
investment is in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). The tax status of any
distribution is the same regardless of how long you have been in the fund and
whether you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash. In general,
distributions are taxable as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxability of distributions
Type of Tax rate for Tax rate for
distribution 15% bracket 28% bracket or above
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME ORDINARY ORDINARY
DIVIDENDS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
SHORT-TERM ORDINARY ORDINARY
CAPITAL GAINS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
LONG-TERM
CAPITAL GAINS 10% 20%
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional
about federal, state and local tax consequences.
Small account policies
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the fund
charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The
fee will be imposed during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.
The fee will be waived for any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund
investments total at least $25,000; IRA accounts; accounts participating in
automatic investment programs; accounts opened through a financial institution.
If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If it is still below $500 after 30 days, the fund may close your account and
send you the proceeds.
Taxes on transactions
Except between tax-deferred accounts, any sale or exchange of fund shares may
generate a tax liability. Of course, withdrawals or distributions from
tax-deferred accounts are taxable when received.
The table above can provide a guide for potential tax liability when selling or
exchanging fund shares. "Short-term capital gains" applies to fund shares sold
up to 12 months after buying them. "Long-term capital gains" applies to shares
sold after 12 months.
8
<PAGE>
SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS
THE THIRD PARTY THROUGH WHOM YOU PURCHASED fund shares may impose different
restrictions on these services and privileges offered by the fund, or may not
make them available at all. Consult your financial representative for more
information on the availability of these services and privileges.
Automatic services
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES AUTOMATICALLY is easy with the services described
below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain
restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application, or by
calling your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For investing
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making automatic investments
ASSET BUILDER((reg.tm)) from a designated bank account.
DREYFUS PAYROLL For making automatic investments
SAVINGS PLAN through a payroll deduction.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT For making automatic investments
DIRECT DEPOSIT from your federal employment,
PRIVILEGE Social Security or other regular
federal government check.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND For automatically reinvesting the
SWEEP dividends and distributions from
one Dreyfus fund into another
(not available for IRAs).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For exchanging shares
DREYFUS AUTO- For making regular exchanges
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE from one Dreyfus fund into
another.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For selling shares
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making regular withdrawals
WITHDRAWAL PLAN from most Dreyfus funds. There will be no CDSC
on Class B shares, as long as the amounts withdrawn do not exceed 12% annually
of the account value at the time the shareholder elects to participate in the
plan.
Exchange privilege
YOU CAN EXCHANGE SHARES WORTH $500 OR MORE (no minimum for retirement accounts)
from one class of the fund into the same class of another Dreyfus Premier fund.
You can request your exchange by contacting your financial representative. Be
sure to read the current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging
before investing. Any new account established through an exchange will generally
have the same privileges as your original account (as long as they are
available). There is currently no fee for exchanges, although you may be charged
a sales load when exchanging into any fund that has a higher one.
TeleTransfer privilege
TO MOVE MONEY BETWEEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT and your Dreyfus fund account with a
phone call, use the TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up TeleTransfer on your
account by providing bank account information and following the instructions on
your application, or contact your financial representative.
Reinvestment privilege
UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, YOU CAN REINVEST up to the number of Class A or B shares
you redeemed within 45 days of selling them at the current share price without
any sales charge. If you paid a CDSC, it will be credited back to your account.
This privilege may be used only once.
Account statements
EVERY FUND INVESTOR automatically receives regular account statements. You'll
also be sent a yearly statement detailing the tax characteristics of any
dividends and distributions you have received.
Your Investment 9
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete the application.
Mail your application and a check to:
Name of Fund
P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI 02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Mail the slip and the check to: Name of Fund P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your
investment to The Bank of New York, with these instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900337214
* the fund name
* the share class
* your Social Security or tax ID number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
Call us to obtain an account number. Return your application with the account
number on the application.
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900337214
* the fund name
* the share class
* your account number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but before your account number insert "1111"
TELETRANSFER Request TeleTransfer on your application. Call us to request your
transaction.
Automatically
WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT Indicate on your application which automatic
service(s) you want. Return your application with your investment.
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name(s) and signature(s)
* your account number
* the fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 7).
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
WIRE Call us or your financial representative to request your transaction. Be
sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Proceeds will be wired
to your bank.
TELETRANSFER Call us or your financial representative to request your
transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file.
Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic check.
CHECK Call us or your financial representative to request your transaction. A
check will be sent to the address of record.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us or your financial representative to request a
form to add the plan. Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of
withdrawals you would like.
Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.
To open an account, make subsequent investments or to sell shares, please
contact your financial representative or call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a
$1,000 minimum.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
10
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRAS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete an IRA application, making sure to specify the fund name and to
indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian P.O. Box 6427, Providence, RI 02940-6427
Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail in the slip and the check to: The Dreyfus Trust Company P.O. Box 6427,
Providence, RI 02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* DDA# 8900337214
* the fund name
* the share class * your account number
* name of investor
* the contribution year
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but before your account number insert "1111"
Automatically
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials. All contributions
will count as current year.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name and signature
* your account number and fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
* whether the distribution is qualified or premature
* whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 7).
Mail in your request to: The Dreyfus Trust Company P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
RI 02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request instructions to establish the
plan.
For information and assistance, contact your financial representative or call
toll free in the U.S. 1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS TRUST
COMPANY, CUSTODIAN
Your Investment 11
<PAGE>
For More Information
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund
A Series of Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds
- ---------------------------------------
SEC file number: 811-4688
More information on this fund is available free upon request, including the
following:
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A current SAI is on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by
reference (is legally considered part of this prospectus).
To obtain information:
BY TELEPHONE Call your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611
BY MAIL Write to: The Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard Uniondale, NY 11556-0144
ON THE INTERNET Text-only versions of fund documents can be viewed online or
downloaded from: http://www.sec.gov
You can also obtain copies by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC (phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or by sending your request and a
duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC
20549-6009.
(c) 1999, Dreyfus Service Corporation
173P0399
<X>
<PAGE>
[Application p 1 here]
<PAGE>
[Application p 2 here]
<PAGE>
DREYFUS PREMIER VALUE EQUITY FUNDS
DREYFUS PREMIER VALUE FUND
DREYFUS PREMIER INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND
CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C AND CLASS R SHARES
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MARCH 1, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus Premier Value Fund and Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund,
each dated March 1, 1999 (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") of
Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds (the "Company"), as each may be revised
from time to time. To obtain a copy of the relevant Fund's Prospectus,
please write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York
11556-0144.
The most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders
for each Fund are separate documents supplied with this Statement of
Additional Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and
report of independent auditors appearing in the Annual Report are
incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Description of the Company and Funds B-2
Management of the Company B-16
Management Arrangements B-21
How to Buy Shares B-25
Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan B-31
How to Redeem Shares B-33
Shareholder Services B-37
Determination of Net Asset Value B-43
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes B-44
Portfolio Transactions B-46
Performance Information B-47
Information About the Company and the Funds B-49
Counsel and Independent Auditors B-51
Appendix B-52
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND FUNDS
The Company is a Massachusetts business trust that commenced operations
on October 1, 1986. Each Fund is a separate portfolio of the Company, an
open-end management investment company, known as a mutual fund. Dreyfus
Premier International Value Fund is a diversified fund, which means that,
with respect to 75% of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not invest
more than 5% of its assets in the securities of any single issuer. Dreyfus
Premier Value Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that the
proportion of the Fund's assets that may be invested in the securities of a
single issuer is not limited by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act").
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as each Fund's
investment adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of each Fund's shares.
Certain Portfolio Securities
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with each Fund's Prospectus.
Depositary Receipts. (All Funds) A Fund may invest in the securities
of foreign issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts or American
Depositary Shares ("ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), Global
Depositary Receipts or Global Depositary Shares ("GDRs"), and other forms of
depositary receipts. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in
the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs
are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust company which
evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation.
EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts
("CDRs"), are receipts issued in Europe and GDRs are receipts issued outside
the United States, in each case, typically by non-United States banks and
trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic
securities. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in the
United States securities markets, EDRs and CDRs in bearer form are designed
for use in Europe, and GDRs in bearer form are designed for use outside the
United States.
These securities may be purchased through "sponsored" or "unsponsored"
facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of
the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish
an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited
security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the
costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility
frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications
received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting
rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited
securities.
Convertible Securities. (All Funds) Convertible securities may be
converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of
common stock. Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both
fixed-income and equity securities. Convertible securities generally are
subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same
issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy
seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible
preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. Because of
the subordination feature, however, convertible securities typically have
lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities.
Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the
market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates
increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In
addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible
securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the
underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that
as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible
securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not
experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common
stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the
prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the
value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are
without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less
risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream
of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no
assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible
securities may default on their obligations. A convertible security, in
addition to providing fixed income, offers the potential for capital
appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to
benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.
There can be no assurance of capital appreciation, however, because
securities prices fluctuate. Convertible securities, however, generally
offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of
similar quality because of the potential for capital appreciation.
Closed-End Investment Companies. (Dreyfus Premier International Value
Fund only) The Fund may invest in securities issued by closed-end
investment companies. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund's investment in such
securities, subject to certain exceptions, currently is limited to (i) 3% of
the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund's
total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the
Fund's total assets in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of
other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and
certain other expenses.
Foreign Government Obligations; Securities of Supranational Entities.
(All Funds) A Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by one or
more foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies or
instrumentalities that are determined by the Manager to be of comparable
quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest. Such
securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities.
Supranational entities include international organizations designated or
supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or
development and international banking institutions and related government
agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, the
Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank.
Warrants. (Dreyfus Premier Value Fund only) A warrant is an
instrument issued by a corporation which gives the holder the right to
subscribe to a specified amount of the corporation's capital stock at a set
price for a specified period of time. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its
net assets in warrants, except that this limitation does not apply to
warrants purchased by the Fund that are sold in units with, or attached to,
other securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. (Dreyfus Premier Value Fund only) The Fund
may invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities, which are Treasury Notes
and Bonds that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the
coupons themselves and receipts or certificates representing interests in
such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Zero coupon securities also are
issued by corporations and financial institutions which constitute a
proportionate ownership of the issuer's pool of underlying U.S. Treasury
securities. A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holders during
its life and is sold at a discount to its face value at maturity. The
market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the
market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to
respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than non-zero
coupon securities having similar maturities and credit qualities.
Illiquid Securities. (All Funds) A Fund may invest up to 15% of the
value of its net assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market
does not exist, provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's
investment objective. These securities may include securities that are not
readily marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice, and certain privately
negotiated, non-exchange traded options and securities used to cover such
options. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should
the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price
the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net
assets could be adversely affected.
Money Market Instruments. (All Funds) When the Manager determines that
adverse market conditions exist, a Fund may adopt a temporary defensive
position and invest some or all of its assets in money market instruments,
including U.S. Government securities, repurchase agreements, bank
obligations and commercial paper.
Investment Techniques
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with each Fund's Prospectus.
Leverage. (All Funds) Leveraging (that is, buying securities using
borrowed money) exaggerates the effect on net asset value of any increase or
decrease in the market value of a Fund's portfolio. These borrowings will
be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by
appreciation of the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs
may exceed the return received on the securities purchased. For borrowings
for investment purposes, the 1940 Act requires a 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 required
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
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.
A 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, a Fund's borrowings generally will be
unsecured.
Although Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund may borrow money for
leveraging as described above, it currently intends to borrow money only for
temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up to 15% of
the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at the
lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount
borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. While borrowings exceed 5% of
its total assets, Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund will not make any
additional investments.
Short-Selling. (Dreyfus Premier Value Fund only) In these
transactions, the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a
decline in the market value of the security. To complete the transaction,
the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund
is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it subsequently
at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may
be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund,
which would result in a loss or gain, respectively.
The Fund also may make short sales "against the box," in which the Fund
enters into a short sale of a security it owns. Securities will not be sold
short if, after effect is given to any such short sale, the total market
value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the
Fund's net assets.
Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed
security, it will: (a) maintain a segregated account, containing
permissible liquid assets, at such a level that the amount deposited in the
account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral always
equals the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover
its short position.
Lending Portfolio Securities. (All Funds) A Fund may lend securities
from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions
needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. In
connection with such loans, the Fund continues to be entitled to payments in
amounts equal to the dividends, interest or other distributions payable on
the loaned securities which affords the Fund an opportunity to earn interest
on the amount of the loan and at the same time to earn income on the loaned
securities' collateral. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 33-
1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will receive
collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable
letters of credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal
to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Such
loans are terminable by the Fund at any time upon specified notice. The
Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has
engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the
Fund. The Fund may return to the borrower or a third party which is
unaffiliated with the Fund, and which is acting as a "placing broker," a
part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received for
securities loaned.
Although Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund may lend its
portfolio securities as described above, it currently has no intention of
engaging in such transactions.
Foreign Currency Transactions. (All Funds) A Fund may enter into
foreign currency transactions for a variety of purposes, including: to fix
in U.S. dollars, between trade and settlement date, the value of a security
the Fund has agreed to buy or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of
securities the Fund already owns, particularly if it expects a decrease in
the value of the currency in which the foreign security is denominated; or
to gain exposure to the foreign currency in an attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, a Fund's
purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short
positions in foreign currencies, which would involve the Fund agreeing to
exchange an amount of a currency it did not currently own for another
currency at a future date in anticipation of a decline in the value of the
currency sold relative to the currency the Fund contracted to receive in the
exchange. A Fund's success in these transactions will depend principally on
the Manager's ability to predict accurately the future exchange rates
between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods
of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand
in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in
different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates and other
complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency
exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or
foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by
currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.
Derivatives. (All Funds) A Fund may invest in, or enter into,
derivatives, such as options and futures, for a variety of reasons,
including to hedge certain market risks, to provide a substitute for
purchasing or selling particular securities or to increase potential income
gain. Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically
focused way for the Fund to invest than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular derivative and
the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit a Fund to increase or decrease
the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its
portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its
portfolio by making investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their
cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in derivatives could
have a large potential impact on a Fund's performance.
If a Fund invests in derivatives at inopportune times or judges market
conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return or
result in a loss. A Fund also could experience losses if its derivatives
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were
unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market.
The market for many derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid.
Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable
changes in the prices for derivatives.
Although neither the Company nor any Fund will be a commodity pool,
certain derivatives subject the Funds to the rules of the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission which limit the extent to which a Fund can invest in such
derivatives. A Fund may invest in futures contracts and options with
respect thereto for hedging purposes without limit. However, no Fund may
invest in such contracts and options for other purposes if the sum of the
amount of initial margin deposits and premiums paid for unexpired options
with respect to such contracts, other than for bona fide hedging purposes,
exceeds 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund's assets, after taking into
account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on such contracts and
options; provided, however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-
money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in
calculating the 5% limitation.
Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through
privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter
derivatives. Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the
clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives.
This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment system (i.e.,
variation margin requirements) operated by the clearing agency in order to
reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency
defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated
with derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency
guarantees over-the-counter derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-
the-counter derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default.
Accordingly, the Manager will consider the creditworthiness of
counterparties to over-the-counter derivatives in the same manner as it
would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by a Fund.
Over-the-counter derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded
derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only
investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in
bidding for it.
Futures Transactions--In General. (All Funds) A Fund may enter into
futures contracts in U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of
Trade and the International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange, or on exchanges located outside the United States, such as the
London International Financial Futures Exchange, the Deutsche Termine Borse
and the Sydney Futures Exchange Limited. Foreign markets may offer
advantages such as trading opportunities or arbitrage possibilities not
available in the United States. Foreign markets, however, may have greater
risk potential than domestic markets. For example, some foreign exchanges
are principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and an
investor may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. In
addition, any profits that a Fund might realize in trading could be
eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange rate, or the Fund could incur
losses as a result of those changes. Transactions on foreign exchanges may
include both commodities which are traded on domestic exchanges and those
which are not. Unlike trading on domestic commodity exchanges, trading on
foreign commodity exchanges is not regulated by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission.
Engaging in these transactions involves risk of loss to a Fund which
could adversely affect the value of the Fund's net assets. Although each
Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an
active market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid
market will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many
futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation
permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the
daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made
that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for
specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could
move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no
trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and
potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.
Successful use of futures by a Fund also is subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant
market and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging
purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction
being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract. For example,
if a Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the
market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such
securities instead increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit
of the increased value of securities which it has hedged because it will
have offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such
circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities
to meet daily variation margin requirements. A Fund may have to sell such
securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, a Fund may be required to 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. In addition, the segregation of such assets will have the
effect of limiting the Fund's ability otherwise to invest those assets.
Specific Futures Transactions. A Fund may purchase and sell stock index
futures contracts. A stock index future obligates a Fund to pay or receive
an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the futures
contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price of the
contract on the contract's last trading day and the value of the index based
on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the opening of
trading in such securities on the next business day.
A Fund may purchase and sell currency futures. A foreign currency
future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific
currency at a future date at a specific price.
A Fund may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts. An
interest rate future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a
specific debt security at a future date at a specific price.
Options--In General. (All Funds) A Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets,
represented by the premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. A
Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered call and put option contracts to the
extent of 20% of the value of its net assets at the time such option
contracts are written. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the
right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security or
securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or at
a specific date. Conversely, a put option gives the purchaser of the option
the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security
or securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period, or
at a specific date.
A covered call option written by a Fund is a call option with respect
to which the Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the
transaction by segregating cash or other securities. A put option written
by a Fund is covered when, among other things, cash or liquid securities
having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option are
placed in a segregated account to fulfill the obligation undertaken. The
principal reason for writing covered call and put options is to realize,
through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on
the underlying securities alone. A Fund receives a premium from writing
covered call or put options which it retains whether or not the option is
exercised.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a
liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such
secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may
cease to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher
than anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events,
at times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and
resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading
rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or
suspensions in one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar
events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of
customers' orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible
to effect closing transactions in particular options. If, as a covered call
option writer, a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in
a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security
until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise or it otherwise covers its position.
Specific Options Transactions. A Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options in respect of specific securities (or groups or "baskets" of
specific securities) or stock indices listed on national securities
exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. An option on a stock
index is similar to an option in respect of specific securities, except that
settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the
index. Instead, the option holder receives an amount of cash if the closing
level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in
the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price
of the option. Thus, the effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index
options will depend upon price movements in the level of the index rather
than the price of a particular stock.
A Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currency.
These options convey the right to buy or sell the underlying currency at a
price which is expected to be lower or higher than the spot price of the
currency at the time the option is exercised or expires.
A Fund may purchase cash-settled options on interest rate swaps,
interest rate swaps denominated in foreign currency and equity index swaps
in pursuit of its investment objective. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay
or receive interest (for example, an exchange of floating-rate payments for
fixed-rate payments) denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currency.
Equity index swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of cash
flows based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index of
securities which usually includes dividends. A cash-settled option on a
swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for
the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the
underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are
purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions,
including securities brokerage firms.
Successful use by a Fund of options will be subject to the ability of
the Manager to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual
stocks, the stock market generally, foreign currencies or interest rates.
To the extent such predictions are incorrect, a Fund may incur losses.
Future Developments. (All Funds) A Fund may take advantage of
opportunities in the area of options and futures contracts and options on
futures contracts and any other drivatives which are not presently
contemplated for use by the Fund or which are not currently available but
which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent
with the Fund's investment objective and legally permissible for the Fund.
Before entering into such transactions or making any such investment, the
Fund will provide appropriate disclosure in its Prospectus or Statement of
Additional Information.
Forward Commitments. (All Funds) A Fund may purchase securities on a
forward commitment or when-issued basis, which means that delivery and
payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to
purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable on a
forward commitment or when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters
into the commitment but the Fund does not make a payment until it receives
delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase such
securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but
the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is
deemed advisable. The Fund will set aside in a segregated account
permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of the
Fund's purchase commitments.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis are
subject to changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e.,
appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest
rates rise) based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of
the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis may expose
a Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their
actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-
issued basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the
market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that
obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis when a Fund is fully or almost fully
invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the
Fund's net assets and its net asset value per share.
Investment Considerations and Risks
Foreign Securities. (All Funds) Foreign securities markets generally
are not as developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities
of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign
securities markets are less than in the United States and, at times,
volatility of price can be greater than in the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of foreign securities usually are held
outside the United States, a Fund investing in such securities will be
subject to additional risks which include possible adverse political and
economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits and
adoption of governmental restrictions which might adversely affect or
restrict the payment of principal and interest on the foreign securities to
investors located outside the country of the issuer, whether from currency
blockage or otherwise. Moreover, foreign securities held by a Fund may
trade on days when the Fund does not calculate its net asset value and thus
affect the Fund's net asset value on days when investors have no access to
the Fund.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in
currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in
U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
rates and exchange control regulations.
Lower Rated Securities. (Dreyfus Premier Value Fund only) The Fund
may invest up to 35% of its net assets in higher yielding (and, therefore,
higher risk) debt securities, such as those rated below Baa by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and below BBB by Standard & Poor's
Ratings Group ("S&P"), Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Co. ("Duff," and with the other rating agencies, the "Rating
Agencies") and as low as Caa by Moody's or CCC by S&P, Fitch or Duff
(commonly known as junk bonds). They may be subject to certain risks and to
greater market fluctuations than lower yielding investment grade securities.
See "Appendix" for a general description of the Rating Agencies' ratings.
Although ratings may be useful in evaluating the safety of interest and
principal payments, they do not evaluate the market value risk of these
securities. The Fund will rely on the Manager's judgment, analysis and
experience in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issuer.
You should be aware that the market values of many of these securities
tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions that are higher rated
securities and will fluctuate over time. These securities generally are
considered by the Rating Agencies to be, on balance, predominantly
speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation and generally will involve more
credit risk than securities in the higher rating categories.
Companies that issue certain of these securities often are highly
leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of
financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of
such issuers generally is greater than is the case with the higher rated
securities. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period
of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of these securities may
not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations.
The issuer's ability to service its debt obligations also may be affected
adversely by specific corporate developments, forecasts, or the
unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss because of default
by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of these securities
because such securities generally are unsecured and often are subordinated
to other creditors of the issuer.
Because there is no established retail secondary market for many of
these securities, the Fund may be able to sell such securities only to a
limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a
secondary trading market for these securities does exist, it generally is
not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack
of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on market price and
yield and the Fund's ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary
to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic
event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The
lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities also may make it
more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for
purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio and calculating its net asset
value. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of these
securities. In such cases, judgment may play a greater role in valuation
because less reliable, objective data may be available.
These securities may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns.
It is likely that an economic recession could disrupt severely the market
for such securities and may have an adverse impact on the value of such
securities. In addition, it is likely that any such economic downturn could
adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay
principal and pay interest thereon and increase the incidence of default for
such securities.
The Fund may acquire these securities during an initial offering. Such
securities may involve special risks because they are new issues. The Fund
has no arrangement with any persons concerning the acquisition of such
securities, and the Manager will review carefully the credit and other
characteristics pertinent to such new issues.
Simultaneous Investments. (All Funds) Investment decisions for each
Fund are made independently from those of the other investment companies
advised by the Manager. If, however, such other investment companies desire
to invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as a 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.
Investment Restrictions
Each Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy, which cannot
be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Funds
have adopted certain investment restrictions as fundamental policies and
certain other investment restrictions as non-fundamental policies, as
described below.
Dreyfus Premier Value Fund only. The Fund has adopted investment
restrictions numbered 1 through 13 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 restriction
number 14 is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by vote of a
majority of the Company's Board members at any time. Dreyfus Premier Value
Fund may not:
1. Purchase securities of any company having less than three years'
continuous operations (including operations of any predecessors) if such
purchase would cause the value of the Fund's investments in all such
companies to exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
2. Purchase securities of closed-end investment companies except (a)
in the open market where no commission except the ordinary broker's
commission is paid, which purchases are limited to a maximum of (i) 3% of
the total voting stock of any one closed-end investment company, (ii) 5% of
its net assets with respect to any one closed-end investment company and
(iii) 10% of its net assets in the aggregate, or (b) those received as part
of a merger or consolidation. The Fund may not purchase the securities of
open-end investment companies other than itself.
3. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if the officers,
Trustees or Directors of the Company or the Manager individually own
beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer or
together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
4. Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on
futures contracts or indices.
5. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil and gas interests,
but the Fund may purchase and sell securities that are secured by real
estate and may purchase and sell securities issued by companies that invest
or deal in real estate.
6. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act
(which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of
the Fund's total assets). For purposes of this investment restriction, the
entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not
constitute borrowing.
7. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call
options and the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery
basis and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with
respect to options, futures contracts, including those relating to indices,
and options on futures contracts or indices.
8. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations. However, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an
amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets. Any loans of
portfolio securities will be made according to guidelines established by the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Company's Board members.
9. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to
the extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
10. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of
exercising management or control, but the Fund will vote the securities it
owns in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.
11. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls or combinations thereof,
except as described in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
12. Invest more than 25% of its assets in investments in any
particular industry or industries (including banking), provided that, when
the Fund has adopted a temporary defensive posture, there shall be no
limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
13. Purchase warrants in excess of 2% of net assets. For purposes of
this restriction, such warrants shall be valued at the lower of cost or
market, except that warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to
securities shall not be included within this 2% restriction.
14. 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.
* * *
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund only. The Fund has adopted
investment restrictions numbered 1 through 10 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 11 and 12 are not fundamental policies and may be
changed by vote of a majority of the Company's Board members at any time.
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any single
issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be
invested, and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or its
agencies or instrumentalities may be purchased, without regard to any such
limitation.
2. Hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any
single issuer. This Investment Restriction applies only with respect to 75%
of the Fund's total assets.
3. Invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the
securities of issuers in any single industry, provided that there shall be
no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
4. Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to
indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
5. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or other mineral
leases or exploration or development programs, but the Fund may purchase and
sell securities that are secured by real estate or issued by companies that
invest or deal in real estate or real estate investment trusts.
6. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act
(which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of
the Fund's total assets). For purposes of this Investment Restriction, the
entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not
constitute borrowing.
7. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations and the entry into repurchase agreements. However, the Fund may
lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the
value of its total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made
according to guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Company's Board.
8. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the
extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
9. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f)
of the 1940 Act), except to the extent the activities permitted in
Investment Restriction Nos. 4, 6 and 11 may be deemed to give rise to a
senior security.
10. Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may make margin
deposits in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts,
futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on
futures contracts or indices.
11. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call
options and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with
respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
12. 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 change in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets will
not constitute a violation of such restriction.
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
The Company's Board is responsible for the management and supervision
of each Fund. The Board approves all significant agreements with those
companies that furnish services to the Fund. These companies are as
follows:
The Dreyfus Corporation Investment Adviser
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Distributor
Inc.
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. Transfer Agent
Mellon Bank, N.A. Custodian for Dreyfus Premier
Value Fund
The Bank of New York Custodian for Dreyfus Premier
International Value Fund
Board members and officers of the Company, together with information as
to their principal business occupations during at least the last five years,
are shown below.
Board Members of the Company
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is
a director of The Noel Group, Inc., a venture capital company (for
which, from February 1995 until November 1997, he was Chairman of the
Board), The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services
Corporation, a provider of marketing, administrative and risk
management services to health and other benefit programs, Carlyle
Industries, Inc. (formerly, Belding Heminway Company, Inc.), a button
packager and distributor, Century Business Services, Inc., a provider
of various outsourcing functions for small and medium sized companies,
and Career Blazers, Inc. (formerly, Staffing Resources, Inc.), a
temporary placement agency. For more than five years prior to January
1995, he was President, a director and, until August 1994, Chief
Operating Officer of the Manager and Executive Vice President and a
director of Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Manager and, until August 24, 1994, the Company's distributor.
From August 1994 until December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon
Bank Corporation. He is 55 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 through December 31, 1994,
Mr. Burke was a consultant to the Manager, and from October 1990 to
August 1994, he was Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of
the Manager. From 1977 to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the
management of national television news, as Vice President and Executive
Vice President of ABC News, and subsequently as President of CBS News.
He is 61 years old and his address is Box 654, Eastham, MA 02642.
DIANE DUNST, Board Member. Since January 1992, President of Diane Dunst
Promotion, Inc., a full service promotion agency. From January 1989 to
January 1992, Director of Promotion Services, Lear's Magazine. From
1985 to January 1989, she was Sales Promotion Manager of ELLE Magazine.
She is 58 years old and her address is 1172 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10128.
ROSALIND GERSTEN JACOBS, Board Member. Director of Merchandise and
Marketing for Corporate Property Investors, a real estate investment
company. From 1974 to 1976, she was owner and manager of a merchandise
and marketing consulting firm. Prior to 1974, she was Vice President
of Macy's, New York. She is 72 years old and her address is c/o
Corporate Property Investors, 305 East 47th Street, New York, New York
10017.
JAY I. MELTZER, Board Member. Physician engaged in private practice
specializing in internal medicine. He is also a member of the Advisory
Board of the Section of Society and Medicine, College of Physicians and
Surgeons, Columbia University and Clinical Professor of Medicine,
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and
Surgeons; and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine at Cornell College
of Medicine. He is 69 years old and his address is 903 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10021.
DANIEL ROSE, Board Member. President and Chief Executive Officer of Rose
Associates, Inc., a New York based real estate development and
management firm. Pursuant to a Presidential appointment in July 1994,
Mr. Rose serves as a Director of the Baltic-American Enterprise Fund,
which makes equity investments and loans and provides technical
business assistance to new business concerns in the Baltic states. He
is also Chairman of the Housing Committee of The Real Estate Board of
New York, Inc., and a Board Member of Corporate Property Investors, a
real estate investment company. He is 68 years old and his address is
c/o Rose Associates, Inc., 200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York
10016.
WARREN B. RUDMAN, Board Member. Since January 1993, Partner in the law firm
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Mr. Rudman also serves as a
director of Prime Succession, Inc., Collins & Aikman Corporation, Chubb
Corporation, and the Raytheon Company; and as a trustee of Boston
College. He also serves as a member of the President's Foreign
Intelligence Advisory Board (as Vice Chairman through February 1998
and, currently, as Chairman), and a member of the Senior Advisory Board
of the Institute of Politics of the Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard University. From January 1981 to January 1993, Mr. Rudman
served as a United States Senator from the state of New Hampshire.
From January 1993 to December 1994, Mr. Rudman served as Chairman of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He is 67 years old and his address
is c/o Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, 1615 L. Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
SANDER VANOCUR, Board Member. Since January 1992, Mr. Vanocur has been the
President of Old Owl Communications, a full-service communications
firm. From May 1995 to June 1996, he was a Professional in Residence
at the Freedom Forum in Arlington, VA and from January 1994 to May
1995, he served as a Visiting Professional Scholar at the Freedom Forum
First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University; and from November 1989
to November 1995, he was a director of the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell
Cancer Research Fund. From June 1986 to December 1991, he was a Senior
Correspondent of ABC News and, from October 1977 to December 1991, he
was Anchor of the ABC News program "Business World," a weekly business
program on the ABC television network. Mr. Vanocur joined ABC News in
1977. He is 69 years old and his address is 2626 Sycamore Canyon, Santa
Barbara, CA 93108.
For so long as the Company's plans described in the section captioned
"Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan" remain in effect, the
Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Company, as defined in
the 1940 Act, will be selected and nominated by the Board members who are
not "interested persons" of the Company.
The Company typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a
per meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the
Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board
members are entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of
one-half the amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Board member by the Company for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1998, 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, 1998, were as follows:
Total
Compensation From
Aggregate Company and Fund
Name of Board Member Compensation From Complex Paid to
Company* Board Member
Joseph S. DiMartino $_____ $______ ( )
David W. Burke $_____ $______ ( )
Diane Dunst $_____ $______ ( )
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs $_____ $______ ( )
Jay I. Meltzer $_____ $______ ( )
Daniel Rose $_____ $______ ( )
Warren B. Rudman $_____ $______ ( )
Sander Vanocur $_____ $______ ( )
_________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $_____ for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Company
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. She is 41 years old.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of
other investment companies advised or administered by the Manager.
From August 1996 to March 1998, she was Vice President and Assistant
General Counsel for Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. From January 1986
to July 1996, she was an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray.
She is 38 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Senior Vice President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From December 1989 through November 1996, he was employed by
GE Investments where he held various financial, business development
and compliance positions. He also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds
and as a Director of GE Investment Services. He is 37 years old.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Vice President and Client Development Manager of Funds
Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. From April 1997 to March
1998, she was employed as a Relationship Manager with Citibank, N.A.
From August 1995 to April 1997, she was an Assistant Vice President
with Hudson Valley Bank, and from September 1990 to August 1995, she
was Second Vice President with Chase Manhattan Bank. She is 30 years
old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of
the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
September 1989 to July 1994, she was an Assistant Vice President and
Client Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. She is 34 years old.
GEORGE A. RIO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President and Client Service Director of Funds Distributor, Inc., and
an officer of other investment companies advised or administered by
the Manager. From June 1995 to March 1998, he was Senior Vice
President and Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam Mutual Funds.
From May 1994 to June 1995, he was Director of Business Development
for First Data Corporation. From September 1983 to May 1994, he was
Senior Vice President and Manager of Client Services and Director of
Internal Audit at The Boston Company, Inc. He is 43 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of the
Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From July
1988 to August 1994, he was employed by The Boston Company, Inc. where
he held various management positions in the Corporate Finance and
Treasury areas. He is 36 years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. He is 29 years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. From April 1994 to July 1996,
he was Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. From October 1992
to March 1994, he was employed by Putnam Investments in legal and
compliance capacities. He is 33 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Manager of
Treasury Services Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant
for Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 26 years old.
ELBA VASQUEZ, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
March 1990 to May 1996, she was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New
York where she held various sales and marketing positions. She is 37
years old.
The address of each officer of the Company is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
The Company's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than
1% of each Fund's voting securities outstanding on _____________, 1999.
The following shareholders owned of record 5% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of the indicated Funds on ___________, 1999:
[Class A - Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company, 1 Cabot Road, Medford MA
(9.38 %); Class C - MLFP&S, for the sole benefit of its customers,
Jacksonville, FL (34.69%); Mary E. Carroll, Charitable Remainder Trust,
Springfield, MO (7.65%); Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette Securities Corporation,
Inc., Jersey City, NJ (5.11%); Class R - Trent & Co., Grand Rapids MI
(47.80%); Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc., Boston MA (28.28%); Tamara
Mastro, West Bloomfield, MI (11.77%); and Carol A. Hagerty (403(b)(7) Plan
Account), Bayside, NY (7.23%)].
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Investment Adviser. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon
Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation
("Mellon"). Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company
incorporated under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a
comprehensive range of financial products and services in domestic and
selected international markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest
bank holding companies in the United States based on total assets.
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994, as amended February 4,
1998, with the Company. As to each Fund, the Agreement is subject to annual
approval by (i) the Company's Board or (ii) vote of a majority (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund, provided
that in either event the continuance also is approved by a majority of the
Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Company 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 3, 1994 in respect of Dreyfus Premier Value Fund, and
was last approved by the Company'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 ________, 1998. The Agreement was approved by the initial
shareholder of Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund on March 31, 1998,
and was so approved by the Company's Board at a meeting held on February 4,
1998. As to each Fund, the Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60
days' notice, by the Company's Board or by vote of the holders of a majority
of such Fund's shares, or, on not less than 90 days' notice, by the Manager.
The Agreement will terminate automatically, as to the relevant Fund, in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager: W.
Keith Smith, Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Stephen E.
Canter, Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S.
Kash, Vice Chairman--Distribution and a director; J. David Officer, Vice
Chairman and a director; Ronald P. O'Hanley III, Vice Chairman; William T.
Sandalls, Jr., Executive Vice President; Mark N. Jacobs, Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice President--
Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human Resources;
Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President--Information Systems; Theodore A. Schachar,
Vice President; Wendy Strutt, Vice President; Richard Terres, Vice
President; William H. Maresca, Controller; James Bitetto, Assistant
Secretary; Steven F. Newman, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman,
Burton C. Borgelt, Frank V. Cahouet and Richard F. Syron, directors.
The Manager manages each Fund's investments in accordance with the
stated policies of such Fund, subject to the approval of the Company's
Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and provides
the Funds with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute
purchases and sales of securities. Dreyfus Premier Value Fund's portfolio
managers are Timothy M. Ghriskey and Richard B. Hoey. Dreyfus Premier
International Value Fund's portfolio managers are Sandor Cseh and D. Kirk
Henry. The Manager also maintains a research department with a professional
staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research
services for the Funds and for other funds advised by the Manager.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Company, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Company. The Manager may pay the Distributor for
shareholder services from the Manager's own assets, including past profits
but not including the management fees paid by the Funds. The Distributor
may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents (as defined
below) in respect of these services. The Manager also may make such
advertising and promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it
from time to time deems appropriate.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Company are borne by the
Company, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The
expenses borne by the Company include: organizational costs, taxes,
interest, loan commitment fees, dividends and interest paid on securities
sold short, brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board members
who are not officers, directors, employees or holders of 5% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of the Manager or any of its affiliates,
Securities and Exchange Commission fees, state Blue Sky
notification/qualification fees, advisory fees, charges of custodians,
transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees, certain insurance premiums,
industry association fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of
maintaining the Company's existence, costs of independent pricing service,
costs attributable to investor services (including, without limitation,
telephone and personnel expenses), costs of preparing and printing
prospectuses and statements of additional information for regulatory
purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, costs of
shareholders' reports and meetings, and any extraordinary expenses. In
addition, Class B and Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution
fee and Class A, Class B and Class C shares are subject to an annual service
fee. See "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan." Expenses
attributable to a particular Fund are charged against the assets of that
Fund; other expenses of the Company are allocated among the Funds on the
basis determined by the Board, including, but not limited to,
proportionately in relation to the net assets of each Fund.
As compensation for the Manager's services to the Company, the Company
has agreed to pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of
.75% of the value of Dreyfus Premier Value Fund's average daily net assets,
and 1.00% of the value of Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund's average
daily net assets. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998,
the management fees paid by the Company for Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
amounted to $1,948,566, $1,996,529 and $ , respectively. For the
period _______________, 1998 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 1998,
the management fee payable by the Company for Dreyfus Premier International
Value Fund amounted to $__________, which amount was waived pursuant to an
undertaking by the Manager.
As to each Fund, the Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the
aggregate expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on
borrowings and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state
securities commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management
fee, exceed the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the
Fund, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under
the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense to the extent
required by state law. Such deduction or payment, if any, will be
estimated daily, and reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on
a monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of a Fund's net assets increases.
Distributor. Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc., located at 60 State
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, serves as each Fund's distributor on
a best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement with the Company which is
renewable annually.
With respect to Dreyfus Premier Value Fund, for the fiscal years ended
October 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Distributor retained $6,137, $14,319
and $ , respectively, from sales loads on Class A shares. For
the same periods, the Distributor retained $_________, $_________ and
$ , respectively, from contingent deferred sales charges
("CDSC") on Class B shares and $__________, $___________ and $
, respectively, from the CDSC on Class C shares of Dreyfus Premier
Value Fund. With respect to Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund, for
the period from , 1998 (commencement of operations) to October 31,
1998, the Distributor retained $ from sales loads on Class A
shares, $ from the CDSC on Class B shares and $ from
the CDSC on Class C shares.
The Distributor may pay dealers a fee of up to .5% of the amount
invested through such dealers in Fund shares by employees participating in
qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where
(i) the employers or affiliated employers maintaining such plans or
programs have a minimum of 250 employees eligible for participation in such
plans or programs or (ii) such plan's or program's aggregate investment in
the Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products made available by the
Distributor to such plans or programs exceeds $1,000,000 ("Eligible Benefit
Plans"). Shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds then held by
Eligible Benefit Plans will be aggregated to determine the fee payable.
The Distributor reserves the right to cease paying these fees at any time.
The Distributor will pay such fees from its own funds, other than amounts
received from a Fund, including past profits or any other source available
to it.
The Distributor, at its expense, may provide promotional incentives to
dealers that sell shares of funds advised by the Manager which are sold
with a sales load. In some instances, these incentives may be offered only
to certain dealers who have sold or may sell significant amounts of shares.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Custodian. Dreyfus
Transfer, Inc. (the "Transfer Agent"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Manager, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the
Company's transfer and dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency
agreement with the Company, the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance
of shareholder account records for each 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 each Fund during the month, and is
reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
Mellon Bank, N.A., the Manager's parent, One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, acts as custodian of the investments of
Dreyfus Premier Value Fund. The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street,
New York, New York 10286, acts as custodian of the investments of Dreyfus
Premier International Value Fund. Neither custodian has any part in
determining the investment policies of a Fund or which securities are to be
purchased or sold by the Fund. Under a separate custody agreement with the
Company, each custodian holds the relevant Fund's securities and keeps all
necessary accounts and records. For its custody services, each custodian
receives a monthly fee based on the market value of the relevant Fund's
assets held in custody and receives certain securities transactions
charges.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
General. Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares may be
purchased only by clients of certain financial institutions (which may
include banks), securities dealers ("Selected Dealers") and other industry
professionals (collectively, "Service Agents"), except that full-time or
part-time employees the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries,
directors of the Manager, Board members of a fund advised by the Manager,
including members of the Company's Board, or the spouse or minor child of
any of the foregoing may purchase Class A shares directly through the
Distributor. Subsequent purchases may be sent directly to the Transfer
Agent or your Service Agent.
Class R shares are offered only to institutional investors acting for
themselves or in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar
capacity for qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans, including
pension, profit-sharing, IRAs set up under a Simplified Employee Pension
Plan ("SEP-IRAs") and other deferred compensation plans, whether established
by corporations, partnerships, non-profit entities or state and local
governments ("Retirement Plans"). The term "Retirement Plans" does not
include IRAs or IRA "Rollover Accounts." Class R shares may be purchased
for a Retirement Plan only by a custodian, trustee, investment manager or
other entity authorized to act on behalf of such Retirement Plan.
Institutions effecting transactions in Class R shares for the accounts of
their clients may charge their clients direct fees in connection with such
transactions.
When purchasing Fund shares, you must specify which Class is being
purchased. Stock certificates are issued only upon your written request.
No certificates are issued for fractional shares. The Company reserves the
right to reject any purchase order.
Service Agents may receive different levels of compensation for selling
different Classes of shares. Management understands that some Service
Agents may impose certain conditions on their clients which are different
from those described in the relevant Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulatory authority, may charge their clients direct fees. You should
consult your Service Agent in this regard.
The minimum initial investment is $1,000. Subsequent investments must
be at least $100. However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs
for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and
403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored
Education IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent purchases. The initial
investment must be accompanied by the Account Application. The Company
reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum purchase
requirements to employees participating in certain qualified or non-
qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where contributions or
account information can be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to
the Company. The Company reserves the right to vary further the initial and
subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time.
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), imposes
various limitations on the amount that may be contributed to certain
Retirement Plans. These limitations apply with respect to participants at
the plan level and, therefore, do not directly affect the amount that may be
invested in a Fund by a Retirement Plan. Participants and plan sponsors
should consult their tax advisers for details.
Fund shares also may be purchased through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset
Builderr, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege and Dreyfus Payroll
Savings Plan described under "Shareholder Services." These services enable
you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a
convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be
aware, however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and
will not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis. Net asset value per share
is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business. For purposes of determining net asset
value, options and futures contracts will be valued 15 minutes after the
close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset
value per share of each Class is computed by dividing the value of the
Fund's net assets represented by such Class (i.e., the value of its assets
less liabilities) by the total number of shares of such Class outstanding.
Each Fund's investments are valued based on market value or, where market
quotations are not readily available, based on fair value as determined in
good faith by the Company's Board. For further information regarding the
methods employed in valuing the Funds' investments, see "Determination of
Net Asset Value."
If an order is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent or other
entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund by the close of
trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m.,
New York time) on a business day, Fund shares will be purchased at the
public offering price determined as of the close of trading on the floor of
the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, Fund shares will be
purchased at the public offering price determined as of the close of trading
on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on the next business day, except
where shares are purchased through a dealer as provided below.
Orders for the purchase of Fund shares received by dealers by the close
of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on any business day
and transmitted to the Distributor or its designee by the close of its
business day (normally 5:15 p.m., New York time) will be based on the public
offering price per share determined as of the close of trading on the floor
of the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, the orders will be
based on the next determined public offering price. It is the dealer's
responsibility to transmit orders so that they will be received by the
Distributor or its designee before the close of its business day. For
certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the Distributor,
payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and must be
received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the order
is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days after
the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution could be
held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
Class A Shares. The public offering price for Class A shares of each
Fund is the net asset value per share of that Class plus, except for
shareholders beneficially owning Class A shares of Dreyfus Premier Value
Fund on November 30, 1996, a sales load as shown below:
Total
Sales
Load
As a % of As a % of
Amount of Transaction offering net asset
price per value per
share share
Less than $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 to less than $100,000 4.50 4.70
$100,000 to less than $250,000 3.50 3.60
$250,000 to less than $500,000 2.50 2.60
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000 2.00 2.00
$1,000,000 or more -0- -0-
For shareholders who beneficially owned Class A shares of Dreyfus
Premier Value Fund on November 30, 1996, the public offering price for Class
A shares of such Fund is the net asset value per share of that Class plus a
sales load as shown below:
Total
Sales
Load
As a % of As a % of
Amount of Transaction offering net asset
price per value per
share share
Less than $50,000 4.50 4.70
$50,000 to less than $100,000 4.00 4.20
$100,000 to less than $250,000 3.00 3.10
$250,000 to less than $500,000 2.50 2.60
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000 2.00 2.00
$1,000,000 or more -0- -0-
A CDSC of 1% will be assessed at the time of redemption of Class A
shares purchased without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of
at least $1,000,000 and redeemed within one year of purchase. The
Distributor may pay Service Agents an amount up to 1% of the net asset value
of Class A shares purchased by their clients that are subject to a CDSC.
The scale of sales loads applies to purchases of Class A shares made by
any "purchaser," which term includes an individual and/or spouse purchasing
securities for his, her or their own account or for the account of any minor
children, or a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing securities for a single
trust estate or a single fiduciary account (including a pension, profit-
sharing or other employee benefit trust created pursuant to a plan qualified
under Section 401 of the Code) although more than one beneficiary is
involved; or a group of accounts established by or on behalf of the
employees of an employer or affiliated employers pursuant to an employee
benefit plan or other program (including accounts established pursuant to
Sections 403(b), 408(k), and 457 of the Code); or an organized group which
has been in existence for more than six months, provided that it is not
organized for the purpose of buying redeemable securities of a registered
investment company and provided that the purchases are made through a
central administration or a single dealer, or by other means which result in
economy of sales effort or expense.
Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering
price of Class A shares of each Fund. The example assumes a purchase of
Class A shares of the Fund aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the
schedule of sales charges set forth above at a price based upon the net
asset value of the Fund's Class A shares on October 31, 1998:
Dreyfus
Dreyfus Premier
Premier International
Value Fund Value Fund
Net Asset Value per $ $
Share
Per Share Sales
Charge - 5.75%*
of offering $ $
price (6.10% of
net asset value
per share)
Per Share Offering
Price to $ $
the Public
_____________________
* Class A shares of Dreyfus Premier Value Fund purchased by shareholders
beneficially owning Class A shares of such Fund on November 30, 1996 are
subject to a different sales load schedule, as described above.
Full-time employees of NASD member firms and full-time employees of
other financial institutions which have entered into an agreement with the
Distributor pertaining to the sale of Fund shares (or which otherwise have a
brokerage related or clearing arrangement with an NASD member firm or
financial institution with respect to the sale of such shares) may purchase
Class A shares for themselves directly or pursuant to an employee benefit
plan or other program, or for their spouses or minor children, at net asset
value, provided they have furnished the Distributor with such information as
it may request from time to time in order to verify eligibility for this
privilege. This privilege also applies to full-time employees of financial
institutions affiliated with NASD member firms whose full-time employees are
eligible to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. In addition, Class
A shares are offered at net asset value to full-time or part-time employees
of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of the
Manager, Board members of a fund advised by the Manager, including members
of the Company's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the
foregoing.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value without a sales load to
employees participating in Eligible Benefit Plans. Class A shares also may
be purchased (including by exchange) at net asset value without a sales load
for Dreyfus-sponsored IRA "Rollover Accounts" with the distribution proceeds
from a qualified retirement plan or a Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan,
provided, at the time of such distribution, such qualified retirement plan
or Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan (a) met the requirements of an Eligible
Benefit Plan and all or a portion of such plan's assets were invested in
funds in the Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds or the Dreyfus Family of Funds
or certain other products made available by the Distributor to such plans,
or (b) invested all of its assets in certain funds in the Dreyfus Premier
Family of Funds or the Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products
made available by the Distributor to such plans.
Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value through certain
broker-dealers and other financial institutions which have entered into an
agreement with the Distributor, which includes a requirement that such
shares be sold for the benefit of clients participating in a "wrap account"
or a similar program under which such clients pay a fee to such broker-
dealer or other financial institution.
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value, subject to
appropriate documentation, through a broker-dealer or other financial
institution with the proceeds from the redemption of shares of a registered
open-end management investment company not managed by the Manager or its
affiliates. The purchase of Class A shares of a Fund must be made within 60
days of such redemption and the shareholder must have either (i) paid an
initial sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge or (ii) been
obligated to pay at any time during the holding period, but did not actually
pay on redemption, a deferred sales charge with respect to such redeemed
shares.
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value, subject to
appropriate documentation, by (i) qualified separate accounts maintained by
an insurance company pursuant to the laws of any State or territory of the
United States, (ii) a State, county or city or instrumentality thereof,
(iii) a charitable organization (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code) investing $50,000 or more in Fund shares, and (iv) a charitable
remainder trust (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code).
Class B Shares. The public offering price for Class B shares is the
net asset value per share of that Class. No initial sales charge is imposed
at the time of purchase. A CDSC is imposed, however, on certain redemptions
of Class B shares as described in the relevant Fund's Prospectus and in this
Statement of Additional Information under "How to Redeem Shares--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge--Class B Shares." The Distributor compensates certain
Service Agents for selling Class B shares at the time of purchase from the
Distributor's own assets. The proceeds of the CDSC and the distribution
fee, in part, are used to defray these expenses.
Approximately six years after the date of purchase, Class B shares
automatically will convert to Class A shares, based on the relative net
asset values for shares of each such Class. Class B shares that have been
acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be
converted on a pro rata basis together with other Class B shares, in the
proportion that a shareholder's Class B shares converting to Class A shares
bears to the total Class B shares not acquired through the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.
Class C Shares. The public offering price for Class C shares is the
net asset value per share of that Class. No initial sales charge is imposed
at the time of purchase. A CDSC is imposed, however, on redemptions of
Class C shares made within the first year of purchase. See "Class B Shares"
above and "How to Redeem Shares."
Class R Shares. The public offering for Class R shares is the net
asset value per share of that Class.
Right of Accumulation--Class A Shares. Reduced sales loads apply to
any purchase of Class A shares, shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Premier
Family of Funds, shares of certain other funds advised by the Manager which
are sold with a sales load and shares acquired by a previous exchange of
such shares (hereinafter referred to as "Eligible Funds"), by you and any
related "purchaser" as defined above, where the aggregate investment,
including such purchase, is $50,000 or more. If, for example, you
previously purchased and still hold Class A shares, or shares of any other
Eligible Fund or combination thereof, with an aggregate current market value
of $40,000 and subsequently purchase Class A shares or shares of an Eligible
Fund having a current value of $20,000, the sales load applicable to the
subsequent purchase would be reduced to 4.5% of the offering price. All
present holdings of Eligible Funds may be combined to determine the current
offering price of the aggregate investment in ascertaining the sales load
applicable to each subsequent purchase. Class A shares purchased by
shareholders beneficially owning Class A shares of Dreyfus Premier Value
Fund on November 30, 1996 are subject to a different sales load schedule, as
described above under "Class A Shares."
To qualify for reduced sales loads, at the time of purchase you or your
Service Agent must notify the Distributor if orders are made by wire, or the
Transfer Agent if orders are made by mail. The reduced sales load is
subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of appropriate
records.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may purchase shares 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.
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 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 Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the initial payment for
purchase of shares must be drawn on, and redemption proceeds paid to, the
same bank and account as are designated on the Account Application or
Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a particular
redemption are to be wired to an account at any other bank, the request
must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See "How to Redeem Shares--
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. You may reopen an account with a minimum
investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the
calendar year the account is closed or during the following calendar year,
provided the information on the old Account Application is still applicable.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
Class B and Class C shares are subject to a Distribution Plan and Class
A, Class B and Class C shares are subject to a Shareholder Services Plan.
Distribution Plan. Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") adopted by the 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 Company's Board
has adopted such a plan (the "Distribution Plan") with respect to each
Fund's Class B and Class C shares pursuant to which the Fund pays the
Distributor for distributing each such Class of shares a fee at the annual
rate of .75% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B and
Class C shares. The Company's Board believes that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the Distribution Plan will benefit each Fund and holders of
its Class B and Class C shares.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Distribution Plan,
and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to
the Board for its review. In addition, the Distribution Plan provides that
it may not be amended to increase materially the costs which holders of a
Fund's Class B or Class C shares may bear pursuant to the Distribution Plan
without the approval of the holders of such shares and that other material
amendments of the Distribution Plan must be approved by the Company's Board,
and by the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest
in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreements entered into
in connection with the Distribution Plan, by vote cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. As to each
Fund, the Distribution Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Distribution
Plan. The Distribution Plan was last so approved by the Board at a meeting
held on ______, 1998. As to the relevant Class of shares of a Fund, the
Distribution Plan may be terminated 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 Distribution Plan or in
any agreements entered into in connection with the Distribution Plan or by
vote of the holders of a majority of such Class of shares.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
paid the Distributor $ with respect to Class B shares and $
with respect to Class C shares pursuant to the Distribution Plan. For the
period __________ (commencement of operations) through October 31, 1998,
Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund paid the Distributor $ with
respect to Class B shares and $ with respect to Class C shares
pursuant to the Distribution Plan.
Shareholder Services Plan. The Company has adopted a Shareholder
Services Plan with respect to each Fund, pursuant to which the Fund pays the
Distributor for the provision of certain services to the holders of the
Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares a fee at the annual rate of .25%
of the value of the average daily net assets of each such Class. The
services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder
accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund and
providing reports and other information, and services related to the
maintenance of such shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder Services
Plan, the Distributor may make payments to Service Agents in respect of
these services.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Shareholder
Services Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred,
must be made to the Board for its review. In addition, the Shareholder
Services Plan provides that material amendments must be approved by the
Company's Board, and by the Board members who are not "interested persons"
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan or in
any agreements entered into in connection with the Shareholder Services
Plan, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such amendments. As to each Fund, the Shareholder Services Plan
is subject to annual approval by such vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on the Shareholder Services Plan. The
Shareholder Services Plan was last so approved by the Board at a meeting
held on _______, 1998. As to the relevant Class of shares of a Fund, the
Shareholder Services Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a majority of
the Board members who are not "interested persons" and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services
Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Shareholder
Services Plan.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
paid the Distributor $ with respect to Class A shares, $ with
respect to Class B shares, and $ with respect to Class C shares
pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan. For the period __________
(commencement of operations) through October 31, 1998, Dreyfus Premier
International Value Fund paid the Distributor $ with respect to
Class A shares, $ with respect to Class B shares, and $ with
respect to Class C shares pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class B Shares. A CDSC payable to
the Distributor is imposed on any redemption of Class B shares which reduces
the current net asset value of your Class B shares to an amount which is
lower than the dollar amount of all payments by you for the purchase of
Class B shares of the Fund held by you at the time of redemption. No CDSC
will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of the Class B shares
redeemed does not exceed (i) the current net asset value of Class B shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions,
plus (ii) increases in the net asset value of your Class B shares above the
dollar amount of all your payments for the purchase of Class B shares held
by you at the time of redemption.
If the aggregate value of Class B shares redeemed has declined below
their original cost as a result of the Fund's performance, a CDSC may be
applied to the then-current net asset value rather than the purchase price.
In circumstances where the CDSC is imposed, the amount of the charge
will depend on the number of years from the time you purchased the Class B
shares until the time of redemption of such shares. Solely for purposes of
determining the number of years from the time of any payment for the
purchase of Class B shares, all payments during a month will be aggregated
and deemed to have been made on the first day of the month.
The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC for Class B shares
of each Fund, except as set forth below:
Year Since CDSC as a % of
Purchase Payment Amount Invested
Was Made or
Redemption
Proceeds
First 4.00
Second 4.00
Third 3.00
Fourth 3.00
Fifth 2.00
Sixth 1.00
The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC for Class B shares
of Dreyfus Premier Value Fund purchased by shareholders who beneficially
owned Class B shares of such Fund on November 30, 1996:
Year Since CDSC as a % of
Purchase Payment Amount Invested
Was Made or
Redemption
Proceeds
First 3.00
Second 3.00
Third 2.00
Fourth 2.00
Fifth 1.00
Sixth 0.00
In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the
calculation will be made in a manner that results in the lowest possible
rate. It will be assumed that the redemption is made first of amounts
representing shares acquired pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions; then of amounts representing the increase in net asset value
of Class B shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of
Class B shares made during the preceding six years; then of amounts
representing the cost of shares purchased six years prior to the redemption;
and finally, of amounts representing the cost of shares held for the longest
period of time within the applicable six-year period.
For example, assume an investor purchased 100 shares at $10 per share
for a cost of $1,000. Subsequently, the shareholder acquired five
additional shares through dividend reinvestment. During the second year
after the purchase the investor decided to redeem $500 of the investment.
Assuming at the time of the redemption the net asset value had appreciated
to $12 per share, the value of the investor's shares would be $1,260 (105
shares at $12 per share). The CDSC would not be applied to the value of the
reinvested dividend shares and the amount which represents appreciation
($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500 redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260)
would be charged at a rate of 4% (the applicable rate in the second year
after purchase) for a total CDSC of $9.60.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class C Shares. A CDSC of 1% payable
to the Distributor is imposed on any redemption of Class C shares within one
year of the date of purchase. The basis for calculating the payment of any
such CDSC will be the method used in calculating the CDSC for Class B
shares. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class B Shares" above.
Waiver of CDSC. The CDSC applicable to Class B and Class C shares
may be waived in connection with (a) redemptions made within one year
after the death or disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code,
of the shareholder, (b) redemptions by employees participating in Eligible
Benefit Plans, (c) redemptions as a result of a combination of any
investment company with the Fund by merger, acquisition of assets or
otherwise, (d) a distribution following retirement under a tax-deferred
retirement plan or upon attaining age 70-1/2 in the case of an IRA or Keogh
plan or custodial account pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code, and (e)
redemptions pursuant to the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, as described below.
If the Company's Board determines to discontinue the waiver of the CDSC,
the disclosure herein will be revised appropriately. Any Fund shares
subject to a CDSC which were purchased prior to the termination of such
waiver will have the CDSC waived as provided in the Fund's Prospectus or
this Statement of Additional Information at the time of the purchase of
such shares.
To qualify for a waiver of the CDSC, at the time of redemption you
must notify the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the
Distributor. Any such qualification is subject to confirmation of your
entitlement.
Redemption Through a Selected Dealer. If you are a customer of a
Selected Dealer, you may make redemption requests to your Selected Dealer.
If the Selected Dealer transmits the redemption request so that it is
received by the Transfer Agent prior to the close of trading on the floor of
the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), the
redemption request will be effective on that day. If a redemption request
is received by the Transfer Agent after the close of trading on the floor of
the New York Stock Exchange, the redemption request will be effective on the
next business day. It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to
transmit a request so that it is received in a timely manner. The proceeds
of the redemption are credited to your account with the Selected Dealer.
See "How to Buy Shares" for a discussion of additional conditions or fees
that may be imposed upon redemption.
In addition, the Distributor or its designee will accept orders from
Selected Dealers with which the Distributor has sales agreements for the
repurchase of shares held by shareholders. Repurchase orders received by
dealers by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
on any business day and transmitted to the Distributor or its designee prior
to the close of its business day (normally 5:15 p.m., New York time) are
effected at the price determined as of the close of trading on the floor of
the New York Stock Exchange on that day. Otherwise, the shares will be
redeemed at the next determined net asset value. It is the responsibility
of the Selected Dealer to transmit orders on a timely basis. The Selected
Dealer may charge the shareholder a fee for executing the order. This
repurchase arrangement is discretionary and may be withdrawn at any time.
Reinvestment Privilege. Upon written request, you may reinvest up to
the number of Class A or Class B shares you have redeemed, within 45 days of
redemption, at the then-prevailing net asset value without a sales load, or
reinstate your account for the purpose of exercising Fund Exchanges. Upon
reinstatement, with respect to Class B shares, or Class A shares if such
shares were subject to a CDSC, your account will be credited with an amount
equal to the CDSC previously paid upon redemption of the Class A or Class B
shares reinvested. The Reinvestment Privilege may be exercised only once.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, you authorize the
Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption instructions
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. Ordinarily, the Company will initiate
payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege on the next business
day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the redemption request in proper
form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum) will be transferred by Federal
Reserve wire only to the commercial bank account you have specified on the
Account Application or Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent
bank if your bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees
ordinarily are imposed by such bank and borne by the investor. Immediate
notification by the correspondent bank to your bank is necessary to avoid a
delay in crediting the funds to your bank account.
If you have access to telegraphic equipment you 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
If you do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment you may have
the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at 1-800-654-7171,
toll free. You should advise the operator that the above transmittal code
must be used and you 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 "Share Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank
account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House ("ACH") member may be
designated. 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. Redemption
proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an ACH member bank
ordinarily two business days after receipt of the redemption request. You
should be aware that if you have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer
Privilege, any request for a wire redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus
TeleTransfer transaction through the ACH system unless more prompt
transmittal specifically is requested. See "How to Buy Shares--Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege."
Share Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
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.
Redemption Commitment. The Company has committed itself to pay in
cash all redemption requests by any shareholder of record of a Fund,
limited in amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1%
of the value of such Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period.
Such commitment is irrevocable without the prior approval of the Securities
and Exchange Commission and is a fundamental policy of the Company which
may not be changed without shareholder approval. In the case of requests
for redemption in excess of such amount, the Board reserves the right to
make payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets in case of
an emergency or any time a cash distribution would impair the liquidity of
the Fund to the detriment of the existing shareholders. In such event, the
securities would be valued in the same manner as the Fund's securities are
valued. If the recipient sold such securities, brokerage charges would be
incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended
or the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday
closings), (b) when trading in the markets the relevant 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
Fund Exchanges. You may purchase, in exchange for shares of a Fund,
shares of the same Class of another Fund or of certain other funds managed
or administered by the Manager, to the extent such shares are offered for
sale in your state of residence. Shares of the same Class of such funds
purchased by exchange will be purchased on the basis of relative net asset
value per share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds offered without a sales load
will be made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be
exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load,
and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged
without a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a
sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds
acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a
sales load and additional shares acquired through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions of any such funds
(collectively referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may
be exchanged for 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.
E. Shares of funds subject to a CDSC that are exchanged for
shares of another fund will be subject to the higher
applicable CDSC of the two funds, and for purposes of
calculating CDSC rates and conversion periods, if any, will
be deemed to have been held since the date the shares being
exchanged were initially purchased.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, your Service Agent acting
on your behalf must notify the Transfer Agent of your prior ownership of
fund shares and your account number.
You also may exchange your Fund shares that are subject to a CDSC for
shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. The shares so
purchased will be held in a special account created solely for this purpose
("Exchange Account"). Exchanges of shares from an Exchange Account only can
be made into certain other funds managed or administered by the Manager. No
CDSC is charged when an investor exchanges into an Exchange Account;
however, the applicable CDSC will be imposed when shares are redeemed from
an Exchange Account or other applicable Fund account. Upon redemption, the
applicable CDSC will be calculated without regard to the time such shares
were held in an Exchange Account. See "How to Redeem Shares." Redemption
proceeds for Exchange Account shares are paid by Federal wire or check only.
Exchange Account shares also are eligible for the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange
Privilege, Dreyfus Dividend Sweep and the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
To request an exchange, your Service Agent acting on your 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 you check the applicable "No" box on the
Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this Privilege.
By using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, you authorize 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 you, or a representative of your Service Agent, 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. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly in
connection with exchanges, although the Company 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.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Exchanges of Class R shares held by a Retirement Plan may be made only
between the investor's Retirement Plan account in one fund and such
investor's Retirement Plan account in another fund.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits you to purchase, in exchange for shares of a Fund, shares of the
same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds or
certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is available
only for existing accounts. With respect to Class R shares held by a
Retirement Plan, exchanges may be made only between the investor's
Retirement Plan account in one fund and such investor's Retirement Plan
account in another fund. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of relative
net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges." Enrollment in
or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three
business days following notification by the investor. You will be notified
if your account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged under
this Privilege. In this case, your account will fall to zero unless
additional investments are made in excess of the designated amount prior to
the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares held under IRA and other
retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares
may be made between IRA accounts and from regular accounts to IRA accounts,
but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts. With respect to all other
retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only among those accounts.
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 1-800-554-4611. The Company reserves the right to
reject any exchange request in whole or in part. The Fund Exchanges
service or the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or
terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders.
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builderr. Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder
permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000
per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares are
purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege. Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social
Security, or certain veterans', military or other payments from the U.S.
Government automatically deposited into your fund account. You may deposit
as much of such payments as you elect.
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you
to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you
may have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus
account electronically through the ACH system at each pay period. To
establish a Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an
authorization form with your employer's payroll department. It is the sole
responsibility of your employer, not the Distributor, the Manager, the
Company, the Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for transactions
under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Options. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows you to invest
automatically your dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions,
if any, from a Fund in shares of the same Class of another fund in the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds or certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds of which you are a shareholder. Shares of the same Class of other
funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on the basis
of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested
without imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds
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
the shares of other funds that impose a CDSC and the
applicable CDSC, if any, will be imposed upon redemption of
such shares.
Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends
or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from a 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.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you
to request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on
either a monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the
yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, your shares will be reduced and eventually may be depleted.
Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by you, the Company or
the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been issued may not
be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
No CDSC with respect to Class B shares will be imposed on withdrawals
made under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, provided that the amounts
withdrawn under the plan do not exceed on an annual basis 12% of the
account value at the time the shareholder elects to participate in the
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Withdrawals with respect to Class B shares
under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan that exceed on an annual basis 12% of
the value of the shareholders account will be subject to a CDSC on the
amounts exceeding 12% of the initial account value. Withdrawals of Class
A shares subject to a CDSC and Class C shares under the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Purchases of
additional Class A shares where the sales load is imposed concurrently
with withdrawals of Class A shares generally are undesirable.
Certain Retirement Plans, including Dreyfus-sponsored retirement
plans, may permit certain participants to establish an automatic
withdrawal plan from such Retirement Plans. Participants should consult
their Retirement Plan sponsor and tax adviser for details. Such a
withdrawal plan is different than the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Letter of Intent--Class A Shares. By signing a Letter of Intent
form, which can be obtained by calling 1-800-554-4611, you become eligible
for the reduced sales load applicable to the total number of Eligible Fund
shares purchased in a 13-month period pursuant to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Letter of Intent. A minimum initial purchase of $5,000
is required. To compute the applicable sales load, the offering price of
shares you hold (on the date of submission of the Letter of Intent) in any
Eligible Fund that may be used toward "Right of Accumulation" benefits
described above may be used as a credit toward completion of the Letter of
Intent. However, the reduced sales load will be applied only to new
purchases.
The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow 5% of the amount indicated in
the Letter of Intent for payment of a higher sales load if you do not
purchase the full amount indicated in the Letter of Intent. The escrow
will be released when you fulfill the terms of the Letter of Intent by
purchasing the specified amount. If your purchases qualify for a further
sales load reduction, the sales load will be adjusted to reflect your
total purchase at the end of 13 months. If total purchases are less than
the amount specified, you will be requested to remit an amount equal to
the difference between the sales load actually paid and the sales load
applicable to the aggregate purchases actually made. If such remittance
is not received within 20 days, the Transfer Agent, as attorney-in-fact
pursuant to the terms of the Letter of Intent, will redeem an appropriate
number of Class A shares of the Fund held in escrow to realize the
difference. Signing a Letter of Intent does not bind you to purchase, or
the Fund to sell, the full amount indicated at the sales load in effect at
the time of signing, but you must complete the intended purchase to obtain
the reduced sales load. At the time you purchase Class A shares, you must
indicate your intention to do so under a Letter of Intent. Purchases
pursuant to a Letter of Intent will be made at the then-current net asset
value plus the applicable sales load in effect at the time such Letter of
Intent was executed.
Corporate Pension/Profit-Sharing and Personal Retirement Plans. The
Company makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and
profit-sharing plans, including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan. In
addition, the Company makes available Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular
IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, Rollover
IRAs and Education IRAs) 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 (except SEP-IRAs), please call 1-800-554-4611; or for SEP-IRAs,
401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-
7880.
If you wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh Plan, a
403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, you may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares.
All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may
not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
The minimum initial investment for corporate plans, Salary Reduction
Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, is
$1,000 with no minimum for subsequent purchases. The minimum initial
investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including
regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs,
and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500
for Dreyfus-sponsored Education IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent
purchases.
You should read the prototype retirement plan and the appropriate form
of custodial agreement for further details on eligibility, service fees and
tax implications, and you should consult a tax adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. Portfolio securities, including
covered call options written by a Fund, are valued at the last sale price on
the securities exchange or national securities market on which such
securities primarily are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or
national securities market, or securities in which there were no
transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices, except in the case of open short positions where the asked price is
used for valuation purposes. Bid price is used when no asked price is
available. Any assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of
foreign currency will be translated into U.S. dollars at the midpoint of
the New York interbank market spot exchange rate as quoted on the day of
such translation by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if no such rate
is quoted on such date, at the exchange rate previously quoted by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or at such other quoted market exchange
rate as may be determined to be appropriate by the Manager. Forward
currency contracts will be valued at the current cost of offsetting the
contract. If a Fund has to obtain prices as of the close of trading on
various exchanges throughout the world, the calculation of net asset value
may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of prices of
certain of the Funds' securities. Short-term investments may be carried at
amortized cost, which approximates value. Expenses and fees, including the
management fee and fees pursuant to the Distribution Plan and Shareholder
Services Plan, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of
determining the net asset value of each Fund's shares. Because of the
difference in operating expenses incurred by each Class, the per share net
asset value of each Class will differ.
Restricted securities, as well as securities or other assets for which
recent market quotations are not readily available, or are not valued by a
pricing service approved by the Company's Board, are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by the Board. The Board will review the method of
valuation on a current basis. In making their good faith valuation of
restricted securities, the Board members generally will take the following
factors into consideration: restricted securities which are, or are
convertible into, securities of the same class of securities for which a
public market exists usually will be valued at market value less the same
percentage discount at which purchased. This discount will be revised
periodically by the Board if the Board members believe that it no longer
reflects the value of the restricted securities. Restricted securities not
of the same class as securities for which a public market exists usually
will be valued initially at cost. Any subsequent adjustment from cost will
be based upon considerations deemed relevant by the Board.
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Management believes that each Fund has qualified as a "regulated
investment company" under the Code for the fiscal year ended October 31,
1998. Each Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is
in the best interests of its shareholders. As a regulated investment
company, the Fund will pay no Federal income tax on net investment income
and net realized securities gains to the extent that such income and gains
are distributed to shareholders in accordance with applicable provisions of
the Code. To qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must
distribute at least 90% of its net income (consisting of net investment
income and net short-term capital gain) to its shareholders and meet certain
asset diversification and other requirements. If a Fund did not qualify as
a regulated investment company, it would be treated for tax purposes as an
ordinary corporation subject to Federal income tax. The term "regulated
investment company" does not imply the supervision of management or
investment practices or policies by any government agency.
If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash, and your
dividend or distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or
remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest
such dividends or distributions and all future dividends and distributions
payable to you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest
will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption
checks.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the aggregate net asset value of the shares
below the cost of the investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a
return of investment in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the
Fund's Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder
holds shares of a Fund for six months or less and has received a capital
gain distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale
of such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of
the capital gain distribution received.
Depending upon the composition of a Fund's income, the entire amount or
a portion of the dividends paid by such Fund from net investment income may
qualify for the dividends received deduction allowable to qualifying U.S.
corporate shareholders ("dividends received deduction"). In general,
dividend income of a Fund distributed to qualifying corporate shareholders
will be eligible for the dividends received deduction only to the extent
that such Fund's income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations.
However, Section 246(c) of the Code provides that if a qualifying corporate
shareholder has disposed of Fund shares held for less than 46 days, which 46
days generally must be during the 90-day period commencing 45 days before
the shares become ex-dividend, and has received a dividend from net
investment income with respect to such shares, the portion designated by the
Fund as qualifying for the dividends received deduction will not be eligible
for such shareholder's dividends received deduction. In addition, the Code
provides other limitations with respect to the ability of a qualifying
corporate shareholder to claim the dividends received deduction in
connection with holding Fund shares.
A Fund may qualify for and may make an election permitted under Section
853 of the Code so that shareholders may be eligible to claim a credit or
deduction on their Federal income tax returns for, and will be required to
treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their pro rata portion of
qualified taxes paid or incurred by the Fund to foreign countries (which
taxes relate primarily to investment income). A Fund may make an election
under Section 853 of the Code, provided that more than 50% of the value of
the Fund's total assets at the close of the taxable year consists of
securities in foreign corporations, and the Fund satisfies the applicable
distribution provisions of the Code. The foreign tax credit available to
shareholders is subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gains and losses. However, a portion of the gain or
loss realized from the disposition of foreign currencies (including foreign
currency denominated bank deposits) and non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities (including debt instruments and certain futures or forward
contracts and options) may be treated as ordinary income or loss under
Section 988 of the Code. In addition, all or a portion of any gains
realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds
will be treated as ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. Finally,
all or a portion of the gain realized from engaging in "conversion
transactions" may be treated as ordinary income under Section 1258 of the
Code. "Conversion transactions" are defined to include certain forward,
futures, option and straddle transactions, transactions marketed or sold to
produce capital gains, or transactions described in Treasury regulations to
be issued in the future.
Under Section 1256 of the Code, any gain or loss realized by a Fund
from certain financial futures or forward contracts and options transactions
(other than those taxed under Section 988 of the Code) will be treated as
60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss.
Gain or loss will arise upon the exercise or lapse of such contracts and
options as well as from closing transactions. In addition, any such
contract or option remaining unexercised at the end of the Fund's taxable
year will be treated as sold for their then fair market value, resulting in
additional gain or loss to the Fund characterized in the manner described
above.
Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain futures or
forward contracts or options transactions may be considered, for tax
purposes, to constitute "straddles." "Straddles" are defined to include
"offsetting positions" in actively traded personal property. The tax
treatment of "straddles" is governed by Sections 1092 and 1258 of the Code,
which, in certain circumstances, override or modify the provisions of
Sections 988 and 1256 of the Code. As such, all or a portion of any short
or long-term capital gain from certain "straddle" transactions may be
recharacterized as ordinary income.
If a Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in financial futures or forward contracts or options transactions,
such "straddles" could be characterized as "mixed straddles" if the futures
or, forward contracts or options transactions comprising a part of such
"straddles" were governed by Section 1256 of the Code. A Fund may make one
or more elections with respect to "mixed straddles." Depending upon which
election is made, if any, the results to the Fund may differ. If no
election is made, to the extent the "straddle" rules apply to positions
established by the Fund, losses realized by the Fund will be deferred to the
extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions. 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 on "straddle" positions may be
treated as short-term capital gain or ordinary income.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included constructive sale provisions
that generally apply if the Fund either (1) holds an appreciated financial
position with respect to stock, certain debt obligations, or partnership
interests ("appreciated financial position") and then enters into a short
sale, futures or forward contract, or offsetting notional principal contract
(collectively, a "Contract") with respect to the same or substantially
identical property or (2) holds an appreciated financial position that is a
Contract and then acquires property that is the same as, or substantially
identical to, the underlying property. In each instance, with certain
exceptions, the Fund generally will be taxed as if the appreciated financial
position were sold at its fair market value on the date the Fund enters into
the financial position or acquires the property, respectively. Transactions
that are identified hedging or straddle transactions under other provisions
of the Code can be subject to the constructive sale provisions.
If a Fund invests in an entity that is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for Federal income tax purposes, the operation
of certain provisions of the Code applying to PFICs could result in the
imposition of certain Federal income taxes on the Fund. In addition, gain
realized from the sale or other disposition of PFIC securities may be
treated as ordinary income under Section 1291 of the Code and, with respect
to PFIC securities that are marked-to-market, under Section 1296 of the
Code.
Investment by a Fund in securities issued or acquired at a discount or
providing for deferred interest or for payment of interest in the form of
additional obligations could, under special tax rules, affect the amount,
timing and character of distributions to shareholders. For example, the
Fund could be required to take into account annually a portion of the
discount (or deemed discount) at which such securities were issued and to
distribute such portion in order to maintain its qualification as a
regulated investment company. In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of
securities which it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to
generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Manager supervises the placement of orders on behalf of each Fund
for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Allocation of brokerage
transactions, including their frequency, is made in the best judgment of the
Manager and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders. The
primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable
net price. Subject to this consideration, the brokers selected will include
those that supplement the Manager's research facilities with statistical
data, investment information, economic facts and opinions. Information so
received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be
performed by the Manager and the Manager's fees are not reduced as a
consequence of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such
information may be useful to the Manager in serving both the Funds and other
clients which it advises and, conversely, supplemental information obtained
by the placement of business of other clients may be useful to the Manager
in carrying out its obligations to the Funds.
Sales by a broker of shares of a Fund or other funds advised by the
Manager or its affiliates may be taken into consideration, and brokers also
will be selected because of their ability to handle special executions such
as are involved in large block trades or broad distributions, provided the
primary consideration is met. Large block trades, in certain cases, result
from two or more funds advised or administered by the Manager being engaged
simultaneously in the purchase or sale of the same security. Certain of a
Fund's transactions in securities of foreign issuers may not benefit from
the negotiated commission rates available to the Funds for transactions in
securities of domestic issuers. When transactions are executed in the over-
the-counter market, a Fund will deal with the primary market makers unless a
more favorable price or execution otherwise is obtainable. Foreign exchange
transactions are made with banks or institutions in the interbank market at
prices reflecting a mark-up or mark-down and/or commission.
Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year.
In periods in which extraordinary market conditions prevail, the Manager
will not be deterred from changing a Fund's investment strategy as rapidly
as needed, in which case higher turnover rates can be anticipated which
would result in greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by the Manager based upon its
knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions
paid by other institutional investors for comparable services.
In connection with its portfolio securities transactions for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, Dreyfus Premier Value Fund paid
total brokerage commissions of $1,089,978, $981,266 and $_________,
respectively. For the period __________, 1998 (commencement of operations)
to October 31, 1998, Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund paid total
brokerage commissions of $_______. These amounts do not include gross
spreads and concessions with principal transactions which, where
determinable for such periods, amounted to $921,004, $168,718 and
$__________ in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998 for Dreyfus Premier Value Fund and
$________ in fiscal 1998 for Dreyfus Premier International Value Fund. None
of the aforementioned amounts were paid to the Distributor.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Average annual total return is calculated by determining the ending
redeemable value of an investment purchased at net asset value (maximum
offering price in the case of Class A) per share 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. A Class's
average annual total return figures calculated in accordance with such
formula assume that in the case of Class A the maximum sales load has been
deducted from the hypothetical initial investment at the time of purchase or
in the case of Class B or Class C the maximum applicable CDSC has been paid
upon redemption at the end of the period.
Total return is calculated by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net
asset value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A) per share at the
beginning of a stated period from the net asset value (maximum offering
price in the case of Class A) per share at the end of the period (after
giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions during the
period and any applicable CDSC), and dividing the result by the net asset
value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A) per share at the
beginning of the period. Total return also may be calculated based on the
net asset value per share at the beginning of the period instead of the
maximum offering price per share at the beginning of the period for Class A
shares or without giving effect to any applicable CDSC at the end of the
period for Class B or Class C shares. In such cases, the calculation would
not reflect the deduction of the sales load with respect to Class A shares
or any applicable CDSC with respect to Class B or Class C shares, which, if
reflected, would reduce the performance quoted.
The total return for each Fund for the indicated period ended October
31, 1998 was as follows:
Aggregate
Total Return Aggregate
Since Total Return Average Average
Inception Since Average Annual Annual
Based on Net Inception Annual Total Total Return
Name of Asset Value Based on Total Return for for
Fund (without Maximum Return 5 Years, 10 Years,
deduction of Offering Price for One Except as Except
maximum (with Year noted as noted
CDSC) deduction of
maximum CDSC)
Dreyfus
Premier
Value Fund
Class A _____%(1) ____% ____% ____%
____%(1)
Class B _____%(2) ____% ____% ____%(2)
____%(2)
Class C _____%(3) ____% ____%(3) N/A
____%(3)
Class R N/A ____% ____%(3) N/A
____%(3)
Dreyfus
Premier
Internation
al Value
Fund
Class A _____%(4) N/A N/A
_____%(4) _____%(4
)
Class B _____%(4) N/A N/A
_____%(4) _____%(4
)
Class C _____%(4) N/A N/A
_____%(4) _____%(4
)
Class R N/A N/A N/A
_____%(4) _____%(4
)
_____________________________________
(1) From October 16, 1986 (commencement of operations) through October 31,
1998.
(2) From January 15, 1993 (commencement of operations) through October 31,
1998.
(3) From September 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) through October 31,
1998.
(4) From , 1998 (commencement of operations) through October 31,
1998.
Comparative performance may be used from time to time in advertising
the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.,
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average, Morgan Stanley Capital International (EAFE) Index, Money Magazine,
Morningstar, Inc., Value Line, Inc., Ibbotson Associates, and other industry
publications. From time to time, the Fund may compare its performance
against inflation with the performance of other instruments against
inflation, such as short-term Treasury Bills (which are direct obligations
of the U.S. Government) and FDIC-insured bank money market accounts. In
addition, advertising for the Fund may indicate that investors may consider
diversifying their investment portfolios in order to seek protection of the
value of their assets against inflation.
Advertising materials for each Fund may include reference to the role
played by the Manager or Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr. in popularizing the concept of
mutual funds as an investment vehicle and may refer to the role The Dreyfus
Corporation and the Dreyfus Family of Funds play or have played in the
mutual fund industry, and the fact that the mutual fund industry, which
includes Dreyfus and the Dreyfus funds, has, through the wide variety of
innovative and democratic mutual fund products it has made available,
brought to the public investment opportunities once reserved for the few.
Advertising materials may also refer to various Dreyfus investor services,
including, for example, asset allocation, retirement planning, college
planning and IRA investing. From time to time advertising materials for the
Fund also may refer to Morningstar or Value Line ratings and related
analyses supporting the rating. In addition, advertising material for the
Fund may, from time to time, include biographical information relating to
its portfolio manager and may refer to, or include commentary by the
portfolio manager relating to investment strategy, value investing
generally, asset growth, current or past business, political, economic or
financial conditions and other matters of general interest to investors.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE FUNDS
Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and non-assessable.
Fund shares have no preemptive or subscription rights and are freely
transferable.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a
result, shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board
members or the appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least
10% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Company
to hold a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of removing a Board
member from office. Shareholders may remove a Board member by the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Company's outstanding voting shares.
In addition, the Board will call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose
of electing Board members if, at any time, less than a majority of the Board
members then holding office have been elected by shareholders.
The Company is a "series fund," which is a mutual fund divided into
separate portfolios, each of which is treated as a separate entity for
certain matters under the 1940 Act and for other purposes. A shareholders
of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio.
For certain matters shareholders vote together as a group; as to others they
vote separately by portfolio.
To date, the Board has authorized the creation of two series of shares.
All consideration received by the Company for shares of one of the series
and all assets in which such consideration is invested will belong to that
series (subject only to the rights of creditors of the Company) and will be
subject to the liabilities related thereto. The income attributable to, and
the expenses of, one series are treated separately from those of the other
series. The Company has the ability to create, from time to time, new
series without shareholder approval.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be
submitted under the provisions of the 1940 Act or applicable state law or
otherwise to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an
investment company, such as the Company, will not be deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2
further provides that a series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter
unless it is clear that the interests of each series in the matter are
identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of such series.
However, the Rule exempts the selection of independent accountants and the
election of Board members from the separate voting requirements of the Rule.
Each Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not
designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term
market movements. A pattern of frequent purchases and exchanges can be
disruptive to efficient portfolio management and, consequently, can be
detrimental to the Fund's performance and its shareholders. Accordingly, if
the Company's management determines that an investor is following a market-
timing strategy or is otherwise engaging in excessive trading, the Company,
with or without prior notice, may temporarily or permanently terminate the
availability of Fund Exchanges, or reject in whole or part any purchase or
exchange request, with respect to such investor's account. Such investors
also may be barred from purchasing other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds. Generally, an investor who makes more than four exchanges out of a
Fund during any calendar year or who makes exchanges that appear to coincide
with a market-timing strategy may be deemed to be engaged in excessive
trading. Accounts under common ownership or control will be considered as
one account for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive trading. In
addition, the Company may refuse or restrict purchase or exchange requests
for Fund shares by any person or group if, in the judgment of the Company's
management, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in
accordance with its investment objective and policies or could otherwise be
adversely affected or if the Fund receives or anticipates receiving
simultaneous orders that may significantly affect the Fund (e.g., amounts
equal to 1% or more of the Fund's total assets). If an exchange request is
refused, the Company will take no other action with respect to the Fund
shares until it receives further instructions from the investor. A Fund may
delay forwarding redemption proceeds for up to seven days if the investor
redeeming shares is engaged in excessive trading or if the amount of the
redemption request otherwise would be disruptive to efficient portfolio
management or would adversely affect the Fund. The Company's policy on
excessive trading applies to investors who invest in a Fund directly or
through financial intermediaries, but does not apply to the Dreyfus Auto-
Exchange Privilege, to any automatic investment or withdrawal privilege
described herein, or to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Company may
suspend Fund Exchanges temporarily without notice and treat exchange
requests based on their separate components -- redemption orders with a
simultaneous request to purchase the other fund's shares. In such a case,
the redemption request would be processed at the Fund's next determined net
asset value but the purchase order would be effective only at the net asset
value next determined after the fund being purchased receives the proceeds
of the redemption, which may result in the purchase being delayed.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of a
Massachusetts business trust. However, the Company's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations
of the Company and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each
agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Company
or a Trustee. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for
indemnification from each Fund's property for all losses and expenses of any
shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus,
the risk of a shareholder's incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself
would be unable to meet its obligations, a possibility which management
believes is remote. Upon payment of any liability incurred by the Fund, the
shareholder paying such liability will be entitled to reimbursement from the
general assets of the Fund. the Company intends to conduct its operations
in such a way so as to avoid, as far as possible, ultimate liability of the
shareholders for liabilities of the Fund.
Each Fund will send annual and semi-annual financial statements to all
its shareholders.
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-4982, as counsel for the Company, has rendered its opinion as to
certain legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of
the shares being sold pursuant to each Fund's Prospectus.
[ ]
independent auditors, have been selected as independent auditors of the
Company.
APPENDIX
Description of S&P, Moody's, Fitch and Duff ratings:
S&P
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A
Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher rated categories.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances
are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay
principal for bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated
categories.
BB
Bonds rated BB have less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade debt. However, they face major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
B
Bonds rated B have a greater vulnerability to default but presently
have the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.
Adverse business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair
capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC have a current identifiable vulnerability to default
and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions
to meet timely payments of interest and repayment of principal. In the
event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, they are not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
S&P's letter ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or a
minus (-) sign designation, which is used to show relative standing within
the major rating categories, except in the AAA (Prime Grade) category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more
than 365 days. Issues assigned an A rating are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are
delineated with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of
safety.
A-1
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+)
designation.
A-2
Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong.
However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues
designated A-1.
A-3
Issues carrying this designation have a satisfactory capacity for
timely payment. They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher
designations.
B
Issues carrying this designation are regarded as having only
speculative capacity for timely payment.
C
This designation is assigned to short-term obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.
Moody's
Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and generally are referred to
as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally are
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat
larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
sec
urity to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may
be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the
future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable
over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba
Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their
future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate and, therefore, not
well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B
Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance
of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal
or interest.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major rating categories, except in the Aaa category and
in the categories below B. The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the
security in the higher end of a rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end
of a rating category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Moody's. Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations, and ordinarily will be
evidenced by leading market positions in well established industries, high
rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures
with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash
generation, and well established access to a range of financial markets and
assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This
ordinarily will be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but
to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will
be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
Fitch
Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to
meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The ratings
take into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to
other obligations of the issuer, the current financial condition and
operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the
political and economic environment that might affect the issuer's future
financial strength and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to
pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
reasonably foreseeable events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds
rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is
generally rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse
impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood
that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher
than for bonds with higher ratings.
BB
Bonds rated BB are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to
pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse
economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be
identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service
requirements.
B
Bonds rated B are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this
class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of
continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's
limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic
activity throughout the life of the issue.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC have certain identifiable characteristics, which, if
not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires
an advantageous business and economic environment.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate
the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus and
minus signs, however, are not used in the AAA category covering 12-36
months.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal
and investment notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating
analysis, the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-
1+.
Duff
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered highest credit quality. The risk
factors are negligible, being only slightly more than for risk-free U.S.
Treasury debt.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered high credit quality. Protection factors
are strong. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to time because
of economic conditions.
A
Bonds rated A have protection factors which are average but adequate.
However, risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
stress.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to have below average protection factors
but still considered sufficient for prudent investment. There may be
considerable variability in risk for bonds in this category during economic
cycles.
BB
Bonds rated BB are below investment grade but are deemed by Duff as
likely to meet obligations when due. Present or prospective financial
protection factors fluctuate according to industry conditions or company
fortunes. Overall quality may move up or down frequently within the
category.
B
Bonds rated B are below investment grade and possess the risk that
obligations will not be met when due. Financial protection factors will
fluctuate widely according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or
company fortunes. Potential exists for frequent changes in quality rating
within this category or into a higher or lower quality rating grade.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC are well below investment grade securities. Such bonds
may be in default or have considerable uncertainty as to timely payment of
interest, preferred dividends and/or principal. Protection factors are
narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable economic or industry
conditions and/or with unfavorable company developments.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol (except AAA)
to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
The rating Duff-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by
Duff. Paper rated Duff-1 is regarded as having very high certainty of
timely payment with excellent liquidity factors which are supported by ample
asset protection. Risk factors are minor. Paper rated Duff-2 is regarded
as having good certainty of timely payment, good access to capital markets
and sound liquidity factors and company fundamentals. Risk factors are
small. Paper rated Duff 3 is regarded as having satisfactory liquidity and
other protection factors. Risk factors are larger and subject to more
variation. Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.
DREYFUS PREMIER VALUE EQUITY FUNDS
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
_________________________
Item 23. Exhibits. - List
_______ _________________________________________
(1)(a) Registrant's Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
on January 15, 1998.
(c) Registrant's Articles of Amendment, as amended, are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 24(b)(1)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27,
1998.
(2) Registrant's By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 29, 1996.
(4) Management Agreement, as amended, are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 24(b)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
(5) Distribution Agreement, as revised, are incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 24(b)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
(7)(a) Custody Agreement for Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 24(b)(8) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on March 27, 1998.
(8) Revised Shareholder Services Plan, are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 24(b)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
(9) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated
by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A filed on January 15, 1998.
Item 23. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(13) Revised Distribution Plan, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit
24(b)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
(15) Revised Rule 18f-3 Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
24(b)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
Other Exhibits
(a) Powers of Attorney for each Board member and for Marie E.
Connolly, President are incorporated by reference to
Other Exhibits (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March
27, 1998.
(b) Certificate of Assistant Secretary is incorporated by
reference to Other Exhibits (b) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-
1A, filed on March 27, 1998.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Fund
Not Applicable
Item 25. Indemnification
Reference is made to Article VIII of the Registrant's Amended
and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, and the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. 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. 16 to the
Registration Statement on or N-1A, and by the following
undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission:
Item 25.Indemnification (continued)
_______________________________________
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted Board members, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
such Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
Reference is also made to the Distribution Agreement, as
revised, which is being filed with this Post-Effective Amendment
No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
Item 26. 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, is a registered
broker-dealer. Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc., another wholly-
owned subsidiary, provides investment management services to
various pension plans, institutions and individuals.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
________ ________________________________________________________________
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
____________________________________________
Name and Position
with Dreyfus Other Businesses
_________________ ________________
W. KEITH SMITH Senior Vice Chairman:
Chairman of the Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Board President and Director:
The Bridgewater Land Co., Inc.**;
Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
TBC Securities Co., Inc.**;
Wellington-Medford II Properties, Inc.**;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Shearson Summit Euromanagement, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit EuroPartners, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit Management, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit Partners, Inc.*;
Shearson Venture Capital, Inc.*;
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc.**;
Mellon Europe Limited
London, England;
Mellon Global Investing Corp.*;
Mellon Accounting Services, Inc.*;
MGIC-UK Ltd.;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Chairman:
Mellon Financial Company*;
Buck Consultants, Inc.
1 Pennsylvania Plaza, 29th Floor
New York, New York 10019;
Director and Vice Chairman:
Mellon Financial Services Corporation*;
Mellon Bank Corporation*;
Trustee:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Past Director:
Access Capital Strategies Corp.
124 Mount Auburn Street
Suite 200 North
Cambridge, MA 02138
W. KEITH SMITH Past Trustee:
Chairman of the Board Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust
(continued) 2 International Place, 22nd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
MANDELL L. BERMAN Real estate consultant and private investor:
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 370
Southfield, Michigan 48034
BURTON C. BORGELT Director:
Director Dentsply
International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
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*;
Director:
Avery Dennison Corporation
150 North Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103;
Saint-Gobain Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482;
Alleghany Teledyne, Inc.
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, California 90067;
Past Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank, N.A.*
STEPHEN E. CANTER Chairman and President:
Vice Chairman, Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Chief Investment Director:
Officer, and a The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
Director Acting Chief Executive Officer:
Founders Asset Management, Inc.
2930 E. 3rd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON President and Chief Operating Officer:
President, Chief Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Executive Officer, President and Director:
Chief Operating Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.**;
Officer and a Vice-Chairman and Director:
Director Mellon Bank Corporation*;
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Director:
Certus Asset Advisors Corporation++;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON Past President and Director:
President, Chief The Boston Company Financial Services, Inc.**;
Executive Officer, Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
Chief Operating Past President:
Officer and a Director The Boston Company Financial Strategies,
(continued) Inc.**;
Acting Chief Executive Officer:
Founders Asset Management, Inc.
Denver, CO
Past Director:
Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
Access Capital Strategies Corp.
124 Mount Auburn Street
Suite 200 North
Cambridge, MA 02138;
Past Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc.**;
Past Partner Representative:
Pareto Partners
271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP;
Past Trustee:
Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust
2 International Place, 22nd Floor
Boston, MA. 02710;
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
LAWRENCE S. KASH Executive Vice President:
Vice Chairman- Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Distribution and a Chairman, President and Director:
Director The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation****;
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
Director:
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.****;
President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Corporation+;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc.
401 North Maple Avenue
Beverly Hills, CA 90210;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
Wilmington, DE.
J. DAVID OFFICER Director:
Vice Chairman Dreyfus Financial Services Corporation*****;
and a Director Dreyfus Investment Services Corporation*****;
J. DAVID OFFICER Mellon Trust of Florida
Vice Chairman 2875 Northeast 191st Street
and a Director North Miami Beach, Florida 33180;
(continued) Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Mellon Trust of New York
1301 Avenue of the Americas - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019;
Mellon Trust of California
400 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071-2806;
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc.
53 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109;
Executive Vice President:
Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Vice Chairman and Director:
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
President and Director:
RECO, Inc.**;
The Boston Company Financial Services, Inc.**;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
RICHARD F. SYRON Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer:
Director American Stock Exchange
86 Trinity Place
New York, New York 10006;
Director:
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Place, Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts 02117;
Thermo Electron Corporation
81 Wyman Street, Box 9046
Waltham, Massachusetts 02254-9046;
American Business Conference
1730 K Street, NW, Suite 120
Washington, D.C. 20006;
Trustee:
Boston College - Board of Trustees
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167-3934
RONALD P. O'HANLEY III Director:
Vice Chairman The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC**;
TBCAM Holding, Inc.**;
Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.
Two International Place - 22nd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Certus Asset Advisors Corporation++;
Mellon-France Corporation***;
Chairman and Director:
Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.**;
RONALD P. O'HANLEY III Partner Representative:
Vice Chairman Pareto Partners
(continued) 271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP;
Chairman and Trustee:
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
Trustee:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Global Investing Corp.*;
Partner:
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
WILLIAM T. SANDALLS, JR. Chairman and Director:
Executive Vice President Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
President and Director:
Dreyfus-Lincoln, Inc.
4500 New Linden Hill Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19808;
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer:
Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
Director and Treasurer:
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+;
Director, Vice President and Treasurer:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation****;
The TruePenny Corporation****
Director, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer:
The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
Past Director and President:
Lion Management, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.****;
Past Director and Executive Vice President:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
Past Director and Treasurer:
Dreyfus Personal Management, Inc.****
MARK N. JACOBS Director:
Vice President, Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
General Counsel The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
and Secretary Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Director and President:
The TruePenny Corporation****;
Past Director, Vice President and Secretary:
Lion Management, Inc.****
Past Secretary:
The TruePenny Corporation****;
Dreyfus Investment Advisers****
PATRICE M. KOZLOWSKI None
Vice President-
Corporate Communications
MARY BETH LEIBIG None
Vice President-
Human Resources
ANDREW S. WASSER Vice President:
Vice President- Mellon Bank Corporation*
Information Services
THEODORE A. SCHACHAR Vice President:
Vice President Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Dreyfus Investment Advisers, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
WENDY STRUTT None
Vice President
RICHARD TERRES None
Vice President
WILLIAM H. MARESCA Director:
Controller The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
Chief Financial Officer:
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
Assistant Treasurer:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
JAMES BITETTO Secretary:
Assistant Secretary The TruePenny Corporation****;
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Dreyfus Investment Advisers, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
STEVEN F. NEWMAN Vice President, Secretary and Director:
Assistant Secretary Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
** The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Place,
Boston, Massachusetts, 02108.
*** The address of the business so indicated is 595 Market Street, Suite
3000, San Francisco CA 94105.
**** The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
***** The address of the business so indicated is Union Trust Building,
501 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15259.
+ The address of the business so indicated is 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard, Uniondale, New York, 11556-0144.
++ The address of the business so indicated is One Bush Street, Suite
450, San Francisco, CA. 94104.
Item 27. 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 Debt and Equity Funds
18) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
19) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
20) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
21) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
22) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
23) Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
24) Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds
25) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
28) Dreyfus Index Funds, Inc.
29) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
30) Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Money Market Fund
31) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
32) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
33) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
34) Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
35) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
36) Dreyfus Investment Portfolios
37) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
38) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
39) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
40) Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
41) Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
42) Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
43) Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
44) Dreyfus Massachusetts Tax Exempt Bond Fund
45) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund
46) Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.
47) Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
48) Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus
49) Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
50) Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
51) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
52) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
53) Dreyfus New Leaders Fund, Inc.
54) Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund
55) Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management
56) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
57) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund
58) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
59) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
60) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
61) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
62) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
63) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
64) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
65) Dreyfus Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
66) Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
67) Dreyfus Premier International Funds, Inc.
68) Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund
69) Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
70) Dreyfus Premier Insured Municipal Bond Fund
71) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
72) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
73) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
74) Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
75) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
76) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
77) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
78) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
79) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
80) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
81) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
82) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
83) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
84) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
85) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
86) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
87) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
88) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
89) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
90) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
91) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
92) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
(b)
Positions and
Name and principal Positions and offices with offices with
business address the Distributor Registrant
__________________ ___________________________ _____________
Marie E. Connolly+ Director, President, Chief President and
Executive Officer and Compliance Treasurer
Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Director, Senior Vice President, Vice President
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant
Treasurer
Richard W. Ingram Executive Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
John W. Gomez+ Director None
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10166.
Item 28. 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
(as to Dreyfus Premier Value Fund Only)
3. The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
4. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
5. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 29. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 30. 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 each Fund's latest Annual Report to Shareholders, upon
request and without charge.
SIGNATURES
__________
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and to the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant 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 29th day of December, 1998.
DREYFUS PREMIER VALUE EQUITY FUNDS, INC.
BY: /s/Marie E. Connolly*
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
__________________________ ______________________________ __________
/s/Marie E. Connolly * President and Treasurer 12/29/98
____________________________ (Principal Executive,
Marie E. Connolly Accounting and Financial Officer)
/s/David W. Burke* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
David W. Burke
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Chairman of the Board 12/29/98
____________________________
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/ Diane Dunst* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Diane Dunst
/s/Rosalind Gersten Jacobs* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs
/s/Jay I. Meltzer* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Jay I. Meltzer
/s/Daniel Rose* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Daniel Rose
/s/Warren B. Rudman* Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Warren B. Rudman
/s/ Sandor Vanocur Board Member 12/29/98
____________________________
Sandor Vanocur
*BY: /s/ Stephanie D. Pierce
______________________
Stephanie D. Pierce,
Attorney-in-Fact