PREMIER GNMA FUND, 497, 1995-10-19

PREMIER GNMA FUND
497, 1995-10-19

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PREMIER GNMA FUND
(LION LOGO)
PROSPECTUS OCTOBER 13, 1995
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Premier GNMA Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified,
management investment company, known as a mutual fund. Its goal is to
provide you with as high a level of current income as is consistent with
the preservation of capital by investing principally in instruments
issued by the Government National Mortgage Association.
By this Prospectus, Class A, Class B and Class C shares of
the Fund are being offered. Class A shares are subject to a sales charge
imposed at the time of purchase; Class B shares are subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within five
years of purchase; and Class C shares are subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of
purchase. Other differences among the three Classes include the services
offered to and the expenses borne by each Class and certain voting
rights, as described herein. The Fund offers these alternatives so an
investor may choose the method of purchasing shares that is most
beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the
investor expects to hold the shares and other circumstances.
The Fund provides free redemption checks with respect to
Class A, which you can use in amounts of $500 or more for cash or to pay
bills. You continue to earn income on the amount of the check until it
clears. You can purchase or redeem shares by telephone using the
TELETRANSFER Privilege.
The Dreyfus Corporation professionally manages the Fund's
portfolio.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely information about the
Fund that you should know before investing. It should be read and
retained for future reference.
The Statement of Additional Information, dated October 13,
1995, which may be revised from time to time, provides a further
discussion of certain areas in this Prospectus and other matters which
may be of interest to some investors. It has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by
reference. For a free copy, write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or call 1-800-554-4611. When
telephoning, ask for Operator 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY
OTHER AGENCY. MUTUAL FUND SHARES INVOLVE CERTAIN INVESTMENT RISKS,
INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fee Table.......................................... 3
Condensed Financial Information.................... 4
Alternative Purchase Methods....................... 5
Description of the Fund............................ 6
Management of the Fund............................. 9
How to Buy Fund Shares............................. 10
Shareholder Services............................... 14
How to Redeem Fund Shares.......................... 18
Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan.... 23
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................. 23
Performance Information............................ 25
General Information................................ 26
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

FEE TABLE
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)......... 4.50% none none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge Imposed on Redemptions
(as a percentage of the amount subject to charge)... none* 3.00% 1.00%
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Management Fees......................... .55% .55% .55%
12b-1 Fees.............................. none .50% .75%
Other Expenses ......................... .45% .51% .45%
Total Fund Operating Expenses........... 1.00% 1.56% 1.75%
Example
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
assuming (1) 5% annual return and (2) except where noted, redemption
at the end of each time period: CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
1 Year................................... $ 55 $46/$16** $18/$28**
3 Years.................................. $ 75 $69/$49** $55
5 Years.................................. $ 98 $95/$85** $95
10 Years**............................... $162 $157*** $206
- -----------
* A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% may be assessed on
certain redemptions of Class A shares purchased without an initial sales
charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more.
** Assuming no redemption of shares.
*** Ten-year figures assume conversion of Class B shares to Class A
shares at the end of the sixth year following the date of purchase.
</TABLE>
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THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE
GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE EXAMPLE ASSUMES
A 5% ANNUAL RETURN, THE FUND'S ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY AND MAY
RESULT IN AN ACTUAL RETURN GREATER OR LESS THAN 5%.
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The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in
understanding the costs and expenses borne by the Fund and investors, the
payment of which will reduce investors' annual return. Other Expenses for
Class C are based on amounts for Class A for the Fund's last fiscal year.
Long-term investors in Class B or Class C shares could pay more in 12b-1
fees than the economic equivalent of paying a front-end sales charge. The
information in the foregoing table does not reflect any fee waivers or
expense reimbursement arrangements that may be in effect. Certain Service
Agents (as defined below) may charge their clients direct fees for
effecting transactions in Fund shares; such fees are not reflected in the
foregoing table. See "Management of the Fund," "How to Buy Fund Shares"
and "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following tables has been audited
(except where noted) by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's independent
auditors, whose report thereon appears in the Statement of Additional
Information. Further financial data and related notes for Class A and
Class B are included in the Statement of Additional Information,
available upon request. No financial information is available for Class C
shares, which had not been offered as of the date of this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance for Class
A and Class B shares of beneficial interest outstanding, total investment
return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for each
period indicated. This information has been derived from the Fund's
financial statements.
CLASS A SHARES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, SIX MONTHS
------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENDED
JUNE 30, 1995
PER SHARE DATA: 1987(1) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 (UNAUDITED)
------ ----- ----- ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning
of period..................... $14.50 $13.87 $14.01 $14.28 $14.38 $15.30 $14.90 $14.84 $13.54
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net.......... 1.28 1.35 1.36 1.32 1.20 1.10 .95 .88 .47
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments.......... (.63) .40 .31 .10 .92 (.15) .24 (1.30) .79
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
OPERATIONS......... .65 1.75 1.67 1.42 2.12 .95 1.19 (.42) 1.26
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment
income-net......... (1.28) (1.35) (1.36) (1.32) (1.20) (1.10) (.95) (.88) (.47)
Dividends from net realized gain
on investments..... -- (.26) (.04) -- -- (.25) (.30) -- --
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.... (1.28) (1.61) (1.40) (1.32) (1.20) (1.35) (1.25) (.88) (.47)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
Net asset value, end of period.... $13.87 $14.01 $14.28 $14.38 $15.30 $14.90 $14.84 $13.54 $14.33
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= ======= =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN(3) 5.14%(4) 12.96% 12.51% 10.57% 15.43% 6.50% 8.20% (2.91%) 19.02%(4)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets........... -- -- -- .08% .64% .71% .78% .94% 1.04%(4)
Ratio of net investment income to average
net assets......... 9.86%(4) 9.28% 9.50% 9.28% 8.09% 7.23% 6.24% 6.20% 6.79%(4)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios
due to undertakings by
The Dreyfus Corporation......... 1.50%(4) 1.50% 1.50% 1.20% .52% .36% .22% .06% --
Portfolio Turnover Rate..... 64.18%(5) 2,089.62%(6) 1,069.14%(6) 19.44% 36.90% 60.12% 274.95% 427.27% 259.41%(5)
Net Assets, end of period
(000's omitted)........ $7,265 $13,612 $30,068 $53,875 $113,434 $163,967 $197,239 $141,456 $139,584
(1) From January 29, 1987 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1987.
(2) From January 15, 1993 (commencement of initial offering) to December 31, 1993.
(3) Exclusive of sales charge.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) The high portfolio turnover rate arose due to the selling off of
large amounts of unsettled securities bought to take
advantage of favorable short-term market fluctuations.
</TABLE>
Page 4

CLASS B SHARES
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YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, 1995
--------------------------
1993(2) 1994 (UNAUDITED)
------- ------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning of period..... $14.98 $14.84 $13.55
------ ------ -------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net.................... .83 .80 .43
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments .16 (1.29) .79
------- ------ -------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS......... .99 (.49) 1.22
------ ------ -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income-net..... (.83) (.80) (.43)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments...... (.30) -- --
------ ------ -------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS...................... (1.13) (.80) (.43)
------ ------ -------
Net Asset Value, end of period........... $14.84 $13.55 $14.34
====== ======= =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN(3)................. 7.03%(4) (3.39)% 18.45%(4)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average net assets.. 1.30%(4) 1.51% 1.56%(4)
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets.................... 5.38%(4) 5.61% 6.25%(4)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios
due to undertakings by
The Dreyfus Corporation.................. .20%(4) .05% --
Portfolio Turnover Rate.................. 274.95% 427.27% 259.41%(5)
Net Assets, end of period (000's omitted)....... $29,648 $35,710 $39,427
(1) From January 29, 1987 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1987.
(2) From January 15, 1993 (commencement of initial offering) to December 31, 1993.
(3) Exclusive of sales charge.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) The high portfolio turnover rate arose due to the selling off of large
amounts of unsettled securities bought to take advantage of favorable
short-term market fluctuations.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained
in its annual report, which may be obtained without charge by writing to
the address or calling the number set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE METHODS
The Fund offers you three methods of purchasing Fund shares;
you may choose the Class of shares that best suits your needs, given the
amount of your purchase, the length of time you expect to hold your
shares and any other relevant circumstances. Each Fund share represents
an identical pro rata interest in the Fund's investment portfolio.
Class A shares are sold at net asset value per share plus a
maximum initial sales charge of 4.50% of the public offering price
imposed at the time of purchase. The initial sales charge may be reduced
or waived for certain purchases. See "How to Buy Fund Shares-Class A
Shares." These shares are subject to an annual service fee at the rate of
.25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class A. See
"Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan-Shareholder Services
Plan."
Class B shares are sold at net asset value per share with no
initial sales charge at the time of purchase; as a result, the entire
purchase price is immediately invested in the Fund. Class B shares are
subject to a maximum 3% contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), which
is assessed only if you redeem Class B shares within the first five years
of their purchase. See "How to Buy Fund Shares-Class B Shares" and "How
to Redeem Fund Shares-Contingent Deferred Sales Charge-Class B Shares."
These
Page 5
shares also are subject to an annual service fee at the rate of .25
of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B. In
addition, Class B shares are subject to an annual distribution fee at the
rate of .50 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class
B. See "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan." The
distribution fee paid by Class B will cause such Class to have a higher
expense ratio and to pay lower dividends than Class A. 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, and will no longer be subject to the
distribution fee. 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 are sold at net asset value per share with no
initial sales charge at the time of purchase; as a result, the entire
purchase price is immediately invested in the Fund. Class C shares are
subject to a 1% CDSC, which is assessed only if you redeem Class C shares
within one year of purchase. See "How to Buy Fund Shares - Class C
Shares" and "How to Redeem Fund Shares - Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge - Class C Shares." These shares also are subject to an annual
service fee at the rate of .25 of 1%, and an annual distribution fee at
the rate of .75 of 1%, of the value of the average daily net assets of
Class C. See "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan." The
distribution fee paid by Class C will cause such Class to have a higher
expense ratio and to pay lower dividends than Class A.
The decision as to which Class of shares is more beneficial
to you depends on the amount and intended length of time of your
investment. You should consider whether, during the anticipated life of
your investment in the Fund, the accumulated distribution fee and CDSC on
Class B or Class C shares would be less than the initial sales charge on
Class A shares purchased at the same time, and to what extent, if any,
such differential would be offset by the return of Class A. Additionally,
investors qualifying for reduced initial sales charges who expect to
maintain their investment for an extended period of time might consider
purchasing Class A shares because the accumulated continuing distribution
fees on Class B or Class C shares may exceed the initial sales charge on
Class A shares during the life of the investment. Finally, you should
consider the effect of the CDSC period and any conversion rights of the
Classes in the context of your own investment time frame. For example,
while Class C shares have a shorter CDSC period than Class B shares,
Class C shares do not have a conversion feature and, therefore, are
subject to an ongoing distribution fee. Thus, Class B shares may be more
attractive than Class C shares to investors with long term investment
outlooks. Generally, Class A shares may be more appropriate for investors
who invest $1,000,000 or more in Fund shares, and for investors who invest
between $250,000 and $999,999 in Fund shares with long term investment
outlooks. Class A shares will not be appropriate for investors who invest
less than $50,000 in Fund shares.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's goal is to provide you with as high a level of
current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital. The
Fund's investment objective cannot be changed without approval by the
holders of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940)
of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. There can be no assurance that
the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
Page 6
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that it will invest at
least 65% of the value of its net assets (except when maintaining a
temporary defensive position) in "GNMA Certificates" (popularly called
"Ginnie Maes").
Ginnie Maes are backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States. Ginnie Maes are mortgage-backed securities representing
part ownership of a pool of mortgage loans which are insured by the
Federal Housing Administration or Farmers' Home Administration or
guaranteed by the Veterans' Administration. The Fund invests in Ginnie
Maes only of the "fully modified pass-through" type which are guaranteed
as to timely payment of principal and interest by the Government National
Mortgage Association, a U.S. Government corporation. The Fund may
purchase Ginnie Maes on a when-issued basis as described under
"Investment Considerations and Risks" below.
The Fund may purchase other securities issued or guaranteed
by, or exchangeable for securities issued or guaranteed by, the U.S.
Government or issued by its agencies or instrumentalities that are backed
by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For temporary
defensive purposes, the entire portfolio may be so invested.
Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which
differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance.
Obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Treasury include those issued by the United States Maritime
Administration.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
LEVERAGE THROUGH BORROWING - Leveraging will exaggerate the effect
on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the
Fund's portfolio. Money borrowed for leveraging will be limited to 331/3%
of the value of the Fund's total assets. These borrowings will be subject
to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of
the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs may exceed the
return received on the securities purchased.
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with
banks, brokers or dealers. This form of borrowing involves the transfer
by the Fund of an underlying debt instrument in return for cash proceeds
based on a percentage of the value of the security. The Fund retains the
right to receive interest and principal payments on the security. At an
agreed upon future date, the Fund repurchases the security at principal,
plus accrued interest. Except for these transactions, the Fund's
borrowings generally will be unsecured.
DOLLAR ROLL TRANSACTIONS - The Fund may engage in dollar roll
transactions, which is a form of secured borrowing. A dollar roll
transaction involves a sale by the Fund of a security to a financial
institution, such as a bank or broker-dealer, concurrently with an
agreement by the Fund to repurchase a similar security from the
institution at a later date at an agreed-upon price. The securities that
are repurchased will bear the same interest rate as those sold, but
generally will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages with
different prepayment histories than those sold. Proceeds of the sale will
be invested in additional instruments for the Fund, and the income from
these investments, together with any additional fee income received on
the sale, are expected to generate income for the Fund exceeding the
yield on the securities sold. Dollar roll transactions involve the risk
that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline
below the repurchase price of those securities.
CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The Fund may (i) borrow to the extent permitted under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, which currently limits borrowing to no
more than 331/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets; and (ii) invest
up to 25% of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any
indus-
Page 7
try, provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of
Ginnie Maes and other securities issued, guaranteed or backed by the U.S.
Government, as described above. This paragraph describes fundamental
policies that cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a
majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Fund's
outstanding voting shares. See "Investment Objective and Management
Policies-Investment Restrictions" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
The prices of Ginnie Maes are inversely affected by changes
in interest rates and, therefore, Ginnie Maes are subject to the risk of
market price fluctuations. Although Ginnie Maes may offer yields which
are higher than those available on other types of U.S. Government
securities, they may be less effective as a means of "locking in"
attractive long-term interest rates. This is a result of the need to
reinvest prepayment of principal generally and the possibility of
significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in mortgage
interest rates. Prepayments and scheduled payments of principal will be
reinvested at prevailing interest rates, which may be less than the rate
of interest that was payable on the Ginnie Maes in respect of which the
principal payment was made. Ginnie Maes have less potential for capital
appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other
investments of comparable maturities, and may decline in value at a
slower rate during periods of rising interest rates.
Although principal and interest payments on a Ginnie Mae are
guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association, the market
value of a Ginnie Mae, which may fluctuate, is not so secured. If the
Fund purchases a Ginnie Mae at a premium, all or part of the premium may
be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security whether
resulting from changes in interest rates or prepayments in the underlying
mortgage collateral. For these and other reasons, a Ginnie Mae's stated
maturity may be shortened and, therefore, it is not possible to predict
accurately the Ginnie Mae's return to the Fund.

Ginnie Maes purchased by the Fund often are offered on a
when-issued basis, which means that the price is fixed at the time of
commitment, but delivery and payment take place a number of days after
the date of the commitment to purchase. The Fund will make commitments to
purchase such Ginnie Maes 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. Ginnie Maes purchased on a
when-issued basis and the securities held in the Fund's portfolio are
subject to changes in value (both generally changing in the same way,
i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when
interest rates rise) based upon changes, real or anticipated, in the level
of interest rates. Ginnie Maes purchased on a when-issued basis may expose
the Fund to risk because they may experience such fluctuations prior to
their actual delivery. Purchasing Ginnie Maes on a when-issued basis can
involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when
the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the
transaction itself. The Fund will not accrue income in respect of a
Ginnie Mae purchased on a when-issued basis prior to its stated delivery
date. A segregated account of the Fund consisting of cash, cash
equivalents or U.S. Government securities or other high quality liquid
debt securities at least equal to the amount of the when-issued
securities will be established and maintained at the Fund's custodian
bank. Purchasing Ginnie Maes on a when-issued basis when the Fund is
fully or almost fully invested may result in greater potential
fluctuations in the value of the Fund's net assets and its net asset
value per share.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from
those of other investment companies advised by The Dreyfus Corporation.
However, if such other investment companies are prepared to invest in, or
desire to dispose of, securities of the
Page 8
type in which the Fund invests at the same time as the Fund, available
investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to
each investment company. In some cases, this procedure may adversely
affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund
or the price paid or received by the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Mellon Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of August 31, 1995, The Dreyfus Corporation
managed or administered approximately $80 billion in assets for more than
1.8 million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the
Fund, subject to the overall authority of the Fund's Board of Trustees in
accordance with Massachusetts law. The Fund's primary portfolio manager
is Garitt A. Kono. He has held that position since September 1993 and has
been employed by The Dreyfus Corporation since September 1992. For more
than five years prior to joining The Dreyfus Corporation, Mr. Kono was
Vice-President_Fixed Income at The First Boston Corporation. The Fund's
other portfolio managers are identified in the Statement of Additional
Information. The Dreyfus Corporation also provides research services for
the Fund as well as other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation
through a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities
analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company
incorporated under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the
Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a
comprehensive range of financial products and services in domestic and
selected international markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest
bank holding companies in the United States based on total assets.
Mellon's principal wholly-owned subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A.,
Mellon Bank (DE) National Association, Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston
Company, Inc., AFCOCredit Corporation and a number of companies known as
Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through its subsidiaries,
including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than $203 billion
in assets as of June 30, 1995, including approximately $73 billion in
proprietary mutual fund assets. As of June 30, 1995, Mellon, through
various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as custodial
or administration services, for more than $707 billion in assets
including approximately $71 billion in mutual fund assets.
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund has
agreed to pay The Dreyfus Corporation a monthly fee at the annual rate of
.55 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time
to time, The Dreyfus Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or
voluntarily assume certain expenses of the Fund, which would have the
effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
yield to investors at the time such amounts are waived or assumed, as the
case may be. The Fund will not pay The Dreyfus Corporation at a later
time for any amounts it may waive, nor will the Fund reimburse The
Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may assume. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1994, the Fund paid The Dreyfus Corporation a
management fee at the effective annual rate of .49 of 1% of the value of
the Fund's average daily net assets pursuant to an undertaking in effect.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets,
including past profits but not including the management fee paid by the
Fund. The Fund's distributor may use part or all of such
payments to pay Service Agents in respect of these services.
Page 9
The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at One Exchange Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02109. The Distributor's ultimate parent company is Boston Institutional
Group, Inc.
The Shareholder Services Group, Inc., a subsidiary of First
Data Corporation, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is
the Fund's Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent").
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286, is
the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY FUND SHARES
GENERAL
Fund shares may be purchased only by clients of certain
financial institutions (which may include banks), securities dealers
("Selected Dealers"), and other industry professionals, such as
investment advisers, accountants and estate planning firms (collectively,
"Service Agents"), except that full-time or part-time employees of The
Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors
of The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund advised by The
Dreyfus Corporation, including members of the Fund's Board, or the spouse
or minor child of any of the foregoing may purchase Class A shares
directly through the Distributor. Subsequent purchases may be sent
directly to the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent. 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 this Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulatory authority, may charge their clients direct fees which would be
in addition to any amounts which might be received under the Shareholder
Services Plan. You should consult your Service Agent in this regard.
When purchasing Fund shares, you must specify which Class is
being purchased. Share certificates are issued only upon your written
request. No certificates are issued for fractional shares. The Fund
reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $1,000. Subsequent
investments must be at least $100. The initial investment must be
accompanied by the Fund's Account Application. The Fund reserves the
right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum purchase requirements
to employees participating in certain qualified or non-qualified employee
benefit plans or other programs where contributions or account
information can be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the
Fund. The Fund reserves the right to vary further the initial and
subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the
TELETRANSFER Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to
"Premier GNMA Fund," or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to "The
Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian." Payments to open new accounts which
are mailed should be sent to Premier GNMA Fund, P.O. Box 9387,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9387, together with your Account
Application indicating which Class of shares is being purchased. For
subsequent investments, your Fund account number should appear on the
check and an investment slip should be enclosed and sent to Premier GNMA
Fund, P.O. Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. For Dreyfus retirement
plan accounts, both initial and subsequent investments should be sent to
The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode
Island 02940-6427. Neither initial nor subsequent investments should be
made by third party check.
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a
commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any
other bank having a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately
available funds may be transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA
#8900119322/Premier GNMA Fund-Class A shares, DDA #8900115033/Premier
GNMA Fund-Class B shares or DDA #8900279958/Premier
Page 10
GNMA Fund-Class C shares, as the case may be, for purchase of Fund shares
in your name. The wire must include your Fund account number (for new
accounts, your Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") should be included
instead), account registration and dealer number, if applicable. If your
initial purchase of Fund shares is by wire, please call 1-800-645-6561
after completing your wire payment to obtain your Fund account number.
Please include your Fund account number on the Fund's Account Application
and promptly mail the Account Application to the Fund, as no redemptions
will be permitted until the Account Application is received. You may
obtain further information about remitting funds in this manner from your
bank. All payments should be made in U.S. dollars and, to avoid fees and
delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A charge will be imposed if
any check used for investment in your account does not clear. The Fund
makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
purchase instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Fund shares also may be purchased through AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder and the Government Direct Deposit Privilege 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.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic
transfer of funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic
financial institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You
must direct the institution to transmit immediately available funds
through the Automated Clearing House to The Bank of New York with
instructions to credit your Fund account. The instructions must specify
your Fund account registration and your Fund account number PRECEDED BY
THE DIGITS "1111."
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. 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. The
Fund's investments are valued each business day by an independent pricing
service approved by the Board of Trustees and are valued at fair value as
determined by the pricing service. The pricing service's procedures are
reviewed under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees. For
further information regarding the methods employed in valuing Fund
investments, see "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
If an order is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent
or other agent by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time) on any 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.
Page 11
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN
upon opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes" and the Fund's Account Application for further information
concerning this requirement. Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the
Fund could subject you to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue
Service (the "IRS").
CLASS A SHARES
The public offering price for Class A shares is the net asset
value per share of that Class plus a sales load as shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Total Sales Load
----------------------------------
As a % of As a % of Dealers' Reallowance
offering price net asset value as a % of
Amount of Transaction per share per share offering price
--------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $50,000......... 4.50 4.70 4.25
$50,000 to less than $100,000.... 4.00 4.20 3.75
$100,000 to less than $250,000..... 3.00 3.10 2.75
$250,000 to less than $500,000... 2.50 2.60 2.25
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000... 2.00 2.00 1.75
$1,000,000 or more........ -0- -0- -0-
</TABLE>
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 two years of
purchase. The terms contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled
"How to Redeem Fund Shares - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" (other
than the amount of the CDSC and its time periods) are applicable to the
Class A shares subject to a CDSC. Letter of Intent and Right of
Accumulation apply to such purchases of Class A shares.
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 other financial institution with respect to sales of
Fund 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 that 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
Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors
of The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund advised by The
Dreyfus Corporation, including members of the Fund's Board, or the spouse
or minor child of any of the foregoing.
Class A shares will be offered at net asset value without a
sales load to 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 one million dollars ("Eligible Benefit
Plans"). Plan sponsors, administrators or trustees, as applicable, are
responsible for notifying the Distributor when the relevant requirement
is satisfied. The Distributor may pay dealers a fee of up to .5% of the
amount invested through such dealers in Class A shares at net asset value
by employees participating in Eligible Benefit Plans. All present
holdings of shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds by Eligible
Benefit Plans will be aggregated to determine the fee payable with
respect to each such purchase of Class A shares. The Distributor
Page 12
reserves the right to cease paying these fees at any time. The Distributor
will pay such fees from its own funds, other than amounts received from
the Fund, including past profits or any other source available to it.
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 that, at
the time of such distribution, such qualified retirement plan or
Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan (a) satisfied the requirements set forth
under either clause (i) or clause (ii) in the preceeding paragraph and
all or a portion of such plan's assets were invested in funds in the
Premier or Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products made
available by the Distributor to such plans, or (b) invested all of its
assets in funds in the Premier Family of Funds or certain funds in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products made available by the
Distributor to such plans.
Class A shares also 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
TheDreyfus Corporation or its affiliates. The purchase of Class A shares
of the 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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (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).
The dealer reallowance may be changed from time to time but
will remain the same for all dealers. The Distributor, at its own
expense, may provide additional promotional incentives to dealers that
sell shares of funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation which are sold
with a sales load, such as the Fund. In some instances, these incentives
may be offered only to certain dealers who have sold or may sell
significant amounts of shares. For the period from January 1, 1994
through August 23, 1994, Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation and distributor of the Fund's
shares until August 24, 1994, retained $23,891 from sales loads on Class
A shares.
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 under "How to Redeem Fund 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. For the period from January 1, 1994 through August 23, 1994,
Dreyfus Service Corporation, as former distributor, retained $64,196 from
the CDSC on Class B shares.
Page 13
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 Fund Shares."
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION - CLASS A SHARES
Reduced sales loads apply to any purchase of Class A shares,
shares of other funds in the Premier Family of Funds, shares of certain
other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation which are sold with a
sales load and shares of certain other funds acquired by a previous
exchange of such shares (hereinafter referred to as "Eligible Funds"), by
you and any related "purchaser" as defined in the Statement of Additional
Information, where the aggregate investment, including such purchase, is
$50,000 or more. If, for example, you have previously purchased and still
hold Class A shares of the Fund, or of any other Eligible Fund or
combination thereof, with an aggregate current market value of $40,000
and subsequently purchase Class A shares of the Fund or an Eligible Fund
having a current value of $20,000, the sales load applicable to the
subsequent purchase would be reduced to 4% 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.
To qualify for reduced sales loads, at the time of a 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.
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE
You may purchase shares (minimum $500, maximum $150,000 per
day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied
the necessary information on the Fund's Account Application or have filed
a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be
transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents
and your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
so designated. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee
currently is contemplated.
If you have selected the TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by telephoning 1-800-221-4060
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 1-401-455-3306.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The services and privileges described under this heading may
not be available to clients of certain Service Agents and some Service
Agents may impose certain conditions on their clients which are different
from those described in this Prospectus. You should consult your Service
Agent in this regard.
FUND EXCHANGES
Clients of certain Service Agents may purchase, in exchange
for Class A, Class B or Class C shares of the Fund, shares of the same
Class in certain other funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state
of residence. These funds have different investment objectives which may
be of interest to you. 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
Page 14
funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus Corporation. 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 Fund Shares." Redemption
proceeds for Exchange Account shares are paid by Federal wire or check
only. Exchange Account shares are eligible for the Auto-Exchange
Privilege, Dividend Sweep and the Automatic Withdrawal Plan. If you
desire to use the Fund Exchanges service, you should consult your Service
Agent or call 1-800-645-6561 to determine if it is available and whether
any conditions are imposed on its use.
To request an exchange, you or your Service Agent acting on
your behalf must give exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in
writing or by telephone. Before any exchange, you must obtain and should
review a copy of the current prospectus of the fund into which the
exchange is being made. Prospectuses may be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of personal retirement plans, the
shares being exchanged must have a current value of at least $500;
furthermore, when establishing a new account by exchange, the shares
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial
investment required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given to all
shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No" box on
the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this
Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an
existing account by written request, signed by all shareholders on the
account, or by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form, also
available by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the
Telephone Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions by
calling 1-800-221-4060 or, if you are calling from overseas, call
1-401-455-3306. See "How to Redeem Fund Shares-Procedures." Upon an
exchange into a new account, the following shareholder services and
privileges, as applicable and where available, will be automatically
carried over to the fund into which the exchange is being made: Telephone
Exchange Privilege, Check Redemption Privilege, TELETRANSFER Privilege
and the dividend/capital gain distribution option (except for Dividend
Sweep) selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset
value; however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges of
Class A shares into funds sold with a sales load. No CDSC will be imposed
on Class B or Class C shares at the time of an exchange; however, Class B
or Class C shares acquired through an exchange will be subject on
redemption to the higher CDSC applicable to the exchanged or acquired
shares. The CDSC applicable on redemption of the acquired Class B or
Class C shares will be calculated from the date of the initial purchase
of the Class B or Class C shares exchanged. If you are exchanging Class A
shares into a fund that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share
prices which do not include the sales load or which reflect a reduced
sales load, if the shares of the fund from which you are exchanging were:
(a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange from
shares purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired through reinvestment
of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the foregoing
categories of shares. To qualify, at the time of your exchange your
Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such qualification is
subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of appropriate
records. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional
Information. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly in
connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not
less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal fee
in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange request in
whole or in
Page 15
part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may be modified or terminated at
any time upon notice to shareholders.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is
treated for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in
exchange by the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may
realize a taxable gain or loss.
AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Auto-Exchange Privilege enables you to invest regularly
(on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for
shares of the Fund, in shares of the same Class of other funds in the
Premier Family of Funds or certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds of which you are currently an investor. The amount you designate,
which can be expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or share
amount ($100 minimum), will be exchanged automatically on the first
and/or fifteenth of the month according to the schedule you have
selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges of Class A
shares into funds sold with a sales load. No CDSC will be imposed on
Class B or Class C shares at the time of an exchange; however, Class B or
Class C shares acquired through an exchange will be subject on redemption
to the higher CDSC applicable to the exchanged or acquired shares. The
CDSC applicable on redemption of the acquired Class B or Class C shares
will be calculated from the date of the initial purchase of the Class B
or Class C shares exchanged. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement
of Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege may be
modified or cancelled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may modify
or cancel your exercise of this Privilege at any time by writing to
Premier GNMA Fund, P.O. Box 6587, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6587.
The Fund may charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such
fee currently is contemplated. The exchange of shares of one fund for
shares of another is treated for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of
the shares given in exchange by the shareholder and, therefore, an
exchanging shareholder may realize a taxable gain or loss. For more
information concerning this Privilege and the funds in the Premier Family
of Funds or the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this
Privilege, or to obtain an Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please call
toll free 1-800-645-6561.
AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER Registration Mark
AUTOMATIC Asset Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares
(minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per transaction) at regular
intervals selected by you. Fund shares are purchased by transferring
funds from the bank account designated by you. At your option, the bank
account designated by you will be debited in the specified amount, and
Fund shares will be purchased, once a month, on either the first or
fifteenth day, or twice a month, on both days. Only an account maintained
at a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House
member may be so designated. To establish an AUTOMATIC Asset Builder
account, you must file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent. You
may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may cancel your participation in this Privilege or change the amount
of purchase at any time by mailing written notification to Premier GNMA
Fund, P.O. Box 6587, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6587, or, if for
Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company,
Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427, and the
notification will be effective three business days following receipt. The
Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE
Government Direct Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase
Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by
having Federal salary, Social Security, or certain veterans', military or
other payments from the Federal government automatically deposited into
your Fund account. You may deposit as much of such payments as you elect.
Page 16
To enroll in Government Direct Deposit, you must file with the Transfer
Agent a completed Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form for each type of payment
that you desire to include in this Privilege. The appropriate form may be
obtained from your Service Agent or by calling 1-800-645-6561. Death or
legal incapacity will terminate your participation in this Privilege. You
may elect at any time to terminate your participation by notifying in
writing the appropriate Federal agency. Further, the Fund may terminate
your participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DIVIDEND OPTIONS
Dividend Sweep enables you to invest automatically dividends
or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, paid by the Fund in
shares of the same Class of another fund in the Premier Family of Funds
or the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. Shares of
the other fund will be purchased at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to investments in
shares of a fund sold with a sales load. If you are investing in a fund
that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not
include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales load. If you are
investing in a fund that charges a CDSC, the shares purchased will be
subject on redemption to the CDSC, if any, applicable to the purchased
shares. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional
Information. Dividend ACHpermits you to transfer electronically dividends
or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a
designated bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
so designated. Banks may charge a fee for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to
request a Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561.
You may cancel these privileges by mailing written notification to
Premier GNMA Fund, P.O. Box 6587, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6587.
Enrollment in or cancellation of these privileges is effective three
business days following receipt. These privileges are available only for
existing accounts and may not be used to open new accounts. Minimum
subsequent investments do not apply for Dividend Sweep. The Fund may
modify or terminate these privileges at any time or charge a service fee.
No such fee currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans,
IRAs or other retirement plans are not eligible for Dividend Sweep.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to request
withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An
application for the Automatic Withdrawal Plan can be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. There is a service charge of 50cents for each withdrawal
check. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be ended at any time by you, the
Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been
issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Class B or Class C shares withdrawn pursuant to 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.
RETIREMENT PLANS
The Fund offers a variety of pension and profit-sharing
plans, including Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts,"
401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services
also are available. You can obtain details on the various plans by
calling the following numbers toll free: for Keogh Plans, please call
1-800-358-5566; for IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts," please call
1-800-645-6561; and for SEP-IRAs, 401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and
403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-7880.
Page 17
LETTER OF INTENT - CLASS A SHARES
By signing a Letter of Intent form, available from the
Distributor, 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 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.
HOW TO REDEEM FUND SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time.
Redemption requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as
described below. When a request is received in proper form, the Fund will
redeem the shares at the next determined net asset value as described
below. If you hold Fund shares of more than one Class, any request for
redemption must specify the Class of shares being redeemed. If you fail
to specify the Class of shares to be redeemed or if you own fewer shares
of the Class than specified to be redeemed, the redemption request may be
delayed until the Transfer Agent receives further instructions from you
or your Service Agent.
The Fund imposes no charges (other than any applicable CDSC)
when shares are redeemed. Service Agents may charge their clients a
nominal fee for effecting redemptions of Fund shares. Any certificates
representing Fund shares being redeemed must be submitted with the
redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less
than their original cost, depending upon the Fund's then-current net
asset value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed
within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption
request in proper form, except as provided by the rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY
CHECK, BY THE TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER
AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER
AGENT, THE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON
BANK CLEARANCE OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR AUTOMATIC
ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR MORE. IN
ADDITION, THE FUND WILL NOT HONOR REDEMPTION CHECKS UNDER THE CHECK
REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE, AND WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO
Page 18
REDEEM SHARES PURSUANT TO THE TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE, FOR A PERIOD OF
EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE
CHECK, THE TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER
AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES WILL NOT
APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF YOU OTHERWISE
HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO COVER THE
REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS EFFECTIVE,
DIVIDENDS ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL BE
ENTITLED TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund
shares will not be redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your
Account Application.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its
option upon not less than 30 days' written notice if your account's net
asset value is $500 or less and remains so during the notice period.
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 Class B shares above the dollar
amount of all your payments for the purchase of Class B shares of the
Fund held by you at the time of redemption.
If the aggregate value of the 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:
YEAR SINCE CDSC AS A % OF AMOUNT
PURCHASE PAYMENT INVESTED OR REDEMPTION
WAS MADE 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 five years;
then of amounts representing the cost of shares purchased five years prior
to the redemption; and finally, of amounts representing the cost of
shares held for the longest period of time within the applicable
five-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
Page 19
his or her 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 3%
(the applicable rate in the second year after purchase) for a total CDSC
of $7.20.
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 will 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 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, and (d) a distribution following
retirement under a tax-deferred retirement plan or upon attaining age
701/2 in the case of an IRA or Keogh plan or custodial account pursuant to
Section 403(b) of the Code. If the Fund's Board determines to discontinue
the waiver of the CDSC, the disclosure in the Fund's prospectus 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 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.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem Fund shares by using the regular redemption
procedure through the Transfer Agent, the Check Redemption Privilege with
respect to Class A shares only, the TELETRANSFER Privilege or, if you are
a client of a Selected Dealer, through the Selected Dealer. If you have
given your Service Agent authority to instruct the Transfer Agent to
redeem shares and to credit the proceeds of such redemptions to a
designated account at your Service Agent, you may redeem shares only in
this manner and in accordance with the regular redemption procedure
described below. If you wish to use the other redemption methods
described below, you must arrange with your Service Agent for delivery of
the required application(s) to the Transfer Agent. Other redemption
procedures may be in effect for clients of certain Service Agents. The
Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
redemption instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Your redemption request may direct that the redemption
proceeds be used to purchase shares of other funds advised or
administered by The Dreyfus Corporation that are not available through
the Exchange Privilege. The applicable CDSC will be charged upon the
redemption of Class B or Class C shares. Your redemption proceeds will be
invested in shares of the other fund on the next business day. Before you
make such a request, you must obtain and should review a copy of the
current prospectus of the fund being purchased. Prospectuses may be
obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. The prospectus will contain
information concerning minimum investment requirements and other
conditions that may apply to your purchase.
You may redeem Fund shares by telephone if you have checked
the appropriate box on the Fund's Account Application or have filed a
Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. If you select the
TELETRANSFER redemption privilege or telephone exchange privilege (which
is granted automatically unless you refuse it), you authorize the Transfer
Agent to act on telephone 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 gen-
Page 20
uine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to employ reasonable
procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification, to
confirm that instructions are genuine and, if it does not follow such
procedures, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses
due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor the
Transfer Agent will be liable for following telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you
may experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone
to request a TELETRANSFER redemption or an exchange of Fund shares. In
such cases, you should consider using the other redemption procedures
described herein. Use of these other redemption procedures may result in
your redemption request being processed at a later time than it would
have been if TELETRANSFER redemption had been used. During the delay, the
Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION - Under the regular redemption procedure, you may
redeem shares by written request mailed to Premier GNMA Fund, P.O. Box
6587, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6587. Written redemption requests
must specify the Class of shares being redeemed. Redemption requests must
be signed by each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account,
and each signature must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted
standards and procedures pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper
form generally will be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers,
credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities
associations, clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from
participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program,
the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock
Exchanges Medallion Program. If you have any questions with respect to
signature-guarantees, please contact your Service Agent or call the
telephone number listed on the cover of this Prospectus.
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any
member bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE - CLASS A SHARES - If you hold Class A
shares, you may request on the Account Application, Shareholder Services
Form or by later written request that the Fund provide Redemption Checks
drawn on the Fund's account. Redemption Checks may be made payable to the
order of any person in the amount of $500 or more. Potential fluctuations
in the net asset value of Class A shares should be considered in
determining the amount of the check. Redemption Checks should not be used
to close your account. Redemption Checks are free, but the Transfer Agent
will impose a fee for stopping payment of a Redemption Check upon your
request or if the Transfer Agent cannot honor the Redemption Check due to
insufficient funds or other valid reason. You should date your Redemption
Checks with the current date when you write them. Please do not postdate
your Redemption Checks. If you do, the Transfer Agent will honor, upon
presentment, even if presented before the date of the check, all
postdated Redemption Checks which are dated within six months of
presentment for payment, if they are otherwise in good order. Class A
shares for which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed by
Redemption Check. Class A shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans are not eligible for this Privilege. This Privilege may
be modified or terminated at any time by the Fund or the Transfer Agent
upon notice to holders of Class A shares. In addition, this Privilege
will be terminated immediately, without notice, with respect to any
account which is, or becomes, subject to backup withholding on
redemptions (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes"). Any Redemption
Check written on an account which has become subject to backup
withholding on redemptions will not be honored by the Transfer Agent.
Page 21
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE - You may redeem shares (minimum $500 per
day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied
the necessary information on the Fund's Account Application or have filed
a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be
transferred between your Fund account and the bank account designated in
one of these documents. Only such an account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
so designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at
an Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt
of the redemption request or, at your request, paid by check (maximum
$150,000 per day) and mailed to your address. Holders of jointly
registered Fund or bank accounts may redeem through the TELETRANSFER
Privilege for transfer to their bank account not more than $250,000
within any 30-day period. The Fund reserves the right to refuse any
request made by telephone, including requests made shortly after a change
of address, and may limit the amount involved or the number of such
requests. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or
charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee currently
is contemplated.
If you have selected the TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by telephoning 1-800-221-4060
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 1-401-455-3306. Shares of the
Fund held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other retirement plans, and shares
issued in certificate form, are not eligible for this Privilege.
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 Fund 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 - CLASS A SHARES - Upon written request, you
may reinvest up to the number of Class A shares you have redeemed, within
30 days of redemption, at the then-prevailing net asset value without a
sales load, or reinstate your account for the purpose of exercising the
Exchange Privilege. The Reinvestment Privilege may be exercised only
once.
Page 22
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
Under the Distribution Plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund pays the Distributor
for distributing the Fund's Class B and Class C shares at an annual rate
of .50 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B and
.75 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class C.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund pays the
Distributor for the provision of certain services to the holders of Class
A, Class B and Class C shares a fee at the annual rate of .25 of 1% 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 shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder Services Plan,
the Distributor may make payments to Service Agents in respect of these
services. The Distributor determines the amounts to be paid to Service
Agents.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily declares dividends from its net
investment income on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
business. Fund shares begin earning income dividends on the day
immediately available funds ("Federal Funds" (monies of member banks
within the Federal Reserve System which are held on deposit at a Federal
Reserve Bank)) are received by the Transfer Agent in written or
telegraphic form. If a purchase order is not accompanied by remittance in
Federal Funds, there may be a delay between the time the purchase order
becomes effective and the time the shares purchased start earning
dividends. If your payment is not made in Federal Funds, it must be
converted into Federal Funds. This usually occurs within one business day
of receipt of a bank wire and within two business days of receipt of a
check drawn on a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. Checks drawn
on banks which are not members of the Federal Reserve System may take
considerably longer to convert into Federal Funds.
Dividends usually are paid on the last calendar day of each
month, and are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Class
from which they were paid at net asset value without a sales load or, at
your option, paid in cash. The Fund's earnings for Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays are declared as dividends on the preceding business day. If you
redeem all shares in your account at any time during the month, all
dividends to which you are entitled will be paid to you along with the
proceeds of the redemption. If you are an omnibus accountholder and
indicate in a partial redemption request that a portion of any accrued
dividends to which such account is entitled belongs to an underlying
accountholder who has redeemed all shares in his or her account, such
portion of the accrued dividends will be paid to you along with the
proceeds of the redemption. Distributions from net realized securities
gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund
may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the
distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The
Fund will not make distributions from net realized securities gains
unless capital loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have
expired. You may choose whether to receive dividends and distributions in
cash or to reinvest in additional Fund shares of the same Class from
which they were paid at net asset value without a sales load. All
expenses are accrued daily and deducted before declaration of dividends
to
Page 23
investors. Dividends paid by each Class will be calculated at the same
time and in the same manner and will be of the same amount, except that
the expenses attributable solely to a particular Class will be borne
exclusively by such Class. Class B and Class C shares will receive lower
per share dividends than Class A shares because of the higher expenses
borne by the relevant Class. See "Fee Table."
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of
certain market discount bonds, paid by the Fund generally are taxable as
ordinary income, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional
shares. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains of the
Fund generally are taxable to U.S. shareholders as long-term capital
gains, regardless of how long shareholders have held their Fund shares
and whether such distributions are received in cash or reinvested in Fund
shares. The Code provides that the net capital gain of an individual
generally will not be subject to Federal income tax at a rate in excess
of 28%. No dividends or distributions will qualify for the dividends
received deduction allowable to certain U.S. corporations. Dividends and
distributions may be subject to state and local taxes.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of
certain market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to a foreign investor
generally are subject to U.S. nonresident withholding taxes at the rate
of 30%, unless the investor claims the benefit of a lower rate specified
in a tax treaty. Distributions from net realized long-term securities
gains paid by the fund to a foreign investor as well as the proceeds of
any redemptions from a foreign investor's account, regardless of the
extent to which gain or loss may be realized, generally will not be
subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax. However, such distributions
and redemption proceeds may be subject to backup withholding, as
described below, unless the foreign investor certifies his non-U.S.
residency status.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and
distributions will be mailed to you annually. You also will receive
periodic summaries of your account which will include information as to
dividends and distributions from securities gains, if any, paid during
the year.
The Code provides for the "carryover" of some or all of the
sales load imposed on Class A shares if you exchange your Class A shares
for shares of another fund advised by The Dreyfus Corporation within 91
days of purchase and such other fund reduces or eliminates its otherwise
applicable sales load for the purpose of the exchange. In this case, the
amount of the sales load charge for Class A shares, up to the amount of
the reduction of the sales load charge on the exchange, is not included
in the basis of your Class A shares for purposes of computing gain or
loss on the exchange, and instead is added to the basis of the fund
shares received on the exchange.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold
("backup withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of dividends,
distributions from net realized securities gains of the Fund and the
proceeds of any redemption, regardless of the extent to which gain or
loss may be realized, paid to a shareholder if such shareholder fails to
certify either that the TIN furnished in connection with opening an
account is correct or that such shareholder has not received notice from
the IRS of being subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure
to properly report taxable dividend or interest income on a Federal
income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may notify the Fund to institute
backup withholding if the IRS determines a shareholder's TIN is incorrect
or if a shareholder has failed to properly report taxable dividend and
interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number or employer
identification number of the record owner of the account. Any tax
withheld as a result of backup withholding does not constitute an
additional tax imposed on the record owner of the account, and may be
claimed as a credit on the record owner's Federal income tax return.
Page 24
Management of the Fund believes that the Fund has qualified
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 as a "regulated investment
company" under the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if
such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders. Such
qualification relieves the Fund of any liability for Federal income tax
to the extent its earnings are distributed in accordance with applicable
provisions of the Code. The Fund is subject to a non-deductible 4% excise
tax, measured with respect to certain undistributed amounts of taxable
investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific
questions as to Federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance for each Class of
shares may be calculated on several bases, including current yield,
average annual total return and/or total return. These total return
figures reflect changes in the price of the shares and assume that any
income dividends and/or capital gain distributions made by the Fund
during the measuring period were reinvested in shares of the same Class.
Class A total return figures include the maximum initial sales charge and
Class B and Class C total return figures include any applicable CDSC.
These figures also take into account any applicable service and
distribution fees. As a result, at any given time, the performance of
Class B and Class C should be expected to be lower than that of Class A.
Performance for each Class will be calculated separately.
Current yield refers to the Fund's annualized net investment
income per share over a 30-day period, expressed as a percentage of the
maximum offering price per share in the case of Class A or the net asset
value per share in the case of Class B or Class C at the end of the
period. For purposes of calculating current yield, the amount of net
investment income per share during that 30 day period, computed in
accordance with regulatory requirements, is compounded by assuming that
it is reinvested at a constant rate over a six-month period. An identical
result is then assumed to have occurred during a second six-month period
which, when added to the result for the first six months, provides an
"annualized" yield for an entire one-year period. Calculations of the
Fund's current yield may reflect absorbed expenses pursuant to any
undertaking that may be in effect. See "Management of the Fund."
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a
standardized formula which assumes that an investment in the Fund was
purchased with an initial payment of $1,000 and that the investment was
redeemed at the end of a stated period of time, after giving effect to
the reinvestment of dividends and distributions during the period. The
return is expressed as a percentage rate which, if applied on a
compounded annual basis, would result in the redeemable value of the
investment at the end of the period. Advertisements of the Fund's
performance will include the Fund's average annual total return for Class
A, Class B and Class C for one, five and ten year periods, or for shorter
periods depending upon the length of time during which the Fund has
operated.
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total return generally is
expressed as a percentage rate which is calculated by combining the
income and principal changes for a specified period and dividing by the
net asset value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A) per share
at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include the percentage
rate of total return or may include the value of a hypothetical
investment at the end of the period which assumes the application of the
percentage rate of total return. Total return also may be calculated by
using 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. Calculations
based on the net asset value per share do not reflect the deduction of
the applicable sales charge on Class A shares, which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted.
Page 25
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are
not necessarily representative of future results. You should remember
that performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the
type and quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating
expenses. Performance information, such as that described above, may not
provide a basis for comparison with other investments or other investment
companies using a different method of calculating performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to
time in advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Bank Rate
Monitortrademark, N. Palm Beach, Fla. 33408, Moody's Bond Survey Bond
Index, Lehman Brothers Mortgage Backed Bond Index, Salomon Brothers
Corporate Bond Rate-of-Return Index, Bond Buyer's 20-Bond Index and
mortgage trade and other publications. In addition, data may be used in
comparing the difference in yields between Ginnie Maes and comparable
term Treasury Notes (which are direct obligations of the U.S.
Government).
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund was organized as an unincorporated business trust
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to an
Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the "Trust Agreement") dated
September 19, 1986, and commenced operations on January 29, 1987. The
Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest, par value $.001 per share. The Fund's shares are classified
into three classes_Class A, Class B and Class C. Each share has one vote
and shareholders will vote in the aggregate and not by class except as
otherwise required by law or when class voting is permitted by the Board
of Trustees. However, only holders of Class B or Class C shares, as the
case may be, will be entitled to vote on matters submitted to shareholders
pertaining to the Distribution Plan.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund.
However, the Trust Agreement disclaims shareholder liability for acts or
obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such disclaimer be
given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or
executed by the Fund or a Trustee. The Trust Agreement provides for
indemnification from the 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 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 Trustees intend to
conduct the operations of the Fund in such a way so as to avoid, as far
as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for liabilities of
the Fund. As discussed under "Management of the Fund" in the Statement of
Additional Information, the Fund ordinarily will not hold shareholder
meetings; however, shareholders under certain circumstances may have the
right to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting to
remove Trustees.
The Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and
sends you confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made to your Service Agent or by
writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York
11556-0144.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO
MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
AND IN THE FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER
OF THE FUND'S SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH,
OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
027/614P16101395
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