FOR USE BY BANKS ONLY
May 1, 1996
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT
BOND FUND
SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS
DATED MAY 1, 1996
All mutual fund shares involve certain investment risks, including
the possible loss of principal.
577s050196BNK
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PROSPECTUS MAY 1, 1996
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
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DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND (THE "FUND") IS AN
OPEN-END, NON-DIVERSIFIED, MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A
MUNICIPAL BOND FUND. THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
AS HIGH A LEVEL OF CURRENT INCOME EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL, NEW YORK STATE AND NEW
YORK CITY INCOME TAXES AS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITAL. THE
FUND INVESTS PRIMARILY IN A PORTFOLIO OF NEW YORK MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS (AS
DEFINED BELOW) THAT ARE INSURED AS TO THE TIMELY PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND
INTEREST BY RECOGNIZED INSURERS OF MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT CHARGE
OR PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE FUND.
THE FUND PROVIDES FREE REDEMPTION CHECKS, WHICH YOU CAN USE IN
AMOUNTS OF $500 OR MORE FOR CASH OR TO PAY BILLS. YOU CONTINUE TO EARN INCOME
ON THE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK UNTIL IT CLEARS. YOU CAN PURCHASE OR REDEEM SHARES
BY TELEPHONE USING DREYFUS TELETRANSFER.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND THAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 1996, WHICH MAY
BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN AREAS
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME
INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND
IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. FOR A FREE COPY, WRITE TO THE FUND AT
144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD, UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL
1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER
AGENCY. THE NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE FLUCTUATE FROM TIME TO
TIME.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Annual Fund Operating Expenses.................... 3
Condensed Financial Information................... 4
Description of the Fund........................... 5
Management of the Fund............................ 10
How to Buy Shares................................. 11
Shareholder Services.............................. 13
How to Redeem Shares.............................. 16
Service Plan...................................... 18
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 19
Performance Information........................... 21
General Information............................... 21
Appendix.......................................... 23
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
<S> <C>
Management Fees ............................................................ .60%
12b-1 Fees (distribution and servicing)..................................... .25%
Other Expenses.............................................................. .14%
Total Fund Operating Expenses............................................... .99%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXAMPLE: 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
You would pay the following expenses on
a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5%
annual return and (2) redemption at the
end of each time period: $10 $32 $55 $121
</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, the payment of which will reduce
investors' annual return. Long-term investors could pay more in 12b-1 fees
than the economic equivalent of paying a front-end sales charge. The
information in the foregoing table does not reflect any fee waiver 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 Shares" and "Service Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report thereon appears in
the Statement of Additional Information. Further financial data and related
notes are included in the Statement of Additional Information, available upon
request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share
of beneficial interest outstanding, total investment return, ratios to
average net assets and other supplemental data for each year indicted. This
information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987(1) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
-------- ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning of year... $12.50 $10.17 $10.56 $10.75 $10.64 $11.33 $11.60 $12.04 $10.66
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income_net....... .64 .73 .71 .72 .66 .63 .60 .60 .59
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments..... (2.33) .39 .19 (.11) .69 .31 .66 (1.39) 1.02
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS (1.69) 1.12 .90 .61 1.35 .94 1.26 (.79) 1.61
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income--net.. (.64) (.73) (.71) (.72) (.66) (.63) (.60) (.59) (.59)
Dividends from net realized
gain on investments....... -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ (.04) (.22) -_ -_
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS....... (.64) (.73) (.71) (.72) (.66) (.67) (.82) (.59) (.59)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net asset value, end of year.... $10.17 $10.56 $10.75 $10.64 $11.33 $11.60 $12.04 $10.66 $11.68
======= ======= ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== ======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN......... (15.62%)(2) 11.32% 8.76% 5.91% 13.06% 8.55% 11.08% (6.62%) 15.38%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets... -_ .23% .50% .50% .88% .90% .96% .98% .99%
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets..... 7.12%(2) 7.00% 6.64% 6.74% 6.01% 5.49% 5.01% 5.31% 5.20%
Decrease reflected in above expense
ratios due to undertakings by
The Dreyfus Corporation (limited
to the expense limitation provision
of the Management Agreement)... 1.50%(2) 1.27% .72% .61% .17% .11% .02% .01% -_
Portfolio Turnover Rate..... 48.74%(3) 32.10% 54.18% 63.12% 15.95% 16.12% 19.89% 12.79% 31.13%
Net Assets, end of year
(000's omitted)... $25,768 $44,619 $66,384 $92,259 $147,527 $180,326 $198,257 $151,696 $157,317
(1) From February 18, 1987 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1987.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Not annualized.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the
Fund's annual report, which may be obtained without charge by writing to the
address or calling the number set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
Page 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is to provide you with as high a
level of current income exempt from Federal, New York State and New York City
income taxes as is consistent with the preservation of capital. To accomplish
its investment objective, the Fund invests primarily in the debt securities
of the State of New York, its political subdivisions, authorities and
corporations, the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to
the issuer, exempt from Federal, New York State and New York City income
taxes (collectively, "New York Municipal Obligations") that are insured as to
the timely payment of principal and interest by recognized insurers of
Municipal Obligations (as defined below). To the extent acceptable insured
New York Municipal Obligations are at any time unavailable for investment by
the Fund, the Fund will invest temporarily in New York Municipal Obligations
that are not subject to insurance, insured Municipal Obligations and/or other
debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to
the issuer, exempt from Federal income tax. 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, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the
Fund's outstanding voting shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund's
investment objective will be achieved.
MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
Debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond
counsel to the issuer, exempt from Federal income tax ("Municipal
Obligations") generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for
various public purposes as well as certain industrial development bonds
issued by or on behalf of public authorities. Municipal Obligations are
classified as general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and notes. General
obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and
taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are
payable from the revenue derived from a particular facility or class of
facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other
specific revenue source, but not from the general taxing power. Tax exempt
industrial development bonds, in most cases, are revenue bonds and generally
do not carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality, but
generally are guaranteed by the corporate entity on whose behalf they are
issued. Notes are short-term instruments which are obligations of the issuing
municipalities or agencies and are sold in anticipation of a bond sale,
collection of taxes or receipt of other revenues. Municipal Obligations
include municipal lease/purchase agreements which are similar to installment
purchase contracts for property or equipment issued by municipalities.
Municipal Obligations bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest,
which are determined in some instances by formulas under which the Municipal
Obligation's interest rate will change directly or inversely to changes in
interest rates or an index, or multiples thereof, in many cases subject to a
maximum and minimum. Certain Municipal Obligations are subject to redemption
at a date earlier than their stated maturity pursuant to call options, which
may be separated from the related Municipal Obligation and purchased and sold
separately.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that it will invest at least
80% of the value of its net assets (except when maintaining a temporary
defensive position) in Municipal Obligations. Generally, at least 65% of the
value of the Fund's net assets (except when maintaining a temporary defensive
position) will be invested in bonds, debentures and other debt instruments
that are insured New York Municipal Obligations. See "Insurance Feature" and
"Investment Considerations and Risks _ Investing in New York Municipal
Obligations" below, and "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
The Municipal Obligations purchased by the Fund will be rated no
lower than Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of The
Page 5
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), or Fitch Investors Service, L.P.
("Fitch"). Municipal Obligations rated BBB by S&P or Fitch or Baa by Moody's
are considered investment grade obligations; those rated BBB by S&P and Fitch
are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay principal and interest,
while those rated Baa by Moody's are considered medium grade obligations
which lack outstanding investment characteristics and have speculative
characteristics as well. See "Appendix B" in the Statement of Additional
Information. The Fund also may invest in securities which, while not rated,
are determined by The Dreyfus Corporation to be of comparable quality to the
rated securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund also may invest in
Taxable Investments of the quality described under "Appendix -- Certain
Portfolio Securities -- Taxable Investments."
From time to time, the Fund may invest more than 25% of the value of
its total assets in industrial development bonds which, although issued by
industrial development authorities, may be backed only by the assets and
revenues of the non-governmental users. Interest on Municipal Obligations
(including certain industrial development bonds) which are specified private
activity bonds, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), issued after August 7, 1986, while exempt from Federal income
tax, is a preference item for the purpose of the alternative minimum tax.
Where a regulated investment company receives such interest, a proportionate
share of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the investment company may be
treated as such a preference item to shareholders. The Fund will invest no
more than 20% of the value of its net assets in Municipal Obligations the
interest from which gives rise to a preference item for the purpose of the
alternative minimum tax and, except for temporary defensive purposes, in
other investments subject to Federal income tax. See "Investment
Considerations and Risks" below.
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
100%. The Fund also may lend portfolio securities, which may give rise to
taxable income. See also "Investment Considerations and Risks" and "Appendix
_ Investment Techniques" below and "Investment Objective and Management
Policies _ Management Policies" in the Statement of Additional Information.
INSURANCE FEATURE
At the time they are purchased by the Fund, the Municipal Obligations
held in the Fund's portfolio that are subject to insurance will be insured as
to timely payment of principal and interest under an insurance policy (i)
purchased by the Fund or by a previous owner of the Municipal Obligation
("Mutual Fund Insurance") or (ii) obtained by the issuer or underwriter of
the Municipal Obligation ("New Issue Insurance"). The insurance of principal
refers to the face or par value of the Municipal Obligation and is not
affected by nor does it insure the price paid therefor by the Fund or the
market value thereof. The value of Fund shares is not insured.
New Issue Insurance is obtained by the issuer of the Municipal
Obligations and all premiums respecting such securities are paid in advance
by such issuer. Such policies are noncancelable and continue in force so long
as the Municipal Obligations are outstanding and the insurer remains in
business.
Certain types of Mutual Fund Insurance obtained by the Fund are
effective only so long as the Fund is in existence, the insurer remains in
business and the Municipal Obligations described in the policy continue to be
held by the Fund. The Fund will pay the premiums with respect to such
insurance. Depending upon the terms of the policy, in the event of a sale of
any Municipal Obligation so insured by the Fund, the Mutual Fund Insurance
may terminate as to such Municipal Obligation on the date of sale and in such
event the insurer may be liable only for those payments of principal and
interest which then are due and owing. Other types of Mutual Fund Insurance
may not have this termination feature. The Fund may purchase Municipal
Obligations with this type of insurance from parties other than the issuer
and the insurance would continue for the Fund's benefit.
Page 6
Typically, the insurer may not withdraw coverage on insured
securities held by the Fund, nor may the insurer cancel the policy for any
reason except failure to pay premiums when due. The insurer may reserve the
right at any time upon 90 days' written notice to the Fund to refuse to
insure any additional Municipal Obligations purchased by the Fund after the
effective date of such notice. The Fund's Board has reserved the right to
terminate the Mutual Fund Insurance policy if it determines that the benefits
to the Fund of having its portfolio insured are not justified by the expense
involved. See "Investment Considerations and Risks -- Investing in Insured
Municipal Obligations" below.
Mutual Fund Insurance and New Issue Insurance have been obtained from
Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ("Financial Guaranty"), MBIA Insurance
Corporation ("MBIA"), AMBAC Indemnity Corporation ("AMBAC Indemnity") and
Financial Security Assurance of Maryland Inc. ("FSA"), although the Fund may
purchase insurance from, or Municipal Obligations insured by, other insurers.
The following information regarding these insurers has been derived
from information furnished by the insurers. The Fund has not independently
verified any of the information, but the Fund is not aware of facts which
would render such information inaccurate.
Financial Guaranty is a New York stock insurance company regulated by
the New York State Department of Insurance and authorized to provide
insurance in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Financial Guaranty is a
subsidiary of FGIC Corporation, a Delaware holding company, which is a
subsidiary of General Electric Capital Corporation. Financial Guaranty, in
addition to providing insurance for the payment of interest on and principal
of Municipal Obligations held in unit investment trust and mutual fund
portfolios, provides New Issue Insurance and insurance for secondary market
issues of Municipal Obligations and for portions of new and secondary market
issues of Municipal Obligations. As of December 31, 1995, Financial Guaranty
reported total capital and surplus of approximately $1 billion and admitted
assets of approximately $2.3 billion. The claims-paying ability of Financial
Guaranty is rated "AAA" by S&P and Fitch and "Aaa" by Moody's.
MBIA, formerly known as Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
Corporation, is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA Inc., a New York
Stock Exchange listed company. MBIA Inc. is not obligated to pay the debts or
claims against MBIA. MBIA is domiciled in the State of New York and licensed
to do business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands,
the Virgin Islands of the United States and theTerritory of Guam. As of
December 31, 1995, MBIA had admitted assets of $3.8 billion, total liabilities
of $2.5 billion and total capital and surplus of $1.3 billion, determined in
accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by
insurance regulatory authorities. The claims-paying ability of MBIA is rated
"AAA" by S&P and Fitch and "Aaa" by Moody's.
AMBAC Indemnity is a Wisconsin-domiciled stock insurance corporation,
regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of
Wisconsin and licensed to do business in 50 states, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territory of Guam. AMBAC Indemnity is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMBAC Inc., a publicly-held company. AMBAC
Indemnity had admitted assets of approximately $2.4 billion and statutory
capital of approximately $1.38 billion as of December 31, 1995. Statutory
capital consists of AMBAC Indemnity's statutory contingency reserve and
policyholders' surplus. The claims-paying ability of AMBAC Indemnity is rated
"AAA" by S&P and Fitch and "Aaa" by Moody's.
FSA, formerly known as Capital Guaranty Insurance Company, is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Financial Security Assurance Holdings, Ltd., which
is a New York Stock Exchange listed company. FSA is authorized to provide
insurance in 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories.
As of September 30, 1995, FSA's statutory capital was approximately $650
million (unaudited)
Page 7
and total assets were approximately $1.5 billion (unaudited). The
claims-paying ability of FSA is rated "AAA" by S&P and Fitch and "Aaa" by
Moody's.
Additional information concerning the insurance feature appears in
the Statement of Additional Information to which your attention is directed.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL -- Even though interest-bearing securities are investments which
promise a stable stream of income, the prices of such securities are
inversely affected by changes in interest rates and, therefore, are subject
to the risk of market price fluctuations. Certain securities that may be
purchased by the Fund, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate
directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to
be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders
thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. The
values of fixed-income securities also may be affected by changes in the
credit rating or financial condition of the issuing entities. Certain
securities purchased by the Fund, such as those rated Baa by Moody's and BBB
by S&P and Fitch, may be subject to such risk with respect to the issuing
entity and to greater market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher
rated fixed-income securities. Once the rating of a portfolio security has
been changed, the Fund will consider all circumstances deemed relevant in
determining whether to continue to hold the security. The Fund's net asset
value generally will not be stable and should fluctuate based upon changes in
the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. See "Appendix -- Certain
Portfolio Securities -- Ratings" below and "Appendix B" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
INVESTING IN NEW YORK MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- You should consider carefully
the special risks inherent in the Fund's investment in New York Municipal
Obligations. These risks result from the financial condition of New York
State, certain of its public bodies and municipalities and New York City.
Beginning in early 1975, New York State, New York City and other State
entities faced serious financial difficulties which jeopardized the credit
standing and impaired the borrowing abilities of such entities and contributed
to high interest rates on, and lower market prices for, debt obligations
issued by them. A recurrence of such financial difficulties or a failure of
certain financial recovery programs could result in defaults or declines in
the market values of various New York Municipal Obligations in which the Fund
may invest. If there should be a default or other financial crisis relating to
New York State, New York City, a State or City agency, or a State
municipality, the market value and marketability of outstanding New York
Municipal Obligations in the Fund's portfolio and the interest income to the
Fund could be adversely affected. Moreover, the national recession and the
significant slowdown in the New York regional economies in the early 1990's
added substantial uncertainty to estimates of the State's tax revenues,
which, in part, caused the State to incur cash-basis operating deficits in
the General Fund and issue deficit notes during the fiscal periods 1989
through 1992. The State's financial operations improved, however, during the
1993 and 1994 fiscal years. After reflecting a 1993 year-end deposit to the
State's refund reserve account of $671 million, reported 1993 General Fund
receipts were $45 million higher than originally projected in April 1992. The
State completed the 1994 fiscal year with an operating surplus in the General
Fund of $914 million. The State reported a General Fund operating deficit of
$1.426 billion for the 1995 fiscal year. There can be no assurance that New
York will not face substantial potential budget gaps in future years. In
January 1992, Moody's lowered from A to Baal its ratings of certain
appropriation-backed debt of New York State and its agencies. The State's
general obligation, state-guaranteed and New York State Local Government
Assistance Corporation bonds continued to be rated A by Moody's. In January
1992, S&P lowered from A to A- its ratings of New York State general
obligation bonds and stated that it continued to assess the ratings outlook
as negative. S&P also lowered its ratings of various agency debt, State moral
obligations, contractual obligations, lease purchase obligations and
Page 8
State guarantees. In February 1991, Moody's lowered its rating of New York
City's general obligation bonds from A to Baal. The rating changes reflected
the rating agencies' concerns about the financial condition of New York State
and City, the heavy debt load of the State and City and economic uncertainties
in the region. You should obtain and review a copy of the Statement of
Additional Information which more fully sets forth these and other risk
factors.
INVESTING IN INSURED MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- The insurance feature is
intended to reduce financial risk, but the cost thereof and the restrictions
on investments imposed by the guidelines in the insurance policy will result
in a reduction in the yield on the Municipal Obligations purchased by the
Fund.
Because coverage under certain Mutual Fund Insurance policies may
terminate upon sale of a security from the Fund's portfolio, insurance with
this termination feature should not be viewed as assisting the marketability
of securities in the Fund's portfolio, whether or not the securities are in
default or subject to a serious risk of default. The Dreyfus Corporation
intends to retain any Municipal Obligations subject to such insurance which
are in default or, in the view of The Dreyfus Corporation, in significant
risk of default and to recommend to the Fund's Board that the Fund place a
value on the insurance which will be equal to the difference between the
market value of the defaulted security and the market value of similar
securities of minimum investment grade (i.e., rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by
S&P or Fitch) which are not in default. To the extent the Fund holds
defaulted securities subject to Mutual Fund Insurance with this termination
feature, it may be limited in its ability in certain circumstances to
purchase other Municipal Obligations. While a defaulted Municipal Obligation
is held in the Fund's portfolio, the Fund continues to pay the insurance
premium thereon but also is entitled to collect interest payments from the
insurer and retains the right to collect the full amount of principal from
the insurer when the security comes due.
INVESTING IN MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- The Fund may invest more than 25% of
the value of its total assets in Municipal Obligations which are related in
such a way that an economic, business or political development or change
affecting one such security also would affect the other securities; for
example, securities the interest upon which is paid from revenues of similar
types of projects. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater risk as
compared to a fund that does not follow this practice.
Certain municipal lease/purchase obligations in which the Fund may
invest may contain "non-appropriation" clauses which provide that the
municipality has no obligation to make lease payments in future years unless
money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although
"non-appropriation" lease/purchase obligations are secured by the leased
property, disposition of the leased property in the event of foreclosure
might prove difficult. In evaluating the credit quality of a municipal
lease/purchase obligation that is unrated, The Dreyfus Corporation will
consider, on an ongoing basis, a number of factors including the likelihood
that the issuing municipality will discontinue appropriating funding for the
leased property.
Certain provisions in the Code relating to the issuance of Municipal
Obligations may reduce the volume of Municipal Obligations qualifying for
Federal tax exemption. One effect of these provisions could be to increase
the cost of the Municipal Obligations available for purchase by the Fund and
thus reduce available yield. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers
concerning the effect of these provisions on an investment in the Fund.
Proposals that may restrict or eliminate the income tax exemption for
interest on Municipal Obligations may be introduced in the future. If any
such proposal were enacted that would reduce the availability of Municipal
Obligations for investment by the Fund so as to adversely affect Fund
shareholders, the Fund would reevaluate its investment objective and policies
and submit possible changes in the Fund's structure to shareholders for their
consideration. If legislation were enacted that would treat a type of
Municipal Obligation as taxable, the Fund would treat such security as a
permissible Taxable Investment within the applicable limits set forth herein.
Page 9
USE OF DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may invest in derivatives ("Derivatives").
These are financial instruments which derive their performance, at least in
part, from the performance of an underlying asset, index or interest rate.
The Derivatives the Fund may use include options. While Derivatives can be
used effectively in furtherance of the Fund's investment objective, under
certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility of the Fund's net
asset value, can decrease the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio and make more
difficult the accurate pricing of the Fund's portfolio. See "Investment
Objective and Management Policies _ Management Policies _ Derivatives" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS -- The classification of the Fund as a
"non-diversified" investment company means that the proportion of the Fund's
assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not
limited by the 1940 Act. A "diversified" investment company is required by
the 1940 Act generally, with respect to 75% of its total assets, to invest
not more than 5% of such assets in the securities of a single issuer. Since a
relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be invested in the
obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Fund's portfolio may be more
sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer. However, to meet
Federal tax requirements, at the close of each quarter the Fund may not have
more than 25% of its total assets invested in any one issuer and, with
respect to 50% of total assets, not more than 5% of its total assets invested
in any one issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S. Government
securities.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS -- Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of other investment companies advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest
in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each investment
company. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the
position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or
received by the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER -- The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
MellonBank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MellonBank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of March 29, 1996, The Dreyfus Corporation managed
or administered approximately $82 billion in assets for more than 1.7 million
investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the Fund,
subject to the authority of the Fund's Board in accordance with
Massachusetts law. The Fund's primary portfolio manager is L. Lawrence
Troutman. He has held that position since February 18, 1986 and has been
employed by The Dreyfus Corporation since 1985. The Fund's other portfolio
managers are identified in the Statement of Additional Information. The
Dreyfus Corporation also provides research services for the Fund and for
other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation through a professional staff
of portfolio managers and securities analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned
subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association,
Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a
number of companies known as Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through
its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than
$233 billion in
Page 10
assets as of December 31, 1995, including approximately $81 billion in
proprietary mutual fund assets. As of December 31, 1995, Mellon, through
various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $786 billion in assets,
including approximately $60 billion in mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the Fund paid The
Dreyfus Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60 of 1%
of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The
Dreyfus Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and or voluntarily assume
certain expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the
expense ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will
not pay The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive,
nor will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions for the Fund, The Dreyfus
Corporation seeks to obtain the best execution of orders at the most
favorable net price. Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation
may consider, among other things, the receipt of research services and/or the
sale of shares of the Fund or other funds managed, advised or administered by
The Dreyfus Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to
execute portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in
the Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including
past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The
Fund's distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents
in respect of these services.
DISTRIBUTOR -- 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 is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN -- Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). The Bank of New York, 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be charged a
nominal fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities
dealer ("Selected Dealer"), bank or other financial institution
(collectively, "Service Agents"). Share certificates are issued only upon
your written request. No certificates are issued for fractional shares. It is
not recommended that the Fund be used as a vehicle for Keogh, IRA or other
qualified plans. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a
client of a Service Agent which has made an aggregate minimum initial
purchase for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be at least
$100. The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account Application.
For full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of The Dreyfus Corporation, Board
members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus Corporation, including members of
the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing, the
minimum initial investment is $1,000. For full-time or part-time employees of
The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to
have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund account, the
minimum initial investment is $50. The Fund reserves the right to vary
further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any
time. Fund shares also are offered without regard to the minimum initial
investment requirements through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset BuilderRegistration
Mark, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings
Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus Step Program described under "Shareholder
Services." These services enable you to make
Page 11
regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a convenient way to
invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware, however, that
periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not protect an
investor against loss in a declining market.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds." Payments to open new accounts which are mailed
should be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application. For
subsequent investments, your Fund account number should appear on the check
and an investment slip should be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. Neither initial nor
subsequent investments should be made by third party check. Purchase orders
may be delivered in person only to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE ORDERS
WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY.
For the location of the nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of
the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having
a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA#8900052198/Dreyfus New York
Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund, for purchase of Fund shares in your name. The
wire must include your Fund account number (for new accounts, your Taxpayer
Identification Number ("TIN") should be included instead), account
registration and dealer number, if applicable. If your initial purchase of
Fund shares is by wire, please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your wire
payment to obtain your Fund account number. Please include your Fund account
number on the Account Application and promptly mail the Account Application
to the Fund, as no redemptions will be permitted until the Account
Application is received. You may obtain further information about remitting
funds in this manner from your bank. All payments should be made in U.S.
dollars and, to avoid fees and delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A
charge will be imposed if any check used for investment in your account does
not clear. Other purchase procedures may be in effect for clients of certain
Service Agents. The Fund makes available to certain large institutions the
ability to issue purchase instructions through compatible computer
facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House to The Bank of New York with instructions to credit your Fund
account. The instructions must specify your Fund account registration and
your Fund account number PRECEDED BY THE DIGITS "1111."
Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are different from those described in this
Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory
authorities, may charge their clients direct fees for Servicing (as defined
under "Service Plan"). These fees would be in addition to any amounts which
might be received under the Service Plan. You should consult your Service
Agent in this regard.
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per
share next determined after an order in proper form is received by the
Transfer Agent. Net asset value per share is determined as of the close of
trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New
York time), on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Net
asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net
assets (i.e., the value of its assets less liabilities) by the total number
of shares outstanding. The Fund's investments are valued each business day by
an independent pricing service approved by the Fund's Board 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 Fund's Board. For
Page 12
further information regarding the methods employed in valuing Fund
investments, see "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may purchase shares (minimum $500,
maximum $150,000 per day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate
box and supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have
filed a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will
be transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents
and your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated.
The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER purchase of Fund shares by telephoning
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The services and privileges described under this heading may not be
available to clients of certain Service Agents and some Service Agents may
impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those
described in this Prospectus. You should consult your Service Agent in this
regard.
FUND EXCHANGES -- You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of certain other funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of
residence. These funds have different investment objectives which may be of
interest to you. If you desire to use this service, 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 Fund shareholders automatically, unless you to check the applicable
"No" box on the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse
this Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an
existing account by written request, signed by all shareholders on the
account, or by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form, also available by
calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the Telephone Exchange
Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How to Redeem
Shares_Procedures." Upon an exchange into a new account, the following
shareholder services and privileges, as applicable and where available, will
be automatically carried over to the fund into which the exchange is made:
Telephone Exchange Privilege, Check Redemption Privilege, Wire Redemption
Privilege, Telephone Redemption Privilege, Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege,
and the dividend/capital gain distribution option (except for Dreyfus
Dividend Sweep) selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. If you are exchanging into a fund
Page 13
that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not
include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales load, if the shares
you are exchanging were: (a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a
previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the
foregoing categories of shares. To qualify, at the time of the exchange you
must notify the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the
Distributor. Any such qualification is subject to confirmation of your
holdings through a check of appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services"
in the Statement of Additional Information. No fees currently are charged
shareholders directly in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves
the right, upon not less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders
a nominal fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange
request in whole or in part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may be
modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE -- Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables
you to invest regularly (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual
basis), in exchange for shares of the Fund, in shares of other funds in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are 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 day of the month according to the schedule you have
selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege may be modified
or canceled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your
exercise of this Privilege at any time by mailing written notification to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
The Fund may charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee
currently is contemplated. For more information concerning this Privilege and
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this
Privilege, or to obtain a Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please
call toll free 1-800-645-6561. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration Mark -- Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of
$150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares
are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
At your option, the account designated by you will be debited in the
specified amount, and Fund shares will be purchased, once a month, on either
the first or fifteenth day, or twice a month, on both days. Only an account
maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House member may be so designated. To establish a Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder account, you must file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may cancel your participation in this Privilege or change the amount of
purchase at any time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, and the
notification will be effective three business days following receipt. The
Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service
fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE -- Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social
Security, or certain veterans', military or other payments from the Federal
government automatically deposited into your Fund account. You may deposit as
much of such payments as you elect. To enroll in Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit, you must file with the Transfer Agent a completed Direct Deposit
Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that you desire to include in this
Privilege. The appropriate form may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561.
Death
Page 14
or legal incapacity will terminate your participation in this
Privilege. You may elect at any time to terminate your participation by
notifying in writing the appropriate Federal agency. Further, the Fund may
terminate your participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN -- Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to
purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may
have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus
account electronically through the Automated Clearing House system at each
pay period. To establish a Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must
file an authorization form with your employer's payroll department. Your
employer must complete the reverse side of the form and return it to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may change the amount of purchase or cancel the authorization only by
written notification to your employer. It is the sole responsibility of your
employer, not the Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the
Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for transactions under the
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege
at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM -- Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase Fund
shares without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements
through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit
Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a Dreyfus Step
Program account, you must supply the necessary information on the Account
Application and file the required authorization form(s) with the Transfer
Agent. For more information concerning this Program, or to request the
necessary authorization form(s), please call toll free 1-800-782-6620. You
may terminate your participation in this Program at any time by discontinuing
your participation in Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government
Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the case may be,
as provided under the terms of such Privilege(s). The Fund may modify or
terminate this Program at any time.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND OPTIONS -- Dreyfus Dividend Sweep enables you to invest
automatically dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any,
paid by the Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of
which you are a shareholder. Shares of the other fund will be purchased at
the then-current net asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with
respect to investments in shares of a fund sold with a sales load. If you are
investing in a fund that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share price
s which do not include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales load.
If you are investing in a fund that charges a contingent deferred sales
charge, the shares purchased will be subject on redemption to the contingent
deferred sales charge, if any, applicable to the purchased shares. See
"Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional Information. Dreyfus
Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends or dividends
and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated bank
account. Only an account maintained at a financial institution which is an
Automated Clearing House member may be so designated. Banks may charge a fee
for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a
Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
these privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. To select a new
fund after cancellation, you must submit a new Dividend Options Form.
Enrollment in or cancellation of these privileges is effective three business
days following receipt. These privileges are available only for existing
accounts and may not be used to open new accounts. Minimum subsequent
investments do not apply to Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or
terminate these privileges at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated.
Page 15
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN -- The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An
application for the Automatic Withdrawal Plan can be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be ended at any time by
you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been
issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption
requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When
a request is received in proper form, the Fund will redeem the shares at the
next determined net asset value.
The Fund imposes no charges when shares are redeemed. Service Agents
may charge their clients a nominal fee for effecting redemptions of Fund
shares. Any certificates representing Fund shares being redeemed must be
submitted with the redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may
be more or less than their original cost, depending upon the Fund's
then-current net asset value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within
seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in
proper form, except as provided by the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY CHECK, BY DREYFUS
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER AND
SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, THE
REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK CLEARANCE
OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC
ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR MORE. IN
ADDITION, THE FUND WILL NOT HONOR REDEMPTION CHECKS UNDER THE CHECK
REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE, AND WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY WIRE OR
TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE, FOR A PERIOD OF
EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE
CHECK, THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET
BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES
WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF YOU
OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO COVER THE
REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS EFFECTIVE, DIVIDENDS
ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO
EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund shares will not be
redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.
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.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem Fund shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or, if you have checked the appropriate box and
supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have filed a
Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent, through the Check
Redemption Privilege, the Wire Redemption Privilege, the Telephone Redemption
Privilege or the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege. If you are a client of a
Selected Dealer, you may redeem shares 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.
Page 16
The Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
redemption instructions through compatible computer facilities. The Fund
reserves the right to refuse any request made by wire or telephone, including
requests made shortly after a change of address, and may limit the amount
involved or the number of such requests. The Fund may modify or terminate any
redemption Privilege at any time or charge a service fee upon notice to
shareholders. No such fee is currently contemplated. Shares for which
certificates have been issued are not eligible for Check Redemption, Wire
Redemption, Telephone Redemption or Dreyfus TELETRANSFER privilege.
You may redeem shares by telephone if you have checked the
appropriate box on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder
Services Form with the Transfer Agent. If you select a telephone redemption
privilege or telephone exchange privilege (which is granted automatically
unless you refuse 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 genuine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to employ
reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification,
to confirm that instructions are genuine and, if it does not follow such
procedures, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer
Agent will be liable for following telephone instructions reasonably believed
to be genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used. During the delay, the Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION -- Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. Redemption requests may be
delivered in person only to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL
BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For
the location of the nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the
telephone numbers listed under "General Information." Redemption requests
must be signed by each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account,
and each signature must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted
standards and procedures pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper
form generally will be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit
unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations,
clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in
the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities
Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion
Program. If you have any questions with respect to signature-guarantees,
please call one of the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may write Redemption Checks drawn on your
Fund account. Redemption Checks may be made payable to the order of any
person in the amount of $500 or more. Potential fluctuations in the net asset
value of Fund 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
Page 17
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. 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.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may request by wire or telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank which
is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if your
bank is not a member. You also may direct that redemption proceeds be paid by
check (maximum $150,000 per day) made out to the owners of record and mailed
to your address. Redemption proceeds of less than $1,000 will be paid
automatically by check. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts
may have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within any
30-day period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Statement of Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting
redemption requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed
to your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund
account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an
Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request or, at your request, paid by check (maximum $150,000 per
day) and mailed to your address. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank
accounts may redeem through the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer
to their bank account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by telephoning
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
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 by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), the redemption request will be
effective on that day. If a redemption request is received by the Transfer
Agent after the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange,
the redemption request will be effective on the next business day. It is the
responsibility of the Selected Dealer to transmit a request so that it is
received in a timely manner. The proceeds of the redemption are credited to
your account with the Selected Dealer. See "How to Buy Shares" for a
discussion of additional conditions or fees that may be imposed upon
redemption.
SERVICE PLAN
Under the Service Plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act, the Fund (a) reimburses the Distributor for payments to certain
Service Agents for distributing the Fund's shares and servicing shareholder
accounts ("Servicing") and (b) pays The Dreyfus Corporation, Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, and any
affiliate of either of them (collectively, "Dreyfus") for advertising and
marketing relating to the Fund and for Servicing, at an aggregate annual rate
of .25 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. Each of the
Distributor and Dreyfus may pay one or more Service Agents a fee in respect
of the Fund's shares
Page 18
owned by shareholders with whom the Service Agent has a Servicing relationship
or for whom the Service Agent is the dealer or holder of record. Each of the
Distributor and Dreyfus determine the amounts, if any, to be paid to Service
Agents under the Service Plan and the basis on which such payments are made.
The fees payable under the Service Plan are payable without regard to actual
expenses incurred.
The Fund also bears the costs of preparing and printing prospectuses
and statements of additional information used for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders. Under the Service Plan, the Fund bears
(a) the costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information used for other purposes, and (b) the
costs associated with implementing and operating the Service Plan (such as
costs of printing and mailing service agreements), the aggregate of such
amounts not to exceed in any fiscal year of the Fund the greater of $100,000
or .005 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for such
fiscal year. Each item for which a payment may be made under the Service Plan
may constitute an expense of distributing Fund shares as the Securities and
Exchange Commission construes such term under Rule 12b-1.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily declares dividends from net investment income on
each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. The Fund's
earnings for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are declared as dividends on the
next business day. Dividends usually are paid on the last business day of
each month, and are automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares at net
asset value or, at your option, paid in cash. 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 1940 Act. The Fund will not make distributions from
net realized securities gains unless capital loss carryovers, if any, have
been utilized or have expired. You may choose whether to receive
distributions in cash or to invest in additional Fund shares at net asset
value. All expenses are accrued daily and deducted before declaration of
dividends to investors.
Except for dividends from Taxable Investments, the Fund anticipates
that substantially all dividends from net investment income paid by the Fund
will not be subject to Federal, New York State or New York City income taxes.
To the extent you are obligated to pay state or local taxes outside of the
State of New York, dividends earned by an investment in the Fund may
represent taxable income. Dividends derived from Taxable Investments,
together with distributions from any 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 are subject to Federal
income tax as ordinary income whether or not reinvested in additional shares.
No dividend paid by the Fund will qualify for the dividends received
deduction allowable to certain U.S. corporations. Distributions from net
realized long-term securities gains of the Fund generally are subject to
Federal income tax as long-term capital gains if you are a citizen or
resident of the United States. 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%. Under the Code, interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued to purchase or carry Fund shares which is deemed to relate to
exempt-interest dividends is not deductible.
Page 19
Although all or a substantial portion of the dividends paid by the
Fund may be excluded by shareholders of the Fund from their gross income for
Federal income tax purposes, the Fund may purchase specified private activity
bonds, the interest from which may be (i) a preference item for purposes of
the alternative minimum tax, (ii) a component of the "adjusted current
earnings" preference item for purposes of the corporate alternative minimum
tax as well as a component in computing the corporate environmental tax or
(iii) a factor in determining the extent to which a shareholder's Social
Security benefits are taxable. If the Fund purchases such securities, the
portion of the Fund's dividends related thereto will not necessarily be tax
exempt to an investor who is subject to the alternative minimum tax and/or
tax on Social Security benefits and may cause an investor to be subject to
such taxes.
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. These statements set forth
the dollar amount of income exempt from Federal tax and the dollar amount, if
any, subject to Federal tax. These dollar amounts will vary depending on the
size and length of time of your investment in the Fund. If the Fund pays
dividends derived from taxable income, it intends to designate as taxable the
same percentage of the day's dividend as the actual taxable income earned on
that day bears to total income earned on that day. Thus, the percentage of
the dividend designated as taxable, if any, may vary from day to day.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated
for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by
the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a
taxable gain or loss.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold ("backup
withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of taxable dividends,
distributions from net realized securities gains and the proceeds of any
redemption, regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized,
paid to a shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the
TIN furnished in connection with opening an account is correct, or that such
shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or
interest income on a Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may
notify the Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines a
shareholder's TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly
report taxable dividend and interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number or employee identification
number of the record owner of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of
backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax imposed on the
record owner of the account, and may be claimed as a credit on the record
owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Fund believes that the Fund has qualified for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 as a "regulated investment company" under
the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is
in the best interests of its shareholders. Such qualification relieves the
Fund of any liability for Federal income taxes to the extent its earnings are
distributed in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. In
addition, the Fund is subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax, measured
with respect to certain undistributed amounts of taxable investment income
and capital gain.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes.
Page 20
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance may be calculated on several
bases, including current yield, tax equivalent yield, average annual total
return and/or total return.
Current yield refers to the Fund's annualized net investment income
per share over a 30-day period, expressed as a percentage of the net asset
value per share at the end of the period. For purposes of calculating current
yield, the amount of net investment income per share during that 30-day
period, computed in accordance with regulatory requirements, is compounded by
assuming that it is reinvested at a constant rate over a six-month period. An
identical result is then assumed to have occurred during a second six-month
period which, when added to the result for the first six months, provides an
"annualized" yield for an entire one-year period. Calculations of the Fund's
current yield may reflect absorbed expenses pursuant to any undertaking that
may be in effect. See "Management of the Fund."
Tax equivalent yield is calculated by determining the pre-tax yield
which, after being taxed at a stated rate, would be equivalent to a stated
current yield calculated as described above.
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a standardized
formula which assumes that an investment in the Fund was purchased with an
initial payment of $1,000 and that the investment was redeemed at the end of
a stated period of time, after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends
and distributions during the period. The return is expressed as a percentage
rate which, if applied on a compounded annual basis, would result in the
redeemable value of the investment at the end of the period. Advertisements
of the Fund's performance will include the Fund's average annual total return
for one, five and ten year periods, or for shorter time 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 per share at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include
the percentage rate of total return or may include the value of a
hypothetical investment at the end of the period which assumes the
application of the percentage rate of total return.
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not
necessarily representative of future results. You should remember that
performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the type and
quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating expenses.
Performance information, such as that described above, may not provide a
basis for comparison with other investments or other investment companies
using a different method of calculating performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from CDA
Investment Technologies, Inc., Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Moody's Bond
Survey Bond Index, Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index, Morningstar, Inc.
and other industry publications.
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 February 18, 1987. The Fund is authorized to issue an
unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, par value $.001 per share.
Each share has one vote.
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,
page 21
obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or a Board
member. 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
Fund intends to conduct its operations in such a way so as to avoid, as far
as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for liabilities of the
Fund. As described 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
Board members.
The Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends you
confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn
Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by calling toll free
1-800-645-6561. In New York City, call 1-718-895-1206; outside the U.S. and
Canada, call 516-794-5452.
Page 22
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
BORROWING MONEY -- The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an
amount up to 331/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund currently
intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not
leveraging)purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets
(including the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less
liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time borrowing is
made. While borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will
not make any additional investments.
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES -- TheFund may lend securities from its
portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to
borrow securities to complete certain transactions. The Fund continues to be
entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest or other distributions
payable on the loaned securities which affords the Fund an opportunity to
earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned securities'
collateral. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 331/3% of the value
of the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will receive collateral consisting
of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of credit which
will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the
current market value of the loaned securities. Such loans are terminable by
the Fund at any time upon specified notice. The Fund might experience risk of
loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan
transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
USE OF DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may invest in the types of Derivatives
enumerated under "Description of the Fund -- Investment Considerations and
Risks -- Use of Derivatives." These instruments and certain related risks are
described more specifically under "Investment Objective and Management
Policies -- Management Policies -- Derivatives" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees
of risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and
the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease
the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its
portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its
portfolio by making investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than
their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives
could have a large potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inappropriate times or judges
market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return
or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if it was unable
to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market
for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in
liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the
prices for Derivatives.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call options. When required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set aside permissible
liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its obligations relating to
its transactions in Derivatives. To maintain this required cover, the Fund
may have to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times
since it may not be possible to liquidate a Derivative position at a
reasonable price.
Page 23
FORWARD COMMITMENTS -- The Fund may purchase Municipal Obligations and other
securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis, which means that
delivery and payment take place within 45 days after the date of the
commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate
receivable on a forward commitment or when-issued security are fixed when the
Fund enters into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it
receives delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase
such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities,
but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is
deemed advisable. A segregated account of the Fund consisting of cash, cash
equivalents or U.S. Government securities or other high quality liquid debt
securities at least equal at all times to the amount of the commitments will
be established and maintained at the Fund's custodian bank. No additional
when-issued commitments will be made if more than 20% of the value of the
Fund's net assets would be so committed.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
CERTAIN TAX EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS -- The Fund may purchase floating and variable
rate demand notes and bonds, which are tax exempt obligations ordinarily
having stated maturities in excess of one year, but which permit the holder
to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals.
Variable rate demand notes include master demand notes which are obligations
that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, at varying rates of
interest, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and
the borrower. These obligations permit daily changes in the amounts borrowed.
Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender
and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments generally will be
traded, and there generally is no established secondary market for these
obligations, although they are redeemable at face value, plus accrued
interest. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of
credit or other credit support arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is
dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on
demand. Each obligation purchased by the Fund will meet the quality criteria
established for the purchase of Municipal Obligations.
TAX EXEMPT PARTICIPATION INTERESTS -- The Fund may purchase from financial
institutions participation interests in Municipal Obligations (such as
industrial development bonds and municipal lease/purchase agreements). A
participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in the Municipal
Obligation in the proportion that the Fund's participation interest bears to
the total principal amount of the Municipal Obligation. These instruments may
have fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. If the participation
interest is unrated, it will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or
guarantee of a bank that the Fund's Board has determined meets the prescribed
quality standards for banks set forth below, or the payment obligation
otherwise will be collateralized by U.S. Government securities. For certain
participation interests, the Fund will have the right to demand payment, on
not more than seven days' notice, for all or any part of the Fund's
participation interest in the Municipal Obligation, plus accrued interest. As
to these instruments, the Fund intends to exercise its right to demand
payment only upon a default under the terms of the Municipal Obligation, as
needed to provide liquidity to meet redemptions, or to maintain or improve
the quality of its investment portfolio.
TENDER OPTION BONDS -- The Fund may purchase tender option bonds. A tender
option bond is a Municipal Obligation (generally held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement) having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a
fixed rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax exempt rates,
that has been coupled with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank,
broker-dealer or other financial institution, pursuant to which such
institution grants the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to
tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value
thereof. As consid-
Page 24
eration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic
fees equal to the difference between the Municipal Obligation's fixed coupon
rate and the rate, as determined by a remarketing or similar agent at or near
the commencement of such period, that would cause the securities, coupled with
the tender option, to trade at par on the date of such determination. Thus,
after payment of this fee, the security holder effectively holds a demand
obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term tax exempt rate.
The Dreyfus Corporation, on behalf of the Fund, will consider on an ongoing
basis the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying Municipal
Obligation, of any custodian and of the third party provider of the tender
option. In certain instances and for certain tender
option bonds, the option may be terminable in the event of a default in
payment of principal or interest on the underlying Municipal Obligation and
for other reasons.
CUSTODIAL RECEIPTS -- The Fund may purchase custodial receipts representing
the right to receive certain future principal and interest payments on
Municipal Obligations which underlie the custodial receipts. A number of
different arrangements are possible. In a typical custodial receipt
arrangement, an issuer or a third party owner of Municipal Obligations
deposits such obligations with a custodian in exchange for two classes of
custodial receipts. The two classes have different characteristics, but, in
each case, payments on the two classes are based on payments received on the
underlying Municipal Obligations. One class has the characteristics of a
typical auction rate security, where at specified intervals its interest rate
is adjusted, and ownership changes, based on an auction mechanism. This
class's interest rate generally is expected to be below the coupon rate of
the underlying Municipal Obligations and generally is at a level comparable
to that of a Municipal Obligation of similar quality and having a maturity
equal to the period between interest rate adjustments. The second class bears
interest at a rate that exceeds the interest rate typically borne by a
security of comparable quality and maturity; this rate also is adjusted, but
in this case inversely to changes in the rate of interest of the first class.
If the interest rate on the first class exceeds the coupon rate of the
underlying Municipal Obligations, its interest rate will exceed the rate paid
on the second class. In no event will the aggregate interest paid with
respect to the two classes exceed the interest paid by the underlying
Municipal Obligations. The value of the second class and similar securities
should be expected to fluctuate more than the value of a Municipal Obligation
of comparable quality and maturity and their purchase by the Fund should
increase the volatility of its net asset value and, thus, its price per
share. These custodial receipts are sold in private placements. The Fund also
may purchase directly from issuers, and not in a private placement, Municipal
Obligations having characteristics similar to custodial receipts. These
securities may be issued as part of a multi-class offering and the interest
rate on certain classes may be subject to a cap or floor.
STAND-BY COMMITMENTS -- The Fund may acquire "stand-by commitments" with
respect to Municipal Obligations held in its portfolio. Under a stand-by
commitment, the Fund obligates a broker, dealer or bank to repurchase, at the
Fund's option, specified securities at a specified price and, in this
respect, stand-by commitments are comparable to put options. The exercise of
a stand-by commitment, therefore, is subject to the ability of the seller to
make payment on demand. The Fund will acquire stand-by commitments solely to
facilitate its portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights
thereunder for trading purposes. The Fund may pay for stand-by commitments if
such action is deemed necessary, thus increasing to a degree the cost of the
underlying Municipal Obligation and similarly decreasing such security's
yield to investors. Gains realized in connection with stand-by commitments
will be taxable. The Fund also may acquire call options on specific Municipal
Obligations.
Page 25
The Fund generally would purchase these call options to protect
the Fund from the issuer of the related Municipal Obligation redeeming, or
other holder of the call option from calling away, the Municipal Obligation
before maturity. The sale by the Fund of a call option that it owns on a
specific Municipal Obligation could result in the receipt of taxable income
by the Fund.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest in zero coupon securities which
are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value which
do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to
maturity or a specified redemption date (or cash payment date). The amount of
the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash
payment date, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and
perceived credit quality of the issuer. Zero coupon securities also may take
the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured
interest coupons, the coupons themselves and receipts or certificates
representing interest in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. The
market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the
market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a
greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest-bearing securities
having similar maturities and credit qualities.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, and repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice. As to these securities, the
Fund is subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a
ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund deems representative of
their value, the value of the Fund's net assets could be adversely affected.
TAXABLE INVESTMENTS -- From time to time, on a temporary basis other than for
temporary defensive purposes (but not to exceed 20% of the value of the
Fund's net assets) or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest
in taxable short-term investments ("Taxable Investments") consisting of:
notes of issuers having, at the time of purchase, a quality rating within the
two highest grades of Moody's, S&P or Fitch; obligations of the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated not
lower than P-1 by Moody's, A-1 by S&P or F-1 by Fitch; certificates of
deposit of U.S. domestic banks, including foreign branches of domestic banks,
with assets of one billion dollars or more; time deposits; bankers'
acceptances and other short-term bank obligations; and repurchase agreements
in respect of any of the foregoing. Dividends paid by the Fund that are
attributable to income earned by the Fund from Taxable Investments will be
taxable to investors. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes." Except for
temporary defensive purposes, at no time will more than 20% of the value of
the Fund's net assets be invested in Taxable Investments. When the Fund has
adopted a temporary defensive position, including when acceptable New York
Municipal Obligations are unavailable for investment by the Fund, in excess
of 35% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in securities that are not
exempt from New York State and New York City income taxes. Under normal
market conditions, the Fund anticipates that not more than 5% of the value of
its total assets will be invested in any one category of Taxable Investments.
Taxable Investments are more fully described in the Statement of Additional
Information, to which reference hereby is made.
RATINGS -- Obligations which are rated Baa are considered medium grade
obligations; they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured, and are
considered by Moody's to have speculative characteristics. Bonds rated BBB by
S&P are regarded as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay
principal,
Page 26
and while such bonds normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than in higher rated categories. Bonds rated BBB by
Fitch are considered to be of satisfactory credit quality; while the
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
adequate, adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however,
are more likely to have an adverse impact on these bonds and, therefore,
impair timely payment. See "Appendix B" in the Statement of Additional
Information for a general description of Moody's, S&P and Fitch ratings of
Municipal Obligations.
The ratings of Moody's, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to
the quality of the Municipal Obligations which they undertake to rate. It
should be emphasized, however, that ratings are relative and subjective and,
although ratings may be useful in evaluating the safety of interest and
principal payments, they do not evaluate the market value risk of these
bonds. Although these ratings may be an initial criterion for selection of
portfolio investments, The Dreyfus Corporation also will evaluate these
securities and the ability of the issuers of such securities to pay interest
and principal. The Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective may be
more dependent on The Dreyfus Corporation's credit analysis than might be the
case for a fund that invested in higher rated securities.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE
FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S
SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
Page 27
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
DREYFUS
New York Insured
Tax Exempt
Bond Fund
Prospectus
(LION LOGO)
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1996 Dreyfus Service Corporation
577p050196
__________________________________________________________________________
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
MAY 1, 1996
__________________________________________________________________________
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus
of Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund (the "Fund"), dated May
1, 1996, as it may be revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the
Fund's Prospectus, please write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or call the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S. and Canada -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as the Fund's
investment adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of the Fund's shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Investment Objective and Management Policies . . . . . . . B-2
Management of the Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Management Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15
Purchase of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16
Service Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-17
Redemption of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-18
Shareholder Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-20
Determination of Net Asset Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-23
Portfolio Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-23
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . B-24
Performance Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-25
Information About the Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-26
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian,
Counsel and Independent Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . B-26
Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-28
Appendix B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-41
Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-47
Report of Independent Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-56
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the sections in the Fund's Prospectus entitled
"Description of the Fund" and "Appendix."
Portfolio Securities
The average distribution of investments (at value) in Municipal
Obligations by
ratings for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, computed on a monthly
basis, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fitch Investors Moody's Investors Standard & Poor's Percentage
Service, L.P. ("Fitch") or Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or Ratings Group ("S&P") of Value
- ------------------------ -------------------------- --------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AAA Aaa AAA 98.9%
F-1 MIG 1, P1 SP-1, A1 1.1%
------
100.0%
======
</TABLE>
Municipal Obligations. The term "Municipal Obligations" generally
includes debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities
such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass
transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Other public
purposes for which Municipal Obligations may be issued include refunding
outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses
and lending such funds to other public institutions and facilities. In
addition, certain types of industrial development bonds are issued by or
on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide for the
construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated
housing facilities, sports facilities, convention or trade show
facilities, airport, mass transit, industrial, port or parking facilities,
air or water pollution control facilities and certain local facilities for
water supply, gas, electricity, or sewage or solid waste disposal; the
interest paid on such obligations may be exempt from Federal income tax,
although current tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of
such issues. Such obligations are considered to be Municipal Obligations
if the interest paid thereon qualifies as exempt from Federal income tax
in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer. There are, of course,
variations in the security of Municipal Obligations, both within a
particular classification and between classifications.
Floating and variable rate demand obligations are tax exempt
obligations ordinarily having stated maturities in excess of one year, but
which permit the holder to demand payment of principal at any time, or at
specified intervals. The issuer of such obligations ordinarily has a
corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the
outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon
a specified number of days' notice to the holders thereof. The interest
rate on a floating rate demand obligation is based on a known lending
rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is adjusted automatically each time
such rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate demand
obligation is adjusted automatically at specified intervals.
The yields on Municipal Obligations are dependent on a variety of
factors, including general economic and monetary conditions, money market
factors, conditions in the Municipal Obligations market, size of a
particular offering, maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue.
The imposition of the Fund's management fee, as well as other operating
expenses, including fees paid under the Service Plan, will have the effect
of reducing the yield to investors.
Municipal lease obligations or installment purchase contract
obligations (collectively, "lease obligations") have special risks not
ordinarily associated with Municipal Obligations. Although lease
obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipality for
which the municipality's taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation
ordinarily is backed by the municipality's covenant to budget for,
appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation.
However, certain lease obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses
which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or
installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated
for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although "non-appropriation" lease
obligations are secured by the leased property, disposition of the
property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. The staff of
the Securities and Exchange Commission currently considers certain lease
obligations to be illiquid. Determination as to the liquidity of such
securities is made in accordance with guidelines established by the Fund's
Board. Pursuant to such guidelines, the Board has directed the Manager to
monitor carefully the Fund's investment in such securities with particular
regard to (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the lease obligation;
(2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the lease obligation
and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers
to undertake to make a market in the lease obligation; (4) the nature of
the marketplace trades including the time needed to dispose of the lease
obligation, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer;
and (5) such other factors concerning the trading market for the lease
obligation as the Manager may deem relevant. In addition, in evaluating
the liquidity and credit quality of a lease obligation that is unrated,
the Fund's Board has directed the Manager to consider; (a) whether the
lease can be cancelled; (b) what assurance there is that the assets
represented by the lease can be sold; (c) the strength of the leasee's
general credit (e.g., its debt, administrative, economic, and financial
characteristics); (d) the likelihood that the municipality will
discontinue appropriating funding for the leased property because the
property is no longer deemed essential to the operations of the
municipality (e.g., the potential for an "event of nonappropriation"); (e)
the legal recourse in the event of failure to appropriate; and (f) such
other factors concerning credit quality as the Manager may deem relevant.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in
lease obligations that are illiquid and in other illiquid securities. See
"Investment Restriction No. 11" below.
The Fund will purchase tender option bonds only when it is satisfied
that the custodial and tender option arrangements, including the fee
payment arrangements, will not adversely affect the tax exempt status of
the underlying Municipal Obligations and that payment of any tender fees
will not have the effect of creating taxable income for the Fund. Based
on the tender option bond agreement, the Fund expects to be able to value
the tender option bond at par; however, the value of the instrument will
be monitored to assure that it is valued at fair value.
Insurance Feature. The Mutual Fund Insurance policies provide for a
policy period of one year which the insurer typically renews for
successive annual periods at the request of the Fund for so long as the
Fund is in compliance with the terms of the relevant policy. The
insurance premiums are payable monthly by the Fund and are adjusted for
purchases and sales of covered Municipal Obligations during the month on a
daily basis. Premium rates for each issue of Municipal Obligations
covered by the Mutual Fund Insurance are fixed for as long as the Fund
owns the security, although similar Municipal Obligations purchased at
different times may have different premiums. In addition to the payment
of premiums, each Mutual Fund Insurance policy requires that the Fund
notify the insurer on a daily basis as to all Municipal Obligations in the
insured portfolio and permits the insurer to audit its records. The
insurer cannot cancel coverage already in force with respect to Municipal
Obligations owned by the Fund and covered by the Mutual Fund Insurance
policy, except for nonpayment of premiums.
Municipal Obligations are eligible for Mutual Fund Insurance if, at
the time of purchase by the Fund, they are identified separately or by
category in qualitative guidelines furnished by the insurer and are in
compliance with the aggregate limitations set forth in such guidelines.
Premium variations are based in part on the rating of the security being
insured at the time the Fund purchases such security. The insurer may
prospectively withdraw particular securities from the classifications of
securities eligible for insurance or change the aggregate amount
limitation of each issue or category of eligible Municipal Obligations but
must continue to insure the full amount of such securities previously
acquired so long as they remain in the Fund's portfolio. The qualitative
guidelines and aggregate amount limitations established by the insurer
from time to time will not necessarily be the same as the Fund or the
Manager would use to govern selection of securities for the Fund's port-
folio. Therefore, from time to time such guidelines and limitations may
affect portfolio decisions.
New Issue Insurance provides that in the event of a municipality's
failure to make payment of principal or interest on an insured Municipal
Obligation, the payment will be made promptly by the insurer. There are
no deductible clauses or cancellation provisions, and the tax exempt
status of the securities is not affected. The premiums, whether paid by
the issuing municipality or the municipal bond dealer underwriting the
issue, are paid in full for the life of the Municipal Obligation. The
statement of insurance is attached to or printed on the instrument
evidencing the Municipal Obligation purchased by the Fund and becomes part
of the Municipal Obligation. The benefits of the insurance accompany the
Municipal Obligations in any resale.
The Fund, at its option, may purchase secondary market insurance
("Secondary Market Insurance") on any Municipal Obligation purchased by
the Fund. By purchasing Secondary Market Insurance, the Fund would
obtain, upon payment of a single premium, insurance against nonpayment of
scheduled principal and interest for the remaining term of the Municipal
Obligation regardless of whether the Fund then owned such security. Such
insurance coverage would be non-cancellable and would continue in force so
long as the security so insured is outstanding and the insurer remains in
business. The purpose of acquiring Secondary Market Insurance would be to
enable the Fund to sell a Municipal Obligation to a third party as a high
rated insured Municipal Obligation at a market price greater than what
otherwise might be obtainable if the security were sold without the
insurance coverage.
Ratings of Municipal Obligations. Subsequent to its purchase by the
Fund, an issue of rated Municipal Obligations may cease to be rated or its
rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by the Fund.
Neither event will require the sale of such Municipal Obligations by the
Fund, but the Manager will consider such event in determining whether the
Fund should continue to hold the Municipal Obligations. To the extent
that the ratings given by Moody's, S&P or Fitch for Municipal Obligations
may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their rating
systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for
its investments in accordance with the investment policies contained in
the Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. The
ratings of Moody's, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the
quality of the Municipal Obligations which they undertake to rate. It
should be emphasized, however, that ratings are relative and subjective
and are not absolute standards of quality. Although these ratings may be
an initial criterion for selection of portfolio investments, the Manager
also will evaluate these securities and the creditworthiness of the
issuers of such securities based upon financial and other available
information. See "Appendix B."
Illiquid Securities. When a substantial market of qualified
institutional buyers develops for certain restricted securities purchased
by the Fund pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Fund intends to treat such securities as liquid securities in
accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board. Because it is
not possible to predict with assurance how the market for restricted
securities pursuant to Rule 144A will develop, the Fund's Board has
directed the Manager to monitor carefully the Fund's investments in such
securities with particular regard to trading activity, availability of
stable price information and other relevant information. To the extent
that for a period of time qualified institutional buyers cease purchasing
restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144A, the Fund's investing in such
securities may have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in
the Fund's portfolio during such period.
Taxable Investments. 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. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government
agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow from the
U.S. Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to
purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others
only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality. These securities
bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. While the U.S.
Government provides financial support to such U.S. Government sponsored
agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will
always do so, since it is not so obligated by law.
Commercial paper consists of short-term, unsecured promissory notes
issued to finance short-term credit needs.
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates representing the
obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified
period of time.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking
institution for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven
days) at a stated interest rate. Investments in time deposits generally
are limited to London branches of domestic banks that have total assets in
excess of one billion dollars. Time deposits which may be held by the
Fund will not benefit from insurance from the Bank Insurance Fund or the
Savings Association Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation.
Bankers' acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation
of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments
reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face
amount of the instrument upon maturity. Other short-term obligations may
include uninsured, direct obligations bearing fixed, floating or variable
interest rates.
In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and the seller agrees to
repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time and price (usually
within seven days). The repurchase agreement thereby determines the yield
during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's obligation to
repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security. The Fund's
custodian or sub-custodian will have custody of, and will hold in a
segregated account, securities acquired by the Fund under a repurchase
agreement. Repurchase agreements are considered by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission to be loans by the Fund. In an attempt
to reduce the risk of incurring a loss on a repurchase agreement, the Fund
will enter into repurchase agreements only with domestic banks with total
assets in excess of $1 billion, or primary government securities dealers
reporting to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with respect to
securities of the type in which the Fund may invest, and will require that
additional securities be deposited with it if the value of the securities
purchased should decrease below resale price. Repurchase agreements could
involve risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the other party
to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon the
Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying security.
Management Policies
Lending Portfolio Securities. In connection with its securities
lending transactions, the Fund may return to the borrower or a third party
which is unaffiliated with the Fund, and which is acting as a "placing
broker," a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral
received for securities loaned.
The Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that the
following conditions must be met whenever portfolio securities are loaned:
(1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower;
(2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value
of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund
must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive
reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or
other distributions payable on the loaned securities, and any increase in
market value; and (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in
connection with the loan.
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in Derivatives (as defined in the
Fund's Prospectus) for a variety of reasons, including to hedge certain
market risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or selling particular
securities or to increase potential income gain. Derivatives may provide
a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way for the Fund to invest
than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and
the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which
its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its
portfolio by making investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than
their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives
could have a large potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inappropriate times or judges
market conditions incorrectly, such investment may lower the Fund's return
or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if it were
unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market.
The market for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid.
Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable
changes in the prices for Derivatives.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call options. When required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set aside permissible
liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its obligations relating to
its transactions in Derivatives. To maintain this required cover, the
Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or
times since it may not be possible to liquidate a Derivative position at a
reasonable price. Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges
or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-
counter Derivatives. Exchange-traded Derivatives generally are guaranteed
by the clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such
Derivatives. This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment
system (i.e., variation margin requirements) operated by the clearing
agency in order to reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the
clearing agency defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit
risk associated with Derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast,
no clearing agency guarantees over-the-counter Derivatives. Therefore,
each party to an over-the-counter Derivative bears the risk that the
counterparty will default. Accordingly, the Manager will consider the
creditworthiness of counterparties to over-the-counter Derivatives in the
same manner as it would review the credit quality of a security to be
purchased by the Fund. Over-the-counter Derivatives are less liquid than
exchange-traded Derivatives since the other party to the transaction may
be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the Derivatives to
be interested in bidding for it.
Options--In General. The Fund may purchase call options with respect to
Municipal Obligations. A call option gives the purchaser of the option
the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying
security or securities at the exercise price at any time during the option
period, or at a specific date. There is no assurance that sufficient
trading interest to create a liquid secondary market on a securities
exchange will exist for any particular option or at any particular time,
and for some options no such secondary market may exist. A liquid
secondary market in an option may cease to exist for a variety of reasons.
In the past, for example, higher than anticipated trading activity or
order flow, or other unforeseen events, at times have rendered certain of
the clearing facilities inadequate and resulted in the institution of
special procedures, such as trading rotations, restrictions on certain
types of orders or trading halts or suspensions in one or more options.
There can be no assurance that similar events, or events that may
otherwise interfere with the timely execution of customers' orders, will
not recur. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing
transactions in particular options.
Forward Commitments. Municipal Obligations and other securities
purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis are subject to
changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e., appreciating
when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise)
based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer
and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis may
expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations
prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued
basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the
market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that
obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully
invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the
Fund's net assets and its net asset value per share.
Investment Considerations and Risks
Investing in New York Municipal Obligations. Each investor should
consider carefully the special risks inherent in the Fund's investment in
New York Municipal Obligations. These risks result from the financial
condition of New York State and certain of its public bodies and
municipalities, including New York City. Beginning in early 1975, New
York State, New York City and other State entities faced serious financial
difficulties which jeopardized the credit standing and impaired the
borrowing abilities of such entities and contributed to high interest
rates on, and lower market prices for, debt obligations issued by them. A
recurrence of such financial difficulties or a failure of certain
financial recovery programs could result in defaults or declines in the
market values of various New York Municipal Obligations in which the Fund
may invest. If there should be a default or other financial crisis
relating to New York State, New York City, a State or City agency, or a
State municipality, the market value and marketability of outstanding New
York Municipal Obligations in the Fund's portfolio and the interest income
to the Fund could be adversely affected. Moreover, the national recession
and the significant slowdown in the New York and regional economies in the
early 1990's added substantial uncertainty to estimates of the State's tax
revenues, which, in part, caused the State to incur cash-basis operating
deficits in the General Fund and issued deficit notes during the fiscal
periods 1989 through 1992. The State's financial operations improved,
however, during the 1993 and 1994 fiscal years. After reflecting a 1993
year-end deposit to the State's refund reserve account of $671 million,
reported 1993 General Fund receipts were $45 million higher than
originally projected in April 1992. The State completed the 1994 fiscal
year with an operating surplus in the General Fund of $914 million. The
State reported a General Fund operating deficit of $1.426 billion for the
1995 fiscal year. There can be no assurance that New York will not face
substantial potential budget gaps in future years. In January 1992,
Moody's lowered from A to Baa1 its ratings of certain appropriation-backed
debt of New York State and its agencies. The State's general obligation,
State-guaranteed and New York State Local Government Assistance
Corporation bonds continued to be rated A by Moody's. In January 1992,
S&P lowered from A to A- ratings of New York State general obligation
bonds and stated that it continued to assess the ratings outlook as
negative. S&P also lowered its ratings of various agency debts, State
moral obligations, contractual obligations, lease purchase obligations and
State guarantees. In February 1991, Moody's lowered its rating of New
York City's general obligation bonds from A to Baa1. The rating changes
reflected the rating agencies' concerns about the financial condition of
New York State and City, the heavy debt load of the State and City, and
economic uncertainties in the region. Investors should review "Appendix
A" which more fully sets forth these and other risk factors.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 7
below as fundamental policies, which cannot be changed without approval by
the holders of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. Investment restrictions numbered 8 through 11 are not fundamental
policies and may be changed by vote of a majority of the Fund's Board
members at any time. The Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any single industry; provided that there shall be no such
limitation on the purchase of Municipal Obligations and, for temporary
defensive purposes, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
2 Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act
(which currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the
Fund's total assets). For purposes of this investment restriction, the
entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not
constitute borrowing.
3. Purchase or sell real estate, commodities or commodity
contracts, or oil and gas interests, but this shall not prevent the Fund
from investing in Municipal Obligations secured by real estate or interest
therein, or prevent the Fund from purchasing and selling options, forward
contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and
options on futures contracts or indices.
4. Underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund
may bid separately or as part of a group for the purchase of Municipal
Obligations directly from an issuer for its own portfolio to take
advantage of the lower purchase price available, and except to the extent
the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
5. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations and the entry into repurchase agreements; however, the Fund
may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the
value of its total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made
according to guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Fund's Board.
6. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section
18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent that the activities permitted
in Investment Restriction Nos. 2, 3 and 10 may be deemed to give rise to a
senior security.
7. Sell securities short or purchase securities on margin, but the
Fund may make margin deposits in connection with transactions in options,
forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices,
and options on futures contracts or indices.
8. Purchase securities other than Municipal Obligations and Taxable
Investments and those arising out of transactions in futures and options
or as otherwise provided in the Fund's Prospectus.
9. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to
the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
10. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets,
except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the
extent related to the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and
collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect to
options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those related to
indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
11. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in
more than seven days after notice or purchase securities which are
illiquid (which securities could include participation interests
(including municipal lease/purchase agreements) that are not subject to
the demand feature described in the Fund's Prospectus and floating and
variable rate demand obligations as to which the Fund cannot exercise the
demand feature described in the Fund's Prospectus on less than seven days
notice and as to which there is no secondary market) if, in the aggregate,
more than 15% of the value of its net assets would be so invested.
For purposes of Investment Restriction No. 1, industrial development
bonds, where the payment of principal and interest is the ultimate
responsibility of companies within the same industry, are grouped together
as an "industry." If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time
of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a
change in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such
restriction.
The Fund may make commitments more restrictive than the restrictions
listed above so as to permit the sale of Fund shares in certain states.
Should the Fund determine that a commitment is no longer in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to
revoke the commitment by terminating the sale of Fund shares in the state
involved.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as
to their principal business occupations during at least the last five
years, are shown below. Each Board member who is deemed to be an "inter-
ested person" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an
asterisk.
Board Members of the Fund
*JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman
of the Board for various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. For
more than five years prior thereto, he was President, a director and,
until August 1994, Chief Operating Officer of the Manager and
Executive Vice President and a director of Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager and, until
August 24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From August 1994 to
December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank Corporation. He
is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Noel Group, Inc.; a
trustee of Bucknell University; and a director of the Muscular
Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services Corporation, Belding
Heminway, Inc., Curtis Industries, Inc. and Staffing Resources, Inc.
He is 52 years old and his address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166.
GORDON J. DAVIS, Board Member. Since October 1994, Mr. Davis has been a
senior partner with the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae.
From 1983 to September 1994, he was a senior partner with the law
firm of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith. Mr. Davis was Commissioner
of Parks and Recreation for the City of New York from 1978 to 1983.
He is also a Director of Consolidated Edison, a utility company, and
Phoenix Home Life Insurance Company and a member of various other
corporate and not-for-profit boards. Mr. Davis is 54 years old and
his address is 241 Central Park West, New York, New York 10024.
*DAVID P. FELDMAN, Board Member. Corporate Vice President-Investment
Management of AT&T. He is also a trustee of Corporate Property
Investors, a real estate investment company. Mr. Feldman is 56 years
old and his address is One Oak Way, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
07922.
LYNN MARTIN, Board Member. Professor, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of
Management, Northwestern University. During the Spring Semester of
1993, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University. Ms. Martin also is an
advisor to the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche,
LLP and chair of its Council for the Advancement of Women. From
January 1991 through January 1993, Ms. Martin served as Secretary of
the United States Department of Labor. From 1981 to 1991, she served
in the United States House of Representatives as a congresswoman from
the state of Illinois. She also is a director of Harcourt General,
Inc.; Ameritech; Ryder System, Inc.; The Proctor & Gamble Co.; and
TRW, Inc. She is 56 years old and her address is Deloitte & Touche,
LLP, Two Prudential Plaza, 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois,
60601.
EUGENE McCARTHY, Board Member Emeritus. Writer and columnist; former
Senator from Minnesota from 1958-1970. He also is a director of
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., Publisher. He is 80 years old and
his address is 271 Hawlin Road, Woodville, Virginia 22749.
DANIEL ROSE, Board Member. President and Chief Executive Officer of Rose
Associates, Inc., a New York based real estate development and
management firm. In July 1994, Mr. Rose received a Presidential
appointment to serve as a Director of the Baltic American Enterprise
Fund, which will make equity investments and loans and provide
technical business assistance to new business concerns in the Baltic
States. He is also Chairman of the Housing Committee of The Real
Estate Board of New York, Inc., and a Trustee of Corporate Property
Investors, a real estate investment company. Mr. Rose is 66 years
old and his address is c/o Rose Associates, Inc., 200 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10016.
SANDER VANOCUR, Board Member. Since May 1995, Mr. Vanocur has been a
Professional in Residence at the Freedom Forum in Arlington, VA.
From January 1994 to May 1995, he has served as Visiting Professional
Scholar at the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center of Vanderbilt
University. Since January 1992, Mr. Vanocur has been the President
of Old Owl Communications, a full-service communications firm, and
since November 1989, he has served as a Director of the Damon Runyon-
Walter Winchell Cancer Research Fund. From June 1986 to December
1991, he was a Senior Correspondent of ABC News and, from October
1986 to December 1991, he was Anchor of the ABC News program
"Business World," a weekly business program on the ABC television
network. Mr. Vanocur is 68 years old and his address is 2928 P
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007.
ANNE WEXLER, Board Member. Chairman of the Wexler Group, consultants
specializing in government relations and public affairs. She is also
a Director of Alumax, Comcast Corporation, The New England Electric
System, NOVA Corporation and a member of the Board of the Carter
Center of Emory University, the Council of Foreign Relations, the
National Park Foundation; the Visiting Committee of the John F.
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Board of
Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs. Ms.
Wexler is 66 years old and her address is 1317 F Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20004.
REX WILDER, Board Member. Financial Consultant. Mr. Wilder is 75 years
old and his address is 290 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10025.
For so long as the Fund's plan described in the section captioned
"Service Plan" remains in effect, the Board members of the Fund who are
not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, will be
selected and nominated by the Board members who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund.
No meetings of shareholders will be held for the purpose of electing
Board members unless and until such time as less than a majority of the
Board members holding office have been elected by shareholders, at which
time the Board members then in office will call a shareholders' meeting
for the election of Board members. Under the 1940 Act, shareholders of
record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Fund
may remove a Board member through a declaration in writing or by vote cast
in person or by proxy at a meeting called for that purpose. The Board
members are required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of
voting upon the question of removal of any such Board member when re-
quested in writing to do so by the shareholders of record of not less than
10% of the Fund's outstanding shares.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a
per meeting fee end reimbursed them for their expenses. The Chairman of
the Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board
members are entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee
of one-half the amount paid to them as Board members. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, the aggregate amount of compensation paid to each
Board member by the Fund and by all other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds for which such person is a Board member (the number of which is set
forth in parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) were
as follows:
Total Compensation
Aggregate from Fund and Fund
Name of Board Compensation from Complex Paid to
Member Fund* Board Members
- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------
Gordon J. Davis $4,000 $ 76,575 (26)
Joseph S. DiMartino $4,499 $448,618 (93)
Lynn Martin $3,750 $ 38,500 (12)
David P. Feldman $4,000 $113,783 (28)
Eugene McCarthy(+) $4,000 $ 80,250 (22)
Daniel Rose $4,000 $ 80,250 (22)
Sander Vanocur $4,000 $ 79,750 (22)
Anne Wexler $3,750 $ 62,201 (17)
Rex Wilder $4,000 $ 41,250 (12)
________________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board meetings,
which amounted to $557 for all Board members as a group.
+ Board Member Emeritus since March 29, 1996.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. From December 1991
to July 1994, she was President and Chief Compliance Officer of Funds
Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc. Prior to December 1991, she served as Vice
President and Controller, and later as Senior Vice President, of The
Boston Company Advisors, Inc. She is 38 years old.
JOHN E. PELLETIER, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of the Distributor and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
February 1992 to July 1994, he served as Counsel for The Boston
Company Advisors, Inc. From August 1990 to February 1992, he was
employed as an Associate at Ropes & Gray. He is 31 years old.
ERIC B. FISCHMAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Associate
General Counsel of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered the Manager. From September 1992
to August 1994, he was an attorney with the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System. He is 31 years old.
ELIZABETH BACHMAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. She is 26 years
old.
FREDERICK C. DEY, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President of the Distributor and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. From 1988 to
August 1994, he was manager of the High Performance Fabric Division
of Springs Industries Inc. He is 34 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Distributor and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1988 to August 1994, he was employed by The
Boston Company, Inc. where he held various management positions in
the Corporate Finance and Treasury areas. He is 33 years old.
JOHN J. PYBURN, Assistant Treasurer. Assistant Treasurer of the
Distributor and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From 1984 to July 1994, he was
Assistant Vice President in the Mutual Fund Accounting Department of
the Manager. He is 60 years old.
MARGARET M. PARDO, Assistant Secretary. Legal Assistant with the
Distributor and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From June 1992 to April 1995, she was a
Medical Coordination Officer at ORBIS International. Prior to June
1992, she worked as Program Coordinator at Physicians World
Communications Group. She is 27 years old.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 200 Park Avenue, New York,
New York 10166.
Board Members and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned less than
1% of the Fund's shares outstanding on April 1, 1996.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Management
of the Fund."
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994 with the Fund, which is
subject to annual approval by (i) the Fund's Board or (ii) vote of a
majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance also is
approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, by vote
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. The Agreement was approved by shareholders on August 3, 1994,
and was last approved by the Fund's Board, including a majority of the
Board members who are not "interested persons" of any party to the
Agreement, at a meeting held on July 17, 1995. The Agreement is
terminable without penalty, on 60 days' notice, by the Fund's Board or by
vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting shares,
or, upon not less than 90 days' notice, by the Manager. The Agreement
will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in
the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager:
Howard Stein, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; W. Keith
Smith, Vice Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President,
Chief Operating Officer and a director; Stephen E. Canter, Vice Chairman,
Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S. Kash, Vice Chairman-
Distribution and a director; Philip L. Toia, Vice Chairman-Operations and
Administration and a director; William T. Sandalls, Jr., Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer; Barbara E. Casey, Vice President-
Dreyfus Retirement Services; Diane M. Coffey, Vice President-Corporate
Communications; Elie M. Genadry, Vice President-Institutional Sales;
William F. Glavin, Jr., Vice President-Corporate Development; Mark N.
Jacobs, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Mary Beth Leibig,
Vice President-Human Resources; Jeffrey N. Nachman, Vice President-Mutual
Fund Accounting; Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President-Information Systems;
Maurice Bendrihem, Controller; Elvira Oslapas, Assistant Secretary; and
Mandell L. Berman, Frank V. Cahouet, Alvin E. Friedman, Lawrence M. Greene
and Julian M. Smerling, directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance
with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the
Fund's Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and
provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's
Board to execute purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio
managers are Richard J. Moynihan, A. Paul Disdier, Karen M. Hand, Stephen
C. Kris, Jill C. Shaffro, L. Lawrence Troutman, Samuel J. Weinstock and
Monica S. Wieboldt. The Manager also maintains a research department with
a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who
provide research services for the Fund as well as for other funds advised
by the Manager. All purchases and sales are reported for the Board
members' review at the meeting subsequent to such transactions.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Fund. The Manager also may make such advertising and
promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it from time to time
deems appropriate.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by the
Fund, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The
expenses borne by the Fund include: taxes, interest, loan commitment
fees, interest and distributions paid on securities sold short, brokerage
fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board members who are not officers,
directors, employees or holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of the Manager, Securities and Exchange Commission fees, state
Blue Sky qualification fees, advisory fees, charges of custodians,
transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees, certain insurance premiums,
industry association fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of
maintaining the Fund's existence, costs of independent pricing services,
costs attributable to investor services (including, without limitation,
telephone and personnel expenses), costs of shareholders' reports and
meetings and any extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to the Fund's Service
Plan, the Fund bears expenses for advertising, marketing and distributing
the Fund's shares and servicing shareholder accounts, and also bears the
cost of preparing and printing prospectuses and statements of additional
information and costs associated with implementing and operating such
plan. See "Service Plan."
As compensation for the Manager's services, the Fund has agreed to
pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60 of 1%
of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. The management fees
payable for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995
amounted to $1,178,284, $1,034,322 and $940,247, respectively. The fee
for fiscal year 1993 was reduced by $38,503 pursuant to an undertaking in
effect, resulting in a net fee paid by the Fund to the Manager of
$1,139,781 in fiscal 1993.
The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate
expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on
borrowings and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state
securities commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the
management fee, exceed 1-1/2% of the value of the Fund's average net assets
for the fiscal year, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to
the Manager under the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess
expense. Such deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated daily, and
reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on a monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy
Shares."
The Distributor. The Distributor serves as the Fund's distributor on
a best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement dated August 24, 1994. The
Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds and for certain other investment companies. In some
states, certain financial institutions effecting transactions in Fund
shares may be required to register as dealers pursuant to state law.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders
may be made at any time. Purchase orders received by 4:00 P.M., New York
time, on any business day that Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the Fund's transfer
and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent"), and the New York
Stock Exchange are open for business will be credited to the shareholder's
Fund account on the next bank business day following such purchase order.
Purchase orders made after 4:00 P.M., New York time, on any business day
the Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business,
or orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New
York Stock Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the
initial payment for purchase of Fund shares must be drawn on, and
redemption proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated
on the Account Application or Shareholder Services Form on file. If the
proceeds of a particular redemption are to be wired to an account at any
other bank, the request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See
"Redemption of Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. An investor may reopen an account with a
minimum investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during
the calendar year the account is closed or during the following calendar
year, provided the information on the old Account Application is still
applicable.
SERVICE PLAN
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Service
Plan."
Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the 1940 Act, provides, among other things, that an
investment company may bear expenses of distributing its shares only
pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with the Rule. The Fund's Board
has adopted such a plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund (a)
reimburses the Distributor for payments to certain financial institutions
(which may include banks), securities dealers and other financial industry
professionals (collectively, "Service Agents") for distributing the Fund's
shares and for servicing shareholder accounts ("Servicing") and (b) pays
the Manager and Dreyfus Service Corporation and any affiliate of either of
them (collectively, "Dreyfus") for advertising and marketing relating to
the Fund and Servicing. The Fund's Board believes that there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its
shareholders.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Plan, and the
purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the
Fund's Board for its review. In addition, the Plan provides that it may
not be amended to increase materially the costs which the Fund may bear
for distribution pursuant to the Plan without shareholder approval and
that other material amendments of the Plan must be approved by the Fund's
Board, and by the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in the related
service agreements, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of considering such amendments. The Plan and the related service
agreements are subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board
members cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
the Plan. The Plan was last so approved at a meeting held on July 17,
1995. The Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a majority of the
Board members who are not "interested persons" and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any of the
related service agreements or by vote of a majority of the Fund's shares.
Any service agreement is terminable without penalty, at any time, by such
vote of the Board members or, upon not more than 60 days' written notice
to the Service Agent, by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's
shares, or, upon 15 days' notice, by the Distributor. Each service
agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
Under the Plan, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the
total amount payable by the Fund was $397,126, of which (a) $11,649 was
payable to the Distributor for payments made to Service Agents for
distributing Fund shares and Servicing, (b) $380,121 was payable to
Dreyfus for advertising and marketing Fund shares and Servicing and (c)
$5,356 was payable for printing the Fund's prospectus and statement of
additional information, as well as implementing and operating the Plan.
Pursuant to undertakings in effect, the amount chargeable to the Fund
pursuant to the Plan was reduced by $5,356, resulting in a net fee of
$391,770.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to
Redeem Shares."
Check Redemption Privilege. An investor may indicate on the Account
Application, Shareholder Services Form or by later written request that
the Fund provide Redemption Checks ("Checks") drawn on the investor's Fund
account. Checks will be sent only to the registered owner(s) of the
account and only to the address of record. The Account Application or
later written request must be manually signed by the registered owner(s).
Checks may be made payable to the order of any person in an amount of $500
or more. When a Check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, the
Transfer Agent, as the investor's agent, will cause the Fund to redeem a
sufficient number of full or fractional shares in the investor's account
to cover the amount of the Check. Dividends are earned until the Check
clears. After clearance, a copy of the Check will be returned to the
investor. Investors generally will be subject to the same rules and
regulations that apply to checking accounts, although election of this
Privilege creates only a shareholder-transfer agent relationship with the
Transfer Agent.
If the amount of the Check is greater than the value of the shares in
an investor's account, the Check will be returned marked insufficient
funds. Checks should not be used to close an account.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire or telephone redemption
instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be the
investor, or a representative of the investor's Service Agent, and
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Ordinarily, the
Fund will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege
on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a
redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum)
will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the commercial bank
account specified by the investor on the Account Application or
Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if the investor's
bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are
imposed by such bank and usually are borne by the investor. Immediate
notification by the correspondent bank to the investor's bank is necessary
to avoid a delay in crediting the funds to the investor's bank account.
Investors with access to telegraphic equipment may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmission:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
Investors who do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment may
have the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at
1-800-654-7171, toll free. Investors should advise the operator that the
above transmittal code must be used and should also inform the operator of
the Transfer Agent's answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Share Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Investors should be aware that if
they have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a
wire redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction
through the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") system unless more prompt
transmittal specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on
deposit in the investor's account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two
business days after receipt of the redemption request. See "Purchase of
Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Share Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
Written redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including
each holder of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing
agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New
York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer
Agents Medallion Signature Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges
Medallion Program. Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory
of the guarantor and "Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the
signature. The Transfer Agent may request additional documentation from
corporations, executors, administrators, trustees or guardians and may
accept other suitable verification arrangements from foreign investors,
such as consular verification. For more information with respect to
signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers listed on
the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash
all redemption requests by any shareholder of record, limited in amount
during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of
the Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is
irrevocable without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of such
amount, the Fund's Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or
part in securities (which may include non-marketable securities) or other
assets of the Fund in case of an emergency or any time a cash distribution
would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the existing
shareholders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the same
manner as the Fund's portfolio is valued. If the recipient sold such
securities, brokerage charges would be incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended
or the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday
closings), (b) when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is
restricted, or when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities
and Exchange Commission so that disposal of the Fund's investments or
determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (c)
for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission by order
may permit to protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled
"Shareholder Services."
Fund Exchanges. Shares of other funds purchased by exchange will be
purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds that are offered without a
sales load will be made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be
exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load,
and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged
without a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a
sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds
acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a
sales load, and additional shares acquired through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions of any such funds
(collectively referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may
be exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load
(referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), provided that, if
the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the
maximum sales load that could have been imposed in connection
with the Purchased Shares (at the time the Purchased Shares
were acquired), without giving effect to any reduced loads,
the difference will be deducted.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, shareholders must
notify the Transfer Agent of their prior ownership of fund shares and
their account number.
To request an exchange, an investor, or the investor's Service Agent
acting on the investor's behalf, must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue exchange
instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders automatically
unless the investor checks the applicable "No" box on the Account
Application, indicating that the investor specifically refuses this
Privilege. By using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic instructions from any
person representing himself or herself to be the investor or a
representative of the investor's Service Agent, and reasonably believed by
the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to
limitations as to the amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges
permitted. Shares in certificate form are not eligible for telephone
exchange.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the
fund being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial
investment required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
For Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs and IRAs set up under a Simplified
Employee Pension Plan ("SEP-IRAs") with only one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $750. To exchange shares held in corporate plans,
403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $100 if the plan has at least $2,500 invested among
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. To exchange shares held in
personal retirement plans, the shares exchanged must have a current value
of at least $100.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits an investor to purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is
available only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the
basis of relative net asset value described above under "Fund Exchanges."
Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is
effective three business days following notification by the investor. An
investor will be notified if his account falls below the amount designated
to be exchanged under this Privilege. In this case, an investor's account
will fall to zero unless additional investments are made in excess of the
designated amount prior to the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares
held under IRA and other retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege.
Exchanges of IRA shares may be made between IRA accounts and from regular
accounts to IRA accounts, but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts.
With respect to all other retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only
among those accounts.
Fund Exchanges and the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege are available
to shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the fund being
acquired may legally be sold. Shares may be exchanged only between
accounts having identical names and other identifying designations.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-654-6561. The Fund reserves the right to reject
any exchange request in whole or in part. Fund Exchanges or the Dreyfus
Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time upon
notice to shareholders.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a
specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly
basis. Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from the sale of Fund shares,
not the yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested
dividends and distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and
eventually may be depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any
time by the investor, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which
certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest on the payment date their dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of another fund in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which the investor is a shareholder. Shares of
other funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on the
basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested
without imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds that
are offered without a sales load.
B. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not charge
a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with
a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which charges a sales
load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a sales
load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), provided that, if
the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the
maximum sales load charged by the fund from which dividends or
distributions are being swept, without giving effect to any
reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
D. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in
shares of other funds that impose a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") and the applicable CDSC, if any, will be imposed
upon redemption of such shares.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy
Shares."
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. The Fund's investments are valued
by an independent pricing service (the "Service") approved by the Fund's
Board. When, in the judgment of the Service, quoted bid prices for
investments are readily available and are representative of the bid side
of the market, these investments are valued at the mean between the quoted
bid prices (as obtained by the Service from dealers in such securities)
and asked prices (as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation
of the market for such securities). Other investments (which constitute a
majority of the portfolio securities) are carried at fair value as
determined by the Service, based on methods which include consideration
of: yields or prices of municipal bonds of comparable quality, coupon,
maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general
market conditions. The Service may employ electronic data processing
techniques and/or a matrix system to determine valuations. The Service's
procedures are reviewed by the Fund's officers under the general
supervision of the Fund's Board. Expenses and fees, including the
management fees (reduced by the expense limitation, if any) and fees
pursuant to the Service Plan, are accrued daily and are taken into account
for the purpose of determining the net asset value of Fund shares.
Subject to guidelines established by the Fund's Board, the Manager
intends to retain in the Fund's portfolio Municipal Obligations which are
insured under the Mutual Fund Insurance policy and which are in default or
in significant risk of default in the payment of principal or interest
until the default has been cured or the principal and interest are paid by
the issuer or the insurer. In establishing fair value for these
securities the Board will give recognition to the value of the insurance
feature as well as the market value of the securities. Absent any unusual
or unforeseen circumstances, the Manager will recommend valuing these
securities at the same price as similar securities of a minimum investment
grade (i.e., rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P or Fitch).
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on
which the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's
Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Portfolio securities ordinarily are purchased from and sold to
parties acting as either principal or agent. Newly-issued securities
ordinarily are purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter;
other purchases and sales usually are placed with those dealers from which
it appears that the best price or execution will be obtained. Usually no
brokerage commissions, as such, are paid by the Fund for such purchases
and sales, although the price paid usually includes an undisclosed
compensation to the dealer acting as agent. The prices paid to
underwriters of newly-issued securities usually include a concession paid
by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases of after-market securities
from dealers ordinarily are executed at a price between the bid and asked
price. No brokerage commissions have been paid by the Fund to date.
Transactions are allocated to various dealers by the Fund's portfolio
managers in their best judgment. The primary consideration is prompt and
effective execution of orders at the most favorable price. Subject to
that primary consideration, dealers may be selected for research,
statistical or other services to enable the Manager to supplement its own
research and analysis with the views and information of other securities
firms.
Research services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects
securities transactions may be used by the Manager in advising other funds
it advises and, conversely, research services furnished to the Manager by
brokers in connection with other funds the Manager advises may be used by
the Manager in advising the Fund. Although it is not possible to place a
dollar value on these services, it is the opinion of the Manager that the
receipt and study of such services should not reduce the expenses of its
research department.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes."
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code"), provides
that if a shareholder has not held his Fund shares for more than six
months (or such shorter period as the Internal Revenue Service may
prescribe by regulation) and has received an exempt-interest dividend with
respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will
be disallowed to the extent of the exempt-interest dividend received. In
addition, any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's
purchase may have the effect of reducing the net asset value of his shares
below the cost of his investment. Such a distribution would be a return
on investment in an economic sense although taxable as stated in
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions
will be treated as capital gain or loss. However, all or a portion of any
gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market
discount bonds will be treated as ordinary income under Section 1276 of
the Code. In addition, all or a portion of the gain realized from
engaging in "conversion transactions" may be treated as ordinary income
under Section 1258 of the Code. "Conversion transactions" are defined to
include certain forward, futures, option and "straddle" transactions,
transactions marketed or sold to produce capital gains, or transactions
described in Treasury regulations to be issued in the future.
Investment by the Fund in securities at a discount or providing for
deferred interest or payment of interest in the form of additional
obligations could, under special tax rules, affect the amount, timing and
character of distributions to shareholders. For example, the Fund could
be required to take into account annually a portion of the discount (or
deemed discount) at which such securities were issued and to distribute
such portion in order to maintain its qualification as a regulated
investment company. In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of
securities which it might otherwise have continued to hold in order to
generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled
"Performance Information."
The Fund's current yield for the 30-day period ended December 31,
1995 was 4.29%. Current yield is computed pursuant to a formula which
operates as follows: The amount of the Fund's expenses accrued for the
30-day period (net of reimbursements) is subtracted from the amount of the
dividends and interest earned (computed in accordance with regulatory
requirements) by the Fund during the period. That result is then divided
by the product of: (a) the average daily number of shares outstanding
during the period that were entitled to receive dividends, and (b) the net
asset value per share on the last day of the period less any undistributed
earned income per share reasonably expected to be declared as a dividend
shortly thereafter. The quotient is then added to 1, and that sum is
raised to the 6th power, after which 1 is subtracted. The current yield
is then arrived at by multiplying the result by 2.
Based upon a combined 1995 Federal, New York State and New York City
personal income tax rate of 46.60%, the Fund's tax equivalent yield for
the 30-day period ended December 31, 1995 was 8.03%. Tax equivalent yield
is computed by dividing that portion of the current yield (calculated as
described above) which is tax exempt by 1 minus a stated tax rate and
adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield of the Fund that
is not tax exempt.
The tax equivalent yield noted above represents the application of
the highest Federal, New York State and New York City marginal personal
income tax rates currently in effect. For Federal income tax purposes, a
39.60% tax rate has been used. For New York State and New York City
personal income tax purposes, tax rates of 7.875% and 4.46%, respectively,
have been used. The tax equivalent figure, however, does not reflect the
potential effect of any other local (including, but not limited to,
county, district or city, other than New York City) taxes, including
applicable surcharges. In addition, there may be pending legislation
which could affect such stated tax rates or yields. Each investor should
consult its tax adviser, and consider its own factual circumstances and
applicable tax laws, in order to ascertain the relevant tax equivalent
yield.
The Fund's average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 8.868 year
periods ended December 31, 1995 was 15.38%, 7.97% and 5.65%, respectively.
Average annual total return is calculated by determining the ending
redeemable value of an investment purchased with a hypothetical $1,000
payment made at the beginning of the period (assuming the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions), dividing by the amount of the initial
investment, taking the "n"th root of the quotient (where "n" is the number
of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
The Fund's total return for the period February 18, 1987 to December
31, 1995 was 62.77%. Total return is calculated by subtracting the amount
of the Fund's net asset value per share at the beginning of a stated
period from the net asset value per share at the end of the period (after
giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions during
the period) and dividing the result by the net asset value per share at
the beginning of the period.
From time to time, the Fund may use hypothetical equivalent yields or
charts in its advertising. These hypothetical yields or charts will be
used for illustrative purposes only and not as representative of the
Fund's past or future performance. Advertising materials for the Fund
also may refer to or discuss then-current or past economic conditions,
developments and/or events, and actual or proposed tax legislation, to
statistical or other information concerning trends relating to investment
companies, as compiled by industry associations such as the Investment
Company Institute, and to Morningstar ratings and related analyses
supporting the rating. Advertising material for the Fund may include
biographical information relating to its portfolio manager and may refer
to, or include commentary by the portfolio manager relating to investment
strategy, asset growth, current or past business, political, economic or
financial conditions and other matters of general interest to investors.
Advertising material for the Fund may include biographical information
relating to its portfolio manager and may refer to, or include commentary
by the portfolio manager relating to investment strategy, asset growth,
current or past business, political, economic or financial conditions and
other matters of general interest to investors.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The following information supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "General
Information."
Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and
non-assessable. Fund shares are of one class and have equal rights as to
dividends and in liquidation. Shares have no preemptive, subscription or
conversion rights and are freely transferable.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT, CUSTODIAN,
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager,
P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's transfer
and dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the
Fund, the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder
account records for the Fund, the handling of certain communications
between shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and
distributions payable by the Fund. For these services, the Transfer Agent
receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder
accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for
certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Bank of New York, 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund's custodian. Neither the
Transfer Agent nor The Bank of New York has any part in determining the
investment policies of the Fund or which portfolio securities are to be
purchased or sold by the Fund.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, 7 Hanover Square, New York, New York
10004-2696, as counsel for the Fund, has rendered its opinion as to
certain legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance
of the shares being sold pursuant to the Fund's Prospectus.
Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as auditors of the Fund.
APPENDIX A
RISK FACTORS--INVESTING IN NEW YORK MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
The financial condition of New York State (the "State") and certain
of its public bodies (the "Agencies") and municipalities, particularly New
York City (the "City"), could affect the market values and marketability
of New York Municipal Obligations which may be held by the Fund. The
following information constitutes only a brief summary, does not purport
to be a complete description, and is based on information drawn from
official statements relating to securities offerings of the State, the
City and the Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York
("MAC") available as of the date of this Statement of Additional
Information. While the Fund has not independently verified such
information, it has no reason to believe that such information is not
correct in all material respects.
A national recession commenced in mid-1990. The downturn continued
through the remainder of the 1990-91 fiscal year, and was followed by a
period of weak economic growth during the remainder of the 1991 calendar
year. For the calendar year 1992, the national economy continued to
recover, although at a rate below all post-war recoveries. The recession
was more severe in the State than in other parts of the nation, owing to a
significant retrenchment in the financial services industry, cutbacks in
defense spending, and an overbuilt real estate market. The State economy
remained in recession until 1993, when employment growth resumed. Since
early 1993, the State has gained approximately 100,000 jobs. The State's
economy expanded modestly during 1995. Although industries that export
goods and services abroad are expected to benefit from the lower dollar,
growth will be slowed by government cutbacks at all levels. On an average
annual basis, employment growth in 1995 was estimated to be about the same
as 1994. Both personal income and wages were estimated to have recorded
moderate gains in 1995. Employment growth is expected to slow
significantly in 1996 as the pace of national economic growth slackens,
entire industries experience consolidations, and governmental employment
continues to shrink. Personal income is estimated to increase by 4.0% in
1996.
The State's budget for the 1995-96 fiscal year was enacted by the
Legislature on June 7, 1995, more than two months after the start of the
fiscal year. Prior to adoption of the budget, the Legislature enacted
appropriations for disbursements considered to be necessary for State
operations and other purposes, including all necessary appropriations for
debt service. The State Financial Plan for 1995-96 fiscal year was
formulated on June 20, 1995 and is based on the State's budget as enacted
by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.
The 1995-96 budget was the first to be enacted in the administration
of the Governor, who assumed office on January 1. It was the first budget
in over half a century which proposed and, as enacted, projected an
absolute year-over-decline in General Fund disbursements. Spending for
State operations was projected to drop even more sharply, by 4.6%.
Nominal spending from all State funding sources (i.e., excluding Federal
aid) was proposed to increase by only 2.5% from the prior fiscal year, in
contrast to the prior decade when such spending growth averaged more than
6.0% annually.
In his Executive Budget, the Governor indicated that in the 1995-96
fiscal year, the State Financial Plan, based on then-current law governing
spending and revenues, would be out of balance by almost $4.7 billion, as
a result of the projected structural deficit resulting from the ongoing
disparity between sluggish growth in receipts, the effect of prior-year
tax changes, and the rapid acceleration of spending growth; the impact of
unfunded 1994-95 initiatives, primarily for local aid programs; and the
use of one-time solutions, primarily surplus funds from the prior year, to
fund recurring spending in the 1994-95 budget. The Governor proposed
additional tax cuts, to spur economic growth and provide relief for low
and middle-income tax payers, which were larger than those ultimately
adopted, and which added $240 million to the then projected imbalance or
budget gap, bringing their total to approximately $5 billion.
This gap was projected to be closed in the 1995-96 State Financial
Plan based on the enacted budget, through a series of actions, mainly
spending reductions and cost containment measures and certain reestimates
that were expected to be recurring, but also through the use of one-time
solutions.
The General Fund was projected to be balanced on a cash basis for the
1995-96 fiscal year. Total receipts and transfers from other funds were
projected to be $33.110 billion, a decrease of $48 million from total
receipts in the prior fiscal year. Total General Fund disbursements and
transfers to other funds were projected to be $33.055 billion, a decrease
of $344 million from the total amount disbursed in the prior fiscal year.
The State Financial Plan was based upon forecasts of national and
State economic activity. Economic forecasts have frequently failed to
predict accurately the timing and magnitude of changes in the national and
the State economies. Many uncertainties exist in forecasts of both the
national and State economies, including consumer attitudes toward
spending, Federal financial and monetary policies, the availability of
credit and the condition of the world economy, which could have an adverse
effect on the State. There can be no assurance that the State economy
will not experience worse-than-predicted results, with corresponding
material and adverse effects on the State's projections of receipts and
disbursements.
The State issued its second quarterly update to the cash-basis 1995-
96 State Financial Plan (the "Mid-Year Update") on October 26, 1995.
Revisions have been made to estimates of both receipts and disbursements
based on: (1) updated economic forecasts for both the nation and the
State, (2) an analysis of actual receipts and disbursements through the
first six months of the fiscal year, and (3) an assessment of changing
program requirements and cost savings initiatives. The Mid-Year Update
projects continued balance in the State's 1995-96 Financial Plan,with
estimated receipts reduced by a net $71 million and estimated
disbursements reduced by a net $30 million. The resulting General Fund
balance decreases to $172 million in the Mid-Year Update, reflecting the
expected use of $41 million from the Contingency Reserve Fund for payment
of litigation and disallowance expenses.
On October 2, 1995, the State Comptroller released a report entitled
"Comptroller's Report on the Financial Condition of New York State 1995"
in which he identified several risks to the State Financial Plan and
reaffirmed his estimate that the State faces a potential imbalance in
receipts and disbursements of at least $2.7 billion for the State's 1996-
97 fiscal year and at least $3.9 billion for the State's 1997-98 fiscal
year.
There can be no assurance that the State will not face substantial
potential budget gaps in future years resulting from a significant
disparity between tax revenues projected from a lower recurring receipts
base and the spending required to maintain State programs at current
levels. To address any potential budgetary imbalance, the State may need
to take significant actions to align recurring receipts and disbursements
in future fiscal years.
On June 6, 1990, Moody's changed its ratings on all the State's
outstanding general obligation bonds from A1 to A. On March 26, 1990 and
January 13, 1992, S&P changed its ratings on all of the State's
outstanding general obligation bonds from AA- to A and from A to A-,
respectively. In February 1991, Moody's lowered its rating on the City's
general obligation bonds from A to Baa1 and in July 1995, S&P lowered its
rating on such bonds from A- to BBB+. Ratings reflect only the respective
views of such organizations, and their concerns about the financial
condition of New York State and City, the debt load of the State and City
and any economic uncertainties about the region. There is no assurance
that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or
that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely
if, in the judgment of the agency originally establishing the rating,
circumstances so warrant.
(1) The State, Agencies and Other Municipalities. During the mid-
1970s, some of the Agencies and municipalities (in particular, the City)
faced extraordinary financial difficulties, which affected the State's own
financial condition. These events, including a default on short-term
notes issued by the New York State Urban Development Corporation ("UDC")
in February 1975, which default was cured shortly thereafter, and a
continuation of the financial difficulties of the City, created
substantial investor resistance to securities issued by the State and by
some of its municipalities and Agencies. For a time, in late 1975 and
early 1976, these difficulties resulted in a virtual closing of public
credit markets for State and many State related securities.
In response to the financial problems confronting it, the State
developed and implemented programs for its 1977 fiscal year that included
the adoption of a balanced budget on a cash basis (a deficit of $92
million that actually resulted was financed by issuing notes that were
paid during the first quarter of the State's 1978 fiscal year). In
addition, legislation was enacted limiting the occurrence of additional
so-called "moral obligation" and certain other Agency debt, which
legislation does not, however, apply to MAC debt.
State Financial Plan--GAAP-Basis Results--1995-96 Update. The State
issued its first update to the GAAP-basis Financial Plan for the State's
1995-96 fiscal year on September 1, 1995. The September GAAP-basis update
projected a General Fund operating surplus of $401 million. The prior
projection of the 1995-96 GAAP-basis State Financial Plan, issued in March
1995 as part of the 1995-96 Executive Budget, projected an operating
surplus in the General Fund of $800 million. The change to the projection
primarily reflects the impact of legislative changes to the 1995-96
Executive Budge, as well as increases in projected accruals for certain
local assistance programs (primarily Medicaid).
Total revenues in the General Fund are projected at $31.871 billion,
consisting of $29.625 billion in tax revenues and $2.246 billion in
miscellaneous revenue. Total expenditures in the General Fund are
projected at $32.444 billion, including $22.678 billion for grants to
local governments, $8.037 billion for State operations, $1.711 billion for
general State charges, and $18 million for debt service. Compared to the
projections made in March, expenditures for grants to local governments
are substantially increased, primarily because of legislative changes to
the 1995-96 Executive Budget and increased projected accruals for
Medicaid.
For all governmental funds, the summary GAAP-basis Financial Plan
shows an excess of revenues and other financing sources over expenditures
and other financing uses of $359 million.
GAAP-Basis Results--1994-95 Fiscal Year. The State's Combined Balance
Sheet as of March 31, 1995 showed an accumulated deficit in its combined
governmental funds of $1.666 billion reflecting liabilities of $14.778
billion and assets of $13.112 billion. This accumulated governmental
funds deficit includes a $3.308 billion accumulated deficit in the General
Fund, as well as accumulated surpluses in the special Revenue and Debt
Service fund types of $877 million and $1.753 billion, respectively, and a
$988 million accumulated deficit in the Capital Projects fund type.
The State completed its 1994-95 fiscal year with a combined
Governmental Funds operating deficit of $1.791 billion, which included
operating deficits in the General Fund of $1.426 billion, in the Capital
Projects Funds of $366 million, and in the Debt Service Funds of $38
million. There is an operating surplus in the Special Revenue Funds of
$39 million.
GAAP-Basis Results--1993-94 Fiscal Year. The State reported a General
Fund operating surplus of $914 million for the 1993-94 fiscal year, as
compared to an operating surplus of $2.065 billion for the prior fiscal
year. The 1993-94 fiscal year surplus reflects several major factors,
including the cash basis surplus recorded in 1993-94, the use of $671
million of the 1992-93 surplus to fund operating expenses in 1993-94, net
proceeds of $575 million in bonds issued by the New York Local Government
Assistance Corporation ("LGAC") and the accumulation of a $265 million
balance in the Contingency Reserve Fund ("CRF"). Revenues increased $543
million (1.7%) over prior fiscal year revenues with the largest increase
occurring in personal income taxes. Expenditures increased $1.659 billion
(5.6%) over the prior fiscal year, with the largest increase occurring in
State aid for social services programs.
The Special Revenue fund and Debt Service fund ended 1993-94 with
operating surpluses of $149 million and $23 million, respectively. The
Capital Projects fund ended with an operating deficit of $35 million.
GAAP-Basis Results--1992-93 Fiscal Year. The State completed its 1992-93
fiscal year with a GAAP-basis operating surplus of $2.065 billion in the
General Fund and an accumulated deficit of $2.551 billion. The Combined
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances reported
total revenues of $31.085 billion, total expenditures of $29.337 billion,
and net other financing sources and uses of $317 million. The surplus
primarily reflects the 1992-93 cash-basis surplus and the net proceeds of
$881 million in bonds issued by LGAC.
The Special Revenue, Debt Service and Capital Projects fund types
ended the 1992-93 fiscal year with GAAP-basis operating surpluses of $131
million, $381 million, and $57 million, respectively.
State Financial Plan--Cash-Basis Results--General Fund. The General
Fund is the principal operating fund of the State and is used to account
for all financial transactions, except those required to be accounted for
in another fund. It is the State's largest fund and receives almost all
State taxes and other resources not dedicated to particular purposes.
General Fund moneys are also transferred to other funds, primarily to
support certain capital projects and debt service payments in other fund
types.
The General Fund is projected to be balanced on a cash basis for the
1995-96 fiscal year. Total receipts and transfers from other funds are
projected to be $33.110 billion, a decrease of $48 million from total
receipts in the prior fiscal year. Total General Fund disbursements and
transfers to other funds are projected to be $33.055 billion, a decrease
of $344 million from the total amount disbursed in the prior fiscal year.
New York State's financial operations have improved during recent
fiscal years. During the period 1989-90 through 1991-92, the State
incurred General Fund operating deficits that were closed with receipts
from the issuance of tax and revenue anticipation notes ("TRANs"). First,
the national recession, and then the lingering economic slowdown in the
New York and regional economy, resulted in repeated shortfalls in receipts
and three budget deficits. For its 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 fiscal
years, the State recorded balanced budgets on a cash basis, with
substantial fund balances in 1992-93 and 1993-94, and smaller fund balance
in 1994-95, as described below.
New York State ended its 1994-95 fiscal year with the General fund in
balance. The closing fund balance of $158 million reflects $157 million
in the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund and $1 million in the Contingency
Reserve Fund ("CRF"). The CRF was established in State Fiscal year 1993-
94, funded partly with surplus monies, to assist the State in financing
the 1994-95 fiscal year costs of extraordinary litigation known or
anticipated at that time; the opening fund balance in State fiscal year
1994-95 was $265 million. The $241 million change in the fund balance
reflects the use of $264 million in the CRF as planned, as well as the
required deposit of $23 million to the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund. In
addition, $278 million was on deposit in the tax refund reserve account,
$250 million of which was deposited at the end of the State's 1994-95
fiscal year to continue the process of restructuring the State's cash flow
as part of the New York Local Government Assistance Corporation ("LGAC")
program.
Compared to the State Financial Plan for 1994-1995 as formulated on
June 16, 1994, reported receipts fell short of original projections by
$1.163 billion, primarily in the categories of personal income and
business taxes. Of this amount, the personal income tax accounts for $800
million, reflecting weak estimated tax collections and lower withholding
due to reduced wage and salary growth, more severe reductions in brokerage
industry bonuses than projected earlier, and deferral of capital gains
realizations in anticipation of potential Federal tax changes. Business
taxes fell short by $373 million, primarily reflecting lower payments from
banks as substantial overpayments of 1993 liability depressed net
collections in the 1994-95 fiscal year. These shortfalls were offset by
better performance in the remaining taxes, particularly the user taxes and
fees, which exceeded projections by $210 million. Of this amount, $277
million was attributable to certain restatements for accounting treatment
purposes pertaining to the CRF and LGAC; these restatements had no impact
on balance in the General Fund.
Disbursements were also reduced from original projections by $848
million. After adjusting for the net impact of restatements relating to
the CRF and LGAC which raised disbursements by $38 million, the variance
is $886 million. Well over two-thirds of this variance is in the category
of grants to local governments, primarily reflecting the conservative
nature of the original estimates of projected costs for social services
and other programs. Lower education costs are attributable to the
availability of $110 million in additional lottery proceeds and the use of
LGAC bond proceeds.
The spending reductions also reflect $188 million in actions
initiated in January 1995 by the Governor to reduce spending to avert a
potential gap in the 1994-95 State Financial Plan. These actions included
savings from a hiring freeze, halting the development of certain services,
and the suspension of non-essential capital projects. These actions,
together with $71 million in other measures comprised the Governor's $259
million gap-closing plan, submitted to the Legislature in connection with
the 1995-96 Executive Budget.
The State ended its 1993-94 fiscal year with a balance of $1.140
billion in the tax refund reserve account, $265 million in the CRF and
$134 million in its tax stabilization reserve fund. These fund balances
were primarily the result of an improving national economy, State
employment growth, tax collections that exceeded earlier projections and
disbursements that were below expectations.
Before the deposit of $1.140 billion in the tax refund reserve
account, General Fund receipts in 1993-94 exceeded those originally
projected when the State Financial Plan for the year was formulated on
April 16, 1993 by $1.002 billion. Greater-than-expected receipts in the
personal income tax, the bank tax, the corporation franchise tax and the
estate tax accounted for most of this variance, and more than offset
weaker-than-projected collections from the sales and use tax and
miscellaneous receipts. The higher receipts resulted, in part, because
the New York economy performed better than forecasted. Employment growth
started in the first quarter of the State's 1993-94 year, and although
this lagged the national economic recovery, the growth in New York began
earlier than forecasted. The New York economy exhibited signs of strength
in the service sector, in construction, and in trade.
Disbursements and transfer from the General Fund were $303 million
below the level projected in April 1993, an amount that would have been
$423 million had the State not accelerated the payment of Medicaid
billings, which in the April 1993 State Financial Plan were planned to be
deferred into the 1994-95 fiscal year. Compared to the estimates included
in the State Financial Plan formulated in April 1993, disbursements were
lower for Medicaid, capital projects, and debt service (due to
refundings). In addition, $114 million of school and payments were funded
from the proceeds of LGAC bonds. Disbursements were higher-than-expected
for general support for public schools. The State also made the first of
six required payments to the State of Delaware related to the settlement
of Delaware's litigation against the State regarding the disposition of
abandoned property receipts.
During the 1993-94 fiscal year, the State also established and funded
the CRF as a way to assist the State in financing the cost of litigation
affecting the State. The CRF was initially funded with a transfer of $100
million attributable to the positive margin recorded in the 1992-93 fiscal
year. In addition, the State augmented this initial deposit with $132
million on debt service savings attributable to the refinancing of State
and public authority bonds during 1993-94. A year-end transfer of $36
million was also made to the CRF, which, after a disbursement for
authorized fund purposes, brought the CRF balance at the end of 1993-94 to
$265 million. This amount was $165 million higher than the amount
originally targeted for this reserve fund.
The State ended the 1992-93 fiscal year with a balance on a cash
basis of $671 million in the General Fund that was deposited in the tax
refund reserve account and $67 million in the Tax Stabilization Fund.
After reflecting a 1992-93 year-end deposit to the refund reserve
account of $671 million, reported 1992-93 General Fund receipts were $45
million higher than originally projected in April 1992. If not for that
year-end transaction, which had the effect of reducing 1992-93 receipts by
$671 million and making those receipts available in 1993-94, General Fund
receipts would have been $716 million higher than originally projected.
During its 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 fiscal years, the State
incurred cash-basis operating deficits in the General Fund of $775
million, $1.081 billion and $575 million, respectively, prior to the
issuance of short-term TRANs, owing to lower-than-projected receipts.
Cash-Basis Results--Other Governmental Funds. Activity in the three other
governmental funds has remained relatively stable over the last three
fiscal years, with Federally-funded programs comprising approximately two-
thirds of these funds. The most significant change in the structure of
these funds has been the redirection, beginning in the 1993-94 fiscal
year, of a portion of transportation-related revenues from the General
Fund to two new dedicated funds in the Special Revenue and Capital
Projects Fund types. These revenues totalling $676 million in the 1994-95
fiscal year were used to support the capital programs of the Department of
Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA").
The Special Revenue Funds account for State receipts from specific
sources that are legally restricted in use to specified purposes and
include all moneys received from the Federal government. Total receipts
in Special Revenue Funds are projected at $25.547 billion in the State's
1995-96 fiscal year. Disbursements from Special Revenue Funds are
projected to be $26.002 billion for the State's 1995-96 fiscal year.
The Capital Projects Funds are used to finance the acquisition and
construction of major capital facilities and to aid local government units
and Agencies in financing capital constructions. Federal grants for
capital projects, largely highway-related, are projected to account for
24% of the $4.170 billion in total projected receipts in Capital Projects
Funds in the State's 1995-96 fiscal year. Total disbursements for capital
projects are projected to be $4.160 billion during the State's 1995-96
fiscal year.
The Debt Service Funds serve to fulfill State debt service on long-
term general obligation State debt and other State lease/purchase and
contractual obligation financing commitments. Total receipts in Debt
Service Funds are projected to reach $2.409 billion in the State's 1995-96
fiscal year. Total disbursements from Debt Service Funds for debt
service, lease/purchase and contractual obligation financing commitments
are projected to be $2.506 billion for the 1995-96 fiscal year.
State Borrowing Plan. The State anticipates that its capital
programs will be financed, in part, through borrowings by the State and
public authorities in the 1995-96 fiscal year. The State expects to issue
$248 million in general obligation bonds (including $70 million for
purposes of redeeming outstanding BANs) and $186 million in general
obligation commercial paper. The Legislature has also authorized the
issuance of up to $33 million in COPs during the State's 1995-96 fiscal
year for equipment purchases and $14 million for capital purposes. The
projection of the State regarding its borrowings for the 1995-96 fiscal
year may change if circumstances require.
In addition, the LGAC is authorized to provide net proceeds of up to
$529 million during the 1995-96 fiscal year to redeem notes sold in June
1995.
State Agencies. The fiscal stability of the State is related, at
least in part, to the fiscal stability of its localities and various of
its Agencies. Various Agencies have issued bonds secured, in part, by
non-binding statutory provisions for State appropriations to maintain
various debt service reserve funds established for such bonds (commonly
referred to as "moral obligation" provisions).
At September 30, 1994, there were 18 Agencies that had outstanding
debt of $100 million or more. The aggregate outstanding debt, including
refunding bonds, of these 18 Agencies was $70.3 billion as of September
30, 1994. As of March 31, 1995, aggregate Agency debt outstanding as
State-supported debt was $27.9 billion and as State-related was $36.1
billion. Debt service on the outstanding Agency obligations normally is
paid out of revenues generated by the Agencies' projects or programs, but
in recent years the State has provided special financial assistance, in
some cases on a recurring basis, to certain Agencies for operating and
other expenses and for debt service pursuant to moral obligation
indebtedness provisions or otherwise. Additional assistance is expected
to continue to be required in future years.
Several Agencies have experienced financial difficulties in the past.
Certain Agencies continue to experience financial difficulties requiring
financial assistance from the State. Failure of the State to appropriate
necessary amounts or to take other action to permit certain Agencies to
meet their obligations could result in a default by one or more of such
Agencies. If a default were to occur, it would likely have a significant
effect on the marketability of obligations of the State and the Agencies.
These Agencies are discussed below.
The New York State Housing Finance Agency ("HFA") provides financing
for multifamily housing, State University construction, hospital and
nursing home development, and other programs. In general, HFA depends
upon mortgagors in the housing programs it finances to generate sufficient
funds from rental income, subsidies and other payments to meet their
respective mortgage repayment obligations to HFA, which provide the
principal source of funds for the payment of debt service on HFA bonds, as
well as to meet operating and maintenance costs of the projects financed.
From January 1, 1976 through March 31, 1987, the State was called upon to
appropriate a total of $162.8 million to make up deficiencies in the debt
service reserve funds of HFA pursuant to moral obligation provisions. The
State has not been called upon to make such payments since the 1986-87
fiscal year and no payments are anticipated during the 1995-96 fiscal
year.
UDC has experienced, and expects to continue to experience, financial
difficulties with the housing programs it had undertaken prior to 1975,
because a substantial number of these housing program mortgagors are
unable to make full payments on their mortgage loans. Through a
subsidiary, UDC is currently attempting to increase its rate of collection
by accelerating its program of foreclosures and by entering into
settlement agreements. UDC has been, and will remain, dependent upon the
State for appropriations to meet its operating expenses. The State also
has appropriated money to assist in the curing of a default by UDC on
notes which did not contain the State's moral obligation provision.
The MTA oversees New York City's subway and bus lines by its
affiliates, the New York City Transit Authority and the Manhattan and
Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (collectively, the "TA").
Through MTA's subsidiaries, the Long Island Rail Road Company, the
Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the Metropolitan Suburban Bus
Authority, the MTA operates certain commuter rail and bus lines in the New
York metropolitan area. In addition, the Staten Island Rapid Transit
Authority, an MTA subsidiary, operates a rapid transit line on Staten
Island. Through its affiliated agency, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel
Authority (the "TBTA"), the MTA operates certain toll bridges and tunnels.
Because fare revenues are not sufficient to finance the mass transit
portion of these operations, the MTA has depended and will continue to
depend for operating support upon a system of State, local government and
TBTA support and, to the extent available, Federal operating assistance,
including loans, grants and subsidies. If current revenue projections are
not realized and/or operating expenses exceed current projections, the TA
or commuter railroads may be required to seek additional State assistance,
raise fares or take other actions.
Over the past several years the State has enacted several
taxes--including a surcharge on the profits of banks, insurance
corporations and general business corporations doing business in the
12-county region (the "Metropolitan Transportation Region") served by the
MTA and a special .25% regional sales and use tax--that provide additional
revenues for mass transit purposes, including assistance to the MTA. In
addition, since 1987, State law has required that the proceeds of .25%
mortgage recording tax paid on certain mortgages in the Metropolitan
Transportation Region be deposited in a special MTA fund for operating or
capital expenses. Further, in 1993, the State dedicated a portion of
certain additional State petroleum business tax receipts to fund operating
or capital assistance to the MTA. For the 1995-96 State fiscal year,
total State assistance to the MTA is estimated at approximately $1.1
billion.
In 1981, the State Legislature authorized procedures for the
adoption, approval and amendment of a five-year plan for the capital
program designed to upgrade the performance of the MTA's transportation
systems and to supplement, replace and rehabilitate facilities and
equipment, and also granted certain additional bonding authorization
therefor.
On April 5, 1993, the Legislature approved, and the Governor
subsequently signed into law, legislation authorizing a five-year $9.56
billion capital plan for the MTA for 1992-1996. The MTA has received
approval of the 1992-1996 Capital Program based on this legislation from
the MTA Capital Program Review Board (the "CPRB"), as State law requires.
This is the third five-year plan since the Legislature authorized
procedures for the adoption, approval and amendment of a five-year plan in
1981 for a capital program designed to upgrade the performance of the
MTA's transportation systems and to supplement, replace and rehabilitate
facilities and equipment. The MTA, the TBTA and the TA are collectively
authorized to issue an aggregate of $3.1 billion of bonds (net of certain
statutory exclusions) to finance a portion of the 1992-96 Capital Program.
The 1992-96 Capital Program was expected to be financed in significant
part through dedication of the State petroleum business tax receipts.
There can be no assurance that such governmental actions will be
taken, that sources currently identified will not be decreased or
eliminated, or that the 1992-1996 Capital Program will not be delayed or
reduced. If the MTA capital program is delayed or reduced because of
funding shortfalls or other factors, ridership and fare revenues may
decline, which could, among other things, impair the MTA's ability to meet
its operating expenses without additional State assistance.
The cities, towns, villages and school districts of the State are
political subdivisions of the State with the powers granted by the State
Constitution and statutes. As the sovereign, the State retains broad
powers and responsibilities with respect to the government, finances and
welfare of these political subdivisions, especially in education and
social services. In recent years the State has been called upon to
provide added financial assistance to certain localities.
Other Localities. Certain localities in addition to the City could
have financial problems leading to requests for additional State
assistance during the State's 1995-96 fiscal year and thereafter. The
potential impact on the State of such actions by localities is not
included in the projections of the State receipts and disbursements in the
State's 1995-96 fiscal year.
Municipalities and school districts have engaged in substantial
short-term and long-term borrowings. In 1993, the total indebtedness of
all localities in the State, other than the City, was approximately $17.7
billion. A small portion (approximately $105 million) of this
indebtedness represented borrowing to finance budgetary deficits and was
issued pursuant to enabling State legislation. State law requires the
Comptroller to review and make recommendations concerning the budgets of
those local government units other than the City authorized by State law
to issue debt to finance deficits during the period that such deficit
financing is outstanding. Fifteen localities had outstanding indebtedness
for deficit financing at the close of their fiscal year ending in 1993.
Certain proposed Federal expenditure reductions would reduce, or in
some cases eliminate, Federal funding of some local programs and
accordingly might impose substantial increased expenditure requirements on
affected localities to increase local revenues to sustain those
expenditures. If the State, the City or any of the Agencies were to
suffer serious financial difficulties jeopardizing their respective access
to the public credit markets, the marketability of notes and bonds issued
by localities within the State could be adversely affected. Localities
also face anticipated and potential problems resulting from certain
pending litigation, judicial decisions and long-range economic trends.
The longer-range, potential problems of declining city population,
increasing expenditures and other economic trends could adversely affect
localities and require increasing State assistance in the future.
Because of significant fiscal difficulties experienced from time to
time by the City of Yonkers, a Financial Control Board was created by the
State in 1984 to oversee Yonkers' fiscal affairs. Future actions taken by
the Governor or the State Legislature to assist Yonkers in this crisis
could result in the allocation of State resources in amounts that cannot
yet be determined.
Certain litigation pending against the State or its officers or
employees could have a substantial or long-term adverse effect on State
finances. Among the more significant of these litigations are those that
involve: (i) the validity and fairness of agreements and treaties by which
various Indian tribes transferred title to the State of approximately six
million acres of land in central New York; (ii) certain aspects of the
State's Medicaid rates and regulations, including reimbursements to
providers of mandatory and optional Medicaid services; (iii) contamination
in the Love Canal area of Niagara Falls; (iv) a challenge to the State's
practice of reimbursing certain Office of Mental Health patient-care
expenses with clients' Social Security benefits; (v) a challenge to the
methods by which the State reimburses localities for the administrative
costs of food stamp programs; (vi) a challenge to the State's possession
of certain funds taken pursuant to the State's Abandoned Property law;
(vii) alleged responsibility of State officials to assist in remedying
racial segregation in the City of Yonkers; (viii) an action, in which the
State is a third party defendant, for injunctive or other appropriate
relief, concerning liability for the maintenance of stone groins
constructed along certain areas of Long Island's shoreline; (ix) actions
challenging the constitutionality of legislation enacted during the 1990
legislative session which changed the actuarial funding methods for
determining contributions to State employee retirement systems; (x) an
action against State and City officials alleging that the present level of
shelter allowance for public assistance recipients is inadequate under
statutory standards to maintain proper housing; (xi) an action challenging
legislation enacted in 1990 which had the effect of deferring certain
employer contributions to the State Teachers' Retirement System and
reducing State aid to school districts by a like amount; (xii) a challenge
to the constitutionality of financing programs of the Thruway Authority
authorized by Chapters 166 and 410 of the Laws of 1991 (described below in
this Part); (xiii) a challenge to the constitutionality of financing
programs of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Thruway
Authority authorized by Chapter 56 of the Laws of 1993 (described below in
this Part); (xiv) challenges to the delay by the State Department of
Social Services in making two one-week Medicaid payments to the service
providers; (xv) challenges by commercial insurers, employee welfare
benefit plans, and health maintenance organizations to provisions of
Section 2807-c of the Public Health Law which impose 13%, 11% and 9%
surcharges on inpatient hospital bills and a bad debt and charity care
allowance on all hospital bills paid by such entities; (xvi) challenges to
the promulgation of the State's proposed procedure to determine the
eligibility for and nature of home care services for Medicaid recipients;
(xvii) a challenge to State implementation of a program which reduces
Medicaid benefits to certain home-relief recipients; and (xviii)
challenges to the rationality and retroactive application of State
regulations recelebrating nursing home Medicaid rates.
Adverse developments or decisions in such cases could affect the
ability of the State to maintain a balanced 1995-96 State Financial Plan.
(2) New York City. In the mid-1970s, the City had large
accumulated past deficits and until recently was not able to generate
sufficient tax and other ongoing revenues to cover expenses in each fiscal
year. However, the City's operating results for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1995 were balanced in accordance with GAAP, the thirteenth
consecutive year in which the City achieved balanced operating results in
accordance with GAAP. The City's ability to maintain balanced operating
results in future years is subject to numerous contingencies and future
developments.
The City's economy, whose rate of growth slowed substantially over
the past three years, is currently in recession. During the 1990 and 1991
fiscal years, as a result of the slowing economy, the City has experienced
significant shortfalls in almost all of its major tax sources and
increases in social services costs, and has been required to take actions
to close substantial budget gaps in order to maintain balanced budgets in
accordance with the Financial Plan.
In 1975, the City became unable to market its securities and entered
a period of extraordinary financial difficulties. In response to this
crisis, the State created MAC to provide financing assistance to the City
and also enacted the New York State Financial Emergency Act for the City
of New York (the "Emergency Act") which, among other things, created the
Financial Control Board (the "Control Board") to oversee the City's
financial affairs and facilitate its return to the public credit markets.
The State also established the Office of the State Deputy Comptroller
("OSDC") to assist the Control Board in exercising its powers and
responsibilities. On June 30, 1986, the Control Board's powers of
approval over the City Financial Plan were suspended pursuant to the
Emergency Act. However, the Control Board, MAC and OSDC continue to
exercise various monitoring functions relating to the City's financial
condition. The City prepares and operates under a four-year financial
plan which is submitted annually to the Control Board for review and which
the City periodically updates.
The City's independently audited operating results for each of its
fiscal years from 1981 through 1995 show a General Fund surplus reported
in accordance with GAAP. The City has eliminated the cumulative deficit
in its net General Fund position.
According to a recent OSDC economic report, the City's economy was
slow to recover from the recession and is expected to experience a weak
employment situation, and moderate wage and income growth, during the
1995-96 period. Also, Financial Plan reports of OSDC, the Control Board,
and the City Comptroller have variously indicated that many of the City's
balanced budgets have been accomplished, in part, through the use of non-
recurring resource, tax and fee increases, personnel reductions and
additional State assistance; that the City has not yet brought its long-
term expenditures in line with recurring revenues; that the City's
proposed gap-closing programs, if implemented, would narrow future budget
gaps; that these programs tend to rely heavily on actions outside the
direct control of the City; and that the City is therefore likely to
continue to face futures projected budget gaps requiring the City to
reduce expenditures and/or increase revenues. According to the most
recent staff reports of OSDC, the Control Board and the City Comptroller
during the four-year period covered by the current Financial Plan, the
City is relying on obtaining substantial resources from initiatives
needing approval and cooperation of its municipal labor unions, Covered
Organizations, and City Council, as well as the State and Federal
governments, among others, and there can be no assurance that such
approval can be obtained.
The City requires certain amounts of financing for seasonal and
capital spending purposes. The City has issued $1.75 billion of notes for
seasonal financing purposes during the 1994 fiscal year. The City's
capital financing program projects long-term financing requirements of
approximately $17 billion for the City's fiscal years 1995 through 1998
for the construction and rehabilitation of the City's infrastructure and
other fixed assets. The major capital requirement include expenditures
for the City's water supply system, and waste disposal systems, roads,
bridges, mass transit, schools and housing. In addition, the City and the
Municipal Water Finance Authority issued about $1.8 billion in refunding
bonds in the 1994 fiscal year.
State Economic Trends. The State historically has been one of the
wealthiest states in the nation. For decades, however, the State has
grown more slowly than the nation as a whole, gradually eroding its
relative economic position. Statewide, urban centers have experienced
significant changes involving migration of the more affluent to the
suburbs and an influx of generally less affluent residents. Regionally,
the older Northeast cities have suffered because of the relative success
that the South and the West have had in attracting people and business.
The City has also had to face greater competition as other major cities
have developed financial and business capabilities which make them less
dependent on the specialized services traditionally available almost
exclusively in the City.
During the 1982-83 recession, overall economic activity in the State
declined less than that of the nation as a whole. However, in the
calendar years 1984 through 1991, the State's rate of economic expansion
was somewhat slower than that of the nation. In the 1990-91 recession,
the economy of the State, and that of the rest of the Northeast, was more
heavily damaged than that of the nation as a whole and has been slower to
recover. The total employment growth rate in the State has been below the
national average since 1984. The unemployment rate in the State dipped
below the national rate in the second half of 1981 and remained lower
until 1991; since then, it has been higher. According to data published
by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, during the past ten years, total
personal income in the State rose slightly faster than the national
average only from 1986 through 1988.
APPENDIX B
Description of S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings:
S&P
Municipal Bond Ratings
An S&P municipal bond rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer
or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable, and will
include: (1) likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the
obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation; (2) nature and provisions of
the obligation; and (3) protection afforded by, and relative position of,
the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other
arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting
creditors' rights.
AAA
Debt rated AAA is the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in a small
degree.
A
Principal and interest payments on bonds in this category are
regarded as safe. This rating describes the third strongest capacity for
payment of debt service. It differs from the two higher ratings because:
General Obligation Bonds -- There is some weakness in the local
economic base, in debt burden, in the balance between revenues and
expenditures, or in quality of management. Under certain adverse
circumstances, any one such weakness might impair the ability of the
issuer to meet debt obligations at some future date.
Revenue Bonds -- Debt service coverage is good, but not exceptional.
Stability of the pledged revenues could show some variations because of
increased competition or economic influences on revenues. Basic security
provisions, while satisfactory, are less stringent. Management
performance appears adequate.
BBB
Of the investment grade, this is the lowest.
General Obligation Bonds -- Under certain adverse conditions, several
of the above factors could contribute to a lesser capacity for payment of
debt service. The difference between "A" and "BBB" rating is that the
latter shows more than one fundamental weakness, or one very substantial
fundamental weakness, whereas the former shows only one deficiency among
the factors considered.
Revenue Bonds -- Debt coverage is only fair. Stability of the
pledged revenues could show substantial variations, with the revenue flow
possibly being subject to erosion over time. Basic security provisions
are no more than adequate. Management performance could be stronger.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from AA to BBB may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus designation to show relative standing
within the major ratings categories.
Municipal Note Ratings
SP-1
The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit very strong or strong
capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are given a plus (+)
designation.
SP-2
The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit satisfactory capacity to
pay principal and interest.
Commercial Paper Ratings
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no
more than 365 days. Issues assigned an A rating are regarded as having
the greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are
delineated with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of
safety.
A-1
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+)
designation.
A-2
Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated A-1.
Moody's
Municipal Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position
of such issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by
all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally
are known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements
may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which
make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium-grade obligations. Factors
giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but
elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major rating categories, except in the Aaa category.
The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of a
rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the
modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of a rating category.
Municipal Note Ratings
Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term
loans are designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG). Such ratings
recognize the differences between short-term credit risk and long-term
risk. Factors affecting the liquidity of the borrower and short-term
cyclical elements are critical in short-term ratings, while other factors
of major importance in bond risk, long-term secular trends for example,
may be less important over the short run.
A short-term rating may also be assigned on an issue having a demand
feature. Such ratings will be designated as VMIG or, if the demand
feature is not rated, as NR.
Short-term ratings on issues with demand features are differentiated
by the use of the VMIG symbol to reflect such characteristics as payment
upon periodic demand rather than fixed maturity dates and payment relying
on external liquidity. Additionally, investors should be alert to the
fact that the source of payment may be limited to the external liquidity
with no or limited legal recourse to the issuer in the event the demand is
not met.
Moody's short-term ratings are designated Moody's Investment Grade as
MIG 1 or VMIG 1 through MIG 4 or VMIG 4. As the name implies, when
Moody's assigns a MIG or VMIG rating, all categories define an investment
grade situation.
MIG 1/VMIG 1
This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2/VMIG 2
This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are
ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
Commercial Paper Ratings
The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Moody's. Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity
for repayment of short-term promissory obligations, and ordinarily will be
evidenced by leading market positions in well established industries, high
rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures
with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins
in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash
generation, and well established access to a range of financial markets
and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Fitch
Municipal Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to
meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The
ratings take into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current financial
condition and operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as
well as the political and economic environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability
to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
reasonably foreseeable events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because
bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable
to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is
generally rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes
in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse
impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The
likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment
grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to
indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Plus and minus signs, however, are not used in the AAA category covering
12-36 months.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and
municipal and investment notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating
analysis, the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings
on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations
in a timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated
F-1+.
F-2
Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory
degree of assurance for timely payments, but the margin of safety is not
as great as the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
<TABLE>
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1995
PRINCIPAL
LONG-TERM MUNICIPAL INVESTMENTS-100.0% AMOUNT VALUE
_______ _______
<S> <C> <C>
Albany Municipal Water Finance Authority, Water and Sewer System Revenue,
Refunding 5.50%, 12/1/2022 (Insured; FGIC).............................. $ 4,000,000 $ 4,007,400
Briarcliff Manor (Water Improvement) 6%, 9/1/2013 (Insured; FGIC)........... 175,000 195,692
Broome County, COP Public Safety Facility
5.25%, 4/1/2022 (Insured; MBIA)......................................... 3,875,000 3,801,608
East Rockaway Union Free School District 6.10%, 9/1/2012 (Insured; FGIC).... 100,000 111,791
Havestraw-Stony Point Central School District:
6.10%, 6/15/2001 (Insured; MBIA)........................................ 15,000 16,328
6.10%, 6/15/2002 (Insured; MBIA)........................................ 15,000 16,460
Islip Resource Recovery Agency, RRR 6.125%, 7/1/2013 (Insured; AMBAC)....... 1,425,000 1,518,181
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Revenue:
Commuter Facility (Grand Central Terminal)
5.70%, 7/1/2024 (Insured; FSA)........................................ 5,000,000 5,077,000
Transit Facility:
7%, 7/1/2009 (Insured; AMBAC)......................................... 5,400,000 6,495,768
6%, 7/1/2016 (Insured; AMBAC)......................................... 3,250,000 3,365,668
5%, 7/1/2017 (Insured; BIGI).......................................... 60,000 58,343
6.50%, 7/1/2018 (Insured; FGIC)....................................... 4,000,000 4,365,560
New York City:
7%, 8/1/2006 (Insured; MBIA)............................................ 340,000 359,917
7.25%, 3/15/2018 (Insured; FSA)......................................... 1,000,000 1,139,090
6%, 8/1/2018 (Insured; FSA)............................................. 4,900,000 4,977,959
New York City Housing Development Corp., General Housing
5.80%, 5/1/2002 (Insured; AMBAC)........................................ 400,000 404,260
New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, Water and Sewer System
Revenue:
6.20%, 6/15/2021 (Insured; AMBAC)....................................... 2,000,000 2,120,440
5.50%, 6/15/2023 (Insured; MBIA)........................................ 7,000,000 7,013,580
New York City Transit Authority, Transit Facility Revenue
(Livingston Plaza Project) 6%, 1/1/2021 (Insured; FSA).................. 5,300,000 5,410,293
New York State 7.10%, 3/1/2020 (Insured; AMBAC) (Prerefunded 3/1/2000) (a).. 1,650,000 1,859,006
New York State Dormitory Authority, Revenue:
(City University) 6.30%, 7/1/2024 (Insured; AMBAC)...................... 2,800,000 3,033,912
(Ellis Hospital Mortgage Project) 5.50%, 8/1/2015 (Insured; MBIA)....... 3,920,000 3,934,778
(International House) 7.60%, 7/1/2009 (Insured; FGIC)................... 2,000,000 2,239,800
(New York University) 6%, 7/1/2015 (Insured; FGIC)...................... 1,750,000 1,825,600
(Refunding - Ithaca College) 6.25%, 7/1/2021 (Insured; MBIA)............ 2,000,000 2,120,840
(Refunding - Mount Sinai School of Medicine):
6.75%, 7/1/2009 (Insured; MBIA)....................................... 3,000,000 3,368,970
5%, 7/1/2021 (Insured; MBIA).......................................... 1,000,000 976,750
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 1995
PRINCIPAL
LONG-TERM MUNICIPAL INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) AMOUNT VALUE
_______ _______
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Revenue:
Facilities:
(Con Edison Co. of New York Inc. Project):
6.375%, 12/1/2027 (Insured; MBIA)................................. $ 5,000,000 $ 5,276,600
6%, 3/15/2028 (Insured; MBIA)..................................... 4,000,000 4,147,000
Pollution Control:
(Central Hudson Gas and Electric)
7.375%, 10/1/2014 (Insured; FGIC)................................. 1,700,000 1,918,059
(New York State Electric and Gas Corporation)
5.95%, 12/1/2027 (Insured; MBIA).................................. 2,000,000 2,061,080
(Refunding - Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.)
6.625%, 10/1/2013 (Insured; FGIC)................................. 4,500,000 4,944,555
New York State Environmental Facility Corp., Water Facilities Revenue:
(Jamaica Water Supply Province) 7.625%, 4/1/2029 (Insured; AMBAC)....... 4,000,000 4,401,760
(Spring Valley Water Co. Inc. Project) 5.65%, 11/1/2023 (Insured; AMBAC) 1,330,000 1,332,367
New York State Housing Finance Agency, Multi-Family Housing Revenue
7.45%, 11/1/2028 (Insured; AMBAC)....................................... 1,980,000 2,116,917
New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency,
Revenue:
(Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital) 6.50%, 11/1/2019 (Insured; FSA) 3,000,000 3,255,030
(Hospital and Nursing Home):
6.125%, 2/15/2015 (Insured; MBIA)................................. 4,000,000 4,276,200
7.60%, 2/15/2029 (Insured; MBIA).................................. 2,000,000 2,220,180
(Mental Health Service Facilities Improvement):
6.25%, 8/15/2018 (Insured; AMBAC)................................. 4,820,000 5,110,694
7.375%, 8/15/2019 (Insured; MBIA)................................. 1,345,000 1,500,939
(Montefiore Medical Center) 6%, 2/15/2035 (Insured; AMBAC)............ 5,000,000 5,233,200
(North Shore University Hospital Mortgage Project)
7.20%, 11/1/2020 (Insured; MBIA).................................. 5,750,000 6,525,388
(Sisters of Charity Hospital) 6.625%, 11/1/2018 (Insured; AMBAC)...... 2,000,000 2,186,760
New York State Mortgage Agency, Revenue (Homeownership Mortgage)
6.45%, 10/1/2017 (Insured; MBIA)........................................ 1,000,000 1,050,270
New York State Thruway Authority, General Revenue 6%, 1/1/2025 (Insured; FGIC) 3,750,000 3,952,350
New York State Urban Development Corp., Revenue:
(Correctional Capital Facilities)
5.50%, 1/1/2025 (Insured; MBIA)....................................... 5,000,000 5,022,500
(Correctional Facilities) Refunding
5.25%, 1/1/2018 (Insured; AMBAC)...................................... 5,000,000 4,945,350
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey:
5.875%, 7/15/2018 (Insured; MBIA)....................................... 3,600,000 3,704,148
6.25%, 1/15/2027 (Insured; AMBAC)....................................... 2,000,000 2,107,980
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 1995
PRINCIPAL
LONG-TERM MUNICIPAL INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) AMOUNT VALUE
_______ _______
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Special Obligation Refunding:
6%, 1/1/2015 (Insured; AMBAC)........................................... $ 4,000,000 $ 4,179,400
6.875%, 1/1/2015 (Insured; FGIC)........................................ 3,000,000 3,353,430
6%, 1/1/2019 (Insured; MBIA)............................................ 2,000,000 2,057,740
Yonkers 7.80%, 8/1/2009 (Insured; FGIC)..................................... 2,900,000 3,349,732
______
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $147,840,892)....................................... $160,044,623
=======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
SUMMARY OF ABBREVIATIONS
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AMBAC American Municipal Bond Assurance Corporation FSA Financial Security Assurance
BIGI Bond Investors Guaranty Insurance MBIA Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
COP Certificate of Participation Insurance Corporation
FGIC Financial Guaranty Insurance Company RRR Resources Recovery Revenue
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
SUMMARY OF COMBINED RATINGS (UNAUDITED)
FITCH (B) OR MOODY'S OR STANDARD & POOR'S PERCENTAGE OF VALUE
____ ____ __________ ___________
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AAA Aaa AAA 100.0%
====
</TABLE>
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS:
(a) Bonds which are prerefunded are collateralized by U.S. Government
securities which are held in escrow and are used to pay principal and
interest on the municipal issue and to retire the bonds in full at the
earliest refunding date.
(b) Fitch currently provides creditworthiness information for a limited
number of investments.
(c) At December 31, 1995, 28.7% of the Fund's net assets are insured by
AMBAC and 37.8% are insured by MBIA.
(d) At December 31, 1995, the Fund had $39,948,279 (25.4% of net assets)
invested in securities whose payment of principal and interest is
dependent upon revenues generated from transportation projects.
See notes to financial statements.
<TABLE>
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECEMBER 31, 1995
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(cost $147,840,892)-see statement..................................... $160,044,623
Interest receivable..................................................... 3,166,072
Prepaid expenses........................................................ 4,862
______
163,215,557
LIABILITIES:
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and subsidiaries......................... $ 111,295
Due to Distributor...................................................... 1,929
Due to Custodian........................................................ 5,716,794
Accrued expenses........................................................ 68,132 5,898,150
______ _____
NET ASSETS ................................................................ $157,317,407
=======
REPRESENTED BY:
Paid-in capital......................................................... $144,931,984
Accumulated undistributed investment income-net......................... 43,336
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain on investments.............. 138,356
Accumulated gross unrealized appreciation on investments................ 12,203,731
______
NET ASSETS at value applicable to 13,469,322 shares outstanding
(unlimited number of $.001 par value shares of Beneficial
Interest authorized).................................................... $157,317,407
=======
NET ASSET VALUE, offering and redemption price per share
($157,317,407 / 13,469,322 shares)...................................... $11.68
=======
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<S> <C> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
INTEREST INCOME......................................................... $ 9,708,466
EXPENSES:
Management fee-Note 2(a).............................................. $ 940,247
Shareholder servicing costs-Note 2(b)................................. 471,185
Professional fees..................................................... 52,460
Trustees' fees and expenses-Note 2(c)................................. 36,853
Custodian fees........................................................ 16,810
Prospectus and shareholders' reports-Note 2(b)........................ 15,465
Registration fees..................................................... 6,318
Miscellaneous......................................................... 18,290
______
TOTAL EXPENSES.................................................... 1,557,628
Less-reimbursement of prospectus costs-Note 2(b)...................... 5,356
______
NET EXPENSES...................................................... 1,552,272
______
INVESTMENT INCOME-NET............................................. 8,156,194
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
Net realized gain on investments-Note 3................................. $ 1,438,863
Net unrealized appreciation on investments.............................. 12,855,137
______
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS................... 14,294,000
______
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS........................ $22,450,194
=======
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
________________________________
1994 1995
_______ _______
<S> <C> <C>
OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net................................................... $ 9,156,209 $ 8,156,194
Net realized gain (loss) on investments................................. (1,233,401) 1,438,863
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments for the year.. (20,566,482) 12,855,137
______ ______
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS....... (12,643,674) 22,450,194
______ ______
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM;
Investment income-net................................................... (9,132,926) (8,136,141)
______ ______
BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS:
Net proceeds from shares sold........................................... 38,170,749 30,674,114
Dividends reinvested.................................................... 6,467,485 5,477,142
Cost of shares redeemed................................................. (69,423,052) (44,843,810)
______ ______
(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS........ (24,784,818) (8,692,554)
______ ______
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS........................... (46,561,418) 5,621,499
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of year....................................................... 198,257,326 151,695,908
______ ______
End of year (including undistributed investment income-net: $23,283 in 1994
and $43,336 in 1995).................................................. $151,695,908 $157,317,407
======= =======
SHARES SHARES
______ ______
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
Shares sold............................................................. 3,391,665 2,730,812
Shares issued for dividends reinvested.................................. 579,744 484,599
Shares redeemed......................................................... (6,202,246) (3,979,102)
______ ______
TOTAL (DECREASE) IN SHARES OUTSTANDING................................ (2,230,837) (763,691)
======= =======
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Reference is made to page 4 of the Fund's Prospectus dated May 1, 1996.
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1-SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Act")
as a non-diversified open-end management investment company. Premier Mutual
Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as the distributor of the Fund's
shares. The Distributor, located at One Exchange Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02109, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FDI Distribution Services, Inc., a
provider of mutual fund administration services, which in turn is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of FDI Holdings, Inc., the parent company of which is
Boston Institutional Group, Inc. The Dreyfus Corporation ("Manager") serves
as the Fund's investment adviser. The Manager is a direct subsidiary of
Mellon Bank, N.A.
(A) PORTFOLIO VALUATION: The Fund's investments are valued each business
day by an independent pricing service ("Service") approved by the Board of
Trustees. Investments for which quoted bid prices are readily available and
are representative of the bid side of the market in the judgment of the
Service are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices (as obtained by
the Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices (as calculated
by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such securities).
Other investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio securities)
are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on methods
which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal securities of
comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from
dealers; and general market conditions.
(B) SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME: Securities
transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gain and loss from
securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest
income, adjusted for amortization of premiums and original issue discounts on
investments, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual
basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed-delivery
basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date.
The Fund follows an investment policy of investing primarily in municipal
obligations of one state. Economic changes affecting the state and certain of
its public bodies and municipalities may affect the ability of issuers within
the state to pay interest on, or repay principal of, municipal obligations
held by the Fund.
(C) DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS: It is the policy of the Fund to declare
dividends daily from investment income-net. Such dividends are paid monthly.
Dividends from net realized capital gain are normally declared and paid
annually, but the Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to
comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. To
the extent that net realized capital gain can be offset by capital loss
carryovers, if any, it is the policy of the Fund not to distribute such gain.
(D) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to
qualify as a regulated investment company, which can distribute tax exempt
dividends, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code, and to make distributions of income and net realized capital
gain sufficient to relieve it from substantially all Federal income and
excise taxes.
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 2-MANAGEMENT FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES:
(A) Pursuant to a management agreement ("Agreement") with the Manager,
the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .60 of 1% of the average
daily value of the Fund's net assets and is payable monthly. The Agreement
provides for an expense reimbursement from the Manager should the Fund's
aggregate expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest on borrowings, brokerage and
extraordinary expenses, exceed 11\2% of the average daily value of the Fund's
net assets for any full year. There was no expense reimbursement for the year
ended December 31, 1995.
Effective December 1, 1995, the Fund compensates Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, under a transfer agency agreement
for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services
for the Fund. Such compensation amounted to $4,498, for the period from
December 1, 1995 through December 31, 1995.
(B) Under the Service Plan (the "Plan") adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act, the Fund (a) reimburses the Distributor for payments to
certain Service Agents for distributing the Fund's shares and servicing
shareholder accounts ("Servicing") and (b) pays the Manager, Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, or any affiliate
(collectively "Dreyfus") for advertising and marketing relating to the Fund
and for Servicing, at an aggregate annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of
the Fund's average daily net assets. Each of the Distributor and Dreyfus may
pay Service Agents (a securities dealer, financial institution or other
industry professional) a fee in respect of the Fund's shares owned by
shareholders with whom the Service Agent has a Servicing relationship or for
whom the Service Agent is the dealer or holder of record. Each of the
Distributor and Dreyfus determine the amounts to be paid to Service Agents to
which it will make payments and the basis on which such payments are made.
The Plan also separately provides for the Fund to bear the costs of
preparing, printing and distributing certain of the Fund's prospectuses and
statements of additional information and costs associated with implementing
and operating the Plan, not to exceed the greater of $100,000 or .005 of 1%
of the Fund's average daily net assets for any full year. During the year
ended December 31, 1995, $397,126 was charged to the Fund pursuant to the
Plan, of which $5,356 was reimbursed by the Manager.
(C) Each trustee who is not an "affiliated person" as defined in the Act
receives from the Fund an annual fee of $2,500 and an attendance fee of $250
per meeting. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional 25% of such
compensation.
NOTE 3-SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS:
The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities,
excluding short-term securities, during the year ended December 31, 1995
amounted to $47,748,722 and $50,305,334, respectively.
At December 31, 1995, the cost of investments for Federal income tax
purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting
purposes (see the Statement of Investments).
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
SHAREHOLDERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DREYFUS NEW YORK INSURED TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of
Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund, including the statement of
investments, as of December 31, 1995, and the related statement of operations
for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of
the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of
the years indicated therein. These financial statements and financial
highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and
financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and
financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of
securities owned as of December 31, 1995 by correspondence with the custodian.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund at December 31,
1995, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in
its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the
financial highlights for each of the indicated years, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
[Ernst and Young LLP signature logo]
New York, New York
February 1, 1996
