Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
Investing in high-quality money market securities for current income, safety of
principal and liquidity
PROSPECTUS March 1, 1999
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
Contents
THE FUND
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2 Goal/Approach
3 Main Risks
4 Past Performance
5 Expenses
6 Management
7 Financial Highlights
YOUR INVESTMENT
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8 Account Policies
11 Distributions and Taxes
12 Services for Fund Investors
14 Instructions for Regular Accounts
16 Instructions for IRAs
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Back Cover
What every investor should know about the fund
Information for managing your fund account
Where to learn more about this and other Dreyfus funds
<PAGE>
The Fund
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
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Ticker Symbol: DWDXX
GOAL/APPROACH
The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the
preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. As a money market
fund, the fund is subject to maturity, quality and diversification requirements
designed to help it maintain a stable share price of $1.00.
The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, short-term debt
securities, including the following:
(pound) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies
(pound) certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and other
short-term securities issued by domestic or foreign banks or their
subsidiaries or branches
(pound) repurchase agreements
(pound) asset-backed securities
(pound) domestic and dollar-denominated foreign commercial paper, and other
short-term corporate obligations, including those with floating or
variable rates of interest
(pound) dollar-denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by one or more
foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions or agencies
Normally, the fund invests at least 25% of its net assets in domestic or dollar-
denominated foreign bank obligations.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND CAN BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL
REPORT (SEE BACK COVER).
Concepts to understand
MONEY MARKET FUND: a specific type of fund that seeks to maintain a $1 price
per share. Money market funds are subject to strict federal requirements and
must do the following:
(pound) maintain an average dollar-weighted portfolio maturity of 90 days or
less
(pound) buy individual securities that have remaining maturities of 13 months
or less
(pound) buy only high-quality dollar-denominated obligations
<PAGE>
MAIN RISKS
An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to
preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose
money by investing in the fund. Additionally, the fund's yield will vary as the
short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in
securities with different interest rates.
While the fund has maintained a constant share price since inception, and
will continue to try to do so, the following factors could reduce the fund's
income level and/or share price:
(pound) interest rates could rise sharply, causing the value of the fund's
securities, and share price, to drop
(pound) any of the fund's holdings could have its credit rating downgraded or
could default
(pound) the risks generally associated with concentrating investments in the
banking industry, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and
regulatory developments relating to the banking industry
(pound) the risks generally associated with dollar-denominated foreign
investments, such as economic and political developments, seizure or
nationalization of deposits, imposition of taxes or other restrictions
on the payment of principal and interest
Concepts to understand
CREDIT RATING: a measure of the issuer's expected ability to make all required
interest and principal payments in a timely manner.
An issuer with the highest credit rating has a very strong degree of certainty
(or safety) with respect to making all payments. An issuer with the
second-highest credit rating has a strong capacity to make all payments, but the
degree of safety is somewhat less.
Generally, the fund is required to invest at least 95% of its assets in the
securities of issuers with the highest credit rating, with the remainder
invested in securities with the second-highest credit rating.
The Fund
<PAGE>
PAST PERFORMANCE
The two tables below show the fund's annual returns and its long-term
performance. The first table shows you how the fund's performance has varied
from year to year. The second table averages performance over time. Both tables
assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all mutual funds,
the past is not a prediction of the future.
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Year-by-year total return AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR (%)
8.72 6.42 3.82 2.68 3.45 5.46 4.92 5.06 4.98
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
BEST QUARTER: Q2 '90 2.14%
WORST QUARTER: Q2 '93 0.65%
The fund's 7-day yield on 12/31/98 was 4.47%. The fund's
yield was increased by .20% due to a voluntary fee
waiver currently in effect. For the fund's current
yield, call toll-free 1-800-645-6561.
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Average annual total return AS OF 12/31/98
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Inception
1 Year 5 Years (2/23/89)
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
FUND 4.98% 4.77% 5.46%
</TABLE>
What this fund is -- and isn't
This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed
and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to
reach its stated goal, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer
guaranteed results.
An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete
investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the
potential to make money.
<PAGE>
EXPENSES
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund,
which are described in the table below. Annual fund operating expenses are paid
out of fund assets, so their effect is included in the share price. The fund has
no sales charge (load) or 12b-1 distribution fees.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS
Management fees 0.50%
Shareholder services fee 0.21%
Other expenses 0.22%
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TOTAL 0.93%
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Expense example
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
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$95 $296 $515 $1,143
This example shows what you could pay in expenses over time. It uses the same
hypothetical conditions other funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial
investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in expenses. The figures
shown would be the same whether you sold your shares at the end of a period or
kept them. Because actual return and expenses will be different, the example is
for comparison only.
Concepts to understand
MANAGEMENT FEE: the fee paid to the investment adviser for managing the fund's
portfolio and assisting in all aspects of the fund's operations.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, Dreyfus waived a portion of its fee
so that the effective management fee paid by the fund was 0.32%, reducing total
expenses from 0.93% to 0.75%. This waiver is voluntary and currently in effect
and may be terminated at any time.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE: a fee of up to 0.25% used to reimburse Dreyfus Service
Corporation for shareholder account service and maintenance.
OTHER EXPENSES: fees paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer
agency, custody, professional and registration fees.
The Fund
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages one of the nation's
leading mutual fund complexes, with more than $117 billion in more than 160
mutual fund portfolios. Dreyfus is the primary mutual fund business of Mellon
Bank Corporation, a broad-based financial services company with a bank at its
core. With more than $334 billion of assets under management and $1.7 trillion
of assets under administration and custody, Mellon provides a full range of
banking, investment and trust products and services to individuals, businesses
and institutions. Its mutual fund companies place Mellon as the leading bank
manager of mutual funds. Mellon is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Dreyfus asset management philosophy is based on the belief that discipline
and consistency are important to investment success. For each fund, the firm
seeks to establish clear guidelines for portfolio management and to be
systematic in making decisions. This approach is designed to provide each fund
with a distinct, stable identity.
Concepts to understand
YEAR 2000 ISSUES: the fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
used by Dreyfus and the fund's other service providers do not properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000.
Dreyfus is working to avoid year 2000-related problems in its systems and to
obtain assurances from other service providers that they are taking similar
steps. In addition, issuers of securities in which the fund invests may be
adversely affected by year 2000-related problems. This could have an impact on
the value of the fund's investments and its share price.
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
This table describes the fund's performance for the fiscal periods indicated.
"Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased
(or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and
distributions. These figures have been independently audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, whose report, along with the fund's financial statements, is included in
the annual report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Investment operations:
Investment income -- net .049 .049 .049 .052 .031
Distributions:
Dividends from investment
income -- net (.049) (.049) (.049) (.052) (.031)
Net asset value, end of period 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Total return (%) 5.05 5.02 4.96 5.33 3.17
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (%) .75 .75 .81 .86 .84
Ratio of net investment
income to average net assets (%) 4.95 4.90 4.86 5.20 3.07
Decrease reflected in above expense
ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%) .18 .14 .05 -- --
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 1,571,336 1,667,835 1,941,601 2,105,361 2,469,367
</TABLE>
The Fund
<PAGE>
Your Investment
ACCOUNT POLICIES
Buying shares
YOU PAY NO SALES CHARGES to invest in this fund. Your price for fund shares is
the fund's net asset value per share (NAV), which is generally calculated as of
the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) every day the exchange and the fund's transfer agent are open. Your order
will be priced at the next NAV calculated after your order is accepted by the
fund's transfer agent or other entity authorized to accept orders on behalf of
the fund. The fund's portfolio securities are valued at amortized cost, which
does not take into account unrealized gains or losses. As a result, portfolio
securities are valued at their acquisition cost, adjusted for discounts or
premiums reflected in their purchase price. This method of valuation is designed
to enable the fund to price its shares at $1.00 per share.
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Minimum investments
Initial Additional
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REGULAR ACCOUNTS $2,500 $100
$500 FOR
TELETRANSFER
INVESTMENTS
TRADITIONAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
SPOUSAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
ROTH IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
EDUCATION IRAS $500 NO MINIMUM
AFTER THE FIRST
YEAR
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC $100 $100
INVESTMENT PLANS
All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party
checks cannot be accepted. You may be charged a fee for
any check that does not clear. Maximum TeleTransfer
purchase is $150,000 per day.
Third-party investments
If you invest through a third party (rather than directly with Dreyfus), the
policies and fees may be different than those described here. Banks, brokers,
401(k) plans, financial advisers and financial supermarkets may charge
transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on
buying or selling shares. Consult a representative of your plan or financial
institution if in doubt.
<PAGE>
Selling shares
YOU MAY SELL SHARES AT ANY TIME. Your shares will be sold at the next NAV
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other
entity authorized to accept orders on behalf of the fund. Any certificates
representing fund shares being sold must be returned with your redemption
request. Your order will be processed promptly and you will generally receive
the proceeds within a week.
BEFORE SELLING OR WRITING A CHECK FOR RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES, please note
that if the fund has not yet collected payment for the shares you are selling,
it may delay sending the proceeds for up to eight business days or until it has
collected payment.
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Limitations on selling shares by phone
Proceeds
sent by Minimum Maximum
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CHECK NO MINIMUM $150,000 PER DAY
WIRE $1,000 $250,000 FOR JOINT
ACCOUNTS
EVERY 30 DAYS
TELETRANSFER $500 $250,000 FOR JOINT
ACCOUNTS
EVERY 30 DAYS
Written sell orders
Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees.
These include:
(pound) amounts of $1,000 or more on accounts whose address has been changed
within the last 30 days
(pound) requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most
banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts,
each signature must be guaranteed. Please call us to ensure that your signature
guarantee will be processed correctly.
Your Investment
<PAGE>
ACCOUNT POLICIES (CONTINUED)
General policies
UNLESS YOU DECLINE TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES on your application, you may be
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order as long as Dreyfus takes
reasonable measures to verify the order.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
(pound) change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend
this privilege during unusual market conditions
(pound) change its minimum investment amounts
(pound) delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to seven days (generally
applies only in cases of very large redemptions, excessive trading or
during unusual market conditions)
The fund also reserves the right to make a "redemption in kind" -- payment in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount you are redeeming is
large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it represents more than
1% of the fund's assets).
Fee for small accounts
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the fund
charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The
fee will be imposed during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.
The fee will be waived for: any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund
investments total at least $25,000; IRA accounts; accounts participating in
automatic investment programs; and accounts opened through a financial
institution.
If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If it is still below $500 after 45 days, the fund may close your account and
send you the proceeds.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
THE FUND USUALLY PAYS ITS SHAREHOLDERS dividends from its net investment income
once a month, and distributes any net securities gains that it has realized once
a year. Your distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you instruct
the fund otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on reinvestments.
FUND DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TAXABLE to most investors (unless your
investment is in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). The tax status of any
distribution is the same regardless of how long you have been in the fund and
whether you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash. In general,
dividends paid by the fund will be taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary
income.
The tax status of your dividends and distributions will be detailed in your
annual tax statement from the fund.
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional
about federal, state and local tax consequences.
Concepts to understand
DIVIDENDS: income or interest paid by the investments in the fund's portfolio.
DISTRIBUTIONS: income, net of expenses passed on to fund shareholders. These are
calculated on a per share basis: each share earns the same rate of return, so
the more fund shares you own, the higher your distribution.
Your Investment
<PAGE>
SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS
Automatic services
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES AUTOMATICALLY is easy with the services described
below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain
restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application or by
calling 1-800-645-6561.
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For investing
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making automatic investments
ASSET BUILDER((reg.tm)) from a designated bank account.
DREYFUS PAYROLL For making automatic investments
SAVINGS PLAN through a payroll deduction.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT For making automatic investments
DIRECT DEPOSIT from your federal employment,
PRIVILEGE Social Security or other regular
federal government check.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND For automatically reinvesting the
SWEEP dividends and distributions from
one Dreyfus fund into another
(not available for IRAs).
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For exchanging shares
DREYFUS AUTO- For making regular exchanges
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE from one Dreyfus fund into
another.
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For selling shares
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making regular withdrawals
WITHDRAWAL PLAN from most Dreyfus funds.
Dreyfus Financial Centers
Through a nationwide network of Dreyfus Financial Centers, Dreyfus offers a full
array of investment services and products. This includes information on mutual
funds, brokerage services, tax-advantaged products and retirement planning.
Our experienced financial consultants can help you make informed choices and
provide you with personalized attention in handling account transactions. The
Financial Centers also offer informative seminars and events. To find the
Financial Center nearest you, call 1-800-499-3327.
<PAGE>
Checkwriting privilege
YOU MAY WRITE REDEMPTION CHECKS against your account in amounts of $500 or more.
These checks are free; however, a fee will be charged if you request a stop
payment or if the transfer agent cannot honor a redemption check due to
insufficient funds or another valid reason. Please do not postdate your checks
or use them to close your account.
Exchange privilege
YOU CAN EXCHANGE $500 OR MORE from one Dreyfus fund into another (no minimum for
retirement accounts). You can request your exchange in writing or by phone. Be
sure to read the current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging.
Any new account established through an exchange will have the same privileges as
your original account (as long as they are available). There is currently no fee
for exchanges, although you may be charged a sales load when exchanging into any
fund that has one.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege
TO MOVE MONEY BETWEEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT and your Dreyfus fund account with a
phone call, use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up TeleTransfer
on your account by providing bank account information and following the
instructions on your application.
The Dreyfus Touch((reg.tm))
FOR 24-HOUR AUTOMATED ACCOUNT ACCESS, use Dreyfus Touch. With a touch-tone
phone, you can easily manage your Dreyfus accounts, obtain information on other
Dreyfus mutual funds and get current stock market quotes.
Retirement plans
Dreyfus offers a variety of retirement plans, including traditional, Roth and
Education IRAs. Here's where you call for information:
(pound) for traditional, rollover, Roth and Education IRAs, call 1-800-645-656
(pound) for SEP-IRAs, Keogh accounts, 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, call
1-800-358-0910
Your Investment
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete the application.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Family of Funds
P.O. Box 9387, Providence, RI 02940-9387
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Mail the slip and the check to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 105,
Newark, NJ 07101-0105
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your
investment to The Bank of New York, with these instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900052325
* the fund name
* your Social Security or tax ID number
* name(s) of investor(s)
Call us to obtain an account number. Return your application.
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900052325
* the fund name
* your account number
* name(s) of investor(s)
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but insert "1111" before your account number
TELETRANSFER Request TeleTransfer on your application. Call us to request your
transaction.
Automatically
WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT Indicate on your application which automatic
service(s) you want. Return your application with your investment.
WITHOUT ANY INITIAL INVESTMENT Check the Dreyfus Step Program option on your
application. Return your application, then complete the additional materials
when they are sent to you.
ALL SERVICES Call us to request a form to add any automatic investing service
(see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete and return the forms along with
any other required materials.
Via the Internet
COMPUTER Visit the Dreyfus Web site http://www.dreyfus.com, and follow the
instructions to download an account application.
<PAGE>
TO SELL SHARES
Write a redemption check OR write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name(s) and signature(s)
* your account number
* the fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see "Account
Policies -- Selling Shares").
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 9671, Providence, RI
02940-9671
WIRE Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Call us to
request your transaction. Proceeds will be wired to your bank.
TELETRANSFER Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Call
us to request your transaction. Proceeds will be sent to your bank by
electronic check.
CHECK Call us to request your transaction. A check will be sent to the address
of record.
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request a form to add the plan.
Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of withdrawals you would
like.
Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.
To reach Dreyfus, call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-645-6561
Outside the U.S. 516-794-5452
Make checks payable to:
THE DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS
You also can deliver requests to any Dreyfus Financial Center. Because
processing time may vary, please ask the representative when your account will
be credited or debited.
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a
$1,000 minimum.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
Your Investment
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRAS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete an IRA application, making sure to specify the fund name and to
indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian P.O. Box 6427, Providence, RI 02940-6427
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail in the slip and the check (see "To Open an Account" at left).
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900052325
* the fund name
* your account number
* name of investor
* the contribution year
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but insert "1111" before your account number
TELEPHONE CONTRIBUTION Call to request us to move money from a regular Dreyfus
account to an IRA (both accounts must be held in the same shareholder name).
Automatically
WITHOUT ANY INITIAL INVESTMENT Call us to request a Dreyfus Step Program
form. Complete and return the form along with your application.
ALL SERVICES Call us to request a form to add an automatic investing service
(see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete and return the form along with any
other required materials.
All contributions will count as current year.
Via the Internet
COMPUTER Visit the Dreyfus Web site http://www.dreyfus.com, and follow the
instructions to download an account application.
<PAGE>
TO SELL SHARES
Write a redemption check* OR write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name and signature
* your account number and fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
* whether the distribution is qualified or premature
* whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required. Mail in your
request (see "To Open an Account" at left).
*A redemption check written for a qualified distribution is not subject to
TEFRA.
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request instructions to establish
the plan.
To reach Dreyfus, call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-645-6561
Outside the U.S. 516-794-5452
Make checks payable to:
THE DREYFUS TRUST CO., CUSTODIAN
You also can deliver requests to any Dreyfus Financial Center. Because
processing time may vary, please ask the representative when your account will
be credited or debited.
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a
$1,000 minimum.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
Your Investment
<PAGE>
For More Information
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar
Money Market Fund, Inc.
----------------------------
SEC file number: 811-5717
More information on this fund is available free upon
request, including the following:
Annual/Semiannual Report
Describes the fund's performance and lists portfolio
holdings.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A
current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by reference (is
legally considered part of this prospectus).
To obtain information:
BY TELEPHONE Call 1-800-645-6561
BY MAIL Write to:
The Dreyfus Family of Funds
144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard
Uniondale, NY 11556-0144
BY E-MAIL Send your request to [email protected]
ON THE INTERNET Text-only versions of fund documents can be viewed online or
downloaded from:
SEC
http://www.sec.gov
DREYFUS
http://www.dreyfus.com
You can also obtain copies by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC (phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or by sending your request and a
duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC
20549-6009.
(c) 1999, Dreyfus Service Corporation DWWP0399
<PAGE>
______________________________________________________________________________
DREYFUS WORLDWIDE DOLLAR MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MARCH 1, 1999
______________________________________________________________________________
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated March
1, 1999, 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 one of the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City--Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S.--Call 516-794-5452
The Fund's most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to
Shareholders are separate documents supplied with this Statement of
Additional Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and
report of independent auditors appearing in the Annual Report are
incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Description of the Fund........................................ B-2
Management of the Fund......................................... B-9
Management Arrangements........................................ B-14
How to Buy Shares.............................................. B-17
Shareholder Services Plan...................................... B-19
How to Redeem Shares........................................... B-20
Shareholder Services........................................... B-22
Determination of Net Asset Value............................... B-26
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes............................. B-27
Portfolio Transactions......................................... B-28
Yield Information.............................................. B-29
Information about the Fund..................................... B-29
Counsel and Independent Auditors............................... B-30
Appendix....................................................... B-31
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
The Fund is a Maryland corporation formed on February 2, 1989. The
Fund is an open-end management investment company, known as a money market
mutual fund. The Fund is a diversified fund, which means that, with respect
to 75% of its total assets, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its
assets in the securities of any single issuer.
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.
Certain Portfolio Securities
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus.
Bank Obligations. The Fund may purchase certificates of deposit, time
deposits, bankers' acceptances and other short-term obligations issued by
domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks,
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, domestic savings and loan
associations and other banking institutions.
Certificates of deposit ("CDs") are negotiable certificates evidencing the
obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of
time.
Time deposits ("TDs") are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking
institution for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven days)
at a stated interest rate.
Bankers' acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation
of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect
the obligation both of the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount of the
instrument upon maturity. The other short-term obligations may include
uninsured, direct obligations bearing fixed, floating or variable interest
rates.
Domestic commercial banks organized under Federal law are supervised
and examined by the Comptroller of the Currency and are required to be members
of the Federal Reserve System and to have their deposits insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"). Domestic banks organized under
state law are supervised and examined by state banking authorities but are
members of the Federal Reserve System only if they elect to join. In addition,
state banks whose CDs may be purchased by the Fund are insured by the FDIC
(although such insurance may not be of material benefit to the Fund, depending
upon the principal amount of the CDs of each bank held by the Fund) and are
subject to Federal examination and to a substantial body of Federal law and
regulation. As a result of Federal or state laws and regulations, domestic
banks, among other things, generally are required to maintain specified levels
of reserves, limited in the amounts which they can loan to a single borrower
and subject to other regulations designed to promote financial soundness.
However, not all of such laws and regulations apply to the foreign branches of
domestic banks.
Obligations of foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks,
and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks may be general obligations
of the parent banks in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the
terms of a specific obligation and governmental regulation. Such obligations
are subject to different risks than are those of domestic banks. These risks
include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental
restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the
obligations, foreign exchange controls and foreign withholding and other taxes
on interest income. These foreign branches and subsidiaries are not
necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply
to domestic banks, such as mandatory reserve requirements, loan limitations,
and accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping requirements. In
addition, less information may be publicly available about a foreign branch of
a domestic bank or about a foreign bank than about a domestic bank.
Obligations of United States branches of foreign banks may be general
obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be
limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by Federal or state
regulation as well as governmental action in the country in which the foreign
bank has its head office. A domestic branch of a foreign bank with assets in
excess of $1 billion may be subject to reserve requirements imposed by the
Federal Reserve System or by the state in which the branch is located if the
branch is licensed in that state.
In addition, Federal branches licensed by the Comptroller of the Currency
and branches licensed by certain states ("State Branches") may be required to:
(1) pledge to the regulator, by depositing assets with a designated bank within
the state, a certain percentage of their assets as fixed from time to time by
the appropriate regulatory authority; and (2) maintain assets within the state
in an amount equal to a specified percentage of the aggregate amount of
liabilities of the foreign bank payable at or through all of its agencies or
branches within the state. The deposits of Federal and State Branches
generally must be insured by the FDIC if such branches take deposits of less
than $100,000.
In view of the foregoing factors associated with the purchase of CDs and
TDs issued by foreign branches of domestic banks, by foreign subsidiaries of
domestic banks, by foreign branches of foreign banks or by domestic branches of
foreign banks, the Manager carefully evaluates such investments on a case-by-
case basis.
U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may purchase securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities which
include U.S. Treasury securities that differ in their interest rates,
maturities and times of issuance. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith
and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow
from the Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to
purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others only
by the credit of the agency or instrumentality. These securities bear fixed,
floating or variable rates of interest. While the U.S. Government currently
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.
Foreign Government Obligations; Securities of Supranational Entities. The
Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by one or more foreign
governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies or
instrumentalities that are determined by the Manager to be of comparable
quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest. Such securities
also include debt obligations of supranational entities. Supranational
entities include international organizations designated or supported by
governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and
international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples
include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World
Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, the Asian Development Bank and
the InterAmerican Development Bank.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements.
In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and the seller agrees to
repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time and price (usually
within seven days). The repurchase agreement thereby determines the yield
during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's obligation to
repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security. 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 or government securities
regardless of their remaining maturities, 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 securities. The Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements with certain banks or non-bank dealers.
Commercial Paper. The Fund may purchase commercial paper consisting of
short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued to finance short-term credit
needs. The commercial paper purchased by the Fund will consist only of
direct obligations issued by domestic and foreign entities. The other
corporate obligations in which the Fund may invest consist of high quality,
U.S. dollar denominated short-term bonds and notes (including variable
amount master demand notes) issued by domestic and foreign corporations,
including banks.
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating
and variable rate demand notes and bonds, which are obligations ordinarily
having stated maturities in excess of 13 months, but which permit the holder
to demand payment of principal at any time, or at specified intervals not
exceeding 13 months, in each case upon not more than 30 days' notice.
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.
Participation Interests. The Fund may purchase from financial
institutions participation interests in securities in which the Fund may
invest. A participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in
the security in the proportion that the Fund's participation interest bears
to the total principal amount of the security. These instruments may have
fixed, floating or variable rates of interest, with remaining maturities of
13 months or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been
given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by the Fund, the
participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or
guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be
collateralized by U.S. Government securities, or, in the case of unrated
participation interests, the Manager must have determined that the
instrument is of comparable quality to those instruments in which the Fund
may invest.
Illiquid Securities. The Fund may invest up to 10% 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.
Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may purchase asset-backed
securities, which are securities issued by special purpose entities whose
primary assets consist of a pool of mortgages, loans, receivables or other
assets. Payment of principal and interest may depend largely on the cash
flows generated by the assets backing the securities and, in certain cases,
supported by letters of credit, surety bonds or other forms of credit or
liquidity enhancements. The value of these asset-backed securities also may
be affected by the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool of
assets, the originator of the loans or receivables or the financial
institution providing the credit support.
Investment Techniques
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus.
Borrowing Money. The Fund may borrow money from banks for temporary or
emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of
its total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of
cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the
time the borrowing is made. Whole borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments. In addition, the
Fund may borrow for investment purposes on a secured basis through entering
into reverse repurchase agreements.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse
repurchase agreements with banks, brokers or dealers. This form of
borrowing involves the transfer by the Fund of an underlying debt instrument
in return for cash proceeds based on a percentage of the value of the
security. The Fund retains the right to receive interest and principal
payments on the security. At an agreed upon future date, the Fund
repurchases the security at principal plus accrued interest. As a result of
these transactions, the Fund is exposed to greater potential fluctuations in
the value of its assets and its net asset value per share. These borrowings
will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by
appreciation of the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs
may exceed the return received on the securities purchased.
Lending Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend securities from its
portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to
borrow securities to complete certain transactions. 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 33-
1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will receive
collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable
letters of credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal
to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Such
loans are terminable by the Fund at any time upon specified notice. The
Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has
engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the
Fund. 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.
Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase money market instruments on
a forward commitment or when-issued basis, which means that delivery and
payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to
purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable on a
forward commitment or when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters
into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it receives
delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase such
securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but
the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is
deemed advisable. The Fund will set aside in a segregated account
permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of the
Fund's purchase commitments. 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
Foreign Securities. Because the Fund's portfolio may contain
securities issued by foreign governments, or any of their political
subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, and by foreign subsidiaries and
foreign branches of domestic banks, domestic and foreign branches of foreign
banks, and commercial paper issued by foreign issuers, the Fund may be
subject to additional investment risks with respect to such securities that
are different in some respects from those incurred by a fund which invests
only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers, although such obligations
may be higher yielding when compared to the securities of U.S. domestic
issuers. Such risks include possible future political and economic
developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, imposition of
foreign withholding taxes on interest income payable on securities,
establishment of exchange controls or the adoption of other foreign
governmental restrictions with might adversely affect the payment of
principal and interest on these securities.
Bank Securities. To the extent the Fund's investments are concentrated
in the banking industry, the Fund will have correspondingly greater exposure
to the risk factors which are characteristic of such investments. Sustained
increases in interest rates can adversely affect the availability or
liquidity and cost of capital funds for a bank's lending activities, and a
deterioration in general economic conditions could increase the exposure to
credit losses. In addition, the value of and the investment return on the
Fund's shares could be affected by economic or regulatory developments in or
related to the banking industry, which industry also is subject to the
effects of competition within the banking industry as well as with other
types of financial institutions. The Fund, however, will seek to minimize
its exposure to such risks by investing only in debt securities with are
determined to be of high quality.
Simultaneous Investments. Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of other investment companies advised by the
Manager. 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.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy, 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. In addition, the Fund has adopted investment
restrictions numbered 1 through 7 as fundamental policies. Investment
restrictions numbered 8 through 14 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. 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).
2. Act as underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the
extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
3. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust
securities, commodities, or oil and gas interests.
4. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations and through repurchase agreements referred to in the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information, and except that 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.
5. Invest more than 15% of its assets in the obligations of any one
bank, or invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any other
issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be
invested without regard to any such limitations. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, to the extent required by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its assets in
the obligations of any one bank.
6. Invest less than 25% of its total assets in securities issued by
banks or invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of issuers in
any other industry, provided that there shall be no limitation on the
purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for temporary
defensive purposes the Fund may invest less than 25% of its assets in bank
obligations.
7. Purchase securities on margin.
8. Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, corporate
bonds or debentures, state bonds, municipal bonds or industrial revenue
bonds (except through the purchase of debt obligations referred to in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information).
9. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets,
except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and in
connection with the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis.
10. Sell securities short.
11. Write or purchase put or call options or combinations thereof.
12. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.
13. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
14. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more
than seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid if,
in the aggregate, more than 10% of the value of the Fund's net assets would
be so invested.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values
or assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Fund's Board is responsible for the management and supervision of
the Fund. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Fund
and those companies that furnish services to the Fund. These companies are
as follows:
The Dreyfus Corporation Investment Adviser
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. Distributor
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Custodian
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years,
are shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is
a director of The Noel Group, Inc., a venture capital company (for
which, from February 1995 until November 1997, he was Chairman of the
Board), The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services
Corporation, a provider of marketing, administrative and risk
management services to health and other benefit programs, Caryle
Industries, Inc. (formerly, Belding Heminway, Inc.), a button packager
and distributor, Career Blazers, Inc. (formerly, Staffing Resources,
Inc.), a temporary placement agency, and Century Business Services,
Inc. (formerly International Alliance Services, Inc.), a provider of
various outsourcing functions for small and medium sized companies.
For more than five years prior to January 1995, he was President, a
director and, until August 1994, Chief Operating Officer of the Manager
and Executive Vice President and a director of Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager and, until August
24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From August 1994 until December 31,
1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank Corporation. He is 55 years old
and his address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
LUCY WILSON BENSON, Board Member. President of Benson and Associates,
consultants to business and government. Mrs. Benson is a director of
COMSAT and Logistics Management Institute. She is also a Trustee of
the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of Lafayette College, Vice Chairman of the Citizens Network for Foreign
Affairs and of the Atlantic Council of the U.S. and a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations. From 1980 to 1994, Mrs. Benson was a
director of The Grumman Corporation and of the General RE Corporation
from 1990 to 1998. Mrs. Benson served as a consultant to the U.S.
Department of State and to SRI International from 1980 to 1981. From
1977 to 1980, she was Under Secretary of State of Security Assistance,
Science and Technology. She is 71 years old and her address is 46
Sunset Avenue, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002.
DAVID W. BURKE, Board Member. Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, an independent board within the United States Information
Agency, since August 1995. From August 1994 to December 1994, Mr.
Burke was a Consultant to the Manager, and from October 1990 to August
1994, he was Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the
Manager. From 1977 to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the management
of national television news, as Vice President and Executive Vice
President of ABC News, and subsequently as President of CBS News. He
is 62 years old and his address is 197 Eighth Street, Charleston,
Massachusetts 02109.
MARTIN D. FIFE, Board Member. Chairman of the Board of Magar Inc., a
company specializing in financial products and developing early stage
companies. In addition, Mr. Fife is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Skysat Communications Network Corporation, a
company developing telecommunications systems. Mr. Fife also serves on
the boards of various other companies. He is 71 years old and his
address is 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174.
WHITNEY I. GERARD, Board Member. Partner of the New York City law firm of
Chadbourne & Parke. He is 64 years old and his address is 30
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112.
ROBERT R. GLAUBER, Board Member. Research Fellow, Center for Business and
Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, since January 1992. Mr. Glauber was Under Secretary of the
Treasury for Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department from May 1989 to
January 1992. For more than five years prior thereto, he was a
Professor of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration
of Harvard University and, from 1985 to 1989, Chairman of its Advanced
Management Program. He is chairman of The Measurisk Group, a risk
measurement advisory and software development firm, co-chairman of the
Investment Committee, Massachusetts State Retirement Fund, and is also
a director of The Dun & Bradstreet Corp, Exel Limited, a Bermuda based
insurance company, Cooke and Bieler, Inc., investment counselors,
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., NASD Regulation, Inc.
and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He is 59 years old and his
address is 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
ARTHUR A. HARTMAN, Board Member. Senior consultant with APCO Associates
Inc. From 1981 to 1987, he was United States Ambassador to the former
Soviet Union. He sits on the Boards of Ford Meter Box Corporation and
Lawter International and is a member of the advisory councils of
several other companies, research institutes and foundations.
Ambassador Hartman is Chairman of First NIS Regional Fund (ING/Barings
Management). He is a former President of the Harvard Board of
Overseers. He is 72 years old and his address is 2738 McKinley Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015.
GEORGE L. PERRY, Board Member. An economist and Senior Fellow at the
Brookings Institution since 1969. He is co-director of the Brookings
panel on Economic Activity and editor of its journal, The Brookings
Papers. He is also a director of the State Farm Mutual Automobile
Association and State Farm Life Insurance Company and a Trustee of
Federal Realty Investment Trust. He is 65 years old and his address is
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a per
meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the
Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board
members are entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of
one-half the amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1998, and by all other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for
which such person is a Board member (the number of which is set forth in
parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) for the year
ended December 31, 1998, were as follows:
Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Aggregate Fund Complex
Name of Board Compensation Paid to Board
Member From Fund* Member
_____________ ____________ _____________
Lucy Wilson Benson $7,500 $77,168 (17)
David W. Burke $7,500 $233,500 (49)
Joseph S. DiMartino $9,375 $619,660 (98)
Martin D. Fife $7,500 $56,000 (12)
Whitney I. Gerard $7,500 $60,250 (12)
Robert R. Glauber $7,000 $88,250 (20)
Arthur A. Hartman $7,000 $55,750 (12)
George L. Perry $6,500 $51,750 (12)
__________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $1,460 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. She is 41 years old.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by Dreyfus. From August
1996 to March 1998, she was Vice President and Assistant General
Counsel for Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. From January 1986 to July
1996, she was an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray. She is
38 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Client
Initiatives of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
December 1989 through November 1996, he was employed by GE Investment
Services where he held various financial, business development and
compliance positions. He also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds and
as a director of GE Investment Services. He is 37 years old.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Vice President and Client Development Manager of Funds
Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised
or administered by Dreyfus. From April 1997 to March 1998, she was
employed as a Relationship Manager with Citibank, N.A. From August
1995 to April 1997, she was an Assistant Vice President with Hudson
Valley Bank, and from September 1990 to August 1995, she was Second
Vice President with Chase Manhattan Bank. She is 30 years old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of
the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
September 1989 to July 1994, she was an Assistant Vice President and
Client Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. She is 34 years old.
GEORGE A. RIO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President and Client Service Director of Funds Distributor, Inc., and
an officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From June 1995 to March 1998, he was Senior Vice President
and Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam Mutual Funds. From May 1994
to June 1995, he was Director of Business Development for First Data
Corporation. From September 1983 to May 1994, he was Senior Vice
President and Manager of Client Services and Director of Internal Audit
at The Boston Company, Inc. He is 43 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of the
Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From July
1988 to August 1994, he was employed by The Boston Company, Inc. where
he held various management positions in the Corporate Finance and
Treasury areas. He is 36 years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. He is 29 years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of Funds Distributor,
Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From April 1994 to July 1996, he was
Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. From October 1992 to March
1994, he was employed by Putnam Investments in legal and compliance
capacities. He is 33 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Manager of
Treasury Services Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant
for Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 26 years old.
ELBA VASQUEZ, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President of
Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. From March 1990 to May 1996,
she was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New York., where she held
various sales and marketing positions. She is 37 years old.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 200 Park Avenue, New York,
New York 10166.
The Fund's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1%
of the Fund's shares outstanding on February 1, 1999.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Investment Advisor. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon
Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation
("Mellon"). Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company
incorporated under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a
comprehensive range of financial products and services in domestic and
selected international markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest
bank holding companies in the United States based on total assets.
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994 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 4, 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 January 28, 1999. 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 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:
Christopher M. Condron, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;
Stephen E. Canter, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment
Officer and a director; Thomas F. Eggers, Vice Chairman-Institutional;
Lawrence S. Kash, Vice Chairman and a director; Ronald P. O'Hanley III, Vice
Chairman; J. David Officer, Vice Chairman and a director; William T.
Sandalls, Jr., Executive Vice President; Mark N. Jacobs, Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice President--
Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human Resources;
Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President--Information Systems; Theodore A. Schachar,
Vice President; Wendy Strutt, Vice President; Richard Terres, Vice
President; William H. Maresca, Controller; James Bitetto, Assistant
Secretary; Steven F. Newman, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman,
Burton C. Borgelt, Steven G. Elliot, Martin C. McGuinn, Richard W. Sabo and
Richard F. Syron, directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance
with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's
Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and provides
the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute
purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are
Bernard Kiernan, Jr., Patricia A. Larkin and Thomas S. Riordan. The Manager
also maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio
managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund
and for other funds advised by the Manager.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Fund. The Manager may pay the Distributor for shareholder
services from the Manager's own assets, including past profits but not
including the management fee paid by the Fund. The Distributor may use part
or all of such payments to pay securities dealers, banks or other financial
institutions in respect of these services. The Manager also may make such
advertising and promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it
from time to time deems appropriate.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by the
Fund, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The
expenses borne by the Fund include: taxes, interest, brokerage fees and
commissions, if any, fees of Board members who are not officers, directors,
employees or holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
the Manager, Securities and Exchange Commission 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 independent
pricing services, costs of maintaining the Fund's existence, costs
attributable to investor services (including, without limitation, telephone
and personnel expenses), costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and
statements of additional information used for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders, costs of shareholders' reports and
meetings, and any extraordinary expenses. In addition, Fund shares are
subject to an annual service fee. See "Shareholder Services 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 .50 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. All fees and expenses are
accrued daily and deducted before the declaration of dividends to investors.
The management fees payable for the fiscal years ended October 31, 1996,
1997 and 1998 amounted to $10,155,364, $9,208,248 and $8,178,603,
respectively; however, such amount for the fiscal years ended 1996, 1997 and
1998 was reduced by $1,062,418, $2,522,347 and $2,903,728, respectively,
pursuant to undertakings by the Manager in effect, resulting in $9,092,946,
$6,685,901 and $5,274,875 being paid in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.
The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate
expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings
and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities
commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee,
exceed the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the
Fund, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under
the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense to the extent
required by state law. Such deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated
daily, and reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on a monthly
basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
Distributor. The Distributor, located at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, serves as the Fund's distributor on a best efforts
basis pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Custodian. Dreyfus
Transfer, Inc., (the "Transfer Agent"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Manager, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the 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 (the "Custodian"), 90 Washington Street, New York,
New York 10286, is the Fund's custodian. The Custodian has no part in
determining the investment policies of the Fund or which securities are to
be purchased or sold by the Fund. Under a custody agreement with the Fund,
the Custodian holds the Fund's securities and keeps all necessary accounts
and records.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
General. Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be
charged a fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities
dealer, bank or other financial institution. Stock certificates are issued
only upon your written request. No certificates are issued for fractional
shares. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a client
of a securities dealer, bank or other financial institution which maintains
an omnibus account in the Fund and has made an aggregate minimum initial
purchase for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be at
least $100. However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for Dreyfus-
sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-
working spouse, Roth IRAs, IRAs set up under a Simplified Employer Pension Plan
("SEP-IRAs") and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant
and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education IRAs with no minimum for subsequent
purchases. The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account
Application. For full-time or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of the Manager, Board members of a Fund
advised by the Manager, including members of the 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 Manager or any of its affiliates or
subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly deposited into
their Fund accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50. The Fund reserves
the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum purchase requirements
to employees participating in certain qualified and non-qualified employee
benefit plans or other programs where contributions or account information can
be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the Fund. The Fund reserves
the right to vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum
requirements at any time. Fund shares also are offered without regard to the
minimum initial investment requirements through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset
Builderr, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings
Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus Step Program described under "Shareholder
Services." These services enable you to make regularly scheduled investments
and may provide you with a convenient way to invest for long-term financial
goals. You should be aware, however, that periodic investment plans do not
guarantee a profit and will not protect an investor against loss in a declining
market.
Shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per share
next determined after an order in proper form is received by the Transfer
Agent or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund.
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 or the Transfer Agent are 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. See "Determination of Net Asset
Value."
The Distributor may pay dealers a fee of up to .5% of the amount
invested through such dealers in Fund shares by employees participating in
qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where
(i) the employers or affiliated employers maintaining such plans or programs
have a minimum of 250 employees eligible for participation in such plans or
programs or (ii) such plan's or program's aggregate investment in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds or certain other products made available by the
Distributor to such plans or programs exceeds $1,000,000 ("Eligible Benefit
Plans"). Shares of funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds then held by
Eligible Benefit Plans will be aggregated to determine the fee payable. The
Distributor reserves the right to cease paying these fees at any time. The
Distributor will pay such fees from its own funds, other than amounts
received from the Fund, including past profits or any other source available
to it.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may purchase shares by telephone
if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary
information on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services
Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be transferred between the
bank account designated in one of these documents and your Fund account.
Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution which is
an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders may be made at any time. Purchase
orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any business day that the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business will be
credited to the shareholder's Fund account on the next bank business day
following such purchase order. Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New
York time, on any business day the Transfer Agent and the New York Stock
Exchange are open for business, or orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any
Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York Stock Exchange is not open for
business), will be credited to the shareholder's Fund account on the second
bank business day following such purchase order. To qualify to use Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege, the initial payment for purchase of 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."
Transactions Through Securities Dealers. Fund shares may be purchased
and redeemed through securities dealers which may charge a transaction fee
for such services. Some dealers will place the Fund's shares in an account
with their firm. Dealers also may require the following: that the customer
invest more than the $1,000 minimum investment; the customer not take
physical delivery of stock certificates; the customer not request redemption
checks to be issued in the customer's name; fractional shares not be
purchased; monthly income distributions be taken in cash; or other
conditions.
There is no sales or service charge by the Fund or the Distributor,
although investment dealers, banks and other institutions may make
reasonable charges to investors for their services. The services provided
and the applicable fees are established by each dealer or other institution
acting independently of the Fund. The Fund has been given to understand
that these fees may be charged for customer services including, but not
limited to, same-day investment of client funds; same-day access to client
funds; advice to customers about the status of their accounts, yield
currently being paid or income earned to date; provision of periodic account
statements showing security and money market positions; other services
available from the dealer, bank or other institution; and assistance with
inquiries related to their investment. Any such fees will be deducted from
your account monthly and on smaller accounts could constitute a substantial
portion of the distribution. Small, inactive, long-term accounts involving
monthly service charges may not be in the best interest of investors. You
should be aware that you may purchase shares of the Fund directly from the
Fund without imposition of any maintenance or service charges, other than
those already described herein.
Reopening an Account. You may reopen an account with a minimum
investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the
calendar year the account is closed or during the following calendar year,
provided the information on the old Account Application is still applicable.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Service Plan pursuant to which the
Fund reimburses Dreyfus Service Corporation an amount not to exceed an
annual rate of .25% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for
certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining
shareholder accounts. The services provided may include personal services
relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries
regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and services
related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Shareholder
Services Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred,
must be made to the Fund's Board for its review. In addition, the
Shareholder Services Plan provides that material amendments of the
Shareholder Services Plan must be approved by the Fund's Board, and by the
Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Shareholder Services Plan by vote cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. The
Shareholder Services Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the
Board members cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on the Shareholder Services Plan. The Shareholder Services Plan was last so
approved by the Board at a meeting held on January 28, 1999. The
Shareholder Services 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 Shareholder Services
Plan.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund was charged
$2,903,728 pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Check Redemption Privilege. The Fund provides Redemption Checks
("Checks") automatically upon opening an account, unless you specifically
refuse the Check Redemption Privilege by checking the applicable "No" box on
the Account Application. The Check Redemption Privilege may be established
for an existing account by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form.
Checks will be sent only to the registered owner(s) of the account and only
to the address of record. The Account Application, Shareholder Services
Form or later written request must be manually signed by the registered
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 your agent, will cause the Fund to redeem a
sufficient number of shares in your 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 you. You generally will be subject to
the same rules and regulations that apply to checking accounts, although the
election of this Privilege creates only a shareholder-transfer agent
relationship with the Transfer Agent.
If the amount of the Check is greater than the value of the shares in
your account, the Check will be returned marked insufficient funds. Checks
should not be used to close an account.
You should date your Redemption Checks with the current date when you
write them. Please do not postdate your Redemption Checks. If you do, the
Transfer Agent will honor, upon presentment, even if presented before the
date of the check, all postdated Redemption Checks which are dated within
six months of presentment of payment, if they are otherwise in good order.
If you hold shares in a Dreyfus sponsored IRA account, you may be permitted
to make withdrawals from your IRA account using checks furnished to you by
The Dreyfus Trust Company.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, you authorize the
Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption instructions
from any person representing himself or herself to be you 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 you on
the Account Application or Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent
bank if your bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees
ordinarily are imposed by such bank and borne by the investor. Immediate
notification by the correspondent bank to your bank is necessary to avoid a
delay in crediting the funds to your bank account.
If you have access to telegraphic equipment, you may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
If you do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment, you may have
the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at 1-800-654-7171,
toll free. You should advise the operator that the above transmittal code
must be used and should also inform the operator of the Transfer Agent's
answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank
account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution
which is an Automated Clearing House member may be designated. Holders of
jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may redeem through the Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege for transfer to their bank account not more than
$250,000 within any 30-day period. You should be aware that if you have
selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a wire
redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction through
the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") system unless more prompt transmittal
specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in the
your account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two business days after
receipt of the redemption request. See "Purchase of Shares--Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege."
Stock Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
Written redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including
each holder of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program.
Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor, and
"Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent
may request additional documentation from corporations, executors,
administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept other suitable
verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as consular
verification. For more information with respect to signature-guarantees,
please call one of the telephone numbers listed on the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash
all redemption requests by any shareholder of record, limited in amount
during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the
Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is
irrevocable without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is a fundamental policy of the Fund which may not be changed
without shareholder approval. In the case of requests for redemption in
excess of such amount, the Board reserves the right to make payments in
whole or in part in securities or other assets 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 might be
incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or
when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission so that disposal of the Fund's investments or determination of
its net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (c) for such other
periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission by order may permit to
protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Fund Exchanges. You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of certain other funds managed or administered by the Manager, to the
extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of residence. Shares
of 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 any 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, you must notify the
Transfer Agent of your prior ownership of fund shares and your account
number.
To request an exchange, you must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue exchange
instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders automatically,
unless you check the applicable "No" box on the Account Application,
indicating that you specifically refuse this Privilege. By using the
Telephone Exchange Privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on
telephonic instructions (including over The Dreyfus Touch ((reg.tm)) automated
telephone system) from any person representing himself or herself to be you
and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. No fees
currently are charged shareholders directly in connection with exchanges,
although the Fund reserve the right, upon not less than 60 days' written
notice, to charge shareholders a nominal administrative fee in accordance
with rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Telephone
exchanges may be subject to limitations as to the amount involved or the
number of telephone exchanges permitted. Shares issued in certificate form
are not eligible for telephone exchange.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds offer multiple classes of
shares to the public. If you, as an investor in a fund offering multiple
classes of shares, exchange shares of such fund subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") for shares of the Fund, the Fund shares
obtained in the exchange will be held in a separate Exchange Account for
you. Shares held in an Exchange Account may be exchanged only for shares of
certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. No CDSC will be imposed
on such shares at the time of exchange; however, you should review carefully
the current prospectus of the fund from which such shares were exchanged and
into which such shares are being exchanged to determine the CDSC applicable
on redemption. Exchange Account shares are eligible for the Dreyfus Auto-
Exchange Privilege, Dreyfus Dividend Options and the Automatic Withdrawal
Plan, and redemption proceeds on such shares will be paid only by Federal
wire or by check.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits you to purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of
another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is available
only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of
relative net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges."
Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective
three business days following notification by the investor. You will be
notified if your account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged
under this Privilege. In this case, your account will fall to zero unless
additional investments are made in excess of the designated amount prior to
the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares held under IRA and other
retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares
may be made between IRA accounts 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. The Fund Exchanges service or the
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time
upon notice to shareholders.
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder((reg.tm)). Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder
permits you to purchases Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of
$150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares
are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege. Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social
Security, or certain veterans', military or other payments from the U.S.
Government automatically deposited into your fund account. You may deposit
as much of such payments as you elect.
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you
to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you
may have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus
account electronically through the 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. It is
the sole responsibility of your employer, not the Distributor, the Manager,
the Fund, the Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for
transactions under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan.
Dreyfus Step Program. The Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase
Fund shares without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment
requirements through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builderr, Dreyfus Government
Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a
Dreyfus Step Program account, you must supply the necessary information on
the Account Application and file the required authorization form(s) with the
Transfer Agent. For more information concerning this Program, or to request
the necessary authorization form(s), please call toll free 1-800-782-6620.
You may terminate your participation in this Program at any time by
discontinuing your participation in Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder, Dreyfus
Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the
case may be, as provided under the terms of such Privilege(s). The Fund may
modify or terminate this Program at any time. Investors who wish to
purchase Fund shares through the Dreyfus Step Program in conjunction with a
Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plan may do so only for IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts."
Dreyfus Dividend Options. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest automatically their dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of another fund in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which the investor is a shareholder. Shares of
other funds purchased pursuant to 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 that 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 CDSC and the applicable CDSC,
if any, will be imposed upon redemption of such shares.
Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends
or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a
designated bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so
designated. Banks may charge a fee for this service.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a specified
dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the
yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and eventually may be
depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the
investor, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which stock
certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
Monthly or Quarterly Distribution Plans. The Distribution Plans permit
you to receive monthly or quarterly payments from the Fund consisting of
proceeds from the redemption of shares purchased for your account through
the automatic reinvestment of dividends declared on your account during the
preceding month or calendar quarter.
Corporate Pension, Profit-Sharing and Personal Retirement Plans. The
Fund makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and
profit-sharing plans including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan. In addition,
the Fund makes available Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal
IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, Education IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts") and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are
available. You can obtain details on the various plans by calling the
following numbers toll free: for Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566;
for IRAs (except SEP-IRAs), please call 1-800-645-6561; or for SEP-IRAs,
401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-
7880.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
A fee may be charged by the entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans,
403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs, payment of which could require the liquidation of
shares. All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity which acts as custodian. Purchases for these plans
may not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
The minimum initial investment for corporate plans, Salary Reduction
Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans, and SEP-IRAs, with more than one participant, is
$2,500, with no minimum for subsequent purchases. The minimum initial
investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including
regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and
rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500 for
Dreyfus-sponsored Education IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent purchases.
You should read the prototype retirement plan and the appropriate form
of custodial agreement for further details as to eligibility, service fees
and tax implications, and should consult a tax adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Amortized Cost Pricing. The valuation of the Fund's portfolio
securities is based upon their amortized cost which does not take into
account unrealized gains or losses. This involves valuing an instrument at
its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any
discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates
on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty
in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by
amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if
it sold the instrument.
The Board has established, as a particular responsibility within the
overall duty of care owed to the Fund's investors, procedures reasonably
designed to stabilize the Fund's price per share as computed for the purpose
of purchases and redemptions at $1.00. Such procedures include review of
the Fund's portfolio holdings by the Board, at such intervals as it deems
appropriate, to determine whether the Fund's net asset value calculated by
using available market quotations or market equivalents deviates from $1.00
per share based on amortized cost. In such review, investments for which
market quotations are readily available are valued at the most recent bid
price or yield equivalent for such securities or for securities of
comparable maturity, quality and type, as obtained from one or more of the
major market makers for the securities to be valued. Other investments and
assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.
The extent of any deviation between the Fund's net asset value based
upon available market quotations or market equivalents and $1.00 per share
based on amortized cost will be examined by the Board. If such deviation
exceeds 1/2 of 1%, the Board promptly will consider what action, if any,
will be initiated. In the event the Board determines that a deviation
exists which may result in material dilution or other unfair results to
investors or existing shareholders, it has agreed to take such corrective
action as it deems necessary and appropriate, including: selling portfolio
instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to
shorten average portfolio maturity; withholding dividends or paying
distributions from capital or capital gains; redeeming shares in kind; or
establishing a net asset value per share by using available market
quotations or market equivalents.
New York Stock Exchange and Transfer Agent Closings. The holidays (as
observed) on which the New York Stock Exchange and the Transfer Agent are
closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Management believes that the Fund has qualified for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1998 as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund intends to
continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of its
shareholders. Such qualification relieves the Fund of any liability for
Federal income tax to the extent its earnings are distributed in accordance
with applicable provisions of the Code. If the Fund did not qualify as a
regulated investment company, it would be treated for tax purposes as an
ordinary corporation subject to Federal income tax.
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.
If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash, and your
dividend and distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or
remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest
such dividend or distribution and all future dividends and distributions
payable to you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest
will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption
checks.
Dividends derived from net investment income, 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 will be taxable to U.S. shareholders
as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares.
No dividend paid by the Fund will qualify for the dividends received
deduction allowable to certain U.S. corporations. Distributions from net
realized long-term securities gains of the Fund, if any, are taxable to U.S.
shareholders as long-term capital gains for Federal income tax purposes
regardless of how long shareholders have held their Fund shares and whether
such distributions are received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Portfolio securities ordinarily are purchased directly from the issuer
or an underwriter or a market maker for the securities. Ordinarily no
brokerage commissions are paid by the Fund for such purchases. Purchases
from underwriters of portfolio securities may include a concession paid by
the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to market makers
for the securities may include the spread 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 and may be
selected based upon their sales of shares of the Fund or other funds advised
by the Manager or its affiliates.
Research services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects
securities transactions may be used by the Manager in advising other funds
it advises and, conversely, research services furnished to the Manager by
brokers in connection with other funds the Manager advises may be used by
the Manager in advising the Fund. Although it is not possible to place a
dollar value on these services, it is the opinion of the Manager that the
receipt and study of such services should not reduce the overall expenses of
its research department.
YIELD INFORMATION
For the seven-day period ended October 31, 1998, the Fund's yield was
4.47% and its effective yield was 4.57%, which reflects the waiver of a
portion of the management fee. Had a portion of the management fee not been
waived, the Fund's yield for the same period would have been 4.68% and its
effective yield would have been 4.79%. Yield is computed in accordance with
a standardized method which involves determining the net change in the value
of a hypothetical pre-existing Fund account having a balance of one share at
the beginning of a seven calendar day period for which yield is to be
quoted, dividing the net change by the value of the account at the beginning
of the period to obtain the base period return, and annualizing the results
(i.e., multiplying the base period return by 365/7). The net change in the
value of the account reflects the value of additional shares purchased with
dividends declared on the original share and any such additional shares and
fees that may be charged to shareholder accounts, in proportion to the
length of the base period and the Fund's average account size, but does not
include realized gains and losses or unrealized appreciation and
depreciation. Effective annualized yield is computed by adding 1 to the
base period return (calculated as described above), raising that sum to a
power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result.
Yields will fluctuate and are not necessarily representative of future
results. The investor should remember that yield is a function of the type
and quality of the instruments in the portfolio, portfolio maturity and
operating expenses. An investor's principal in the Fund is not guaranteed.
See "Determination of Net Asset Value" for a discussion of the manner in
which the Fund's price per share is determined.
From time to time, the Fund in its advertising and sales literature may
refer to the growth of assets managed or administered by the Manager over
certain time periods.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Bank Rate Monitor((TM)), N. Palm
Beach, Fla. 33408, IBC's Money Fund Report((TM)), Money Magazine and other
industry publications.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
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.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a
result, Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board
members or the appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least 10%
of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Fund to hold
a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of removing a Board member
from office. Fund shareholders may remove a Board member by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition,
the Board will call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing
Board members if, at any time, less than a majority of the Board members
then holding office have been elected by shareholders.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-4982, as counsel for the Fund, has rendered its opinion as to certain
legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of the
shares being sold pursuant to the Fund's Prospectus.
Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as independent auditors of the
Fund.
APPENDIX
Description of the two highest commercial paper, bond and other short-
and long-term rating categories assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch IBCA, Inc.
("Fitch"), Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff"), and Thomson BankWatch,
Inc. ("BankWatch").
Commercial Paper and Short-Term Ratings
The designation A-1 by S&P 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 sign (+) designation. Capacity for timely payment on issues
with an A-2 designation is strong. However, the relative degree of safety
is not as high as for issues designated A-1.
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. Issues rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This
ordinarily will be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but
to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will
be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
The rating Fitch-1 (Highest Credit Quality) is the highest commercial
paper rating assigned by Fitch and indicates the strongest capacity for
timely payment of financial commitments. The rating Fitch-2 (Good Credit
Quality) is the second highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch
which reflects a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the
higher ratings.
The rating Duff-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by
Duff. Paper rated Duff-1 is regarded as having very high certainty of
timely payment with excellent liquidity factors which are supported by ample
asset protection. Risk factors are minor. Paper rated Duff-2 is regarded
as having good certainty of timely payment, good access to capital markets
and sound liquidity factors and company fundamentals. Risk factors are
small.
The rating TBW-1 is the highest short-term obligation rating assigned
by BankWatch. Obligations rated TBW-1 are regarded as having the strongest
capacity for timely repayment. Obligations rated TBW-2 are supported by a
strong capacity for timely repayment, although the degree of safety is not
as high as for issues rated TBW-1.
Bond and Long-Term Ratings
Bonds rated AAA are considered by S&P to be the highest grade
obligations and possess an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and
interest. Bonds rated AA by S&P are judged by S&P to have a very strong
capacity to pay principal and interest, and in the majority of instances,
differ only in small degree from issues rated AAA.
Bonds rated Aaa are judged by Moody's to be of the best quality. Bonds
rated Aa by Moody's are judged by Moody's to be of high quality by all
standards and, together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally
known as high-grade bonds. Bonds rated Aa are rated lower than Aaa bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large or fluctuations of
protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in the Aa rating category.
The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of
this rating category, the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking, and the
modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of the rating category.
Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be of the highest
credit quality. The AAA rating by Fitch denotes the lowest expectation of
credit risk. The AAA rating is assigned by Fitch only in case of
exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments;
the capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable
events. Bonds rated AA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be of very high
credit quality. The AA rating by Fitch denotes a very low expectation of
credit risk. The AA rating by Fitch indicates a very strong capacity for
timely payment of financial commitments; the capacity is not significantly
vulnerable to foreseeable events.
Bonds rated AAA by Duff are considered to be of the highest credit
quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more than
U.S. Treasury debt. Bonds rated AA are considered by Duff to be of high
credit quality with strong protection factors. Risk is modest but may vary
slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
Fitch also assigns a rating to certain international and U.S. banks. A
Fitch bank rating represents Fitch's current assessment of the strength of
the bank and whether such bank would receive support should it experience
difficulties. In its assessment of a bank, Fitch uses a dual rating system
comprised of Legal Ratings and Individual Ratings. In addition, Fitch
assigns banks Long- and Short-Term Ratings as used in the corporate ratings
discussed above. Legal Ratings, which range in gradation from 1 through 5,
address the question of whether the bank would receive support provided by
central banks or shareholders if it experienced difficulties, and such
ratings are considered by Fitch to be a prime factor in its assessment of
credit risk. Individual Ratings, which range in gradations from A through
E, represent Fitch's assessment of a bank's economic merits and address the
question of how the bank would be viewed if it were entirely independent and
could not rely on support from state authorities or its owners.
In addition to its ratings of short-term obligations, BankWatch assigns
a rating to each issuer it rates, in gradations of A through E. BankWatch
examines all segments of the organization, including, where applicable, the
holding company, member banks or associations, and other subsidiaries. In
those instances where financial disclosure is incomplete or untimely, a
qualified rating (QR) is assigned to the institution. BankWatch also
assigns, in the case of foreign banks, a country rating which represents an
assessment of the overall political and economic stability of the country in
which the bank is domiciled.
