File Nos. 33-58248
811-7502
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [__]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 11 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 922-6000
Mark N. Jacobs, Esq.
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box)
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
X on October 1, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
----
If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for
a previously filed post-effective amendment.
----
Registrant has registered an indefinite number of shares of its common
stock under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24(f) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Registrant's Rule 24f-2 Notice for the
fiscal year ended May 31, 1997 for its Dreyfus International Growth Fund and
for its Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund was filed on July 30, 1997.
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a)
Items in
Part A of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______
DEMF DIGF
1 Cover Page Cover Cover
2 Synopsis 3 3
3 Condensed Financial Information 4 4
4 General Description of Registrant 4 4
5 Management of the Fund 7 7
5(a) Management's Discussion of Fund's Performance * *
6 Capital Stock and Other Securities 18 18
7 Purchase of Securities Being Offered 8 8
8 Redemption or Repurchase 14 14
9 Pending Legal Proceedings * *
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A
_________
10 Cover Page Cover
11 Table of Contents Cover
12 General Information and History B-31
13 Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
14 Management of the Fund B-11
15 Control Persons and Principal B-16
Holders of Securities
16 Investment Advisory and Other B-16
Services
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a) (continued)
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ _____
17 Brokerage Allocation B-29
18 Capital Stock and Other Securities B-31
19 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing B-18; B-20 and B-25
of Securities Being Offered
20 Tax Status *
21 Underwriters B-1 and B-18
22 Calculations of Performance Data B-30
23 Financial Statements B-37
Items in
Part C of
Form N-1A
_________
24 Financial Statements and Exhibits C-1
25 Persons Controlled by or Under C-4
Common Control with Registrant
26 Number of Holders of Securities C-4
27 Indemnification C-4
28 Business and Other Connections of C-5
Investment Adviser
29 Principal Underwriters C-9
30 Location of Accounts and Records C-12
31 Management Services C-12
32 Undertakings C-12
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
FOR USE BY BANKS ONLY
October 1, 1997
DREYFUS EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Supplement to Prospectus
Dated October 1, 1997
All mutual fund shares involve certain investment risks, including
the possible loss of principal.
327s1097BNK
FOR USE BY BANKS ONLY
October 1, 1997
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
Supplement to Prospectus
Dated October 1, 1997
All mutual fund shares involve certain investment risks, including
the possible loss of principal.
095s1097BNK
PROSPECTUS OCTOBER 1, 1997
DREYFUS EMERGING MARKETS FUND
DREYFUS EMERGING MARKETS FUND (THE "FUND") IS A SEPARATE
NON-DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC., AN OPEN-END,
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY (THE "COMPANY"), KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE
FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS LONG-TERM CAPITAL APPRECIATION. THE FUND WILL
INVEST PRINCIPALLY IN THE EQUITY SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS IN COUNTRIES
WITH EMERGING MARKETS.
YOU CAN PURCHASE OR REDEEM SHARES BY TELEPHONE USING DREYFUS
TELETRANSFER.
IN SOME CASES, SHAREHOLDERS WILL BE CHARGED A 1% REDEMPTION FEE WHICH
WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM REDEMPTION PROCEEDS ON SHARES HELD LESS THAN SIX
MONTHS.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND THAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED OCTOBER 1, 1997, WHICH
MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
AREAS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME
INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND
IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
MAINTAINS A WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, AND OTHER
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND. FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT 144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD,
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL 1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK
FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
THE NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE WILL FLUCTUATE FROM TIME TO TIME.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
FEE TABLE......................................... 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION................... 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND........................... 4
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND............................ 7
HOW TO BUY SHARES................................. 8
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES.............................. 11
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES.............................. 14
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN......................... 16
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES................ 16
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION........................... 17
GENERAL INFORMATION............................... 18
APPENDIX.......................................... 19
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FEE TABLE
<S> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS EXPENSES
Redemption Fee* (as a percentage of amount redeemed)....................... 1.00%
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Management Fees (after expense reimbursement).............................. .86%
Other Expenses............................................................. 1.14%
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after expense reimbursement)................ 2.00%
* Shares held for less than six months may be subject to a 1% redemption fee
payable to the Fund. See "How to Redeem Shares."
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXAMPLE: 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
You would pay the following
expenses on a $1,000 invest-
ment, assuming (1) 5% annual
return and (2) redemption at
the end of each time period: $20 $63 $108 $233
</TABLE>
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THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER
OR LESS THAN THOSE INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE EXAMPLE ASSUMES A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN, THE FUND'S ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACTUAL
RETURN GREATER OR LESS THAN 5%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in understanding
the costs and expenses borne by the Fund and investors, the payment of which
will reduce investors' annual return. Annual Fund Operating Expenses noted
above have been restated to reflect an undertaking by The Dreyfus Corporation
that if, in the fiscal year ending May 31, 1998, Fund expenses, including the
management fee, exceed 2.00% of the value of the Fund's average net assets
for the fiscal year, The Dreyfus Corporation may waive its management fee or
bear certain Fund expenses to the extent of such excess expense. In addition,
Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
The expenses noted above, without reimbursement and based on estimated Other
Expenses, would be: Management Fees _ 1.25%; and Total Fund Operating
Expenses _ 2.39%. Certain Service Agents (as defined below) may charge their
clients direct fees for effecting transactions in Fund shares; such fees are
not reflected in the foregoing table. For a further description of the
various costs and expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, as well as
expense reimbursement or waiver arrangements, see "Management of the Fund,"
"How to Buy Shares," "How to Redeem Shares" and "Shareholder Services Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors. Further financial data, related
notes and report of independent auditors accompany the Statement of
Additional Information, available upon request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share
of Common Stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net
assets and other supplemental data for the period June 28, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997. This information has been
derived from the Fund's financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning of period...................................... $12.50
------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment Income-net..................................................... .05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments.................... 1.70
------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS.......................................... 1.75
------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income_net...................................... (.02)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments........................... (.02)
------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS:...................................................... (0.04)
------
Net asset value, end of period............................................ $14.21
======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN..................................................... 14.07%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average net assets................................... 1.85%(1)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets...................... .70%(1)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratio due to undertaking by The Dreyfus Corporation .36%(1)
Portfolio Turnover Rate................................................... 52.52%(1)
Average Commission Rate paid(2)........................................... $.0152
Net Assets, end of period (000's omitted)................................. $50,382
(1) Not annualized.
(2) The Fund is required to disclose its average commission rate paid per share for purchases and sales of investment securities.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the
Fund's annual report which may be obtained without charge by writing to the
address or calling the number set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation. It
cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the
Fund's outstanding voting shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund's
investment objective will be achieved.
INVESTMENT APPROACH
The Fund's investment approach is value-oriented and research-driven.
To manage the Fund, The Dreyfus Corporation evaluates traditional measures to
classify issuers as "value" companies. In general, The Dreyfus Corporation
believes that companies with relatively low price to book ratios, low price
to earnings ratios, low price to cash flow ratios or higher than average
dividend payments in relation to price should be classified as value
companies. In addition, The Dreyfus Corporation intends to consider broader
measures, including operating return characteristics, overall financial
health and positive changes in business momentum. This value-oriented,
bottom-up investment style is both quantitative and fundamentally based,
focusing first on stock selection then enhanced by broadly diversified
country allocation.
Page 4
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of the
value of its total assets in equity securities of foreign issuers in
countries having emerging markets. For purposes of the Fund's operations,
"emerging markets countries" will consist of all countries represented by the
Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index ("MSCI-Emerging
Markets") and any other country determined by The Dreyfus Corporation to have
developing or emerging economies and markets. The countries represented by
the MSCI-Emerging Markets Index currently include Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
China, Colombia, The Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Israel, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela.
The assets of the Fund ordinarily will be invested in the securities of
issuers in at least three different emerging markets countries. The Fund does
not anticipate that it will invest more than 25% of the value of its total
assets in the securities of issuers in any one emerging market country.
Issuers whose principal activities are in emerging markets countries
include issuers (1) organized under the laws of, (2) whose securities have
their primary trading market in, (3) deriving at least 50% of their revenues
or profits from goods sold, investments made, or services performed in, or
(4) having at least 50% of their assets located in, an emerging market
country. The Dreyfus Corporation will base determinations as to eligibility
on publicly available information and inquiries made to the companies.
The equity securities in which the Fund may invest consist of common
stocks and preferred stocks. Certain emerging markets countries are closed in
whole or in part to equity investments by foreigners. The Fund may be able to
invest in such countries solely or primarily through investment vehicles,
such as closed-end investment companies, authorized by such emerging market
country's government. See "Appendix _ Certain Portfolio Securities _
Closed-End Investment Companies."
While seeking desirable equity investments, the Fund may invest in
money market instruments consisting of U.S. Government securities,
certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances, short-term
investment grade corporate bonds and other short-term debt instruments, and
repurchase agreements, as set forth under "Appendix _ Certain Portfolio
Securities _ Money Market Instruments." Under normal market conditions, the
Fund does not expect to have a substantial portion of its assets invested in
money market instruments. However, when The Dreyfus Corporation determines
that adverse market conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary
defensive posture and invest all of its assets in money market instruments.
The Fund also may invest in money market instruments in anticipation of
investing cash positions.
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
150%. A turnover of 100% is equivalent to the Fund buying and selling all of
the securities in its portfolio once in the course of a year. Higher
portfolio turnover rates usually generate additional brokerage commissions
and expenses and the short-term gains realized from these transactions are
taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund may engage in various
investment techniques, such as foreign currency transactions, options and
futures transactions and short-selling. For a discussion of the investment
techniques and their related risks, see "Investment Considerations and Risks"
and "Appendix _ Investment Techniques" below and "Investment Objective and
Management Policies _ Management Policies" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL _ The Fund's net asset value per share should be expected to
fluctuate. Investors should consider the Fund as a supplement to an overall
investment program and should invest only if they are willing to undertake
the risks involved. See "Investment Objective and Management Policies" in the
Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of certain
risks.
EQUITY SECURITIES _ Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on
factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such
fluctuations can be pronounced. Changes in the value of the Fund's
investments will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the
Fund's total return to investors.
Page 5
The Fund may purchase securities of smaller capitalization companies,
the price of which may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements
than larger, more established companies, because these securities typically
are traded in lower volume and the issuers typically are subject to a greater
degree to changes in earnings and prospects. Such risk also may affect
issuers in emerging markets countries, as more fully described below.
FOREIGN SECURITIES _ Foreign securities markets generally are not as
developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some
foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign
securities markets are less than in the United States and, at times,
volatility of price can be greater than in the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of such securities usually are held
outside the United States, the Fund will be subject to additional risks which
include possible adverse political and economic developments, seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions
which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and
interest on the foreign securities to investors located outside the country
of the issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in
currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in
U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
rates and exchange control regulations.
The risks associated with investing in foreign securities are often
heightened for investments in emerging markets countries. These heightened
risks include (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation,
nationalization, and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the
small current size of the markets for securities of emerging markets issuers
and the currently low or nonexistent volume of trading, resulting in lack of
liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may
restrict the Fund's investment opportunities including restrictions on
investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national
interests; and (iv) the absence of developed legal structures governing
private or foreign investment and private property. In addition, some
emerging markets countries may have fixed or managed currencies which are not
free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain emerging markets
countries' currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these
currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar.
If the Fund is unable to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities it owns
denominated in such currencies, the Fund's net asset value will be adversely
affected. Many emerging markets countries have experienced substantial, and
in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation
and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have,
negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging
markets countries.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS _ Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by
the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the
relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or perceived
changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an
international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central
banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political
developments in the United States or abroad. See "Appendix _ Investment
Techniques _ Foreign Currency Transactions."
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in derivatives ("Derivatives").
These are financial instruments which derive their performance, at least in
part, from the performance of an underlying asset, index or interest rate.
The Derivatives the Fund may use include options and futures. While
Derivatives can be used effectively in furtherance of the Fund's investment
objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility
of the Fund's net asset value, decrease the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio
and make more difficult the accurate pricing of the Fund's portfolio. See
"Appendix _ Investment Techniques _ Use of Derivatives" below and
"Investment Objective and Management Policies _ Management Policies _
Derivatives" in the Statement of Additional Information.
Page 6
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS _ The classification of the Fund as a
"non-diversified" investment company means that the proportion of the Fund's
assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not
limited by the 1940 Act. A "diversified" investment company is required by
the 1940 Act generally, with respect to 75% of its total assets, to invest
not more than 5% of such assets in the securities of a single issuer. Since a
relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be invested in the
securities of a limited number of issuers, some of which may be within the
same industry, the Fund's portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the
market value of a single issuer or industry. However, to meet Federal tax
requirements, at the close of each quarter the Fund may not have more than
25% of its total assets invested in any one issuer and, with respect to 50%
of total assets, not more than 5% of its total assets invested in any one
issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S. Government securities.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS _ Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of the other investment companies advised by The
Dreyfus Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to
invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available
investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each
investment company. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the
size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price
paid or received by the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER _ The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Mellon Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of August 31, 1997, The Dreyfus Corporation
managed or administered approximately $92 billion in assets for approximately
1.7 million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the
Company, subject to the authority of the Company's Board in accordance with
Maryland law. The Fund's primary portfolio manager is D. Kirk Henry. He has
held that position since June 1996 and has been employed by The Dreyfus
Corporation as a portfolio manager since May 1996. He also is a Vice
President and international equity portfolio manager of The Boston Company
Asset Management, Inc. ("TBC Asset Management"), an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Mellon and, thus, an affiliate of The Dreyfus Corporation. Mr.
Henry has been employed by TBC Asset Management or its predecessor since May
1994. Prior to joining TBC Asset Management, Mr. Henry was Executive Vice
President of Cseh International Associates, Inc., the international money
management division of Cashman, Farrell & Associates. The Fund's other
portfolio managers are identified in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation also provides research services for the Fund and for
other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation through a professional staff
of portfolio managers and securities analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned
subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association,
Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a
number of companies known as Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through
its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than
$286 billion in assets as of June 30, 1997, including approximately $94
billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As of June 30, 1997, Mellon,
through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $1.306 trillion in
assets, including approximately $63 billion in mutual fund assets.
Page 7
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund has agreed to
pay The Dreyfus Corporation a monthly fee at the annual rate of 1.25% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. For the period June 28, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997, the Fund paid The Dreyfus
Corporation a monthly management fee at the effective annual rate of .86 of
1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets pursuant to an
undertaking by The Dreyfus Corporation. From time to time, The Dreyfus
Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain
expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the expense
ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will not pay
The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive, nor
will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks
to obtain the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among
other things, the receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of
the Fund or other funds advised, managed or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including
past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The
Fund's distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents
in respect of these services.
EXPENSES _ All expenses incurred in the operation of the Company are borne
by the Company, except to the extent specifically assumed by The Dreyfus
Corporation. The expenses borne by the Company include: organizational costs,
taxes, interest, loan commitment fees, interest and distributions paid on
securities sold short, brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board
members who are not officers, directors, employees or holders of 5% or more
of the outstanding voting securities of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates, 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 Company'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 for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders, costs of shareholders' reports and
meetings, and any extraordinary expenses. Expenses attributable to the Fund
are charged against the assets of the Fund; other expenses of the Company are
allocated among the Company's portfolios on the basis determined by the
Company's Board, including, but not limited to, proportionately in relation
to the net assets of each portfolio.
DISTRIBUTOR _ The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN _ Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). The Bank of New York, 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be charged a fee
if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer, bank
or other financial institution (collectively, "Service Agents"). 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.
Page 8
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a
client of a Service Agent which maintains an omnibus account in the Fund and
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 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and 403(b)(7)
Plans with only one participant is $750, with no minimum for subsequent
purchases. Individuals who open an IRA also may open a non-working spousal
IRA with a minimum initial investment of $250. Subsequent investments in a
spousal IRA must be at least $250. The initial investment must be accompanied
by the Account Application. For full-time or part-time employees of The
Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of
The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation, including members of the Company's Board, or the spouse or minor
child of any of the foregoing, the minimum initial investment is $1,000. For
full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly
deposited into their Fund accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50. The
Fund reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum
purchase requirements to employees participating in certain qualified or
non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where contributions or
account information can be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the
Fund. The Fund reserves the right to vary further the initial and subsequent
investment minimum requirements at any time. Fund shares also are offered
without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements through
Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset BuilderRegistration Mark, Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus
Step Program described under "Shareholder Services." These services enable
you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a
convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware,
however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will
not protect an investor against loss in a declining market.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds," or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to
"The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian" and should specify that you are
investing in the Fund. Payments to open new accounts which are mailed should
be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387, Providence, Rhode
Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application. For subsequent
investments, your Fund account number should appear on the check and an invest
ment slip should be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. For Dreyfus retirement plan accounts,
both initial and subsequent investments should be sent to The Dreyfus Trust
Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427.
Neither initial nor subsequent investments should be made by third party
check. Purchase orders may be delivered in person only to a Dreyfus Financial
Center. THESE ORDERS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY
UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the nearest Dreyfus Financial
Center, please call one of the telephone numbers listed under "General
Information."
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having
a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA# 8900284188/Dreyfus Emerging
Markets Fund, for purchase of Fund shares in your name. The wire must include
your Fund account number (for new accounts, your Taxpayer Identification
Number ("TIN") should be included instead), account registration and dealer
number, if applicable. If your initial purchase of Fund shares is by wire,
please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your wire payment to obtain your
Fund account number. Please include your Fund account number on the Account
Application and promptly mail the Account Application to the Fund, as no
redemptions will be permitted until the Account Application is received. You
may obtain further information about remitting funds in this manner from your
bank. All payments should be made in U.S. dollars and, to avoid fees and
delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A charge
Page 9
will be imposed if any check used for investment in your account does not
clear. The Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to
issue purchase instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House to The Bank of New York with instructions to credit your Fund
account. The instructions must specify your Fund account registration and
Fund account number PRECEDED BY THE DIGITS "1111."
Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are different from those described in this
Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority,
may charge their clients direct fees. You should consult your Service Agent
in this regard. See "Shareholder Services Plan."
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per
share next determined after an order in proper form is received by the
Transfer Agent or other agent. Net asset value per share is determined as of
the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (currently
4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open
for business. For purposes of determining net asset value, options and
futures contracts will be valued 15 minutes after the close of trading on the
floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset value per share 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 Fund shares outstanding. The Fund's
investments are valued generally at market value or, where market quotations
are not readily available, at fair value as determined by or under the
direction of the Company's Board. For further information regarding the
methods employed in valuing the Fund's investments, see "Determination of Net
Asset Value" in the Statement of Additional Information.
For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and
must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the
order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days
after the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution
could be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
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.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may purchase shares (minimum $500,
maximum $150,000 per day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate
box and supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have
filed a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will
be transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents
and your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated.
The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
Page 10
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
FUND EXCHANGES
You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of
certain other funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus Corporation, to
the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of residence. These
funds have different investment objectives which may be of interest to you.
If you desire to use this service, you should consult your Service Agent or
call 1-800-645-6561 to determine if it is available and whether any
conditions are imposed on its use.
To request an exchange, you must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. Before any exchange, you must
obtain and should review a copy of the current prospectus of the fund into
which the exchange is being made. Prospectuses may be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of personal retirement plans, the shares
being exchanged must have a current value of at least $500; furthermore, when
establishing a new account by exchange, the shares being exchanged must have
a value of at least the minimum initial investment required for the fund into
which the exchange is being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions
by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you
check the applicable "No" box on the Account Application, indicating that you
specifically refuse this Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be
established for an existing account by written request signed by all
shareholders on the account, by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form,
available by calling 1-800-645-6561, or by oral request from any of the
authorized signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have
established the Telephone Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange
instructions (including over The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated
telephone system) by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you are calling from
overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How to Redeem Shares _ Procedures." Upon
an exchange into a new account, the following shareholder services and
privileges, as applicable and where available, will be automatically carried
over to the fund into which the exchange is made: Telephone Exchange
Privilege, Wire Redemption Privilege, Telephone Redemption Privilege, Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege and the dividend/capital gain distribution option
(except for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep) selected by the investor.
The Fund will impose a redemption fee equal to 1% of the net asset
value of Fund shares exchanged out of the Fund where the exchange is made
less than six months after issuance of such shares. See "How to Redeem
Shares." Otherwise, shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset
value; however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into
funds sold with a sales load. If you are exchanging into a fund that charges
a sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not include the sales
load or which reflect a reduced sales load, if the shares you are exchanging
were: (a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange
from shares purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired through reinvestment
of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the foregoing categories
of shares. To qualify, at the time of the exchange you must notify the
Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such
qualification is subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of
appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly
in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not
less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal
administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange
request in whole or in part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may be
modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables you to invest regularly (on a
semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for shares of
the Fund, in shares of certain other funds in the
Page 11
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. The amount you
designate, which can be expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or
share amount ($100 minimum), will be exchanged automatically on the first
and/or fifteenth day of the month according to the schedule you have selected.
Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net asset value; however, a sales
load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds sold with a sales
load. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional Information.
The right to exercise this Privilege may be modified or canceled by the Fund
or the Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your exercise of this
Privilege at any time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family
of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. The Fund may
charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee currently is
contemplated. For more information concerning this Privilege and the funds in
the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this Privilege, or to
obtain a Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please call toll free
1-800-645-6561. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration Mark
Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares
(minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per transaction) at regular
intervals selected by you. Fund shares are purchased by transferring funds
from the bank account designated by you. At your option, the account
designated by you will be debited in the specified amount, and Fund shares
will be purchased, once a month, on either the first or fifteenth day, or
twice a month, on both days. Only an account maintained at a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so
designated. To establish a Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder account, you must
file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent. You may obtain the
necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel your
participation in this Privilege or change the amount of purchase at any time
by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427, and the notification will be effective three
business days following receipt. The Fund may modify or terminate this
Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase
Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by
having Federal salary, Social Security, or certain veterans', military or
other payments from the Federal government automatically deposited into your
Fund account. You may deposit as much of such payments as you elect. To
enroll in Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit, you must file with the Transfer
Agent a completed Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that
you desire to include in this Privilege. The appropriate form may be obtained
by calling 1-800-645-6561. Death or legal incapacity will terminate your
participation in this Privilege. You may elect at any time to terminate your
participation by notifying in writing the appropriate Federal agency. The
Fund may terminate your participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to purchase Fund shares
(minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a regular basis. Depending
upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may have part or all of your
paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus account electronically through
the Automated Clearing House system at each pay period. To establish a
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an authorization form
with your employer's payroll department. Your employer must complete the
reverse side of the form and return it to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. You may obtain the necessary
authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may change the amount of
purchase or cancel the authorization only by written notification to your
employer. It is the sole responsibility of your employer, not the
Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or any
other person, to arrange
Page 12
for transactions under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify
or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM
Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase Fund shares without
regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements through Dreyfus-
AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a Dreyfus Step Program account,
you must supply the necessary information on the Account Application and file
the required authorization form(s) with the Transfer Agent. For more
information concerning this Program, or to request the necessary
authorization form(s), please call toll free 1-800-782-6620. You may
terminate your participation in this Program at any time by discontinuing
your participation in Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government
Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the case may be,
as provided under the terms of such Privilege(s). The Fund may modify or
terminate this Program at any time. Investors who wish to purchase Fund
shares through the Dreyfus Step Program in conjunction with a
Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plan may do so only for IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts."
DREYFUS DIVIDEND OPTIONS
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep enables you to invest automatically dividends
or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, paid by the Fund in
shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a
shareholder. Shares of the other fund will be purchased at the then-current
net asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with respect to
investments in shares of a fund sold with a sales load. If you are investing
in a fund that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share prices which
do not include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales load. If you
are investing in a fund that charges a contingent deferred sales charge, the
shares purchased will be subject on redemption to the contingent deferred
sales charge, if any, applicable to the purchased shares. See "Shareholder
Services" in the Statement of Additional Information. Dreyfus Dividend ACH
permits you to transfer electronically dividends or dividends and capital
gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated bank account. Only
an account maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an
Automated Clearing House member may be so designated. Banks may charge a fee
for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a
Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
these privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. To select a new
fund after cancellation, you must submit a new Dividend Options Form.
Enrollment in or cancellation of these privileges is effective three business
days following receipt. These privileges are available only for existing
accounts and may not be used to open new accounts. Minimum subsequent
investments do not apply for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or
terminate these privileges at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans are not eligible for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to request withdrawal of a
specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly
basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may
be established by filing an Automatic Withdrawal Plan application with the
Transfer Agent or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on
the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be
ended at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which
certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
RETIREMENT PLANS
The Fund offers a variety of pension and profit-sharing plans,
including Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts," 401(k)
Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are
available. You can obtain details on the various plans by calling the
following numbers toll free: for
Page 13
Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566; for IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts,"
please call 1-800-645-6561; or for SEP-IRAs, 401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and
403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-7880.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption
requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When
a request is received in proper form, the Fund will redeem the shares at the
next determined net asset value.
The Fund will deduct a redemption fee of 1% of the net asset value of
Fund shares redeemed or exchanged in less than six months following the
issuance of such shares. The fee will be retained by the Fund and used
primarily to offset the transaction costs that short-term trading imposes on
the Fund and its shareholders. For purposes of calculating the six-month
holding period, the Fund will employ the "first-in, first-out" method, which
assumes that the shares you are redeeming or exchanging are the ones you have
held the longest. No redemption fee will be charged on the redemption or
exchange of shares (1) through the Fund's Automatic Withdrawal Plan or
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege, (2) through accounts that are reflected on
the records of the Transfer Agent as omnibus accounts approved by Dreyfus
Service Corporation, (3) through accounts established by Service Agents
approved by Dreyfus Service Corporation that utilize the National Securities
Clearing Corporation's networking system, or (4) acquired through the
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. The redemption fee
may be waived, modified or discontinued at any time or from time to time.
Service Agents may charge their clients a fee for effecting redemptions of
Fund shares. Any certificates representing Fund shares being redeemed must be
submitted with the redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may
be more or less than their original cost, depending upon the Fund's
then-current net asset value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within
seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in
proper form, except as provided by the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY CHECK, BY DREYFUS
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration
Mark AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER
AGENT, THE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK
CLEARANCE OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-
AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR
MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY WIRE OR
TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE FOR A PERIOD OF
EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE
CHECK, THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET
BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES
WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF YOU
OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO COVER THE
REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS EFFECTIVE, DIVIDENDS
ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO
EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund shares will not be
redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its option upon
not less than 45 days' written notice if your account's net asset value is
$500 or less and remains so during the notice period.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or through the Telephone Redemption Privilege
which is granted automatically unless you specifically refuse it by checking
the applicable "No" box on the Account Application. The Telephone Redemption
Privilege may be established for an existing account by a separate signed
Shareholder Services Form or by oral request from any of the authorized
signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. You also may redeem
shares through the Wire Redemption Privilege, or the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege, if
Page 14
you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary
information on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services
Form with the Transfer Agent. Other redemption procedures may be in effect
for clients of certain Service Agents. The Fund makes available to certain
large institutions the ability to issue redemption instructions through
compatible computer facilities. The Fund reserves the right to refuse any
request made by wire or telephone, including requests made shortly after a
change of address, and may limit the amount involved or the number of such
requests. The Fund may modify or terminate any redemption Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans, and shares for which certificates have been issued, are not
eligible for the Wire Redemption, Telephone Redemption or Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege.
The Telephone Redemption Privilege or Telephone Exchange Privilege
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions (including
over The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated telephone system) from any
person representing himself or herself to be you, and reasonably believed by
the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to
employ reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal
identification, to confirm that instructions are genuine and, if it does not
follow such procedures, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor
the Transfer Agent will be liable for following telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used. During the delay, the Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION _ Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Redemption requests may be delivered in person only
to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND
AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the
nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed under "General Information." Redemption requests must be signed by
each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account, and each signature
must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. If you
have any questions with respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of
the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may request by wire, telephone or letter
that redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank
which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if
your bank is not a member. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank
accounts may have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within
any 30-day period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Statement of Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting
redemption requests by wire.
Page 15
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to
your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Telephone Redemption Privilege is granted automatically unless you refuse it.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund
account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an
Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may
redeem through the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank
account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan, pursuant to which
it pays the Distributor for the provision of certain services to Fund
shareholders a fee at the annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the Fund's
average daily net assets. 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. The Distributor may make
payments to Service Agents in respect of these services. The Distributor
determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the
Fund is treated as a separate entity for purposes of qualification and
taxation as a regulated investment company. The Fund ordinarily pays
dividends from its net investment income and distributes net realized
securities gains, if any, once a year, but it may make distributions on a
more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code,
in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The
Fund will not make distributions from net realized securities gains unless
capital loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have expired. You may
choose whether to receive dividends and distributions in cash or to reinvest
in additional shares at net asset value. If you elect to receive dividends
and distributions in cash, and your dividend or distribution check is
returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remains uncashed for six months, the
Fund reserves the right to reinvest such 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. All expenses are accrued daily
and deducted before declaration of dividends to investors.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any 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 additional
shares. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains of the
Fund will be 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. Dividends and distributions may be subject to state
and local taxes.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to a foreign investor generally are
subject to U.S. nonresident withholding taxes at the rate of 30%, unless the
foreign investor claims the benefit of a lower rate
Page 16
specified in a tax treaty. Distributions from net realized long-term
securities gains paid by the Fund to a foreign investor as well as the
proceeds of any redemptions from a foreign investor's account, regardless of
the extent to which gain or loss may be realized, generally will not be
subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax. However, such distributions may
be subject to backup withholding, as described below, unless the foreign
investor certifies his non-U.S. residency status.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and distributions will
be mailed to you annually. You also will receive periodic summaries of your
account which will include information as to dividends and distributions from
securities gains, if any, paid during the year.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated
for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by
the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a
taxable gain or loss.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold ("backup
withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of dividends, distributions
from net realized securities gains and the proceeds of any redemption,
regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized, paid to a
shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the TIN
furnished in connection with opening an account is correct or that such
shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or
interest income on a Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may
notify the Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines a
shareholder's TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly
report taxable dividend and interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number, IRS individual taxpayer
identification number, or employer identification number of the record owner
of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of backup withholding does not
constitute an additional tax imposed on the record owner of the account, and
may be claimed as a credit on the record owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Company believes that the Fund has qualified for
the fiscal period ended May 31, 1997 as a "regulated investment company"
under the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such
qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders. Such
qualification relieves the Fund of any liability for Federal income tax to
the extent its earnings are distributed in accordance with applicable
provisions of the Code. The Fund is subject to a non-deductible 4% excise
tax, measured with respect to certain undistributed amounts of taxable
investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance may be calculated on the
basis of average annual total return and/or total return.
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a standardized
formula which assumes that an investment was purchased with an initial
payment of $1,000 and that the investment was redeemed at the end of a stated
period of time, after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions during the period. The return is expressed as a percentage rate
which, if applied on a compounded annual basis, would result in the
redeemable value of the investment at the end of the period. Advertisements
of the Fund's performance will include the Fund's average annual total return
for one, five and ten year periods, or for shorter periods depending upon the
length of time the Fund has operated.
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total return generally is
expressed as a percentage rate which is calculated by combining the income
and principal changes for a specified period and dividing by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include
the percentage rate of total return or may include the value of a
hypothetical investment at the end of the period which assumes the
application of the percentage rate of total return.
Page 17
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not
necessarily representative of future results. You should remember that
performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the type and
quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating expenses.
Performance information, such as that described above, may not provide a
basis for comparison with other investments or other investment companies
using a different method of calculating performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., MSCI-Emerging Markets Index, Standard & Poor's 500
Composite Stock Price Index, Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index, Wilshire
5000 Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, MONEY MAGAZINE, Morningstar,
Inc. and other industry publications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Company was incorporated under Maryland law on January 27, 1993
and commenced operations on June 29, 1993. Before June 24, 1996, the
Company's name was Dreyfus International Equity Fund, Inc. The Company is
authorized to issue 400 million shares of Common Stock (with 100 million
shares allocated to the Fund), par value $.001 per share. Each share has one
vote.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or
the appointment of auditors. However, pursuant to the Company's By-Laws, the
holders of at least 10% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may
require the Company to hold a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of
removing a Board member from office or for any other purpose. Shareholders
may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Company's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Board will call a
meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board members if, at any
time, less than a majority of the Board members then holding office have been
elected by shareholders.
The Company is a "series fund," which is a mutual fund divided into
separate portfolios, each of which is treated as a separate entity for
certain matters under the 1940 Act and for other purposes. A shareholder of
one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. For
certain matters shareholders vote together as a group; as to others they vote
separately by portfolio. By this Prospectus, shares of the Fund are being
offered. Other portfolios are sold pursuant to other offering documents.
To date, the Board has authorized the creation of two series of
shares. All consideration received by the Company for shares of one of the
series and all assets in which such consideration is invested will belong to
that series (subject only to the rights of creditors of the Company) and will
be subject to the liabilities related thereto. The income attributable to,
and the expenses of, one series are treated separately from those of the
other series. The Company has the ability to create, from time to time, new
series without shareholder approval.
The Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends you
confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn
Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by calling toll free
1-800-645-6561. In New York City, call 1-718-895-1206; outside the U.S., call
516-794-5452.
Page 18
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS _ Foreign currency transactions may be entered
into for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars, between
trade and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed to buy
or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already owns,
particularly if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which
the foreign security is denominated; or to gain exposure to the foreign
currency in an attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund's
purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short
positions in foreign currencies, which would involve the Fund agreeing to
exchange an amount of a currency it did not currently own for another
currency at a future date in anticipation of a decline in the value of the
currency sold relative to the currency the Fund contracted to receive in the
exchange. The Fund's success in these transactions will depend principally on
The Dreyfus Corporation's ability to predict accurately the future exchange
rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
SHORT-SELLING _ In these transactions, the Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. To
complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery
to the buyer. The Fund is obligated to replace the security borrowed by
purchasing it subsequently at the market price at the time of replacement.
The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the
security was sold by the Fund, which would result in a loss or gain,
respectively.
Securities will not be sold short if, after effect is given to any
such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would
exceed 25% of the value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund may not sell short
the securities of any single issuer listed on a national securities exchange
to the extent of more than 5% of the value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund
may not make a short sale which results in the Fund having sold short in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any class of an
issuer.
The Fund also may make short sales "against the box," in which the
Fund enters into a short sale of a security it owns. At no time will more
than 15% of the value of the Fund's net assets be in deposits on short sales
against the box.
BORROWING MONEY _ The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an
amount up to 331/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund currently
intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging)
purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets (including
the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities
(not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. While
borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any
additional investments.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in the types of Derivatives
enumerated under "Description of the Fund _ Investment Considerations and
Risks _ Use of Derivatives." These instruments and certain related risks are
described more specifically under "Investment Objective and Management
Policies _ Management Policies _ Derivatives" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and the
portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the
level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is
exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level
of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making
investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than
their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives
could have a large potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inopportune times or judges
market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return
or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses
Page 19
if its Derivatives were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if
the Fund were unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid
secondary market. The market for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become,
illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and
unpredictable changes in the prices for Derivatives.
Although the Fund will not be a commodity pool, certain Derivatives
subject the Fund to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
which limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in such Derivatives. The
Fund may invest in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for
hedging purposes without limit. However, the Fund may not invest in such
contracts and options for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial
margin deposits and premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such
contracts, other than for bona fide hedging purposes, exceeds 5% of the
liquidation value of the Fund's assets, after taking into account unrealized
profits and unrealized losses on such contracts and options; provided,
however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. The Fund may write
(i.e., sell) covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of
the value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written.
When required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set
aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its
obligations relating to its transactions in Derivatives. To maintain this
required cover, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at
disadvantageous prices or times since it may not be possible to liquidate a
Derivative position at a reasonable price.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES _ The Fund may invest in securities issued
by closed-end investment companies which principally invest in securities in
which the Fund invests. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund's investment in such
securities, subject to certain exceptions, currently is limited to (i) 3% of
the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund's
total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the
Fund's total assets in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other
investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain
other expenses.
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS; SECURITIES OF SUPRANATIONAL ENTITIES _ 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 Dreyfus Corporation to be of
comparable quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest.
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.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS _ The Fund may invest in the following types of
money market instruments.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities 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 provides financial
support to such U.S. Government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities, no
assurance can be given that it will always do so since it is not so obligated
by law.
Page 20
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and
the seller agrees to repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time
and price (usually within seven days). The repurchase agreement thereby
determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the
seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying
security. Repurchase agreements could involve risks in the event of a default
or insolvency of the other party to the agreement, including possible delays
or restrictions upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying
securities. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks
or non-bank dealers.
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. With respect to such securities
issued by foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, and
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, the Fund may be subject to
additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those
incurred by a fund which invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic
issuers. See "Description of the Fund _ Investment Considerations and Risks _
Foreign Securities."
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the
obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period
of time.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking
institution for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven
days) at a stated interest rate.
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.
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper consists 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 which, at
the time of their purchase, are (a) rated not lower than Prime-1 by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("S&P"), (b) issued by companies having an outstanding unsecured debt issue
currently rated at least A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P, or (c) if unrated,
determined by The Dreyfus Corporation to be of comparable quality to those
rated obligations which may be purchased by the Fund.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES _ The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice, and certain privately
negotiated, non-exchange traded options and securities used to cover such
options. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should
the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price
the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net
assets could be adversely affected.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE
FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S
SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
Page 21
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Page 22
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Page 23
Emerging
Markets
Fund
Prospectus
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1997 Dreyfus Service Corporation
327p1097
Page 24
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS OCTOBER 1, 1997
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND (THE "FUND") IS A SEPARATE
NON-DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC., AN OPEN-END,
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY (THE "COMPANY"), KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE
FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH CAPITAL GROWTH. THE FUND
WILL INVEST PRIMARILY IN THE EQUITY SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS LOCATED
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM FUND SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT
CHARGE OR PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE FUND. YOU CAN PURCHASE OR REDEEM SHARES BY
TELEPHONE USING DREYFUS TELETRANSFER.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND THAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED OCTOBER 1, 1997, WHICH
MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
AREAS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME
INVESTORS. IT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND
IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
MAINTAINS A WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, AND OTHER
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND. FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT 144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD,
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL 1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK
FOR OPERATOR 144.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
THE NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE WILL FLUCTUATE FROM TIME TO TIME.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Annual Fund Operating Expenses.................... 3
Condensed Financial Information................... 4
Description of the Fund........................... 4
Management of the Fund............................ 7
How to Buy Shares................................. 8
Shareholder Services.............................. 11
How to Redeem Shares.............................. 14
Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan... 16
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 17
Performance Information........................... 18
General Information............................... 18
Appendix.......................................... 20
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Page 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
<S> <C>
Management Fees .................................................................... .75%
12b-1 Fees.......................................................................... .50%
Other Expenses...................................................................... .73%
Total Fund Operating Expenses....................................................... 1.98%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXAMPLE: 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
You would pay the following expenses on
a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5%
annual return and (2) redemption at the
end of each time period: $20 $62 $107 $231
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER
OR LESS THAN THOSE INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE EXAMPLE ASSUMES A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN, THE FUND'S ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACTUAL
RETURN GREATER OR LESS THAN 5%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in understanding
the costs and expenses borne by the Fund, the payment of which will reduce
investors' annual return. Long-term investors could pay more in 12b-1 fees
than the economic equivalent of paying a front-end sales charge. Certain
Service Agents (as defined below) may charge their clients direct fees for
effecting transactions in Fund shares; such fees are not reflected in the
foregoing table. See "Management of the Fund," "How to Buy Shares" and
"Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan."
Page 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, the Fund's independent auditors. Further financial data, related
notes and report of independent auditors accompany the Statement of
Additional Information, available upon request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share
of Common Stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net
assets and other supplemental data for each year indicated. This information
has been derived from the Fund's financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED MAY 31,
-------------------------------------------
1994(1) 1995 1996 1997
------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning of year................................ $12.50 $15.20 $13.74 $15.49
------- ------- ------- -------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income_net ........................................... .05 .01 .09 (.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments............ 2.74 (1.19) 1.66 1.11
------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS.................................. 2.79 (1.18) 1.75 1.09
------- ------- ------- -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income-net.............................. (.02) (.01) _ (.09)
Dividends in excess of investment income-net...................... (.04) (.02) _ (.03)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments................... (.03) (.25) _ (.63)
------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS............................................... (.09) (.28) _ (.75)
------- ------- ------- -------
Net asset value, end of year...................................... $15.20 $13.74 $15.49 $15.83
======= ======= ======= =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN ............................................ 22.32%(2) (7.81%) 12.74% 7.36%
RATIOS / SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average net assets .......................... 1.71%(2) 1.92% 2.04% 1.98%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets.............. .11%(2) .09% .62% (.18%)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to
undertakings by The Dreyfus Corporation .16%(2) _ _ _
Portfolio Turnover Rate........................................... 51.32%(2) 40.15% 96.45% 158.04%
Average Commission Rate paid(3)................................... _ _ _ $ .0217
Net Assets, end of year (000's omitted).......................... $179,907 $137,909 $102,710 $88,694
(1) From June 29, 1993 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 1994.
(2) Not annualized.
(3) For fiscal years beginning June 1, 1996, the Fund is required to disclose
its average commission rate paid per share for purchases and sales of
investment securities.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the
Fund's annual report, which may be obtained without charge by writing to the
address or calling the number set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is to provide you with capital
growth. It cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority
(as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act")) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. There can be no assurance
that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that at least 65% of the value
of its total assets (except when maintaining a temporary defensive position)
will be invested in equity securities of foreign issuers. Equity securities
consist of common stocks, convertible securities and preferred stocks. The
Fund also may invest in debt securities of foreign issuers that management
believes, based on market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer,
general economic conditions and other relevant factors, offer opportunities
for capital growth.
Page 4
Under normal market conditions, it is expected that substantially all of the
Fund's assets will be invested in securities of foreign issuers. While there
are no prescribed limits on geographic asset distribution outside the United
States, the Fund ordinarily will seek to invest its assets in not less than
three foreign countries. The Fund may invest without restriction in companies
in, or governments of, developing countries. The Fund may invest up to 5% of
its assets in securities of companies that have been in continuous operation
for fewer than three years. The Fund's policy is to purchase marketable
securities which are not restricted as to public sale; however, the Fund may
invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in securities as to which a
liquid trading market does not exist. See "Appendix _ Certain Portfolio
Securities _ Illiquid Securities."
The debt securities in which the Fund may invest must be rated at
least Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or at least BBB by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), Fitch Investors Service, L.P.
("Fitch") or Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff'') or, if unrated, deemed
to be of comparable quality by The Dreyfus Corporation. Debt securities rated
Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P, Fitch or Duff are considered investment grade
obligations which lack outstanding investment characteristics and have
speculative characteristics as well. See "Investment Considerations and
Risks" below.
While seeking desirable investments, the Fund may invest in money
market instruments consisting of U.S. Government securities, certificates of
deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances, short-term investment grade
corporate bonds and other short-term debt instruments, and repurchase
agreements, as set forth under "Appendix _ Certain Portfolio Securities _
Money Market Instruments." Under normal market conditions, the Fund does not
expect to have a substantial portion of its assets invested in money market
instruments. However, when The Dreyfus Corporation determines that adverse
market conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary defensive posture and
invest all of its assets in money market instruments.
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
200%. A turnover rate of 100% is equivalent to the Fund buying and selling
all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of a year. Higher
portfolio turnover rates usually generate additional brokerage commissions
and expenses and the short-term gains realized from these transactions are
taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund may engage in various
investment techniques, such as foreign currency transactions, options and
futures transactions and lending portfolio securities. For a discussion of
the investment techniques and their related risks, see "Investment
Considerations and Risks" and "Appendix _ Investment Techniques" below and
"Investment Objective and Management Policies _ Management Policies" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL _ The Fund's net asset value per share should be expected to
fluctuate. Investors should consider the Fund as a supplement to an overall
investment program and should invest only if they are willing to undertake
the risks involved. See "Investment Objective and Management Policies" in the
Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of certain
risks.
EQUITY SECURITIES _ Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on
factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such
fluctuations can be pronounced. Changes in the value of the Fund's
investments will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the
Fund's total return to investors.
The Fund may purchase securities of smaller capitalization companies,
the prices of which may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements
than larger, more established companies, because these securities typically
are traded in lower volume and the issuers typically are subject to a greater
degree to changes in earnings and prospects.
Page 5
FOREIGN SECURITIES _ Foreign securities markets generally are not as
developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some
foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign
securities markets are less than in the United States and, at times,
volatility of price can be greater than in the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of such securities usually are held
outside the United States, the Fund will be subject to additional risks which
include possible adverse political and economic developments, seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions
which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and
interest on the foreign securities to investors located outside the country
of the issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise.
Developing countries have economic structures that are generally less
diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of
developed countries. The markets of developing countries may be more volatile
than the markets of more mature economies; however, such markets may provide
higher rates of return to investors. Many developing countries providing
investment opportunities for the Fund have experienced substantial, and in
some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and
rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have
adverse effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these
countries.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in
currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in
U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
rates and exchange control regulations.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS _ Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by
the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the
relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or perceived
changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an
international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central
banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political
developments in the United States or abroad. See "Appendix _ Investment
Techniques _ Foreign Currency Transactions."
FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES _ Even though interest-bearing securities are
investments which promise a stable stream of income, the prices of such
securities generally are inversely affected by changes in interest rates and,
therefore, are subject to the risk of market price fluctuations. The values
of fixed-income securities also may be affected by changes in the credit
rating or financial condition of the issuer. Certain securities purchased by
the Fund, such as those rated Baa by Moody's and BBB by S&P, Fitch and Duff,
may be subject to such risk with respect to the issuing entity and to greater
market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated fixed-income
securities. Once the rating of a portfolio security has been changed, the
Fund will consider all circumstances deemed relevant in determining whether
to continue to hold the security. See "Appendix" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in derivatives ("Derivatives").
These are financial instruments which derive their performance, at least in
part, from the performance of an underlying asset, index or interest rate.
The Derivatives the Fund may use include options and futures. While
Derivatives can be used effectively in furtherance of the Fund's investment
objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility
of the Fund's net asset value, decrease the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio
and make more difficult the accurate pricing of the Fund's portfolio. See
"Appendix _ Investment Techniques _ Use of Derivatives" below and "Investment
Objective and Management Policies _ Management Policies _ Derivatives" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
Page 6
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS _ The classification of the Fund as a
"non-diversified" investment company means that the proportion of the Fund's
assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not
limited by the 1940 Act. A "diversified" investment company is required by
the 1940 Act generally, with respect to 75% of its total assets, to invest
not more than 5% of such assets in the securities of a single issuer. Since a
relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be invested in the
securities of a limited number of issuers, some of which may be within the
same industry, the Fund's portfolio securities may be more sensitive to
changes in the market value of a single issuer. However, to meet Federal tax
requirements, at the close of each quarter the Fund may not have more than
25% of its total assets invested in any one issuer and, with respect to 50%
of total assets, not more than 5% of its total assets invested in any one
issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S. Government securities.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS _ Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of the other investment companies advised by The
Dreyfus Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to
invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available
investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each
investment company. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the
size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price
paid or received by the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER _ The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Mellon Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation ("Mellon"). As of August 31, 1997, The Dreyfus Corporation
managed or administered approximately $92 billion in assets for approximately
1.7 million investor accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall
management of the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the
Company, subject to the authority of the Company's Board in accordance with
Maryland law. The Fund's primary portfolio manager is Ronald Chapman. He has
held that position since April 1996, and has been employed by The Dreyfus
Corporation since January 1996. For ten years prior thereto, he served as
Vice President of the Global Strategy & Management Group for Northern Trust
Company. The Fund's other portfolio managers are identified in the Statement
of Additional Information. The Dreyfus Corporation also provides research
services for the Fund and for other funds advised by The Dreyfus Corporation
through a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international
markets. Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in
the United States based on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned
subsidiaries are Mellon Bank, N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association,
Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a
number of companies known as Mellon Financial Services Corporations. Through
its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus Corporation, Mellon managed more than
$286 billion in assets as of June 30, 1997, including approximately $94
billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As of June 30, 1997, Mellon,
through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment services, such as
custodial or administration services, for more than $1.306 trillion in
assets, including approximately $63 billion in mutual fund assets.
Page 7
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997, the Fund paid The Dreyfus
Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .75 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The Dreyfus
Corporation may waive receipt of its fee and/or voluntarily assume certain
expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the expense
ratio of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will not pay
The Dreyfus Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive, nor
will the Fund reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may
assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks
to obtain the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Subject to this determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among
other things, the receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of
the Fund or other funds managed, advised or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation as factors in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund. See "Portfolio Transactions" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for
shareholder services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including
past profits but not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The
Fund's distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents
in respect of these services.
DISTRIBUTOR _ The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN _ Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent (the "Transfer Agent"). The Bank of New York, 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, is the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
You can purchase Fund shares through the Distributor or certain
financial institutions, securities dealers and other industry professionals,
such as investment advisers, accountants and estate planning firms
(collectively, "Service Agents") that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor. 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 Service Agent 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 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and 403(b)(7)
Plans with only one participant is $750, with no minimum for subsequent
purchases. Individuals who open an IRA also may open a non-working spousal
IRA with a minimum initial investment of $250. Subsequent investment in a
spousal IRA must be at least $250.The initial investment must be accompanied
by the Account Application. For full-time or part-time employees of The
Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of
The Dreyfus Corporation, Board members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation, including members of the Company's Board, or the spouse or minor
child of any of the foregoing, the minimum initial investment is $1,000. For
full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to have a portion of their pay directly
deposited into their Fund accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50.
The Fund reserves the right to offer Fund shares without regard to minimum
purchase requirements
Page 8
to employees participating in certain qualified or non-qualified employee
benefit plans or other programs where contributions or account information can
be transmitted in a manner and form acceptable to the Fund. The Fund reserves
the right to vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum
requirements at any time. Fund shares also are offered without regard to the
minimum initial investment requirements through Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
BuilderRegistration Mark, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus Step Program described
under "Shareholder Services." These services enable you to make regularly
scheduled investments and may provide you with a convenient way to invest for
long-term financial goals. You should be aware, however, that periodic
investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not protect an investor
against loss in a declining market.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds," or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to
"The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian" and should specify that you are
investing in the Fund. Payments to open new accounts which are mailed should
be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387, Providence, Rhode
Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application. For subsequent
investments, your Fund account number should appear on the check and an invest
ment slip should be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. For Dreyfus retirement plan accounts,
both initial and subsequent investments should be sent to The Dreyfus Trust
Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427.
Neither initial nor subsequent investments should be made by third party
check. Purchase orders may be delivered in person only to a Dreyfus Financial
Center. THESE ORDERS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY
UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the nearest Dreyfus Financial
Center, please call one of the telephone numbers listed under "General
Information."
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having
a correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA #8900117842/Dreyfus
International Growth Fund for purchase of Fund shares in your name. The wire
must include your Fund account number (for new accounts, your Taxpayer
Identification Number ("TIN") should be included instead), account
registration and dealer number, if applicable. If your initial purchase of
Fund shares is by wire, please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your wire
payment to obtain your Fund account number. Please include your Fund account
number on the Account Application and promptly mail the Account Application to
the Fund, as no redemptions will be permitted until the Account Application is
received. You may obtain further information about remitting funds in this
manner from your bank. All payments should be made in U.S. dollars and, to
avoid fees and delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A charge will be
imposed if any check used for investment in your account does not clear. The
Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
purchase instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of
funds from an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial
institution that is an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the
institution to transmit immediately available funds through the Automated
Clearing House to The Bank of New York with instructions to credit your Fund
account. The instructions must specify your Fund account registration and
your Fund account number PRECEDED BY THE DIGITS "1111."
Page 9
Management understands that some Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are different from those described in this
Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority,
may charge their clients direct fees. You should consult your Service Agent
in this regard. See "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan."
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at net asset value per
share next determined after an order in proper form is received by the
Transfer Agent or other agent. Net asset value per share is determined as of
the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (currently
4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open
for business. For purposes of determining net asset value, options and
futures contracts will be valued 15 minutes after the close of trading on the
floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset value per share 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 Fund shares outstanding. The Fund's
investments are valued based on market value or, where market quotations are
not readily available, based on fair value as determined in good faith by the
Company's Board. For further information regarding the methods employed in
valuing the Fund's investments, see "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and
must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the
order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days
after the order is placed, the order may by canceled and the institution
could be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
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.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon
opening or reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and
the Account Application for further information concerning this requirement.
Failure to furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may purchase shares (minimum $500,
maximum $150,000 per day) by telephone if you have checked the appropriate
box and supplied the necessary information on the Account Application or have
filed a Shareholder Services Form with the Transfer Agent. The proceeds will
be transferred between the bank account designated in one of these documents
and your Fund account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated.
The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
Page 10
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The services and privileges described under this heading may not be
available to clients of certain Service Agents and some Service Agents may
impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those in
this Prospectus. You should consult your Service Agent in this regard.
FUND EXCHANGES _ You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of certain other funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus
Corporation, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of
residence. These funds have different investment objectives which may be of
interest to you. If you desire to use this service, you should consult your
Service Agent or call 1-800-645-6561 to determine if it is available and
whether any conditions are imposed on its use.
To request an exchange, you or your Service Agent acting on your
behalf must give exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in writing or by
telephone. Before any exchange, you must obtain and should review a copy of
the current prospectus of the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. Except in the case of
personal retirement plans, the shares being exchanged must have a current
value of at least $500; furthermore, when establishing a new account by
exchange, the shares being exchanged must have a value of at least the
minimum initial investment required for the fund into which the exchange is
being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given
to all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No"
box on the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this
Privilege. The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an
existing account by written request signed by all shareholders on the
account, by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form, available by calling
1-800-645-6561, or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on
the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. If you have established the Telephone
Exchange Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions (including over
The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated telephone system) by calling
1-800-645-6561. If you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. See "How
to Redeem Shares _ Procedures." Upon an exchange into a new account, the
following shareholder services and privileges, as applicable and where
available, will be automatically carried over to the fund into which the
exchange is made: Telephone Exchange Privilege, Wire Redemption Privilege,
Telephone Redemption Privilege, Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege and the
dividend/capital gain distribution option (except for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep)
selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. If you are exchanging into a fund that charges a
sales load, you may qualify for share prices which do not include the sales
load or which reflect a reduced sales load, if the shares you are exchanging
were: (a) purchased with a sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange
from shares purchased with a sales load, or (c) acquired through reinvestment
of dividends or distributions paid with respect to the foregoing categories
of shares. To qualify, at the time of your exchange you must notify the
Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any such
qualification is subject to confirmation of your holdings through a check of
appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. No fees currently are charged shareholders directly
in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves the right, upon not
less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a nominal
administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange
request in whole or in part. The availability of Fund Exchanges may be
modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
Page 11
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE _ Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables
you to invest regularly (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual
basis), in exchange for shares of the Fund, in shares of other funds in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. The amount you
designate, which can be expressed either in terms of a specific dollar or
share amount ($100 minimum), will be exchanged automatically on the first
and/or fifteenth day of the month according to the schedule you have
selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds
sold with a sales load. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege may be modified
or canceled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your
exercise of this Privilege at any time by mailing written notification to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671.
The Fund may charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee
currently is contemplated. For more information concerning this Privilege and
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this
Privilege, or to obtain a Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please
call toll free 1-800-645-6561. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration Mark _ Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of
$150,000 per transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares
are purchased by transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
At your option, the account designated by you will be debited in the
specified amount, and Fund shares will be purchased, once a month, on either
the first or fifteenth day, or twice a month, on both days. Only an account
maintained at a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House member may be so designated. To establish a Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset
Builder account, you must file an authorization form with the Transfer Agent.
You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561.
You may cancel your participation in this Privilege or change the amount of
purchase at any time by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus
retirement plan accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box
6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427, and the notification will be
effective three business days following receipt. The Fund may modify or
terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE _ Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social
Security, or certain veterans', military or other payments from the Federal
government automatically deposited into your Fund account. You may deposit as
much of such payments as you elect. To enroll in Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit, you must file with the Transfer Agent a completed Direct Deposit
Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that you desire to include in the
Privilege. The appropriate form may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561.
Death or legal incapacity will terminate your participation in this Privilege.
You may elect at any time to terminate your participation by notifying in
writing the appropriate Federal agency. Further, the Fund may terminate your
participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN _ Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to
purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may
have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus
account electronically through the Automated Clearing House system at each
pay period. To establish a Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan account, you must
file an authorization form with your employer's payroll
Page 12
department. Your employer must complete the reverse side of the form and
return it to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode
Island 02940-9671. You may obtain the necessary authorization form by calling
1-800-645-6561. You may change the amount of purchase or cancel the
authorization only by written notification to your employer. It is the sole
responsibility of your employer, not the Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation,
the Fund, the Transfer Agent or any other person, to arrange for transactions
under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The Fund may modify or terminate this
Privilege at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee currently is
contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM _ Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase shares
without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements through
Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege
or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a Dreyfus Step Program account,
you must supply the necessary information on the Account Application and file
the required authorization form(s) with the Transfer Agent. For more
information concerning this Program, or to request the necessary
authorization form(s), please call toll free 1-800-782-6620. You may
terminate your participation in this Program at any time by discontinuing
your participation in Dreyfus-AUTOMATIC Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government
Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the case may be,
as provided under the terms of such Privilege(s). The Fund may modify or
terminate this Program at any time. Investors who wish to purchase Fund
shares through the Dreyfus Step Program in conjunction with a
Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plan may do so only for IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts."
DREYFUS DIVIDEND OPTIONS _ Dreyfus Dividend Sweep enables you to invest
automatically dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any,
paid by the Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of
which you are a shareholder. Shares of the other fund will be purchased at
the then-current net asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with
respect to investments in shares of a fund sold with a sales load. If you are
investing in a fund that charges a sales load, you may qualify for share
prices which do not include the sales load or which reflect a reduced sales
load. If you are investing in a fund that charges a contingent deferred sales
charge, the shares purchased will be subject on redemption to the contingent
deferred sales charge, if any, applicable to the purchased shares. See
"Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional Information. Dreyfus
Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends or dividends
and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated bank
account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial institution which
is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated. Banks may charge
a fee for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a
Dividend Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel
these privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. To select a new
fund after cancellation, you must submit a new Dividend Options Form.
Enrollment in or cancellation of these privileges is effective three business
days following receipt. These privileges are available only for existing
accounts and may not be used to open new accounts. Minimum subsequent
investments do not apply for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. The Fund may modify or
terminate these privileges at any time or charge a service fee. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans are not eligible for Dreyfus Dividend Sweep.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN _ The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An Automatic
Withdrawal Plan may be established by filing an Automatic Withdrawal Plan
application with the Transfer Agent or by oral request from any of the
authorized sig-
Page 13
natories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Automatic Withdrawal
Plan may be ended at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares
for which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the
Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
RETIREMENT PLANS _ The Fund offers a variety of pension and profit-sharing
plans, including Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts,"
401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also
are available. You can obtain details on the various plans by calling the
following numbers toll free: for Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566; for
IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts," please call 1-800-645-6561; or for
SEP-IRAs, 401(k) Salary Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans, please call
1-800-322-7880.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption
requests should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When
a request is received in proper form, the Fund will redeem the shares at the
next determined net asset value.
The Fund imposes no charges when shares are redeemed. Service Agents
may charge their clients a fee for effecting redemptions of Fund shares. Any
certificates representing Fund shares being redeemed must be submitted with
the redemption request. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less
than their original cost, depending upon the Fund's then-current net asset
value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within
seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in
proper form, except as provided by the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY CHECK, BY DREYFUS
TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDERRegistration
Mark AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER
AGENT, THE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK
CLEARANCE OF YOUR PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-
AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR
MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY WIRE OR
TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE FOR A PERIOD OF
EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE
CHECK, THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR THE DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET
BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES
WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE PAYMENT, OR IF YOU
OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO COVER THE
REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS EFFECTIVE, DIVIDENDS
ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO
EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund shares will not be
redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its option upon
not less than 45 days' written notice if your account's net asset value is
$500 or less and remains so during the notice period.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure
through the Transfer Agent, or through the Telephone Redemption Privilege
which is granted automatically unless you specifically refuse it by checking
the applicable "No" box on the Account Application. The Telephone Redemption
Privilege may be established for an existing account by a separate signed
Shareholder Services Form or by oral request from any of the authorized
signatories on the account by calling 1-800-645-6561. You also may redeem
shares through the Wire Redemption Privilege, or the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege, if you have
Page 14
checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary information on the
Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services Form with the
Transfer Agent. Other redemption procedures may be in effect for clients
of certain Service Agents. The Fund makes available to certain
large institutions the ability to issue redemption instructions through
compatible computer facilities. The Fund reserves the right to refuse any
request made by wire or telephone, including requests made shortly after a
change of address, and may limit the amount involved or the number of such
requests. The Fund may modify or terminate any redemption Privilege at any
time or charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No such fee
currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh Plans, IRAs or other
retirement plans, and shares for which certificates have been issued, are not
eligible for the Wire Redemption, Telephone Redemption or Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege.
The Telephone Redemption Privilege or Telephone Exchange Privilege
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions (including
over The Dreyfus TouchRegistration Mark automated telephone system) from any
person representing himself or herself to be you or a representative of your
Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine.
The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to employ reasonable procedures,
such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that
instructions are genuine and, if it does not follow such procedures, the Fund
or the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent will be
liable for following telephone instructions reasonably believed to be
genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may
experience difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to
request a redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should
consider using the other redemption procedures described herein. Use of these
other redemption procedures may result in your redemption request being
processed at a later time than it would have been if telephone redemption had
been used. During the delay, the Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION _ Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Redemption requests may be delivered in person only
to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND
AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the
nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers
listed under "General Information." Redemption requests must be signed by
each shareholder, including each owner of a joint account, and each signature
must be guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. If you
have any questions with respect to signature-guarantees, please call one of
the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written
signature-guaranteed request.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may request by wire, telephone or letter
that redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank
which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if
your bank is not a member. Holders of jointly registered Fund or
Page 15
bank accounts may have redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired
within any 30-day period. You may telephone redemption requests by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Statement of Additional Information sets forth instructions for transmitting
redemption requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to
your address. You may telephone redemption instructions by calling
1-800-645-6561 or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The
Telephone Redemption Privilege is granted automatically unless you refuse it.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE _ You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund
account and your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic
financial institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be
designated. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an
Automated Clearing House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the
redemption request. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may
redeem through the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank
account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may
request a Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561
or, if you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
Fund shares are subject to a Distribution Plan and a Shareholder
Services Plan.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN _ Under the Distribution Plan, adopted pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund (a) reimburses the Distributor for
payments to certain Service Agents for distributing Fund shares and (b) pays
The Dreyfus Corporation, Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, and any affiliate of either of them
for advertising and marketing relating to the Fund, at an aggregate annual
rate of .50 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. The
Distributor may pay one or more Service Agents in respect of distribution
services. The Distributor determines the amounts, if any, to be paid to
Service Agents under the Distribution Plan and the basis on which such
payments are made. The fees payable under the Distribution Plan are payable
without regard to actual expenses incurred.
The Fund bears the costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and
statements of additional information used for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing Fund shareholders. Under the Distribution Plan, the
Fund bears (a) the costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses
and statements of additional information used for other purposes and (b) the
costs associated with implementing and operating the Distribution Plan, the
aggregate of such amounts not to exceed in any fiscal year of the Fund the
greater of $100,000 or .005 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily
net assets for such fiscal year.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN _ Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund
pays the Distributor for the provision of certain services to Fund
shareholders a fee at the annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the Fund's
average daily net assets. 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. The Distributor may make
payments to Service Agents in respect of these services. The Distributor
determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents.
Page 16
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the
Fund is treated as a separate entity for purposes of qualification and
taxation as a regulated investment company. The Fund ordinarily pays
dividends from its net investment income and distributes net realized
securities gains, if any, once a year, but it may make distributions on a
more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code,
in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The
Fund will not make distributions from net realized securities gains unless
capital loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have expired. You may
choose whether to receive dividends and distributions in cash or to reinvest
in additional Fund shares at net asset value. If you elect to receive
dividends and distributions in cash, and your dividend or distribution check
is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remains uncashed for six months,
the Fund reserves the right to reinvest such 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. All expenses are accrued daily
and deducted before declaration of dividends to investors.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any 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 additional
shares. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains of the
Fund will be 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. Dividends and distributions may be subject to state
and local taxes.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with
distributions from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a
portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain
market discount bonds, paid by the Fund to a foreign investor generally are
subject to U.S. nonresident withholding taxes at the rate of 30%, unless the
foreign investor claims the benefit of a lower rate specified in a tax
treaty. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains paid by
the Fund to a foreign investor as well as the proceeds of any redemptions
from a foreign investor's account, regardless of the extent to which gain or
loss may be realized, generally will not be subject to U.S. nonresident
withholding tax. However, such distributions may be subject to backup
withholding, as described below, unless the foreign investor certifies his
non-U.S. residency status.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and distributions will
be mailed to you annually. You also will receive periodic summaries of your
account which will include information as to dividends and distributions from
securities gains, if any, paid during the year.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated
for Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by
the shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a
taxable gain or loss.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold ("backup
withholding") and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of dividends, distributions
from net realized securities gains and the proceeds of any redemption,
regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized, paid to a
shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the TIN
furnished in connection with opening an account is correct or that such
shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or
interest income on a Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may
notify the Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines a
share-
Page 17
holder's TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly
report taxable dividend and interest income on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number, IRS individual taxpayer
identification number, or employer identification number of the record owner
of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of backup withholding does not
constitute an additional tax imposed on the record owner of the account, and
may be claimed as a credit on the record owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Company believes that the Fund has qualified for
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997 as a "regulated investment company" under
the Code. The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is
in the best interests of its shareholders. Such qualification relieves the
Fund of any liability for Federal income tax to the extent its earnings are
distributed in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. The Fund is
subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax, measured with respect to certain
undistributed amounts of taxable investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as
to Federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance will be calculated on the
basis of average annual total return and/or total return.
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a standardized
formula which assumes that an investment in the Fund was purchased with an
initial payment of $1,000 and that the investment was redeemed at the end of
a stated period of time, after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends
and distributions during the period. The return is expressed as a percentage
rate which, if applied on a compounded annual basis, would result in the
redeemable value of the investment at the end of the period. Advertisements
of the Fund's performance will include the Fund's average annual total return
for one, five and ten year periods, or for shorter periods depending upon the
length of time the Fund has operated.
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total return generally is
expressed as a percentage rate which is calculated by combining the income
and principal changes for a specified period and dividing by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period. Advertisements may include
the percentage rate of total return or may include the value of a
hypothetical investment at the end of the period which assumes the
application of the percentage rate of total return.
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not
necessarily representative of future results. You should remember that
performance is a function of portfolio management in selecting the type and
quality of portfolio securities and is affected by operating expenses.
Performance information, such as that described above, may not provide a
basis for comparison with other investments or other investment companies
using a different method of calculating performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index,
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, Standard & Poor's MidCap
400 Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Morningstar, Inc. and other
industry publications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Company was incorporated under Maryland law on January 27, 1993
and commenced operations on June 29, 1993. Before June 24, 1996, the
Company's name was Dreyfus International Equity Fund, Inc. The Company is
authorized to issue 400 million shares of Common Stock (with 100 million
allocated to the Fund), par value $.001 per share. Each share has one vote.
Page 18
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or
the appointment of auditors. However, pursuant to the Company's By-Laws, the
holders of at least 10% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote may
require the Company to hold a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of
removing a Board member from office or for any other purpose. Shareholders
may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Company's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Board will call a
meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board members if, at any
time, less than a majority of the Board members then holding office have been
elected by shareholders.
The Company is a "series fund," which is a mutual fund divided into
separate portfolios, each of which is treated as a separate entity for
certain matters under the 1940 Act and for other purposes. A shareholder of
one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. For
certain matters shareholders vote together as a group; as to others they vote
separately by portfolio. By this Prospectus, shares of the Fund are being
offered. Other portfolios are sold pursuant to other offering documents.
To date, the Board has authorized the creation of two series of
shares. All consideration received by the Company for shares of one of the
series and all assets in which such consideration is invested will belong to
that series (subject only to the rights of creditors of the Company) and will
be subject to the liabilities related thereto. The income attributable to,
and the expenses of, one series are treated separately from those of the
other series. The Company has the ability to create, from time to time, new
series without shareholder approval.
The Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends you
confirmations and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Fund at 144 Glenn
Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by calling toll free
1-800-645-6561. In New York City, call 1-718-895-1206; outside the U.S., call
516-794-5452.
Page 19
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS _ Foreign currency transactions may be entered
into for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars, between
trade and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed to buy
or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already owns,
particularly if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which
the foreign security is denominated; or to gain exposure to the foreign
currency in an attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund's
purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short
positions in foreign currencies, which would involve the Fund agreeing to
exchange an amount of a currency it did not currently own for another
currency at a future date in anticipation of a decline in the value of the
currency sold relative to the currency the Fund contracted to receive in the
exchange. The Fund's success in these transactions will depend principally on
The Dreyfus Corporation's ability to predict accurately the future exchange
rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
BORROWING MONEY _ The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act, which permits an investment company to borrow in an
amount up to 331/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund currently
intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging)
purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets (including
the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities
(not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. While
borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any
additional investments.
USE OF DERIVATIVES _ The Fund may invest in the types of Derivatives
enumerated under "Description of the Fund _ Investment Considerations and
Risks _ Use of Derivatives." These instruments and certain related risks are
described more specifically under "Investment Objective and Management
Policies _ Management Policies _ Derivatives" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and the
portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the
level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is
exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level
of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making
investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than
their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives
could have a large potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inopportune times or judges
market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return
or result in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if its Derivatives
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable
to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market
for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in
liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the
prices for Derivatives.
Although the Fund will not be a commodity pool, certain Derivatives
subject the Fund to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
which limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in such Derivatives. The
Fund may invest in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for
hedging purposes without limit. However, the Fund may not invest in such
contracts and options for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial
margin deposits and premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such
contracts, other than for bona fide hedging purposes, exceeds 5% of the
liquidation value of the
Page 20
Fund's assets, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized
losses on such contracts and options; provided, however, that in the case of
an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money
amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the
premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options. The Fund may write
(i.e., sell) covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of
the value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written.
When required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set
aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its
obligations relating to its purchase of Derivatives. To maintain this
required cover, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at
disadvantageous prices or times since it may not be possible to liquidate a
Derivative position at a reasonable price.
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, dividends or other
distributions payable on the loaned securities which affords the Fund an
opportunity to earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned
securities' collateral. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 331/3%
of the value of the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will receive collateral
consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of
credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least
100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Such loans are
terminable by the Fund at any time upon specified notice. The Fund might
experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a
portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS _ The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and other forms of depositary receipts. These
securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically
issued by a United States bank or trust company which evidence ownership of
underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs, which are
sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts ("CDRs"), are
receipts issued in Europe typically by non-United States banks and trust
companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities.
Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in the United States
securities markets and EDRs and CDRs in bearer form are designed for use in
Europe.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES _ Convertible securities may be converted at either a
stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock.
Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both fixed-income and
equity securities. Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other
similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although
convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of
payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior
to common stock, of the same issuer. Because of the subordination feature,
however, convertible securities typically have lower ratings than similar
non-convertible securities.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS _ The Fund may invest in the following types of
money market instruments.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities 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
Page 21
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 provides financial support to such U.S.
Government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so since it is not so obligated by law.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and
the seller agrees to repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time
and price (usually within seven days). The repurchase agreement thereby
determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the
seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying
security. Repurchase agreements could involve risks in the event of a default
or insolvency of the other party to the agreement, including possible delays
or restrictions upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying
securities. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks
or non-bank dealers.
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. With respect to such securities
issued by foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, and
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, the Fund may be subject to
additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those
incurred by a fund which invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic
issuers. See "Description of the Fund _Investment Considerations and Risks _
Foreign Securities."
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the
obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period
of time.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking
institution for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven
days) at a stated interest rate.
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.
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper consists 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 which, at
the time of their purchase, are (a) rated not lower than Prime-1 by Moody's,
A-1 by S&P, F-1 by Fitch or Duff-1 by Duff, (b) issued by companies having an
outstanding unsecured debt issue currently rated at least Aa3 by Moody's or
AA- by S&P, Fitch or Duff, or (c) if unrated, determined by The Dreyfus
Corporation to be of comparable quality to those rated obligations which may
be purchased by the Fund.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES _ The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective. Such securities may include securities that are not readily
marketable, such as certain securities that are subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale, repurchase agreements providing for
settlement in more than seven days after notice, and certain privately
negotiated, non-exchange traded options and securities used to cover such
options. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should
the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price
the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net
assets could be adversely affected.
Page 22
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE
FUND'S OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S
SHARES, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
Page 23
International
Growth
Fund
Prospectus
Registration Mark
Copy Rights 1997, Dreyfus Service Corporation
095p1097
Page 24
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
DREYFUS EMERGING MARKETS FUND
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
OCTOBER 1, 1997
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus International Growth Fund and Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund each
dated October 1, 1997 (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") of
Dreyfus International Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), respectively, as each may
be revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the relevant Fund's
Prospectus, please write to a Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard,
Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or call the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S. -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as each Fund's
investment adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of each Fund's shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Investment Objective and Management Policies B-2
Management of the Company B-11
Management Agreement B-16
Purchase of Shares B-18
Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan B-18
Redemption of Shares B-20
Shareholder Services B-22
Determination of Net Asset Value B-25
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes B-26
Portfolio Transactions B-29
Performance Information B-30
Information About the Funds B-31
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent,
Custodian, Counsel and Independent Auditors B-31
Appendix B-33
Financial Statements and Report of Independent Auditors B-38
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the sections in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Description of the
Fund" and "Appendix."
Portfolio Securities
Depositary Receipts. These securities may be purchased through
"sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is
established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a
depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility
without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of
unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such
facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under
no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the
issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the
holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities.
Repurchase Agreements. The Funds' custodian or sub-custodian will have
custody of, and will hold in a segregated account, securities acquired by a
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, each Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with
domestic banks with total assets in excess of $1 billion, or primary
government securities dealers reporting to the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, with respect to securities of the type in which the Fund may invest,
and will require that additional securities be deposited with it if the
value of the securities purchased should decrease below the resale price.
Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations. These
instruments include variable amount master demand notes, which are
obligations that permit a Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying
rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as
lender, and the borrower. These notes 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, at any time. 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. Such obligations frequently are not
rated by credit rating agencies, and a Fund may invest in them only if at
the time of an investment the borrower meets the criteria set forth in the
Fund's Prospectus for other commercial paper issuers.
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities may be converted at
either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock.
Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both fixed-income and
equity securities. Convertible securities generally are subordinated to
other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although
convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right
of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is
senior to common stock, of the same issuer. Because of the subordination
feature, however, convertible securities typically have lower ratings than
similar non-convertible securities.
Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the
market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates
increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In
addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible
securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the
underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that
as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible
securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not
experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common
stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the
prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the
value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are
without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less
risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream
of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no
assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible
securities may default on their obligations. A convertible security, in
addition to providing fixed income, offers the potential for capital
appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to
benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.
There can be no assurance of capital appreciation, however, because
securities prices fluctuate. Convertible securities, however, generally
offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of
similar quality because of the potential for capital appreciation.
Illiquid Securities. When purchasing securities that have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are not readily
marketable, each Fund will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to obtain
the right to registration at the expense of the issuer. Generally, there
will be a lapse of time between the Fund's decision to sell any such
security and the registration of the security permitting sale. During any
such period, the price of the securities will be subject to market
fluctuations. However, where a substantial market of qualified
institutional buyers has developed for certain unregistered securities
purchased by the Fund pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Fund intends to treat such securities as liquid
securities in accordance with procedures approved by the Company's Board.
Because it is not possible to predict with assurance how the market for
specific restricted securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A will develop, the
Company's Board has directed the Manager to monitor carefully the relevant
Fund's investments in such securities with particular regard to trading
activity, availability of reliable price information and other relevant
information. To the extent that, for a period of time, qualified
institutional buyers cease purchasing restricted securities pursuant to Rule
144A, a Fund's investing in such securities may have the effect of
increasing the level of illiquidity in its investment portfolio during such
period.
Management Policies
Leverage. For borrowings for investment purposes, the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), requires the Fund to
maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including
borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount
borrowed. If the required coverage should decline as a result of market
fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its
portfolio securities within three days to reduce the amount of its
borrowings and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be
disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that
time. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in
connection with such borrowing or pay a commitment or other fee to maintain
a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of
borrowing over the stated interest rate. To the extent the Fund enters into
a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will maintain in a segregated
custodial account permissible liquid assets at least equal to the aggregate
amount of its reverse repurchase obligations, plus accrued interest, in
certain cases, in accordance with releases promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission views reverse
repurchase transactions as collateralized borrowings by the Fund.
Short-Selling. In these transactions, a Fund sells a security it does
not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security.
To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make
delivery to the buyer. The Fund is obligated to replace the security
borrowed by purchasing it subsequently at the market price at the time of
replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at
which the security was sold by the Fund, which would result in a loss or
gain, respectively.
Securities will not be sold short if, after effect is given to any such
short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed
25% of the value of a Fund's net assets. A Fund may not sell short the
securities of any single issuer listed on a national securities exchange to
the extent of more than 5% of the value of a Fund's net assets. A Fund may
not make a short sale which results in the Fund having sold short in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any class of an
issuer.
A Fund also may make short sales "against the box," in which the Fund
enters into a short sale of a security it owns. At no time will more than
15% of the value of the Fund's net assets be in deposits on short sales
against the box.
Until a Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed
security, it will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing permissible
liquid assets at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus
the amount deposited with the broker as collateral always equals the current
value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position.
Lending Portfolio Securities. (Dreyfus International Growth Fund only)
In connection with its securities lending transactions, Dreyfus
International Growth Fund may return to the borrower or a third party which
is unaffiliated with the Fund, and which is acting as a "placing broker," a
part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received for
securities loaned.
The Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that the
following conditions must be met whenever portfolio securities are loaned:
(1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower;
(2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of
the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must
be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive
reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other
distributions payable on the loaned securities, and any increase in market
value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection
with the loan; and (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass
to the borrower, the Company's Board must terminate the loan and regain the
right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the
investment occurs.
Derivatives. A Fund may invest in Derivatives (as defined in the
relevant Fund's Prospectus) for a variety of reasons, including to hedge
certain market risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities or to increase potential income gain. Derivatives may
provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way for the Fund to
invest than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of
risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and
the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit a Fund to increase or decrease
the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its
portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or
decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its
portfolio by making investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their
cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives could
have a large potential impact on a Fund's performance.
If a Fund invests in Derivatives at inopportune times or judges market
conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return or
result in a loss. A Fund also could experience losses if its Derivatives
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were
unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market.
The market for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid.
Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable
changes in the prices for Derivatives.
A Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the premium
paid, in the purchase of call and put options. A Fund may write (i.e.,
sell) covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of the
value of its net assets at the time such option contracts are written. When
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to cover its obligations
relating to its purchase of Derivatives. To maintain this required cover, a
Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or
times since it may not be possible to liquidate a Derivative position at a
reasonable price. Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or
through privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter
Derivatives. Exchange-traded Derivatives generally are guaranteed by the
clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such Derivatives.
This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment system (i.e.,
variation margin requirements) operated by the clearing agency in order to
reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency
defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated
with Derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency
guarantees over-the-counter Derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-
the-counter Derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default.
Accordingly, the Manager will consider the creditworthiness of
counterparties to over-the-counter Derivatives in the same manner as it
would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by a Fund.
Over-the-counter Derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded
Derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only
investor with sufficient understanding of the Derivative to be interested in
bidding for it.
Futures Transactions--In General. A Fund may enter into futures contracts
in U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of Trade and the
International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, or, if
permitted in its Prospectus, on exchanges located outside the United States,
such as the London International Financial Futures Exchange and the Sydney
Futures Exchange Limited. Foreign markets may offer advantages such as
trading opportunities or arbitrage possibilities not available in the United
States. Foreign markets, however, may have greater risk potential than
domestic markets. For example, some foreign exchanges are principal markets
so that no common clearing facility exists and an investor may look only to
the broker for performance of the contract. In addition, any profits that a
Fund might realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the
exchange rate, or the Fund could incur losses as a result of those changes.
Transactions on foreign exchanges may include both commodities which are
traded on domestic exchanges and those which are not. Unlike trading on
domestic commodity exchanges, trading on foreign commodity exchanges is not
regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Engaging in these transactions involves risk of loss to a Fund which
could adversely affect the value of the Fund's net assets. Although each
Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an
active market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid
market will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many
futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation
permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the
daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made
that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for
specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could
move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no
trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and
potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.
Successful use of futures by a Fund also is subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant
market and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging
purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction
being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract. For example,
if a Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the
market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such
securities instead increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit
of the increased value of securities which it has hedged because it will
have offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such
circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities
to meet daily variation margin requirements. A Fund may have to sell such
securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, a Fund may be required to segregate permissible
liquid assets in connection with its commodities transactions in an amount
generally equal to the value of the underlying commodity. The segregation
of such assets will have the effect of limiting a Fund's ability otherwise
to invest those assets.
Specific Futures Transactions. A Fund may purchase and sell stock index
futures contracts. A stock index future obligates the Fund to pay or
receive an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the
futures contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price
of the contract on the contract's last trading day and the value of the
index based on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the
opening of trading in such securities on the next business day.
A Fund may purchase and sell currency futures. A foreign currency
future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific
currency at a future date at a specific price.
Dreyfus International Growth Fund may purchase and sell interest rate
futures contracts. An interest rate future obligates the Fund to purchase
or sell an amount of a specific debt security at a future date at a specific
price.
Options--In General. A Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) call or put
options with respect to specific securities. A call option gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell,
the underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time
during the option period, or at a specific date. Conversely, a put option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the
writer to buy, the underlying security or securities at the exercise price
at any time during the option period, or at a specific date.
A covered call option written by a Fund is a call option with respect
to which a Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the
transaction by segregating cash or other securities. A put option written
by a Fund is covered when, among other things, cash or liquid securities
having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option are
placed in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian to fulfill the
obligation undertaken. The principal reason for writing covered call and
put options is to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return
than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. A Fund receives
a premium from writing covered call or put options which it retains whether
or not the option is exercised.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a
liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such
secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may
cease to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher
than anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events,
at times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and
resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading
rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or
suspensions in one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar
events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of
customers' orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible
to effect closing transactions in particular options. If, as a covered call
option writer, the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security
until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise or it otherwise covers its position.
Specific Options Transactions. A Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options in respect of specific securities (or groups or "baskets" of
specific securities) or stock indices listed on national securities
exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. An option on a stock
index is similar to an option in respect of specific securities, except that
settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the
index. Instead, the option holder receives an amount of cash if the closing
level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in
the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price
of the option. Thus, the effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index
options will depend upon price movements in the level of the index rather
than the price of a particular stock.
A Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currency.
These options convey the right to buy or sell the underlying currency at a
price which is expected to be lower or higher than the spot price of the
currency at the time the option is exercised or expires.
Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund also may purchase cash-settled options on
equity index swaps in pursuit of its investment objective. Equity index
swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of cash flows
based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index of
securities which usually includes dividends. A cash-settled option on a
swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for
the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the
underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are
purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions,
including securities brokerage firms.
Successful use by a Fund of options will be subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual stocks,
the stock market generally, foreign currencies or interest rates. To the
extent such predictions are incorrect, a Fund may incur losses.
Future Developments. A Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the
area of options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts and
any other Derivatives which are not presently contemplated for use by the
Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the
extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such
transactions or making any such investment, the Fund will provide
appropriate disclosure in its Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information.
Forward Commitments. A Fund may purchase securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis, which means that delivery and payment take
place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The
payment obligation and the interest rate receivable on a forward commitment
or when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment,
but the Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the
counterparty. A Fund will commit to purchase such securities only with the
intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may sell these
securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. A
segregated account of the Fund consisting of permissible liquid assets at
least equal at all times to the amount of the commitments will be
established and maintained at the Fund's custodian bank.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis are
subject to changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e.,
appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest
rates rise) based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of
the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis may expose
a Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their
actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued basis can involve
the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery
takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction
itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis
when a Fund is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater
potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund's net assets and its net
asset value per share.
Investment Restrictions
Each Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 8 as
fundamental policies, which cannot be changed, as to a Fund, without
approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund's outstanding voting shares. Investment restrictions numbered 9
through 14 are not fundamental policies and may be changed by vote of a
majority of the Company's Board members at any time. Neither Fund may:
1. Invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the
securities of issuers in any single industry, provided that there shall be
no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
2. Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those related to
indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
3. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or other mineral
leases or exploration or development programs, but the Fund may
purchase and sell securities that are secured by real estate or issued by
companies that invest or deal in real estate or real estate investment
trusts.
4. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act (which
currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of
the Fund's total assets). For purposes of this Investment Restriction, the
entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not
constitute borrowing.
5. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt obligations
and the entry into repurchase agreements. However, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the
value of its total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made
according to guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Company's Board.
6. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the
extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
7. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of
the 1940 Act), except to the extent the activities permitted in Investment
Restriction Nos. 2, 4, 11 and 12 may be deemed to give rise to a senior
security.
8. Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may make margin deposits
in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts,
futures contracts, including those related to indices, and options on
futures contracts or indices.
9. Purchase securities of any company having less than three years'
continuous operations (including operations of any predecessor) if such
purchase would cause the value of the Fund's investments in all such
companies to exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
10. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising
management or control, but the Fund will vote the securities it
owns in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.
11. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call
options and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with
respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
12. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls or combinations thereof, except as
described in the relevant Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
13. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than
seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid, if,
in the aggregate, more than 15% of the value of the Fund's net assets would
be so invested.
14. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later change in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets will
not constitute a violation of such restriction.
Each Fund may invest, notwithstanding any other investment restriction
(whether or not fundamental), all of its assets in the securities of a
single open-end management investment company with substantially the same
fundamental investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.
The Company may make commitments more restrictive than the restrictions
listed above so as to permit the sale of Fund shares in certain states.
Should the Company determine that a commitment is no longer in the best
interest of the Fund and its shareholders, the Company reserves the right to
revoke the commitment by terminating the sale of such Fund's shares in the
state involved.
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
Board members and officers of the Company, together with information as
to their principal business occupations during at least the last five years,
are shown below.
Board Members of the Company
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He is also
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Noel Group, Inc., a venture
capital company, and Staffing Resources, Inc., a temporary placement
agency; and a director of The Muscular Dystrophy Association,
HealthPlan Services Corporation, a provider of marketing administrative
and risk management services to health and other benefit programs,
Caryle Industries, Inc. (formerly, Belding Heminway Company, Inc.), a
button packager and distributor, and Curtis Industries, Inc., a
national distributor of security products, chemicals and automotive and
other hardware. For more than five years prior to January 1995, he was
President, a director and, until August 1994, Chief Operating Officer
of the Manager and Executive Vice President and a director of Dreyfus
Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager and,
until August 24, 1994, the Company's distributor. From August 1994
until December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank Corporation.
He is 53 years old and his address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166.
DAVID P. FELDMAN, Board Member. Trustee of Corporate Property Investors, a
real estate investment company, and a director of several mutual funds
in the 59 Wall Street Mutual Funds Group, and of the Jeffrey Company, a
private investment company. He was employed by AT&T from July 1961 to
his retirement in April 1997, most recently serving as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Investment Management Corporation. He
is 57 years old and his address is c/o AT&T One Oak Way, Berkeley
Heights, New Jersey 07922.
JOHN M. FRASER, JR., Board Member. President of Fraser Associates, a
service company for planning and arranging corporate meetings and other
events. From September 1975 to June 1978, he was Executive Vice
President of Flagship Cruises, Ltd. Prior thereto, he was Senior Vice
President and Resident Director of the Swedish-American Line for the
United States and Canada. He is 76 years old and his address is 133
East 64th Street, New York, New York 10021.
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. He 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. He is also a director of MidOcean Reinsurance Co. Ltd.,
Cooke & Bieler, Inc., investment counselors, NASD Regulation, Inc. and
the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He is 58 years old and his address
is 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
JAMES F. HENRY, Board Member. President of the CPR Institute for Dispute
Resolution, a non-profit organization principally engaged in the
development of alternatives to business litigation. He was of counsel
to the law firm of Lovejoy, Wasson & Ashton from October 1975 to
December 1976 and from October 1979 to June 1983, and was a partner of
the firm from January 1977 to September 1979. He was President and a
director of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, a philanthropic
organization, from September 1971 to December 1976. Mr. Henry is 66
years old and his address is c/o CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution,
366 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
ROSALIND GERSTEN JACOBS, Board Member. Director of Merchandise and
Marketing for Corporate Property Investors, a real estate investment
company. From 1974 to 1976, she was owner and manager of a merchandise
and marketing consulting firm. Prior to 1974, she was a Vice President
of Macy's, New York. Mrs. Jacobs is 72 years old and her address is
c/o Corporate Property Investors, 305 East 47th Street, New York, New
York 10017.
IRVING KRISTOL, Board Member. John M. Olin Distinguished Fellow of the
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, co-editor of
The Public Interest magazine, and an author or co-editor of several
books. From May 1981 to December 1994, he was a consultant to the
Manager on economic matters; from 1969 to 1988, he was Professor of
Social Thought at the Graduate School of Business Administration, New
York University; from September 1969 to August 1979, he was Henry R.
Luce Professor of Urban Values at New York University; from 1975 to
1990, he was a director of Lincoln National Corporation, an insurance
company; and from 1977 to 1990, he was a director of Warner-Lambert
Company, a pharmaceutical and consumer products company. Mr. Kristol
is 77 years old and his address is c/o The Public Interest, 1112 16th
Street, N.W., Suite 530, Washington, D.C. 20036.
DR. PAUL A. MARKS, Board Member. President and Chief Executive Officer of
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was Vice President for
Health Sciences and Director of the Cancer Center at Columbia
University from 1973 to 1980, and Professor of Medicine and of Human
Genetics and Development at Columbia University from 1968 to 1982. He
was a director of Pfizer, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, from 1978 to
1996, and Life Technologies, Inc., a life science company producing
products for cell and molecular biology and microbiology, from 1986 to
1996. He is a director of Tularik, Inc., a biotechnology company,
Genos, Inc., a genomics company, and a general partner of LINC Venture
Lease Partners II, L.P., a limited partnership engaged in leasing. Dr.
Marks is 71 years old and his address is c/o Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021.
DR. MARTIN PERETZ, Board Member. Editor-in-Chief of The New Republic
magazine and a lecturer in Social Studies at Harvard University, where
he has been a member of the faculty since 1965. He is a trustee of The
Center for Blood Research at the Harvard Medical School and the Academy
for Liberal Education, an accrediting agency for colleges and
universities certified by the U.S. Department of Education, and a
director of LeukoSite Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Peretz is
also Co-chairman of The Street.com, a financial daily on the Web. From
1988 to 1989, he was a director of Bank Leumi Trust Company of New
York, and from 1988 to 1991, he was a director of Carmel Container
Corporation. Dr. Peretz is 57 years old and his address is c/o The New
Republic, 1220 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
BERT W. WASSERMAN, Board Member. Financial Consultant. From January 1990
to March 1995, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
and, from January 1990 to March 1993, a director of Time Warner Inc.;
from 1981 to 1990, he was a member of the office of the President and a
director of Warner Communications, Inc. He is also a director of The
New Germany Fund, Mountasia Entertainment International, Inc., the
Lillian Vernon Corporation, Winstar Communications, Inc. and
International Discount Telecommunications Corp. Mr. Wasserman is 64
years old and his address is 126 East 56th Street, Suite 12 North, New
York, New York 10022-3613.
For so long as the Company's plans described in the section captioned
"Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan" remain in effect, the
Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Company, as defined in
the 1940 Act, will be selected and nominated by the Board members who are
not "interested persons" of the Company.
The Company typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a
per meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the
Board receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board
members are entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of
one-half the amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Board member by the Company for the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1997, and by all other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds
for which such person is a Board member (the number of which is set forth in
parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) for the year
ended December 31, 1996, were as follows:
Total Compensation
From Company and
Aggregate Fund Complex
Name of Board Compensation Paid to Board
Member From Company* Member
Joseph S. DiMartino $5,625 $517,075 (94)
David P. Feldman $4,500 $122,259 (28)
John M. Fraser, Jr. $4,500 $ 73,563 (12)
Robert R. Glauber $4,500 $103,549 (21)
James F. Henry $4,500 $ 59,973 (10)
Rosalind Gersten
Jacobs $4,500 $ 93,900 (20)
Irving Kristol $4,500 $ 59,973 (10)
Dr. Paul A. Marks $4,000 $ 55,223 (10)
Dr. Martin Peretz $4,500 $ 59,973 (10)
Bert W. Wasserman $4,500 $ 59,973 (10)
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $1,043 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Company
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. She is 40 years old.
JOHN E. PELLETIER, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, Secretary and Clerk of the Distributor and Fund's
Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised
or administered by the Manager. From February 1992 to July 1994, he
served as Counsel for The Boston Company Advisors, Inc. He is 33 years
old.
ELIZABETH A. KEELEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
of the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. She has
been employed by the Distributor since September 1995. She is 28 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. From December 1991 to March 1993, he
was employed as a Fund Accountant at The Boston Company, Inc. He is 28
years old.
RICHARD W. INGRAM, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President of the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From March 1994 to November 1995, he was Vice President and
Division Manager for First Data Investor Services Group. From 1989 to
1994, he was Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Tax Director -
Mutual Funds of The Boston Company, Inc. He is 42 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 33 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President of Funds Distributor Inc. and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by the Manager. From December 1989
through November 1996, he was employed by GE Investments where he held
various financial, business development and compliance positions. He
also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds and as Director of GE
Investment Services. He is 36 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 35 years old.
The address of each officer of the Company is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
The Company's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than
1% of each Fund's voting securities outstanding on September 10, 1997.
The following are known by the Company to own, of record, 5% or more of
the outstanding voting securities of Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund as of
September 10, 1997: MAC & Co. Mutual Funds, P.O. Box 3198, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania-- 6.65%.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Management of the
Company."
Management Agreement. The Manager provides management services
pursuant to the Management Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24,
1994, as amended March 11, 1996, with the Company. As to each Fund, the
Agreement is subject to annual approval by (i) the Company's Board or (ii)
vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting
securities of such Fund, provided that in either event the continuance also
is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or the Manager, by vote
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. The Agreement was approved by shareholders on August 2, 1994 in
respect of Dreyfus International Growth Fund, and was last approved by the
Company's Board, including a majority of the Board members who are not
"interested persons" of any party to the Agreement, at a meeting held on
June 9, 1997. As to each Fund, the Agreement is terminable without penalty,
on 60 days' notice, by the Company's Board or by vote of the holders of a
majority of such Fund's shares, or, on not less than 90 days' notice, by the
Manager. The Agreement will terminate automatically, as to the relevant
Fund, in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager: W.
Keith Smith, Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Stephen E. Canter,
Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S. Kash, Vice
Chairman--Distribution and a director; William T. Sandalls, Jr., Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer; Mark N. Jacobs, Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice President--Corporate
Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human Resources; Jeffrey N.
Nachman, Vice President--Mutual Fund Accounting; Andrew S. Wasser, Vice
President--Information Systems; William V. Healey, Assistant Secretary; and
Mandell L. Berman, Burton C. Borgelt and Frank V. Cahouet, directors.
The Manager manages each Fund's investments in accordance with the
stated policies of such Fund, subject to the approval of the Company's
Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and provides
the Funds with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute
purchases and sales of securities. Dreyfus International Growth Fund's
portfolio manager is Ronald Chapman and Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund's
portfolio managers are Sandor Cseh and D. Kirk Henry. The Manager also
maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio
managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Funds
and for other funds advised by the Manager.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Funds, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Funds. The Manager also may make such advertising and
promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it from time to time
deems appropriate.
Expenses. All expenses incurred in the operation of the Company are
borne by the Company, except to the extent specifically assumed by the
Manager. The expenses borne by the Company include: organizational costs,
taxes, interest, loan commitment fees, interest and distributions paid on
securities sold short, brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board
members who are not officers, directors, employees or holders of 5% or more
of the outstanding voting securities of the Manager or any of its
affiliates, Securities and Exchange Commission fees, state Blue Sky
qualification fees, advisory fees, charges of custodians, transfer and
dividend disbursing agents' fees, certain insurance premiums, industry
association fees, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of maintaining
the Company's existence, costs of independent pricing services, costs
attributable to investor services (including, without limitation, telephone
and personnel expenses), costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and
statements of additional information for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders, costs of shareholders' reports and
meetings, and any extraordinary expenses. See "Distribution Plan and
Shareholder Services Plan." Expenses attributable to a particular Fund are
charged against the assets of that Fund; other expenses of the Company are
allocated between the Funds on the basis determined by the Board, including,
but not limited to, proportionately in relation to the net assets of each
Fund.
As compensation for the Manager's services to the Company, the Company
has agreed to pay the Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of
.75 of 1% of the value of Dreyfus International Growth Fund's average daily
net assets, and 1.25% of the value of Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund's
average daily net assets. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and
deducted before declaration of dividends to shareholders. For the fiscal
years ended May 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, the management fees payable by the
Company for Dreyfus International Growth Fund amounted to $1,181,098,
$859,453 and $713,190, respectively. For the period June 28, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997, the management fee
payable by the Company for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund amounted to
$238,485, which was reduced by $74,235 pursuant to an undertaking by the
Manager, resulting in a net management fee of $164,250.
Pursuant to a sub-investment advisory agreement which was terminated on
March 31, 1996, the Manager engaged M&G Investment Management Limited
("M&G") to provide sub-investment advisory services to and day-to-day
management of Dreyfus International Growth Fund's investments. As
compensation for M&G's services, the Manager had agreed to pay M&G a monthly
fee at the annual rate of .30 of 1% of the value of Dreyfus International
Growth Fund's average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1995 and for the period from June 1, 1995 through March 31, 1996, the sub-
investment advisory fees payable by the Manager to M&G amounted to $475,057
and $290,879, respectively.
As to each Fund, the Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the
aggregate expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on
borrowings and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state
securities commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management
fee, exceed the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the
Fund, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under
the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense. Such
deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated daily, and reconciled and
effected or paid, as the case may be, on a monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of a Fund's net assets increases.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
The Distributor. The Distributor serves as each Fund's distributor on
a best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
The Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds and for certain other investment companies.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders
may be made at any time. Purchase orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York
time, on any business day that Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the Funds' transfer
and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent"), and the New York Stock
Exchange are open for business will be credited to the shareholder's Fund
account on the next bank business day following such purchase order.
Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any business day the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business, or
orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York
Stock Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the
initial payment for purchase of shares must be drawn on, and redemption
proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account
Application or Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a
particular redemption are to be wired to an account at any other bank, the
request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See "Redemption of
Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. An investor may reopen an account with a minimum
investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the
calendar year the account is closed or during the following calendar year,
provided the information on the old Account Application is still applicable.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in Dreyfus International Growth Fund's Prospectus entitled
"Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan" or in Dreyfus Emerging
Market Fund's Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Services Plan."
Distribution Plan. (Dreyfus International Growth Fund only) Rule 12b-
1 (the "Rule") adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
1940 Act provides, among other things, that an investment company may bear
expenses of distributing its shares only pursuant to a plan adopted in
accordance with the Rule. The Company's Board has adopted such a plan with
respect to Dreyfus International Growth Fund (the "Distribution Plan")
pursuant to which the Company reimburses the Distributor for distributing
Dreyfus International Growth Fund's shares and pays the Manager, Dreyfus
Service Corporation and any affiliate of either of them for advertising and
marketing relating to Dreyfus International Growth Fund. Under the
Distribution Plan, the Distributor may make payments to certain financial
institutions, securities dealers and other financial industry professionals
(collectively, "Service Agents") in respect to these services. The
Company's Board believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that the
Distribution Plan will benefit Dreyfus International Growth Fund and its
shareholders.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Distribution Plan,
and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to
the Board for its review. In addition, the Distribution Plan provides that
it may not be amended to increase materially the cost which shareholders may
bear pursuant to the Distribution Plan without shareholder approval and that
other material amendments of the Distribution Plan must be approved by the
Company's Board and by the Board members who are not "interested persons"
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any
agreements entered into in connection with the Distribution Plan, by vote
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such
amendments. The Distribution 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 Distribution Plan. The Distribution Plan was last so
approved on June 9, 1997. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any
time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not "interested
persons" and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation
of the Distribution Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection
with the Distribution Plan or by vote of the holders of a majority of
Dreyfus International Growth Fund's shares.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997, the amount payable by Dreyfus
International Growth Fund under the Distribution Plan was $475,460, of which
$459,067 was payable to the Manager for advertising and marketing Dreyfus
International Growth Fund's shares, $16,393 was reimbursed to the
Distributor for payments made to Service Agents and $2,171 was payable by
the Fund for preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information and for costs associated with
implementing and operating the Plan.
Shareholder Services Plan. The Company has adopted a Shareholder
Services Plan, pursuant to which the Company pays the Distributor for the
provision of certain services to each Fund's shareholders. The services
provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts,
such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Company and providing
reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of
such shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the
Distributor may make payments to Service Agents in respect of these
services.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Shareholder
Services Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred,
must be made to the Board for its review. In addition, the Shareholder
Services Plan provides that material amendments must be approved by the
Company's Board and by the Board members who are not "interested persons"
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan or in
any agreements entered into in connection with the Shareholder Services
Plan, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such amendments. As to each Fund, the Shareholder Services Plan
is subject to annual approval by such vote 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 on June
9, 1997. The Shareholder Services Plan is terminable with respect to each
Fund 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 or in any agreements entered
into in connection with the Shareholder Services Plan.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997, Dreyfus International Growth
Fund was charged $237,730 pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan. For
the period from June 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through May 31,
1997, Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund was charged $47,697 pursuant to the
Shareholder Services Plan.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Redeem Shares."
Redemption Fee. (Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund only) Dreyfus Emerging
Markets Fund will deduct a redemption fee equal to 1% of the net asset value
of Fund shares redeemed (including redemptions through the use of the Fund
Exchanges service) less than six months following the issuance of such
shares. The redemption fee will be deducted from redemption proceeds and
retained by the Fund.
No redemption fee will be charged upon the redemption of shares (1)
through the Fund's Automatic Withdrawal Plan or Dreyfus Auto-Exchange
Privilege, (2) through accounts that are reflected on the records of the
Transfer Agent as omnibus accounts approved by Dreyfus Service Corporation,
(3) through accounts established by Service Agents approved by Dreyfus
Service Corporation that utilize the National Securities Clearing
Corporation's networking system, or (4) acquired through the reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions. The redemption fee may be waived,
modified or terminated at any time.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption
instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be the
investor, or a representative of the investor's Service Agent, and
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Ordinarily, the
Company will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege
on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the
redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum)
will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the commercial bank
account specified by the investor on the Account Application or Shareholder
Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if the investor's bank is not a
member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are imposed by such
bank and borne by the investor. Immediate notification by the correspondent
bank to the investor's bank is necessary to avoid a delay in crediting the
funds to the investor's bank account.
Investors with access to telegraphic equipment may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
Investors who do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment may
have the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at
1-800-654-7171, toll free. Investors should advise the operator that the
above transmittal code must be used and should also inform the operator of
the Transfer Agent's answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Investors should be aware that if they
have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a wire
redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction through
the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") system unless more prompt transmittal
specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in the
investor's account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two business days after
receipt of the redemption request. See "Purchase of Shares--Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege."
Stock Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
Written redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including
each holder of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program.
Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor and
"Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent
may request additional documentation from corporations, executors,
administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept other suitable
verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as consular
verification. For more information with respect to signature-guarantees,
please call one of the telephone numbers listed on the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Company has committed itself to pay in cash
all redemption requests by any shareholder of record of a Fund, limited in
amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value
of such Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment
is irrevocable without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of such
amount, the Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in
securities or other assets in case of an emergency or any time a cash
distribution would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the
existing shareholders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the
same manner as the Fund's securities are valued. If the recipient sold such
securities, brokerage charges would be incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the relevant Fund ordinarily utilizes is
restricted, or when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities and
Exchange Commission so that disposal of the Fund's investments or
determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (c)
for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission by order
may permit to protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Services."
Fund Exchanges. A 1% redemption fee will be charged upon an exchange
of Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund shares where the exchange occurs less than
six months following the issuance of such shares. Shares of funds purchased
by exchange will be purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per
share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds that are offered without a
sales load will be made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be
exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and
the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged without a
sales load for shares of other funds sold without a
sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds acquired
by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales load and
additional shares acquired through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively
referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein
as "Offered Shares"), provided that, if the sales load applicable
to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load that could
have been imposed in connection with the Purchased Shares (at the
time the Purchased Shares were acquired), without giving effect to
any reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, shareholders must notify
the Transfer Agent of their prior ownership of fund shares and their account
number.
To request an exchange, an investor or the investor's Service Agent
acting on the investor's behalf must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue exchange
instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders automatically,
unless the investor checks the applicable "No" box on the Account
Application, indicating that the investor specifically refuses this
Privilege. By using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic instructions (including
over The Dreyfus Touchr automated telephone system) from any person
representing himself or herself to be the investor or a representative of
the investor's Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent
to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to limitations as to the
amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges permitted. Shares
issued in certificate form are not eligible for telephone exchange.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made. For
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs and IRAs set up under a Simplified
Employee Pension Plan ("SEP-IRAs") with only one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $750. To exchange shares held in corporate plans,
403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, the minimum
initial investment is $100 if the plan has at least $2,500 invested among
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. To exchange shares held in a
personal retirement plan account, the shares exchanged must have a current
value of at least $100.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits an investor to purchase, in exchange for shares of a Fund, shares of
another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is available
only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of
relative net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges."
Enrollment in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective
three business days following notification by the investor. An investor
will be notified if the investor's account falls below the amount designated
to be exchanged under this Privilege. In this case, an investor's account
will fall to zero unless additional investments are made in excess of the
designated amount prior to the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares held
under IRA and other retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege.
Exchanges of IRA shares may be made between IRA accounts and from regular
accounts to IRA accounts, but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts.
With respect to all other retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only
among those accounts.
Fund Exchanges and the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege are available to
shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the fund being
acquired may legally be sold. Shares may be exchanged only between accounts
having identical names and other identifying designations.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Company reserves the right to
reject any exchange request in whole or in part. The Fund Exchanges service
or Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time
upon notice to shareholders.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a specified
dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the
yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and eventually may be
depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the
investor, the Company or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates
have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest automatically their dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from a Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds of which the investor is a shareholder. Shares of other
funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on the basis of
relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested without
imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds that
are offered without a sales load.
B. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not
charge a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold
with a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which charges a
sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a
sales load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), provided
that, if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds
the maximum sales load charged by the fund from which dividends or
distributions are being swept, without giving effect to any
reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
D. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in shares
of other funds that impose a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
and the applicable CDSC, if any, will be imposed upon redemption of
such shares.
Corporate Pension/Profit-Sharing and Retirement Plans. The Company
makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and profit-
sharing plans including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan. In addition, the
Company makes available Keogh Plans, IRAs, including SEP-IRAs and IRA
"Rollover Accounts," and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are
available.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares.
All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may
not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
The minimum initial investment for corporate plans, Salary Reduction
Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, is
$2,500 with no minimum for subsequent purchases. The minimum initial
investment for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs, SEP-IRAs and 403(b)(7)
Plans with only one participant, is ordinarily $750, with no minimum for
subsequent purchases. Individuals who open an IRA also may open a
non-working spousal IRA with a minimum investment of $250.
Each investor should read the prototype retirement plan and the
appropriate form of custodial agreement for further details on eligibility,
service fees and tax implications, and should consult a tax adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. Each Fund's securities, including
covered call options written by a Fund, are valued at the last sale price on
the securities exchange or national securities market on which such
securities primarily are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or
national securities market, or securities in which there were no
transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices, except in the case of open short positions where the asked price is
used for valuation purposes. Bid price is used when no asked price is
available. Any assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of
foreign currency will be translated into U.S. dollars at the midpoint of
the New York interbank market spot exchange rate as quoted on the day of
such translation or, if no such rate is quoted on such date, such other
quoted market exchange rate as may be determined to be appropriate by the
Manager. Forward currency contracts will be valued at the current cost of
offsetting the contract. If a Fund has to obtain prices as of the close of
trading on various exchanges throughout the world, the calculation of net
asset value may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of
prices of certain of the Funds' securities. Short-term investments are
carried at amortized cost, which approximates value. Expenses and fees,
including the management fee and fees pursuant to the Distribution Plan and
Shareholder Services Plan, are accrued daily and taken into account for the
purpose of determining the net asset value of a Fund's shares.
Restricted securities, as well as securities or other assets for which
recent market quotations are not readily available, or are not valued by a
pricing service approved by the Board, are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by the Board. The Board will review the method of
valuation on a current basis. In making their good faith valuation of
restricted securities, the Board members generally will take the following
factors into consideration: restricted securities which are, or are
convertible into, securities of the same class of securities for which a
public market exists usually will be valued at market value less the same
percentage discount at which purchased. This discount will be revised
periodically by the Board if the Board members believe that it no longer
reflects the value of the restricted securities. Restricted securities not
of the same class as securities for which a public market exists usually
will be valued initially at cost. Any subsequent adjustment from cost will
be based upon considerations deemed relevant by the Board.
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes."
Management of the Company believes that each Fund qualified for the
fiscal year ended May 31, 1997 as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Each Fund intends
to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests of
its shareholders. As a regulated investment company, each Fund will pay no
Federal income tax on net investment income and net realized securities
gains to the extent that such income and gains are distributed to
shareholders in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. To
qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must distribute at least
90% of its net income (consisting of net investment income and net
short-term capital gain) to its shareholders and meet certain asset
diversification and other requirements. The term "regulated investment
company" does not imply the supervision of management or investment
practices or policies by any government agency.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the net asset value of the shares below the
cost of the investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a return
of investment in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the Fund's
Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds
shares of a Fund for six months or less and has received a capital gain
distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of
such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the
capital gain distribution received.
Depending upon the composition of a Fund's income, the entire amount or
a portion of the dividends paid by such Fund from net investment income may
qualify for the dividends received deduction allowable to qualifying U.S.
corporate shareholders ("dividends received deduction"). In general,
dividend income of a Fund distributed to qualifying corporate shareholders
will be eligible for the dividends received deduction only to the extent
that such Fund's income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations.
However, Section 246(c) of the Code generally provides that if a qualifying
corporate shareholder has disposed of Fund shares not held for 46 days or
more during the 90-day period commencing 45 days before the shares become ex-
dividend and has received a dividend from net investment income with respect
to such shares, the portion designated by the Fund as qualifying for the
dividends received deduction will not be eligible for such shareholder's
dividends received deduction. In addition, the Code provides other
limitations with respect to the ability of a qualifying corporate
shareholder to claim the dividends received deduction in connection with
holding Fund shares.
A Fund may qualify for and may make an election permitted under Section
853 of the Code so that shareholders may be eligible to claim a credit or
deduction on their Federal income tax returns for, and will be required to
treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their pro rata portion of
qualified taxes paid or incurred by the Fund to foreign countries (which
taxes relate primarily to investment income). A Fund may make an election
under Section 853, provided that more than 50% of the value of the Fund's
total assets at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in
foreign corporations, and the Fund satisfies the applicable distribution
provisions of the Code. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is
subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gains and losses. However, a portion of the gain or
loss realized from the disposition of foreign currencies (including foreign
currency denominated bank deposits) and non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities (including debt instruments and certain forward contracts and
options) may be treated as ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the
Code. In addition, all or a portion of any gains realized from the sale or
other disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. Finally, all or a portion
of the gain realized from engaging in "conversion transactions" may be
treated as ordinary income under Section 1258 of the Code. "Conversion
transactions" are defined to include certain forward, futures, option and
straddle transactions, transactions marketed or sold to produce capital
gains, or transactions described in Treasury regulations to be issued in the
future.
Under Section 1256 of the Code, any gain or loss realized by a Fund
from certain forward contracts and options transactions will be treated as
60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss.
Gain or loss will arise upon exercise or lapse of such contracts and options
as well as from closing transactions. In addition, any such contracts or
options remaining unexercised at the end of a Fund's taxable year will be
treated as sold for their then fair market value, resulting in additional
gain or loss to such Fund characterized in the manner described above.
Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain foreign currency
forward contracts or options may constitute "straddles." "Straddles" are
defined to include "offsetting positions" in actively traded personal
property. The tax treatment of "straddles" is governed by Sections 1092 and
1258 of the Code, which, in certain circumstances, override or modify the
provisions of Sections 1256 and 988 of the Code. As such, all or a portion
of any short or long-term capital gain from certain "straddle" transactions
may be recharacterized to ordinary income.
If a Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in certain forward contracts or options transactions, such
"straddles" would be characterized as "mixed straddles" if the forward
contracts or options transactions comprising a part of such "straddles" were
governed by Section 1256 of the Code. A Fund may make one or more elections
with respect to "mixed straddles." Depending on which election is made, if
any, the results to a Fund may differ. If no election is made, to the
extent the "straddle" and conversion transaction rules apply to positions
established by a Fund, losses realized by a Fund will be deferred to the
extent of unrealized gain in the offsetting position. Moreover, as a result
of the "straddle" and conversion transaction rules, short-term capital loss
on "straddle" positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss,
and long-term capital gains may be treated as short-term capital gains or
ordinary income.
Recently enacted legislation added constructive sale provisions that
may apply if the Fund enters into short sales, or futures, forwards, or
offsetting notional principal contracts with respect to appreciated stock
and certain debt obligations that it holds. In such event, the Fund will be
taxed as if the appreciated property were sold at its fair market value on
the date the Fund entered into such short sale or contract. Such
legislation similarly may apply if the Fund has entered into a short sale,
option, futures or forward contract, or other position with respect to
property, that position has appreciated in value, and the Fund acquires that
same or substantially identical property. In such event, the Fund will be
taxed as if the appreciated position were sold at its fair market value on
the date of such acquisition. Transactions that are identified hedging or
straddle transactions under other provisions of the Code can be subject to
the constructive sale provisions.
If a Fund invests in an entity that is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for Federal income tax purposes, the operation
of certain provisions of the Code applying to PFICs could result in the
imposition of certain Federal income taxes on the Fund. In addition, gain
realized from the sale, other disposition or marking-to-market of PFIC
securities may be treated as ordinary income under Section 1291 or Section
1296 of the Code.
Investment by a Fund in securities issued or acquired at a discount, or
providing for deferred interest or for payment of interest in the form of
additional obligations could under special tax rules affect the amount,
timing and character of distributions to shareholders by causing a Fund to
recognize income prior to the receipt of cash payments. For example, a Fund
could be required to accrue a portion of the discount (or deemed discount)
at which the securities were issued each year and to distribute such income
in order to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company.
In such case, a Fund may have to dispose of securities which it might
otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash to satisfy these
distribution requirements.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Manager assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf
of the Company for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Allocation
of brokerage transactions, including their frequency, is made in the best
judgment of the Manager and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to
shareholders. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at
the most favorable net price. Subject to this consideration, the brokers
selected will include those that supplement the Manager's research
facilities with statistical data, investment information, economic facts and
opinions. Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of
services required to be performed by the Manager and the Manager's fees are
not reduced as a consequence of the receipt of such supplemental
information. Such information may be useful to the Manager in serving both
the Company and other funds which it advises and, conversely, supplemental
information obtained by the placement of business of other clients may be
useful to the Manager in carrying out its obligations to the Company.
Sales of Fund shares by a broker may be taken into consideration, and
brokers also will be selected because of their ability to handle special
executions such as are involved in large block trades or broad
distributions, provided the primary consideration is met. Large block
trades may, in certain cases, result from two or more funds advised or
administered by the Manager being engaged simultaneously in the purchase or
sale of the same security. Certain of a Fund's transactions in securities
of foreign issuers may not benefit from the negotiated commission rates
available to a Fund for transactions in securities of domestic issuers.
When transactions are executed in the over-the-counter market, each Fund
will deal with the primary market makers unless a more favorable price or
execution otherwise is obtainable. Foreign exchange transactions are made
with banks or institutions in the interbank market at prices reflecting a
mark-up or mark-down and/or commission.
Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year.
It is anticipated that in any fiscal year the turnover rate of a Fund may
approach the 200% level. In periods in which extraordinary market
conditions prevail, the Manager will not be deterred from changing a Fund's
investment strategy as rapidly as needed, in which case higher turnover
rates can be anticipated which would result in greater brokerage expenses.
The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by the
Manager based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general
level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable
services.
For the fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, Dreyfus
International Growth Fund paid total brokerage commissions of $573,515,
$798,435 and $999,088, respectively, none of which was paid to the
Distributor. For the period June 28, 1996 (commencement of operations)
through May 31, 1997, Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund paid total brokerage
commissions of $273,623, none of which was paid to the Distributor. For the
fiscal years ended May 31, 1995 and 1996, there were no gross spreads and
concessions on principal transactions for Dreyfus International Growth Fund.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997, gross spreads and concessions on
principal transactions, where determinable, totaled $146,070 for Dreyfus
International Growth Fund, none of which was paid to the Distributor. For
the period June 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997,
gross spreads and concessions on principal transactions, where determinable,
totaled $13,800 for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund, none of which was paid to
the Distributor.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Performance
Information."
Dreyfus International Growth Fund's average annual returns for the 1
and 3.92 year periods ended May 31, 1997 were 7.36% and 8.26%, respectively.
Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund's average annual total return for the .93 year
period ended May 31, 1997 was 15.21%. The computation of average total
return for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund represents annulization of the
Funds actual total return for the indicated period. Average annual total
return is calculated by determining the ending redeemable value of an
investment purchased with a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the
beginning of the period (assuming the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions), dividing by the amount of the initial investment, taking the
"n"th root of the quotient (where "n" is the number of years in the period)
and subtracting 1 from the result.
Dreyfus International Growth Fund's total return for the period June
29, 1993 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997 was 36.49%.
Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund's total return for the period June 28, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997 was 14.07%. Total return
for a Fund is calculated by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net asset
value per share at the beginning of a stated period from the net asset value
per share at the end of the period (after giving effect to the reinvestment
of dividends and distributions during the period), and dividing the result
by the net asset value per share at the beginning of the period.
Comparative performance may be used from time to time in advertising a
Fund's shares, including data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morgan
Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index, Standard & Poor's 500
Composite Stock Price Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Money
Magazine, Morningstar, Inc. and other industry publications. From time to
time, a Fund may compare its performance against inflation with the
performance of other instruments against inflation, such as short-term
Treasury Bills (which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government) and
FDIC-insured bank money market accounts. In addition, advertising for a
Fund may indicate that investors may consider diversifying their investment
portfolios in order to seek protection of the value of their assets against
inflation. From time to time, advertising materials for a Fund may include
biographical information relating to its portfolio managers, and may refer
to or include commentary by a portfolio manager relating to investment
strategy, asset growth, current or past business, political, economic or
financial conditions and other matters of general interest to investors. A
Fund's advertising materials also may refer to the integration of the
world's securities markets, discuss the investment opportunities available
worldwide and mention the increasing importance of an investment strategy
including foreign investments. Advertising materials for each Fund also may
include information concerning retirement and investing for retirement, may
refer to the approximate number of then-current Fund shareholders and may
refer to Lipper or Morningstar ratings and related analysis supporting the
ratings.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in each Fund's Prospectus entitled "General Information."
Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and non-assessable.
Fund shares are of one class and have equal rights as to dividends and in
liquidation. Shares have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights
and are freely transferable.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be
submitted under the provisions of the 1940 Act or applicable state law or
otherwise to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an
investment company, such as the Company, will not be deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2
further provides that a series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter
unless it is clear that the interests of each series in the matter are
identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of such series.
However, the Rule exempts the selection of independent accountants and the
election of Board members from the separate voting requirements of the Rule.
Each Fund will send annual and semi-annual financial statements to all
its shareholders.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT, CUSTODIAN, COUNSEL
AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Company's transfer and
dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the
Company, the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder
account records for each Fund, the handling of certain communications
between shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and
distributions payable by each Fund. For these services, the Transfer Agent
receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder
accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for
certain out-of-pocket expenses. For the year ended May 31, 1997, the
Company paid the Transfer Agent $104,954 with respect to Dreyfus
International Growth Fund and $4,818 with respect to Dreyfus Emerging
Markets Fund. The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New
York 10286, is the Company's custodian.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-4982, as counsel for the Company, has rendered its opinion as to
certain legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of
the shares being sold pursuant to each Fund's Prospectus.
Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as auditors of the Company.
APPENDIX
Description of certain ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Investors
Service, L.P. ("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff"):
S&P
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A
Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher rated categories.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances
are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay
principal for bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated
categories.
S&P's letter ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or a
minus (-) sign designation, which is used to show relative standing within
the major rating categories, except in the AAA (Prime Grade) category.
Commercial Paper Rating
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more
than 365 days. Issues assigned an A rating are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are
delineated with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of
safety.
A-1
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+)
designation.
A-2
Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong.
However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues
designated A-1.
Moody's
Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and generally are referred to
as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally are
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat
larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may
be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the
future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable
over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major rating categories, except in the Aaa category.
The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of a
rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the
modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of a rating category.
Commercial Paper Rating
The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Moody's. Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations, and ordinarily will be
evidenced by leading market positions in well established industries, high
rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures
with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash
generation, and well established access to a range of financial markets and
assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This
ordinarily will be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but
to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will
be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
Fitch
Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to
meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The ratings
take into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to
other obligations of the issuer, the current financial condition and
operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the
political and economic environment that might affect the issuer's future
financial strength and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to
pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
reasonably foreseeable events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because
bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is
generally rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse
impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood
that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher
than for bonds with higher ratings.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate
the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus and
minus signs, however, are not used in the AAA category covering 12-36
months.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal
and investment notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating
analysis, the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-
1+.
F-2
Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory
degree of assurance for timely payments, but the margin of safety is not as
great as the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
Duff
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered highest credit quality. The risk
factors are negligible, being only slightly more than for risk-free U.S.
Treasury debt.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered high credit quality. Protection factors
are strong. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to time because
of economic conditions.
A
Bonds rated A have protection factors which are average but adequate.
However, risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
stress.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to have below average protection factors
but still considered sufficient for prudent investment. There may be
considerable variability in risk for bonds in this category during economic
cycles.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol (except AAA)
to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Commercial Paper Rating
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.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The financial statements and reports of independent auditors with
respect to the Funds, which are listed below, are incorporated by reference
into this Statement of Additional Information dated October 1, 1997. When
requesting a copy of this Statement of Additional Information, you will
receive the annual report(s) for the Fund(s) in which you are a shareholder.
Name of Fund Annual Report(s)
Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund May 31, 1997
Dreyfus International Growth Fund May 31, 1997
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
_________________________
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List
_______ _________________________________________
(a) Financial Statements:
Included in Part A of the Registration Statement
Condensed Financial Information for the period from June
29, 1993 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 1994
and for each of the three years in the period ended May
31, 1997 for Dreyfus International Growth Fund; and for
the period from June 28, 1996 (commencement of
operations) to May 31, 1997 for Dreyfus Emerging Markets
Fund.
Included in Part B of the Registration Statement:
Statement of Investments -- May 31, 1997*
Statement of Assets and Liabilities -- May 31, 1997*
Statement of Operations -- year ended May 31, 1997 for
Dreyfus International Growth Fund; and for the period
from June 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) to May
31, 1997 for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund*
Statement of Changes in Net Assets -- for each of the
two years in the period ended May 31, 1997 for Dreyfus
International Growth Fund; and for the period from June
28, 1996 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 1997
for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund*
Notes to Financial Statements*
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, dated
July 8, 1997 for Dreyfus International Growth Fund; and
July 8, 1997 for Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund.*
* Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Annual Reports to
Shareholders.
All Schedules and other financial statement information, for which provision
is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are either omitted because they are not required under
the related instructions, they are inapplicable, or the required information
is presented in the financial statements or notes thereto which are included
in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Amendment
are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on September 28, 1995.
(1) (b) Articles of Amendment and Articles Supplementary are incorporated
by reference to Exhibit (1) (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8
to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 26,
1996.
(2) Registrant's By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 26, 1996.
(4) Specimen certificate for the Registrant's securities is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4) of Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on June 28, 1993.
(5) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(5)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 2, 1996.
(6)(a) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(6)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 28, 1995.
(6)(b) Forms of Service Agreement are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 6(b)) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 28, 1995.
(8)(a) Custody Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on September 28, 1995.
(9) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 26, 1996.
(10) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 28, 1995.
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors.
(14) Model Retirement Plans are incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 26, 1996.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(15) Distribution Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (15) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1, filed on September 28, 1995.
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Data are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 27, 1993.
(17) Financial Data Schedules.
Other Exhibits
______________
(a) Powers of Attorney of the Board members and officers
(b) Certificate of Secretary
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
_______ ______________________________________________________________
Not Applicable
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
_______ ________________________________
(1) (2)
Number of Record
Title of Class Holders as of September 10, 1997
______________ _____________________________
Common Stock
(Par value $.001)
Dreyfus International Growth Fund 6,620
Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund 1,626
Item 27. Indemnification
_______ _______________
Reference is made to Article SEVENTH of the Registrant's
Articles of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 1 of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on September 28, 1995 and to Section 2-418 of the Maryland General
Corporation Law. The application of these provisions is limited by
Article VIII of the Registrant's By-Laws filed as Exhibit 2 hereto
and by the following undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated
by the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Item 27. Indemnification (continued)
_______ _______________
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it
is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Reference is also made to the Distribution Agreement attached as
Exhibit (6)(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 28, 1995.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
_______ ____________________________________________________
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") and subsidiary companies
comprise a financial service organization whose business
consists primarily of providing investment management services
as the investment adviser and manager for sponsored investment
companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
and as an investment adviser to institutional and individual
accounts. Dreyfus also serves as sub-investment adviser to
and/or administrator of other investment companies. Dreyfus
Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dreyfus,
serves primarily as a registered broker-dealer of shares of
investment companies sponsored by Dreyfus and of other
investment companies for which Dreyfus acts as investment
adviser, sub-investment adviser or administrator. Dreyfus
Investment Advisors, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary,
provides investment management services to various pension
plans, institutions and individuals.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
________ ________________________________________________________________
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
____________________________________________
Name and Position
with Dreyfus Other Businesses
_________________ ________________
MANDELL L. BERMAN Real estate consultant and private investor
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 370
Southfield, Michigan 48034;
Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees:
Skillman Foundation;
Member of The Board of Vintners Intl.
BURTON C. BORGELT Chairman Emeritus of the Board and
Director Past Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
Director:
DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
1 Gorham Island
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***
FRANK V. CAHOUET Chairman of the Board, President and
Director Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Avery Dennison Corporation
150 North Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103;
Saint-Gobain Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482;
Teledyne, Inc.
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, California 90067
W. KEITH SMITH Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Chairman of the Board The Boston Company****;
Vice Chairman of the Board:
Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON Vice Chairman:
President, Chief Mellon Bank Corporation***;
Executive Officer, The Boston Company****;
Chief Operating Deputy Director:
Officer and a Mellon Trust***;
Director Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company Asset Management,
Inc.****;
President:
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company****
STEPHEN E. CANTER Director:
Vice Chairman and The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Chief Investment Officer, Formerly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
and a Director Kleinwort Benson Investment Management
Americas Inc.*
LAWRENCE S. KASH Chairman, President and Chief
Vice Chairman-Distribution Executive Officer:
and a Director The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
53 State Street
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.**;
Director:
Dreyfus America Fund+++;
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
World Balanced Fund++++;
President:
The Boston Company****;
Laurel Capital Advisors***;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.;
Executive Vice President:
Mellon Bank, N.A.***;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company****
WILLIAM T. SANDALLS, JR. Director:
Senior Vice President and Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.*;
Chief Financial Officer Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.*;
President and Director:
Lion Management, Inc.*;
Executive Vice President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.*;
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director:
Dreyfus America Fund+++;
World Balanced Fund++++;
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
The Truepenny Corporation*;
Treasurer, Financial Officer and Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company++;
Treasurer and Director:
Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Dreyfus Service Corporation*;
Formerly, President and Director:
Sandalls & Co., Inc.
MARK N. JACOBS Vice President, Secretary and Director:
Vice President, Secretary:
General Counsel The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation*;
and Secretary Dreyfus Management, Inc.*;
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.**;
Major Trading Corporation*;
The Truepenny Corporation*
PATRICE M. KOZLOWSKI None
Vice President-
Corporate Communications
MARY BETH LEIBIG None
Vice President-
Human Resources
JEFFREY N. NACHMAN President and Director:
Vice President-Mutual Fund Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
Accounting One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
ANDREW S. WASSER Vice President:
Vice President-Information Mellon Bank Corporation***
Services
WILLIAM V. HEALEY
Assistant Secretary
President:
The Truepenny Corporation
Vice President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation
Secretary and Director:
Dreyfus Partnership Management Inc.
Director:
The Dreyfus Trust Company
Assistant Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Corporation
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.
Assistant Clerk:
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts,
Inc.
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
** The address of the business so indicated is 131 Second Street, Lewes,
Delaware 19958.
*** The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
**** The address of the business so indicated is One Boston Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02108.
+ The address of the business so indicated is Atrium Building, 80 Route
4 East, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.
++ The address of the business so indicated is 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144.
+++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route 'd'Esch,
L-1470 Luxembourg.
++++ The address of the business so indicated is 69, Route 'd'Esch,
L-2953 Luxembourg.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
________ ______________________
(a) Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal
underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or
exclusive distributor:
1) Comstock Partners Funds, Inc.
2) Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.
3) Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.
4) Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
5) Dreyfus Balanced Fund, Inc.
6) Dreyfus BASIC GNMA Fund
7) Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.
8) Dreyfus BASIC Municipal Fund, Inc.
9) Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund
10) Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
11) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
12) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
13) Dreyfus Cash Management
14) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
15) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
17) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
18) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
19) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
20) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
21) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
22) Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
23) Dreyfus Government Cash Management
24) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
25) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Income Funds
28) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
29) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
30) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
31) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
32) Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
33) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
34) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
35) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
36) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
37) Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
38) Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
39) Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
40) Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
41) Dreyfus Massachusetts Tax Exempt Bond Fund
42) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund
43) Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.
44) Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
45) Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus
46) Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
47) Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
48) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
49) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
50) Dreyfus New Leaders Fund, Inc.
51) Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund
52) Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management
53) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
54) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund
55) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
56) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
57) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
58) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
59) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
60) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
61) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
62) Dreyfus Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
63) Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
64) Dreyfus Premier International Growth Fund, Inc.
65) Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund
66) Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
67) Dreyfus Premier Insured Municipal Bond Fund
68) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
69) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
70) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
71) Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
72) Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
73) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
74) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
75) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
76) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
77) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
78) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
79) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
80) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
81) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
82) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
83) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
84) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
85) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
86) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
87) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
88) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
89) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
90) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
(b)
Positions and
Name and principal Positions and offices with offices with
business address the Distributor Registrant
__________________ ___________________________ _____________
Marie E. Connolly+ Director, President, Chief President and
Executive Officer and Compliance Treasurer
Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Director, Senior Vice President, Vice President
Tresurer and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant
Treasurer
Richard W. Ingram Executive Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
John E. Pelletier+ Senior Vice President, General Vice President
Counsel, Secretary and Clerk and Secretary
Elizabeth A. Keeley++ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
________________________________
1. First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.,
a subsidiary of First Data Corporation
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
2. Mellon Bank, N.A.
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
3. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
4. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 31. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 32. Undertakings
________ ____________
(1) To call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a Board member or Board members when
requested in writing to do so by the holders of at least 10% of
the Registrant's outstanding shares and in connection with such
meeting to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to shareholder
communications.
(2) To furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered with a
copy of the Fund's latest Annual Report to Shareholders, upon
request and without charge.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all
of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has
duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New
York, and State of New York on the 22nd day of September, 1997.
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
BY: /s/ Marie E. Connolly*
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
__________________________ _______________________________ _________
/s/Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer (Principal 9/22/97
______________________________ Executive, Financial and Accounting
Marie E. Connolly Officer)
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/David P. Feldman* Director 9/22/97
______________________________
David P. Feldman
/s/John M. Fraser, Jr.* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
John M. Fraser, Jr.
/s/Robert R. Glauber* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Robert R. Glauber
/s/James F. Henry* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
James F. Henry
/s/Rosalind Gersten Jacobs* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs
/s/Irving Kristol* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Irving Kristol
/s/Paul A. Marks* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Paul A. Marks
/s/Martin Peretz* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Martin Peretz
/s/Bert Wasserman* Director 9/22/97
_____________________________
Bert Wasserman
*BY: /s/ Elizabeth A. Keeley
Elizabeth A. Keeley,
Attorney-in-Fact
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors
(17) Financial Data Schedule
OTHER EXHIBITS
(a) Powers of Attorney
(b) Secretary's Certificate
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Condensed Financial
Information" and "Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian, Counsel,
and Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report dated July 8, 1997,
which is incorporated by reference, in this Registration Statement (Form N-1A
No. 33-58248) of Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
September 22, 1997
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
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<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000897469
<NAME> DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> DREYFUS EMERGING MARKETS FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3904
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 46175
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<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4259
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (27)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.70
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.02)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .019
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
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</TABLE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Elizabeth A.
BachmanKeeley, Marie E. Connolly, Richard W. Ingram, Mark A. Karpe, Michael
S. Petrucelli and John E. Pelletier, and each of them, with full power to
act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and
agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her,
and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (until
revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement of each Fund enumerated on Exhibit A heretoDreyfus International
Funds, Inc. (including post-effective amendments and amendments thereto),
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
/s/ Joseph S. DiMartino April 16, 1997
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/ David P. Feldman April 16, 1997
David P. Feldman
/s/ John M. Fraser, Jr. April 16, 1997
John M. Fraser, Jr.
/s/ Robert R. Glauber April 16, 1997
Robert R. Glauber
/s/ James F. Henry April 16, 1997
James F. Henry
/s/ Rosalind Gersten Jacobs April 16, 1997
Rosalind Gersten Jacobs
/s/ Irving Kristol April 16, 1997
Irving Kristol
/s/ Paul A. Marks April 16, 1997
Paul A. Marks
/s/ Martin Peretz April 16, 1997
Martin Peretz
/s/ Bert W. Wasserman April 16, 1997
Bert W. Wasserman
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Elizabeth A. Keeley,
Richard W. Ingram, Mark A. Karpe, Michael S. Petrucelli and John E.
Pelletier, and each of them, with full power to act without the other, his
or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her, and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities (until revoked in writing) to
sign any and all amendments to the Registration Statement of Dreyfus
International Funds, Inc. (including post-effective amendments and
amendments thereto), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
/s/ Marie E. Connolly April 16, 1997
Marie E. Connolly
ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE
I, Elizabeth Keeley, Assistant Secretary of Dreyfus International Funds
Inc. (the "Fund", hereby certify the following resolution was adopted at a
Board Meeting held on March 10, 1997 and remains in full force and effect:
RESOLVED, that the Registration Statement and any and all
amendments and supplements thereto may be signed by any one of
Elizabeth A. Keeley, Marie E. Connolly, Richard W. Ingram, Mark A.
Karpe, John E. Pelletier and Michael S. Petrucelli as the attorney-
in-fact for the proper officers of the Fund, a with full power of
substitution and resubstitution; and that the appointment of each
of such persons as such attorney-in-fact hereby is authorized and
approved; and that such attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, shall
have full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection with
such Registration Statement and any and all amendments and
supplements thereto, as whom he or she is acting as attorney-in-
fact, might or could do in person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as Assistant Secretary
of the Funds and affixed the seal this 22nd day of September, 1997.
___________________________
ELIZABETH A. KEELEY
(SEAL)
DREYFUS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
