File Nos.33-58282
811-7512
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 PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, 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)
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X on March 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
<
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If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.
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Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
Investing in large-cap stocks for long-term capital appreciation
PROSPECTUS March 1, 2000
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
The Fund
Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
---------------------------------
Ticker Symbols CLASS A: PGROX
CLASS B: PGWBX
CLASS C: PGRCX
CLASS R: DPWRX
CLASS T: N/A
Contents
The Fund
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Goal/Approach INSIDE COVER
Main Risks 1
Past Performance 2
Expenses 3
Management 4
Financial Highlights 5
Your Investment
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Account Policies 8
Distributions and Taxes 11
Services for Fund Investors 12
Instructions for Regular Accounts 13
Instructions for IRAs 14
For More Information
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INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S RECENT STRATEGIES AND HOLDINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT. SEE BACK COVER.
GOAL/APPROACH
The fund seeks long-term capital growth consistent with the preservation of
capital; current income is a secondary goal. To pursue these goals, the fund
normally invests in the common stock of U.S. and foreign companies. The fund
will normally invest at least 25% of its assets in foreign companies. The fund
focuses on "blue-chip," multinational companies with total market values of more
than $5 billion.
In choosing stocks, the fund first identifies economic sectors that it believes
will expand over the next three to five years or longer. Using fundamental
analysis, the fund then seeks companies within these sectors that have
demonstrated sustained patterns of profitability, strong balance sheets, an
expanding global presence and the potential to achieve predictable,
above-average earnings growth. The fund is also alert to companies which it
considers undervalued in terms of earnings, assets or growth prospects. The fund
generally maintains relatively large positions in the securities it purchases.
The fund employs a "buy-and-hold" investment strategy, and seeks to keep annual
portfolio turnover below 15%. As a result, the fund invests for long-term growth
rather than short-term profits.
The fund typically sells a stock when there is a change in a company's business
fundamentals or in the fund's view of company management.
Concepts to understand
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES: large, established, globally managed companies that
manufacture and distribute their products and services throughout the world.
These companies often have the resources to weather economic shifts, though they
can be slower to innovate than small companies. They may be subject to the risks
that are involved in investing in foreign securities.
"BUY-AND-HOLD" STRATEGY: an investment strategy characterized by a low portfolio
turnover rate, which helps reduce the fund's trading costs and minimizes tax
liability by limiting the distribution of capital gains.
<PAGE>
MAIN RISKS
While stocks have historically been a leading choice of long-term investors,
they do fluctuate in price. The value of your investment in the fund will go up
and down, which means that you could lose money.
Because different types of stocks tend to shift in and out of favor depending on
market and economic conditions, the fund's performance may sometimes be lower or
higher than that of other types of funds (such as those emphasizing smaller
companies). Moreover, since the fund holds large positions in a relatively small
number of stocks, its performance can be volatile when the large-capitalization
sector of the market is out of favor with investors.
Growth companies are expected to increase their earnings at a certain rate. When
these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately --
even if earnings showed an absolute increase. In addition, growth stocks
typically lack the dividend yield that can cushion stock prices in market
downturns.
Foreign securities, while allowing the fund to seek attractive opportunities
worldwide, also include special risks, such as exposure to currency
fluctuations, changing political climate, lack of comprehensive company
information and potentially less liquidity.
Under adverse market conditions, the fund could invest some or all of its assets
in money market securities. Although the fund would do this to avoid losses, it
could reduce the benefit from any upswing in the market. During such periods,
the fund may not achieve its investment objectives.
Other potential risks
The fund, at times, may engage in foreign currency transactions. When employed,
these transactions are used primarily to hedge the fund's portfolio but also to
increase returns; however, there is the risk that such transactions sometimes
may reduce returns or increase volatility.
The Fund 1
<PAGE 1>
PAST PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table at right show some of the risks of investing in the
fund. The bar chart shows the changes in the fund's Class A performance from
year to year. Sales loads are not reflected in the chart; if they were, the
returns would have been lower. The table compares the fund's average annual
total return to that of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World
Index, an unmanaged index of global stock performance, and the
S&P 500((reg.tm)), a widely recognized, unmanaged index of U.S. stock
performance. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Since Class T shares have less than one calendar year of performance, past
performance information for that class is not included in this section of the
prospectus. Performance for Class T shares will vary from the performance of the
fund's other share classes due to differences in charges and expenses.
Year-by-year total return AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR (%)
2.00 27.71 23.36 23.77 28.65 16.20
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
CLASS A SHARES
BEST QUARTER: Q4 '98 +20.12%
WORST QUARTER: Q3 '98 -12.82%
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average annual total return AS OF 12/31/99
Inception Since
date 1 Year 5 Years inception
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CLASS A (7/15/93) 9.52% 22.41% 18.62%
CLASS B (7/15/93) 11.38% 22.77% 18.84%
CLASS C (6/21/95) 14.43% -- 21.67%
CLASS R (3/4/96) 16.60% -- 22.38%
MSCI WORLD INDEX* 24.93% 19.76% 16.86%**
S&P 500* 21.03% 28.54% 22.46%**
* THE MSCI WORLD INDEX IS AN AVERAGE OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED
SECURITIES LISTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGES OF THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE,
CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE FAR EAST. COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
IS BEING SHOWN FOR THE MSCI WORLD INDEX, WHICH HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE
PRIMARY INDEX FOR COMPARING THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE, BECAUSE THE FUND
INVESTS GLOBALLY. PERFORMANCE FOR THE S&P 500, THE FUND'S PREVIOUS
BENCHMARK INDEX, IS ALSO SHOWN, BUT WILL NOT BE PROVIDED IN THE FUTURE.
** BASED ON LIFE OF CLASSES A AND B. FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES, THE VALUE OF
EACH INDEX ON 6/30/93 IS USED AS THE BEGINNING VALUE ON 7/15/93.
</TABLE>
What this fund is -- and isn't
This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed
and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to
reach its stated goals, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer
guaranteed results.
An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete
investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the
potential to make money.
2
<PAGE 2>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXPENSES
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund,
which are described in the table below.
Fee table
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS R CLASS T
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SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION FEES (FEES PAID FROM YOUR ACCOUNT)
Maximum front-end sales charge on purchases
AS A % OF OFFERING PRICE 5.75 NONE NONE NONE 4.50
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC)
AS A % OF PURCHASE OR SALE PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LESS NONE* 4.00 1.00 NONE NONE*
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES PAID FROM FUND ASSETS)
% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS
Management fees .75 .75 .75 .75 .75
Rule 12b-1 fee NONE .75 .75 NONE .25
Shareholder services fee .25 .25 .25 NONE .25
Other expenses .18 .17 .15 .18 .23
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TOTAL 1.18 1.92 1.90 .93 1.48
** SHARES BOUGHT WITHOUT AN INITIAL SALES CHARGE AS PART OF AN INVESTMENT OF
$1 MILLION OR MORE MAY BE CHARGED A CDSC OF 1.00% IF REDEEMED WITHIN ONE
YEAR.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Expense example
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
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CLASS A $688 $928 $1,187 $1,924
CLASS B
WITH REDEMPTION $595 $903 $1,237 $1,875**
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $195 $603 $1,037 $1,875**
CLASS C
WITH REDEMPTION $293 $597 $1,026 $2,222
WITHOUT REDEMPTION $193 $597 $1,026 $2,222
CLASS R $95 $296 $515 $1,143
CLASS T $594 $897 $1,222 $2,139
** ASSUMES CONVERSION OF CLASS B TO CLASS A AT END OF THE SIXTH YEAR
FOLLOWING THE DATE OF PURCHASE.
</TABLE>
This example shows what you could pay in expenses over time. It uses the same
hypothetical conditions other funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial
investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in expenses. Because actual
return and expenses will be different, the example is for comparison only.
Concepts to understand
MANAGEMENT FEE: the fee paid to Dreyfus for managing the fund's portfolio and
assisting in all aspects of its operation.
RULE 12B-1 FEE: the fee paid to the fund's distributor for financing the sale
and distribution of Class B, C and T shares. Because this fee is paid out of the
fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time it will increase the cost of your
investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE: the fee paid to the fund's distributor for providing
shareholder services.
OTHER EXPENSES: fees paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer
agency, custody, professional and registration fees.
The Fund 3
<PAGE 3>
MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages more than $127
billion in over 160 mutual fund portfolios. For the past fiscal year, the fund
paid Dreyfus a management fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the fund's average
daily net assets. Dreyfus is the mutual fund business of Mellon Financial
Corporation, a global financial services company with approximately $2.5
trillion of assets under management, administration or custody, including
approximately $450 billion under management. Mellon provides wealth management,
global investment services and a comprehensive array of banking services for
individuals, businesses and institutions. Mellon is headquartered in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
The Dreyfus asset management philosophy is based on the belief that discipline
and consistency are important to investment success. For each fund, Dreyfus
seeks to establish clear guidelines for portfolio management and to be
systematic in making decisions. This approach is designed to provide each fund
with a distinct, stable identity.
Dreyfus has a personal securities trading policy (the "Policy") which restricts
the personal securities transactions of its employees. Its primary purpose is to
ensure that personal trading by Dreyfus employees does not disadvantage any
Dreyfus-managed fund. Dreyfus portfolio managers and other investment personnel
who comply with the Policy's preclearance and disclosure procedures may be
permitted to purchase, sell or hold certain types of securities which also may
be or are held in the fund(s) they advise.
Dreyfus has engaged Fayez Sarofim & Co., located at Two Houston Center, Suite
2907, Houston, Texas 77010, to serve as the fund's sub-investment adviser.
Sarofim, subject to Dreyfus' supervision and approval, provides investment
advisory assistance and research and the day-to-day management of the fund's
investments. As of December 31, 1999, Sarofim managed approximately $6.4 billion
in assets for five other registered investment companies and provided investment
advisory services to discretionary accounts having aggregate assets of
approximately $48.5 billion.
Fayez Sarofim, president and chairman of Sarofim, has been the fund's primary
portfolio manager since inception. Mr. Sarofim founded Fayez Sarofim & Co. in
1958.
Concepts to understand
YEAR 2000 ISSUES: the fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
used by Dreyfus and the fund's other service providers do not properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000. Dreyfus
has taken steps designed to avoid year 2000-related problems in its systems and
to monitor the readiness of other service providers.
In addition, issuers of securities in which the fund invests may be adversely
affected by year 2000-related problems. This could have an impact on the value
of the fund's investments and its share price.
4
<PAGE 4>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following tables describe the performance of each share class for the fiscal
periods indicated. "Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund
would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had
reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been
independently audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with the fund's
financial statements, is included in the annual report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS A 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 29.95 24.46 19.89 16.41 14.03
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net .09(1) .09 .11 .13 .20
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments 5.49 5.43 4.69 3.50 2.39
Total from investment operations 5.58 5.52 4.80 3.63 2.59
Distributions: Dividends from investment
income -- net (.10) (.02) (.15) (.14) (.21)
Dividends from net realized gain
on investments (.11) (.01) (.08) (.01) --
Total distributions (.21) (.03) (.23) (.15) (.21)
Net asset value, end of period 35.32 29.95 24.46 19.89 16.41
Total return (%)(2) 18.70 22.56 24.39 22.24 18.77
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.18 1.20 1.19 1.25 1.22
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) .27 .51 .66 .98 1.59
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios
due to actions by Dreyfus (%) -- -- .03 .12 .53
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 2.42 5.33 1.20 1.24 1.16
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 440,513 190,800 108,188 42,098 18,822
(1) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING AT EACH MONTH END. (2) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES CHARGE.
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS B 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 29.20 24.01 19.58 16.22 13.89
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net (.15)(1) (.04) (.04)(1) .04 .12
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments 5.35 5.24 4.60 3.42 2.34
Total from investment operations 5.20 5.20 4.56 3.46 2.46
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net -- -- (.05) (.09) (.13)
Dividends from net realized gain
on investments (.11) (.01) (.08) (.01) --
Total distributions (.11) (.01) (.13) (.10) (.13)
Net asset value, end of period 34.29 29.20 24.01 19.58 16.22
Total return (%)(2) 17.87 21.66 23.47 21.29 17.88
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.92 1.95 2.00 2.00 1.98
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (.46) (.24) (.17) .24 .84
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios
due to actions by Dreyfus (%) -- -- .03 .12 .46
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 2.42 5.33 1.20 1.24 1.16
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 937,195 543,079 264,375 74,833 32,555
(1) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING AT EACH MONTH END. (2) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES CHARGE.
The Fund 5
<PAGE 5>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS C 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995(1)
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 28.95 23.80 19.51 16.22 15.56
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net (.14)(2) (.01) (.06)(2) .14 (.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments 5.30 5.17 4.57 3.29 .67
Total from investment operations 5.16 5.16 4.51 3.43 .66
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net (.01) -- (.14) (.13) --
Dividends from net realized gain
on investments (.11) (.01) (.08) (.01) --
Total distributions (.12) (.01) (.22) (.14) --
Net asset value, end of period 33.99 28.95 23.80 19.51 16.22
Total return (%) (3) 17.87 21.69 23.36 21.23 4.71(4)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.90 1.91 1.99 2.04 1.56(4)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (.44) (.21) (.24) .19 (.63)(4)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%) -- -- .03 .11 .73(4)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 2.42 5.33 1.20 1.24 1.16
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 196,832 80,169 29,845 1,086 48
(1) FROM JUNE 21, 1995 (COMMENCEMENT OF INITIAL OFFERING) TO OCTOBER 31, 1995.
(2) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING AT EACH MONTH END. (3) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES CHARGE. (4) NOT ANNUALIZED.
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
CLASS R 1999 1998 1997 1996(1)
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 29.77 24.30 19.74 18.03
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net .12(2) .20 .22 .03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 5.52 5.35 4.60 1.69
Total from investment operations 5.64 5.55 4.82 1.72
Distributions: Dividends from investment income -- net (.16) (.07) (.18) --
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (.11) (.01) (.08) (.01)
Total distributions (.27) (.08) (.26) (.01)
Net asset value, end of period 35.14 29.77 24.30 19.74
Total return (%) 19.03 22.89 24.71 9.51(3)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) .93 .93 .95 .75(3)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) .35 .78 .87 .48(3)
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to actions by Dreyfus (%) -- -- .04 .07(3)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 2.42 5.33 1.20 1.24
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 8,948 1,222 732 155
(1) FROM MARCH 4, 1996 (COMMENCEMENT OF INITIAL OFFERING) TO OCTOBER 31, 1996. (2) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING AT EACH
MONTH END. (3) NOT ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE 6>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
PERIOD ENDED
OCTOBER 31,
CLASS T 1999(1)
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PER-SHARE DATA ($)
Net asset value, beginning of period 33.49
Investment operations: Investment income (loss) -- net (.02)(2)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments 1.83
Total from investment operations 1.81
Net asset value, end of period 35.30
Total return (%)(3) 5.29(4)
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) .13(4)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (.06)(4)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 2.42
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Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 1
(1) FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 (COMMENCEMENT OF INITIAL OFFERING) TO OCTOBER 31,
1999.
(2) BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING AT EACH MONTH END.
(3) EXCLUSIVE OF SALES CHARGE.
(4) NOT ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
The Fund 7
<PAGE 7>
Your Investment
ACCOUNT POLICIES
THE DREYFUS PREMIER FUNDS are designed primarily for people who are investing
through a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or financial adviser, or in
a 401(k) or other retirement plan. Third parties with whom you open a fund
account may impose policies, limitations and fees which are different from
those described here.
YOU WILL NEED TO CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS before making your initial investment. In
making your choice, you should weigh the impact of all potential costs over the
length of your investment, including sales charges and annual fees. For example,
in some cases, it can be more economical to pay an initial sales charge than to
choose a class with no initial sales charge but higher annual fees and a CDSC.
* CLASS A shares may be appropriate for investors who prefer to pay the
fund's sales charge up front rather than upon the sale of their shares,
want to take advantage of the reduced sales charges available on larger
investments and/or have a longer-term investment horizon
* CLASS B shares may be appropriate for investors who wish to avoid a
front-end sales charge, put 100% of their investment dollars to work
immediately and/or have a longer-term investment horizon
* CLASS C shares may be appropriate for investors who wish to avoid a
front-end sales charge, put 100% of their investment dollars to work
immediately and/or have a shorter-term investment horizon
* CLASS R shares are designed for eligible institu- tions on behalf of their
clients (individuals may not purchase these shares directly)
* CLASS T shares may be appropriate for investors who prefer to pay the
fund's sales charge up front rather than upon the sale of their shares,
want to take advantage of the reduced sales charges available on larger
investments and have a shorter-term investment horizon
Your financial representative can help you choose the share class that is
appropriate for you.
Reduced Class A and Class T sales charge
LETTER OF INTENT: lets you purchase Class A and Class T shares over a 13-month
period and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at
once.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION: lets you add the value of any shares you own in this
fund, any other Dreyfus Premier fund, or any other fund that is advised by
Founders Asset Management LLC ("Founders"), an affiliate of Dreyfus, sold with a
sales load, to the amount of your next Class A or Class T investment for
purposes of calculating the sales charge.
CONSULT THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) OR YOUR FINANCIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR MORE DETAILS.
8
<PAGE 8>
Share class charges
EACH SHARE CLASS has its own fee structure. In some cases, you may not have to
pay a sales charge to buy or sell shares. Consult your financial representative
or the SAI to see if this may apply to you. Shareholders owning shares on
November 30, 1996 may be eligible for lower sales loads. Because Class A has
lower expenses than Class T, if you invest $1 million or more in the fund you
should consider buying Class A shares.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales charges
CLASS A AND CLASS T -- CHARGED WHEN YOU BUY SHARES
Sales charge Sales charge
deducted as a % as a % of your
Your investment of offering price net investment
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Class Class Class Class
A T A T
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Up to $49,999 5.75% 4.50% 6.10% 4.70%
$50,000 -- $99,999 4.50% 4.00% 4.70% 4.20%
$100,000 -- $249,999 3.50% 3.00% 3.60% 3.10%
$250,000 -- $499,999 2.50% 2.00% 2.60% 2.00%
$500,000 -- $999,999 2.00% 1.50% 2.00% 1.50%
$1 million or more* 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
* A 1.00% CDSC may be charged on any shares sold within one year of purchase (except shares bought through
dividend reinvestment).
</TABLE>
Class T shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.25% of the class's
average daily net assets.
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CLASS B -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
CDSC as a % of your initial
Years since purchase investment or your redemption
was made (whichever is less)
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Up to 2 years 4.00%
2 -- 4 years 3.00%
4 -- 5 years 2.00%
5 -- 6 years 1.00%
More than 6 years Shares will automatically
convert to Class A
Class B shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
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CLASS C -- CHARGED WHEN YOU SELL SHARES
A 1.00% CDSC is imposed on redemptions made within the first year of purchase.
Class C shares also carry an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.75% of the class's
average daily net assets.
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CLASS R -- NO SALES LOAD OR RULE 12B-1 FEES
Buying shares
THE NET ASSET VALUE (NAV) of each class is generally calculated as of the close
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) every day the exchange is open. Your order will be priced at the next NAV
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other
authorized entity. The fund's investments are valued based on market value or,
where market quotations are not readily available, based on fair value as
determined in good faith by the fund's board.
ORDERS TO BUY AND SELL SHARES received by dealers by the close of trading on the
NYSE and transmitted to the distributor or its designee by the close of its
business day (normally 5:15 p.m. Eastern time) will be based on the NAV
determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE that day.
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Minimum investments
Initial Additional
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REGULAR ACCOUNTS $1,000 $100; $500 FOR
TELETRANSFER INVESTMENTS
TRADITIONAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
SPOUSAL IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
ROTH IRAS $750 NO MINIMUM
EDUCATION IRAS $500 NO MINIMUM
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC $100 $100
INVESTMENT PLANS
All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party checks cannot be accepted.
You may be charged a fee for any check that does not clear. Maximum TeleTransfer
purchase is $150,000 per day.
Concepts to understand
NET ASSET VALUE (NAV): the market value of one share, computed by dividing the
total net assets of a fund or class by its shares outstanding. The fund's Class
A and Class T shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a sales charge.
Classes B, C and R are offered at NAV, but Classes B and C generally are subject
to higher annual operating expenses and a CDSC.
Your Investment 9
<PAGE 9>
ACCOUNT POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Selling shares
YOU MAY SELL (REDEEM) SHARES AT ANY TIME through your financial representative,
or you can contact the fund directly. Your shares will be sold at the next NAV
calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other
authorized entity. Any certificates representing fund shares being sold must be
returned with your redemption request. Your order will be processed promptly and
you will generally receive the proceeds within a week.
TO KEEP YOUR CDSC AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, each time you request to sell shares we
will first sell shares that are not subject to a CDSC, and then those subject to
the lowest charge. The CDSC is based on the lesser of the original purchase cost
or the current market value of the shares being sold, and is not charged on
shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends. There are certain instances
when you may qualify to have the CDSC waived. Consult your financial
representative or the SAI for details.
BEFORE SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES, please note that if the fund has not
yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it may delay sending the
proceeds for up to eight business days or until it has collected payment.
General policies
UNLESS YOU DECLINE TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES on your application, you may be
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order as long as Dreyfus takes
reasonable measures to verify the order.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
* refuse any purchase or exchange request that could adversely affect
the fund or its operations, including those from any individual or
group who, in the fund's view, is likely to engage in excessive
trading (usually defined as more than four exchanges out of the fund
within a calendar year)
* refuse any purchase or exchange request in excess of 1% of the
fund's total assets
* change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend
this privilege during unusual market conditions
* change its minimum investment amounts
* delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to seven days
(generally applies only in cases of very large redemptions,
excessive trading or during unusual market conditions)
The fund also reserves the right to make a "redemption in kind" -- payment in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount you are redeeming is
large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it represents more than
1% of the fund's assets).
Written sell orders
Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees.
These include:
* amounts of $10,000 or more on accounts whose address has been
changed within the last 30 days
* requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most
banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts,
each signature must be guaranteed. Please call us to ensure that your signature
guarantee will be processed correctly.
Small account policies
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the fund
charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The
fee will be imposed during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.
The fee will be waived for: any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund
investments total at least $25,000; IRA accounts; accounts participating in
automatic investment programs; and accounts opened through a financial
institution.
If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If it is still below $500 after 45 days, the fund may close your account and
send you the proceeds.
10
<PAGE 10>
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
THE FUND GENERALLY PAYS ITS SHAREHOLDERS dividends from its net investment
income, and distributes any net capital gains it has realized once a year. Each
share class will generate a different dividend because each has different
expenses. Your distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you instruct
the fund otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on reinvestments.
FUND DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TAXABLE to most investors (unless your
investment is in an IRA or other tax-deferred account). The tax status of any
distribution is the same regardless of how long you have been in the fund and
whether you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash. In general,
distributions are federally taxable as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxability of distributions
Type of Tax rate for Tax rate for
distribution 15% bracket 28% bracket or above
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME ORDINARY ORDINARY
DIVIDENDS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
SHORT-TERM ORDINARY ORDINARY
CAPITAL GAINS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
LONG-TERM
CAPITAL GAINS 10% 20%
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional
about federal, state and local tax consequences.
Taxes on transactions
Except for tax-deferred accounts, any sale or exchange of fund shares may
generate a tax liability. Of course, withdrawals or distributions from
tax-deferred accounts are taxable when received.
The table at left also can provide a guide for potential tax liability when
selling or exchanging fund shares. "Short-term capital gains" applies to fund
shares sold or exchanged up to 12 months after buying them. "Long-term capital
gains" applies to shares sold or exchanged after 12 months.
Your Investment 11
<PAGE 11>
SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS
THE THIRD PARTY THROUGH WHOM YOU PURCHASED fund shares may impose different
restrictions on these services and privileges offered by the fund, or may not
make them available at all. Consult your financial representative for more
information on the availability of these services and privileges.
Automatic services
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES AUTOMATICALLY is easy with the services described
below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain
restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application, or by
calling your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For investing
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making automatic investments
ASSET BUILDER((reg.tm)) from a designated bank account.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT For making automatic investments
DIRECT DEPOSIT from your federal employment,
PRIVILEGE Social Security or other regular
federal government check.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND For automatically reinvesting the
SWEEP dividends and distributions from
the fund into another Dreyfus fund
or certain Founders-advised funds
(not available for IRAs).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For exchanging shares
DREYFUS AUTO- For making regular exchanges from
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE the fund into another Dreyfus fund
or certain Founders-advised funds.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For selling shares
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making regular withdrawals
WITHDRAWAL PLAN from most Dreyfus funds. There will be no CDSC
on Class B shares, as long as the amounts
withdrawn do not exceed 12% annually of the
account value at the time the shareholder elects
to participate in the plan.
Exchange privilege
YOU CAN EXCHANGE SHARES WORTH $500 OR MORE (no minimum for retirement accounts)
from one class of the fund into the same class of another Dreyfus Premier fund
or Founders-advised fund. You can also exchange Class T shares into Class A
shares of certain Dreyfus Premier fixed-income funds. You can request your
exchange by contacting your financial representative. Be sure to read the
current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging before investing.
Any new account established through an exchange will generally have the same
privileges as your original account (as long as they are available). There is
currently no fee for exchanges, although you may be charged a sales load when
exchanging into any fund that has a higher one.
TeleTransfer privilege
TO MOVE MONEY BETWEEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT and your Dreyfus fund account with a
phone call, use the TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up TeleTransfer on your
account by providing bank account information and following the instructions on
your application, or contact your financial representative.
Reinvestment privilege
UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, YOU CAN REINVEST up to the number of Class A, B or T
shares you redeemed within 45 days of selling them at the current share price
without any sales charge. If you paid a CDSC, it will be credited back to your
account. This privilege may be used only once.
Account statements
EVERY FUND INVESTOR automatically receives regular account statements. You will
also be sent a yearly statement detailing the tax characteristics of any
dividends and distributions you have received.
12
<PAGE 12>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete the application.
Mail your application and a check to:
Name of Fund
P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI 02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Mail the slip and the check to: Name of Fund P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your
investment to The Bank of New York, with these instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900117826
* the fund name
* the share class
* your Social Security or tax ID number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
Call us to obtain an account number. Return your application with the account
number on the application.
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900117826
* the fund name
* the share class
* your account number
* name(s) of investor(s)
* dealer number if applicable
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but insert "1111" before your account number.
TELETRANSFER Request TeleTransfer on your application. Call us to request your
transaction.
Automatically
WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT Indicate
on your application which automatic service(s) you want. Return your application
with your investment.
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name(s) and signature(s)
* your account number
* the fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 10)
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 6587, Providence, RI
02940-6587 Attn: Institutional Processing
TELETRANSFER Call us or your financial representative to request your
transaction. Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file.
Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic check.
CHECK Call us or your financial representative to request your transaction. A
check will be sent to the address of record.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us or your financial representative to request a
form to add the plan. Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of
withdrawals you would like.
Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.
To open an account, make subsequent investments or to sell shares, please
contact your financial representative or call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS.
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
Your Investment 13
<PAGE 13>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRAS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete an IRA application, making sure to specify the fund name and to
indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian P.O. Box 6427, Providence, RI 02940-6427
Attn: Institutional Processing
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Indicate the year the contribution is for.
Mail the slip and the check to: The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian P.O. Box
6427, Providence, RI 02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900117826
* the fund name
* the share class * your account number
* name of investor
* the contribution year
* dealer number if applicable
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but insert "1111" before your account number.
Automatically
ALL SERVICES Call us or your financial representative to request a form to add
any automatic investing service (see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete
and return the form along with any other required materials. All contributions
will count as current year.
TO SELL SHARES
Write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name and signature
* your account number and fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
* whether the distribution is qualified or premature
* whether the 10% TEFRA should be withheld
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see page 10).
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Trust Company P.O. Box 6427, Providence, RI
02940-6427 Attn: Institutional Processing
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request instructions to establish the
plan.
For information and assistance, contact your financial representative or call
toll free in the U.S. 1-800-554-4611. Make checks payable to: THE DREYFUS TRUST
COMPANY, CUSTODIAN.
14
<PAGE 14>
[Application p1]
<PAGE>
[Application p2]
<PAGE>
NOTES
<PAGE>
For More Information
Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
- -------------------------------------
SEC file number: 811-7512
More information on this fund is available free upon request, including the
following:
Annual/Semiannual Report
Describes the fund's performance, lists portfolio holdings and contains a letter
from the fund's manager discussing recent market conditions, economic trends
and fund strategies that significantly affected the fund's performance during
the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A current SAI is on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by
reference (is legally considered part of this prospectus).
To obtain information:
BY TELEPHONE Call your financial representative or 1-800-554-4611
BY MAIL Write to: The Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds 144 Glenn Curtiss
Boulevard Uniondale, NY 11556-0144
ON THE INTERNET Text-only versions of fund documents can be viewed online or
downloaded from: http://www.sec.gov
You can also obtain copies by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC (phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or by sending your request and a
duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC
20549-6009.
(c) 2000 Dreyfus Service Corporation 070P0300
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS R AND CLASS T SHARES
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MARCH 1, 2000
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated March 1, 2000,
as it may be revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the Fund's
Prospectus, please write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale,
New York 11556-0144 or call 1-800-554-4611.
The Fund's most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to
Shareholders are separate documents supplied with this Statement of Additional
Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and report of
independent auditors appearing in the Annual Report are incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Description of the Fund ......................................B-2
Management of the Fund........................................B-10
Management Arrangements.......................................B-14
How to Buy Shares.............................................B-19
Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan...............B-26
How to Redeem Shares..........................................B-28
Shareholder Services..........................................B-32
Determination of Net Asset Value..............................B-37
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes............................B-38
Portfolio Transactions........................................B-40
Performance Information.......................................B-42
Information About the Fund....................................B-43
Counsel and Independent Auditors..............................B-44
Appendix......................................................B-45
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
The Fund is a Maryland corporation formed on February 5, 1993. The Fund is
an open-end management investment company, known as a mutual fund. The Fund is a
diversified fund, which means that, with respect to 75% of the Fund's total
assets, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities of
any single issuer nor hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
any single issuer.
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the Fund's investment
adviser. Dreyfus has engaged Fayez Sarofim & Co. ("Sarofim") to serve as the
Fund's sub-investment adviser and to provide day-to-day management of the Fund's
investments, subject to the supervision of Dreyfus. Dreyfus and Sarofim are
referred to collectively as the "Advisers."
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the distributor
of the Fund's shares.
Certain Portfolio Securities
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus.
Depositary Receipts. The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary
Shares (collectively, "ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), Global
Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Shares (collectively, "GDRs") and
other forms of depositary receipts. These securities may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust
company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign
corporation. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary
Receipts ("CDRs"), are receipts issued in Europe typically by non-United States
banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic
securities. GDRs are receipts issued outside the United States typically by
non-United States banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either
foreign or domestic securities. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed
for use in the United States securities markets, EDRs and CDRs in bearer form
are designed for use in Europe, and GDRs in bearer form are designed for use
outside the United States.
These securities may be purchased through "sponsored" or "unsponsored"
facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the
underlying security and a depositary. 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.
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 Advisers to be of comparable
quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest. Such securities
also include debt obligations of supranational entities. Supranational entities
include international organizations designated or supported by governmental
entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international
banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the
European Coal and Steel Community, the Asian Development Bank and the
InterAmerican Development Bank.
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 provide for a stable stream of income with
generally higher yields than common stocks, but 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 generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than
non-convertible securities of similar quality because of the potential for
capital appreciation.
Warrants. A warrant is an instrument issued by a corporation which gives
the holder the right to subscribe to a specified amount of the corporation's
capital stock at a set price for a specified period of time. The Fund may invest
up to 5% of its net assets in warrants, except that this limitation does not
apply to warrants purchased by the Fund that are sold in units with, or attached
to, other securities.
Corporate Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities that
management believes offer opportunities for capital growth. Corporate debt
securities include corporate bonds, debentures, notes and other similar
instruments, including certain convertible securities. Debt securities may be
acquired with warrants attached. Corporate income-producing securities also may
include forms of preferred or preference stock. The rate of interest on a
corporate debt security may be fixed, floating or variable, and may vary
inversely with respect to a reference rate. The rate of return or return of
principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of
exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.
Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund may invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury
securities, which are Treasury Notes and Bonds that have been stripped of their
unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves and receipts or certificates
representing interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Zero
coupon securities also are issued by corporations and financial institutions
which constitute a proportionate ownership of the issuer's pool of underlying
U.S. Treasury securities. A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holders
during its life and is sold at a discount to its face value at maturity. The
market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the
market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to
respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than non-zero coupon
securities having similar maturities and credit qualities.
Illiquid Securities. 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.
These securities may include securities that are not readily marketable, such as
securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale,
repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after
notice, and certain privately negotiated, non-exchange traded options and
securities used to cover such options. As to these securities, the Fund is
subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is
not available at a price the Fund deems representative of their value, the value
of the Fund's net assets could be adversely affected.
Money Market Instruments. When the Advisers determine that adverse market
conditions exist, the Fund may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest
all of its assets in money market instruments, including U.S. Government
securities, repurchase agreements, bank obligations and commercial paper. The
Fund also may purchase money market instruments when it has cash reserves or in
anticipation of taking a market position.
Investment Techniques
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus.
Borrowing Money. The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), which
permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33-1/3% 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 such borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.
Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into foreign currency
transactions for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars,
between trade and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed
to buy or sell; to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already
owns, particularly if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in
which the foreign security is denominated; or to gain exposure to the foreign
currency in an attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund's
purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short
positions in foreign currencies. A short position 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 Advisers' ability to predict accurately the future exchange rates between
foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of
time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the
foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different
countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates and other complex
factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also
can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or
central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political
developments in the United States or abroad.
Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis, which means that delivery and payment take
place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment
obligation and the interest rate receivable on a forward commitment or
when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment but the
Fund does not make a payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty.
The Fund will commit to purchase such securities only with the intention of
actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may sell these securities before
the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. The Fund will segregate
permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of the
Fund's purchase commitments.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis are
subject to changes in value (generally changing in the same way, i.e.,
appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates
rise) based upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer
and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities
purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued basis may expose the Fund to
risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual
delivery. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis can
involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the
transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued
basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater
potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund's net assets and its net asset
value per share.
Investment Considerations and Risks
Foreign Securities. At any one time, the Fund may invest substantial
portions of its assets in issuers in one or more countries, although the Fund
ordinarily will seek to invest its assets in the securities of issuers located
in at least three countries. Foreign securities markets generally are not as
developed or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some foreign
issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S.
issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are
less than in the United States and, at times, volatility of price can be greater
than in the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of foreign securities usually are held
outside the United States, 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. Moreover, foreign
securities held by the Fund may trade on days when the Fund does not calculate
its net asset value and thus affect the Fund's net asset value on days when
investors have no access to the Fund.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in
currencies of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in U.S.
dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates
and exchange control regulations.
Lower Rated Securities. The Fund may invest in higher yielding (and,
therefore, higher risk) debt securities, such as those rated Ba by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BB by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("S&P"), Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff,"
and with the other rating agencies, the "Rating Agencies") and as low as Caa by
Moody's or CCC by S&P, Fitch or Duff (commonly known as junk bonds). The Fund
currently intends to invest less than 35% of its net assets in these securities.
They may be subject to certain risks and to greater market fluctuations than
lower yielding investment grade securities. See "Appendix" for a general
description of the Rating Agencies' ratings. Although ratings may be useful in
evaluating the safety of interest and principal payments, they do not evaluate
the market value risk of these securities. The Fund will rely on the Advisers'
judgment, analysis and experience in evaluating the creditworthiness of an
issuer.
You should be aware that the market values of many of these securities
tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher rated
securities and will fluctuate over time. These securities generally are
considered by the Rating Agencies to be, on balance, predominantly speculative
with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with
the terms of the obligation and generally will involve more credit risk than
securities in the higher rating categories.
Companies that issue certain of these securities often are highly
leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of
financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such
issuers generally is greater than is the case with the higher rated securities.
For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising
interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of these securities may not have
sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer's
ability to service its debt obligations also may be affected adversely by
specific corporate developments, forecasts, or the unavailability of additional
financing. The risk of loss because of default by the issuer is significantly
greater for the holders of these securities because such securities generally
are unsecured and often are subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.
Because there is no established retail secondary market for many of these
securities, the Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a
limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary
trading market for these securities does exist, it generally is not as liquid as
the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary
market may have an adverse impact on market price and yield and the Fund's
ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary to meet the Fund's
liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event such as a
deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid
secondary market for certain securities also may make it more difficult for the
Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's
portfolio and calculating its net asset value. Adverse publicity and investor
perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the
values and liquidity of these securities. In such cases, judgment may play a
greater role in valuation because less reliable objective data may be available.
These securities may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns. It
is likely that an economic recession could disrupt severely the market for such
securities and may have an adverse impact on the value of such securities. In
addition, it is likely that any such economic downturn could adversely affect
the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay
interest thereon and increase the incidence of default for such securities.
The Fund may acquire these securities during an initial offering. Such
securities may involve special risks because they are new issues. The Fund has
no arrangement with any persons concerning the acquisition of such securities,
and the Advisers will review carefully the credit and other characteristics
pertinent to such new issues.
The credit risk factors pertaining to lower rated securities also apply to
lower rated zero coupon securities. Zero coupon securities carry an additional
risk in that, unlike securities which pay interest throughout the period to
maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until the cash payment date unless a
portion of such securities are sold and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may
obtain no return at all on its investment. See "Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes."
Simultaneous Investments. Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of the other investment companies advised by Dreyfus or
Sarofim. If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest in, or
dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each investment company.
In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position
obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the
Fund.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy, which cannot be
changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Fund has adopted
investment restrictions numbered 1 through 10 as fundamental policies.
Investment restrictions numbered 11 through 17 are not fundamental policies and
may be changed by a vote of a majority of the Fund's Board members at any time.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of any single
issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be
invested, and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or its
agencies or instrumentalities may be purchased, without regard to any such
limitation.
2. Hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single
issuer. This Investment Restriction applies only with respect to 75% of the
Fund's total assets.
3. Concentrate its investments in any particular industry or industries,
except that the Fund may invest up to 25% of the value of its total assets in a
single industry, provided that, when the Fund has adopted a defensive posture,
there shall be no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
4. Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to
indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
5. Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, or oil, gas or other mineral
leases or exploration or development programs, but the Fund may purchase and
sell securities that are secured by real estate or issued by companies that
invest or deal in real estate.
6. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act (which
currently limits borrowing to no more than 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's
total assets). For purposes of this Investment Restriction, the entry into
options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to
indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not constitute
borrowing.
7. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt obligations
and the entry into repurchase agreements. However, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the value of its
total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made according to
guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and
the Fund's Board.
8. Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the
extent the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
9. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of
the 1940 Act), except to the extent the activities permitted in Investment
Restriction Nos. 4, 6 and 13 may be deemed to give rise to a senior security.
10. Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may make margin deposits
in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts, futures
contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts
or indices.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call
options and the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment
basis 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.
14. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls or combinations thereof, except as
described in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
15. 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.
16. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
17. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if the officers or
Board members of the Fund or the Advisers who own beneficially more than 1/2 of
1% of the securities of such issuer together own beneficially more than 5% of
the securities of such issuer.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later change in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets will not
constitute a violation of such restriction.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Fund's Board is responsible for the management and supervision of each
Fund. The Board approves all significant agreements with those companies that
furnish services to the Fund. These companies are as follows:
The Dreyfus Corporation............ Investment Adviser
Fayez Sarofim & Co................. Sub-Investment Adviser
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.. Distributor
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.............. Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York............... Custodian
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years, are
shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of the
Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is a
director of The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services
Corporation, a provider of marketing, administrative and risk management
services to health and other benefit programs, Carlyle Industries, Inc.
(formerly, Belding Heminway Company, Inc.), a button packager and
distributor, Century Business Services, Inc. (formerly International
Alliance Services, Inc.), a provider of various outsourcing functions for
small and medium sized companies, and QuikCAT.com, Inc., a private company
engaged in the development of high speed movement, routing, storage and
encryption of data across cable, wireless and all other modes of data
transport. For more than five years prior to January 1995, he was
President, a director and, until August 1994, Chief Operating Officer of
Dreyfus and Executive Vice President and a director of Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dreyfus and, until August 24,
1994, the Fund's distributor. From August 1994 until December 31, 1994, he
was a director of Mellon Financial Corporation. He is 56 years old and his
address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
CLIFFORD L. ALEXANDER, JR., Board Member. President of Alexander &
Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm. From 1977 to 1981, Mr.
Alexander served as Secretary of the Army and Chairman of the Board of
the Panama Canal Company, and from 1975 to 1977, he was a member of the
Washington, D.C. law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and
Alexander. He is a director of American Home Products Corporation, IMS
Health, a service provider of marketing information and information
technology, The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, MCI WorldCom and Mutual of
America Life Insurance Company. He is 66 years old and his address is
400 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.
PEGGY C. DAVIS, Board Member. Shad Professor of Law, New York University School
of Law. Professor Davis has been a member of the New York University law
faculty since 1983. Prior to that time, she served for three years as a
judge in the courts of New York State; was engaged for eight years in the
practice of law, working in both corporate and non-profit sectors; and
served for two years as a criminal justice administrator in the government
of the City of New York. She writes and teaches in the fields of evidence,
constitutional theory, family law, social sciences and the law, legal
process and professional methodology and training. She is 57 years old and
her address is c/o New York University School of Law, 40 Washington Square
South, New York, New York 10012.
ERNEST KAFKA, Board Member. A physician engaged in private practice specializing
in the psychoanalysis of adults and adolescents. Since 1981, he has served
as an Instructor at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute and, prior
thereto, held other teaching positions. He is Associate Clinical Professor
of Psychiatry at Cornell Medical School. For more than the past five
years, Dr. Kafka has held numerous administrative positions, including
President of the NY Psychoanalytic Society, and has published many
articles on subjects in the field of psychoanalysis. He is 67 years old
and his address is 23 East 92nd Street, New York, New York 10021.
NATHAN LEVENTHAL, Board Member. President of Lincoln Center for the Performing
Arts, Inc. Mr. Leventhal was Deputy Mayor for Operations of New York City
from September 1979 until March 1984 and Commissioner of the Department of
Housing Preservation and Development of New York City from February 1978
until September 1979. Mr. Leventhal was an associate and then a member of
the New York law firm of Poletti Freidin Prashker Feldman and Gartner from
1974 to 1978. He was Commissioner of Rent and Housing Maintenance for New
York City from 1972 to 1973. Mr. Leventhal also served as Chairman of
Citizens Union, an organization which strives to reform and modernize city
and state government from June 1994 until June 1997. He is 57 years old
and his address is 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, New York 10023-6583.
The Fund has a standing nominating committee comprised of its Board
members who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940
Act. The function of the nominating committee is to select and nominate all
candidates who are not "interested persons" of the Fund for election to the
Fund's Board.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a per
meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the Board
receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board members are
entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of one-half the
amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of compensation paid
to each Board member by the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, and
by all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person was a Board
member (the number of which is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board
member's total compensation)* during the year ended December 31, 1999, were as
follows:
Total
Compensation From
Aggregate Fund and Fund
Compensation From Complex Paid to
Name of Board Member the Fund** Board Member
- ------------------- --------------- ------------------
Joseph S. DiMartino $3,438 $642,177(189)
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. $2,500 $ 85,378 (43)
Peggy C. Davis $2,750 $ 68,378 (29)
Ernest Kafka $2,750 $ 68,378 (29)
Saul B. Klaman*** $2,750 $ 68,378 (29)
Nathan Leventhal $2,750 $ 68,378 (29)
- -----------------
* Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment
companies in the Fund Complex, including the Fund, for which the Board
member serves.
** Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board meetings,
which amounted to $2,269 for all Board members as a group.
*** Emeritus Board member as of January 18, 2000.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by Dreyfus. She is 42 years old.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by Dreyfus. From August
1996 to March 1998, she was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel
for Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. From January 1986 to July 1996, she
was an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray. She is 40 years old.
*FREDERICK C. DEY, Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary. Vice President, New Business Development of Funds
Distributor, Inc., since September 1994, and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by Dreyfus. He is 38 years
old.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Vice President of the Distributor and Funds Distributor,
Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by Dreyfus. From April 1997 to March 1998, she was
employed as a Relationship Manager with Citibank, N.A. From August 1995
to April 1997, she was an Assistant Vice President with Hudson Valley
Bank, and from September 1990 to August 1995, she was Second Vice
President with Chase Manhattan Bank. She is 31 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 Dreyfus. She is 35
years old.
*GEORGE A. RIO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President and Client Service Director of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by
Dreyfus. From June 1995 to March 1998, he was Senior Vice President and
Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam Mutual Funds. From May 1994 to
June 1995, he was Director of Business Development for First Data
Corporation. He is 45 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 Dreyfus. He is 37 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 Dreyfus. He is 30 years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
and Senior Associate General Counsel of the Distributor and Funds
Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised
or administered by Dreyfus. From April 1994 to July 1996, he was
Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. He is 35 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Manager of
Treasury Services Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by
Dreyfus. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 27 years old.
ELBA VASQUEZ, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment
companies advised or administered by Dreyfus. From March 1990 to May
1996, she was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New York where she held
various sales and marketing positions. She is 38 years old.
*KAREN JACOPPO-WOOD, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
and Senior Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by Dreyfus. From June 1994
to January 1996, she was Manager of SEC Registration at Scudder, Stevens
& Clark, Inc. She is 33 years old.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166, except those officers indicated by (*), whose address is 60 State
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Fund's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of
the Fund's voting securities outstanding on February 1, 2000.
The following shareholders owned of record 5% or more of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities on February 1, 2000: Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner &
Smith, 4800 Deer Lake Drive E., Jacksonville, Fl 32246 - Class A: 9.6%; Class B:
20.0%; Class C: 40.9%; Class R: Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Trustee As
Agent - Omnibus Account, 1 Cabot Road, Medford, MA 02155-5141 - 78.1%, First
Charter National Bank, Trust Division, PO Box 228, Concord, NC 28026-0228 -
5.4%; Class T: PaineWebber For the Benefit of PaineWebber CDN FBO Basil John
Marrella, PO Box 3321, Weehawken, NJ 07087-8154 - 35.0%, Prudential Securities,
Inc. FBO Hazel W. Stewart IRA DTD 06/22/84, 4300 Cocmise Trail, Richmond, VA
23257-2563 - 18.4%, Prudential Securities, Inc. FBO Lawrence H. Garnett &
Harriett Z. Garnett JTTEN, 3312 Merritt Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-5923 - 18.4%,
Prudential Securities, Inc. FBO Lawrence H. Hardnett IRA Rollover DTD 04/05/93,
312 Merritt Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-5923 - 9.9%. A shareholder who
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the Fund's voting
securities may be deemed to be a "control person" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Fund.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Investment Adviser. Dreyfus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank,
N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Financial Corporation
("Mellon"). Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international markets.
Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in the United
States based on total assets.
Dreyfus supervises investment management of the Fund pursuant to a
Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement") between the Fund and Dreyfus.
The Management Agreement is subject to annual approval by (i) the Fund's Board
or (ii) vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities, provided that in either event the continuance
also is approved by a majority of the Fund's Board members who are not
"interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or Dreyfus, by
vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. The Management Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60 days'
notice, by the Fund's Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of the
Fund's shares, or, on not less than 90 days' notice, by Dreyfus. The Management
Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of Dreyfus:
Christopher M. Condron, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;
Stephen E. Canter, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment
Officer and a director; Thomas F. Eggers, Vice Chairman - Institutional and a
director; Lawrence S. Kash, Vice Chairman; Ronald P. O'Hanley III, Vice
Chairman; J. David Officer, Vice Chairman and a director; William T. Sandalls,
Jr., Executive Vice President; Stephen R. Byers, Senior Vice President; Mark
N. Jacobs, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Diane P. Durnin,
Vice President--Product Development; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice
President--Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human
Resources; Ray Van Cott, Vice President--Information Systems; Theodore A.
Schachar, Vice President--Tax; Wendy Strutt, Vice President; Richard Terres,
Vice President; William H. Maresca, Controller; James Bitetto, Assistant
Secretary; Steven F. Newman, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman,
Burton C. Borgelt, Steven G. Elliott, Martin G. McGuinn, Richard W. Sabo and
Richard Syron, directors.
Mellon Bank, N.A., Dreyfus's parent, and its affiliates may have deposit,
loan and commercial banking or other relationships with the issuers of
securities purchased by the Fund. Dreyfus has informed the Fund that in making
its investment decisions it does not obtain or use material inside information
that Mellon Bank, N.A. or its affiliates may possess with respect to such
issuers.
Dreyfus has a personal securities trading policy (the "Policy") which
restricts the personal securities transactions of its employees. Its primary
purpose is to ensure that personal trading by Dreyfus's employees does not
disadvantage any fund managed by Dreyfus. Under the Policy, Dreyfus's employees
must preclear personal transactions in securities not exempt under the Policy.
In addition, Dreyfus's employees must report their personal securities
transactions and holdings, which are reviewed for compliance with the Policy. In
that regard, Dreyfus's portfolio managers and other investment personnel also
are subject to the oversight of Mellon's Investment Ethics Committee. Portfolio
managers and other investment personnel of Dreyfus who comply with the Policy's
preclearance and disclosure procedures and the requirements of the Committee may
be permitted to purchase, sell or hold securities which also may be or are held
in fund(s) they manage or for which they otherwise provide investment advice.
Dreyfus maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and furnishes
statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data processing,
bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required services to the
Fund. Dreyfus may pay the Distributor for shareholder services from Dreyfus' own
assets, including past profits but not including the management fee paid by the
Fund. The Distributor may use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents
(as defined below) in respect of these services. Dreyfus also may make such
advertising and promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it from
time to time deems appropriate.
As compensation for Dreyfus' services, the Fund has agreed to pay Dreyfus
a monthly management fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily
net assets. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the
management fees payable amounted to $1,866,529, $4,593,712 and $9,477,813,
respectively, which fee for fiscal 1997 was reduced by $79,402, resulting in
$1,787,127 being paid in fiscal 1997.
Sub-Investment Adviser. Sarofim provides investment advisory assistance
and day-to-day management of the Fund's investments pursuant to the
Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement") between Sarofim
and Dreyfus. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is subject to annual approval by (i) the
Fund's Board or (ii) vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund's outstanding voting securities, provided that in either event the
continuance also is approved by a majority of the Fund's Board members who are
not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or Sarofim, by
vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty (i) by
Dreyfus on 60 days' notice, (ii) by the Fund's Board or by vote of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's shares on 60 days' notice, or (iii) by Sarofim on
not less than 90 days' notice. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or
upon the termination of the Management Agreement for any reason.
The following persons are officers and/or directors of Sarofim: Fayez S.
Sarofim, Chairman of the Board and President; Raye G. White, Executive Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer and a director; Russell M. Frankel, Russell B.
Hawkins, William K. McGee, Jr., Charles E. Sheedy and Ralph Thomas, Senior
Vice Presidents; and Steve Gupta, Mary L. Porter, James A. Reynolds, III, and
Christopher B. Sarofim, Vice Presidents.
Sarofim provides day-to-day management of the Fund's investments in
accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the supervision of
Dreyfus and the approval of the Fund's Board. Dreyfus and Sarofim provide the
Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's Board to execute
purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are Russell B.
Hawkins, Elaine Rees, Christopher B. Sarofim and Fayez S. Sarofim. Dreyfus also
maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio managers
and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund and other
funds advised by Dreyfus.
Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Dreyfus has agreed to pay Sarofim an
annual fee, payable monthly, as set forth below:
Annual Fee as
a Percentage
of Fund's
Average Daily
Total Assets Net Assets
0 to $25 million............................ .11 of 1%
$25 million to $75 million.................. .18 of 1%
$75 million to $200 million................. .22 of 1%
$200 million to $300 million................ .26 of 1%
$300 million or more........................ .275 of 1%
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the
sub-investment advisory fees paid by Dreyfus to Sarofim amounted to $497,234,
$1,521,155 and $3,302,698, respectively.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by the Fund
except to the extent specifically assumed by Dreyfus and/or Sarofim. The
expenses borne by the Fund include: taxes, interest, brokerage fees and
commissions, if any, fees of Board members who are not officers, directors,
employees or holders of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
Dreyfus or Sarofim or their affiliates, SEC 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 corporate existence, costs attributable to investor services
(including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of
shareholders' reports and meetings and any extraordinary expenses. In addition,
Class B, Class C and Class T shares are subject to an annual distribution fee
and Class A, Class B, Class C and Class T shares are subject to an annual
service fee. See "Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan."
Dreyfus has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses of
the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest 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 Dreyfus under the Management Agreement, or Dreyfus will bear, such
excess expense to the extent required by state law. Such deduction or payment,
if any, will be estimated daily, and reconciled and effected or paid, as the
case may be, on a monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to Dreyfus is not subject to reduction
as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
Distributor. The Distributor, located at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, serves as the Fund's distributor on a best efforts basis
pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the
Distributor retained $305,946, $390,264 and $557,925, respectively, from sales
loads on Class A shares. For the same periods, the Distributor retained
$264,725, $844,267 and $1,535,404, respectively, from contingent deferred sales
charges ("CDSC") on Class B shares and $10,891, $36,140 and $88,583,
respectively, from the CDSC on Class C shares. For the period from September 30,
1999 (commencement of operations) through October 31, 1999, the Distributor
retained $0 from sales loads on Class T shares.
The Distributor may pay dealers a fee based on 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 the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds, or certain funds advised by Founders Asset
Management LLC ("Founders"), an affiliate of Dreyfus, or certain other products
made available by the Distributor to such plans or programs exceeds $1,000,000
("Eligible Benefit Plans"). Generally, the fee paid to dealers will not exceed
1% of the amount invested through such dealers. The Distributor, however, may
pay dealers a higher fee and reserves the right to cease paying these fees at
any time. The Distributor will pay such fees from its own funds, other than
amounts received from a Fund, including past profits or any other source
available to it.
Pursuant to an agreement between Dreyfus Service Corporation and the
Distributor, Dreyfus Service Corporation assumed the Distributor's
responsibility for paying commissions to Service Agents for selling Fund shares.
The proceeds of the CDSC and the Distribution Plan fees, in part, are paid to
Dreyfus Service Corporation to defray these expenses.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Custodian. Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc. (the "Transfer Agent"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dreyfus, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's transfer and dividend
disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund, the Transfer
Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account records for the Fund,
the handling of certain communications between shareholders and the Fund and the
payment of dividends and distributions payable by the Fund. For these services,
the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of
shareholder accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is
reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
The Bank of New York (the "Custodian"), 100 Church Street, New York, New
York 10286, acts as custodian of the Fund's investments. The Custodian has no
part in determining the investment policies of the Fund or which securities are
to be purchased or sold by the Fund. Under a custody agreement with the Fund,
the Custodian holds the Fund's securities and keeps all necessary accounts and
records. For its custody services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on
the market value of the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain
securities transactions charges.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
General. Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C and Class T shares may be
purchased only by clients of certain financial institutions (which may include
banks), securities dealers ("Selected Dealers") and other industry professionals
(collectively, "Service Agents"), except that full-time or part-time employees
Dreyfus or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of Dreyfus, Board
members of a fund advised by Dreyfus, including members of the Fund's Board, or
the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing may purchase Class A shares
directly through the Distributor. Subsequent purchases may be sent directly to
the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent.
Class R shares are offered only to institutional investors acting for
themselves or in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity
for qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans, including pension,
profit-sharing, IRAs set up under a Simplified Employee Pension Plan
("SEP-IRAs") and other deferred compensation plans, whether established by
corporations, partnerships, non-profit entities or state and local governments
("Retirement Plans"). The term "Retirement Plans" does not include IRAs or IRA
"Rollover Accounts." Class R shares may be purchased for a Retirement Plan only
by a custodian, trustee, investment manager or other entity authorized to act on
behalf of such Retirement Plan. Institutions effecting transactions in Class R
shares for the accounts of their clients may charge their clients direct fees in
connection with such transactions.
When purchasing Fund shares, you must specify which Class is being
purchased. Stock certificates are issued only upon your written request. No
certificates are issued for fractional shares. The Fund reserves the right to
reject any purchase order.
Service Agents may receive different levels of compensation for selling
different Classes of shares. Management understands that some Service Agents may
impose certain conditions on their clients which are different from those
described in the Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information,
and, to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authority, may charge
their clients direct fees. You should consult your Service Agent in this regard.
The minimum initial investment is $1,000. Subsequent investments must be
at least $100. However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for
Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a
non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans
with only one participant and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education IRAs, with no
minimum for subsequent purchases. The initial investment must be accompanied by
the Account Application. The 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.
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), imposes
various limitations on the amount that may be contributed to certain Retirement
Plans. These limitations apply with respect to participants at the plan level
and, therefore, do not directly affect the amount that may be invested in the
Fund by a Retirement Plan. Participants and plan sponsors should consult their
tax advisers for details.
Fund shares also may be purchased through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset
Builder(R) and Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege described under
"Shareholder Services." These services enable you to make regularly scheduled
investments and may provide you with a convenient way to invest for long-term
financial goals. You should be aware, however, that periodic investment plans do
not guarantee a profit and will not protect an investor against loss in a
declining market.
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis. Net asset value per share is
determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange ("NYSE") (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the NYSE is
open for business. Net asset value per share of each Class is computed by
dividing the value of the Fund's net assets represented by such Class (i.e., the
value of its assets less liabilities) by the total number of shares of such
Class outstanding. The Fund's investments are valued based on market value or,
where market quotations are not readily available, based on fair value as
determined in good faith by the Fund's Board. For further information regarding
the methods employed in valuing the Fund's investments, see "Determination of
Net Asset Value."
If an order is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent or other
entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund by the close of
trading on the floor of the NYSE (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time) on a
business day, Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price
determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE on that day.
Otherwise, Fund shares will be purchased at the public offering price determined
as of the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE on the next business day,
except where shares are purchased through a dealer as provided below.
Orders for the purchase of Fund shares received by dealers by the close of
trading on the floor of the NYSE on any business day and transmitted to the
Distributor or its designee by the close of its business day (normally 5:15
p.m., New York time) will be based on the public offering price per share
determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE on that day.
Otherwise, the orders will be based on the next determined public offering
price. It is the dealer's responsibility to transmit orders so that they will be
received by the Distributor or its designee before the close of its business
day. For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and
must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the
order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days
after the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution could
be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
Class A Shares. The public offering price for Class A shares is the net
asset value per share of that Class plus, except for shareholders beneficially
owning Class A shares on November 30, 1996, a sales load as shown below:
Total Sales Load
-------------------------
As a % As a % of Dealers'
of net asset Reallowance
offering value per as a % of
price share offering
Amount of Transaction per share price
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- --------------
Less than $50,000...... 5.75 6.10 5.00
$50,000 to less than 4.50 4.70 3.75
$100,000...............
$100,000 to less than 3.50 3.60 2.75
$250,000...............
$250,000 to less than 2.50 2.60 2.25
$500,000...............
$500,000 to less than 2.00 2.00 1.75
$1,000,000.............
$1,000,000 or more..... -0- -0- -0-
For shareholders who beneficially owned Class A shares on November 30,
1996, the public offering price for Class A shares is the net asset value per
share of that Class plus a sales load as shown below:
Total Sales Load
-------------------------
As a % As a % of Dealers'
of net asset Reallowance
offering value per as a % of
price share offering
Amount of Transaction per share price
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- --------------
Less than $50,000...... 4.50 4.70 4.25
$50,000 to less than 4.00 4.20 3.75
$100,000...............
$100,000 to less than 3.00 3.10 2.75
$250,000...............
$250,000 to less than 2.50 2.60 2.25
$500,000...............
$500,000 to less than 2.00 2.00 1.75
$1,000,000.............
$1,000,000 or more..... -0- -0- -0-
A CDSC of 1% will be assessed at the time of redemption of Class A shares
purchased without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of at least
$1,000,000 and redeemed within one year of purchase. Pursuant to an agreement
with the Distributor, Dreyfus Service Corporation may pay Service Agents an
amount up to 1% of the net asset value of Class A shares purchased by their
clients that are subject to a CDSC.
Full-time employees of NASD member firms and full-time employees of other
financial institutions which have entered into an agreement with the Distributor
pertaining to the sale of Fund shares (or which otherwise have a brokerage
related or clearing arrangement with an NASD member firm or financial
institution with respect to the sale of such shares) may purchase Class A shares
for themselves directly or pursuant to an employee benefit plan or other
program, or for their spouses or minor children, at net asset value, provided
they have furnished the Distributor with such information as it may request from
time to time in order to verify eligibility for this privilege. This privilege
also applies to full-time employees of financial institutions affiliated with
NASD member firms whose full-time employees are eligible to purchase Class A
shares at net asset value. In addition, Class A shares are offered at net asset
value to full-time or part-time employees of Dreyfus or any of its affiliates or
subsidiaries, directors of Dreyfus, Board members of a fund advised by Dreyfus,
including members of the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of
the foregoing.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value without a sales load to
employees participating in Eligible Benefit Plans. Class A shares also may be
purchased (including by exchange) at net asset value without a sales load for
Dreyfus-sponsored IRA "Rollover Accounts" with the distribution proceeds from a
qualified retirement plan or a Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan, provided, at
the time of such distribution, such qualified retirement plan or
Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan (a) met the requirements of an Eligible Benefit
Plan and all or a portion of such plan's assets were invested in funds in the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds or the Dreyfus Family of Funds, or certain funds
advised by Founders, or certain other products made available by the Distributor
to such plans, or (b) invested all of its assets in certain funds in the Dreyfus
Premier Family of Funds or the Dreyfus Family of Funds, or certain funds advised
by Founders, or certain other products made available by the Distributor to such
plans.
Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value through certain
broker-dealers and other financial institutions which have entered into an
agreement with the Distributor, which includes a requirement that such shares be
sold for the benefit of clients participating in a "wrap account" or a similar
program under which such clients pay a fee to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution.
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value, subject to
appropriate documentation, by (i) qualified separate accounts maintained by an
insurance company pursuant to the laws of any State or territory of the United
States, (ii) a State, county or city or instrumentality thereof, (iii) a
charitable organization (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code) investing
$50,000 or more in Fund shares, and (iv) a charitable remainder trust (as
defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code).
Class T Shares. The public offering price for Class T shares is the net
asset value per share of that Class plus a sales load as shown below:
Total Sales Load
-------------------------
As a % As a % of Dealers'
of net asset Reallowance
offering value per as a % of
price share offering
Amount of Transaction per share price
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- --------------
Less than $50,000...... 4.50 4.70 4.00
$50,000 to less than 4.00 4.20 3.50
$100,000...............
$100,000 to less than 3.00 3.10 2.50
$250,000...............
$250,000 to less than 2.00 2.00 1.75
$500,000...............
$500,000 to less than 1.50 1.50 1.25
$1,000,000.............
$1,000,000 or more..... -0- -0- -0-
A CDSC of 1.00% will be assessed at the time of redemption of Class T
shares purchased without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of at
least $1,000,000 and redeemed within one year of purchase. Pursuant to an
agreement with the Distributor, Dreyfus Service Corporation may pay Service
Agents an amount up to 1% of the net asset value of Class T shares purchased by
their clients that are subject to a CDSC. Because the expenses associated with
Class A shares will be lower than those associated with Class T shares,
purchasers investing $1,000,000 or more in the Fund generally will find it
beneficial to purchase Class A shares rather than Class T shares.
Class T shares are offered at net asset value without a sales load to
employees participating in Eligible Benefit Plans. Class T shares also may be
purchased (including by exchange) at net asset value without a sales load for
Dreyfus-sponsored IRA "Rollover Accounts" with the distribution proceeds from a
qualified retirement plan or a Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan, provided, at
the time of such distribution, such qualified retirement plan or
Dreyfus-sponsored 403(b)(7) plan (a) met the requirements of an Eligible Benefit
Plan and all or a portion of such plan's assets were invested in funds in the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds, the Dreyfus Family of Funds, certain funds
advised by Founders or certain other products made available by the Distributor
to such plans, or (b) invested all of its assets in funds in the Dreyfus Premier
Family of Funds, certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, certain funds
advised by Founders or certain other products made available by the Distributor
to such plans.
Class T shares also may be purchased at net asset value, subject to
appropriate documentation, through a broker-dealer or other financial
institution with the proceeds from the redemption of shares of a registered
open-end management investment company not managed by Dreyfus or its affiliates.
The purchase of Class T shares must be made within 60 days of such redemption
and the shares redeemed must have been subject to an initial sales charge or a
contingent deferred sales charge.
Dealer Reallowance - Class A and Class T. The dealer reallowance provided
with respect to Class A and Class T shares may be changed from time to time but
will remain the same for all dealers. The Distributor, at its own expense, may
provide additional promotional incentives to dealers that sell shares of funds
advised by Dreyfus which are sold with a sales load, such as Class A and Class T
shares. In some instances, these incentives may be offered only to certain
dealers who have sold or may sell significant amounts of such shares.
Sales Loads - Class A and Class T. The scale of sales loads applies to
purchases of Class A and Class T shares made by any "purchaser," which term
includes an individual and/or spouse purchasing securities for his, her or their
own account or for the account of any minor children, or a trustee or other
fiduciary purchasing securities for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary
account (including a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit trust
created pursuant to a plan qualified under Section 401 of the Code) although
more than one beneficiary is involved; or a group of accounts established by or
on behalf of the employees of an employer or affiliated employers pursuant to an
employee benefit plan or other program (including accounts established pursuant
to Sections 403(b), 408(k), and 457 of the Code); or an organized group which
has been in existence for more than six months, provided that it is not
organized for the purpose of buying redeemable securities of a registered
investment company and provided that the purchases are made through a central
administration or a single dealer, or by other means which result in economy of
sales effort or expense.
Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering
price of the Fund's Class A shares. The example assumes a purchase of Class A
shares aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of sales charges
set forth above at a price based upon the net asset value of the Fund's Class A
share on October 31, 1999:
Net Asset Value per Share.... $35.32
Per Share Sales Charge -
5.75%*
of offering price (6.10% of $ 2.15
net asset value per share).
Per Share Offering Price to
the Public................. $37.47
======
- ---------------------
* Class A shares purchased by shareholders beneficially owning Class A shares on
November 30, 1996 ......are subject to a different sales load schedule, as
described above.
Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering
price of the Fund's Class T shares. The example assumes a purchase of Class T
shares of the Fund aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of
sales charges set forth above at a price based upon the net asset value of the
Fund's Class T share on October 31, 1999:
Net Asset Value per Share.... $35.30
Per Share Sales Charge - 4.50%
of offering price (4.70% of $ 1.66
net asset value per share).
Per Share Offering Price to
the Public................. $36.96
======
Right of Accumulation--Class A and Class T Shares. Reduced sales loads
apply to any purchase of Class A and T shares, shares of other funds in the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds which are sold with a sales load, shares of
certain other funds advised by Dreyfus or Founders, which are sold with a sales
load and shares acquired by a previous exchange of such shares (hereinafter
referred to as "Eligible Funds"), by you and any related "purchaser" as defined
above, where the aggregate investment, including such purchase, is $50,000 or
more. If, for example, you previously purchased and still hold Class A and Class
T shares, or shares of any other Eligible Fund or combination thereof, with an
aggregate current market value of $40,000 and subsequently purchase Class A
shares or Class T shares of an Eligible Fund having a current value of $20,000,
the sales load applicable to the subsequent purchase would be reduced to 4.50%
of the offering price in the case of Class A shares, or 4.00% of the offering
price in the case of Class T shares. All present holdings of Eligible Funds may
be combined to determine the current offering price of the aggregate investment
in ascertaining the sales load applicable to each subsequent purchase. Class A
shares purchased by shareholders beneficially owning Class A shares on November
30, 1996 are subject to a different sales load schedule, as described above
under "Class A Shares."
To qualify for reduced sales loads, at the time of purchase you or your
Service Agent must notify the Distributor if orders are made by wire, or the
Transfer Agent if orders are made by mail. The reduced sales load is subject to
confirmation of your holdings through a check of appropriate records.
Class B Shares. The public offering price for Class B shares is the net
asset value per share of that Class. No initial sales charge is imposed at the
time of purchase. A CDSC is imposed, however, on certain redemptions of Class B
shares as described in the Fund's Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional
Information under "How to Redeem Shares--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class
B Shares."
Approximately six years after the date of purchase, Class B shares
automatically will convert to Class A shares, based on the relative net asset
values for shares of each such Class. Class B shares that have been acquired
through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be converted on a
pro rata basis together with other Class B shares, in the proportion that a
shareholder's Class B shares converting to Class A shares bears to the total
Class B shares not acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions.
Class C Shares. The public offering price for Class C shares is the net
asset value per share of that Class. No initial sales charge is imposed at the
time of purchase. A CDSC is imposed, however, on redemptions of Class C shares
made within the first year of purchase. See "Class B Shares" above and "How to
Redeem Shares."
Class B and C Shares. Pursuant to an agreement with the Distributor,
Dreyfus Service Corporation compensates certain Service Agents for selling Class
B and Class C shares at the time of purchase from its own assets. The proceeds
of the CDSC and the distribution fee, in part, are used to defray these
expenses.
Class R Shares. The public offering for Class R shares is the net asset
value per share of that Class.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may purchase shares by telephone if
you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary information on
the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services Form with the
Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be transferred between the bank account
designated in one of these documents and your Fund account. Only a bank account
maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House ("ACH") member may be so designated.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders may be made at any time. Purchase
orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day that the Transfer Agent
and the NYSE 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 day the Transfer Agent and
the NYSE are open for business, or orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund
holiday (e.g., when the NYSE is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the initial
payment for purchase of shares must be drawn on, and redemption proceeds paid
to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account Application or
Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a particular redemption
are to be wired to an account at any other bank, the request must be in writing
and signature-guaranteed. See "How to Redeem Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer
Privilege."
Reopening an Account. You may reopen an account with a minimum investment
of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the calendar year the
account is closed or during the following calendar year, provided the
information on the old Account Application is still applicable.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
Class B, Class C and Class T shares are subject to a Distribution Plan and
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class T shares are subject to a Shareholder
Services Plan.
Distribution Plan. Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") adopted by the SEC under the
1940 Act provides, among other things, that an investment company may bear
expenses of distributing its shares only pursuant to a plan adopted in
accordance with the Rule. The Fund's Board has adopted such a plan (the
"Distribution Plan") with respect to the Fund's Class B, Class C and Class T
shares pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for distributing each
such Class of shares a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the value of the
average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares and 0.25% of the value of
the average daily net assets of Class T shares. The Distributor may pay one or
more Service Agents in respect of advertising, marketing and other distribution
services for Class T shares, and determines the amounts, if any, to be paid to
Service Agents and the basis on which such payments are made. The Fund's Board
believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Distribution Plan will
benefit the Fund and holders of its Class B, Class C and Class T shares.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Distribution Plan,
and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the
Board for its review. In addition, the Distribution Plan provides that it may
not be amended to increase materially the costs which holders of a Fund's Class
B, Class C or Class T shares may bear pursuant to the Distribution Plan without
the approval of the holders of such shares and that other material amendments of
the Distribution Plan must be approved by the Fund's Board, and by the Board
members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the
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 cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Distribution Plan. As to the relevant Class of shares, the Distribution Plan may
be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are not
"interested persons" and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreements entered into in
connection with the Distribution Plan or by vote of the holders of a majority of
such Class of shares.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund paid the Distributor
$5,887,960 with respect to Class B and $1,156,373 with respect to Class C
pursuant to the Distribution Plan. For the period from September 30, 1999
(commencement of initial offering) through October 31, 1999, the Fund paid the
Distributor $0 with respect to Class T pursuant to the Distribution Plan.
Shareholder Services Plan. The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services
Plan, pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor for the provision of
certain services to the holders of the Fund's Class A, Class B, Class C and
Class T shares a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the value of the average
daily net assets of each such Class. The services provided may include personal
services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder
inquiries regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and
services related to the maintenance of such shareholder accounts. Under the
Shareholder Services Plan, the Distributor may make payments to Service Agents
in respect of these services.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Shareholder Services
Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made
to the Board for its review. In addition, the Shareholder Services Plan provides
that material amendments must be approved by the Fund's Board, and by the Board
members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the
Shareholder Services Plan 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. The Shareholder Services Plan is
subject to annual approval by such vote cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on the Shareholder Services Plan. As to the relevant Class
of shares, the Shareholder Services Plan is terminable at any time by vote of a
majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder
Services Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the
Shareholder Services Plan.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund paid the Distributor
$802,301 with respect to Class A, $1,962,653 with respect to Class B, and
$385,458 with respect to Class C, pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan. For
the period from September 30, 1999 (commencement of initial offering) through
October 31, 1999, the Fund paid the Distributor $0 with respect to Class T
pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class B Shares. A CDSC is imposed on any
redemption of Class B shares which reduces the current net asset value of your
Class B shares to an amount which is lower than the dollar amount of all
payments by you for the purchase of Class B shares of the Fund held by you at
the time of redemption. No CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset
value of the Class B shares redeemed does not exceed (i) the current net asset
value of Class B shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital
gain distributions, plus (ii) increases in the net asset value of your Class B
shares above the dollar amount of all your payments for the purchase of Class B
shares held by you at the time of redemption.
If the aggregate value of Class B shares redeemed has declined below their
original cost as a result of the Fund's performance, a CDSC may be applied to
the then-current net asset value rather than the purchase price.
In circumstances where the CDSC is imposed, the amount of the charge will
depend on the number of years for the time you purchased the Class B shares
until the time of redemption of such shares. Solely for purposes of determining
the number of years from the time of any payment for the purchase of Class B
shares, all payments during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been
made on the first day of the month. Pursuant to an agreement with the
Distributor, Dreyfus Service Corporation receives the proceeds from the CDSC
imposed on the redemption of Class B shares.
The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC for Class B shares:
Year Since CDSC as a % of
Purchase Payment Amount Invested
Was Made or Redemption Proceeds
---------------------- -----------------------
First.......................... 4.00
Second......................... 4.00
Third.......................... 3.00
Fourth......................... 3.00
Fifth.......................... 2.00
Sixth.......................... 1.00
In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the
calculation will be made in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate.
It will be assumed that the redemption is made first of amounts representing
shares acquired pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
then of amounts representing the increase in net asset value of Class B shares
above the total amount of payments for the purchase of Class B shares made
during the preceding six years; then of amounts representing the cost of shares
purchased six years prior to the redemption; and finally, of amounts
representing the cost of shares held for the longest period of time within the
applicable six-year period.
For example, assume an investor purchased 100 shares at $10 per share for
a cost of $1,000. Subsequently, the shareholder acquired five additional shares
through dividend reinvestment. During the second year after the purchase the
investor decided to redeem $500 of the investment. Assuming at the time of the
redemption the net asset value had appreciated to $12 per share, the value of
the investor's shares would be $1,260 (105 shares at $12 per share). The CDSC
would not be applied to the value of the reinvested dividend shares and the
amount which represents appreciation ($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500
redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260) would be charged at a rate of 4% (the
applicable rate in the second year after purchase) for a total CDSC of $9.60.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class C Shares. A CDSC of 1% is paid to
Dreyfus Service Corporation on any redemption of Class C shares within one year
of the date of purchase. The basis for calculating the payment of any such CDSC
will be the method used in calculating the CDSC for Class B shares. See
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge--Class B Shares" above. Pursuant to an
agreement with the Distributor, Dreyfus Service Corporation receives the
proceeds from the CDSC imposed on the redemption of Class C shares.
Waiver of CDSC. The CDSC may be waived in connection with (a) redemptions
made within one year after the death or disability, as defined in Section
72(m)(7) of the Code, of the shareholder, (b) redemptions by employees
participating in Eligible Benefit Plans, (c) redemptions as a result of a
combination of any investment company with the Fund by merger, acquisition of
assets or otherwise, (d) a distribution following retirement under a
tax-deferred retirement plan or upon attaining age 70 1/2 in the case of an IRA
or Keogh plan or custodial account pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code, and
(e) redemptions pursuant to the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, as described below.
If the Company's Board determines to discontinue the waiver of the CDSC, the
disclosure herein will be revised appropriately. Any Fund shares subject to a
CDSC which were purchased prior to the termination of such waiver will have the
CDSC waived as provided in the Fund's Prospectus or this Statement of Additional
Information at the time of the purchase of such shares.
To qualify for a waiver of the CDSC, at the time of redemption you must
notify the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must notify the Distributor. Any
such qualification is subject to confirmation of your entitlement.
Redemption Through a Selected Dealer. If you are a customer of a Selected
Dealer, you may make redemption requests to your Selected Dealer. If the
Selected Dealer transmits the redemption request so that it is received by the
Transfer Agent prior to the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE (currently
4:00 p.m., New York time), the redemption request will be effective on that day.
If a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent after the close of
trading on the floor of the NYSE, the redemption request will be effective on
the next business day. It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to
transmit a request so that it is received in a timely manner. The proceeds of
the redemption are credited to your account with the Selected Dealer. See "How
to Buy Shares" for a discussion of additional conditions or fees that may be
imposed upon redemption.
In addition, the Distributor or its designee will accept orders from
Selected Dealers with which the Distributor has sales agreements for the
repurchase of shares held by shareholders. Repurchase orders received by dealers
by the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE on any business day and
transmitted to the Distributor or its designee prior to the close of its
business day (normally 5:15 p.m., New York time) are effected at the price
determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the NYSE on that day.
Otherwise, the shares will be redeemed at the next determined net asset value.
It is the responsibility of the Selected Dealer to transmit orders on a timely
basis. The Selected Dealer may charge the shareholder a fee for executing the
order. This repurchase arrangement is discretionary and may be withdrawn at any
time.
Reinvestment Privilege. Upon written request, you may reinvest up to the
number of Class A, Class B or Class T shares you have redeemed, within 45 days
of redemption, at the then-prevailing net asset value without a sales load, or
reinstate your account for the purpose of exercising Fund Exchanges. Upon
reinstatement, with respect to Class B shares, or Class A or Class T shares if
such shares were subject to a CDSC, your account will be credited with an amount
equal to the CDSC previously paid upon redemption of the Class A or Class B
shares reinvested. The Reinvestment Privilege may be exercised only once.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank
account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution
which is an ACH member may be designated. Holders of jointly registered Fund or
bank accounts may redeem through the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege for transfer
to their bank account not more than $500,000 within any 30-day period.
Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in the your account at an ACH member bank
ordinarily two business days after receipt of the redemption request. You should
be aware that if you have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any
request for a wire redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer
transaction through the ACH system unless more prompt transmittal specifically
is requested. See "How to Buy Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
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 NYSE Medallion Signature Program, the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges
Medallion Program. Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory of the
guarantor and "Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the signature. The
Transfer Agent may request additional documentation from corporations,
executors, administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept other suitable
verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as consular verification.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash all
redemption requests by any shareholder of record, limited in amount during any
90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the Fund's net
assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable without
the prior approval of the SEC. 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 sells 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 NYSE is closed (other
than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b) when trading in the markets
the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or when an emergency exists as
determined by the SEC 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 SEC by order may permit to protect the Fund's
shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Fund Exchanges. You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds,
shares of the same Class of certain funds advised by Founders, or shares of
certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, and, with respect to Class T
shares of the Fund, Class A shares of certain Dreyfus Premier fixed-income
funds, to the extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of
residence. Shares of the same Class of such funds purchased by exchange will be
purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds offered without a sales load will be
made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and the applicable
sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged without
a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds
acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales
load and additional shares acquired through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively referred
to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for shares of
other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein as "Offered
Shares"), but if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares
exceeds the maximum sales load that could have been imposed in
connection with the Purchased Shares (at the time the Purchased
Shares were acquired), without giving effect to any reduced loads,
the difference will be deducted.
E. Shares of funds subject to a CDSC exchanged for shares of another
fund will be subject to the higher applicable CDSC of the two funds,
and for purposes of calculating CDSC rates and conversion periods, if
any, will be deemed to have been held since the date the shares being
exchanged were initially purchased.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, your Service Agent acting on
your behalf must notify the Transfer Agent of your prior ownership of Fund
shares and your account number.
You also may exchange your Fund shares that are subject to a CDSC for
shares of Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc. The shares so
purchased will be held in a special account created solely for this purpose
("Exchange Account"). Exchanges of shares from an Exchange Account only can be
made into certain other funds managed or administered by the Manager. No CDSC is
charged when an investor exchanges into an Exchange Account; however, the
applicable CDSC will be imposed when shares are redeemed from an Exchange
Account or other applicable Fund account. Upon redemption, the applicable CDSC
will be calculated without regard to the time such shares were held in an
Exchange Account. See "How to Redeem Shares." Redemption proceeds for Exchange
Account shares are paid by Federal wire or check only. Exchange Account shares
also are eligible for the Auto-Exchange Privilege, Dividend Sweep and the
Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
To request an exchange, your Service Agent acting on your behalf must give
exchange instructions to the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The
ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given to all Fund
shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No" box on the
Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this Privilege. By
using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act
on telephonic instructions (including over The Dreyfus Touch(R) automated
telephone system) from any person representing himself or herself to be you, or
a representative of your Service Agent, and reasonably believed by the Transfer
Agent to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to limitations as to the
amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges permitted. Shares issued in
certificate form are not eligible for telephone exchange. No fees currently are
charged shareholders directly in connection with exchanges, although the 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 SEC.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Exchanges of Class R shares held by a Retirement Plan may be made only
between the investor's Retirement Plan account in one fund and such investor's
Retirement Plan account in another fund.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege permits
you to purchase (on a semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in
exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of the same Class of another fund in the
Dreyfus Premier Family of Funds, shares of the same Class of certain funds
advised by Founders, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of
Funds, and, with respect to Class T shares of the Fund, Class A shares of
certain Dreyfus Premier fixed-income funds, of which you are a shareholder. This
Privilege is available only for existing accounts. With respect to Class R
shares held by a Retirement Plan, exchanges may be made only between the
investor's Retirement Plan account in one fund and such investor's Retirement
Plan account in another fund. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of relative
net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges." Enrollment in or
modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three business days
following notification by the investor. You will be notified if your account
falls below the amount designated to be exchanged under this Privilege. In this
case, your account will fall to zero unless additional investments are made in
excess of the designated amount prior to the next Auto-Exchange transaction.
Shares held under IRA and other retirement plans are eligible for this
Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares may be made between IRA accounts and from
regular accounts to IRA accounts, but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts.
With respect to all other retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only among
those accounts.
Fund Exchanges and Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege are available to
shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the fund being acquired
may legally be sold. Shares may be exchanged only between accounts having
identical names and other identifying designations.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-554-4611. The Fund 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.
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder(R). Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder
permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per
transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares are purchased by
transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege. Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social Security,
or certain veterans', military or other payments from the U.S. Government
automatically deposited into your fund account. You may deposit as much of such
payments as you elect.
Dreyfus Dividend Options. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows you to invest
automatically your dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if
any, from the Fund in shares of the same Class of another fund in the Dreyfus
Premier Family of Funds, shares of the same Class of certain funds advised by
Founders, or shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds, and,
with respect to Class T shares of the Fund, in Class A shares of certain Dreyfus
Premier fixed-income funds, of which you are a shareholder. Shares of the same
Class of other funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on
the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
(a) Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested
without imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds
offered without a sales load.
(b) Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not charge
a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a
sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
(c) Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which charges a sales
load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a sales
load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), but if the sales
load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales
load charged by the fund from which dividends or distributions
are being swept (without giving effect to any reduced loads), the
difference will be deducted.
(d) Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in
shares of other funds that impose a CDSC and the applicable CDSC,
if any, will be imposed upon redemption of such shares.
Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends or
dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated
bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial institution
which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated. Banks may
charge a fee for this service.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. Withdrawal
payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the yield on the
shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and distributions,
your shares will be reduced and eventually may be depleted. Automatic Withdrawal
may be terminated at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for
which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
No CDSC with respect to Class B shares will be imposed on withdrawals made
under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan, provided that the amounts withdrawn under
the plan do not exceed on an annual basis 12% of the account value at the time
the shareholder elects to participate in the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Withdrawals with respect to Class B shares under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan
that exceed on an annual basis 12% of the value of the shareholders account will
be subject to a CDSC on the amounts exceeding 12% of the initial account value.
Withdrawals of Class A and Class T shares subject to a CDSC and Class C shares
under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan will be subject to any applicable CDSC.
Purchases of additional Class A and Class T shares where the sales load is
imposed concurrently with withdrawals of Class A and Class T shares generally
are undesirable.
Certain Retirement Plans, including Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plans,
may permit certain participants to establish an automatic withdrawal plan from
such Retirement Plans. Participants should consult their Retirement Plan sponsor
and tax adviser for details. Such a withdrawal plan is different than the
Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Letter of Intent--Class A and Class T Shares. By signing a Letter of
Intent form, which can be obtained by calling 1-800-554-4611, you become
eligible for the reduced sales load applicable to the total number of Eligible
Fund shares purchased in a 13-month period pursuant to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Letter of Intent. A minimum initial purchase of $5,000 is
required. To compute the applicable sales load, the offering price of shares you
hold (on the date of submission of the Letter of Intent) in any Eligible Fund
that may be used toward "Right of Accumulation" benefits described above may be
used as a credit toward completion of the Letter of Intent. However, the reduced
sales load will be applied only to new purchases.
The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow 5% of the amount indicated in the
Letter of Intent for payment of a higher sales load if you do not purchase the
full amount indicated in the Letter of Intent. The escrow will be released when
you fulfill the terms of the Letter of Intent by purchasing the specified
amount. If your purchases qualify for a further sales load reduction, the sales
load will be adjusted to reflect your total purchase at the end of 13 months. If
total purchases are less than the amount specified, you will be requested to
remit an amount equal to the difference between the sales load actually paid and
the sales load applicable to the aggregate purchases actually made. If such
remittance is not received within 20 days, the Transfer Agent, as
attorney-in-fact pursuant to the terms of the Letter of Intent, will redeem an
appropriate number of Class A or Class T shares of the Fund held in escrow to
realize the difference. Signing a Letter of Intent does not bind you to
purchase, or the Fund to sell, the full amount indicated at the sales load in
effect at the time of signing, but you must complete the intended purchase to
obtain the reduced sales load. At the time you purchase Class A or Class T
shares, you must indicate your intention to do so under a Letter of Intent.
Purchases pursuant to a Letter of Intent will be made at the then-current net
asset value plus the applicable sales load in effect at the time such Letter of
Intent was executed.
Corporate Pension/Profit-Sharing and Personal Retirement Plans. The Fund
makes available to corporations a variety of prototype pension and
profit-sharing plans, including a 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan. In addition, the
Fund makes available Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for
a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, Rollover IRAs and Education IRAs) and
403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are available.
If you wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh Plan, a
403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, you may request from the
Distributor forms for adoption of such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares. All
fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may not
be made in advance of receipt of funds.
You should read the prototype retirement plan and the appropriate form of
custodial agreement for further details on eligibility, service fees and tax
implications, and you should consult a tax adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. Portfolio securities are valued at the
last sale price on the securities exchange or national securities market on
which such securities primarily are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange
or national securities market, or securities in which there were no
transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices,
except in the case of open short positions where the asked price is used for
valuation purposes. Bid price is used when no asked price is available. Any
assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currency will be
translated into U.S. dollars at the midpoint of the New York interbank market
spot exchange rate as quoted on the day of such translation by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York or, if no such rate is quoted on such date, at the
exchange rate previously quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or at
such other quoted market exchange rate as may be determined to be appropriate by
the Advisers. Forward currency contracts will be valued at the current cost of
offsetting the contract. If the 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 Fund's 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 the Fund's shares. Because of the difference
in operating expenses incurred by each Class, the per share asset value of each
Class will differ.
Restricted securities, as well as securities or other assets for which
recent market quotations are not readily available, or are not valued by a
pricing service approved by the 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.
NYSE Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which the NYSE is closed
currently are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Management believes that the Fund has qualified as a "regulated investment
company" under the Code for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999. The Fund
intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best interests
of its shareholders. As a regulated investment company, the Fund will pay no
Federal income tax on net investment income and net realized securities gains to
the extent that such income and gains are distributed to shareholders in
accordance with applicable provisions of the Code. To qualify as a regulated
investment company, the Fund must distribute at least 90% of its net income
(consisting of net investment income and net short-term capital gain) to its
shareholders and meet certain asset diversification and other requirements. If
the Fund did not qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation subject to Federal income tax. The
term "regulated investment company" does not imply the supervision of management
or investment practices or policies by any government agency.
If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash, and your
dividend or distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or
remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest such
dividends or distributions and all future dividends and distributions payable to
you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase may
have the effect of reducing the aggregate net asset value of the shares below
the cost of the investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a return of
investment in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the Fund's
Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds shares of
the 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 the Fund's income, the entire amount or
a portion of the dividends 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 from the Fund
distributed to the Fund's qualifying corporate shareholders will be eligible for
the dividends received deduction only to the extent that the Fund's income
consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. However, Section 246(c) of the
Code provides that if a qualifying corporate shareholder has disposed of Fund
shares held for less than 46 days, which 46 days generally must be during the
90-day period commencing 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and has
received a dividend from net investment income with respect to such shares, the
portion designated by the Fund as qualifying for the dividends received
deduction will not be eligible for such shareholder's dividends received
deduction. In addition, the Code provides other limitations with respect to the
ability of a qualifying corporate shareholder to claim the dividends received
deduction in connection with holding Fund shares.
The 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). The Fund may make an election under Section 853
of the Code, provided that more than 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets
at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign corporations,
and the Fund satisfies the applicable distribution provisions of the Code. The
foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to certain limitations
imposed by the Code.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will be
treated as capital gains and losses. However, a portion of the gain or loss
realized from the disposition of foreign currencies (including foreign currency
denominated bank deposits) and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities (including
debt instruments and certain 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 the Fund from
certain forward contracts and options transactions (other than those taxed under
Section 988 of the Code) will be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss
and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss will arise upon the
exercise or lapse of such contracts and options as well as from closing
transactions. In addition, any such contract or option remaining unexercised at
the end of the Fund's taxable year will be treated as sold for their then fair
market value, resulting in additional gain or loss to the Fund characterized in
the manner described above.
Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain forward contracts
or options transactions may be considered, for tax purposes, to constitute
"straddles." "Straddles" are defined to include "offsetting positions" in
actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of "straddles" is governed
by Sections 1092 and 1258 of the Code, which, in certain circumstances, override
or modify the provisions of Sections 988 and 1256 of the Code. As such, all or a
portion of any short or long-term capital gain from certain "straddle"
transactions may be recharacterized as ordinary income.
If the Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in forward contracts or options transactions, such "straddles" could be
characterized as "mixed straddles" if forward contracts or options transactions
comprising a part of such "straddles" were governed by Section 1256 of the Code.
The Fund may make one or more elections with respect to "mixed straddles."
Depending upon which election is made, if any, the results to the Fund may
differ. If no election is made, to the extent the "straddle" rules apply to
positions established by the Fund, losses realized by the Fund will be deferred
to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions. Moreover, as a
result of the "straddle" and conversion transaction rules, short-term capital
loss on "straddle" positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss,
and long-term capital gain on "straddle" positions may be treated as short-term
capital gain or ordinary income.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included constructive sale provisions that
generally apply if the Fund either (1) holds an appreciated financial position
with respect to stock, certain debt obligations, or partnership interests
("appreciated financial position") and then enters into a short sale, futures or
forward contract, or offsetting notional principal contract (collectively, a
"Contract") with respect to the same or substantially identical property or (2)
holds an appreciated financial position that is a Contract and then acquires
property that is the same as, or substantially identical to, the underlying
property. In each instance, with certain exceptions, the Fund generally will be
taxed as if the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market
value on the date the Fund enters into the financial position or acquires the
property, respectively. Transactions that are identified hedging or straddle
transactions under other provisions of the Code can be subject to the
constructive sale provisions.
If the Fund invests in an entity that is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for Federal income tax purposes, the operation of
certain provisions of the Code applying to PFICs could result in the imposition
of certain Federal income taxes on the Fund. In addition, gain realized from the
sale or other disposition of PFIC securities may be treated as ordinary income
under Section 1291 of the Code and, with respect to PFIC securities that are
marked-to-market, under Section 1296 of the Code.
Investment by the Fund in securities issued 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 the Fund to recognize
income prior to the receipt of cash payments. For example, the Fund could be
required to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount (or deemed
discount) at which such securities were issued and to distribute such income. In
such case, the Fund may have to dispose of securities which it might otherwise
have continued to hold in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution
requirements.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Dreyfus supervises the placement of orders on behalf of the Fund for the
purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Allocation of brokerage transactions,
including their frequency, is made in Dreyfus' best judgment 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
Advisers' 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 Advisers and the Advisers'
fees are not reduced as a consequence of the receipt of such supplemental
information. Such information may be useful to Dreyfus in serving both the Fund
and other clients which it advises and to Sarofim in serving both the Fund and
the other funds or accounts it advises, and, conversely, supplemental
information obtained by the placement of business of other clients may be useful
to the Advisers in carrying out their obligations to the Fund.
Sales by a broker of shares of the Fund or other funds advised by Dreyfus
or its affiliates may be taken into consideration, and brokers also will be
selected because of their ability to handle special executions such as are
involved in large block trades or broad distributions, provided the primary
consideration is met. Large block trades, in certain cases, result from two or
more funds advised or administered by Dreyfus being engaged simultaneously in
the purchase or sale of the same security. Certain of the Fund's transactions in
securities of foreign issuers may not benefit from the negotiated commission
rates available to the Fund for transactions in securities of domestic issuers.
When transactions are executed in the over-the-counter market, the Fund will
deal with the primary market makers unless a more favorable price or execution
otherwise is obtainable. Foreign exchange transactions are made with banks or
institutions in the interbank market at prices reflecting a mark-up or mark-down
and/or commission.
Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year. In
periods in which extraordinary market conditions prevail, the Advisers will not
be deterred from changing the 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 Dreyfus 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 October 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund paid
brokerage commissions of $260,415, $415,740 and $682,903, respectively, none of
which was paid to the Distributor. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999, the Fund paid $13,082, $0 and $0, respectively, in gross spreads
or concessions on principal transactions.
The Fund contemplates that, consistent with the policy of obtaining the
most favorable net price, brokerage transactions may be conducted through
Dreyfus or its affiliates, including Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc. ("DBS").
The Fund's Board has adopted procedures in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the
1940 Act to ensure that all brokerage commissions paid to Dreyfus or its
affiliates are reasonable and fair. During the fiscal year ended October 31,
1999, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $21,125 to DBS. This amount
represents approximately 3% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the
Fund for transactions involving approximately 6% of the aggregate dollar value
of transactions for which the Fund paid brokerage commissions.
The aggregate amount of transactions during the last fiscal year in
securities effected on an agency basis through a broker in consideration of,
among other things, research services provided was $64,363,778 and the
commissions and concessions related to such transactions were $50,310.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 6.30 year periods ended
October 31, 1999 for Class A was 11.87%, 19.88% and 17.62%, respectively. The
average annual total return for Class B for such periods was 13.87%, 20.22% and
17.87%, respectively. The average annual total return for the 1 and 4.37 year
periods ended October 31, 1999 for Class C was 16.87% and 20.39%, respectively.
The average annual total return for the 1 and 3.66 year periods ended October
31, 1999 for Class R was 19.03% and 20.81%, respectively. Average annual total
return is calculated by determining the ending redeemable value of an investment
purchased at net asset value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A and
Class T) per share with a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of
the period (assuming the reinvestment of dividends and distributions), dividing
by the amount of the initial investment, taking the "n"th root of the quotient
(where "n" is the number of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the
result. A Class's average annual total return figures calculated in accordance
with such formula assume that in the case of Class A or Class T the maximum
sales load has been deducted from the hypothetical initial investment at the
time of purchase or in the case of Class B or Class C the maximum applicable
CDSC has been paid upon redemption at the end of the period.
Total return is calculated by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net
asset value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A or Class T) 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 any applicable CDSC), and dividing the
result by the net asset value (maximum offering price in the case of Class A or
Class T) per share at the beginning of the period. Total return also may be
calculated based on the net asset value per share at the beginning of the period
instead of the maximum offering price per share at the beginning of the period
for Class A or Class T shares or without giving effect to any applicable CDSC at
the end of the period for Class B or Class C shares. In such cases, the
calculation would not reflect the deduction of the sales load with respect to
Class A or Class T shares or any applicable CDSC with respect to Class B or
Class C shares, which, if reflected would reduce the performance quoted. The
total return for the Fund's Class A and Class B shares for the period July 15,
1993 (commencement of operations) through October 31, 1999 was 178.00% and
181.75%, respectively. Based on net asset value per share, the total return for
this period for the Fund's Class A shares was 194.90%. The total return for the
Fund's Class C shares for the period June 21, 1995 (commencement of initial
offering) through October 31, 1999 was 124.61%. The total return for Class B
shares takes into consideration a conversion to Class A shares after six years.
Since the periods covered for Class B and Class C are beyond the period for
which a CDSC would be applied, no CDSC is factored into the aggregate total
return for Class B and Class C. The total return for the Fund's Class R shares
for the period March 4, 1996 (commencement of initial offering) through October
31, 1999 was 99.77%.
The aggregate total return for the Fund's Class T shares for the period
September 30, 1999 (commencement of initial offering) through October 31, 1999
was 0.54%. Based on net asset value per share for Class T, the aggregate total
return for the Fund's Class T shares for this period was 5.29%.
From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to the
fact that the Fund currently looks for successful companies with established
brands that are expanding into the world marketplace and may refer to current
global revenues of the portfolio companies. Advertising materials for the Fund
may also refer to the clients of Sarofim, such as large corporations, states,
universities and other institutions and organizations. From time to time,
advertisements may include statistical data or general discussions about the
growth and development of Dreyfus Retirement Services (in terms of new
customers, assets under management, market share, etc.) and its presence in the
defined contribution plan market.
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. From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to
Morningstar ratings and related analyses supporting the rating.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance
with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and non-assessable. Fund shares
have no preemptive or subscription rights and are freely transferable.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or the
appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least 10% of the shares
outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Fund to hold a special meeting
of shareholders for purposes of removing a Board member from office.
Shareholders may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Board will call a meeting
of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board members if, at any time, less
than a majority of the Board members then holding office have been elected by
shareholders.
The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not
designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market
movements. A pattern of frequent purchases and exchanges can be disruptive to
efficient portfolio management and, consequently, can be detrimental to the
Fund's performance and its shareholders. Accordingly, if the Fund's management
determines that an investor is following a market-timing strategy or is
otherwise engaging in excessive trading, the Fund, with or without prior notice,
may temporarily or permanently terminate the availability of Fund Exchanges, or
reject in whole or part any purchase or exchange request, with respect to such
investor's account. Such investors also may be barred from purchasing other
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Generally, an investor who makes more than
four exchanges out of a Fund during any calendar year or who makes exchanges
that appear to coincide with a market-timing strategy may be deemed to be
engaged in excessive trading. Accounts under common ownership or control will be
considered as one account for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive
trading. In addition, the Fund may refuse or restrict purchase or exchange
requests for Fund shares by any person or group if, in the judgment of the
Fund's management, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in
accordance with its investment objective and policies or could otherwise be
adversely affected or if the Fund receives or anticipates receiving simultaneous
orders that may significantly affect the Fund (e.g., amounts equal to 1% or more
of the Fund's total assets). If an exchange request is refused, the Fund will
take no other action with respect to the Fund shares until it receives further
instructions from the investor. The Fund may delay forwarding redemption
proceeds for up to seven days if the investor redeeming shares is engaged in
excessive trading or if the amount of the redemption request otherwise would be
disruptive to efficient portfolio management or would adversely affect the Fund.
The Fund's policy on excessive trading applies to investors who invest in the
Fund directly or through financial intermediaries, but does not apply to the
Auto-Exchange Privilege, to any automatic investment or withdrawal privilege
described herein, or to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Fund may
suspend Fund Exchanges temporarily without notice and treat exchange requests
based on their separate components -- redemption orders with a simultaneous
request to purchase the other fund's shares. In such a case, the redemption
request would be processed at the Fund's next determined net asset value but the
purchase order would be effective only at the net asset value next determined
after the fund being purchased receives the proceeds of the redemption, which
may result in the purchase being delayed.
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the
Fund will charge regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of
$12. The valuation of accounts and the deductions are expected to take place
during the last four months of each year. The fee will be waived for any
investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund investments total at least $24,000,
and will not apply to IRA accounts or to accounts participating in automatic
investment programs or opened through a securities dealer, bank or other
financial institution, or to other fiduciary accounts.
The Fund will send annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-4982, as counsel for the Fund, has rendered its opinion as to certain
legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of the shares
being sold pursuant to the Fund's Prospectus.
Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as independent auditors of the Fund.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
Description of S&P, Moody's, Fitch and Duff ratings:
S&P
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay
interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A
Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rated
categories.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated categories.
BB
Bonds rated BB have less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade debt. However, they face major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead
to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
B
Bonds rated B have a greater vulnerability to default but presently have
the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse
business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC have a current identifiable vulnerability to default and
are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet
timely payments of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, they are not likely to have the
capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
S&P's letter ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or a
minus (-) sign designation, which is used to show relative standing within the
major rating categories, except in the AAA (Prime Grade) category.
Commercial Paper 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
The designation A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+)
designation.
Moody's
Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds 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 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.
<PAGE>
A
Bonds 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 rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
Ba
Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and, therefore, not well safeguarded
during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position
characterizes bonds in this class.
B
Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa
Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or
there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major rating categories, except in the Aaa category and in
the categories below B. The modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in
the higher end of a rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range
ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of a rating
category.
Commercial Paper 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.
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.
<PAGE>
BB
Bonds rated BB are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay
interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic
changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which
could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.
B
Bonds rated B are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class
are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued
timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin
of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout
the life of the issue.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC have certain identifiable characteristics, which, if not
remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an
advantageous business and economic environment.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate the
relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus and minus signs,
however, are not used in the AAA category covering 12-36 months.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on
demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including commercial
paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment
notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating analysis,
the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on the existence
of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
-----------------------------------
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
<PAGE>
Duff
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered highest credit quality. The risk factors
are negligible, being only slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered high credit quality. Protection factors are
strong. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to time because of
economic conditions.
A
Bonds rated A have protection factors which are average but adequate.
However, risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
stress.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to have below average protection factors
but still considered sufficient for prudent investment. There may be
considerable variability in risk for bonds in this category during economic
cycles.
BB
Bonds rated BB are below investment grade but are deemed by Duff as likely
to meet obligations when due. Present or prospective financial protection
factors fluctuate according to industry conditions or company fortunes. Overall
quality may move up or down frequently within the category.
B
Bonds rated B are below investment grade and possess the risk that
obligations will not be met when due. Financial protection factors will
fluctuate widely according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or
company fortunes. Potential exists for frequent changes in quality rating within
this category or into a higher or lower quality rating grade.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC are well below investment grade securities. Such bonds may
be in default or have considerable uncertainty as to timely payment of interest,
preferred dividends and/or principal. Protection factors are narrow and risk can
be substantial with unfavorable economic or industry conditions and/or with
unfavorable company developments.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol (except AAA) to
indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category.
Commercial Paper 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.
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
-------------------------
ITEM 23 Exhibits. - List
- ------- -----------------
(a)(1) Registrant's Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (1)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 21, 1996.
(a)(2) Registrant's Articles Supplementary are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 28, 1999.
(a)(3) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation are incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (1)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 1, 1997.
(b) Registrant's By-Laws.
(d)(1) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, filed on September 29, 1999.
(d)(2) Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on September 29, 1999.
(e)(1) Distribution Agreement.
(e)(2) Form of Distribution Plan Agreement is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (6)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 3, 1995.
(e)(3) Form of Shareholder Services Plan Agreement is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 3, 1995.
(g) Custody Agreement with The Bank of New York is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 21, 1996.
(h) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (h) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 28,
1999.
(i) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 3, 1995.
(j) Consent of independent Auditors.
(m) Distribution Plan is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (m) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 28,
1999.
Item 23. Exhibits. - List (continued)
- ------- -----------------------------------------------------
(n) Registrant's Rule 18f-3 Plan is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment
No. 9 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on July 28, 1999.
Other Exhibits
--------------
(a) Powers of Attorney is incorporated by
reference to Other Exhibit (a) of Post
Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 28,
1999.
(b) Certificate of Secretary is incorporated by
reference to Other Exhibit (b) of Post
Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 28,
1999.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with
Registrant.
- -------
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
Item 25. Indemnification
- ------- ---------------
The Statement as to the general effect of any contract, arrangements or
statute under which a director, officer, underwriter or affiliated
person of the Registrant is insured or indemnified in any manner
against any liability which may be incurred in such capacity, other
than insurance provided by any director, officer, affiliated person or
underwriter for their own protection, is incorporated by reference to
Item 4 of Part II of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 15, 1993.
Reference is also made to the Distribution Agreement filed as Exhibit
(e)(1).
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
- ------- ----------------------------------------------------
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") and subsidiary companies comprise a
financial service organization whose business consists primarily of
providing investment management services as the investment adviser 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 the 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.
<TABLE>
ITEM 26 Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
Name and Position
With Dreyfus Other Businesses Position Held Dates
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Christopher M. Condron Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC* Director 1/97 - Present
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer TBCAM Holdings, Inc.* Director 10/97 - Present
President 10/97 - 6/98
Chairman 10/97 - 6/98
The Boston Company Director 1/98 - Present
Asset Management, LLC* Chairman 1/98 - 6/98
President 1/98 - 6/98
The Boston Company President 9/95 - 1/98
Asset Management, Inc.* Chairman 4/95 - 1/98
Director 4/95 - 1/98
Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.* Director 1/97 - Present
Certus Asset Advisors Corp.** Director 6/95 -Present
Mellon Capital Management Director 5/95 -Present
Corporation***
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP+ Executive Committee 1/98 - Present
Member
Mellon Bond Associates+ Trustee 5/95 -1/98
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP+ Executive Committee 1/98 - Present
Member
Mellon Equity Associates+ Trustee 5/95 - 1/98
Boston Safe Advisors, Inc. * Director 5/95 - Present
President 5/95 - Present
Mellon Bank, N.A. + Director 1/99 - Present
Chief Operating Officer 3/98 - Present
President 3/98 - Present
Vice Chairman 11/94 - 3/98
Mellon Financial Corporation+ Chief Operating Officer 1/99 - Present
President 1/99 - Present
Director 1/98 - Present
Vice Chairman 11/94 - 1/99
Christopher M. Condron The Boston Company, Inc.* Vice Chairman 1/94 - Present
Chairman and Chief Executive Director 5/93 - Present
Officer
(Continued) Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP+ Exec. Committee 1/98 - 8/98
Member
Laurel Capital Advisors+ Trustee 10/93 - 1/98
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Director 5/93 -Present
Company*
The Boston Company Financial President 6/89 - Present
Strategies, Inc. * Director 6/89 - Present
Mandell L. Berman Self-Employed Real Estate Consultant, 11/74 - Present
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway Residential Builder and
Suite 370 Private Investor
Southfield, MI 48034
Burton C. Borgelt DeVlieg Bullard, Inc. Director 1/93 - Present
Director 1 Gorham Island
Westport, CT 06880
Mellon Financial Corporation+ Director 6/91 - Present
Mellon Bank, N.A. + Director 6/91 - Present
Dentsply International, Inc. Director 2/81 - Present
570 West College Avenue
York, PA
Quill Corporation Director 3/93 - Present
Lincolnshire, IL
Stephen R. Byers Gruntal & Co., LLC Executive Vice President 5/97 - 1/00
New York, NY Partner 5/97 - 1/00
Executive Committee 5/97 - 1/00
Member
Board of Directors 5/97 - 1/00
Member
Treasurers 5/97 - 1/00
Chief Financial Officer 5/97 - 6/99
Stephen E. Canter Dreyfus Investment Chairman of the Board 1/97 - Present
President, Chief Operating Advisors, Inc.++ Director 5/95 - Present
Officer, Chief Investment President 5/95 - Present
Officer, and Director
Newton Management Limited Director 2/99 - Present
London, England
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP+ Executive Committee 1/99 - Present
Member
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP+ Executive Committee 1/99 - Present
Member
Franklin Portfolio Associates, LLC* Director 2/99 - Present
Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.* Director 2/99 - Present
The Boston Company Asset Director 2/99 - Present
Management, LLC*
Stephen E. Canter TBCAM Holdings, Inc.* Director 2/99 - Present
President, Chief Operating
Officer, Chief Investment Mellon Capital Management Director 1/99 - Present
Officer, and Director Corporation***
(Continued)
Founders Asset Management, LLC**** Member, Board of 12/97 - Present
Managers
Acting Chief Executive 7/98 - 12/98
Officer
The Dreyfus Trust Company+++ Director 6/95 - Present
Chairman 1/99 - Present
President 1/99 - Present
Chief Executive Officer 1/99 - Present
Thomas F. Eggers Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Executive Vice President 4/96 - Present
Vice Chairman - Institutional Director 9/96 - Present
and Director
Founders Asset Management, LLC**** Member, Board of Managers 2/99 - Present
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc. Director 1/00 - Present
Dreyfus Service Organization++ Director 3/99 - Present
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Director 3/99 - Present
Massachusetts, Inc. +++
Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc. Director 11/97 - 6/98
401 North Maple Avenue
Beverly Hills, CA.
Steven G. Elliott Mellon Financial Corporation+ Senior Vice Chairman 1/99 - Present
Director Chief Financial Officer 1/90 - Present
Vice Chairman 6/92 - 1/99
Treasurer 1/90 - 5/98
Mellon Bank, N.A.+ Senior Vice Chairman 3/98 - Present
Vice Chairman 6/92 - 3/98
Chief Financial Officer 1/90 - Present
Mellon EFT Services Corporation Director 10/98 - Present
Mellon Bank Center, 8th Floor
1735 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Mellon Financial Services Director 1/96 - Present
Corporation #1 Vice President 1/96 - Present
Mellon Bank Center, 8th Floor
1735 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.* Vice President 5/93 - Present
APT Holdings Corporation Treasurer 12/87 - Present
Pike Creek Operations Center
4500 New Linden Hill Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
Allomon Corporation Director 12/87 - Present
Two Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15259
Steven G. Elliott Collection Services Corporation Controller 10/90 - 2/99
Director (Continued) 500 Grant Street Director 9/88 - 2/99
Pittsburgh, PA 15258 Vice President 9/88 - 2/99
Treasurer 9/88 - 2/99
Mellon Financial Company+ Principal Exec. Officer 1/88 - Present
Chief Executive Officer 8/87 - Present
Director 8/87 - Present
President 8/87 - Present
Mellon Overseas Investments Director 4/88 - Present
Corporation+
Mellon Financial Services Treasurer 12/87 - Present
Corporation +
Mellon Financial Markets, Inc.+ Director 1/99 - Present
Mellon Financial Services Director 1/99 - Present
Corporation #17
Fort Lee, NJ
Mellon Mortgage Company Director 1/99 - Present
Houston, TX
Mellon Ventures, Inc. + Director 1/99 - Present
Lawrence S. Kash Dreyfus Investment Director 4/97 - 12/99
Vice Chairman Advisors, Inc.++
Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc. Chairman 11/97 - 2/99
401 North Maple Ave. Chief Executive Officer 11/97 - 2/98
Beverly Hills, CA
Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Director 1/95 - 2/99
President 9/96 - 3/99
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+++ Director 3/96 - 12/98
President 10/96 - 12/98
Dreyfus Service Director 12/94 - 3/99
Organization, Inc.++ President 1/97 - 3/99
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc. ++ Director 1/97 - 4/99
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Chairman 5/97 - 3/99
Massachusetts, Inc.++++ President 5/97 - 3/99
Director 5/97 - 3/99
The Dreyfus Trust Company+++ Chairman 1/97 - 1/99
President 2/97 - 1/99
Chief Executive Officer 2/97 - 1/99
Director 12/94 - Present
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Chairman 5/97 - 6/99
Corporation++ President 5/97 - 6/99
Director 12/94 - 6/99
Lawrence S. Kash Founders Asset Management, LLC**** Member, Board of Managers 12/97 - Present
Vice Chairman (Continued)
The Boston Company Advisors, Chairman 12/95 - 1/99
Inc. Chief Executive Officer 12/95 - 1/99
Wilmington, DE President 12/95 - 1/99
The Boston Company, Inc.* Director 5/93 - Present
President 5/93 -Present
Mellon Bank, N.A.+ Executive Vice President 6/92 - Present
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP+ Chairman 1/98 - 8/98
Executive Committee 1/98 - 8/98
Member
Chief Executive Officer 1/98 - 8/98
President 1/98 - 8/98
Laurel Capital Advisors, Inc. + Trustee 12/91 - 1/98
Chairman 9/93 - 1/98
President and CEO 12/91 - 1/98
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.* Director 5/93 - Present
President 5/93 - Present
Martin G. McGuinn Mellon Financial Corporation+ Chairman 1/99 - Present
Director Chief Executive Officer 1/99 - Present
Director 1/98 - Present
Vice Chairman 1/90 - 1/99
Mellon Bank, N. A. + Chairman 3/98 - Present
Chief Executive Officer 3/98 - Present
Director 1/98 - Present
Vice Chairman 1/90 - 3/98
Mellon Leasing Corporation+ Vice Chairman 12/96 - Present
Mellon Bank (DE) National Director 4/89 - 12/98
Association
Wilmington, DE
Mellon Bank (MD) National Director 1/96 - 4/98
Association
Rockville, Maryland
J. David Officer Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Executive Vice President 5/98 - Present
Vice Chairman Director 3/99 - Present
And Director
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++ Director 3/99 - Present
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Director 5/98 - Present
Massachusetts, Inc.++++
Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc. Chairman 3/99 - Present
401 North Maple Avenue
Beverly Hills, CA
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.++ Director 10/98 - Present
Mellon Residential Funding Corp. + Director 4/97 - Present
Mellon Trust of Florida, N.A. Director 8/97 - Present
2875 Northeast 191st Street
J. David Officer North Miami Beach, FL 33180
Vice Chairman and
Director (Continued) Mellon Bank, NA+ Executive Vice President 7/96 - Present
The Boston Company, Inc.* Vice Chairman 1/97 - Present
Director 7/96 - Present
Mellon Preferred Capital Director 11/96 - Present
Corporation*
RECO, Inc.* President 11/96 - Present
Director 11/96 - Present
The Boston Company Financial President 8/96 - Present
Services, Inc.* Director 8/96 - Present
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Director 7/96 - Present
Company* President 7/96 - 1/99
Mellon Trust of New York Director 6/96 - Present
1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Mellon Trust of California Director 6/96 - Present
400 South Hope Street
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Mellon United National Bank Director 3/98 - Present
1399 SW 1st Ave., Suite 400
Miami, Florida
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.* Director 12/97 - Present
Dreyfus Financial Services Corp. + Director 9/96 - Present
Dreyfus Investment Services Director 4/96 - Present
Corporation+
Richard W. Sabo Founders Asset Management LLC**** President 12/98 - Present
Director Chief Executive Officer 12/98 - Present
Prudential Securities
New York, NY Senior Vice President 07/91 - 11/98
Regional Director 07/91 - 11/98
Richard F. Syron Thermo Electron President 6/99 - Present
Director 81 Wyman Street Chief Executive Officer 6/99 - Present
Waltham, MA 02454-9046
American Stock Exchange Chairman 4/94 -6/99
86 Trinity Place Chief Executive Officer 4/94 - 6/99
New York, NY 10006
Ronald P. O'Hanley Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.* Director 3/97 - Present
Vice Chairman
TBCAM Holdings, Inc.* Chairman 6/98 - Present
Director 10/97 - Present
The Boston Company Asset Chairman 6/98 - Present
Management, LLC* Director 1/98 - 6/98
Boston Safe Advisors, Inc. * Chairman 6/97 - Present
Director 2/97 - Present
Ronald P. O'Hanley Pareto Partners Partner Representative 5/97 - Present
Vice Chairman 271 Regent Street
(Continued) London, England W1R 8PP
Mellon Capital Management Director 5/97 -Present
Corporation***
Certus Asset Advisors Corp.** Director 2/97 - Present
Mellon Bond Associates+ Trustee 2/97 - Present
Chairman 2/97 - Present
Mellon Equity Associates+ Trustee 2/97 - Present
Chairman 2/97 - Present
Mellon-France Corporation+ Director 3/97 - Present
Laurel Capital Advisors+ Trustee 3/97 - Present
Mark N. Jacobs Dreyfus Investment Director 4/97 - Present
General Counsel, Advisors, Inc.++ Secretary 10/77 - 7/98
Vice President, and
Secretary The Dreyfus Trust Company+++ Director 3/96 - Present
The TruePenny Corporation++ President 10/98 - Present
Director 3/96 - Present
Dreyfus Service Director 3/97 - 3/99
Organization, Inc.++
William H. Maresca The Dreyfus Trust Company+++ Chief Financial Officer 3/99 - Present
Controller Treasurer 9/98 - Present
Director 3/97 - Present
Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Chief Financial Officer 12/98 - Present
Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corp. ++ Treasurer 10/98 -Present
Dreyfus Investment Treasurer 10/98 - Present
Advisors, Inc. ++
Dreyfus-Lincoln, Inc. Vice President 10/98 - Present
4500 New Linden Hill Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
The TruePenny Corporation++ Vice President 10/98 - Present
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc. +++ Treasurer 10/98 - 12/98
The Trotwood Corporation++ Vice President 10/98 - Present
Trotwood Hunters Corporation++ Vice President 10/98 - Present
Trotwood Hunters Site A Corp. ++ Vice President 10/98 - Present
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. Chief Financial Officer 5/98 - Present
One American Express Plaza,
Providence, RI 02903
Dreyfus Service Treasurer 3/99 - Present
Organization, Inc.++ Assistant Treasurer 3/93 - 3/99
William H. Maresca Dreyfus Insurance Agency of
Controller (Continued) Massachusetts, Inc.++++ Assistant Treasurer 5/98 - Present
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. Chairman 2/97 - Present
One American Express Plaza,
Providence, RI 02903
William T. Sandalls, Jr. Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Director 1/96 - Present
Executive Vice President Executive Vice President 2/97 - Present
Chief Financial Officer 2/97-12/98
Dreyfus Investment Director 1/96 - Present
Advisors, Inc.++ Treasurer 1/96 - 10/98
Dreyfus-Lincoln, Inc. Director 12/96 - Present
4500 New Linden Hill Road President 1/97 - Present
Wilmington, DE 19808
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.++ Director 1/96 - 10/98
Treasurer 10/96 - 10/98
The Dreyfus Consumer Director 1/96 - Present
Credit Corp.++ Vice President 1/96 - Present
Treasurer 1/97 - 10/98
The Dreyfus Trust Company +++ Director 1/96 - Present
Dreyfus Service Organization, Treasurer 10/96- 3/99
Inc.++
Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Director 5/97 - 3/99
Massachusetts, Inc.++++ Treasurer 5/97- 3/99
Executive Vice President 5/97 - 3/99
Diane P. Durnin Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Senior Vice President - 5/95 - 3/99
Vice President - Product Marketing and
Development Advertising Division
Patrice M. Kozlowski None
Vice President - Corporate
Communications
Mary Beth Leibig None
Vice President -
Human Resources
Theodore A. Schachar Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Vice President -Tax 10/96 - Present
Vice President - Tax
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Chairman 6/99 - Present
Corporation ++ President 6/99 - Present
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.++ Vice President - Tax 10/96 - Present
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc. +++ Vice President - Tax 10/96 - 12/98
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.++ Vice President - Tax 10/96 - Present
Wendy Strutt None
Vice President
Richard Terres None
Vice President
Raymond J. Van Cott Mellon Financial Corporation+ Vice President 1/95 - Present
Vice-President -
Information Systems Computer Sciences Corporation+ Vice President 1/96 - 7/98
El Segundo, CA
James Bitetto The TruePenny Corporation++ Secretary 9/98 - Present
Assistant Secretary
Dreyfus Service Corporation++ Assistant Secretary 8/98 - Present
Dreyfus Investment Assistant Secretary 7/98 - Present
Advisors, Inc.++
Dreyfus Service Assistant Secretary 7/98 - Present
Organization, Inc.++
Steven F. Newman Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. Vice President 2/97 - Present
Assistant Secretary One American Express Plaza Director 2/97 - Present
Providence, RI 02903 Secretary 2/97 - Present
Dreyfus Service Secretary 7/98 - Present
Organization, Inc.++ Assistant Secretary 5/98 - 7/98
- ------------------------------------
* The address of the business so indicated is One Boston Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108.
** The address of the business so indicated is One Bush Street, Suite 450, San Francisco, California 94104.
*** The address of the business so indicated is 595 Market Street, Suite 3000, San Francisco, California 94105.
**** The address of the business so indicated is 2930 East Third Avenue,Denver, Colorado 80206.
+ The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
++ The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
+++ 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 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
**** The address of the business so indicated is 2930 East Third Avenue,Denver, Colorado 80206.
</TABLE>
Item 27. Principal Underwriters
- -------- ----------------------
(a) Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal
underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or exclusive
distributor:
1) Comstock Partners Funds, Inc.
2) Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.
3) Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.
4) Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
5) Dreyfus Balanced Fund, Inc.
6) Dreyfus BASIC GNMA Fund
7) Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.
8) Dreyfus BASIC Municipal Fund, Inc.
9) Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund
10) Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
11) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
12) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
13) Dreyfus Cash Management
14) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
15) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
17) Dreyfus 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 Funds
24) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
25) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Debt and Equity Funds
28) Dreyfus Index Funds, Inc.
29) Dreyfus Institutional Money Market Fund
30) Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Money Market Fund
31) Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
32) Dreyfus Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
33) Dreyfus Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
34) Dreyfus International Funds, Inc.
35) Dreyfus Investment Grade Bond Funds, Inc.
36) Dreyfus Investment Portfolios
37) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds, Inc.
38) The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust
39) The Dreyfus/Laurel Tax-Free Municipal Funds
40) Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
41) Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
42) Dreyfus Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
43) Dreyfus Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
44) Dreyfus Massachusetts Tax Exempt Bond Fund
45) Dreyfus MidCap Index Fund 46) Dreyfus Money Market Instruments, Inc.
47) Dreyfus Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
48) Dreyfus Municipal Cash Management Plus
49) Dreyfus Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
50) Dreyfus New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
51) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
52) Dreyfus New Jersey Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
53) Dreyfus New Leaders Fund, Inc.
54) Dreyfus New York Insured Tax Exempt Bond Fund
55) Dreyfus New York Municipal Cash Management
56) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
57) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Intermediate Bond Fund
58) Dreyfus New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
59) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
60) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
61) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
62) Dreyfus U.S. Treasury Short Term Fund
63) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
64) Dreyfus Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund
65) Dreyfus Premier California Municipal Bond Fund
66) Dreyfus Premier Equity Funds, Inc.
67) Dreyfus Premier International Funds, Inc.
68) Dreyfus Premier GNMA Fund
69) Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc.
70) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
71) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
72) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
73) Dreyfus Premier Value Equity Funds
74) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
75) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
76) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
77) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund
78) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
79) The Dreyfus Premier Third Century Fund, Inc.
80) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
81) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
82) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
83) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
84) Founders Funds, Inc.
85) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
86) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
87) General Government Securities Money Market Funds, Inc.
88) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
89) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
90) General Municipal Money Market Funds, Inc.
91) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
92) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
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 Chief Treasurer
Compliance Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Director, Senior Vice President, Vice President
Treasurer and Chief Financial and Assistant
Officer Treasurer
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Vice President, None
Assistant Secretary and
Assistant Clerk
William J. Nutt+ Chairman of the Board None
Stephanie D. Pierce++ Vice President Vice President,
Assistant Secretary
and Assistant
Treasurer
Patrick W. McKeon+ Vice President None
Joseph A. Vignone+ Vice President None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
_______ ________________________________
1. The Bank of New York
100 Church Street
New York, N.Y. 10286
2. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
3. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 29. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 30. Undertakings
_______ ____________
None
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 28th day of February, 2000.
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.
BY: /s/Marie E. Connolly*
----------------------------
Marie E. Connolly, PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
- --------------------------- ------------------------------ -----------
/s/Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer 02/28/00
______________________________ (Principal Executive Officer)
Marie E. Connolly
/s/Joseph F. Tower, III* Assistant Treasurer (Principal 02/28/00
______________________________ Accounting and Financial Officer)
Joseph F. Tower, III
/s/Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.* Director 02/28/00
- ------------------------------
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.
/s/Peggy C. Davis* Director 02/28/00
- ------------------------------
Peggy C. Davis
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Chairman of the Board of 02/28/00
______________________________ Directors
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/Ernst Kafka* Director 02/28/00
- ------------------------------
Ernest Kafka
/s/Nathan Leventhal* Director 02/28/00
- ------------------------------
Nathan Leventhal
*BY: __________________________
Stephanie Pierce,
Attorney-in-Fact
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
ITEM
(b) By-Laws
(e)(1) Distribution Agreement
(j) Consent of Independent Auditors
BY-LAWS
OF
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.
(A Maryland Corporation)
-----------
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING STOCK. Certificates representing shares
of stock shall set forth thereon the statements prescribed by Section 2-211 of
the Maryland General Corporation Law ("General Corporation Law") and by any
other applicable provision of law and shall be signed by the Chairman of the
Board or the President or a Vice President and countersigned by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and may be
sealed with the corporate seal. The signatures of any such officers may be
either manual or facsimile signatures and the corporate seal may be either
facsimile or any other form of seal. In case any such officer who has signed
manually or by facsimile any such certificate ceases to be such officer before
the certificate is issued, it nevertheless may be issued by the corporation with
the same effect as if the officer had not ceased to be such officer as of the
date of its issue.
No certificate representing shares of stock shall be issued for any
share of stock until such share is fully paid, except as otherwise authorized in
Section 2-206 of the General Corporation Law.
The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any
certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require, in its discretion, the owner
of any such certificate or the owner's legal representative to give bond, with
sufficient surety, to the corporation to indemnify it against any loss or claim
that may arise by reason of the issuance of a new certificate.
The Board of Directors at any time may discontinue the issuance of
certificates representing shares of stock and by written notice to each
stockholder, may require the surrender of certificates of stock to the
corporation for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect
the ownership of stock in the corporation.
2. SHARE TRANSFERS. Upon compliance with provisions restricting the
transferability of shares of stock, if any, transfers of shares of stock of the
corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the corporation by
the record holder thereof or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of
attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or with a
transfer agent or a registrar, if any, and on surrender of the certificate or
certificates, if any, for such shares of stock properly endorsed and the payment
of all taxes due thereon.
3. RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDERS. The Board of Directors may fix, in
advance, a date as the record date for the purpose of determining stockholders
entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders, or
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any
rights or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper
purpose. Such date, in any case, shall be not more than 90 days, and in case of
a meeting of stockholders not less than 10 days, prior to the date on which the
meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to
be held or taken. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may
provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but
not to exceed 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of
determining stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of
stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days immediately
preceding such meeting. If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books
are not closed for the determination of stockholders: (1) The record date for
the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a
meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which
the notice of meeting is mailed or the day 30 days before the meeting, whichever
is the closer date to the meeting; and (2) The record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any
rights shall be at the close of business on the day on which the resolution of
the Board of Directors declaring the dividend or allotment of rights is adopted,
provided that the payment or allotment date shall not be more than 60 days after
the date on which the resolution is adopted.
4. MEANING OF CERTAIN TERMS. As used herein in respect of the right
to notice of a meeting of stockholders or a waiver thereof or to participate or
vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of a meeting, as the
case may be, the term "share of stock" or "shares of stock" or "stockholder" or
"stockholders" refers to an outstanding share or shares of stock and to a holder
or holders of record of outstanding shares of stock when the corporation is
authorized to issue only one class of shares of stock and said reference also is
intended to include any outstanding share or shares of stock and any holder or
holders of record of outstanding shares of stock of any class or series upon
which or upon whom the Charter confers such rights where there are two or more
classes or series of shares or upon which or upon whom the General Corporation
Law confers such rights notwithstanding that the Charter may provide for more
than one class or series of shares of stock, one or more of which are limited or
denied such rights thereunder.
5. STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS.
--------------------
ANNUAL MEETINGS. If a meeting of the stockholders of the
corporation is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to
elect the directors, then there shall be submitted to the stockholders at such
meeting the question of the election of directors, and a meeting called for that
purpose shall be designated the annual meeting of stockholders for that year. In
other years in which no action by stockholders is required for the aforesaid
election of directors, no annual meeting need be held.
SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special stockholder meetings for any purpose
may be called by the Board of Directors or the President and shall be called by
the Secretary for the purpose of removing a Director whenever the holders of
shares entitled to at least ten percent of all the votes entitled to be cast at
such meeting shall make a duly authorized request that such meeting be called.
The Secretary shall call a special meeting of stockholders for all other
purposes whenever the holders of shares entitled to at least a majority of all
the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting shall make a duly authorized
request that such meeting be called. Such request shall state the purpose of
such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on thereat, and no other
business shall be transacted at any such special meeting. The Secretary shall
inform such stockholders of the reasonably estimated costs of preparing and
mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the corporation of such
costs, the Secretary shall give notice in the manner provided for below.
PLACE AND TIME. Stockholder meetings shall be held at such
place, either within the State of Maryland or at such other place within the
United States, and at such date or dates as the directors from time to time may
fix.
NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER OF NOTICE. Written or
printed notice of all meetings shall be given by the Secretary and shall state
the time and place of the meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state
in all instances the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
Written or printed notice of any meeting shall be given to each stockholder
either by mail or by presenting it to the stockholder personally or by leaving
it at his or her residence or usual place of business not less than 10 days and
not more than 90 days before the date of the meeting, unless any provisions of
the General Corporation Law shall prescribe a different elapsed period of time,
to each stockholder at his or her address appearing on the books of the
corporation or the address supplied by the stockholder for the purpose of
notice. If mailed, notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his or her post office
address as it appears on the records of the corporation with postage thereon
prepaid. Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
stockholders is required to be given under the provisions of these by-laws or of
the General Corporation Law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the
stockholder and filed with the records of the meeting, whether before or after
the holding thereof, or actual attendance or representation at the meeting shall
be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such stockholder. The
foregoing requirements of notice also shall apply, whenever the corporation
shall have any class of stock which is not entitled to vote, to holders of stock
who are not entitled to vote at the meeting, but who are entitled to notice
thereof and to dissent from any action taken thereat.
QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person
or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast one-third of the votes thereat
shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders present
in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without notice other than by
announcement, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, but not for a period
exceeding 120 days after the original record date until a quorum shall attend.
ADJOURNED MEETINGS. A meeting of stockholders convened on the
date for which it was called (including one adjourned to achieve a quorum as
provided in the paragraph above) may be adjourned from time to time without
further notice to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date,
and any business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting which could have
been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
CONDUCT OF MEETING. Meetings of the stockholders shall be
presided over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority and if
present and acting: the President, a Vice President or, if none of the foregoing
is in office and present and acting, by a chairman to be chosen by the
stockholders. The Secretary of the corporation or, in his or her absence, an
Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the
Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present the chairman of the meeting
shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.
PROXY REPRESENTATION. Every stockholder may authorize another
person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder
is entitled to participate, whether for the purposes of determining the
stockholder's presence at a meeting, or whether by waiving notice of any
meeting, voting or participating at a meeting, expressing consent or dissent
without a meeting or otherwise. Every proxy shall be executed in writing by the
stockholder or by his or her duly authorized attorney-in-fact or be in such
other form as may be permitted by the General Corporation Law, including
documents conveyed by electronic transmission and filed with the Secretary of
the corporation. A copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction of the
writing or transmission may be substituted for the original writing or
transmission for any purpose for which the original transmission could be used.
No unrevoked proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its
execution, unless a longer time is expressly provided therein. The placing of a
stockholder's name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically
transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to
verify that such instructions have been authorized by such stockholder shall
constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such stockholder.
INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. The directors, in advance of any
meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting
or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the
person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more
inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to
appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the directors in
advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each
inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take
and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at such meeting
with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The
inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the
voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots
or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in
connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or
consents, determine the result and do such acts as are proper to conduct the
election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person
presiding at the meeting or any stockholder, the inspector or inspectors, if
any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter
determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or
them.
VOTING. Each share of stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
one vote, except in the election of directors, at which each said vote may be
cast for as many persons as there are directors to be elected. Except for
election of directors, a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of
stockholders, duly called and at which a quorum is present, shall be sufficient
to take or authorize action upon any matter which may come before a meeting,
unless more than a majority of votes cast is required by the corporation's
Articles of Incorporation. A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director.
6. INFORMAL ACTION. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing,
setting forth such action, is signed by all the stockholders entitled to vote on
the subject matter thereof and any other stockholders entitled to notice of a
meeting of stockholders (but not to vote thereat) have waived in writing any
rights which they may have to dissent from such action and such consent and
waiver are filed with the records of the corporation.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. FUNCTIONS AND DEFINITION. The business and affairs of the
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corporation shall be managed under the direction of a Board of Directors. The
use of the phrase "entire board" herein refers to the total number of
directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBER. Each director shall be a natural person
of full age. A director need not be a stockholder, a citizen of the United
States or a resident of the State of Maryland. The initial Board of Directors
shall consist of one person. Thereafter, the number of directors constituting
the entire board shall never be less than three or the number of stockholders,
whichever is less. At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for
that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may increase or
decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never
be less than three or the number of stockholders, whichever is less, nor more
than twelve and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall
not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.
3. ELECTION AND TERM. The first Board of Directors shall consist of
the director named in the Articles of Incorporation and shall hold office until
the first meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor has been elected
and qualified. Thereafter, directors who are elected at a meeting of
stockholders, and directors who are elected in the interim to fill vacancies and
newly created directorships, shall hold office until their successors have been
elected and qualified. Newly created directorships and any vacancies in the
Board of Directors, other than vacancies resulting from the removal of directors
by the stockholders, may be filled by the Board of Directors, subject to the
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Newly created
directorships filled by the Board of Directors shall be by action of a majority
of the entire Board of Directors then in office. All vacancies to be filled by
the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining members of
the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum thereof.
4. MEETINGS.
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TIME. Meetings shall be held at such time as the Board of
Directors shall fix, except that the first meeting of a newly elected Board of
Directors shall be held as soon after its election as the directors conveniently
may assemble.
PLACE. Meetings shall be held at such place within or without
-----
the State of Maryland as shall be fixed by the Board.
CALL. No call shall be required for regular meetings for
----
which the time and place have been fixed. Special meetings may be called by
or at the direction of the President or of a majority of the directors in
office.
NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER. Whenever any notice of
the time, place or purpose of any meeting of directors or any committee thereof
is required to be given under the provisions of the General Corporation Law or
of these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the director or
committee member entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the
meeting, whether before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at
the meeting shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such
director or such committee member.
QUORUM AND ACTION. A majority of the entire Board of Directors
shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevents such
majority, whereupon a majority of the directors in office shall constitute a
quorum, provided such majority shall constitute at least one-third of the entire
Board and, in no event, less than two directors. A majority of the directors
present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting to another
time and place. Except as otherwise specifically provided by the Articles of
Incorporation, the General Corporation Law or these by-laws, the action of a
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the action of the Board of Directors.
CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING. The Chairman of the Board, if any
-----------------------
and if present and acting, or the President or any other director chosen by
the Board, shall preside at all meetings.
5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Any or all of the directors may be
--------------------
removed for cause or without cause by the stockholders, who may elect a
successor or successors to fill any resulting vacancy or vacancies for the
unexpired term of the removed director or directors.
6. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its
members an Executive Committee and other committees composed of one or more
directors and may delegate to such committee or committees, in the intervals
between meetings of the Board of Directors, any or all of the powers of the
Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the
corporation to the extent permitted by law. In the absence of any member of any
such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they
constitute a quorum, may appoint a member of the Board of Directors to act in
the place of such absent member.
7. INFORMAL ACTION. Any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken
without a meeting, if a written consent to such action is signed by all members
of the Board of Directors or any such committee, as the case may be, and such
written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or any
such committee.
Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated thereby
may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of a conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation
by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The corporation may have a Chairman of the Board and shall have a
President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Board of
Directors, and may have such other officers, assistant officers and agents as
the Board of Directors shall authorize from time to time. Any two or more
offices, except those of President and Vice President, may be held by the same
person, but no person shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in
more than one capacity, if such instrument is required by law to be executed,
acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.
Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors
whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the corporation will be served
thereby.
ARTICLE IV
PRINCIPAL OFFICE - RESIDENT AGENT - STOCK LEDGER
The address of the principal office of the corporation in the State
of Maryland prescribed by the General Corporation Law is 300 East Lombard
Street, c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The
name and address of the resident agent in the State of Maryland prescribed by
the General Corporation Law are: The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 300 East
Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
The corporation shall maintain, at its principal office in the State
of Maryland prescribed by the General Corporation Law or at the business office
or an agency of the corporation, an original or duplicate stock ledger
containing the names and addresses of all stockholders and the number of shares
of each class held by each stockholder. Such stock ledger may be in written form
or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a
reasonable time for visual inspection.
ARTICLE V
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
corporation and shall be in such form and contain such other words and/or
figures as the Board of Directors shall determine or the law require.
ARTICLE VI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation or any series thereof shall be
fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
CONTROL OVER BY-LAWS
The power to make, alter, amend and repeal the by-laws is vested
exclusively in the Board of Directors of the corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
1. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The corporation shall
indemnify its directors to the fullest extent that indemnification of directors
is permitted by the law. The corporation shall indemnify its officers to the
same extent as its directors and to such further extent as is consistent with
law. The corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers who while
serving as directors or officers also serve at the request of the corporation as
a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee
benefit plan to the same extent as its directors and, in the case of officers,
to such further extent as is consistent with law. The indemnification and other
rights provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors
and administrators of such a person. This Article shall not protect any such
person against any liability to the corporation or any stockholder thereof to
which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his office ("disabling conduct").
2. ADVANCES. Any current or former director or officer of the
corporation seeking indemnification within the scope of this Article shall be
entitled to advances from the corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses
incurred by him in connection with the matter as to which he is seeking
indemnification in the manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the
General Corporation Law. The person seeking indemnification shall provide to the
corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that the standard of
conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation has been met and a
written undertaking to repay any such advance if it should ultimately be
determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In addition, at least
one of the following additional conditions shall be met: (a) the person seeking
indemnification shall provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the
corporation for his or her undertaking; (b) the corporation is insured against
losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of
directors of the corporation who are neither "interested persons" as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, nor parties
to the proceeding ("disinterested non-party directors"), or independent legal
counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of facts
readily available to the corporation at the time the advance is proposed to be
made, that there is reason to believe that the person seeking indemnification
will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification.
3. PROCEDURE. At the request of any person claiming indemnification
under this Article, the Board of Directors shall determine, or cause to be
determined, in a manner consistent with the General Corporation Law, whether the
standards required by this Article have been met. Indemnification shall be made
only following: (a) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified was not
liable by reason of disabling conduct or (b) in the absence of such a decision,
a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the person to
be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct by (i) the vote of
a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party directors or (ii) an
independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
4. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. Employees and agents who
are not officers or directors of the corporation may be indemnified, and
reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or agents, as may be
provided by action of the Board of Directors or by contract, subject to any
limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
5. OTHER RIGHTS. The Board of Directors may make further provision
consistent with law for indemnification and advance of expenses to directors,
officers, employees and agents by resolution, agreement or otherwise. The
indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other right, with respect to indemnification or otherwise, to which those
seeking indemnification may be entitled under any insurance or other agreement
or resolution of stockholders or disinterested non-party directors or otherwise.
6. AMENDMENTS. References in this Article are to the General
Corporation Law and to the Investment Company Act of 1940 as from time to time
amended. No amendment of the by-laws shall affect any right of any person under
this Article based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to the amendment.
Dated: February 5, 1993
Amended: December 31, 1999
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND, INC.
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
August 24, 1994
As Amended September 15, 1999
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Dear Sirs:
This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements
hereinafter contained, the above-named investment company (the "Fund") has
agreed that you shall be, for the period of this agreement, the distributor of
(a) shares of each Series of the Fund set forth on Exhibit A hereto, as such
Exhibit may be revised from time to time (each, a "Series") or (b) if no Series
are set forth on such Exhibit, shares of the Fund. For purposes of this
agreement the term "Shares" shall mean the authorized shares of the relevant
Series, if any, and otherwise shall mean the Fund's authorized shares.
1. Services as Distributor
1.1 You will act as agent for the distribution of Shares covered by,
and in accordance with, the registration statement and prospectus then in effect
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will transmit promptly any
orders received by you for purchase or redemption of Shares to the Transfer and
Dividend Disbursing Agent for the Fund of which the Fund has notified you in
writing.
1.2 You agree to use your best efforts to solicit orders for the sale
of Shares. It is contemplated that you will enter into sales or servicing
agreements with securities dealers, financial institutions and other industry
professionals, such as investment advisers, accountants and estate planning
firms, and in so doing you will act only on your own behalf as principal.
1.3 You shall act as distributor of Shares in compliance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, all rules
and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any securities
association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.4 Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by market,
economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances of any kind, the
Fund's officers may decline to accept any orders for, or make any sales of, any
Shares until such time as they deem it advisable to accept such orders and to
make such sales and the Fund shall advise you promptly of such determination.
1.5 The Fund agrees to pay all costs and expenses in connection with
the registration of Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all
expenses in connection with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of
Shares and for supplying information, prices and other data to be furnished by
the Fund hereunder, and all expenses in connection with the preparation and
printing of the Fund's prospectuses and statements of additional information for
regulatory purposes and for distribution to shareholders; provided, however,
that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require the Fund to pay any of
the costs of advertising the sale of Shares.
1.6 The Fund agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish
any and all information and otherwise to take all actions which may be
reasonably necessary in the discretion of the Fund's officers in connection with
the qualification of Shares for sale in such states as you may designate to the
Fund and the Fund may approve, and the Fund agrees to pay all expenses which may
be incurred in connection with such qualification. You shall pay all expenses
connected with your own qualification as a dealer under state or Federal laws
and, except as otherwise specifically provided in this agreement, all other
expenses incurred by you in connection with the sale of Shares as contemplated
in this agreement.
1.7 The Fund shall furnish you from time to time, for use in
connection with the sale of Shares, such information with respect to the Fund or
any relevant Series and the Shares as you may reasonably request, all of which
shall be signed by one or more of the Fund's duly authorized officers; and the
Fund warrants that the statements contained in any such information, when so
signed by the Fund's officers, shall be true and correct. The Fund also shall
furnish you upon request with: (a) semi-annual reports and annual audited
reports of the Fund's books and accounts made by independent public accountants
regularly retained by the Fund, (b) quarterly earnings statements prepared by
the Fund, (c) a monthly itemized list of the securities in the Fund's or, if
applicable, each Series' portfolio, (d) monthly balance sheets as soon as
practicable after the end of each month, and (e) from time to time such
additional information regarding the Fund's financial condition as you may
reasonably request.
1.8 The Fund represents to you that all registration statements and
prospectuses filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, with respect to the Shares have been carefully prepared in
conformity with the requirements of said Acts and rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. As used in this agreement the
terms "registration statement" and "prospectus" shall mean any registration
statement and prospectus, including the statement of additional information
incorporated by reference therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and any amendments and supplements thereto which at any time shall
have been filed with said Commission. The Fund represents and warrants to you
that any registration statement and prospectus, when such registration statement
becomes effective, will contain all statements required to be stated therein in
conformity with said Acts and the rules and regulations of said Commission; that
all statements of fact contained in any such registration statement and
prospectus will be true and correct when such registration statement becomes
effective; and that neither any registration statement nor any prospectus when
such registration statement becomes effective will include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Fund may
but shall not be obligated to propose from time to time such amendment or
amendments to any registration statement and such supplement or supplements to
any prospectus as, in the light of future developments, may, in the opinion of
the Fund's counsel, be necessary or advisable. If the Fund shall not propose
such amendment or amendments and/or supplement or supplements within fifteen
days after receipt by the Fund of a written request from you to do so, you may,
at your option, terminate this agreement or decline to make offers of the Fund's
securities until such amendments are made. The Fund shall not file any amendment
to any registration statement or supplement to any prospectus without giving you
reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that nothing contained
in this agreement shall in any way limit the Fund's right to file at any time
such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any
prospectus, of whatever character, as the Fund may deem advisable, such right
being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
1.9 The Fund authorizes you to use any prospectus in the form
furnished to you from time to time, in connection with the sale of Shares. The
Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold you, your several officers and
directors, and any person who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, free and harmless from and against any
and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) which you, your officers and directors,
or any such controlling person, may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in
any registration statement or any prospectus or arising out of or based upon any
omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in
either any registration statement or any prospectus or necessary to make the
statements in either thereof not misleading; provided, however, that the Fund's
agreement to indemnify you, your officers or directors, and any such controlling
person shall not be deemed to cover any claims, demands, liabilities or expenses
arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in any registration statement or prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by you
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. The Fund's agreement to
indemnify you, your officers and directors, and any such controlling person, as
aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Fund's being notified of any action
brought against you, your officers or directors, or any such controlling person,
such notification to be given by letter or by telegram addressed to the Fund at
its address set forth above within ten days after the summons or other first
legal process shall have been served. The failure so to notify the Fund of any
such action shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which the Fund may
have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such
untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise
than on account of the Fund's indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph
1.9. The Fund will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense
shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Fund and approved
by you. In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any such suit and
retain counsel of good standing approved by you, the defendant or defendants in
such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by
any of them; but in case the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any
such suit, or in case you do not approve of counsel chosen by the Fund, the Fund
will reimburse you, your officers and directors, or the controlling person or
persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the fees and expenses
of any counsel retained by you or them. The Fund's indemnification agreement
contained in this paragraph 1.9 and the Fund's representations and warranties in
this agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of you, your officers and directors, or
any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This
agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to your benefit, to the benefit of
your several officers and directors, and their respective estates, and to the
benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. The Fund agrees
promptly to notify you of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against the Fund or any of its officers or Board members in connection with the
issue and sale of Shares.
1.10 You agree to indemnify, defend and hold the Fund, its several
officers and Board members, and any person who controls the Fund within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, free and
harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses
(including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or
liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the
Fund, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, may incur
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under common law or otherwise,
but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Fund, its
officers or Board members, or such controlling person resulting from such claims
or demands, shall arise out of or be based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue,
statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by
you to the Fund specifically for use in the Fund's registration statement and
used in the answers to any of the items of the registration statement or in the
corresponding statements made in the prospectus, or shall arise out of or be
based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in
connection with such information furnished in writing by you to the Fund and
required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such information not
misleading. Your agreement to indemnify the Fund, its officers and Board
members, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned
upon your being notified of any action brought against the Fund, its officers or
Board members, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by
letter or telegram addressed to you at your address set forth above within ten
days after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served. You
shall have the right to control the defense of such action, with counsel of your
own choosing, satisfactory to the Fund, if such action is based solely upon such
alleged misstatement or omission on your part, and in any other event the Fund,
its officers or Board members, or such controlling person shall each have the
right to participate in the defense or preparation of the defense of any such
action. The failure so to notify you of any such action shall not relieve you
from any liability which you may have to the Fund, its officers or Board
members, or to such controlling person by reason of any such untrue, or alleged
untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of
your indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph 1.10. This agreement of
indemnity will inure exclusively to the Fund's benefit, to the benefit of the
Fund's officers and Board members, and their respective estates, and to the
benefit of any controlling persons and their successors.
You agree promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against you or any of your officers or directors in connection with
the issue and sale of Shares.
1.11 No Shares shall be offered by either you or the Fund under any
of the provisions of this agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of
such Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Fund if and so long as the
effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any necessary
amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or if and so long as a current prospectus as
required by Section 10 of said Act, as amended, is not on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, that nothing contained in
this paragraph 1.11 shall in any way restrict or have an application to or
bearing upon the Fund's obligation to repurchase any Shares from any shareholder
in accordance with the provisions of the Fund's prospectus or charter documents.
1.12 The Fund agrees to advise you immediately in writing:
(a) of any request by the Securities and Exchange
Commission for amendments to the registration statement or
prospectus then in effect or for additional information;
(b) in the event of the issuance by the Securities and
Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the registration statement or prospectus then in effect or the
initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;
(c) of the happening of any event which makes untrue any
statement of a material fact made in the registration statement or
prospectus then in effect or which requires the making of a change in
such registration statement or prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not misleading; and
(d) of all actions of the Securities and Exchange
Commission with respect to any amendments to any registration
statement or prospectus which may from time to time be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Offering Price
Shares of any class of the Fund offered for sale by you shall be
offered for sale at a price per share (the "offering price") approximately equal
to (a) their net asset value (determined in the manner set forth in the Fund's
charter documents) plus (b) a sales charge, if any and except to those persons
set forth in the then-current prospectus, which shall be the percentage of the
offering price of such Shares as set forth in the Fund's then-current
prospectus. The offering price, if not an exact multiple of one cent, shall be
adjusted to the nearest cent. In addition, Shares of any class of the Fund
offered for sale by you may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as
set forth in the Fund's then-current prospectus. You shall be entitled to
receive any sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge in respect of the
Shares. Any payments to dealers shall be governed by a separate agreement
between you and such dealer and the Fund's then-current prospectus.
3. Term
This agreement shall continue until the date (the "Reapproval Date")
set forth on Exhibit A hereto (and, if the Fund has Series, a separate
Reapproval Date shall be specified on Exhibit A for each Series), and thereafter
shall continue automatically for successive annual periods ending on the day
(the "Reapproval Day") of each year set forth on Exhibit A hereto, provided such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Fund's Board
or (ii) vote of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of
the Shares of the Fund or the relevant Series, as the case may be, provided that
in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board
members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in said Act) of any party
to this agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval. This agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60
days' notice, by vote of holders of a majority of the Fund's or, as to any
relevant Series, such Series' outstanding voting securities or by the Fund's
Board as to the Fund or the relevant Series, as the case may be. This agreement
is terminable by you, upon 270 days' notice, effective on or after the fifth
anniversary of the date hereof. This agreement also will terminate
automatically, as to the Fund or relevant Series, as the case may be, in the
event of its assignment (as defined in said Act).
4. Exclusivity
So long as you act as the distributor of Shares, you shall not
perform any services for any entity other than a "Mellon Entity," such term
being defined as any entity that is advised or administered by a direct or
indirect subsidiary of the Mellon Bank Corporation. The Fund acknowledges that
the persons employed by you to assist in the performance of your duties under
this agreement may not devote their full time to such service and, subject to
the preceding sentence, nothing contained in this agreement shall be deemed to
limit or restrict your or any of your affiliates right to engage in and devote
time and attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or
nature.
<PAGE>
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding and indicate your acceptance hereof by signing below, whereupon it
shall become a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
DREYFUS PREMIER WORLDWIDE GROWTH
FUND, INC.
By: _______________________
Accepted:
PREMIER MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, INC.
By:_______________________________
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
Reapproval Date Reapproval Day
October 31, 2000 October 31st
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" and "Counsel and Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report
dated December 8, 1999, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement (Form N-1A No. 33-58282) of Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund,
Inc.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2000
February 23, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Dreyfus Premier Worldwide Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), and
in so acting have reviewed Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 (the "Post-Effective
Amendment") to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, Registration File
No. 33-58282. Representatives of the Fund have advised us that the Fund will
file the Post-Effective Amendment pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 ("Rule
485") promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. In connection therewith, the
Fund has requested that we provide this letter.
In our examination of the Post-Effective Amendment, we have assumed the
conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Based upon the foregoing, we hereby advise you that the prospectus included as
part of the Post-Effective Amendment does not include disclosure which we
believe would render it ineligible to become effective pursuant to paragraph (b)
of Rule 485.
Very truly yours,
STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
