File Nos. 33-62626
811-7710
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 ASSET ALLOCATION 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)
----
X on September 1, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
----
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
----
If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for
a previously filed post-effective amendment.
----
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a)
Items in
Part A of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ ____
1 Cover Page Cover
2 Synopsis 3
3 Condensed Financial Information
4 General Description of Registrant 4
5 Management of the Fund 5,19
5(a) Management's Discussion of Fund's Performance *
6 Capital Stock and Other Securities 18
7 Purchase of Securities Being Offered 9
8 Redemption or Repurchase 15
9 Pending Legal Proceedings *
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A
_________
10 Cover Page Cover
11 Table of Contents Cover
12 General Information and History B-34
13 Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
14 Management of the Fund B-17
15 Control Persons and Principal B-17,22
Holders of Securities
16 Investment Advisory and Other B-22,23
Services
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
Cross-Reference Sheet Pursuant to Rule 495(a) (continued)
Items in
Part B of
Form N-1A Caption Page
_________ _______ _____
17 Brokerage Allocation B-32
18 Capital Stock and Other Securities B-33
19 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing B-23,25,32
of Securities Being Offered
20 Tax Status *
21 Underwriters B-33
22 Calculations of Performance Data B-31
23 Financial Statements B-35
Items in
Part C of
Form N-1A
_________
24 Financial Statements and Exhibits C-1
25 Persons Controlled by or Under C-4
Common Control with Registrant
26 Number of Holders of Securities C-4
27 Indemnification C-4
28 Business and Other Connections of C-5
Investment Adviser
29 Principal Underwriters C-11
30 Location of Accounts and Records C-13
31 Management Services C-14
32 Undertakings C-14
_____________________________________
NOTE: * Omitted since answer is negative or inapplicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS SEPTEMBER 1, 1998
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC. (THE "FUND" ) IS AN OPEN-END,
NON-DIVERSIFIED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, KNOWN AS A MUTUAL FUND. THE
FUND's INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO MAXIMIZE TOTAL RETURN, CONSISTING OF CAPITAL
APPRECIATION AND CURRENT INCOME. THE FUND FOLLOWS AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY THAT
ACTIVELY ALLOCATES THE FUND'S ASSETS AMONG EQUITY AND FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES
AND SHORT-TERM MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS. IN ADDITION TO USUAL INVESTMENT
PRACTICES, THE FUND MAY USE SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES SUCH AS
SHORT-SELLING, BORROWING FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES, AND FUTURES AND OPTIONS
TRANSACTIONS.
YOU CAN INVEST, REINVEST OR REDEEM SHARES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT CHARGE OR
PENALTY. YOU CAN PURCHASE OR REDEEM SHARES BY TELEPHONE USING DREYFUS
TELETRANSFER.
THE DREYFUS CORPORATION PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO.
-----------------
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH CONCISELY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND THAT YOU
SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. IT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 1998, WHICH MAY
BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN AREAS IN
THIS PROSPECTUS AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME INVESTORS. IT
HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND IS INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION MAINTAINS A WEB SITE
(HTTP: //WWW.SEC.GOV) THAT CONTAINS THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND.
FOR A FREE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WRITE TO THE FUND AT
144 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD, UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11556-0144, OR CALL
1-800-645-6561. WHEN TELEPHONING, ASK FOR OPERATOR 144.
-----------------
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR
ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY. THE NET
ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS OF THIS TYPE WILL FLUCTUATE FROM TIME TO TIME.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 3
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND 5
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 8
HOW TO BUY SHARES 9
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 12
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES 15
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN 17
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 17
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 18
GENERAL INFORMATION 19
APPENDIX 20
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
[Page 2]
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Management Fees .75%
Other Expenses .52%
Total Fund Operating Expenses 1.27%
EXAMPLE:
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000
investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return and (2)
redemption at the end of each time period:
1 YEAR $ 13
3 YEARS $ 40
5 YEARS $ 70
10 YEARS $ 153
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS REPRESENTATIVE
OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE
INDICATED. MOREOVER, WHILE THE EXAMPLE ASSUMES A 5% ANNUAL RETURN, THE FUND'S
ACTUAL PERFORMANCE WILL VARY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACTUAL RETURN GREATER OR LESS
THAN 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist you in understanding the
costs and expenses borne by the Fund, the payment of which will reduce
investors' annual return. Certain Service Agents (as defined below) may charge
their clients direct fees for effecting transactions in Fund shares; such fees
are not reflected in the foregoing table. See "Management of the Fund," "How to
Buy Shares" and "Shareholder Services Plan."
[Page 3]
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The information in the following table has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
the Fund's independent auditors. Further financial data, related notes and the
report of independent auditors accompany the Statement of Additional
Information, available upon request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share of common
stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and
other supplemental data for each year indicated. This information has been
derived from the Fund's financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED APRIL 30,
-----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1994(1) 1995 1996 1997 1998
------- ------ ------ ------ -----
PER SHARE DATA:
Net asset value, beginning of year $12.50 $12.49 $13.81 $13.49 $14.68
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Investment income-net .24 .39 .32 .33 .24
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (.11) 1.35 1.70 1.83 4.40
------- ------ ------ ------ -----
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .13 1.74 2.02 2.16 4.64
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from investment income-net (.13) (.37) (.38) (.34) (.24)
Dividends from net realized gain on investments (.01) (.05) (1.96) (.63) (3.59)
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.14) (.42) (2.34) (.97) (3.83)
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Net asset value, end of year $12.49 $13.81 $13.49 $14.68 $15.49
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN .99%(2) 14.22% 15.67% 16.49% 34.33%
RATIOS / SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratio of expenses to average net assets .16%(2) .67% 1.25% 1.31% 1.27%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 2.48%(2) 3.00% 2.16% 2.12% 1.57%
Decrease reflected in above expense ratios due to
undertakings by The Dreyfus Corporation 1.58%(2) 1.27% .27% -- --
Portfolio Turnover Rate -- 160.11% 370.06% 223.50% 262.74%
Average Commission Rate Paid (3) -- -- -- $.0538 $.0633
Net Assets, end of year (000's omitted) $51,063 $56,639 $62,940 $60,856 $94,896
- ------------------
(1) From July 1, 1993 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 1994.
(2) Not annualized.
(3)For fiscal years beginning May 1, 1996, the Fund is required to disclose its average commission rate paid per share for
purchases and sales of investment securities.
</TABLE>
Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's
annual report which may be obtained without charge by writing to the address or
calling the number set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
[Page 4]
DEBT OUTSTANDING
YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 1998
-----------------------------
PER SHARE DATA:
Amount of debt outstanding at
end of year (in thousands) --
Average amount of debt outstanding
throughout year (in thousands)(1) --
Average number of shares outstanding
throughout year (in thousands)(2) --
Average amount of debt per
share throughout year --
- ----------------------------------------------
(1)Based upon daily outstanding borrowings.
(2)Based upon month-end balances.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund's investment objective is to maximize total return, consisting of
capital appreciation and current income. It cannot be changed without approval
by the holders of a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. There can
be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by following an asset
allocation strategy that contemplates shifts, which may be frequent, among
equity and fixed-income securities and short-term money market instruments.
The following table sets forth the asset classes, benchmark percentages and
asset class strategy ranges within which The Dreyfus Corporation intends to
manage the Fund's assets:
ASSET BENCHMARK STRATEGY
CLASS PERCENTAGE RANGE
- ------ ------------- --------
Equity Securities 55% 40-80%
Fixed-Income Securities 35% 20-60%
Short-Term Money Market Instruments 10% 0-40%
" Benchmark percentage" represents the asset mix The Dreyfus Corporation
expects to maintain when its assessment of economic conditions and investment
opportunities indicate that the financial markets are fairly valued relative to
each other. The asset class "strategy range" indicates ordinarily expected
variations from this benchmark and reflects that The Dreyfus Corporation expects
to make policy weight shifts within specific asset classes.
The Dreyfus Corporation has broad latitude in selecting the class of
investments and market sectors in which the Fund will invest. Under normal
market conditions, The Dreyfus Corporation expects to adhere to the asset class
strategy ranges set forth above; however, it reserves the right to vary the
asset class mix and the percentage of securities invested in any asset class or
market from the benchmark percentages and asset class strategy ranges set forth
above as the risk/return characteristics of either markets or asset classes, as
assessed by The Dreyfus Corporation, vary over time. The Fund will not be
managed as a balanced portfolio. The asset allocation mix will be determined by
The Dreyfus Corporation at any given time in light of its assessment of current
economic conditions and investment opportunities. Some of the factors that The
Dreyfus Corporation may consider in determining the asset allocation mix include
the following: (1) level and direction of long-term interest rates versus
short-term interest rates; (2) historical investment returns for each asset
class in which the Fund can invest relative to the prevailing business cycle;
and (3) general economic conditions, such as current inflation, unemployment and
capacity utilization figures, that could affect investments. The asset
allocation mix selected will be a primary determinant
[Page 5]
of the Fund's investment performance. Under certain market conditions,
limiting the Fund's asset allocation among these asset classes may inhibit its
ability to achieve its investment objective.
The equity securities in which the Fund may invest include, common stocks,
preferred stocks and convertible securities of domestic and foreign issuers. The
Fund is particularly alert to companies, both domestic and foreign, which it
considers undervalued by the stock market in terms of current earnings, assets
or overall growth prospects. The Fund may invest up to 25% of the value of its
total assets in equity securities of foreign companies which are not publicly
traded in the United States.
The fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest include U.S.
dollar-denominated bonds, debentures, notes, mortgage-related securities,
asset-backed securities, municipal obligations, warrants, convertible debt
obligations and convertible preferred stocks. The issuers of these obligations
may include domestic and foreign corporations, partnerships or trusts, and
governments, their political subdivisions, agencies or municipalities, and
corporations. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in fixed-income
securities of foreign issuers, including securities of issuers whose principal
activities are in, or which are governments of, emerging markets. The Fund is
not subject to any limit on the percentage of its assets that may be invested in
fixed-income securities having a certain rating. Thus, it is possible that a
substantial portion of the Fund's assets may be invested in fixed-income
securities that are unrated or rated in the lowest categories of the recognized
rating services (i.e., securities rated C by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
(" Moody's" ) or D by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), Fitch IBCA, Inc.
(" Fitch" ) or Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff")). Low-rated and unrated
securities have special risks relating to the ability of the Fund to receive
timely, or perhaps ultimate, payment of principal and interest. They are
considered to have speculative characteristics and to be of poor quality; some
obligations in which the Fund may invest, such as debt securities rated D by S&
P, Fitch and Duff, may be in default. The Fund intends to invest less than 35%
of its assets in debt securities rated Ba or lower by Moody's and BB or lower by
S& P, Fitch and Duff. See "Investment Considerations and Risks -- Fixed-Income
Securities" and "-- Lower Rated Securities" below for a discussion of certain
risks.
[Page 6]
The money market instruments in which the Fund may invest include U.S.
Government securities, certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers'
acceptances, short-term investment grade corporate bonds and other short-term
debt instruments, and repurchase agreements, as set forth under
" Appendix--Certain Portfolio Securities--Money Market Instruments." When The
Dreyfus Corporation determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Fund
may adopt a temporary defensive posture and invest without limitation in money
market instruments.
The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate for the current fiscal year is not
expected to exceed 250% . A turnover rate of 100% is equivalent to the Fund
buying and selling all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of
a year. Higher portfolio turnover rates usually generate additional brokerage
commissions and expenses and the short term gains realized from these
transactions are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund may engage
in various investment techniques, such as foreign currency transactions, lending
portfolio securities, short-selling, leveraging, interest rate swaps and options
and futures transactions. For a discussion of the investment techniques and
their related risks, see "Investment Considerations and Risks" and
"Appendix--Investment Techniques" below and "Investment Objective and Management
Policies--Management Policies" in the Statement of Additional Information.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS
GENERAL -- The Fund's net asset value per share should be expected to fluctuate.
Investors should consider the Fund as a supplement to an overall investment
program and should invest only if they are willing to undertake the risks
involved. See "Investment Objective and Management Policies" in the Statement of
Additional Information for a further discussion of certain risks.
EQUITY SECURITIES -- Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on
factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such
fluctuations can be pronounced. Changes in the value of the Fund's investments
will result in changes in the value of its shares and thus the Fund's total
return to investors.
The Fund may purchase securities of smaller capitalization companies, the
prices of which may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than
larger, more established companies, because these securities typically are
traded in lower volume and the issuers typically are more subject to changes in
earnings and prospects.
FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES -- Even though interest-bearing securities are
investments which promise a stable stream of income, the prices of such
securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates and, therefore,
are subject to the risk of market price fluctuations. The values of fixed-income
securities also may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial
condition of the issuer. Certain securities purchased by the Fund, such as those
rated Baa or lower by Moody's and BBB or lower by S&P, Fitch and Duff, may be
subject to such risk with respect to the issuing entity and to greater market
fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated fixed-income securities.
Once the rating of a portfolio security has been changed, the Fund will consider
all circumstances deemed relevant in determining whether to continue to hold the
security. Mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest are complex
derivative instruments, subject to both credit and prepayment risk, and may be
more volatile and less liquid than more traditional debt securities. Some
mortgage-related securities have structures that make their reactions to
interest rate changes and other factors difficult to predict, making their value
highly volatile. See "Lower Rated Securities" and "Appendix -- Certain Portfolio
Securities -- Mortgage-Related Securities and Ratings" below and "Appendix" in
the Statement of Additional Information.
FOREIGN SECURITIES -- Foreign securities markets generally are not as developed
or efficient as those in the United States. Securities of some foreign issuers
are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than
in the United States and, at times, volatility of price can be greater than in
the United States.
Because evidences of ownership of such securities usually are held outside
the United States, the Fund will be subject to additional risks which include
possible: adverse political and economic developments, seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions
which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and interest
on the foreign securities to investors located outside the country of the
issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise.
Developing countries have economic structures that are generally less diverse
and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed
countries. The markets of developing countries may be more volatile than the
markets of more mature economies; however, such markets may provide higher rates
of return to investors. Many developing countries providing investment
opportunities for the Fund have experienced substantial, and in some periods
extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid
fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continued to have adverse
effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these countries.
Since foreign securities often are purchased with and payable in currencies
of foreign countries, the value of these assets as measured in U.S. dollars may
be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange
control regulations. See "Appendix -- Investment Techniques -- Foreign Currency
Transactions."
LOWER RATED SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 35% of its net assets in
higher yielding (and, therefore, higher risk) debt securities such as those
rated Ba by Moody's or BB by S&P, Fitch or Duff or as low as the lowest rating
assigned by Moody's, S&P, Fitch or Duff (commonly known as junk bonds). They may
be subject to certain risks with respect to the issuing entity and to greater
market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated fixed-income
securities. The retail secondary market for these securities may be less liquid
than that of higher rated securities; adverse conditions could make it difficult
[Page 7]
at times for the Fund to sell certain securities or could result in lower
prices than those used in calculating the Fund's net asset value. See "Appendix
- -- Certain Portfolio Securities--Ratings."
USE OF DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may invest in, or enter into, derivatives
("Derivatives"). These are financial instruments which derive their performance,
at least in part, from the performance of an underlying asset, index or interest
rate. The Derivatives the Fund may use include options and futures,
mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities and interest rate swaps.
While Derivatives can be used effectively in furtherance of the Fund's
investment objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the
volatility of the Fund's net asset value, decrease the liquidity of the Fund's
portfolio and make more difficult the accurate pricing of the Fund's portfolio.
See "Appendix--Investment Techniques--Use of Derivatives" below and "Investment
Objective and Management Policies--Management Policies--Derivatives" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS -- The classification of the Fund as a "non-diversified"
investment company means that the proportion of the Fund's assets that may be
invested in the securities of a single issuer is not limited by the 1940 Act. A
" diversified" investment company is required by the 1940 Act generally, with
respect to 75% of its total assets, to invest not more than 5% of such assets in
the securities of a single issuer. Because a relatively high percentage of the
Fund's assets may be invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers,
some of which may be within the same industry, the Fund's portfolio may be more
sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry.
However, to meet Federal tax requirements, at the close of each quarter the Fund
may not have more than 25% of its total assets invested in any one issuer and,
with respect to 50% of total assets, not more than 5% of its total assets
invested in any one issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S. Government
securities.
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENTS -- Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of other investment companies advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation. If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest in,
or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each investment company.
In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position
obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the
Fund.
YEAR 2000 RISKS -- Like other mutual funds, financial and business organizations
and individuals around the world, the Fund could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by The Dreyfus Corporation and the Fund's other service
providers do not properly process and calculate date-related information and
data from and after January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000
Problem." The Dreyfus Corporation is taking steps to address the Year 2000
Problem with respect to the computer systems that it uses and to obtain
assurances that comparable steps are being taken by the Fund's other major
service providers. At this time, however, there can be no assurance that these
steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER -- The Dreyfus Corporation, located at 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166, was formed in 1947 and serves as the Fund's investment
adviser. The Dreyfus Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank,
N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation ("Mellon").
As of July 31, 1998, The Dreyfus Corporation managed or administered
approximately $110 billion in assets for approximately 1.7 million investor
accounts nationwide.
The Dreyfus Corporation supervises and assists in the overall management of
the Fund's affairs under a Management Agreement with the Fund, subject to the
authority of the Fund's Board in accordance with Maryland law. The Fund's
primary portfolio manager is Kevin M. McClintock. He has held that position
since May 1996, and has been employed by The Dreyfus Corporation since November
1995. From 1993 through October 1995, Mr. McClintock was Managing Director,
Fixed Income
[Page 8]
Investments, for Aeltus Investment Management, Inc., a subsidiary of the Aetna
Corporation. Prior thereto, he was employed in various capacities by Aetna
Corporation and its subsidiaries, including head of Separate Account Portfolio
Management for Aetna.The Fund's other portfolio managers are identified in the
Statement of Additional Information. The Dreyfus Corporation also provides
research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by The Dreyfus
Corporation through a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities
analysts.
Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated under
Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of financial
products and services in domestic and selected international markets. Mellon is
among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in the United States based
on total assets. Mellon's principal wholly-owned subsidiaries are Mellon Bank,
N.A., Mellon Bank (DE) National Association, Mellon Bank (MD), The Boston
Company, Inc., AFCO Credit Corporation and a number of companies known as Mellon
Financial Services Corporations. Through its subsidiaries, including The Dreyfus
Corporation, Mellon managed more than $350 billion in assets as of June 30,
1998, including approximately $125 billion in proprietary mutual fund assets. As
of June 30, 1998, Mellon, through various subsidiaries, provided non-investment
services, such as custodial or administration services, for more than $1.791
trillion in assets, including approximately $54 billion in mutual fund assets.
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998, the Fund paid The Dreyfus
Corporation a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .75 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. From time to time, The Dreyfus
Corporation may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain
expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the expense ratio
of the Fund and increasing yield to investors. The Fund will not pay The Dreyfus
Corporation at a later time for any amounts it may waive, nor will the Fund
reimburse The Dreyfus Corporation for any amounts it may assume.
In allocating brokerage transactions, The Dreyfus Corporation seeks to obtain
the best execution of orders at the most favorable net price. Subject to this
determination, The Dreyfus Corporation may consider, among other things, the
receipt of research services and/or the sale of shares of the Fund or other
funds managed, advised or administered by The Dreyfus Corporation as factors in
the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.
See "Portfolio Transactions" in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Dreyfus Corporation may pay the Fund's distributor for shareholder
services from The Dreyfus Corporation's own assets, including past profits but
not including the management fee paid by the Fund. The Fund's distributor may
use part or all of such payments to pay Service Agents in respect of these
services.
DISTRIBUTOR -- The Fund's distributor is Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the
" Distributor" ), located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The
Distributor's ultimate parent is Boston Institutional Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN -- Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dreyfus Corporation, P.O. Box 9671, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent
(the "Transfer Agent"). Mellon Bank, N.A., One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15258, is the Fund's Custodian.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be charged a fee if you
effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer, bank or other
financial institution. 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. See "Appendix -- Additional Information
About Purchases, Exchanges and Redemptions."
[Page 9]
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a client of a
securities dealer, bank or other financial institution which maintains an
omnibus account in the Fund and has made an aggregate minimum initial purchase
for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be at least $100.
However, the minimum initial investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh
Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth
IRAs, SEP-IRAs and rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant
and $500 for Dreyfus-sponsored Education IRAs, with no minimum for subsequent
purchases. The initial investment must be accompanied by the Account
Application. For full-time or part-time employees of The Dreyfus Corporation or
any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, directors of The Dreyfus Corporation,
Board members of a fund advised by The Dreyfus Corporation, including members of
the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of the foregoing, the
minimum initial investment is $1,000. For full-time or part-time employees of
The Dreyfus Corporation or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who elect to
have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund accounts, the
minimum initial investment is $50. The Fund reserves the right to offer shares
without regard to minimum purchase requirements to employees participating in
certain qualified or non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs
where contributions or account information can be transmitted in a manner and
form acceptable to the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to vary further the
initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any time. Fund shares
also are offered without regard to the minimum initial investment requirements
through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder(reg.tm) , Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan pursuant to the Dreyfus Step
Program described under "Shareholder Services." These services enable you to
make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a convenient way
to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware, however, that
periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not protect an
investor against loss in a declining market.
You may purchase Fund shares by check or wire, or through the Dreyfus
TELETRANSFER Privilege described below. Checks should be made payable to "The
Dreyfus Family of Funds," or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to "The
Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian." Payments to open new accounts which are
mailed should be sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9387, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-9387, together with your Account Application. For subsequent
investments, your Fund account number should appear on the check and an
investment slip should be enclosed and sent to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 105, Newark, New Jersey 07101-0105. For Dreyfus retirement plan accounts,
both initial and subsequent investments should be sent to The Dreyfus Trust
Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-6427. Neither
initial nor subsequent investments should be made by third party check. Purchase
orders may be delivered in person only to a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE
ORDERS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT
THEREBY. For the location of the nearest Dreyfus Financial Center, please call
one of the telephone numbers listed under "General Information."
Wire payments may be made if your bank account is in a commercial bank that
is a member of the Federal Reserve System or any other bank having a
correspondent bank in New York City. Immediately available funds may be
transmitted by wire to The Bank of New York, DDA#8900118202/Dreyfus Asset
Allocation Fund, Inc. The wire must include your Fund account number (for new
accounts, your Taxpayer Identification Number (" TIN" ) should be included
instead), account registration and dealer number, if applicable. If your initial
purchase of shares is by wire, please call 1-800-645-6561 after completing your
wire payment to obtain your Fund account number. Please include your Fund
account number on the Account Application and promptly mail the Account
Application to the Fund, as no redemptions will be permitted until the Account
Application is received. You may obtain further information about remitting
funds in this manner from your bank. All payments should be made in U.S. dollars
and, to avoid fees and delays, should be drawn only on U.S. banks. A charge will
be imposed if
[Page 10]
any check used for investment in your account does not clear. The Fund makes
available to certain large institutions the ability to issue purchase
instructions through compatible computer facilities.
Subsequent investments also may be made by electronic transfer of funds from
an account maintained in a bank or other domestic financial institution that is
an Automated Clearing House member. You must direct the institution to transmit
immediately available funds through the Automated Clearing House to The Bank of
New York with instructions to credit your Fund account. The instructions must
specify your Fund account registration and your Fund account number PRECEDED BY
THE DIGITS "1111."
Fund shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per share
next determined after an order in proper form is received by the Transfer Agent
or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund. Net asset
value per share is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New
York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the New
York Stock Exchange is open for business. For purposes of determining net asset
value, options and futures will be valued 15 minutes after the close of trading
on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset value per share is
computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets (i.e., the value of its
assets less liabilities) by the total number of Fund shares outstanding. The
Fund's investments are valued based on market value or, where market quotations
are not readily available, based on fair value as determined in good faith by
the Fund's Board. Certain securities may be valued by an independent pricing
service approved by the Fund's Board and are valued at fair value as determined
by the pricing service. For further information regarding the methods employed
in valuing the Fund's investments, see "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
For certain institutions that have entered into agreements with the
Distributor, payment for the purchase of Fund shares may be transmitted, and
must be received by the Transfer Agent, within three business days after the
order is placed. If such payment is not received within three business days
after the order is placed, the order may be canceled and the institution could
be held liable for resulting fees and/or losses.
The Distributor may pay dealers a fee of up to .5% of the amount invested
through such dealers in shares by employees participating in qualified or
non-qualified employee benefit plans or other programs where (i) the employers
or affiliated employers maintaining such plans or programs have a minimum of 250
employees eligible for participation in such plans or programs or (ii) such
plan's or program's aggregate investment in the Dreyfus Family of Funds or
certain other products made available by the Distributor to such plans or
programs exceeds $1,000,000 ("Eligible Benefit Plans"). Shares of funds in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds then held by Eligible Benefit Plans will be aggregated
to determine the fee payable. The Distributor reserves the right to cease paying
these fees at any time. The Distributor will pay such fees from its own funds,
other than amounts received from the Fund, including past profits or any other
source available to it.
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified TIN upon opening or
reopening an account. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and the Account
Application for further information concerning this requirement. Failure to
furnish a certified TIN to the Fund could subject you to a $50 penalty imposed
by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS" ).
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE
You may purchase shares (minimum $500, maximum $150,000 per day) by telephone
if you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary information
on the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services Form with the
Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be transferred between the bank account
designated in one of these documents and your Fund account. Only a bank account
maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House member may be so designated. The Fund may modify or terminate this
Privilege at any time or charge a service fee upon notice to shareholders. No
such fee currently is contemplated.
[Page 11]
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may request a
Dreyfus TELETRANSFER purchase of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you are
calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
FUND EXCHANGES
You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of certain other
funds managed or administered by The Dreyfus Corporation, to the extent such
shares are offered for sale in your state of residence. These funds have
different investment objectives which may be of interest to you. If you desire
to use this service, you should consult your Service Agent or call
1-800-645-6561 to determine if it is available and whether any conditions are
imposed on its use. If you are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452
To request an exchange, you must give exchange instructions to the Transfer
Agent in writing or by telephone. Before any exchange, you must obtain and
should review a copy of the current prospectus of the fund into which the
exchange is being made. Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561.
Except in the case of personal retirement plans, the shares being exchanged must
have a current value of at least $500; furthermore, when establishing a new
account by exchange, the shares being exchanged must have a value of at least
the minimum initial investment required for the fund into which the exchange is
being made. The ability to issue exchange instructions by telephone is given to
all Fund shareholders automatically, unless you check the applicable "No" box on
the Account Application, indicating that you specifically refuse this privilege.
The Telephone Exchange Privilege may be established for an existing account by
written request signed by all shareholders on the account, by a separate signed
Shareholder Services Form, or by oral request from any of the authorized
signatories on the account. If you have established the Telephone Exchange
Privilege, you may telephone exchange instructions (including over The Dreyfus
Touch(reg.tm) automated telephone system) by calling one of the telephone
numbers set forth above. See "How to Redeem Shares -- Procedures." Upon an
exchange into a new account, the following shareholder services and privileges,
as applicable and where available, will be automatically carried over to the
fund into which the exchange is made: Telephone Exchange Privilege, Wire
Redemption Privilege, Telephone Redemption Privilege, Dreyfus TELETRANSFER
Privilege and the dividend/capital gain distribution option (except for Dreyfus
Dividend Sweep) selected by the investor.
Shares will be exchanged at the next determined net asset value; however, a
sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into funds sold with a sales
load. If you are exchanging into a fund that charges a sales load, you may
qualify for share prices which do not include the sales load or which reflect a
reduced sales load, if the shares you are exchanging were: (a) purchased with a
sales load, (b) acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a
sales load, or (c) acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions
paid with respect to the foregoing categories of shares. To qualify, at the time
of the exchange you must notify the Transfer Agent or your Service Agent must
notify the Distributor. Any such qualification is subject to confirmation of
your holdings through a check of appropriate records. See "Shareholder Services"
in the Statement of Additional Information. No fees currently are charged
shareholders directly in connection with exchanges, although the Fund reserves
the right, upon not less than 60 days' written notice, to charge shareholders a
nominal administrative fee in accordance with rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Fund reserves the right to reject any
exchange request in whole or in part. See "Appendix -- Additional Information
About Purchases, Exchanges and Redemptions." The availability of Fund Exchanges
may be modified or terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders. See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
[Page 12]
DREYFUS AUTO-EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege enables you to invest regularly (on a
semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis), in exchange for shares of the
Fund, in shares of certain other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which
you a shareholder. The amount you designate, which can be expressed either in
terms of a specific dollar or share amount ($100 minimum), will be exchanged
automatically on the first and/or fifteenth day of the month according to the
schedule you have selected. Shares will be exchanged at the then-current net
asset value; however, a sales load may be charged with respect to exchanges into
funds sold with a sales load. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The right to exercise this Privilege may be modified or
cancelled by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. You may modify or cancel your
exercise of this Privilege at any time by mailing written notification to The
Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. The
Fund may charge a service fee for the use of this Privilege. No such fee
currently is contemplated. For more information concerning this Privilege and
the funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds eligible to participate in this
Privilege, or to obtain a Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Authorization Form, please call
toll free 1-800-645-6561. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER(reg.tm)
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. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated. To
establish a Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder account, you must file an
authorization form with the Transfer Agent. You may obtain the necessary
authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel your participation
in this Privilege or change the amount of purchase at any time by mailing
written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan accounts, to The
Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence, Rhode Island
02940-6427, and the notification will be effective three business days following
receipt. The Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a
service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIVILEGE
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund
shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having
Federal salary, Social Security, or certain veterans' , military or other
payments from the Federal government automatically deposited into your Fund
account. You may deposit as much of such payments as you elect. To enroll in
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit, you must file with the Transfer Agent a
completed Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form for each type of payment that you desire
to include in the Privilege. The appropriate form may be obtained by calling
1-800-645-6561. Death or legal incapacity will terminate your participation in
this Privilege. You may elect at any time to terminate your participation by
notifying in writing the appropriate Federal agency. The Fund may terminate your
participation upon 30 days' notice to you.
DREYFUS PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of
$100 per transaction) automatically on a regular basis. Depending upon your
employer's direct deposit program, you may have part or all of your paycheck
transferred to your existing Dreyfus account electronically through the
Automated Clearing House system at each pay period. To establish a Dreyfus
Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an authorization form with your
employer's payroll department. Your employer must complete the reverse side of
the form and return it to The Dreyfus Family of
[Page 13]
Funds, P.O. Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. You may obtain the
necessary authorization form by calling 1-800-645-6561. You may change the
amount of purchase or cancel the authorization only by written notification to
your employer. It is the sole responsibility of your employer, not the
Distributor, The Dreyfus Corporation, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or any other
person, to arrange for transactions under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. The
Fund may modify or terminate this Privilege at any time or charge a service fee.
No such fee currently is contemplated.
DREYFUS STEP PROGRAM
Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase Fund shares without regard to
the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements through Dreyfus-Automatic
Asset Builder(reg.tm) , Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus
Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a Dreyfus Step Program account, you must
supply the necessary information on the Account Application and file the
required authorization form(s) with the Transfer Agent. For more information
concerning this Program, or to request the necessary authorization form(s),
please call toll free 1-800-782-6620. You may terminate your participation in
this Program at any time by discontinuing your participation in
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the case may be, as provided under the terms of
such Privilege(s) . The Fund may modify or terminate this Program at any time.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares through the Dreyfus Step Program in
conjunction with a Dreyfus-sponsored retirement plan may do so only for IRAs,
SEP-IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts."
DREYFUS DIVIDEND OPTIONS
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep enables you to invest automatically dividends or
dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, paid by the Fund in shares of
another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder.
Shares of the other fund will be purchased at the then-current net asset value;
however, a sales load may be charged with respect to investments in shares of a
fund sold with a sales load. If you are investing in a fund that charges a sales
load, you may qualify for share prices which do not include the sales load or
which reflect a reduced sales load. If you are investing in a fund that charges
a contingent deferred sales charge, the shares purchased will be subject on
redemption to the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, applicable to the
purchased shares. See "Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional
Information. Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically
dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to
a designated bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be so designated.
Banks may charge a fee for this service.
For more information concerning these privileges or to request a Dividend
Options Form, please call toll free 1-800-645-6561. You may cancel these
privileges by mailing written notification to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671. Enrollment in or cancellation of
these privileges is effective three business days following receipt. These
privileges are available only for existing accounts and may not be used to open
new accounts. Minimum subsequent investments do not apply for Dreyfus Dividend
Sweep. The Fund may modify or terminate these privileges at any time or charge a
service fee. No such fee currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh
Plans, IRAs or other retirement plans are not eligible for Dreyfus Dividend
Sweep.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to request withdrawal of a
specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis
if you have a $5,000 minimum account. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be
established by filing an Automatic Withdrawal Plan application with the Transfer
Agent or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on the account
by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be ended at any
time by you, the Fund or
[Page 14]
the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates have been issued may not be
redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
RETIREMENT PLANS
The Fund offers a variety of pension and profit-sharing plans, including
Keogh Plans, IRAs (including regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working
spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, rollover IRAs and Education IRAs), 401(k) Salary
Reduction Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans. Plan support services also are available.
You can obtain details on the various plans by calling the following numbers
toll free: for Keogh Plans, please call 1-800-358-5566; for IRAs (except
SEP-IRAs) , please call 1-800-645-6561; or for SEP-IRAs, 401(k) Salary Reduction
Plans and 403(b)(7) Plans, please call 1-800-322-7880.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
GENERAL
You may request redemption of your shares at any time. Redemption requests
should be transmitted to the Transfer Agent as described below. When a request
is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent or other entity authorized to
receive orders on behalf of the Fund, the Fund will redeem the shares at the
next determined net asset value. See "Appendix -- Additional Information About
Purchases, Exchanges and Redemptions."
The Fund imposes no charges when shares are redeemed. Securities dealers,
banks and other financial institutions may charge their clients a fee for
effecting redemptions of Fund shares. Any certificates representing Fund shares
being redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request. The value of the
shares redeemed may be more or less than their original cost, depending upon the
Fund' s then-current net asset value.
The Fund ordinarily will make payment for all shares redeemed within seven
days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form,
except as provided by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FUND SHARES BY CHECK, BY DREYFUS TELETRANSFER
PRIVILEGE OR THROUGH DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER(reg.tm) AND SUBSEQUENTLY
SUBMIT A WRITTEN REDEMPTION REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, THE REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO YOU PROMPTLY UPON BANK CLEARANCE OF YOUR
PURCHASE CHECK, DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE OR DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER
ORDER, WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS OR MORE. IN ADDITION, THE FUND
WILL REJECT REQUESTS TO REDEEM SHARES BY WIRE OR TELEPHONE OR PURSUANT TO THE
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE FOR A PERIOD OF EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT
BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE PURCHASE CHECK, THE DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PURCHASE
OR THE DREYFUS-AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER ORDER AGAINST WHICH SUCH REDEMPTION IS
REQUESTED. THESE PROCEDURES WILL NOT APPLY IF YOUR SHARES WERE PURCHASED BY WIRE
PAYMENT, OR IF YOU OTHERWISE HAVE A SUFFICIENT COLLECTED BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT
TO COVER THE REDEMPTION REQUEST. PRIOR TO THE TIME ANY REDEMPTION IS EFFECTIVE,
DIVIDENDS ON SUCH SHARES WILL ACCRUE AND BE PAYABLE, AND YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO
EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Fund shares will not be
redeemed until the Transfer Agent has received your Account Application.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at its option upon not
less than 45 days' written notice if your account's net asset value is $500 or
less and remains so during the notice period.
PROCEDURES
You may redeem shares by using the regular redemption procedure through the
Transfer Agent, or through the Telephone Redemption Privilege, which is granted
automatically unless you specifically refuse it by checking the applicable "No"
box on the Account Application. The Telephone Redemption Privilege may be
established for an existing account by a separate signed Shareholder
[Page 15]
Services Form or by oral request from any of the authorized signatories on the
account by calling 1-800-645-6561. You also may redeem shares through the Wire
Redemption Privilege or the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, if you have 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 Fund makes available to certain large institutions the ability to issue
redemption instructions through compatible computer facilities. The Fund
reserves the right to refuse any request made by wire or telephone, including
requests made shortly after a change of address, and may limit the amount
involved or the number of such requests. The Fund may modify or terminate any
redemption Privilege at any time or charge a service fee upon notice to
shareholders. No such fee currently is contemplated. Shares held under Keogh
Plans, IRAs or other retirement plans, and shares for which certificates have
been issued, are not eligible for the Wire Redemption, Telephone Redemption or
Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege.
The Telephone Redemption Privilege or Telephone Exchange Privilege authorizes
the Transfer Agent to act on telephone instructions (including over The Dreyfus
Touch((reg.tm)) automated telephone system) from any person representing himself
or herself to be you, and reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be
genuine. The Fund will require the Transfer Agent to employ reasonable
procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that
instructions are genuine and, if it does not follow such procedures, the Fund or
the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent will be liable
for following telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, you may experience
difficulty in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone to request a redemption
or exchange of Fund shares. In such cases, you should consider using the other
redemption procedures described herein. Use of these other redemption procedures
may result in your redemption request being processed at a later time than it
would have been if telephone redemption had been used. During the delay, the
Fund's net asset value may fluctuate.
REGULAR REDEMPTION -- Under the regular redemption procedure, you may redeem
shares by written request mailed to The Dreyfus Family of Funds, P.O. Box 9671,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, or, if for Dreyfus retirement plan
accounts, to The Dreyfus Trust Company, Custodian, P.O. Box 6427, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-6427. Redemption requests may be delivered in person only to
a Dreyfus Financial Center. THESE REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FUND AND
WILL BE PROCESSED ONLY UPON RECEIPT THEREBY. For the location of the nearest
Dreyfus Financial Center, please call one of the telephone numbers listed under
" General Information." Redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder,
including each owner of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant to which
signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be accepted from domestic
banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges,
registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations,
as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature
Program, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the
Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. If you have any questions with respect to
signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers listed under
"General Information."
Redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 will be wired to any member bank of
the Federal Reserve System in accordance with a written signature-guaranteed
request.
WIRE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE -- You may request by wire, telephone or letter that
redemption proceeds (minimum $1,000) be wired to your account at a bank which is
a member of the Federal Reserve System, or a correspondent bank if your bank is
not a member. Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may have
redemption proceeds of not more than $250,000 wired within any 30-day period.
You may telephone redemption requests by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you are
calling from overseas,
[Page 16]
call 516-794-5452. The Statement of Additional Information sets forth
instructions for transmitting redemption requests by wire.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE--You may request by telephone that redemption
proceeds (maximum $150,000 per day) be paid by check and mailed to your address.
You may telephone redemption instructions by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you
are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452. The Telephone Redemption Privilege
is granted automatically unless you refuse it.
DREYFUS TELETRANSFER PRIVILEGE -- You may request by telephone that redemption
proceeds (minimum $500 per day) be transferred between your Fund account and
your bank account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial
institution which is an Automated Clearing House member may be designated.
Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in your account at an Automated Clearing
House member bank ordinarily two days after receipt of the redemption request.
Holders of jointly registered Fund or bank accounts may redeem through the
Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege for transfer to their bank account not more than
$250,000 within any 30-day period.
If you have selected the Dreyfus TELETRANSFER Privilege, you may request a
Dreyfus TELETRANSFER redemption of shares by calling 1-800-645-6561 or, if you
are calling from overseas, call 516-794-5452.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan, pursuant to which it pays
the Distributor for the provision of certain services to shareholders a fee at
the annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the Fund's average daily net
assets. The services provided may include personal services relating to
shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund
and providing reports and other information, and services related to the
maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor may make payments to
Service Agents in respect of these services. The Distributor determines the
amounts to be paid to Service Agents.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund ordinarily pays dividends from net investment income and distributes
net realized securities gains, if any, once a year, but it may make
distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in
all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund
will not make distributions from net realized securities gains unless capital
loss carryovers, if any, have been utilized or have expired. You may choose
whether to receive dividends and distributions in cash or to reinvest in
additional shares at net asset value. If you elect to receive dividends and
distributions in cash and your dividend or distribution check is returned to the
Fund as undeliverable or remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the
right to reinvest such dividend or distribution and all future dividends and
distributions payable to you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No
interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or
redemption checks. All expenses are accrued daily and deducted before
declaration of dividends to investors.
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with distributions
from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a portion of any gain
realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds,
paid by the Fund will be taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income whether
received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Distributions from net
realized long-term securities gains of the Fund will be taxable to U.S.
shareholders as long-term capital gains for Federal income tax purposes,
regardless of how long shareholders have held their shares and whether such
distributions are received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares. The Code
provides that an individual generally will be taxed on his or her net capital
gain at a maximum rate of 20% with respect to capital gains from securities held
for more than one year. Dividends and distributions may be subject to state and
local taxes.
[Page 17]
Dividends derived from net investment income, together with distributions
from net realized short-term securities gains and all or a portion of any gain
realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds,
paid by the Fund to a foreign investor generally are subject to U.S. nonresident
withholding taxes at the rate of 30%, unless the foreign investor claims the
benefit of a lower rate specified in a tax treaty. Distributions from net
realized long-term securities gains paid by the Fund to a foreign investor as
well as the proceeds of any redemptions from a foreign investor's account,
regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized, generally will
not be subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax. However, such distributions
may be subject to backup withholding, as described below, unless the foreign
investor certifies his non-U.S. residency status.
Notice as to the tax status of your dividends and distributions will be
mailed to you annually. You also will receive periodic summaries of your account
which will include information as to dividends and distributions from securities
gains, if any, paid during the year.
The exchange of shares of one fund for shares of another is treated for
Federal income tax purposes as a sale of the shares given in exchange by the
shareholder and, therefore, an exchanging shareholder may realize a taxable gain
or loss.
Federal regulations generally require the Fund to withhold (" backup
withholding" ) and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of dividends, distributions
from net realized securities gains and the proceeds of any redemption,
regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized, paid to a
shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify either that the TIN furnished
in connection with opening an account is correct or that such shareholder has
not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup withholding as a
result of a failure to properly report taxable dividend or interest income on a
Federal income tax return. Furthermore, the IRS may notify the Fund to institute
backup withholding if the IRS determines a shareholder's TIN is incorrect or if
a shareholder has failed to properly report taxable dividend and interest income
on a Federal income tax return.
A TIN is either the Social Security number, IRS individual taxpayer number,
or employer identification number of the record owner of the account. Any tax
withheld as a result of backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax
imposed on the record owner of the account, and may be claimed as a credit on
the record owner's Federal income tax return.
Management of the Fund believes that the Fund has qualified for the fiscal
year ended April 30, 1998 as a "regulated investment company" under the Code.
The Fund intends to continue to so qualify if such qualification is in the best
interests of its shareholders. Qualification as a "regulated investment company"
relieves the Fund of any liability for Federal income taxes to the extent its
earnings are distributed in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code.
The Fund is subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax, measured with respect to
certain undistributed amounts of taxable investment income and capital gains.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as to
Federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
For purposes of advertising, performance may be calculated on the basis of
average annual total return and/or total return.
Average annual total return is calculated pursuant to a standardized formula
which assumes that an investment in the Fund was purchased with an initial
payment of $1,000 and that the investment was redeemed at the end of a stated
period of time, after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions during the period. The return is expressed as a percentage rate
which, if applied on a compounded annual basis, would result in the redeemable
value of the investment at the end of the period. Advertisements of the Fund's
performance will include the Fund's average annual total return for one, five
and ten year periods, or for shorter periods depending upon the length of time
the Fund has operated.
[Page 18]
Total return is computed on a per share basis and assumes the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions. Total return generally is expressed as a percentage
rate which is calculated by combining the income and principal changes for a
specified period and dividing by the net asset value per share at the beginning
of the period. Advertisements may include the percentage rate of total return or
may include the value of a hypothetical investment at the end of the period
which assumes the application of the percentage rate of total return.
Performance will vary from time to time and past results are not necessarily
representative of future results. You should remember that performance is a
function of portfolio management in selecting the type and quality of portfolio
securities and is affected by operating expenses. Performance information, such
as that described above, may not provide a basis for comparison with other
investments or other investment companies using a different method of
calculating performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index,
the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Moody's Bond Survey Bond Index, Bond Buyer's
20-Bond Index, Wilshire 5000 Index and other industry publications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on May 12, 1993, and commenced
operations on July 1, 1993. The Fund is authorized to issue 300 million shares
of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share. Each share has one vote.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or
the appointment of auditors. However, pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, 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 or for any other purpose. Fund shareholders
may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Fund's 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 Transfer Agent maintains a record of your ownership and sends you
confirmation and statements of account.
Shareholder inquiries may be made to your Service Agent or by writing to the
Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11556-0144, or by
calling toll free 1-800-645-6561. In New York City, call 1-718-895-1206; outside
the U.S., call 516-794-5452.
[Page 19]
APPENDIX
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS -- Foreign currency transactions may be entered
into for a variety of purposes, including: to fix in U.S. dollars, between trade
and settlement date, the value of a security the Fund has agreed to buy or sell;
to hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities the Fund already owns, particularly
if it expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which the foreign
security is denominated; or to gain exposure to the foreign currency in an
attempt to realize gains.
Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the Fund's purchase
of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short positions in
foreign currencies, which would involve the Fund agreeing to exchange an amount
of a currency it did not currently own for another currency at a future date in
anticipation of a decline in the value of the currency sold relative to the
currency the Fund contracted to receive in the exchange. The Fund's success in
these transactions will depend principally on The Dreyfus Corporation's ability
to predict accurately the future exchange rates between foreign currencies and
the U.S. dollar.
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.
LEVERAGE -- Leveraging exaggerates the effect on net asset value of any increase
or decrease in the market value of the Fund's portfolio. Money borrowed for
leveraging is limited to 33(1)/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. These
borrowings will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered
by appreciation of the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs
may exceed the return received on the securities purchased.
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks, brokers or
dealers. This form of borrowing involves the transfer by the Fund of an
underlying debt instrument in return for cash proceeds based on a percentage of
the value of the security. The Fund retains the right to receive interest and
principal payments on the security. At an agreed upon future date, the Fund
repurchases the security at principal plus accrued interest. Except for these
transactions, the Fund's borrowings generally will be unsecured.
SHORT-SELLING -- In these transactions, the Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. To
complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to
the buyer. The Fund is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing
it subsequently at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at
such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by
the Fund, which would result in a loss or gain, respectively.
Securities will not be sold short if, after effect is given to any such short
sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of
the value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund may not make a short sale which
results in the Fund having sold short in the aggregate more than 5% of the
outstanding securities of any class of an issuer.
The Fund also may make short sales "against the box," in which the Fund
enters into a short sale of a security it owns in order to hedge an unrealized
gain on the security. At no time will more than 15% of the value of the Fund's
net assets be in deposits on short sales against the box.
USE OF DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may invest in, or enter into, the types of
Derivatives enumerated under "Description of the Fund -- Investment
Considerations and Risks -- Use of Derivatives."
[Page 20]
These instruments and certain related risks are described more specifically
under "Investment Objective and Management Policies -- Management Policies --
Derivatives" in the Statement of Additional Information.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risk,
depending upon the characteristics of the particular Derivative and the
portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the
level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is
exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of
risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making
investments in specific securities.
Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost
would suggest, meaning that a small investment in Derivatives could have a large
potential impact on the Fund's performance.
If the Fund invests in Derivatives at inopportune times or judges market
conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return or result
in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if its Derivatives were poorly
correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable to liquidate
its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many
Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may
result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for
Derivatives.
Although the Fund will not be a commodity pool, certain Derivatives subject
the Fund to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission which limit
the extent to which the Fund can invest in such Derivatives. The Fund may invest
in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for hedging purposes
without limit. However, the Fund may not invest in such contracts and options
for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits and
premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such contracts, other than
for bona fide hedging purposes, exceeds 5% of the liquidation value of the
Fund's assets, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized
losses in such contracts and options; provided, however, that in the case of an
option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may
be excluded in calculating the 5% limitation.
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by the premium paid,
in the purchase of call and put options. The Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered
call and put options contracts to the extent of 20% of the value of its net
assets at the time such options contracts are written. When required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund will set aside permissible liquid
assets in a segregated account to cover its obligations relating to its
transactions in Derivatives. To maintain this required cover, the Fund may have
to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since it may not
be possible to liquidate a Derivative position at a reasonable price.
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES -- The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio
to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow
securities to complete certain transactions. The Fund continues to be entitled
to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions
payable on the loaned securities which affords the Fund an opportunity to earn
interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned securities' collateral.
Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 33(1)/3% of the value of the Fund's
total assets, and the Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash, U.S.
Government securities or irrevocable letters of credit which will be maintained
at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of
the loaned securities. Such loans are terminable by the Fund at any time upon
specified notice. The Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with
which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with
the Fund.
FORWARD COMMITMENTS -- The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a forward
commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means that delivery and
payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase
or sell the securities at a predetermined price and/or yield. Typically, no
interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered. When
purchasing a security on
[Page 21]
a forward commitment basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership
of the security, including the risk of price fluctuations, and takes such
fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. Because the Fund
is not required to pay for these securities until the delivery date, these risks
are in addition to the risks associated with the Fund's other investments. If
the Fund is fully or almost fully invested when forward commitment purchases are
outstanding, such purchases may result in a form of leverage. The Fund intends
to engage in forward commitments to increase its portfolio's financial exposure
to the types of securities in which it invests. Leveraging the portfolio in this
manner will increase the Fund's exposure to changes in interest rates and will
increase the volatility of its returns. The Fund will set aside in a segregated
account permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the amount of
the commitments. At no time will the Fund have more than 33 1/3% of its assets
committed to purchase securities on a forward commitment basis.
FORWARD ROLL TRANSACTIONS -- To enhance current income, the Fund may enter into
forward roll transactions with respect to mortgage-related securities. In a
forward roll transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security to a
financial institution, such as a bank or broker-dealer, and simultaneously
agrees to purchase a similar security from the institution at a later date at an
agreed upon price. The securities that are purchased will bear the same interest
rate as those sold, but generally will be collateralized by different pools of
mortgages with different pre-payment histories than those sold. During the
period between the sale and purchase, the Fund will not be entitled to receive
interest and principal payments on the securities sold. Proceeds of the sale
typically will be invested in short-term investments, particularly repurchase
agreements, and the income from these investments, together with any additional
fee income received on the sale, will be expected to generate income for the
Fund exceeding the yield on the securities sold. Forward roll transactions
involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may
decline below the purchase price of those securities. A segregated account of
the Fund consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or other high quality
liquid debt securities at least equal to the amount of the repurchase price
(including accrued interest) will be established and maintained at the Fund's
custodian bank.
CERTAIN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
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.
The Fund also may invest in convertible preferred stocks that offer enhanced
yield features and higher dividend income than is available from an issuer's
common stock.
MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES -- Mortgage-related securities are a form of
Derivative collateralized by pools of commercial or residential mortgages. Pools
of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various
governmental, government-related and private organizations. These securities may
include complex instruments such as collateralized mortgage obligations,
stripped mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities, interests
in real estate mortgage investment conduits (" REMICs" ), adjustable rate
mortgages, real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), including debt and preferred
stock issued by REITs, as well as other real estate-related securities. The
mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest include those with
fixed, floating or variable interest rates, those with interest rates that
change based on multiples of changes in a specified index of interest rates and
those with interest rates that change inversely to changes in interest rates, as
well as those that do not bear interest. Mortgage-related securities are subject
to credit risks associated with the performance of the underlying mortgage
properties.
[Page 22]
Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances are more likely to have
an adverse impact on mortgage-related securities secured by loans on certain
types of commercial properties than on those secured by loans on residential
properties. In addition, these securities are subject to prepayment risk,
although commercial mortgages typically have shorter maturities than residential
mortgages and prepayment protection features. In certain instances, the credit
risk associated with mortgage-related securities can be reduced by third party
guarantees or other forms of credit support. Improved credit risk does not
reduce prepayment risk which is unrelated to the rating assigned to the
mortgage-related security. Prepayment risk can lead to fluctuations in value of
the mortgage-related security which may be pronounced. If a mortgage-related
security is purchased at a premium, all or part of the premium may be lost if
there is a decline in the market value of the security, whether resulting from
changes in interest rates or prepayments on the underlying mortgage collateral.
Certain mortgage-related securities that may be purchased by the Fund, such as
inverse floating rate collateralized mortgage obligations, have coupons that
move inversely to a multiple of a specific index which may result in a form of
leverage. As with other interest-bearing securities, the prices of certain
mortgage-related securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates.
However, although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when
interest rates rise, the converse is not necessarily true, since in periods of
declining interest rates the mortgages underlying the security are more likely
to be prepaid. For this and other reasons, a mortgage-related security's stated
maturity may be shortened by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying
mortgages, and, therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the
security's return to the Fund. Moreover, with respect to certain stripped
mortgage-backed securities, if the underlying mortgage securities experience
greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to fully
recoup its initial investment even if the securities are rated in the highest
rating category by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of mortgage-related
securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower prepayments
effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected maturity which
generally would cause the value of such security to fluctuate more widely in
response to changes in interest rates. Were the prepayments on the Fund's
mortgage-related securities to decrease broadly, the Fund's effective duration,
and thus sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations, would increase. For further
discussion concerning the investment considerations involved, see "Description
of the Fund -- Investment Considerations and Risks -- Fixed-Income Securities"
and "Illiquid Securities" below.
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES -- Asset-backed securities are a form of Derivative. The
securitization techniques used for asset-backed securities are similar to those
used for mortgage-related securities. The collateral for these securities has
included home equity loans, automobile and credit card receivables, boat loans,
computer leases, airplane leases, mobile home loans, recreational vehicle loans
and hospital account receivables. The Fund may invest in these and other types
of asset-backed securities that may be developed in the future.
Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by
mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may provide the Fund
with a less effective security interest in the related collateral than do
mortgage-backed securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries
on the underlying collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support
payments on these securities.
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.
MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS -- Municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by
states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of
Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, or
multistate agencies or authorities. Municipal obligations bear fixed, floating
or variable rates of interest. Certain municipal obligations are subject to
redemption at a date earlier than
[Page 23]
their stated maturity pursuant to call options, which may be separated from the
related municipal obligations and purchased and sold separately. The Fund also
may acquire call options on specific municipal obligations. The Fund generally
would purchase these call options to protect the Fund from the issuer of the
related municipal obligation redeeming, or other holder of the call option from
calling away, the municipal obligation before maturity.
While, in general, municipal obligations are tax exempt securities having
relatively low yields as compared to taxable, non-municipal obligations of
similar quality, certain municipal obligations are taxable obligations, offering
yields comparable to, and in some cases greater than, the yields available on
other permissible Fund investments. Dividends received by shareholders on Fund
shares which are attributable to interest income received by the Fund from
municipal obligations generally will be subject to Federal income tax. The Fund
may invest in municipal obligations, the ratings of which correspond with the
ratings of other permissible Fund investments. The Fund currently intends to
invest no more than 25% of its assets in municipal obligations. However, this
percentage may be varied from time to time without shareholder approval.
AMERICAN, EUROPEAN AND CONTINENTAL DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS -- The Fund may invest in
the securities of foreign issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts
(" ADRs" ) and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"). These securities may not
necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which
they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States
bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued
by a foreign corporation. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental
Depositary Receipts (" CDRs" ), are receipts issued in Europe typically by
non-United States banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either
foreign or domestic securities. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed
for use in the United States securities markets and EDRs and CDRs in bearer form
are designed for use in Europe.
`
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS -- The Fund may invest in the following types of money
market instruments.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities
that differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance. Some
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others
by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain
obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others only by the credit of
the agency or instrumentality. These securities bear fixed, floating or variable
rates of interest. While the U.S. Government provides financial support to such
U.S. Government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities, no assurance can be
given that it will always do so since it is not so obligated by law
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys, and the
seller agrees to repurchase, a security at a mutually agreed upon time and price
(usually within seven days) . The repurchase agreement thereby determines the
yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's obligation to
repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security. Repurchase
agreements could involve risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the
other party to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon the
Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. The Fund may enter into
repurchase agreements with certain banks or non-bank dealers.
BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Fund may purchase certificates of deposit, time
deposits, bankers' acceptances and other short-term obligations issued by
domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks,
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, domestic savings and loan
associations and other banking institutions. With respect to such securities
issued by foreign subsidiaries or foreign branches of domestic banks, and
domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks, the Fund
[Page 24]
may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some
respects from those incurred by a fund which invests only in debt obligations of
U.S. domestic issuers. See "Description of the Fund -- Investment Considerations
and Risks -- Foreign Securities."
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the obligation
of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution
for a specified period of time (in no event longer than seven days) at a stated
interest rate.
Bankers' acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a
bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the
obligation both of the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount of the
instrument upon maturity. The other short-term obligations may include
uninsured, direct obligations bearing fixed, floating or variable interest
rates.
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper consists of short-term, unsecured
promissory notes issued to finance short-term credit needs. The commercial paper
purchased by the Fund will consist only of direct obligations which, at the time
of their purchase, are (a) rated not lower than Prime-1 by Moody's, A-1 by S&P,
F-1 by Fitch or Duff-1 by Duff, (b) issued by companies having an outstanding
unsecured debt issue currently rated at least A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P, Fitch
or Duff, or (c) if unrated, determined by The Dreyfus Corporation to be of
comparable quality to those rated obligations which may be purchased by the
Fund.
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 holder
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.
Such securities may include securities that are not readily marketable, such as
certain securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on
resale, repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days
after notice, and certain privately negotiated, non-exchange traded options and
securities used to cover such options. As to these securities, the Fund is
subject to a risk that should the Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is
not available at a price the Fund deems representative of their value, the value
of the Fund's net assets could be adversely affected.
RATINGS -- Securities rated Ba by Moody's are judged to have speculative
elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured and often the
protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate. Securities
rated BB by S&P, Fitch or Duff, are regarded as having predominately speculative
characteristics and, while such obligations have less near-term vulnerability to
default than other speculative grade debt, 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.
Securities rated C by Moody's are regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
ever attaining any real investment standing. Securities rated D by S&P or Fitch
or DD by Duff are in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of
principal is in arrears. Such securities, though high yielding, are
characterized by great risk. See "Appendix" in the Statement of Additional
Information for a general description of securities ratings.
[Page 25]
The ratings of Moody's, S&P, Fitch and Duff represent their opinions as to
the quality of the obligations which they undertake to rate. Ratings are
relative and subjective and, although ratings may be useful in evaluating the
safety of interest and principal payments, they do not evaluate the market value
risk of such obligations. Although these ratings may be an initial criterion for
selection of portfolio investments, The Dreyfus Corporation also will evaluate
these securities and the ability of the issuers of such securities to pay
interest and principal. The Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective
may be more dependent on The Dreyfus Corporation's credit analysis than might be
the case for a fund that invested in higher rated securities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES, EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS. The Fund is
intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to provide
investors with a means of speculation 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 engaged 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 the Fund during any calendar year (for
calendar year 1998, beginning on January 15th) or who makes exchanges that
appear to coincide with an active 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 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 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 Dreyfus
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE FUND'S
OFFICIAL SALES LITERATURE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OF THE FUND'S SHARES,
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, SUCH
OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
[Page 26]
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
[Page 27]
Dreyfus
Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
PROSPECTUS
(c) 1998 Dreyfus Service Corporation
AAFp0998
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
PART B
(STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
SEPTEMBER 1, 1998
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated September 1, 1998,
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 11566-0144, or call the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S. -- Call 516-794-5452
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as the Fund's investment
adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of the Fund's shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Investment Objective and Management Policies............ B-2
Management of the Fund.................................. B-17
Management Agreement.................................... B-21
Purchase of Shares...................................... B-23
Shareholder Services Plan............................... B-24
Redemption of Shares.................................... B-25
Shareholder Services.................................... B-26
Determination of Net Asset Value........................ B-29
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes...................... B-30
Portfolio Transactions.................................. B-32
Performance Information................................. B-33
Information About the Fund.............................. B-34
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian,
Counsel and Independent Auditors...................... B-34
Financial Statements and Report of Independent
Auditors................................................ B-35
Appendix................................................ B-36
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the sections in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Description of the
Fund" and "Appendix."
Portfolio Securities
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will have
custody of, and will hold in a segregated account, securities acquired by
the Fund under a repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements are considered
by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be loans by the
Fund that enters into them. In an attempt to reduce the risk of incurring a
loss on a repurchase agreement, the Fund will enter into repurchase
agreements only with domestic banks with total assets in excess of $1
billion, or primary government securities dealers reporting to the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, with respect to securities of the type in which
the Fund may invest, and will require that additional securities be
deposited with it if the value of the securities purchased should decrease
below resale price.
Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations. These
instruments include variable amount master demand notes, which are
obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying
rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as
lender, and the borrower. These notes permit daily changes in the amounts
borrowed. Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between
the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments
generally will be traded, and there generally is no established secondary
market for these obligations, although they are redeemable at face value,
plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, where these obligations
are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements,
the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to
pay principal and interest on demand. Such obligations frequently are not
rated by credit rating agencies, and the Fund may invest in them only if at
the time of an investment the borrower meets the criteria set forth in the
Fund's Prospectus for other commercial paper issuers.
Convertible Securities. Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-
income securities, the market value of convertible securities tends to
decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as
interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the
market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in
the market value of the underlying common stock. A unique feature of
convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common
stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as
the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common
stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a
reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities
investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities
generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same
issuer.
Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream
of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no
assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible
securities may default on their obligations. A convertible security, in
addition to providing fixed income, offers the potential for capital
appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to
benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.
There can be no assurance of capital appreciation, however, because
securities prices fluctuate. Convertible securities, however, generally
offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of
similar quality because of the potential for capital appreciation.
The Fund may invest in convertible preferred stocks that offer enhanced
yield features, such as Preferred Equity Redemption Cumulative Stock
("PERCS"), and higher dividend income than is available on a company's
common stock. PERCS are preferred stock which generally feature a mandatory
conversion date, as well as a capital appreciation limit that is usually
expressed in terms of a stated price. The Fund also may invest in other
classes of enhanced convertible securities, such as ACES (Automatically
Convertible Equity Securities), PEPS (Participating Equity Preferred Stock),
PRIDES (Preferred Redeemable Increased Dividend Equity Securities), SAILS
(Stock Appreciation Income Linked Securities), TECONS (Term Convertible
Notes), QICS (Quarterly Income Cumulative Securities) and DECS (Dividend
Enhanced Convertible Securities). These securities are company issued
convertible preferred stock. Unlike PERCS, they do not have a capital
appreciation limit. They are designed to provide the investor with high
current income with some prospect of future capital appreciation, issued
with three or four-year maturities, and typically have some built-in call
protection. Investors have the right to convert them into shares of common
stock at a preset conversion ratio or hold them until maturity. Upon
maturity they will convert mandatorily into either cash or a specified
number of shares of common stock.
Zero Coupon Securities. Zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities 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. Receipts include
"Treasury Receipts" ("TRs") "Treasury Investment Growth Receipts" ("TIGRs"),
"Liquid Yield Option Notes" ("LYONs"), and "Certificates of Accrual on
Treasury Securities" ("CATS"). TIGRs, LYONs and CATS are interests in
private proprietary accounts while TRs are interests in accounts sponsored
by the U.S. Treasury.
Municipal Obligations. Municipal obligations generally include debt
obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes as well as
certain industrial development bonds issued by or on behalf of public
authorities. Municipal obligations are classified as general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds and notes. General obligation bonds are secured by the
issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of
principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable from the revenue derived
from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from
the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source, but not
from the general taxing power. Industrial development bonds, in most cases,
are revenue bonds and generally do not carry the pledge of the credit of the
issuing municipality, but generally are guaranteed by the corporate entity
on whose behalf they are issued. Notes are short-term instruments which are
obligations of the issuing municipalities or agencies and are sold in
anticipation of a bond sale, collection of taxes or receipt of other
revenues. Municipal obligations include municipal lease/purchase agreements
which are similar to installment purchase contracts for property or
equipment issued by municipalities.
Mortgage Related Securities--Mortgage-related securities are a form of
Derivative collateralized by pools of commercial or residential mortgages.
Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by
various governmental, government-related and private organizations. These
securities may include complex instruments such as collateralized mortgage
obligations and stripped mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through
securities, interests in REMICs or other kinds of mortgage-backed
securities, including those with fixed, floating and variable interest
rates, those with interest rates that change based on multiples of changes
in a specified index of interest rates and those with interest rates that
change inversely to changes in interest rates.
Government-Agency Securities--Mortgage-related securities issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") include GNMA Mortgage Pass-
Through Certificates (also known as "Ginnie Maes") which are guaranteed as
to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA and such guarantee
is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA is a
wholly-owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing
and Urban Development. GNMA certificates also are supported by the
authority of GNMA to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments
under its guarantee.
Government-Related Securities--Mortgage-related securities issued by the
Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") include FNMA Guaranteed
Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (also known as "Fannie Maes") which are
solely the obligations of FNMA and are not backed by or entitled to the full
faith and credit of the United States. FNMA is a government-sponsored
organization owned entirely by private stockholders. Fannie Maes are
guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA.
Mortgage-related securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation ("FHLMC") include FHLMC Mortgage Participation Certificates
(also known as "Freddie Macs" or "PCs"). FHLMC is a corporate
instrumentality of the United States created pursuant to an Act of Congress,
which is owned entirely by Federal Home Loan Banks. Freddie Macs are not
guaranteed by the United States or by any Federal Home Loan Bank and do not
constitute a debt or obligation of the United States or of any Federal Home
Loan Bank. Freddie Macs entitle the holder to timely payment of interest,
which is guaranteed by FHLMC. FHLMC guarantees either ultimate collection
or timely payment of all principal payments on the underlying mortgage
loans. When FHLMC does not guarantee timely payment of principal, FHLMC may
remit the amount due on account of its guarantee of ultimate payment of
principal at any time after default on an underlying mortgage, but in no
event later than one year after it becomes payable.
Private Entity Securities--These mortgage-related securities are issued by
commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private
mortgage insurance companies and other non-governmental issuers. Timely
payment of principal and interest on mortgage-related securities backed by
pools created by non-governmental issuers often is supported partially by
various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title,
pool and hazard insurance. The insurance and guarantees are issued by
government entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers. There can
be no assurance that the private insurers or mortgage poolers can meet their
obligations under the policies, so that if the issuers default on their
obligations the holders of the security could sustain a loss. No insurance
or guarantee covers the Fund or the price of the Fund's shares. Mortgage-
related securities issued by non-governmental issuers generally offer a
higher rate of interest than government agency and government-related
securities because there are no direct or indirect government guarantees of
payment.
Commercial Mortgage-Related Securities--Commercial mortgage related
securities generally are multi-class debt or pass-through certificates
secured by mortgage loans on commercial properties. These mortgage-related
securities generally are structured to provide protection to the senior
classes investors against potential losses on the underlying mortgage loans.
This protection generally is provided by having the holders of subordinated
classes of securities ("Subordinated Securities") take the first loss if
there are defaults on the underlying commercial mortgage loans. Other
protection, which may benefit all of the classes or particular classes, may
include issuer guarantees, reserve funds, additional Subordinated
Securities, cross-collateralization and over-collateralization.
The Fund may invest in Subordinated Securities issued or sponsored by
commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private
mortgage insurance companies and other non-governmental issuers.
Subordinated Securities have no governmental guarantee, and are subordinated
in some manner as to the payment of principal and/or interest to the holders
of more senior mortgage-related securities arising out of the same pool of
mortgages. The holders of Subordinated Securities typically are compensated
with a higher stated yield than are the holders of more senior mortgage-
related securities. On the other hand, Subordinated Securities typically
subject the holder to greater risk than senior mortgage-related securities
and tend to be rated in a lower rating category, and frequently a
substantially lower category, than the senior mortgage-related securities
issued in respect of the same pool of mortgage. Subordinated Securities
generally are likely to be more sensitive to changes in prepayment and
interest rates and the market rates and the market for such securities may
be less liquid than is the case for traditional fixed-income securities and
senior mortgage-related securities.
The market for commercial mortgage-related securities developed more
recently and in terms of total outstanding principal amount of issues is
relatively small compared to the market for residential single-family
mortgage-related securities. In addition, commercial lending generally is
viewed as exposing the lender to a greater risk of loss than one- to four-
family residential lending. Commercial lending, for example, typically
involves larger loans to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers
than residential one- to four-family mortgage loans. In addition the
repayment of loans secured by income producing properties typically is
dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project
and the cash flow generated therefrom. Consequently, adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances are more likely to have an adverse
impact on mortgage-related securities secured by loans on commercial
properties than on those secured by loans on residential properties.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations ("CMOs")--A CMO is a mulitclass bond
backed by a pool of mortgage pass-through certificates or mortgage loans.
CMOs may be collateralized by (a) Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac
pass-through certificates, (b) unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the
Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans'
Affairs, (c) unsecuritized conventional mortgages, (d) other mortgage-
related securities, or (e) any combination thereof. Each class of CMOs,
often referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific coupon rate and
has a stated maturity of final distribution date. Principal prepayments on
collateral underlying a CMO may cause it to be retired substantially earlier
than the stated maturities or final distribution dates. The principal and
interest on the underlying mortgages may be allocated among the several
classes of a series of a CMO in many ways. One or more trances of a CMO may
have coupon rates which reset periodically at a specified increment over an
index, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") (or sometimes
more than one index). These floating rate CMOs typically are issued with
lifetime caps on the coupon rate thereon. The Fund also may invest in
inverse floating rate CMOs. Inverse floating rate CMOs constitute a tranche
of a CMO with a coupon rate that moves in the reverse direction to an
applicable index such a LIBOR. Accordingly, the coupon rate thereon will
increase as interest rates decrease. Inverse floating rate CMOs are
typically more volatile than fixed or floating rate tranches of CMOs.
Many inverse floating rate CMOs have coupons that move inversely to a
multiple of the applicable indexes. The effect of the coupon varying
inversely to a multiple of an applicable index creates a leverage factor.
Inverse floaters based on multiples of a stated index are designed to be
highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders
thereof to extreme reductions of yield and loss of principal. The markets
for inverse floating rate CMOs with highly leveraged characteristics at
times may be very thin. The Fund's ability to dispose of its positions in
such securities will depend on the degree of liquidity in the markets for
such securities. It is impossible to predict the amount of trading interest
that may exist in such securities, and therefore the future degree of
liquidity.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities--The Fund also may invest in stripped
mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are created
by segregating the cash flows from underlying mortgage loans or mortgage
securities to create two or more new securities, each with a specified
percentage of the underlying security's principal or interest payments.
Mortgage securities may be partially stripped so that each investor class
receives some interest and some principal. When securities are completely
stripped, however, all of the interest is distributed to holders of one type
of security, known as an interest-only security, or IO, and all of the
principal is distributed to holders of another type of security known as a
principal-only security, or PO. Strips can be created in a pass-through
structure or as tranches of a CMO. The yields to maturity on IOs and POs
are very sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments)
on the related underlying mortgage assets. If the underlying mortgage
assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the
Fund may not fully recoup its initial investment in IOs. Conversely, if the
underlying mortgage assets experience less than anticipated prepayments of
principal, the yield on POs could be materially and adversely affected.
Real Estate Investment Trusts--A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust
that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby
effectively eliminating corporate level Federal Income tax and making the
REIT a pass-through vehicle for Federal income tax purposes. To meet the
definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things,
invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate
(including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities,
derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans
secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders
annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.
REITs are characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid
REITs. Equity REITs, which may include operating or finance companies, own
real estate directly and the value of, and income earned by, the REITs
depends upon the income of the underlying properties and the rental income
they earn. Equity REITs also can realize capital gains (or losses) by
selling properties that have appreciated (or depreciated) in value.
Mortgage REITs can make construction, development or long-term mortgage
loans and are sensitive to the credit quality of the borrower. Mortgage
REITs derive their income from interest payments on such loans. Hybrid
REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs,
generally by holding both ownership interests and mortgage interests in real
estate. The value of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and
regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also
are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants,
self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free
status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Loans ("ARMs")--ARMs eligible for inclusion in a
mortgage pool will generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest
rate for a specified period of time, generally for either the first three,
six, twelve, thirteen, thirty-six, or sixty scheduled monthly payments.
Thereafter, the interest rates are subject to periodic adjustment based on
changes in an index. ARMs typically have minimum and maximum rates beyond
which the mortgage interest rate may not vary over the lifetime of the
loans. Certain ARMs provide for additional limitations on the maximum
amount by which the mortgage interest rate may adjust for any single
adjustment period. Negatively amortizing ARMs may provide limitations on
changes in the required monthly payment. Limitations on monthly payments
can result in monthly payments that are greater or less than the amount
necessary to amortize a negatively amortizing ARM by its maturity at the
interest rate in effect during any particular month.
Other Mortgage-Related Securities--Other mortgage-related securities include
securities other than those described above that directly or indirectly
represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage
loans on real property, including CMO residuals. Other mortgage-related
securities may be equity or debt securities issued by agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or
investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations,
homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks,
partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing.
Foreign Government Obligations; Securities of Supranational Entities.
The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by one or more
foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies or
instrumentalities that are determined by the Manager to be of comparable
quality to the other obligations in which the Fund may invest. Such
securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities.
Supranational entities include international organizations designated or
supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or
development and international banking institutions and related government
agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, the
Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank.
Illiquid Securities. When purchasing securities that have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are not readily
marketable, the Fund will endeavor to obtain the right to registration at
the expense of the issuer. Generally, there will be a lapse of time between
the Fund's decision to sell any such security and the registration of the
security permitting sale. During any such period, the price of the
securities will be subject to market fluctuations. However, where a
substantial market of qualified institutional buyers develops for certain
unregistered securities purchased by the Fund pursuant to Rule 144A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Fund intends to treat such
securities as liquid securities in accordance with procedures approved by
the Fund's Board. Because it is not possible to predict with assurance how
the market for restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144A will develop, the
Fund's Board has directed the Manager to monitor carefully the Fund's
investments in such securities with particular regard to trading activity,
availability of reliable price information and other relevant information.
To the extent that, for a period of time, qualified institutional buyers
cease purchasing restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144A, the Fund's
investing in such securities may have the effect of increasing the level of
illiquidity during such period.
Management Policies
The Fund may engage in the following investment practices in
furtherance of its objective.
Leverage. For borrowings for investment purposes, the 1940 Act
requires the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total
assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of
300% of the amount borrowed. If the required coverage should decline as a
result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to
sell some of its portfolio securities within three days to reduce the amount
of its borrowings and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be
disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that
time. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in
connection with such borrowing or pay a commitment or other fee to maintain
a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of
borrowing over the stated interest rate. To the extent the Fund enters into
a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will maintain in a segregated
custodial account permissible liquid assets at least equal to the aggregate
amount of its reverse repurchase obligations, plus accrued interest, in
certain cases, in accordance with releases promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission views reverse
repurchase transactions as collateralized borrowings by the Fund.
Short-Selling. Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces
the borrowed security, it will: (a) maintain a segregated account,
containing permissible liquid assets, at such a level that the amount
deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as
collateral always equals the current value of the security sold short; or
(b) otherwise cover its short position.
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in, or enter into, Derivatives (as
defined in the Fund's Prospectus) for a variety of reasons, including to
hedge certain market risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or
selling particular securities or to increase potential income gain.
Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way
for the Fund to invest than "traditional" securities would.
Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through
privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter
Derivatives. Exchange-traded Derivatives generally are guaranteed by the
clearing agency that is the issuer or counterparty to such Derivatives.
This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment system (i.e.,
variation margin requirements) operated by the clearing agency in order to
reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency
defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated
with Derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency
guarantees over-the-counter Derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-
the-counter Derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default.
Accordingly, the Manager will consider the creditworthiness of
counterparties to over-the-counter Derivatives in the same manner as it
would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by the Fund.
Over-the-counter Derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded
Derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only
investor with sufficient understanding of the Derivative to be interested in
bidding for it.
Futures Transactions--In General. The Fund may enter into futures contracts
in U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of Trade and the
International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, or, on
exchanges located outside the United States, such as the London
International Financial Futures Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange
Limited. Foreign markets may offer advantages such as trading opportunities
or arbitrage possibilities not available in the United States. Foreign
markets, however, may have greater risk potential than domestic markets.
For example, some foreign exchanges are principal markets so that no common
clearing facility exists and an investor may look only to the broker for
performance of the contract. In addition, any profits that the Fund might
realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange
rate, or the Fund could incur losses as a result of those changes.
Transactions on foreign exchanges may include both commodities which are
traded on domestic exchanges and those which are not. Unlike trading on
domestic commodity exchanges, trading on foreign commodity exchanges is not
regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Engaging in these transactions involves risk of loss to the Fund which
could adversely affect the value of the Fund's net assets. Although the
Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only if there is an
active market for such contracts, no assurance can be given that a liquid
market will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. Many
futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation
permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the
daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made
that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for
specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could
move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no
trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and
potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.
Successful use of futures by the Fund also is subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant
market and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging
purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction
being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract. For example,
if the Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in
the market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such
securities instead increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit
of the increased value of securities which it has hedged because it will
have offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such
circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities
to meet daily variation margin requirements. The Fund may have to sell such
securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the Fund may be required to segregate permissible
liquid assets in connection with its commodities transactions in an amount
generally equal to the value of the underlying commodity. The segregation
of such assets will have the effect of limiting the Fund's ability otherwise
to invest those assets.
Specific Futures Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell stock index
futures contracts. A stock index future obligates the Fund to pay or receive
an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the futures
contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price of the
contract on the contract's last trading day and the value of the index based
on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the opening of
trading in such securities on the next business day.
The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts. An
interest rate future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a
specific debt security at a future date at a specific price.
Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund
with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive
interest (for example, an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed-rate
payments). The exchange commitments can involve payments to be made in the
same currency or in different currencies. The use of interest rate swaps is
a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks
different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security
transactions. If the Manager is incorrect in its forecasts of market
values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment
performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been
if these investment techniques were not used. Moreover, even if the Manager
is correct in its forecasts, there is a risk that the swap position may
correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or liability being hedged.
There is no limit on the amount of interest rate swap transactions that may
be entered into by the Fund. These transactions do not involve the delivery
of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the
risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net
amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to
make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund's risk
of loss consists of the net amount of interest payments that the Fund
contractually is entitled to receive.
The Fund may purchase and sell currency futures. A foreign currency
future obligates the Fund to purchase or sell an amount of a specific
currency at a future date at a specific price.
Options. The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) call or put options
with respect to specific securities. A call option gives the purchaser of
the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the
underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time during
the option period, or at a specific date. Conversely, a put option gives
the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to
buy, the underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time
during the option period, or at a specific date.
A covered call option written by the Fund is a call option with respect
to which the Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the
transaction by segregating cash or other securities. A put option written
by the Fund is covered when, among other things, cash or liquid securities
having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option are
placed in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian to fulfill the
obligation undertaken. The principal reason for writing covered call and
put options is to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return
than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. The Fund
receives a premium from writing covered call or put options which it retains
whether or not the option is exercised.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a
liquid secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no such
secondary market may exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may
cease to exist for a variety of reasons. In the past, for example, higher
than anticipated trading activity or order flow, or other unforeseen events,
at times have rendered certain of the clearing facilities inadequate and
resulted in the institution of special procedures, such as trading
rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders or trading halts or
suspensions in one or more options. There can be no assurance that similar
events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the timely execution of
customers' orders, will not recur. In such event, it might not be possible
to effect closing transactions in particular options. If, as a covered call
option writer, the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security
until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise or it otherwise covers its position.
Specific Options Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options in respect of specific securities (or groups or "baskets" of
specific securities) or stock indices listed on national securities
exchanges or traded in the over-the -counter market. An option on a stock
index is similar to an option in respect of specific securities, except that
settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the
index. Instead, the option holder receives an amount of cash if the closing
level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in
the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price
of the option. Thus, the effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock index
options will depend upon price movements in the level of the index rather
than the price of a particular stock.
The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign
currency. These options convey the right to buy or sell the underlying
currency at a price which is expected to be lower or higher than the spot
price of the currency at the time the option is exercised or expires.
The Fund may purchase cash-settled options on interest rate swaps,
interest rate swaps denominated in foreign currency and equity index swaps
in pursuit of its investment objective. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to
pay or receive interest (for example, an exchange of floating-rate payments
for fixed-rate payments) denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currency.
Equity index swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of
cash flows based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index
of securities which usually includes dividends. A cash-settled option on a
swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for
the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the
underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are
purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions,
including securities brokerage firms.
Successful use by the Fund of options will be subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the prices of individual stocks,
the stock market generally, foreign currencies or interest rates. To the
extent the Manager's predictions are incorrect, the Fund may incur losses.
Future Developments. The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in
the area of options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts
and any other Derivatives which are not presently contemplated for use by
the Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to
the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such
transactions or making any such investment, the Fund will provide
appropriate disclosure in its Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information.
Forward Commitments. Securities purchased on a forward commitment or
when-issued basis are subject to changes in value (generally changing in the
same way, i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating
when interest rates rise) based upon the public's perception of the
creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the
level of interest rates. Securities purchased on a forward commitment or
when-issued basis may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience
such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on
a when-issued basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available
in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that
obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully
invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the
Fund's net assets and its net asset value per share.
Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest in securities
issued by other investment companies which principally invest in securities
of the type in which the Fund invests. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund's total
investments in such securities, subject to certain exceptions, currently are
limited to (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company,
(ii) 5% of the Fund's total assets with respect to any one investment
company and (iii) 10% of the Fund's total assets in the aggregate.
Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve
duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses.
Lending Portfolio Securities. In connection with its securities
lending transactions, the Fund may return to the borrower or a third party
which is unaffiliated with the Fund, and which is acting as a "placing
broker," a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral
received for securities loaned.
The Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that the
following conditions must be met whenever portfolio securities are loaned:
(1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower;
(2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of
the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must
be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive
reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other
distributions payable on the loaned securities, and any increase in market
value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection
with the loan; and (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass
to the borrower, the Fund's Board must terminate the loan and regain the
right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the
investment occurs.
Investment Considerations and Risks
Lower Rated Securities. The Fund is permitted to invest in securities
rated Ba by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BB by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch") or Duff & Phelps
Credit Ratings Co. ("Duff" and with Moody's, S&P and Fitch, the "Rating
Agencies") and as low as the lowest rating assigned by the Rating Agencies.
Such securities, though higher yielding, are characterized by risk. See
"Description of the Fund--Investment Considerations and Risks--Lower Rated
Securities" in the Prospectus for a discussion of certain risks and the
"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 Manager's judgment, analysis and
experience in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issuer.
Investors 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. 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 Manager 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 and pay-in-kind bonds, in which the
Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets. Pay-in-kind bonds pay
interest through the issuance of additional securities. Zero coupon
securities and pay-in-kind bonds carry an additional risk in that, unlike
bonds 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.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted investment restrictions numbered 1 through 8 as
fundamental policies, 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. Investment restrictions numbered 9 through 14 are not
fundamental policies and may be changed by vote of a majority of the Fund's
Board members at any time. The Fund may not:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt
obligations and the entry into repurchase agreements. However, the Fund may
lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the
value of its total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made
according to guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Fund's Board.
5. 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.
6. Invest more than 25% of the value of its assets in the securities
of issuers in any single industry, provided that, there shall be no
limitation on the purchase of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
7. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section
18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent the activities permitted in
Investment Restriction Nos. 1, 3, 10 and 11 may be deemed to give rise to a
senior security.
8. Purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may make margin
deposits in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts,
futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on
futures contracts or indices.
9. 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.
10. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call
options and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with
respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.
11. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls or combinations thereof,
except as may be described in the Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information.
12. Purchase securities of any company having less than three years'
continuous operations (including operations of any predecessors) 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.
13. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more
than seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid, if,
in the aggregate, more than 15% of the value of the Fund's net assets would
be so invested.
14. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
The Fund may invest, notwithstanding any other investment restriction
(whether or not fundamental), all of its assets in the securities of a
single open-end management investment company with substantially the same
fundamental investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.
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.
The Fund may make commitments more restrictive than the restrictions
listed above so as to permit the sale of Fund shares in certain states.
Should the Fund determine that a commitment is no longer in the best
interest of the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to
revoke the commitment by terminating the sale of Fund shares in the state
involved.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years,
are shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
LUCY WILSON BENSON, Board Member. President of Benson and Associates,
consultants to business and government. Mrs. Benson is a director of
Communications Satellite Corporation, General RE Corporation and
Logistics Management Institute. She is also a trustee of the Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette
College, Vice Chairman of the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs and
a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. From 1980 to 1994, Mrs.
Benson was a director of The Grumman Corporation. Mrs. Benson served
as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and to SRI
International from 1980 to 1981. From 1977 to 1980, she was Under
Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology.
She is 70 years old and her address is 46 Sunset Avenue, Amherst,
Massachusetts 01002.
DAVID W. BURKE, Board Member. Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, an independent board within the United States Information
Agency, since August 1995. From August 1994 to February 1995, Mr.
Burke was a Consultant to the Manager, and from October 1990 to August
1994, he was Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the
Manager. From 1977 to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the management
of national television news, as Vice President and Executive Vice
President of ABC News, and subsequently as President of CBS News. He
is 61 years old and his address is 197 Eighth Street, Charleston,
Massachusetts 02109.
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of
the Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is a
director of The Noel Group, Inc., a venture capital company (for which,
from February 1995 until November 1997, he was Chairman of the Board),
The Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services Corporation, a
provider of marketing, administrative and risk management services to
health and other benefit programs, Carlyle Industries, Inc. (formerly
Belding Heminway Company, Inc.), a button packager and distributor,
Century Business Services, Inc., a provider of various outsourcing
functions for small and medium sized companies, and Career Blazers,
Inc. (formerly, Staffing Resources, Inc.), a temporary placement firm.
For more than five years prior to January 1995, he was President, a
director and, until August 1994, Chief Operating Officer of the Manager
and Executive Vice President and a director of Dreyfus Service
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager and, until August
24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From August 1994 to December 31,
1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank Corporation. He is 54 years old
and his address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.
MARTIN D. FIFE, Board Member. Chairman of the Board of Magar, Inc., a
company specializing in financial products and developing early stage
companies. In addition, Mr. Fife is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Skysat Communications Network Corporation, a
company developing telecommunications systems. Mr. Fife also serves on
the boards of various other companies. He is 69 years old and his
address is 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174.
WHITNEY I. GERARD, Board Member. Partner of the New York City law firm of
Chadbourne & Parke. He is 62 years old and his address is 30
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112.
ROBERT R. GLAUBER, Board Member. Research Fellow, Center for Business and
Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, since January 1992. Mr. Glauber was Under Secretary of the
Treasury for Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department from May 1989 to
January 1992. For more than 5 years prior thereto, he was a Professor
of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of Harvard
University and, from 1985 to 1989, Chairman of its Advanced Management
Program. He is also a director of Mid Ocean Reinsurance Co. Ltd. and
Cooke Bieler, Inc., investment counselors, NASD Regulations, Inc. and
the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He is 57 years old and his address
is 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
ARTHUR A. HARTMAN, Board Member. Senior consultant with APCO Associates
Inc. From 1981 to 1987, he was United States Ambassador to the former
Soviet Union. He is a director of the ITT Hartford Insurance Group,
Ford Meter Box Corporation and Lawter International and a member of the
advisory councils of several other companies, research institutes and
foundations. Ambassador Hartman is Chairman of the First NIS Regional
Fund (ING/Barings Management). He is a former President of the Harvard
Board of Overseers. He is 71 years old and his address is 2738
McKinley Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015.
GEORGE L. PERRY, Board Member. An economist and Senior Fellow at the
Brookings Institution since 1969. He is co-director of the Brookings
Panel on Economic Activity and editor of its journal, The Brookings
Papers. He is also a director of the State Farm Mutual Automobile
Association, State Farm Life Insurance Company and Federal Realty
Investment Trust. He is 62 years old and his address is 1775
Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
PAUL D. WOLFOWITZ, Board Member. Dean of The Paul H. Nitze School of
Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. From 1989
to 1993, he was Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. From 1986 to
1989, he was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. From
1982 to 1986, he was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs of the Department of State. He is 52 years old and his
address is 1740 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
For so long as the Fund plan described in the section captioned
"Shareholder Services Plan" remains in effect, the Board members of the Fund
who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act,
will be selected and nominated by the Board members who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund.
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 of 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 April 30, 1998, and by all other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds
for which such person is a Board member (the numbers of which is set forth
in parenthesis next to each Board member's total compensation) for the year
ended December 31, 1997, were as follows:
Total Compensation
Aggregate from Fund and Fund
Name of Board Compensation from Complex Paid to
Member Fund* Board Members
Lucy Wilson Benson $2,250 $ 74,055 (14)
David W. Burke $2,250 $239,000 (51)
Joseph S. DiMartino $2,813 $597,128 (96)
Martin D. Fife $2,250 $ 60,500 (12)
Whitney I. Gerard $2,250 $ 60,500 (12)
Robert R. Glauber $2,250 $102,500 (20)
Arthur A. Hartman $2,000 $ 55,750 (12)
George L. Perry $2,250 $ 60,500 (12)
Paul D. Wolfowitz $2,000 $ 52,750 (10)
______________________________
* Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board
meetings, which amounted to $924 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and
Funds Distributor, Inc. the ultimate parent of which is Boston
Institutional Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. She is 40 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 the Manager. From
August 1996 to March 1998, she was Vice President and Assistant General
Counsel for Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. From January 1986 to July
1996, she was an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray. She is
38 years old.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI, Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary. Senior Vice President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of certain other investment companies advised or administered
by the Manager. From December 1989 through November 1996, he was
employed by GE Investment Services where he held various financial,
business development and compliance positions. He also served as
Treasurer of the GE Funds and as a Director of GE Investment Services.
He is 36 years old.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Vice President and Client Development Manager of Funds
Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised
or administered by the Manager. From April 1997 to March 1998, she was
employed as a Relationship Manager with Citibank, N.A. She is 29 years
old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of
the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
September 1989 to July 1994, she was an Assistant Vice President and
Client Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. She is 34 years old.
GEORGE A. RIO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice
President and Client Service Director of Funds Distributor, Inc., and
an officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From June 1995 to March 1998, he was Senior Vice President
and Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam Mutual Funds. From May 1994
to June 1995, he was Director of Business Development for First Data
Corporation. From September 1983 to May 1994, he was Senior Vice
President & Manager of Client Services and Director of Internal Audit
at The Boston Company. He is 43 years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of the
Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From July
1988 to August 1994, he was employed by The Boston Company, Inc. where
he held various management positions in the Corporate Finance and
Treasury areas. He is 35 years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. From December 1991 to March 1993, he
was employed as a Fund Accountant at The Boston Company, Inc. He is 29
years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of Funds Distributor,
Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From April 1994 to July 1996, he was
Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. From October 1992 to March
1994, he was employed by Putnam Investments in legal and compliance
capacities. He is 33 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Manager of
Treasury Services Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant
for Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 25 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 the Manager. From
March 1990 to May 1996, she was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New
York where she held various sales and marketing positions. She is 36
years old.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 200 Park Avenue, New York,
New York 10166.
The Fund's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1%
of the Fund's shares outstanding on August 10, 1998.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Management of the Fund."
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994 with the Fund, which is
subject to annual approval by (i) the Fund's Board or (ii) vote of a
majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, provided that in either event the continuance also is approved
by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, by vote cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The
Agreement was approved by shareholders on August 4, 1994, and was last
approved by the Fund's Board, including a majority of the Board members who
are not "interested persons" of any party to the Agreement, at a meeting
held on August 6, 1998. The Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60
days' notice, by the Fund's Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of
the Fund's shares, or, on not less than 90 days' notice, by the Manager.
The Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager: W.
Keith Smith, Chairman of the Board; Christopher M. Condron, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a director; Stephen E.
Canter, Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Lawrence S.
Kash, Vice Chairman-Distribution and a director; Ronald P. O'Hanley III,
Vice Chairman; J. David Officer, Vice Chairman and a director; William T.
Sandalls, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Mark N.
Jacobs, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Patrice M. Kozlowski,
Vice President-Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President-
Human Resources; Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President-Information Systems; James
Bitetto, Assistant Secretary; Steven F. Newman, Assistant Secretary; and
Mandell L. Berman, Burton C., Frank V. Cahouet and Richard F. Syron,
directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's investments in accordance with the
stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's Board.
The Manager is responsible for investment decisions, and provides the Fund
with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Board to execute purchases
and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers are Timothy Ghriskey
and Kevin McClintock. The Manager also maintains a research department with
a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who
provide research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by the
Manager.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by the
Fund, except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The
expenses borne by the Fund include: organizational costs, taxes, interest,
loan commitment fees, interest and distributions paid on securities sold
short, brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Board members who are
not officers, directors, employees or holders of 5% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of the Manager, Securities and Exchange
Commission fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees, advisory fees, charges
of custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees, certain
insurance premiums, industry association fees, outside auditing and legal
expenses, costs of maintaining the Fund's existence, costs of independent
pricing services, costs attributable to investor services (including,
without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of
shareholders' reports and meetings, costs of preparing and printing
prospectuses and statements of additional information for regulatory
purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders and any extraordinary
expenses. In addition, Fund shares are subject to an annual service fee.
See "Shareholder Services Plan."
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Fund. The Manager also may make such advertising and
promotional expenditures, using its own resources, as it from time to time
deems appropriate.
As compensation for its services, the Fund has agreed to pay the
Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .75 of 1% of the
value of the Fund's average daily net assets. For the fiscal years ended
April 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the management fees payable to the Manager
amounted to $469,019, $451,732 and $586,043, respectively. The management
fee for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1996 was reduced by $170,503
pursuant to an undertaking by the Manager, resulting in a net fee of
$298,516.
The Manager has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate
expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings
and (with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities
commissions) extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee,
exceed the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the
Fund, the Fund may deduct from the payment to be made to the Manager under
the Agreement, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense to the extent
required by state law. Such deduction or payment, if any, will be estimated
daily, and reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on a monthly
basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
The Distributor. The Distributor serves as the Fund's distributor on a
best efforts basis pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
The Distributor also acts as distributor for the other funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds and for certain other investment companies.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders
may be made at any time. Purchase orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York
time, on any business day that Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the Fund's transfer
and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent"), and the New York Stock
Exchange are open for business will be credited to the shareholder's Fund
account on the next bank business day following such purchase order.
Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any business day the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business, or
orders made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York
Stock Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the second bank business day following such
purchase order. To qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the
initial payment for purchase of Fund shares must be drawn on, and redemption
proceeds paid to, the same bank and account as are designated on the Account
Application or Shareholder Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a
particular redemption are to be wired to an account at any other bank, the
request must be in writing and signature-guaranteed. See "Redemption of
Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Reopening an Account. An investor may reopen an account with a minimum
investment of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the
calendar year, provided the information on the old Account Application is
still applicable.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "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
Fund's shareholders. The services provided may include personal services
relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries
regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and services
related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Under the Shareholder
Services Plan, the Distributor may make payments to certain financial
institutions, securities dealers and other financial industry professionals
(collectively, "Service Agents") in respect to 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 of the Shareholder Services
Plan must be approved by the 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 of the Board members cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Shareholder
Services Plan. The Shareholder Services Plan was last so approved by the
Board at a meeting held on August 6, 1998. The Shareholder Services Plan is
terminable at any time by vote of a majority of the Board members who are
not "interested persons" and have no direct or indirect financial interest
in the operation of the Shareholder Services Plan or in any agreements
entered into in connection with the Shareholder Services Plan.
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998, the Fund was charged $195,348
pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Redeem Shares."
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption
instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be the
investor, or a representative of the investor's Service Agent, and
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Ordinarily, the
Fund will initiate payment for shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege on
the next business day after receipt if the Transfer Agent receives the
redemption request in proper form. Redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum)
will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to the commercial bank
account specified by the investor on the Account Application or Shareholder
Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if the investor's bank is not a
member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are imposed by such
bank and borne by the investor. Immediate notification by the correspondent
bank to the investor's bank is necessary to avoid a delay in crediting the
funds to the investor's bank account.
Investors with access to telegraphic equipment may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code
which may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
Investors who do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment may
have the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at 1-800-654-
7171, toll free. Investors should advise the operator that the above
transmittal code must be used and should also inform the operator of the
Transfer Agent's answer back sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive
redemption proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent.
This request must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature
guaranteed as described below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. Investors should be aware that if they
have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, any request for a wire
redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer transaction through
the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") system unless more prompt transmittal
specifically is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in the
investor's account at an ACH member bank ordinarily two business days after
receipt of the redemption request. See "Purchase of Shares--Dreyfus
TeleTransfer Privilege."
Stock Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund
shares to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request.
Written redemption requests must be signed by each shareholder, including
each holder of a joint account, and each signature must be guaranteed.
Signatures on endorsed certificates submitted for redemption also must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards and procedures
pursuant to which signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be
accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national
securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies
and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock
Exchange Medallion Signature Program, the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program.
Guarantees must be signed by an authorized signatory of the guarantor and
"Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the signature. The Transfer Agent
may request additional documentation from corporations, executors,
administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept other suitable
verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as consular
verification. For more information with respect to signature-guarantees,
please call one of the telephone numbers listed on the cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash
all redemption requests by any shareholder of record of the Fund, limited in
amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value
of the Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment
is irrevocable without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of such
amount, the Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in
securities or other assets in case of an emergency or any time a cash
distribution would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the
existing shareholders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the
same manner as the Fund's securities are valued. If the recipient sold such
securities, brokerage charges would be incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or
the date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b)
when trading in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or
when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission so that disposal of the Fund's investments or determination of
its net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (c) for such other
periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission by order may permit to
protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Services."
Fund Exchanges. Shares of other funds purchased by exchange will be
purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds that are offered without a
sales load will be made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be
exchanged for shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and
the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged without a
sales load for shares of other funds sold without a
sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds acquired
by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a sales load and
additional shares acquired through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively
referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein
as "Offered Shares"), provided that, if the sales load applicable
to the Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load that could
have been imposed in connection with the Purchased Shares (at the
time the Purchased Shares were acquired), without giving effect to
any reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, shareholders must notify
the Transfer Agent of their prior ownership of fund shares and their account
number.
To request an exchange, an investor must give exchange instructions to
the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue
exchange instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders
automatically, unless the investor checks the applicable "No" box on the
Account Application, indicating that the investor specifically refuses this
privilege. By using the Telephone Exchange Privilege, the investor
authorizes the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic instructions (including
over The Dreyfus Touchr automated telephone system) from any person
representing himself or herself to be the investor, and reasonably believed
by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to
limitations as to the amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges
permitted. Shares issued in certificate form are not eligible for telephone
exchange.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege
permits an investor to purchase, in exchange for shares of a Portfolio,
shares of one of the other Portfolios of the Fund or shares of another fund
in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. This Privilege is available only for
existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of relative net
asset value as set forth under "Fund Exchanges" above. Enrollment in or
modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three business
days following notification by the investor. An investor will be notified
if his account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged under this
Privilege. In this case, an investor's account will fall to zero unless
additional investments are made in excess of the designated amount prior to
the next Auto-Exchange transaction. Shares held under IRA and other
retirement plans are eligible for this Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares
may be made between IRA accounts and from regular accounts to IRA accounts,
but not from IRA accounts to regular accounts. With respect to all other
retirement accounts, exchanges may be made only among those accounts.
Fund Exchanges and the Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege are available to
shareholders resident in any state in which shares of the fund being
acquired may legally be sold. Shares may be exchanged only between accounts
having identical names and other identifying designations.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. 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.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits an
investor with a $5,000 minimum account to request withdrawal of a specified
dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Withdrawal payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the
yield on the shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the investor's shares will be reduced and eventually may be
depleted. Automatic Withdrawal may be terminated at any time by the
investor, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for which certificates
have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Dreyfus Dividend Sweep. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows investors to
invest automatically their dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, from the Fund in shares of another fund in the
Dreyfus Family of Funds of which the investor is a shareholder. Shares of
other funds purchased pursuant to this privilege will be purchased on the
basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested without
imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds that
are offered without a sales load.
B. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not
charge a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold
with a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be deducted.
C. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which charges a
sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold with a
sales load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"), provided
that, if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares exceeds
the maximum sales load charged by the fund from which dividends or
distributions are being swept, without giving effect to any
reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
D. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in shares
of other funds that impose a contingent deferred sales
charge and the applicable contingent deferred sales charge, if
any, will be imposed upon redemption of such shares.
Corporate Pension/Profit-Sharing and 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, IRAs set up under a Simplified Employee Pension Plan ("SEP-
IRAs"), Roth IRAs, Education IRAs and IRA "Rollover Accounts") and 403(b)(7)
Plans. Plan support services also are available.
Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares in conjunction with a Keogh
Plan, a 403(b)(7) Plan or an IRA, including a SEP-IRA, may request from the
Distributor forms for adopting such plans.
The entity acting as custodian for Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans or IRAs
may charge a fee, payment of which could require the liquidation of shares.
All fees charged are described in the appropriate form.
Shares may be purchased in connection with these plans only by direct
remittance to the entity acting as custodian. Purchases for these plans may
not be made in advance of receipt of funds.
The minimum initial investment for corporate plans, Salary Reduction
Plans, 403(b)(7) Plans and SEP-IRAs with more than one participant, is
$2,500, with no minimum on subsequent purchases. The minimum initial
investment is $750 for Dreyfus-sponsored Keogh Plans, IRAs (including
regular IRAs, spousal IRAs for a non-working spouse, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs and
rollover IRAs) and 403(b)(7) Plans with only one participant and $500 for
Dreyfus - sponsored Education IRAs, with no minimum on subsequent purchases.
The investor should read the Prototype Retirement Plan and the
appropriate form of Custodial Agreement for further details on eligibility,
service fees and tax implications, and should consult a tax adviser.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "How to Buy Shares."
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. The Fund's securities, including
covered call options written by the Fund, are valued at the last sale price
on the securities exchange or national securities market on which such
securities primarily are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or
national securities market, or securities in which there were no
transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices, except in the case of open short positions where the asked price is
used for valuation purposes. Bid price is used when no asked price is
available. Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which
approximates value. Any securities or other assets for which recent market
quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined
in good faith by the Fund's Board. Expenses and fees of the Fund, including
the management fee paid by the Fund and fees pursuant to the Fund's
Shareholder Services Plan, are accrued daily and taken into account for the
purpose of determining the net asset value of Fund shares.
Restricted securities, as well as securities or other assets for which
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 securities of the same class
of securities for which a public market exists usually will be valued at
market value less the same percentage discount at which purchased. This
discount will be revised periodically by the Board if the Board members
believe that it no longer reflects the value of the restricted securities.
Restricted securities not of the same class as securities for which a public
market exists usually will be valued initially at cost. Any subsequent
adjustment from cost will be based upon considerations deemed relevant by
the Board.
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Dividends, Distributions
and Taxes."
Management of the Fund believes the Fund qualified as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998. The Fund intends to
continue to so qualify, as long as such qualification is in the best
interests of its shareholders. Qualification as a regulated investment
company relieves the Fund from any liability for Federal income taxes to the
extent its earnings are distributed in accordance with applicable provisions
of the Code. The term "regulated investment company" does not imply the
supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any
government agency.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase
may have the effect of reducing the net asset value of the shares below the
cost of his investment. Such a dividend or distribution would be a return
on investment in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the
Prospectus under "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes." 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 a
long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain distribution
received.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will
be treated as capital gain and loss. However, a portion of the gain or loss
from the disposition of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities (including
debt instruments, certain financial forward futures and option contracts and
certain preferred stock) may be treated as ordinary income or loss under
Section 988 of the Code. In addition, all or a portion of the gain realized
from the disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1276. Finally, all or a portion of the gain
realized from engaging in "conversion transactions" may be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1258. "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 exercise or lapse of such contracts and options as well as
from closing transactions. In addition, any such contracts or options
remaining unexercised at the end of the Fund's taxable year will be treated
as sold for its then fair market value, resulting in additional gain or loss
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, overrides or modifies the provisions of Sections 1256
and 988 of the Code. As such, all or a portion of any short-term or long-
term capital gain from certain "straddle" transactions may be
recharacterized to ordinary income.
If the Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in certain forward contracts or options transactions, such
"straddles" could be characterized as "mixed straddles" if the forward
contracts or options transactions comprising a part of such "straddles" were
governed by Section 1256 of the Code. The Fund may make one or more
elections with respect to "mixed straddles." 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 the offsetting position. Moreover, as a result of the "straddle"
and conversion transaction rules, short-term capital loss on "straddle"
positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term
capital gains may be treated as short-term capital gains or ordinary income.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included constructive sale provisions
that generally will 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, forward, or offsetting notional principal
contract (collectively, a "Contract") respecting the same or substantially
identical property (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.
Investment by the Fund in securities issued or acquired at a discount,
or providing for deferred interest or for payment of interest in the form of
additional obligations could under special tax rules affect the amount,
timing and character of distributions to shareholders by causing the Fund to
recognize income prior to the receipt of cash payments. For example, the
Fund could be required to accrue a portion of the discount (or deemed
discount) at which the securities were issued and to distribute such income
in order to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company.
In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of securities which it might
otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash to satisfy these
distribution requirements.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Manager 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 the Manager's 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 Manager's research facilities with statistical
data, investment information, economic facts and opinions. Information so
received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be
performed by the Manager and the fee of the Manager is not reduced as a
consequence of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such
information may be useful to the Manager in serving both the Fund and other
clients which it advises and, conversely, supplemental information obtained
by the placement of business of other clients may be useful to the Manager
in carrying out its obligation to the Fund. Brokers are also selected
because of their ability to handle special executions such as are involved
in large block trades or broad distributions, provided the primary
consideration is met. Large block trades may, in certain cases, result from
two or more clients the Manager might advise being engaged simultaneously in
the purchase or sale of the same security. Certain 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.
For the fiscal years ended April 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Fund paid
total brokerage commissions of $500,390, $241,623 and $429,140,
respectively, none of which was paid to the Distributor. The Fund paid no
gross spreads and concessions on principal transactions for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 1996. For the fiscal years ended April 30, 1997 and 1998,
the Fund paid $232,985 and $100,796, respectively, in concessions.
The aggregate amount of transactions during the last fiscal year in
securities effected on an agency basis through a broker for, among other
things, research services, and the commissions and concessions related to
such transactions were as follows:
Transaction Commissions and
Amount Concessions
$59,294,645 $59,867
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "Performance
Information."
The Fund's average annual total return for the 1 and 4.84 year periods
ended April 30, 1998 was 34.33% and 16.46%, respectively. Average annual
total return is calculated by determining the ending redeemable value of an
investment purchased at net asset value 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.
The Fund's total return for the period July 1, 1993 (commencement of
operations) through April 30, 1998 was 108.78%. Total return is calculated
by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net asset value per share at the
beginning of a stated period from the net asset value per share at the end
of the period (after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions during the period), and dividing the result by the net asset
value per share at the beginning of the period.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising the Fund's shares, including data from Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, Money Magazine, Wilshire 5000 Index and other
industry publications. From time to time, the Fund may compare its
performance against inflation with the performance of other instruments
against inflation, such as short-term Treasury Bills (which are direct
obligations of the U.S. Government) and FDIC-insured bank money market
accounts. In addition, advertising for the Fund may indicate that investors
may consider diversifying their investment portfolios in order to seek
protection of the value of their assets against inflation. From time to
time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to or discuss then-
current or past economic or financial conditions, developments and/or
events.
From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may refer to
Morningstar ratings and related analyses supporting such ratings.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the section in the Fund's Prospectus entitled "General Information."
Each share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance
with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and non-assessable. Fund
shares are of one class and have equal rights as to dividends and in
liquidation. Shares have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights
and are freely transferable.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT, CUSTODIAN, COUNSEL
AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, P.O.
Box 9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's transfer and
dividend disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund,
the Transfer Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account
records for the Fund, the handling of certain communications between
shareholders and the Fund and the payment of dividends and distributions
payable by the Fund. For these services, the Transfer Agent receives a
monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of shareholder accounts it
maintains for the Fund during the month, and is reimbursed for certain out-
of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998, the Fund paid
the Transfer Agent $41,063.
Mellon Bank, N.A. (the "Custodian"), the Manager's parent, One Mellon
Bank Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, serves as custodian of the
Fund's investments. 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. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998,
the Fund paid the Custodian $24,037.
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 auditors of the Fund.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended
April 30, 1998 is a separate document supplied with this Statement of
Additional Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes,
and report of independent auditors appearing therein are incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
APPENDIX
Description of certain ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch IBCA, Inc.
("Fitch") and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff"):
S&P
Bond Ratings
AAA
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A
Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher rated categories.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances
are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay
principal for bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated
categories.
BB, B, CCC, CC, C
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and
repay principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the
highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some
quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large
uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
BB
Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade debt. However, it faces 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
Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has
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
Debt rated CCC has a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and
is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to
meet timely payments of principal. In the event of adverse business,
financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to
pay interest and repay principal.
CC
The rating CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.
C
The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied CCC-debt rating.
D
Bonds rated D are in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment
of principal is in arrears.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the
major ratings categories.
Commercial Paper Rating
The designation A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those
issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted
with a plus sign (+) designation.
Moody's Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally are
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat
larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may
be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the
future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable
over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba
Bonds which are 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 which are 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 which are 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.
Ca
Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
C
Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues
so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to show relative
standing within the major ratings categories, except in the Aaa category and
in 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.
Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to
a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be
more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
Fitch Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to
meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The ratings
take into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to
other obligations of the issuer, the current financial condition and
operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the
political and economic environment that might affect the issuer's future
financial strength and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to
pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
reasonably foreseeable events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds
rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is
generally rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse
impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood
that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher
than for bonds with higher ratings.
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.
CC
Bonds rated CC are minimally protected. Default payment of interest
and/or principal seems probable over time.
C
Bonds rated C are in imminent default in payment of interest or
principal.
DDD, DD and D
Bonds rated DDD, DD and D are in actual or imminent default of interest
and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should
be valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
reorganization of the obligor. DDD represents the highest potential for
recovery on these bonds and D represents the lowest potential for recovery.
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
or the DDD, DD or D categories.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal
and investment notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating
analysis, the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-
1+.
F-2
Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory
degree of assurance for timely payments, but the margin of safety is not as
great as the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
Duff
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. Considerable
variability in risk 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.
DD
Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer has failed to meet scheduled
principal and/or interest payments.
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 ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
_________________________
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List
_______ _________________________________________
(a) Financial Statements:
Included in Part A of the Registration Statement
Condensed Financial Information for the period from July 1,
1993(commencement of operations) to April 30, 1994 and for
each of the four years in the period ended April 30, 1998.
Included in Part B of the Registration Statement:
Statement of Investments-- April 30, 1998*
Statement of Assets and Liabilities-- April 30, 1998*
Statement of Operations--year ended April 30, 1998*
Statement of Changes in Net Assets--for each of the two
years ended April 30, 1998*
Notes to Financial Statements*
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors, dated
June 3, 1998*
___________________________________
* Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Annual Report on Form N-30D
for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998 filed with the Commission on July
9, 1998.
All Schedules and other financial statement information, for which provision
is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are either omitted because they are not required under
the related instructions, they are inapplicable, or the required information
is presented in the financial statements or notes thereto which are included
in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Amendment
are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Pre-Effective
Amendment No. to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
June 28, 1993, and Exhibit (1)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
4 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 25,
1994.
(2) Registrant's By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on June 28, 1993.
(4) Specimen certificate for the Registrant's securities is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4) of Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
on June 28, 1993.
(5) Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (5)
of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
(6)(a) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)
of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
(6)(b) Forms of Service Agreement are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 6(b) and (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4, to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
(8)(a) Custody Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(a) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on July 26, 1996.
(9) Shareholder Services Plan, as revised, is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
(10) Opinion and consent of Registrant's counsel is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (10) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors.
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Data are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on January 28, 1994.
(17) Financial Data Schedule.
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits. - List (continued)
_______ _____________________________________________________
Other Exhibits
______________
(a) Powers of Attorney of the Directors and officers.
(b) Certificate of Secretary.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
_______ ______________________________________________________________
Not Applicable
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
_______ ________________________________
(1) (2)
Number of Record
Title of Class Holders as of August 10, 1998
______________ _____________________________
Common Stock
(Par value $.01) 4,172
Item 27. Indemnification
_______ _______________
Reference is made to Article SEVENTH of the Registrant's Articles of
Incorporation filed as Exhibit 1 and to Section 2-418 of the
Maryland General Corporation Law. The application of these
provisions is limited by Article VIII of the Registrant's By-Laws
filed as Exhibit 2 and by the following undertaking set forth in
the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in such Act as is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any such action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
Item 27. Indemnification (Continued)
_______ _______________
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
Reference is also made to the Distribution Agreement attached as
Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on August 25, 1994.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
_______ ____________________________________________________
The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") and subsidiary companies
comprise a financial service organization whose business
consists primarily of providing investment management services
as the investment adviser, manager and distributor for sponsored
investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 and as an investment adviser to institutional and
individual accounts. Dreyfus also serves as sub-investment
adviser to and/or administrator of other investment companies.
Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Dreyfus, serves primarily as a registered broker-dealer of
shares of investment companies sponsored by Dreyfus and of other
investment companies for which Dreyfus acts as investment
adviser, sub-investment adviser or administrator. Dreyfus
Investment Advisors, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary,
provides investment management services to various pension
plans, institutions and individuals.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser (continued)
________ ________________________________________________________________
Officers and Directors of Investment Adviser
____________________________________________
Name and Position
with Dreyfus Other Businesses
_________________ ________________
W. KEITH SMITH Senior Vice Chairman:
Chairman of the Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Board President and Director:
The Bridgewater Land Co., Inc.**;
Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
TBC Securities Co., Inc.**;
Wellington-Medford II Properties, Inc.**;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Shearson Summit Euromanagement, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit EuroPartners, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit Management, Inc.*;
Shearson Summit Partners, Inc.*;
Shearson Venture Capital, Inc.*;
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Director:
Dentsply International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc.**;
Mellon Europe Limited
London, England;
Mellon Global Investing Corp.*;
Mellon Accounting Services, Inc.*;
MGIC-UK Ltd.;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Chairman:
Mellon Financial Company*;
Buck Consultants, Inc.
1 Pennsylvania Plaza, 29th Floor
New York, New York 10019;
Director and Vice Chairman:
Mellon Financial Services Corporation*;
Mellon Bank Corporation*;
Trustee:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Past Director:
Access Capital Strategies Corp.
124 Mount Auburn Street
Suite 200 North
Cambridge, MA 02138
W. KEITH SMITH Past Trustee:
Chairman of the Board Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust
(continued) 2 International Place, 22nd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
MANDELL L. BERMAN Real estate consultant and private investor
Director 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 370
Southfield, Michigan 48034
BURTON C. BORGELT Director:
Director Dentsply
International, Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17405;
DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
1 Gorham Island
Westport, Connecticut 06880;
Mellon Bank Corporation*;
Mellon Bank, N.A.*
FRANK V. CAHOUET Chairman of the Board, President and
Director Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank Corporation*;
Director:
Avery Dennison Corporation
150 North Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103;
Saint-Gobain Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482;
Alleghany Teledyne, Inc.
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, California 90067;
Past Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Mellon Bank, N.A.*
STEPHEN E. CANTER Chairman and President:
Vice Chairman, Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****
Chief Investment Officer,Director:
and a Director The Dreyfus Trust Company+
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON President and Chief Operating Officer:
President, Chief Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Executive Officer, President and Director:
Chief Operating Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.**;
Officer and a Vice-Chairman and Director:
Director Mellon Bank Corporation*;
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Director:
Certus Asset Advisors Corporation++;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
Past President and Director:
The Boston Company Financial Services, Inc.**;
Past President:
The Boston Company Financial Strategies, Inc.**;
CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
President, Chief Past Director:
Executive Officer, Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
Chief Operating Access Capital Strategies Corp.
Officer and a Director 124 Mount Auburn Street
(continued) Suite 200 North
Cambridge, MA 02138;
Past Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer:
The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc.**;
Past Partner Representative:
Pareto Partners
271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP;
Past Trustee:
Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust
2 International Place, 22nd Floor
Boston, MA. 02710;
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
LAWRENCE S. KASH Executive Vice President:
Vice Chairman-Distribution Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
and a Director Chairman, President and Director:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation****;
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
Director:
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.****;
President and Director:
Dreyfus Service Corporation+;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:
Dreyfus Brokerage Services, Inc.
401 North Maple Avenue
Beverly Hills, CA 90210;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
The Boston Company Advisors, Inc.
Wilmington, DE.
J. DAVID OFFICER Director:
Vice Chairman Dreyfus Financial Services Corporation*****;
and a Director Dreyfus Investment Services Corporation*****;
Mellon Trust of Florida
2875 Northeast 191st Street
North Miami Beach, Florida 33180;
Mellon Preferred Capital Corporation**;
Boston Group Holdings, Inc.**;
Mellon Trust of New York
1301 Avenue of the Americas - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019;
J. DAVID OFFICER Mellon Trust of California
Vice Chairman 400 South Hope Street
and a Director Los Angeles, California 90071-2806;
(continued) Dreyfus Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc.
53 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109;
Executive Vice President:
Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Mellon Bank, N.A.*;
Vice Chairman and Director:
The Boston Company, Inc.**;
President and Director:
RECO, Inc.**;
The Boston Company Financial Services, Inc.**;
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company**;
RICHARD F. SYRON Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer:
Director American Stock Exchange
86 Trinity Place
New York, New York 10006;
Director:
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Place, Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts 02117;
Thermo Electron Corporation
81 Wyman Street, Box 9046
Waltham, Massachusetts 02254-9046;
American Business Conference
1730 K Street, NW, Suite 120
Washington, D.C. 20006;
Trustee:
Boston College - Board of Trustees
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167-3934
RONALD P. O'HANLEY III Director:
Vice Chairman The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC**;
TBCAM Holding, Inc.**;
Franklin Portfolio Holdings, Inc.
Two International Place - 22nd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110;
Mellon Capital Management Corporation***;
Certus Asset Advisors Corporation++;
Mellon-France Corporation***;
Chairman and Director:
Boston Safe Advisors, Inc.**;
Partner Representative:
Pareto Partners
271 Regent Street
London, England W1R 8PP;
Chairman and Trustee:
Mellon Bond Associates, LLP*;
Mellon Equity Associates, LLP*;
Trustee:
Laurel Capital Advisors, LLP*;
RONALD P. O'HANLEY III Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer:
Vice Chairman Mellon Global Investing Corp.*;
(continued) Partner:
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
WILLIAM T. SANDALLS, JR. Chairman and Director:
Senior Vice President and Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
President and Director:
Dreyfus-Lincoln, Inc.
4500 New Linden Hill Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19808;
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer:
Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Director:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
Director and Treasurer:
Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Seven Six Seven Agency, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Precious Metals, Inc.+;
Director, Vice President and Treasurer:
The Dreyfus Consumer Credit Corporation****;
The TruePenny Corporation****
Director, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer:
The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
Past Director and President:
Lion Management, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Partnership Management, Inc.****;
Past Director and Executive Vice President:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
Past Director and Treasurer:
Dreyfus Personal Management, Inc.****
MARK N. JACOBS Director:
Vice President, Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****;
General Counsel The Dreyfus Trust Company+;
and Secretary Dreyfus Investment Advisors, Inc.****;
Director and Secretary:
The TruePenny Corporation****;
Past Director, Vice President and Secretary:
Lion Management, Inc.****
PATRICE M. KOZLOWSKI None
Vice President-
Corporate Communications
MARY BETH LEIBIG None
Vice President-
Human Resources
ANDREW S. WASSER Vice President:
Vice President-Information Mellon Bank Corporation*
Services
JAMES BITETTO Assistant Secretary:
Assistant Secretary Dreyfus Service Corporation****;
Dreyfus Investment Advisers, Inc.****;
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
STEVEN F. NEWMAN Vice President, Secretary and Director:
Assistant Secretary Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
One American Express Plaza
Providence, Rhode Island 02903;
Secretary:
Dreyfus Service Organization, Inc.****
______________________________________
* The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258.
** The address of the business so indicated is One Mellon Bank Place, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02108.
*** The address of the business so indicated is 595 Market Street, Suite 3000,
San Francisco CA 94105.
**** The address of the business so indicated is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166.
*****The address of the business so indicated is Union Trust Building, 501
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15259.
+ 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 One Bush Street, Suite 450,
San Francisco, CA. 94104.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
________ ______________________
(a) Other investment companies for which Registrant's principal
underwriter (exclusive distributor) acts as principal underwriter or
exclusive distributor:
1) Comstock Partners Funds, Inc.
2) Dreyfus A Bonds Plus, Inc.
3) Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc.
4) Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
5) Dreyfus Balanced Fund, Inc.
6) Dreyfus BASIC GNMA Fund
7) Dreyfus BASIC Money Market Fund, Inc.
8) Dreyfus BASIC Municipal Fund, Inc.
9) Dreyfus BASIC U.S. Government Money Market Fund
10) Dreyfus California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
11) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
12) Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
13) Dreyfus Cash Management
14) Dreyfus Cash Management Plus, Inc.
15) Dreyfus Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
16) Dreyfus Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
17) Dreyfus Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
18) Dreyfus Florida Municipal Money Market Fund
19) The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
20) Dreyfus Global Bond Fund, Inc.
21) Dreyfus Global Growth Fund
22) Dreyfus GNMA Fund, Inc.
23) Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds
24) Dreyfus Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
25) Dreyfus Growth and Value Funds, Inc.
26) Dreyfus Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc.
27) Dreyfus Income Funds
28) Dreyfus 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 100% U.S. Treasury Intermediate Term Fund
60) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Long Term Fund
61) Dreyfus 100% U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund
62) Dreyfus 100% 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 Insured Municipal Bond Fund
71) Dreyfus Premier Municipal Bond Fund
72) Dreyfus Premier New York Municipal Bond Fund
73) Dreyfus Premier State Municipal Bond Fund
74) Dreyfus Premier Value Fund
75) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
76) Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
77) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
78) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, Inc.
79) Dreyfus Tax Exempt Cash Management
80) The Dreyfus Third Century Fund, Inc.
81) Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management
82) Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management
83) Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
84) Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
85) General California Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
86) General California Municipal Money Market Fund
87) General Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
88) General Money Market Fund, Inc.
89) General Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
90) General Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.
91) General New York Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
92) General New York Municipal Money Market Fund
(b)
Positions and
Name and principal Positions and offices with offices with
business address the Distributor Registrant
__________________ ___________________________ _____________
Marie E. Connolly+ Director, President, Chief President and
Executive Officer and Compliance Treasurer
Officer
Joseph F. Tower, III+ Director, Senior Vice President, Vice President
Treasurer and Chief Financial and Assistant
Officer Treasurer
Mary A. Nelson+ Vice President Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Prescott+ Vice President None
Jean M. O'Leary+ Assistant Secretary and None
Assistant Clerk
John W. Gomez+ Director None
William J. Nutt+ Director None
________________________________
+ Principal business address is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109.
++ Principal business address is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10166.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
________________________________
1. First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.,
a subsidiary of First Data Corporation
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
2. Mellon Bank, N.A.
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
3. Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.
P.O. Box 9671
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671
4. The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Item 31. Management Services
_______ ___________________
Not Applicable
Item 32. Undertakings
________ ____________
(1) To call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a Board member or Board members when
requested in writing to do so by the holders of at least 10% of
the Registrant's outstanding shares and in connection with such
meeting to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to shareholder
communications.
(2) To furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered with a
copy of the Fund's latest Annual Report to Shareholders, upon
request and without charge.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly
caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and
State of New York on the 27th day of August, 1998.
DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION 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 dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
_____________________________ ______________________ ________
/s/Marie E. Connolly* President and Treasurer 8/27/98
_____________________________ (Principal Executive, Financial
Marie E. Connolly and Accounting Officer)
/s/Joseph F. Tower, III Vice President and Assistant 8/27/98
_____________________________ Treasurer (Principal Accounting
Joseph F. Tower, III Officer)
/s/Joseph S. DiMartino* Chairman of the Board 8/27/98
_____________________________
Joseph S. DiMartino
/s/David W. Burke* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
David W. Burke
/s/Lucy Wilson Benson* Director 8/27/98
______________________________
Lucy Wilson Benson
/s/Martin D. Fife* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
Martin D. Fife
/s/Whitney I. Gerard* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
Whitney I. Gerard
/s/Robert R. Glauber* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
Robert R. Glauber
/s/Arthur A. Hartman* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
Arthur A. Hartman
/s/George L. Perry* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
George L. Perry
/s/Paul D. Wolfowitz* Director 8/27/98
_____________________________
Paul D. Wolfowitz
*BY: /s/ Michael S. Petrucelli
__________________________
Michael S. Petrucelli,
Attorney-in-Fact
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits
(11) Consent of Independent Auditors
(17) Financial Data Schedule
Other Power of Attorney
Other Certificate of Assistant Secretary
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Condensed
Financial Information" and "Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Custodian,
Counsel and Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report dated June 3,
1998, which is incorporated by reference, in this Registration Statement
(Form N-1A No. 33-62626) of Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
August 28, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000904818
<NAME> DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 71219
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 75551
<RECEIVABLES> 6030
<ASSETS-OTHER> 116
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 81697
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4556
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 482
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5038
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 55649
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4364
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4144
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 798
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 15732
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4481
<NET-ASSETS> 76659
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 373
<INTEREST-INCOME> 622
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 470
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 526
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 12148
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 769
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 11905
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1389
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1169)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 15803
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 272
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3583
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 268
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 470
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 70967
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.68
<PER-SHARE-NII> .12
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.77
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.57
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .007
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Margaret W. Chambers,
Marie E. Connolly, Christopher J. Kelley, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S.
Petrucelli, Stephanie Pierce and Elba Vasquez and each of them, with full
power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her, and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities
(until revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments to the
Registration Statement as to each Fund enumerated on Exhibit A attached
hereto (including post-effective amendments and amendments thereto), and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or
her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
June 15, 1998
/s/ Lucy Wilson Benson
Lucy Wilson Benson
June 15, 1998
/s/ David W. Burke
David W. Burke
June 15, 1998
/s/ Joseph S. DiMartino
Joseph S. DiMartino
June 15, 1998
/s/ Martin D. Fife
Martin D. Fife
June 15, 1998
/s/ Whitney I. Gerard
Whitney I. Gerard
June 15, 1998
/s/ Robert R. Glauber
Robert R. Glauber
June 15, 1998
/s/ Ambassador Arthur A. Hartman
Ambassador Arthur A. Hartman
APPENDIX A
Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus California Municipal Income, Inc.
The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
Dreyfus Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus New York Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Margaret W. Chambers,
Marie E. Connolly, Christopher J. Kelley, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S.
Petrucelli, Stephanie Pierce and Elba Vasquez and each of them, with full
power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her, and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities
(until revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments to the
Registration Statement as to each Fund enumerated on Exhibit A attached
hereto (including post-effective amendments and amendments thereto), and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or
her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
June 15, 1998
/s/ Marie E. Connolly
Marie E. Connolly
APPENDIX A
Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus California Municipal Income, Inc.
The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
Dreyfus Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus New York Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE
I, Elba Vasquez, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of each Fund
set forth below (the "Funds"), hereby certify the following resolution was
adopted by written consent dated August 28, 1998 as to each Fund, and
remains in full force and effect:
RESOLVED, that the Registration Statement and any and
all amendments and supplements thereto may be signed by
any one of Margaret W. Chambers, Marie E. Connolly,
Christopher J. Kelly, Kathleen K. Morrisey, Michael S.
Petrucelli, Stephanie Pierce and Elba Vasquez as the
attorney-in-fact for the proper officers of the Fund, a
with full power of substitution and re-substitution; and
that the appointment of each of such persons as such
attorney-in-fact hereby is authorized and approved; and
that such attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, shall
have full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in connection with such Registration Statement and any
and all amendments and supplements thereto, as whom he
or she is acting as attorney-in-fact, might or could do
in person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as Assistant Secretary
of the Funds and affixed the seal this 25th day of August, 1998.
/s/ Elba Vasquez
ELBA VASQUEZ
AS TO:
Dreyfus Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus California Municipal Income, Inc.
The Dreyfus Fund Incorporated
Dreyfus Institutional Short Term Treasury Fund
Dreyfus LifeTime Portfolios, Inc.
Dreyfus Liquid Assets, Inc.
Dreyfus Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus New York Municipal Income, Inc.
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Government Fund
Dreyfus Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund, Inc.
Dreyfus Worldwide Dollar Money Market Fund, Inc.
