Two Dreyfus Funds Earn Top Morningstar Ratings and Receive Lipper Accolades

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Two Dreyfus funds sub-advised by Walter Scott & Partners Limited achieved the highest 5-Star Overall Rating from Morningstar for the three-year period ended 12/31/09*.  Both funds were launched three years ago.

Global Stock Fund (Class I) also is ranked number one in Lipper's Global Large Cap Growth Funds category for total return for the three – year period ended December 31, 2009; International Stock Fund (Class I) is the number three ranked fund for total return in Lipper's International Large Cap Growth Funds  category for the same period.  Both The Dreyfus Corporation and Walter Scott are part of BNY Mellon Asset Management.

"Global Stock Fund and International Stock Fund seek to invest in companies with the best prospects for long-term wealth generation, wherever they exist," said Jonathan R. Baum, chairman and CEO of The Dreyfus Corporation.  "Given the top ratings awarded by Morningstar, it is evident that the Walter Scott investment process sets these funds apart.  As the advisor and distributor for these funds which are well aligned to the needs of today's investor, Dreyfus couldn't be more proud of these investment offerings," Baum concluded.  

Global Stock Fund

Global Stock Fund is classified in Lipper's Global Large-Cap Growth Funds category.  The Fund's Class I shares ranked number one for total return for the three-year period ended 12/31/09 out of 75 funds in the category. The Fund's Class I shares ranked number 42 for total return for the one-year period ended 12/31/09 out of 102 funds in the category. Global Stock A-share class was awarded an initial Morningstar Overall Rating of 4 Stars; the I –Share class was awarded 5 Stars out of 866 funds in the Morningstar World Stock category.

Global Stock Fund seeks long-term total return and normally invests at least 80% of its assets in stocks. The Fund's investments will be focused on companies located in the developed markets, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and Western Europe.

International Stock Fund

International Stock Fund is classified in Lipper's International Large-Cap Growth Funds category.   Class I shares were ranked  number three for total return for the three-year period ended 12/31/09 out of 131 funds in the category. Both the Fund's A-Share and I-share classes were awarded a 5-Star Overall Rating from Morningstar out of 869 funds in the Foreign Large Blend category.  

International Stock Fund seeks long-term total return and normally invests at least 80% of its assets in stocks   The Fund normally invests primarily in foreign companies located in the developed markets, such as Canada, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and Western Europe.

Same Investment Process for Global Stock and International Stock Funds

The Funds' sub-investment adviser, Walter Scott & Partners Limited, seeks investment opportunities in companies with fundamental strengths that indicate the potential for sustainable growth. Walter Scott focuses on individual stock selection, building each fund's portfolio from the bottom up through extensive fundamental research.

The investment process begins with the screening of reported company financials. Companies that meet certain broad absolute and trend criteria are candidates for more detailed financial analysis. For these companies, Walter Scott restates the company's income statement, flow of funds, and balance sheet to a cash basis. This analysis assists Walter Scott in identifying the nature of operating margin and value added, the variables contributing to value added, the operating efficiencies, the working capital management, the profitability and the financing model of the company. If a company passes Walter Scott's more stringent financial criteria, Walter Scott then conducts a detailed investigation of the company's products, cost and pricing, competition and industry position and outlook. Companies that meet the collective criteria of Walter Scott are visited with a view to understanding whether the company has the ability to generate sustained growth in the future. Walter Scott uses various valuation measures, including price-to-earnings ratio versus growth rate, price-to-cash and price-to-book.

The Funds ordinarily invest in at least three foreign countries, and, at times, may invest a substantial portion of its assets in a single foreign country.  Each fund may invest in the securities of companies of any market capitalization.

Ratings and rankings reflect past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Share price and investment return fluctuate and an investor's shares may be worth more or less than original cost upon redemption. Go to Dreyfus.com for each fund's most recent month-end returns.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. Call your advisor to obtain a prospectus that contains this and other information about one of the funds. Read it carefully before investing.  Class I shares are available only to certain eligible investors.  Class A shares are broadly available to investors.  

Equity funds are subject generally to market, market sector, market liquidity, issuer and investment style risks, among other factors, to varying degrees, all of which are more fully described in the fund's prospectus. Investing internationally involves special risks, including changes in currency exchange rates, political and economic instability, less market liquidity, lack of comprehensive company information, and differing auditing and legal standards.  Higher investment concentrations can increase a fund's share price volatility.  Walter Scott and Dreyfus are affiliated BNY Mellon Asset Management companies and subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.  

*Source: Morningstar Inc. Ratings are calculated using a formula that measures the amount of variation in a fund's performance, and which gives more emphasis to downward variations. Ratings are subject to change every month. The top 10% of the funds in a category receive five stars, the next 22.5% receive four stars; the next 35% three stars, the next 22.5% two stars and the last 10% one star. Ratings reflect sales loads. Global Stock Fund (A and I shares) and International Stock Fund (A and I shares) received 4 and 5 , and 5 and 5 stars, respectively,  for the three-year period ended 12/31/09 among 866 and 869 funds in the Morningstar World Stock and Foreign Large Blend categories, respectively.

Notes to Editors:

The Dreyfus Corporation, established in 1951 and headquartered in New York City, is one of the nation's leading asset management and distribution companies, currently managing more than $400 billion in mutual funds and separately managed accounts.

Walter Scott & Partners Limited is one of BNY Mellon Asset Management's specialist asset managers.  Established in 1983 in Edinburgh, Walter Scott & Partners Limited is a classical, fundamental and long-term global equity investment management firm that manages portfolios for institutional clients drawn from around the world. With over $32 billion of assets under management, the company manages global, regional, single country and emerging markets mandates.

BNY Mellon Asset Management is the umbrella organization for BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms and global distribution companies.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets.  BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team.  It has $22.3 trillion in assets under custody and administration, $1.1 trillion in assets under management, services $12.0 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day.  Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com.  

All information source BNY Mellon Asset Management as at 12/31/09. This press release is qualified for issuance in the US only and is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation of securities or investment services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorized. This press release is issued by BNY Mellon Asset Management to members of the financial press and media and the information contained herein should not be construed as investment advice.  Past performance is not a guide to future performance. A BNY Mellon Company(SM)

SOURCE The Dreyfus Corporation; BNY Mellon