Dreyfus International Bond Fund Achieves Highest Total Return Rankings

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dreyfus International Bond Fund, managed by investment professionals at Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, was the number one performer for total return in Morningstar's US World Bond Funds category and the number one performer for total return in Lipper's International Income Fund category out of 63 funds for the three-year period ended 12/31/09.*  The Fund's Class I shares has maintained the highest 5-Star Overall Rating from Morningstar, which was achieved among 186 funds, in Morningstar's World Bond Funds category as of 12/31/09.

"Most impressive has been Dreyfus International Bond Fund's consistency in each of its first four calendar years, which has spanned both up and down markets, as well as a weakening and strengthening dollar," said Jonathan R. Baum, chairman and CEO of The Dreyfus Corporation. "As the advisor and distributor of Dreyfus International Bond Fund, we applaud the Standish portfolio management team for having delivered superior shareholder value to our investors."  

Dreyfus International Bond Fund seeks to maximize total return through capital appreciation and income and normally invests at least 80% of its assets in fixed-income securities.  The Fund ordinarily invests in at least five countries other than the U.S. and, at times, may invest a substantial portion of its assets in a single foreign country.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in emerging markets generally and up to 5% of its assets in any single emerging market country.  Generally, the Fund seeks to maintain a portfolio with an average credit quality of investment grade, but may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities rated below investment grade.  The Fund's portfolio managers have considerable latitude in determining whether to hedge the Fund's currency exposure and the extent of such hedging.  

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 the 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 the fund. Read it carefully before investing.  Class I shares are available only to eligible investors.  The Fund also offers Class A and Class C shares.

* 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 the category receive five stars; the next 22.5% four stars; the next 35% three stars; the next 22.5% two stars; and the last 10% one star.  The Fund also offers Class A and C shares that may have achieved different ratings.  

*Source: Lipper. The fund's Class I shares were ranked 20 out of 100 funds for the 1-year period ended 12/31/09, based on total return. Lipper rankings do not take sales loads into account. Class A and C shares have achieved lower total return rankings.  

The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation. Standish Mellon Asset Management investment professionals manage the fund under a dual-employee relationship with Dreyfus. Standish and Dreyfus are affiliated BNY Mellon Asset Management companies.

Bond funds are subject generally to interest rate, credit, liquidity and market risks, to varying degrees, all of which are more fully described in the fund's prospectus.  Generally, all other factors being equal, bond prices are inversely related to interest-rate changes, and rate increases can produce price declines.

High yield bond funds involve increased credit and liquidity risk compared with higher-quality bond funds.  Below-investment-grade bonds are considered speculative as to the continuing ability of an issuer to make interest payments and repay principal.

Foreign bonds are subject to special risks including exposure to currency fluctuations, changing political and economic conditions, and potentially less liquidity.

The fixed income securities of issuers located in emerging markets can be more volatile and less liquid than those of issuers in more mature economies.

A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by the fund and denominated in those currencies.  Foreign currencies are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits, low savings rates, political factors and government control.

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.

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, with $63 billion of assets under management provides investment management services across a broad spectrum of fixed income asset classes. These include corporate credit (investment-grade and high-yield), emerging markets debt (dollar-denominated and local currency), core / core plus and opportunistic (U.S. and global) strategies.   The firm also includes assets managed by Standish personnel acting as dual officers of The Dreyfus Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, each a subsidiary of BNY Mellon.  

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 Bank of New York Mellon Corporation; Dreyfus