| UNITED STATES | | |
| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | | |
| | | |
| FORM N-CSR | | |
| | | |
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT |
| INVESTMENT COMPANIES | | |
| | | |
Investment Company Act file number 811-3207 | | |
| | | |
| GENERAL MONEY MARKET 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) |
| | | |
| Mark N. Jacobs, Esq. | | |
| 200 Park Avenue | | |
| New York, New York 10166 | | |
| (Name and address of agent for service) |
| | | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | | (212) 922-6000 |
| | | |
Date of fiscal year end: | 11/30 | | |
| | | |
Date of reporting period: | 05/31/04 | | |
SSL-DOCS2 70134233v1
| | FORM N-CSR |
| | |
Item 1. | Reports to Stockholders. | |
General Money |
Market Fund, Inc. |
SEMIANNUAL REPORT May 31, 2004
The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio manager only through the end of the period covered and do not necessarily represent the views of Dreyfus or any other person in the Dreyfus organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Dreyfus disclaims any responsibility to update such views.These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Dreyfus fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Dreyfus fund.
Not FDIC-Insured • Not Bank-Guaranteed • May Lose Value
Contents
THE FUND
2 | Letter from the Chairman
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3 | Discussion of Fund Performance
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6 | Statement of Investments
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9 | Statement of Assets and Liabilities
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10 | Statement of Operations
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11 | Statement of Changes in Net Assets
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12 | Financial Highlights
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15 | Notes to Financial Statements
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Back Cover
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General Money |
Market Fund, Inc. |
The Fund
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Dear Shareholder:
This semiannual report for General Money Market Fund, Inc. covers the six-month period from December 1, 2003, through May 31, 2004. Inside, you’ll find valuable information about how the fund was managed during the reporting period, including a discussion with the fund’s portfolio manager, Bernard W. Kiernan, Jr.
Positive economic data continued to accumulate during the reporting period, as consumers, flush with extra cash from their 2003 federal tax refunds and mortgage refinancings,continued to spend.At the same time, corporations have become more willing to hire new workers and invest in new projects and equipment.As a result, yields of longer-dated money market securities began to rise in the spring of 2004, as investors increasingly anticipated that the Federal Reserve Board might soon begin raising rates in an attempt to forestall potential inflationary pressures.
No matter where interest rates go from here, however, we continue to believe that the objectives of liquidity and stability make money market funds a valuable component of many investors’ portfolios. Indeed, despite recently encouraging economic news, concerns regarding the war on terrorism, instability in Iraq and higher energy prices have caused heightened volatility in the stock and bond markets.As always, we encourage you to speak regularly with your financial advisor, who may be in the best position to suggest ways to position your portfolio for the opportunities and challenges of today’s financial markets.
Thank you for your continued confidence and support.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Canter |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
The Dreyfus Corporation |
June 15, 2004 |
2
DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
Bernard W. Kiernan, Jr., Portfolio Manager
How did General Money Market Fund, Inc. perform during the period?
Over the six-month period ended May 31, 2004, the fund produced annualized yields of 0.37% for Class A shares, 0.15% for Class B shares and 0.15% for Class X shares.Taking into account the effects of compounding, the fund also produced annualized effective yields of 0.37% for Class A shares, 0.15% for Class B shares and 0.15% for Class X shares for the same period.1
What is the fund’s investment approach?
The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital. To pursue this goal, the fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, short-term debt securities.These include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, certificates of deposit, short-term securities issued by domestic or foreign banks, repurchase agreements, asset-backed securities, domestic and dollar-denominated foreign commercial paper and dollar-denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign governments. Normally, the fund invests at least 25% of its net assets in domestic or dollar-denominated foreign bank obligations.
What other factors influenced the fund’s performance?
When the reporting period began, the economy was exhibiting signs of renewed economic strength. Even before it was revealed that the U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”) had expanded at a robust 8.2% annual rate during the third quarter of 2003, concerns that rising inflation and a ballooning federal budget deficit might lead to higher interest rates had already sparked a sharp decline in bond prices. Despite these concerns and their impact on longer-term fixed-income securities, money market yields remained anchored by the 1% federal funds rate.
The Fund
3
DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)
Economic indicators in the fall of 2003 showed an encouraging increase in jobs and a decrease in the unemployment rate to 6.0%. Orders for durable goods rose more strongly, suggesting that business investment was finally contributing in a meaningful way to the recovery, and consumer confidence advanced to its highest level in more than a year.
As was widely expected, the Federal Reserve Board (the “Fed”) held the overnight federal funds rate steady at 1% during its meeting in early December, and reiterated its commitment to keeping borrowing rates low. By the end of 2003, new data further confirmed that an economic recovery was well underway, while a drop in the consumer price index (“CPI”) suggested that inflation remained under control. The U.S. Commerce Department later estimated that the GDP grew at a 4.1% annualized rate during the fourth quarter of 2003.
While the Fed continued to maintain its accommodative monetary policy at its meeting in late January 2004, it noted that U.S. economic output was expanding briskly. However, the number of new jobs created by the recovering economy continued to disappoint. In addition, the CPI in February indicated that the core rate of inflation rose only 0.1%, reinforcing the perception that the Fed still had a great deal of flexibility in the conduct of monetary policy. It was later revealed that U.S. economic growth rose only modestly, expanding at a 4.4% annualized rate during the first quarter of 2004.
In early April, however, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the domestic economy had added 308,000 jobs in March. As the month progressed, higher energy and commodity prices appeared, fueling concerns that long-dormant inflationary pressures might have begun to resurface.As a result, the money-market yield curve began to steepen as yields rose at the longer end of the maturity spectrum.
4
At its May meeting, the Fed left interest rates unchanged. However, unlike previous pronouncements, the Fed no longer indicated that it could be “patient” before raising rates, stating instead that future rate hikes were likely to be “measured.” Soon after the Fed meeting, non-farm payroll data showing a second consecutive month of gains triggered a significant change in investor expectations, which shifted from the belief that interest rates were unlikely to rise in 2004 to anticipation that the Fed might begin to tighten monetary policy as early as June.
What is the fund’s current strategy?
In light of expectations of higher short-term interest rates, we have adopted a more defensive posture, allowing the fund’s weighted average maturity to fall toward a range we consider neutral. Accordingly, we generally have limited new investments to money market instruments with maturities of three months or less. This strategy is designed to give us flexibility to take advantage of higher yields should they arise. Of course, we are prepared to adjust our strategy as market conditions evolve.
June 15, 2004
1 Annualized effective yield is based upon dividends declared daily and reinvested monthly. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Yields fluctuate.An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency.Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.Yields provided for the fund’s Class B and Class X shares reflect the absorption of fund expenses by The Dreyfus Corporation pursuant to an undertaking in effect that may be extended, terminated or modified at any time. Had these expenses not been absorbed, the fund’s Class B shares would have produced a yield of 0.12% and an effective yield of 0.12%, and the fund’s Class X shares would have produced a yield of –0.02% and an effective yield of –0.02%.
The Fund
5
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS | | | | |
May 31, 2004 (Unaudited) | | | | |
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| |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Principal | | | |
Negotiable Bank Certificates of Deposit—49.2% | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
|
|
| |
Alliance & Leicester PLC (London) | | | | |
1.13%, 12/22/2004 | 125,000,000 | | 125,000,000 | |
Alliance & Leicester PLC (Yankee) | | | | |
1.15%, 6/17/2004 | 150,000,000 | | 150,000,000 | |
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (Yankee) | | | | |
1.20%, 8/20/2004 | 100,000,000 | | 100,000,000 | |
Chase Manhattan Bank USA (Yankee) | | | | |
1.05%, 11/8/2004 | 233,000,000 | a | 233,000,000 | |
Credit Agricole Indosuez S.A. (Yankee) | | | | |
1.07%, 4/26/2005 | 250,000,000 | a | 249,954,616 | |
Credit Lyonnais N.A. (Yankee) | | | | |
1.06%, 10/14/2004 | 60,000,000 | a | 59,997,216 | |
DnB NOR Bank ASA (London) | | | | |
1.15%, 7/8/2004 | 40,000,000 | | 40,000,204 | |
First Tennessee Bank N.A. | | | | |
1.04%, 6/10/2004 | 200,000,000 | | 200,000,000 | |
HBOS Treasury Services PLC (London) | | | | |
1.13%, 7/23/2004 | 100,000,000 | | 100,001,436 | |
HSBC Bank USA | | | | |
1.56%, 4/22/2005 | 150,000,000 | | 150,000,000 | |
Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen Girozentrale (London) | | | | |
1.20%-1.26%, 10/6/2004-12/30/2004 | 325,000,000 | | 325,037,977 | |
Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (London) | | | | |
1.47%, 5/6/2005 | 200,000,000 | | 200,009,268 | |
Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Yankee) | | | | |
1.20%, 8/27/2004 | 100,000,000 | | 99,997,615 | |
Royal Bank Of Scotland PLC (London) | | | | |
1.05%-1.10%, 7/16/2004-8/9/2004 | 200,000,000 | | 200,000,623 | |
Societe Generale N.A. Inc (Yankee) | | | | |
1.04%, 6/17/2004 | 200,000,000 | | 200,000,000 | |
UniCredito Italiano SpA (Yankee) | | | | |
1.09%, 7/23/2004 | 300,000,000 | | 300,002,160 | |
WestLB AG (Yankee) | | | | |
1.15%, 6/15/2004 | 125,000,000 | | 125,000,000 | |
Wilmington Trust Co. | | | | |
1.15%-1.16%, 6/16/2004-7/7/2004 | 175,000,000 | | 175,000,000 | |
Total Negotiable Bank Certificates of Deposit | | | | |
(cost $3,033,001,115) | | | 3,033,001,115 | |
6
| | Principal | | | |
Commercial Paper—15.0% | Amount ($) | Value ($) | |
|
|
| |
Alliance & Leicester PLC | | | | |
1.16%, 6/10/2004 | 50,000,000 | | 49,985,625 | |
Amstel Funding Corp. | | | | |
1.31%, 9/14/2004-9/17/2004 | 174,217,000 | b | 173,547,019 | |
General Electric Capital Corp. | | | | |
1.10%, 10/5/2004 | 200,000,000 | | 199,237,000 | |
General Electric Capital Services Inc. | | | | |
1.03%, 6/7/2004-6/8/2004 | 300,000,000 | | 299,944,208 | |
UBS Finance Delaware LLC | | | | |
1.02%, 6/1/2004 | 200,000,000 | | 200,000,000 | |
Total Commercial Paper | | | | |
(cost $ | 922,713,852) | | | 922,713,852 | |
|
|
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| |
| | | | | |
Corporate Notes—12.5% | | | | |
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|
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Paradigm Funding LLC | | | | |
1.06%, 8/20/2004 | 210,000,000 | a,b | 210,000,800 | |
Sigma Finance Inc. | | | | |
1.07%-1.08%, 1/27/2005-3/22/2005 | 262,000,000 | a,b | 261,982,810 | |
Swedbank | | | | | |
1.05%, 10/1/2004 | 300,000,000 | a | 299,971,718 | |
Total Corporate Notes | | | | |
(cost $ | 771,955,328) | | | 771,955,328 | |
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| |
| | | | | |
Promissory Notes—3.3% | | | | |
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Goldman Sachs Group Inc. | | | | |
1.36%-1.53%, 11/8/2004-12/16/2004 | | | | |
(cost $ | 200,000,000) | 200,000,000 | c | 200,000,000 | |
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| |
| | | | | |
Short-Term Bank Notes—8.9% | | | | |
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BNP Paribas | | | | |
1.06%, 6/16/2004 | 250,000,000 | a | 249,997,934 | |
Bank of America N.A. | | | | |
1.05%, 3/15/2005 | 150,000,000 | a | 150,000,000 | |
WestLB AG | | | | |
1.07%, 6/7/2004 | 150,000,000 | a | 149,999,504 | |
Total Short Term Bank Notes | | | | |
(cost $ | 549,997,438) | | | 549,997,438 | |
The Fund
7
S T A T E M E N T O F I N V E S T M E N T S ( U n a u d i t e d ) (continued)
| | | Principal | | | |
U.S. Government Agencies—10.6% | Amount ($) | | Value ($) | |
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| |
| |
Federal Home Loan Banks, Floating Rate Notes | | | | |
1.06%, 8/4/2005 | | 200,000,000 | | 199,882,042 | |
Federal Home Loan Banks, Notes | | | | |
1.34%-1.42%, 3/11/2005-4/29/2005 | 250,000,000 | | 250,000,000 | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Notes | | | | |
1.50%, 12/24/2004 | | 200,000,000 | | 200,000,000 | |
Total U.S. Government Agencies | | | | |
(cost $ | 649,882,042) | | | | 649,882,042 | |
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| |
| | | | | | |
Time Deposits—.6% | | | | | |
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| |
| |
KBC Bank N.V. (Grand Cayman) | | | | |
1.02%, 6/1/2004 | | | | | |
(cost $ | 40,000,000) | | 40,000,000 | | 40,000,000 | |
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|
|
| |
| |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments (cost $ | 6,167,549,775) | 100.1% | | 6,167,549,775 | |
Liabilities, Less Cash and Receivables | (.1%) | | (8,222,459) | |
Net Assets | | 100.0% | | 6,159,327,316 | |
a Variable interest rate—subject to periodic change.
b | Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.At May 31, 2004, these securities amounted to $645,530,629 or 10.5% of net assets.
|
c | These notes were acquired for investment, and not with the intent to distribute or sell. Securities restricted as to public resale. These securities were acquired from 1/21/2004 to 5/11/2004 at a cost of $200,000,000.At May 31, 2004, the aggregate value of these securities was $200,000,000, representing 3.3% of net assets and are valued at amortized cost.
|
See notes to financial statements.
8
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
May 31, 2004 (Unaudited) | | | | |
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| | | | | |
| | | Cost | Value | |
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Assets ($): | | | | | |
Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments | | 6,167,549,775 | 6,167,549,775 | |
Cash | | | | 4,897,329 | |
Interest receivable | | | 13,789,684 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 380,960 | |
| | | | 6,186,617,748 | |
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|
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Liabilities ($): | | | | |
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates—Note 2(a) | | | 5,084,970 | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 22,014,213 | |
Payable for shares of Common Stock redeemed | | | 27,519 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 163,730 | |
| | | | 27,290,432 | |
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Net Assets ( | $) | | | 6,159,327,316 | |
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Composition of Net Assets ($): | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | | | 6,159,341,432 | |
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments | | | (14,116) | |
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Net Assets ( | $) | | | 6,159,327,316 | |
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Net Asset Value Per Share | | | | |
| | Class A | Class B | Class X | |
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Net Assets ($) | 1,126,699,096 | 5,032,530,499 | 97,721 | |
Shares Outstanding | 1,126,737,702 | 5,032,506,004 | 97,726 | |
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Net Asset Value Per Share ($) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
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See notes to financial statements. | | | | |
The Fund
9
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended May 31, 2004 (Unaudited) | | |
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Investment Income ($): | | |
Interest Income | 39,493,417 | |
Expenses: | | |
Management fee—Note 2(a) | 17,205,671 | |
Shareholder servicing costs—Note 2(c) | 9,049,891 | |
Distribution, service and prospectus fees—Note 2(b) | 6,950,285 | |
Registration fees | 181,622 | |
Custodian fees | 125,596 | |
Directors' fees and expenses—Note 2(d) | 78,344 | |
Shareholders' reports | 24,894 | |
Professional fees | 21,558 | |
Miscellaneous | 66,729 | |
Total Expenses | 33,704,590 | |
Less—reduction in shareholder servicing costs | | |
due to undertaking—Note 2(c) | (740,937) | |
Net Expenses | 32,963,653 | |
Investment Income—Net | 6,529,764 | |
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Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 1(b) ($) | 41 | |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 6,529,805 | |
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See notes to financial statements. | | |
10
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| Six Months Ended | | | |
| May 31, 2004 | | Year Ended | |
| (Unaudited) | | November 30, 2003 | |
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Operations ($): | | | | |
Investment income—net | 6,529,764 | | 27,689,737 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 41 | | (10,418) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | |
Resulting from Operations | 6,529,805 | | 27,679,319 | |
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Dividends to Shareholders from ($): | | | | |
Investment income—net: | | | | |
Class A Shares | (2,244,119) | | (8,018,360) | |
Class B Shares | (4,285,559) | | (19,670,906) | |
Class X Shares | (86) | | (471) | |
Total Dividends | (6,529,764) | | (27,689,737) | |
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Capital Stock Transactions ($1.00 per share): | | | | |
Net proceeds from shares sold: | | | | |
Class A Shares | 4,107,585,343 | | 7,231,363,649 | |
Class B Shares | 7,652,131,458 | | 14,956,398,812 | |
Class X Shares | - | | 78,645 | |
Dividends reinvested: | | | | |
Class A Shares | 2,212,179 | | 7,901,889 | |
Class B Shares | 3,991,000 | | 18,419,010 | |
Class X Shares | 25 | | 246 | |
Cost of shares redeemed: | | | | |
Class A Shares | (4,261,054,140) | | (7,517,672,820) | |
Class B Shares | (8,257,248,811) | | (14,800,138,189) | |
Class X Shares | (30,000) | | (110,443) | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from | | | | |
Capital Stock Transactions | (752,412,946) | | (103,759,201) | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | (752,412,905) | | (103,769,619) | |
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Net Assets ($): | | | | |
Beginning of Period | 6,911,740,221 | | 7,015,509,840 | |
End of Period | 6,159,327,316 | | 6,911,740,221 | |
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See notes to financial statements. | | | | |
The Fund
11
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following tables describe the performance for each share class for the fiscal periods indicated. All information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions.These figures have been derived from the fund’s financial statements.
| Six Months Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| May 31, 2004 | | | Year Ended November 30, | | | |
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Class A Shares | (Unaudited) | 2003 | | 2002 | | 2001 | | 2000 | | 1999 | |
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Per Share Data ($): | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, | | | | | | | | | | | |
beginning of period | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
Investment Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment income—net | .002 | .006 | | .014 | | .041 | | .056 | | .044 | |
Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from | | | | | | | | | | | |
investment income—net | (.002) | (.006) | | (.014) | | (.041) | | (.056) | | (.044) | |
Net asset value, | | | | | | | | | | | |
end of period | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
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Total Return (%) | .36a | .56 | | 1.43 | | 4.21 | | 5.77 | | 4.53 | |
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Ratios/ | | | | | | | | | | | |
Supplemental Data (%): | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of expenses to | | | | | | | | | | | |
average net assets | .78a | .77 | | .77 | | .79 | | .78 | | .78 | |
Ratio of net investment | | | | | | | | | | | |
income to average | | | | | | | | | | | |
net assets | .37a | .57 | | 1.42 | | 4.03 | | 5.64 | | 4.44 | |
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Net Assets, end of period | | | | | | | | | | | |
($x 1,000) | 1,126,699 | 1,277,956 | | 1,556,365 | | 1,379,758 | | 982,685 | | 863,981 | |
a Annualized.
See notes to financial statements.
12
| Six Months | Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| May 31, 2004 | | | Year Ended November 30, | | | |
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Class B Shares | (Unaudited) | 2003 | | 2002 | | 2001 | | 2000 | | 1999 | |
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Per Share Data ($): | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
beginning of period | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
Investment Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment income—net | .001 | .003 | | .012 | | .039 | | .054 | | .042 | |
Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from | | | | | | | | | | | | |
investment income—net | (.001) | (.003) | | (.012) | | (.039) | | (.054) | | (.042) | |
Net asset value, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
end of period | | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
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Total Return (%) | | .16a | .33 | | 1.20 | | 3.98 | | 5.53 | | 4.32 | |
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Ratios/ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Supplemental Data (%): | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of expenses to | | | | | | | | | | | |
average net assets | 1.00a | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
Ratio of net investment | | | | | | | | | | | |
income to average | | | | | | | | | | | |
net assets | | .15a | .33 | | 1.19 | | 3.81 | | 5.41 | | 4.24 | |
Decrease reflected in | | | | | | | | | | | |
above expense ratios | | | | | | | | | | | |
due to undertakings by | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Dreyfus Corporation | .03a | .01 | | .01 | | .03 | | .02 | | .03 | |
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Net Assets, end of period | | | | | | | | | | | |
($x 1,000) | 5,032,530 | 5,633,657 | | 5,458,986 | | 4,713,819 | | 3,338,285 | | 3,056,844 | |
a Annualized.
See notes to financial statements.
The Fund
13
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
| Six Months | Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| May 31, 2004 | | | Year Ended November 30, | | | |
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Class X Shares | (Unaudited) | 2003 | | 2002 | | 2001 | | 2000 | | 1999a | |
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Per Share Data ($): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
beginning of period | | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
Investment Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment income—net | | .001 | .003 | | .012 | | .039 | | .054 | | .021 | |
Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from | | | | | | | | | | | | |
investment income—net | | (.001) | (.003) | | (.012) | | (.039) | | (.054) | | (.021) | |
Net asset value, end of period | 1.00 | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | |
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Total Return (%) | | .16b | .32 | | 1.16 | | 3.94 | | 5.49 | | 4.33b | |
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Ratios/Supplemental Data (%): | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of expenses to | | | | | | | | | | | | |
average net assets | | 1.00b | 1.02 | | 1.05 | | 1.05 | | 1.05 | | 1.05b | |
Ratio of net investment income | | | | | | | | | | | |
to average net assets | | .16b | .34 | | 1.20 | | 4.03 | | 5.43 | | 4.01b | |
Decrease reflected in | | | | | | | | | | | | |
above expense ratios | | | | | | | | | | | | |
due to undertakings by | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Dreyfus Corporation | | .17b | .10 | | .14 | | .13 | | .06 | | .25b | |
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Net Assets, end of period | | | | | | | | | | | | |
($x 1,000) | | 98 | 128 | | 159 | | 291 | | 478 | | 554 | |
a From June 1, 1999 (commencement of initial offering) to November 30, 1999. b Annualized.
See notes to financial statements.
14
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:
General Money Market Fund, Inc. (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified open-end management investment company.The fund’s investment objective is to provide investors with as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital.The Dreyfus Corporation (the “Manager” or “Dreyfus”) serves as the fund’s investment adviser.The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Financial Corporation (“Mellon Financial”).
Dreyfus Service Corporation (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, is the distributor of the fund’s shares, which are sold to the public without a sales charge.The fund is authorized to issue 25.5 billion shares of $.001 par value Common Stock. The fund currently offers three classes of shares: Class A (15 billion shares authorized), Class B (10 billion shares authorized) and Class X (500 million shares authorized). Class A, Class B and Class X shares are identical except for the services offered to and the expenses borne by each class and certain voting rights. Class A shares are subject to a Service Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class B and Class X shares are subject to a Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act and Class A, Class B and Class X shares are subject to a Shareholder Services Plan. In addition, Class B shares are charged directly for sub-accounting services provided by Service Agents (a securities dealer, financial institution or other industry professional) at an annual rate of .05% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B shares. During the period ended May 31, 2004, sub-accounting service fees amounted to $1,415,607 for Class B shares and are included in the shareholder servicing cost. Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class), and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.
It is the fund’s policy to maintain a continuous net asset value per share of $1.00; the fund has adopted certain investment, portfolio valuation and dividend and distribution policies to enable it to do so.There is no assurance, however, that the fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value per share of $1.00.
The Fund
15
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
The fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown.The fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.
(a) Portfolio valuation: Investments in securities are valued at amortized cost, in accordance with Rule 2a-7 of the Act, which has been determined by the fund’s Board of Directors to represent the fair value of the fund’s investments.
(b) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of discount and premium on investments, is earned from the settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Realized gain and loss from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Cost of investments represents amortized cost. Under the terms of the custody agreement, the fund receives net earnings credits based on available cash balances left on deposit and includes such credits in interest income.
The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions deemed to be creditworthy by the Manager, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase and the fund’s agreement to resell such securities at a mutually agreed upon price. Securities purchased subject to repurchase agreements are deposited with the fund’s custodian and, pursuant to the terms of the repurchase agreement, must have an aggregate market value greater than or equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest at all times. If the value of the underlying securities falls below the value of the repurchase price plus accrued
16
interest, the fund will require the seller to deposit additional collateral by the next business day. If the request for additional collateral is not met, or the seller defaults on its repurchase obligation, the fund maintains the right to sell the underlying securities at market value and may claim any resulting loss against the seller.
(c) Dividends to shareholders: It is the policy of the fund to declare dividends from investment income-net on each business day; such dividends are paid monthly. Dividends from net realized capital gain, if any, are normally declared and paid annually, but the fund 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”).To the extent that net realized capital gain can be offset by capital loss carryovers, it is the policy of the fund not to distribute such gain.
(d) Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, if such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Code, and to make distributions of taxable income sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes.
The fund has an unused capital loss carryover of $14,157 available to be applied against future net securities profits, if any, realized subsequent to November 30, 2003. If not applied, $3,739 of the carryover expires in fiscal 2008 and $10,418 expires in fiscal 2011.
The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 was all ordinary income.The tax character of current year distributions will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year.
At May 31, 2004, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes (see the Statement of Investments).
The Fund
17
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
NOTE 2—Management Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates:
(a) Pursuant to a management agreement (“Agreement”) with the Manager, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .50 of 1% of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets and is payable monthly. The Agreement provides that if in any full fiscal year the aggregate expenses of the fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and extraordinary expenses, exceed 1 1 / 2% of the value of the fund’s average net assets, the fund may deduct from payments to be made to the Manager, or the Manager will bear, such excess expense. During the period ended May 31, 2004, there was no expense reimbursement pursuant to the Agreement.
The components of Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consists of: management fees $2,710,084, Rule 12b-1 distribution fees $1,084,038, shareholder services plan fees $1,342,791,custodian fees $333 and transfer agency per account fees $52,500, which are offset against an expense reimbursement currently in effect in the amount of $104,776.
(b) Under the Service Plan with respect to Class A (the “Plan”), adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class A shares bear directly the cost of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and implementing and operating the Plan, such aggregate amount not to exceed in any fiscal year of the fund, the greater of $100,000 or .005 of 1% of the average daily net assets of Class A. In addition, Class A shares pay the Distributor for distributing their shares, servicing shareholder accounts (“Servicing”) and advertising and marketing relating to Class A shares at an aggregate annual rate of .20 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class A.The Distributor may pay one or more Service Agents a fee in respect of Class A shares owned by shareholders with whom the Service Agent has a Servicing relationship or for whom the Service Agent is the dealer or holder of record.The schedule of such fees and the basis upon which such fees will be paid shall be determined from
18
time to time by the Distributor. If a holder of Class A shares ceases to be a client of a Service Agent, but continues to hold Class A shares, the Distributor will be permitted to act as a Service Agent in respect of such fund shareholders and receive payments under the Plan for Servicing.The fees payable for Servicing are payable without regard to actual expenses incurred. During the period ended May 31, 2004, Class A shares were charged $1,231,796 pursuant to the Plan.
Under the Distribution Plan with respect to Class B (“Class B Distribution Plan”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class B shares bear directly the costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and of implementing and operating the Class B Distribution Plan, such aggregate amount not to exceed in any fiscal year of the fund the greater of $100,000 or .005 of 1% of the average daily net assets of Class B. In addition, Class B shares reimburse the Distributor for payments made to third parties for distributing Class B shares at an annual rate not to exceed .20 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B. During the period ended May 31, 2004, Class B shares were charged $5,718,351 pursuant to the Class B Distribution Plan.
Under the Distribution Plan with respect to Class X (“Class X Distribution Plan”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class X shares pay the Distributor for distributing Class X shares at an annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class X. During the period ended May 31, 2004, Class X shares were charged $138 pursuant to the Class X Distribution Plan.
(c) Under the Shareholder Services Plan with respect to Class A (“Class A Shareholder Services Plan”), Class A shares reimburse the Distributor an amount not to exceed an annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class A for certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining shareholder accounts.The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder
The Fund
19
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)
inquiries regarding Class A shares and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. During the period ended May 31, 2004, Class A shares were charged $210,824 pursuant to the Class A Shareholder Services Plan.
Under the Shareholder Services Plan with respect to Class B and Class X (“Shareholder Services Plan”), Class B and Class X shares pay the Distributor at an annual rate of .25 of 1% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class X for servicing shareholder accounts.The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding Class B and Class X shares 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.
The Manager had undertaken from December 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004 to reduce the expenses of Class B shares to the extent that, if the aggregate expenses of Class B shares of the fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and extraordinary expenses, exceed an annual rate of 1.01% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class B shares. The Manager had undertaken from December 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004, to reduce the expenses of Class X shares to the extent that, if the aggregate expenses of Class X shares, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and extraordinary expenses, exceed an annual rate of 1.05% of the value of the average daily net assets of Class X shares. In addition, the Manager may at times, limit certain money market fund expenses in an effort to enhance yields of a fund, or a particular class of a fund, as applicable, because of low interest rates.The Manager limited fund expenses on the fund (Class B and Class X) to maintain a minimum yield of 15 basis points. Such expense limitations are voluntary, temporary and may be revised or terminated at anytime. During the period ended May 31, 2004, Class B and Class X shares were charged $7,078,034 and $137, respectively, pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan, of which $740,845 and $92, respectively, were reimbursed by the Manager.
20
The fund compensates Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, under a transfer agency agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the fund. During the period ended May 31, 2004, the fund was charged $204,652 pursuant to the transfer agency agreement.
(d) Each Board member also serves as a Board member of other funds within the Dreyfus complex. Annual retainer fees and attendance fees are allocated to each fund based on net assets.
NOTE 3—Legal Matters:
Two class actions (which have been consolidated) have been filed against Mellon Financial and Mellon Bank, N.A., and Dreyfus and Founders Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Advisers”), and the directors of all or substantially all of the Dreyfus funds, alleging that the Investment Advisers improperly used assets of the Dreyfus funds, in the form of directed brokerage commissions and 12b-1 fees, to pay brokers to promote sales of Dreyfus funds,and that the use of fund assets to make these payments was not properly disclosed to investors.The complaints further allege that the directors breached their fiduciary duties to fund shareholders under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and at common law. The complaints seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, rescission of the funds’ contracts with the Investment Advisers, an accounting of all fees paid, and an award of attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses. Dreyfus and the Dreyfus funds believe the allegations to be totally without merit and will defend the actions vigorously.
Additional lawsuits arising out of these circumstances and presenting similar allegations and requests for relief may be filed against the defendants in the future. Neither Dreyfus nor the Dreyfus funds believe that any of the pending actions will have a material adverse effect on the Dreyfus funds or Dreyfus’ ability to perform its contracts with the Dreyfus funds.
The Fund
21
General Money |
Market Fund, Inc. |
200 Park Avenue |
New York, NY 10166 |
|
Manager |
The Dreyfus Corporation |
200 Park Avenue |
New York, NY 10166 |
|
Custodian |
The Bank of New York |
|
One Wall Street |
New York, New York 10286 |
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Transfer Agent & |
Dividend Disbursing Agent |
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. |
200 Park Avenue |
New York, NY 10166 |
|
Distributor |
Dreyfus Service Corporation |
200 Park Avenue |
New York, NY 10166 |
To obtain information: |
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|
By telephone |
Call 1-800-645-6561 |
By mail Write to: |
The Dreyfus Family of Funds |
144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard |
Uniondale, NY 11556-0144 |
By E-mail Send your request |
to info@dreyfus.com |
On the Internet Information |
can be viewed online or |
downloaded from: |
http://www.dreyfus.com |
© 2004 Dreyfus Service Corporation
0196SA0504
Item 2. | Code of Ethics. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
| Not Applicable. |
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Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 6. | [Reserved] |
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Item 7. | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management |
| Investment Companies. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 8. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies |
| and Affiliated Purchasers. |
| Not applicable. |
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Item 9. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 10. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There were no changes to the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recently ended fiscal half-year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
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Item 11. Exhibits.
(a)(1) not applicable
(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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SSL-DOCS2 70134233v1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.
By: | /s/ Stephen E. Canter |
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| Stephen E. Canter |
| President |
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Date: | July 28, 2004 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ Stephen E. Canter |
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| Stephen E. Canter |
| Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: | July 28, 2004 |
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By: | /s/ James Windels |
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| James Windels |
| Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: | July 28, 2004 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (EX-99.CERT)
(b) Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (EX-99.906CERT)
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SSL-DOCS2 70134233v1