PIC MID CAP PORTFOLIO
N-1A, 1997-12-31
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549



                                    FORM N-1A





               REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
                                  ACT OF 1940                        [x]
                                 Amendment No.                       [ ]


                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


300 North Lake Avenue
     Pasadena, CA                                             91101-4106
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)


       Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): (626) 449-8500



                                  THAD M. BROWN
                          Provident Investment Counsel
                              300 North Lake Avenue
                             Pasadena, CA 91101-4106
               (Name and address of agent for service of process)




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<PAGE>
                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO

                                     PART A.

Item 4.  General Description of Registrant

           PIC MidCap Portfolio (the "MidCap Portfolio" or the "Portfolio") is a
diversified,  management  open-end  investment  company which was organized as a
trust under the laws of the State of New York on December 29, 1997.

           The  investment  objective  of the  MidCap  Portfolio  is to  provide
long-term  growth of capital.  There is no assurance  that the MidCap  Portfolio
will achieve its objective.

           The MidCap Portfolio will invest in equity securities,  consisting of
common stocks and securities having the  characteristics of common stocks,  such
as convertible preferred stocks,  convertible debt securities and warrants.  The
MidCap Portfolio will invest at least 65% and under normal circumstances expects
to invest at least 95% of its assets in such equity securities of companies with
medium market capitalizations. The Portfolio has flexibility, however, to invest
the balance in other market capitalizations and security types.

           Medium  market  capitalization   companies  are  those  whose  market
capitalization  falls within the range of $500 million to $5 billion at the time
of the Portfolio's investment. Companies whose capitalization falls outside this
range after purchase  continue to be considered  medium  capitalization  for the
purposes   of  the   Portfolio's   investment   policy.   Investing   in  medium
capitalization   stocks  may  involve  greater  risk  than  investing  in  large
capitalization  stocks,  since  they can be  subject  to more  abrupt or erratic
movements in value. However, they tend to involve less risk than stocks of small
capitalization  companies.  The value of the  Portfolio's  domestic  and foreign
investments  varies in response  to many  factors.  Stock  values  fluctuate  in
response to the  activities  of  individual  companies  and  general  market and
economic  conditions.  Investments  in foreign  securities  may involve risks in
addition  to  those  of U.S.  investments,  including  increased  political  and
economic risk, as well as exposure to currency fluctuations.

           In unusual  circumstances,  economic,  monetary,  technical and other
factors may cause the Advisor to assume a temporary,  defensive  portion  during
which all or a substantial  portion of the Portfolio's assets may be invested in
short-term instruments.  For more information about short-term investments,  see
"General -- Short-Term  Investments" below. The MidCap Portfolio also may invest
part of its assets temporarily in short-term  investments pending the investment
of the proceeds of the sale of its Interests or of its portfolio securities.

           The MidCap Portfolio may also invest in foreign securities,  although
there is no  requirement  that it do so. See  "General  --  Foreign  Securities"
below.

General
                                        1
<PAGE>
           Short-Term  Investments.  The  short-term  investments  that  may  be
purchased  by the MidCap  Portfolio  consist of high  quality  debt  obligations
maturing in one year or less from the date of purchase,  such as U.S. Government
securities,  certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and commercial paper.
High quality  means the  obligations  have been rated at least A-1 by Standard &
Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P")  or  Prime-1 by  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.
("Moody's"), or have an outstanding issue of debt securities rated at least A by
S&P or Moody's, or are of comparable quality in the opinion of the Advisor.  See
the Appendix for a description of S&P and Moody's ratings.

           Short-term   investments  also  include  repurchase   agreements.   A
repurchase  agreement  is a  transaction  in which  the  Portfolio  purchases  a
security,  and at the same  time,  the seller  (normally  a  commercial  bank or
broker-dealer)  agrees  to  repurchase  the same  security  (and/or  a  security
substituted for it under the repurchase  agreement) at an agreed-upon  price and
date in the future.  The resale price is in excess of the purchase price in that
it reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate effective for the period of time
during  which  the  Portfolio  holds  the  securities.  The  majority  of  these
transactions  run from day to day and not more than seven days from the original
purchase.  The  Portfolio's  risk is limited to the ability of the seller to pay
the  agreed-upon sum upon the delivery date; in the event of bankruptcy or other
default by the seller,  there may be possible delays and expenses in liquidating
the instrument  purchased,  decline in its value and loss of interest.  However,
the  securities  will be marked to market every business day so that their value
is at least equal to the amount due from the seller, including accrued interest.
The Advisor will also consider the creditworthiness of any bank or broker-dealer
involved in repurchase agreements.

           U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government securities include direct
obligations  issued by the  United  States  Treasury,  such as  Treasury  bills,
certificates of  indebtedness,  notes and bonds.  U.S.  Government  agencies and
instrumentalities  that  issue  or  guarantee  securities  include,  but are not
limited  to,  the  Federal  Home  Loan  Banks,  the  Federal  National  Mortgage
Association and the Student Loan Marketing Association.

           Except for U.S. Treasury  securities,  obligations of U.S. Government
agencies and instrumentalities may or may not be supported by the full faith and
credit of the United States. Some, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks,
are backed by the right of the  issuer to borrow  from the  Treasury;  others by
discretionary  authority  of the  U.S.  Government  to  purchase  the  agencies'
obligations; while still others, such as the Student Loan Marketing Association,
are  supported  only  by the  credit  of the  instrumentality.  In the  case  of
securities  not backed by the full faith and  credit of the United  States,  the
investor  must look  principally  to the  agency or  instrumentality  issuing or
guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert
a  claim   against  the  United  States  itself  in  the  event  the  agency  or
instrumentality does not meet its commitment.

           Foreign  Securities.  The MidCap Portfolio has the right to invest up
to 20% of its total
                                        2
<PAGE>
assets  in  foreign  securities.   The  Portfolio  will  only  purchase  foreign
securities which are listed on a national securities exchange or included in the
NASDAQ National  Market System or which are  represented by American  Depositary
Receipts  listed on a national  securities  exchange  or  included in the NASDAQ
National Market System.

           Interest or dividend payments on foreign securities may be subject to
foreign  withholding  taxes.  There  are also  risks  in  investing  in  foreign
securities.  An investment  may be affected by changes in currency  rates and in
exchange control  regulations.  Foreign  companies are frequently not subject to
the  accounting  and  financial  reporting  standards   applicable  to  domestic
companies, and there may be less information about foreign issuers. In addition,
investments in foreign countries are subject to the possibility of expropriation
or  confiscatory  taxation,   political  or  social  instability  or  diplomatic
developments that could adversely affect the value of those investments.

           Futures. The Portfolio may buy and sell stock index futures contracts
in order to hedge against changes in prices of the Portfolio's  securities,  but
it does not anticipate doing so during the current fiscal year.

           Portfolio  Turnover.  The annual  rate of  portfolio  turnover of the
MidCap  Portfolio is  anticipated  to be less than 100% in the future.  However,
under certain market  conditions,  the Portfolio may experience a higher rate of
portfolio  turnover.  In general,  the  Advisor  will not  consider  the rate of
portfolio  turnover to be a limiting  factor in  determining  when or whether to
purchase or sell securities in order to achieve the Portfolio's objective.  High
portfolio turnover involves  correspondingly  greater brokerage  commissions and
other  transaction  costs,  which are borne directly by the  Portfolio,  and may
increase realized capital gains which are taxable to Holders when distributed.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

           The Portfolio has adopted certain investment restrictions,  which are
described  fully  in the  Statement  of  Additional  Information.  One of  these
restrictions  states  that the  Portfolio  may borrow  money only from banks for
temporary or emergency  purposes in amounts not to exceed 10% of the Portfolio's
assets,  and  that  additional  investments  may  not be  made  while  any  such
borrowings are in excess of 5% of the  Portfolio's  assets.  Like the investment
objective,  these  restrictions  are  fundamental  and may be changed  only by a
majority vote of the outstanding Interests of the Portfolio.

           It is a position of the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (and an
operating  although not a  fundamental  policy of the  Portfolio)  that open-end
investment  companies such as the Portfolio should not make certain  investments
if thereafter more than 10% of the value of its net assets would be so invested.
The  investments  included in this 10% limit are (i) those which are restricted;
i.e.,  those which  cannot  freely be sold for legal  reasons  (other than those
which  meet the  requirements  of  Securities  Act Rule  144A);  (ii) fixed time
deposits  subject to  withdrawal  penalties  (other than deposits with a term of
less than seven days); (iii) repurchase agreements
                                        3
<PAGE>
having a maturity of more than seven days; and (iv) investments for which market
quotations  are not  readily  available.  The 10%  limitation  does not  include
obligations  which are payable at principal  amount plus accrued interest within
seven days after purchase.

Item 5. Management of the Fund.

           The  Portfolio's  Board of  Trustees  decides  on  matters of general
policy and reviews the  activities  of the  Advisor and the  Administrator.  The
Portfolio's  officers conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the
Portfolio.

The Advisor

           The Advisor to the MidCap Portfolio is Provident  Investment Counsel,
Inc., 300 North Lake Avenue,  Pasadena,  California  91101-4022.  Subject to the
direction  and  control of the  Trustees  of the MidCap  Portfolio,  the Advisor
formulates  and implements an investment  program for the  Portfolio,  including
determining  which  securities  should be  bought  and sold.  The  Advisor  also
provides certain of the officers of the Portfolio. For its services, The Advisor
receives a fee from the Portfolio, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual
rate of 0.70% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

           The Advisor is a corporation that traces its origins to an investment
partnership formed in 1951. On February 15, 1995, it became an indirect,  wholly
owned  subsidiary  of  United  Asset  Management   ("UAM"),   a  publicly  owned
corporation with  headquarters  located at One International  Place,  Boston, MA
02110.  UAM is  principally  engaged,  through  affiliated  firms,  in providing
institutional  investment  management  services.  At September  30, 1997,  total
assets under the Advisor's management were in excess of $20 billion.

The Administrator

           Pursuant  to  an   Administration   Agreement,   Investment   Company
Administration   Corporation  (the   "Administrator")   supervises  the  overall
administration of the Portfolio,  including,  among other responsibilities,  the
preparation and filing of all documents required for compliance by the Portfolio
with applicable laws and regulations, arranging for the maintenance of books and
records and the Portfolio,  and supervision of other organizations that provides
services to the Portfolio.  Certain  officers of the Portfolio are also provided
by the Administrator. The Portfolio is responsible for paying legal and auditing
fees, the fees and expenses of its custodian,  accounting  services and transfer
agents,  trustees' fees and  registration  fees, as well as its other  operating
expenses.  For the services it provides,  the Administrator  receives a fee from
the  Portfolio at an annual rate of .10% of the average  daily net assets of the
Portfolio.

Transfer and Dividend Paying Agent

           The Portfolio does not have a transfer or dividend paying agent.

Item 6.  Capital Stock and Other Securities

           Holders of  Interests in the  Portfolio  are entitled to one vote for
each full Interest held (and  fractional  votes for fractions of Interests)  and
may vote in the election of Trustees and on other
                                        4
<PAGE>
matters  submitted to meetings of Holders.  It is not contemplated  that regular
annual meetings of Holders will be held.

           The  Declaration  of Trust  provides that the Holders have the right,
upon  the  declaration  in  writing  or vote of the  Holders  of a  majority  of
Interests,  to remove a Trustee.  The Trustees will call a meeting of Holders to
vote on the removal of a Trustee upon the written  request of the Holders of ten
per cent of its  Interests.  In  addition,  ten  Holders  holding  the lesser of
$25,000  worth or one per cent of the  Interests  may  advise  the  Trustees  in
writing  that they wish to  communicate  with other  Holders  for the purpose of
requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee.  The Trustees  will then, if requested
by the applicants, mail at the applicants' expense the applicants' communication
to all other Holders.

           Holders of Interests  have no  preemptive or other right to subscribe
for additional securities. Interests are non-transferable.

           Holders may be liable for obligations of the Portfolio,  but the risk
of a Holder incurring  financial loss on account of such liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Portfolio was unable to meet its obligations.

           The Book Capital  Account  balances of Holders are determined at such
time or times, at such frequency and pursuant to such method as the Trustees may
from time to time determine. The power and duty to make such calculations may be
delegated by the Trustees to such person as the  Trustees may  determine.  It is
expected that such calculations will be made on such days as necessary to comply
with Rule 22c-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").

           The Trustees shall,  in compliance with applicable  provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") or regulations  thereunder,  agree to (a) the
daily  allocation  of  income  or loss  to  each  Holder,  (b)  the  payment  of
distributions  to Holders and (c) upon  liquidation of the Portfolio,  the final
distribution  of items of taxable income and expense.  Any such agreement may be
amended from time to time to comply with the Code or regulations thereunder. The
Trustees may retain from net profits  such amount as they may deem  necessary to
pay the  debts  or  expenses  of the  Portfolio  or to meet  obligations  of the
Portfolio, or as they may deem desirable to use in the conduct of the affairs of
the Portfolio or to retain for future  requirements or extension of the business
of the Portfolio.

Item 7.  Purchase of Securities Being Offered

           Interests  in  the  Portfolio  are  issued  solely  to  institutional
investors,  including regulated investment  companies,  group trusts governed by
Section  501(a) of the Code,  common trust funds  governed by Section 584 of the
Code and similar collective investment arrangements in transactions which do not
involve any "public  offering"  within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act").  This  Registration  Statement does not constitute an offer to
sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any "security"  within the meaning
of the 1933 Act.
                                        5
<PAGE>
           There is no sales  charge  on  Interests  in the  Portfolio,  and the
Portfolio does not use its assets for distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act.  There is no minimum  investment in the  Portfolio.  The Portfolio
reserves the right to reject any investment.

           The net asset value of the Portfolio is determined as of the close of
trading (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time) on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading.  The net asset value per Interest of the Portfolio
is the value of the Portfolio's  assets,  less its  liabilities,  divided by the
number of Interests outstanding.

           The Portfolio values its investments on the basis of the market value
of the  securities.  Securities and other assets for which market prices are not
readily  available  are valued at fair value as  determined in good faith by the
Board of  Trustees  of the  Portfolio.  The fair value of debt  securities  with
remaining  maturities of 60 days or less is normally their amortized cost value,
unless  conditions  indicate  otherwise.  Cash and receivables will be valued at
their face amounts.  Interest will be recorded as accrued and dividends  will be
recorded on their ex- dividend date.

Item 8.  Redemption or Repurchase

           A Holder wishing to redeem Interests may do so at any time by writing
to the Portfolio in care of its Custodian at P.O. Box 8950, Wilmington DE 19899,
or by  delivering  instructions  to  the  Custodian  at  103  Bellevue  Parkway,
Wilmington,   Delaware  19809.  The  redemption   request  should  identify  the
Portfolio,  specify the number of  Interests to be redeemed and be signed by all
registered  owners  exactly  as the  account is  registered,  and it will not be
accepted unless it contains all required  documents in proper form, as described
below.  If the  request  is in proper  form,  the  Interests  specified  will be
redeemed at the net asset value next determined after receipt of the request.

Redemption of Small Accounts

           In order to reduce the Portfolio's expenses, the Board of Trustees is
authorized  to cause the  redemption of all of the Interests of any Holder whose
account has  declined  to a net asset value of less than $500,  as a result of a
transfer or  redemption,  at the net asset value  determined  as of the close of
business  on the  business  day  preceding  the  sending  of  proceeds  of  such
redemption. The Portfolio would give Holders whose Interests were being redeemed
60 days' prior written notice in which to purchase sufficient Interests to avoid
such redemption.

Item 9.  Pending Legal Proceedings

           Not applicable.

The date of this Part A is December 31, 1997.
                                        6
<PAGE>
                                     PART B.
                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Item 10. Cover Page

           This Statement of Additional  Information of the PIC MidCap Portfolio
(the "MidCap  Portfolio" or the "Portfolio") is not a prospectus,  and it should
be read only in conjunction with Part A of this Registration Statement. The date
of this Statement of Additional Information is December 31, 1997.

Item 11.  Table of Contents

Item 12.  General Information and History................................  B-1
Item 13.  Investment Objective and Policies..............................  B-1
Item 14.  Management of the Fund.........................................  B-5
Item 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities............  B-6
Item 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services.........................  B-6
Item 17.  Brokerage Allocation...........................................  B-7
Item 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities.............................  B-8
Item 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities Being Offered...  B-8
Item 20.  Tax Status.....................................................  B-8
Item 21.  Underwriters...................................................  B-8
Item 22.  Calculation of Performance Data................................  B-8
Item 23.  Financial Statements...........................................  B-8
Appendix.................................................................  B-9

Item 12.  General Information and History

           Not applicable.

Item 13.  Investment Objective and Policies

           The  investment  objective  of the  MidCap  Portfolio  is to  provide
long-term  growth of capital.  There is no  assurance  that the  Portfolio  will
achieve its objective. The discussion below supplements information contained in
Part A as to investment policies of the MidCap Portfolio.

Investment Restrictions

           The Portfolio has adopted the following  restrictions  as fundamental
policies,  which may not be changed without the favorable vote of the holders of
a "majority," as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"),
of the outstanding  voting securities of the Portfolio.  Under the 1940 Act, the
"vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
                                       B-1
<PAGE>
securities"  means  the  vote of the  holders  of the  lesser  of (i) 67% of the
Interests of the Portfolio represented at a meeting at which the holders of more
than 50% of its  outstanding  Interests are represented or (ii) more than 50% of
the outstanding Interests of the Portfolio.

           The Portfolio may not:

           1. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
that the Portfolio may borrow on an unsecured  basis from banks for temporary or
emergency purposes or for the clearance of transactions in amounts not exceeding
10% of its total assets (not  including the amount  borrowed),  provided that it
will not make  investments  while borrowings in excess of 5% of the value of the
its total assets are outstanding;

           2. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position;

           3. Purchase  securities on margin,  except such short-term credits as
may be necessary for the clearance of transactions;

           4. Act as  underwriter  (except to the extent  the  Portfolio  may be
deemed to be an  underwriter  in  connection  with the sale of securities in its
investment portfolio);

           5. Invest 25% or more of its total assets,  calculated at the time of
purchase  and  taken at  market  value,  in any one  industry  (other  than U.S.
Government securities); or

           6.  Make  investments  for  the  purpose  of  exercising  control  or
management.

           The  Portfolio  observes the  following  restrictions  as a matter of
operating but not fundamental policy, pursuant to positions taken by federal and
state regulatory authorities:

           The Portfolio may not:

           1.  Purchase or sell  commodities  or  commodity  futures  contracts,
except that the Portfolio may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts;

           2. Make loans  (except for  purchases of debt  securities  consistent
with  the  investment  policies  of the  Portfolio  and  except  for  repurchase
agreements);

           3. Write put or call options; or

           4.  Invest  more than 10% of its  assets in the  securities  of other
investment  companies or purchase more than 3% of any other investment company's
voting  securities or make any other  investment in other  investment  companies
except as permitted by federal law.

Repurchase Agreements
                                       B-2
<PAGE>
           Repurchase agreements are transactions in which a Portfolio purchases
a  security  from a bank or  recognized  securities  dealer  and  simultaneously
commits to resell that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon date and
price  reflecting  a market  rate of  interest  unrelated  to the coupon rate or
maturity of the  purchased  security.  The  purchaser  maintains  custody of the
underlying securities prior to their repurchase; thus the obligation of the bank
or  dealer to pay the  repurchase  price on the date  agreed  to is, in  effect,
secured by such underlying  securities.  If the value of such securities is less
than the  repurchase  price,  the  other  party to the  agreement  will  provide
additional  collateral so that at all times the  collateral is at least equal to
the repurchase price.

           Although  repurchase  agreements  carry certain risks not  associated
with direct  investments  in  securities,  the  Portfolio  intends to enter into
repurchase  agreements  only with banks and  dealers  believed by the Advisor to
present minimum credit risks in accordance  with  guidelines  established by the
Boards of Trustees.  The Advisor will review and monitor the creditworthiness of
such institutions under the Board's general supervision.  To the extent that the
proceeds  from  any sale of  collateral  upon a  default  in the  obligation  to
repurchase  were less than the repurchase  price,  the purchaser  would suffer a
loss. If the other party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or
otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or other liquidation proceedings,  there
might be restrictions on the purchaser's  ability to sell the collateral and the
purchaser could suffer a loss. However,  with respect to financial  institutions
whose bankruptcy or liquidation  proceedings are subject to the U.S.  Bankruptcy
Code, the Portfolio intends to comply with provisions under that Code that would
allow them immediately to resell the collateral.

Futures Contracts

           The Portfolio may buy and sell stock index futures contracts. Futures
contracts  are traded on  designated  "contract  markets"  which,  through their
clearing corporations, guarantee performance of the contracts.

           A stock index futures contract is an agreement  pursuant to which one
party  agrees to  deliver  to the other an  amount of cash  equal to a  specific
dollar amount times the  difference  between the value of a specific stock index
at the close of the last  trading day of the contract and the price at which the
agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made. On the contract's
expiration date, a final cash settlement occurs.  Changes in the market value of
a particular  stock index  futures  contract  reflects  changes in the specified
index of equity securities on which the future is based. If the Advisor expected
general  stock market  prices to rise,  it might  purchase a stock index futures
contract  as a  hedge  against  an  increase  in  prices  of  particular  equity
securities it wanted ultimately to buy. If in fact the stock index did rise, the
price of the equity securities intended to be purchased might also increase, but
that  increase  would be  offset  in part by the  increase  in the  value of the
Portfolio's  futures  contract  resulting from the increase in the index. On the
other hand, if the Advisor expected  general stock market prices to decline,  it
might sell a futures  contract on the index.  If that index did in fact decline,
the value of some or all of the equity  securities  held by the Portfolio  might
also be expected to decline,  but that  decrease  would be offset in part by the
increase in the value of the futures contract.
                                       B-3
<PAGE>
           There  are  several  risks  in  connection  with  the use of  futures
contracts. In the event of an imperfect correlation between the futures contract
and the  portfolio  position  which is  intended  to be  protected,  the desired
protection  may not be  obtained  and the fund may be  exposed  to risk of loss.
Further,  unanticipated  changes in interest rates or stock price  movements may
result in a poorer  overall  performance  for the  Portfolio  than if it had not
entered into any futures on debt securities or stock indexes.

           In addition,  the market prices of futures  contracts may be affected
by certain factors. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to
margin  deposit and  maintenance  requirements.  Rather than meeting  additional
margin  deposit  requirements,  investors  may close futures  contracts  through
offsetting  transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the
securities and futures markets.  Second,  from the point of view of speculators,
the deposit  requirements  in the futures  market are less  onerous  than margin
requirements in the securities  market.  Therefore,  increased  participation by
speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions.

           Finally,  positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade which  provides a secondary  market for such futures.
There is no assurance that a liquid  secondary market on an exchange or board of
trade will exist for any particular  contract or at any particular  time. In the
event that the Portfolio could not close a futures position and the value of the
position  declined,  the  Portfolio  would be required to continue to make daily
cash payments of maintenance margin.

Item 14.  Management of the Fund

           The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio,  their business addresses
and principal occupations during the past five years are:

Richard N. Frank (age 74), Trustee     Chief Executive Officer, Lawry's
234 E. Colorado Blvd.                  Restaurants, Inc.; formerly Chairman
Pasadena, CA  91101                    of Lawry's Foods, Inc.

Bernard J. Johnson (age 73),           Retired; formerly Chairman Emeritus 
     Trustee Emeritus                  of the Advisor
300 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA  91101

James Clayburn LaForce (age 69),       Dean Emeritus, John E. Anderson Graduate
     Trustee                           School of Management, University of 
P.O. Box 1585                          California, Los Angeles. Director of The 
Pauma Valley, CA 92061                 BlackRock Funds. Trustee of Payden & 
                                       Rygel Investment Trust. Director of the 
                                       Timken Co., Rockwell International, Eli 
                                       Lilly, Jacobs Engineering Group and 
                                       Imperial Credit Industries.

Jeffrey J. Miller (age 47), President  Managing Director and Secretary of the
     and Trustee*                      Advisor
300 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA  91101
                                       B-4
<PAGE>
Angelo R. Mozilo (age 59), Trustee     Vice Chairman and Executive Vice 
155 N. Lake Avenue                     President of Countrywide Credit 
Pasadena, CA  91101                    Industries (mortgage banking)

Thad M. Brown (age 47), Vice           Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
     President, Secretary and          Officer of the Advisor
     Treasurer of the Trust
300 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101


- ---------------------------------

* denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of Portfolio under the 1940 Act.

           The  following  compensation  was  paid  to  each  of  the  following
Trustees.  No other  compensation  or  retirement  benefits were received by any
Trustee or officer from the Registrant or other registered investment company in
the "Fund Complex."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Cash Compensation    Deferred Compensation    Total Compensation
Name of Trustee             From Registrant        From Registrant        From Fund Complex
- ---------------             ---------------        ---------------        -----------------
<S>                            <C>                    <C>                  <C>   
Richard N. Frank                 -0-                    -0-                   $12,000
James Clayburn La Force          -0-                    -0-                    12,000
Angelo R. Mozilo                 -0-                    -0-                    12,000
</TABLE>


Item 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities

           None.

Item 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services

           Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio,
investment  management  and  services  will be provided to the  Portfolio by the
Advisor,   pursuant  to  an  Investment   Advisory   Agreement   (the  "Advisory
Agreement").

           Under the Advisory  Agreement,  the Advisor will provide a continuous
investment program for the Portfolio and make decisions and place orders to buy,
sell or hold  particular  securities.  In conjunction  with  Investment  Company
Administration   Corporation  (the  "Administrator"),   the  Advisor  also  will
supervise all matters relating to the operation of the Portfolio and will obtain
for it officers,  clerical  staff,  office space,  equipment  and  services.  As
compensation  for its  services,  the Advisor  will  receive a monthly fee at an
annual rate of 0.80 of 1% of the Portfolio'  average net assets.  In addition to
the  fees  payable  to the  Advisor  and the  Administrator,  the  Portfolio  is
responsible for its operating expenses,  including: (i) interest and taxes; (ii)
brokerage commissions;  (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation and expenses
of Trustees other than those  affiliated with the Advisor or the  Administrator;
(v) legal and  audit  expenses;  (vi) fees and  expenses  of the  custodian  and
transfer agent; (vii) fees and expenses for registration or qualification of the
Portfolio  and its  Interests  under federal or state  securities  laws;  (viii)
expenses  of  preparing,  printing  and  mailing  reports  and notices and proxy
material to Holders;  (ix) other expenses  incidental to holding any meetings of
Holders; (x) dues or assessments of or contributions to the Investment Company
                                       B-5
<PAGE>
Institute  or any  successor;  (xi) such  non-recurring  expenses  as may arise,
including  litigation  affecting the Portfolio  and the legal  obligations  with
respect to which the  Portfolio may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees;
and (xii) amortization of organization costs.

           Under the Advisory  Agreement,  the Advisor will not be liable to the
Portfolio for any error of judgment by the Advisor or any loss  sustained by the
Portfolio  except in the case of a breach of fiduciary  duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages will be
limited as provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of duty.

           The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Board of Trustees
or by the  holders of a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the
Portfolio  at any time  without  penalty,  on 60  days'  written  notice  to the
Advisor. The Advisory Agreement also may be terminated by the Advisor on 60 days
written notice to the Portfolio. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically
upon its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Item 17.  Brokerage Allocation

           The Advisory  Agreement  states that in connection with its duties to
arrange for the purchase and the sale of securities held in the portfolio of the
Portfolio  by placing  purchase and sale orders for the  Portfolio,  the Advisor
shall select such broker-dealers  ("brokers") as shall, in its judgment, achieve
the policy of "best execution," i.e., prompt and efficient execution at the most
favorable securities price. In making such selection,  the Advisor is authorized
in the Advisory  Agreement to consider the reliability,  integrity and financial
condition  of the  broker.  The  Advisor  also  is  authorized  by the  Advisory
Agreement  to consider  whether  the broker  provides  research  or  statistical
information to the Portfolio and/or other accounts of the Advisor.

           The Advisory Agreement state that the commissions paid to brokers may
be higher than another  broker would have charged if a good faith  determination
is made by the Advisor  that the  commission  is  reasonable  in relation to the
services provided,  viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
Advisor's overall  responsibilities  as to the accounts as to which it exercises
investment discretion and that the Advisor shall use its judgment in determining
that the amount of  commissions  paid are reasonable in relation to the value of
brokerage and research  services provided and need not place or attempt to place
a specific  dollar value on such services or on the portion of commission  rates
reflecting such services.  The Advisory  Agreement  provides that to demonstrate
that  such   determinations  were  in  good  faith,  and  to  show  the  overall
reasonableness  of commissions  paid, the Advisor shall be prepared to show that
commissions paid (i) were for purposes  contemplated by the Advisory  Agreement;
(ii)  were for  products  or  services  which  provide  lawful  and  appropriate
assistance to its  decision-making  process;  and (iii) were within a reasonable
range as  compared  to the  rates  charged  by  brokers  to other  institutional
investors as such rates may become known from available information.

           The  research  services  discussed  above may be in  written  form or
through  direct  contact  with  individuals  and may include  information  as to
particular companies and securities as well as market,
                                       B-6
<PAGE>
economic or institutional  areas and information  assisting the Portfolio in the
valuation  of the  Portfolio's  investments.  The  research  which  the  Advisor
receives for the Portfolio's brokerage commissions, whether or not useful to the
Portfolio,  may be useful to it in managing the  accounts of its other  advisory
clients.  Similarly,  the research received for the commissions of such accounts
may be useful to the Portfolio.

           Money market  instruments  usually trade on a "net" basis as well. On
occasion,  certain  money market  instruments  may be purchased by the Portfolio
directly from an issuer in which case no  commissions  or discounts are paid. In
underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes
an amount of  compensation  to the  underwriter,  generally  referred  to as the
underwriter`s concession or discount.

           The  Registrant's  custodian  is PNC Bank,  17th and Market  Streets,
Philadelphia,  PA 19101, which holds its assets.  The Registrant's  auditors are
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, 555 Fifh Avenue, New York, NY 10017-2416,  which audits
the Registrant's financial statements and prepares its tax returns.

Item 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities
           See Part A.

Item 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities Being
                     Offered

           The net asset value of the  Portfolio's  Interests will fluctuate and
is  determined  as of the  close  of  trading  on the New  York  Stock  Exchange
(currently  4:00 p.m.  Eastern time) each  business  day. The Exchange  annually
announces  the days on which it will not be open for  trading.  The most  recent
announcement  indicates  that it will  not be open on the  following  days:  New
Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, the Exchange may close on days
not included in that announcement.

           The net asset value per Interest is computed by dividing the value of
the securities  held by the Portfolio  plus any cash or other assets  (including
interest  and  dividends  accrued but not yet  received)  minus all  liabilities
(including accrued expenses) by the total number of Interests in the
Portfolio outstanding at such time.

Item 20.  Tax Status

           The  Portfolio  does not expect to be  subject  to any income  taxes.
However,  each  investor  in the  Portfolio  will be taxable on its share of the
Portfolio's ordinary income and capital gain.

Item 21.  Underwriters

           Not applicable.
                                       B-7
<PAGE>
Item 22.  Calculation of Performance Data

           Not applicable.

Item 23. Financial Statements

           Not applicable.
                                       B-8
<PAGE>
                                    APPENDIX
                             Description of Ratings

Moody's Investors Service, Inc.: Corporate Bond Ratings

           Aaa--Bonds  which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best  quality
and  carry the  smallest  degree  of  investment  risk.  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 are generally 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.

           Moody's applies numerical  modifiers "1", "2" and "3" to both the Aaa
and Aa rating  classifications.  The  modifier "1"  indicates  that the security
ranks in the  higher  end of its  generic  rating  category;  the  modifier  "2"
indicates a mid-range  ranking;  and the modifier "3"  indicates  that the issue
ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

           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.

Standard & Poor's Corporation: Corporate Bond Ratings

           AAA--This  is the highest  rating  assigned by Standard & Poor's to a
debt obligation and indicates an extremely  strong capacity to pay principal and
interest.

           AA--Bonds  rated AA also qualify as  high-quality  debt  obligations.
Capacity to pay  principal  and interest is very strong,  and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

           A--Bonds  rated  A have  a  strong  capacity  to  pay  principal  and
interest,  although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

Commercial Paper Ratings

           Moody's  commercial  paper  ratings are  assessments  of the issuer's
ability  to  repay  punctually  promissory  obligations.   Moody's  employs  the
following three designations, all judged to be
                                       B-9
<PAGE>
investment grade, to indicate the relative  repayment capacity of rated issuers:
Prime 1--highest quality; Prime 2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.

           A Standard & Poor's  commercial paper rating is a current  assessment
of the likelihood of timely  payment.  Ratings are graded into four  categories,
ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.

           Issues  assigned  the highest  rating,  A, are regarded as having the
greatest  capacity for timely  payment.  Issues in this category are  delineated
with the numbers "1", "2" and "3" to indicate the relative degree of safety. The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety  regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A-1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics.  Capacity for
timely  payment on issues with the  designation  "A-2" is strong.  However,  the
relative  degree of safety is not as high as for issues  designated  A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory  capacity for timely payment.
They are, however,  somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
                                      B-10
<PAGE>
                                     PART C
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
           (a)       Financial Statements:

                               To be filed by amendment.

           (b)       Exhibits:
                     (1)       Declaration of Trust
                     (2)       Not Applicable
                     (3)       Not applicable
                     (4)       Not applicable
                     (5)       Management Agreement
                     (6)       Not applicable
                     (7)       Not applicable
                     (8)       Custodian Agreement(1)
                     (9)       Administration Agreement
                     (10)      Not applicable
                     (11)      Not applicable
                     (12)      Not applicable
                     (13)      Investment letter
                     (14)      Not applicable
                     (15)      Not applicable
                     (16)      Not applicable
                     (17)      Not applicable

           (1) To be filed by amendment.

Item 25.  Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
           None.

Item 26.  Number of Holders of Securities.
           None.

Item 27.  Indemnification.
           Article V of Registrant's Declaration of Trust states as follows:

                     1.  Definitions.  As used in this  Article,  the  following
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

                               (a) the term "indemnitee"  shall mean any present
           or former Trustee,  officer or employee of the Trust,  any present or
           former  Trustee  or officer of  another  trust or  corporation  whose
           securities are or were owned by the Trust or of which the Trust is or
           was a  creditor  and who  served or serves  in such  capacity  at the
           request  of the Trust,  any  present  or former  investment  adviser,
           sub-adviser  or  principal  underwriter  of the Trust and the  heirs,
           executors,  administrators,  successors  and  assigns  of  any of the
           foregoing; however, whenever conduct by an indemnitee is referred to,
           the conduct shall be that of the original indemnitee rather than that
           of the heir, executor, administrator, successor or assignee;

                               (b) the term "covered  proceeding" shall mean any
           threatened,  pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
           civil,  criminal,   administrative  or  investigative,  to  which  an
           indemnitee  is or was a party or is  threatened to be made a party by
           reason of the fact or facts under which he or it is an  indemnitee as
           defined above;
                                       C-1
<PAGE>
                               (c)  the  term  "disabling  conduct"  shall  mean
           willful   misfeasance,   bad  faith,  gross  negligence  or  reckless
           disregard  of the  duties  involved  in the  conduct of the office in
           question;

                               (d)  the  term  "covered   expenses"  shall  mean
           expenses (including  attorney's fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts
           paid in settlement  actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnitee
           in connection with a covered proceeding; and

                               (e) the term  "adjudication  of liability"  shall
           mean,  as to any  covered  proceeding  and as to any  indemnitee,  an
           adverse  determination  as to the  indemnitee  whether  by  judgment,
           order,  settlement,  conviction or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or
           its equivalent.

                     2.  No  Personal  Liability  of  Trustees  and  Others.  No
indemnitee  shall be subject to any personal  liability to any Person other than
the Trust or its  Holders  in  connection  with the  property  or affairs of the
Trust, unless arising from his bad faith,  wilful misfeasance,  gross negligence
or reckless  disregard  of his duty to such Person,  and all such Persons  shall
look  solely to the  property  of the Trust  for  satisfaction  of claims of any
nature  against an  indemnitee  arising in  connection  with the  affairs of the
Trust.

                     3.   Indemnification.   The  Trust  shall   indemnify   any
indemnitee for covered expenses in any covered proceeding,  whether or not there
is an  adjudication  of liability as to such  indemnitee,  to the maximum extent
permitted by law. However,  the Trust shall not indemnify any indemnitee for any
covered expenses in any covered  proceeding if there has been an adjudication of
liability  against  such  indemnitee  expressly  based on a finding of disabling
conduct.  Nothing in this  Declaration of Trust shall protect a Trustee  against
any  liability  to which such  Trustee  would  otherwise be subject by reason of
willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder.

                     4. Advance of  Expenses.  Covered  expenses  incurred by an
indemnitee  in  connection  with a covered  proceeding  shall be advanced by the
Trust to an indemnitee  prior to the final  disposition of a covered  proceeding
upon the request of the indemnitee for such advance and the undertaking by or on
behalf of the indemnitee to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification  thereunder,  but only if one
or more of the  following  is the  case:  (i) the  indemnitee  shall  provide  a
security for such  undertaking;  (ii) the Trust shall be insured  against losses
arising  out  of  any  lawful  advances;  or  (iii)  there  shall  have  been  a
determination, based on a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a
full  trial-type  inquiry) that there is a reason to believe that the indemnitee
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification by either independent legal
counsel  in a  written  opinion  or by the vote of a  majority  of a  quorum  of
trustees  who are  neither  "interested  persons" as defined in the 1940 Act nor
parties to the covered proceeding.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to affect the
right of the Trust and/or any  indemnitee  to acquire and pay for any  insurance
covering any or all  indemnitees  to the extent  permitted by the 1940 Act or to
affect any other indemnification  rights to which any indemnitee may be entitled
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

                     5.  Liability of Holders.  Each Holder shall be jointly and
severally liable (with rights of contribution  inter sese in proportion to their
respective  Interests in the Trust) for the  liabilities  and obligations of the
Trust in the  event  that  the  Trust  fails to  satisfy  such  liabilities  and
obligation; provided, however, that to the extent assets are available in the
                                       C-2
<PAGE>
Trust the Trust shall  indemnify and hold each Holder  harmless from and against
any claim or liability to which such Holder may become  subject by reason of his
being or having been a Holder to the extent that such claim or liability imposes
on the Holder an obligation or liability which, when compared to the obligations
and  liabilities  imposed on other  Holders,  is greater than its Interest,  and
shall reimburse such Holder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred
by it in connection  with any such claim or liability.  The rights accruing to a
Holder under this section shall not exclude any other right to which such Holder
may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right
of the Trust to  indemnify or  reimburse a Holder in any  appropriate  situation
even   though   not   specifically   provided   herein.    Notwithstanding   the
indemnification procedure described above, it is intended that each Holder shall
remain jointly and severally liable to the Trust's creditors as a legal matter.

                     6.  Reliance on Experts.  The  Trustees  may take advice of
counsel or other  experts  with  respect to the meaning and  operations  of this
Declaration  of Trust and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in
accordance  with such advice or for failing to follow such advice.  The Trustees
shall  not be  required  to give any bond as such,  nor any  surety if a bond is
required.

                     7.  No Duty  of  Investigation.  No one  dealing  with  the
Trustees  shall be under  any  obligation  to make any  inquiry  concerning  the
authority of the Trustees,  or to see to the application of any payments made or
property  transferred  by the Trustees or upon their order.  The exercise by the
Trustees  of their  powers  and  discretion  hereunder  in good  faith  and with
reasonable care under the circumstances  then prevailing,  shall be binding upon
everyone  interested.  Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article,
the  Trustees  shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or
law.

Item 28.  Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.

           Provident  Investment Counsel,  Inc. is the investment advisor of the
Registrant.  For  information  as  to  the  business,  profession,  vocation  or
employment  of a  substantial  nature of  Provident  Investment  Counsel,  Inc.,
reference  is made to the Form ADV filed under the  Investment  Advisers  Act of
1940 by Provident Investment Counsel, Inc.

Item 29.  Principal Underwriters.

           Not applicable.

Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records.

           The accounts,  books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant  pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment  Company Act of 1940 and
the  rules  promulgated  thereunder  are in the  possession  of  Registrant  and
Registrant's  custodian,  as follows: the documents required to be maintained by
paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (10) and (11) of Rule 31a-1(b) will be maintained
by the Registrant, and all other records will be maintained by the Custodian.

Item 31. Management Services.

           Not applicable.

Item 32. Undertakings.

           Not applicable.
                                       C-3

                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO

                              DECLARATION OF TRUST


<PAGE>
                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO

                              DECLARATION OF TRUST

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

ARTICLE I  Name............................................................   1
           ----

ARTICLE II  Definitions....................................................   1
            -----------

ARTICLE III  Trustees and Officers
             ---------------------

           1.  Increase or Decrease in Number of Trustees..................   2
           2.  Term........................................................   3
           3.  Resignation, Removal and Retirement.........................   3
           4.  Vacancies...................................................   4
           5.  Meetings....................................................   4
           6.  Committees..................................................   5
           7.  Actions without Meeting; Telephone Meetings.................   5
           8.  Compensation................................................   6
           9.  Officers....................................................   6

ARTICLE IV  Powers of Trustees
            ------------------

           1.  General.....................................................   6
           2.  Investments.................................................   7
           3.  Legal Title.................................................   7
           4.  Sale of Interests...........................................   8
           5.  Miscellaneous Powers........................................   8
           6.  Further Powers..............................................   9

ARTICLE V  Limitations of Liability; Indemnification
           -----------------------------------------

           1.  Definitions.................................................  10
           2.  No Personal Liability of Trustees and Others................  11
           3.  Indemnification.............................................  11
           4.  Advance of Expenses.........................................  12
           5.  Liability of Holders .......................................  12
           6.  Reliance of Experts.........................................  13
           7.  No Duty of Investigation....................................  13

ARTICLE VI  Interests
            ---------

           1.  Interests...................................................  13
           2.  Limitations on Holders of Beneficial Interest...............  13
                                        i
<PAGE>
           3.  Rights of Holders...........................................  13
           4.  Record of Interests.........................................  14

ARTICLE VII  Holders
             -------

           1.  Meetings of Holders.........................................  14
           2.  Notice of Meetings..........................................  14
           3.  Record Dates................................................  15
           4.  Quorum......................................................  15
           5.  Voting......................................................  15
           6.  Proxies and Inspectors......................................  15
           7.  Conduct of Holders' Meetings................................  16
           8.  Concerning Validity of Proxies, Ballots, etc................  16
           9.  Action by Written Consent...................................  16
           10.  Inspection of Records......................................  17
           11.  Other Rights of Holders....................................  17

ARTICLE VIII  Management and Other Contracts
              ------------------------------

           1.  Parties to Contracts........................................  17
           2.  Management and Underwriting Contracts.......................  18

ARTICLE IX  Redemptions
            -----------

           1.  Right of Redemptions........................................  18

ARTICLE X  Determination of Book Capital Accounts
           --------------------------------------

           1.  Book Capital Account Balances...............................  19
           2.  Distributions and Allocations to Holders....................  19
           3.  Power to Modify Foregoing...................................  19

ARTICLE XI  Duration and Termination
            ------------------------

           1.  Duration....................................................  20
           2.  Termination.................................................  20
           3.  Dissolution.................................................  20

ARTICLE XII  Miscellaneous
             -------------

           1.  Requirement for Action......................................  21
           2.  Implied Powers..............................................  21
           3.  Organization Costs..........................................  21
           4.  Proper Action...............................................  21
           5.  Determination of Value......................................  22
           6.  Amendment...................................................  22
           7.  Certificate of Designation; Agent for Service of
               Process.....................................................  22
           8.  Governing Law...............................................  22
                                       ii
<PAGE>
           9.  Counterparts................................................  23
           10.  Reliance by Third Parties..................................  23
           11.  Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.............  23
                                       iii
<PAGE>
                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO

                              DECLARATION OF TRUST


                  This DECLARATION OF TRUST is made on December 29, 1997, by and
among  the  individuals  executing  this  Declaration  of Trust  as the  initial
Trustees:

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

                  WHEREAS,  the Trustees  desire to establish a trust fund under
the laws of the State of New York for the investment and  reinvestment  of funds
contributed thereto;

                  NOW  THEREFORE,  the  Trustees  declare  that  all  money  and
property contributed to the trust fund hereunder shall be held and managed under
this Declaration of Trust in trust as herein set forth below.

                                    ARTICLE I
                                      Name
                                      ----

                  This Trust shall be known as "PIC MidCap Portfolio".

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   Definitions
                                   -----------

                  Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context
or specifically  provided, all terms used in this Declaration of Trust which are
defined in the 1940 Act shall have the  meanings  given to them in the 1940 Act,
and the  following  terms  shall  have the  meanings  set forth  below.  In this
Declaration of Trust, the masculine embraces the feminine.


                  "Board" or "Board of Trustees"  means the Board of Trustees of
the Trust.

                  "Book Capital  Account" means, for any Holder at any time, the
Book Capital  Account of the Holder for such day,  determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and the provisions of the 1940 Act.
                                       1
<PAGE>
                  "Code" refers to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "Holder" means a record owner of an Interest of the Trust.

                  "Interest"  means  the  interest  of a  Holder  in the  Trust,
including  all  rights,  powers  and  privileges  accorded  to  Holders  in  the
Declaration  of  Trust,  which  interest  may  be  expressed  as  a  percentage,
determined by calculating, at such times and on such basis as the Trustees shall
from time to time  determine,  the ratio of each Holder's  Book Capital  Account
balance to the total of all Holders' Book Capital  Account  balances.  Reference
herein to a specified  percentage  in, or fraction of,  Interests of the Holders
means Holders whose  combined Book Capital  Accounts  represent  such  specified
percentage or fraction of the Book Capital Accounts of all Holders.

                  "Trust" refers to PIC Small Cap. Portfolio,  the trust created
by this Declaration of Trust.

                  "Trustees" refer to the individual  trustees in their capacity
as trustees  hereunder of the Trust and their  successor or  successors  for the
time being in office as such trustees.

                  "1940 Act" refers to the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  as
amended from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE III
                              Trustees and Officers
                              ---------------------

                  1.  Increase or Decrease in Number of  Trustees.  The Trustees
may, by written  instrument  signed by a majority of the  Trustees  then holding
office,  increase the number of Trustees to a number not exceeding fifteen,  and
may fill the vacancies created by any such increase in the number of Trustees by
appointment of an individual made by written  instrument signed by a majority of
the Trustees then holding office.  The Trustees may likewise decrease the number
of Trustees to a number not less than three,  provided  that no reduction in the
number of Trustees shall have 
                                       2
<PAGE>
the effect of removing  any Trustee  from office.  No  appointment  of a Trustee
shall become  effective  unless the individual named is at least 21 years of age
and not under legal  disability and until the individual  shall have accepted in
writing such  appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this
Declaration of Trust.

                  2. Term.  Subject to any provisions of the 1940 Act and except
as provided in this  Article  III,  each  Trustee  shall hold office  during the
lifetime of this Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided.

                  3. Resignation,  Removal and Retirement.  A Trustee may resign
his trust,  without need for prior or  subsequent  accounting,  by an instrument
signed in writing and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, the President
or the Secretary of the Trust, and such resignation  shall be effective upon its
receipt unless a later date is specified in the  instrument.  Any Trustee at any
time may be removed  either with or without cause by resolution  duly adopted by
the  affirmative  votes of the holders of the  majority of the  Interests of the
Trust present in person or by proxy at any meeting of Holders at which such vote
may be taken,  provided that a quorum is present. Any Trustee at any time may be
removed  for cause by the  action of at least two thirds of the  Trustees  whose
removal is not proposed. Removal with cause includes, but is not limited to, the
removal of the Trustee due to physical or mental incapacity or failure to comply
with such  written  policies as from time to time may be adopted by at least two
thirds of the Trustees with respect to the conduct of Trustees and attendance at
meetings.  Any Trustee who has attained a mandatory  retirement age  established
pursuant to any written  policy  adopted by at least two thirds of the  Trustees
shall,  automatically  and  without  action  of such  Trustee  or the  remaining
Trustees, be deemed to have retired in accordance with such policy, effective as
of the date  determined  in  accordance  with such  policy.  Any Trustee who has
become  incapacitated  by illness or injury as  determined  by a majority of the
other Trustees may be retired by written  instrument signed by a majority of the
other  Trustees,  specifying the date of his retirement.  Upon the  resignation,
removal or retirement of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he
shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require
for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any property
                                       3
<PAGE>
of the Trust held in the name of the  resigning,  retiring  or removed  Trustee.
Upon  the  death  of any  Trustee  or upon  removal  or  resignation  due to any
Trustee's  incapacity  to serve,  his legal  representative  shall  execute  and
deliver such  documents as the remaining  Trustees  shall require as provided in
the  preceding  sentence.  The  death,  declination,   resignation,  retirement,
removal, or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to
annul the Trust or to revoke any existing  agency created  pursuant to the terms
of this Declaration of Trust.

                  4. Vacancies. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate,
and a vacancy shall occur, in the event of the death,  resignation,  retirement,
removal,  adjudicated  incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of
the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration
of Trust or to revoke any existing agency created  pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration  of Trust.  A vacancy  may be filled by the vote of the Holders of a
majority of the Interests entitled to vote, at a meeting held in accordance with
Section 1 of Article VII hereof,  or, to the extent provided by the 1940 Act, by
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then holding office.

                  5. Meetings.  Regular  meetings of the Board of Trustees shall
be held at such time and on such  notice,  if any, as the Trustees may from time
to time  determine.  Special  meetings of the  Trustees may be held from time to
time  upon  call of the  Chairman  of the  Board,  if any,  the  President,  the
Secretary  or two or more of the  Trustees,  by oral or  telegraphic  or written
notice  duly  served on or sent or mailed to each  Trustee not less than one day
before  such  meeting.  No notice  need be given to any  Trustee  who attends in
person or to any Trustee who, in writing  executed and filed with the records of
the meeting either before or after the holding thereof, waives such notice. Such
notice or waiver of notice  need not  state  the  purpose  or  purposes  of such
meeting. A majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum for
the  transaction  of business,  provided  that a quorum shall in no case be less
than two Trustees.  If at any meeting of the Trustees there shall be less than a
quorum present (in person or by open telephone line, to the extent  permitted by
the 1940 Act), a majority of those  present may adjourn the meeting from time to
time until a quorum  shall have been  obtained.  The act of the  majority of the
Trustees  present at any meeting at which there is 
                                       4
<PAGE>
a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise  specifically
provided by statute or by this Declaration of Trust.

                  6. Committees.  The Trustees may, by the affirmative vote of a
majority of all  Trustees,  elect from the  Trustees an  Executive  Committee to
consist  of such  number  of  Trustees  as the  Trustees  may from  time to time
determine. The Trustees by such affirmative vote shall have power at any time to
change the members of such  Committee and may fill vacancies in the Committee by
election  from the Trustees.  When a meeting of Trustees is not in session,  the
Executive  Committee shall have and may exercise any or all of the powers of the
Trustees in the  management of the business and affairs of the Trust  (including
the power to  authorize  the seal of the Trust to be affixed to all papers which
may  require  it) except as  provided by law and except the power to increase or
decrease  the size of, or fill  vacancies  among  the  Trustees.  The  Executive
Committee may fix its own rules of procedure, and may meet, when and as provided
by such rules or by resolution  of the Trustees,  but in every case the presence
of a majority  shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.  In the absence of any
member of the Executive  Committee the members  thereof  present at any meeting,
whether or not they  constitute  a quorum,  may  appoint a Trustee to act in the
place of such absent member.

                  The Trustees, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the
Trustees,  may appoint other committees which shall in each case consist of such
number of  Trustees  (not less than two) and shall  have and may  exercise  such
powers as the  Trustees  may  determine  in the  resolution  appointing  them. A
majority of all members of any such committee may determine its action,  and fix
the time and place of its meetings, unless the Trustees shall otherwise provide.
The  Trustees  shall have power at any time to change the  members and powers of
any such committee, to fill vacancies, and to discharge any such committee.


                  7. Actions without  Meeting;  Telephone  Meetings.  Any action
required  or  permitted  to be  taken  at any  meeting  of the  Trustees  or any
committee  thereof may be taken without a meeting,  if a written consent to such
action is signed by all members of the Board, or of such committee,  as the case
may be.  Trustees or members of a committee of the Trustees may participate in a
                                       5
<PAGE>
meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications  equipment;
such participation shall, except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, have the
same effect as presence in person.

                  8.  Compensation.  Trustees  shall be entitled to receive such
compensation from the Trust for their services as may from time to time be voted
by the Trustees.

                  9.  Officers.  The  executive  officers  of the Trust shall be
chosen by the  Trustees.  These may include a Chairman  of the Board,  and shall
include a  President,  one or more  Vice-Presidents  (the  number  thereof to be
determined by the  Trustees),  a Secretary and a Treasurer.  The Chairman of the
Board, if any, shall be selected from among the Trustees. The Trustees may also,
in their discretion,  appoint Assistant Secretaries,  Assistant Treasurers,  and
other  officers,  agents and employees.  The Trustees may fill any vacancy which
may  occur  in any  office.  Any two  offices,  except  those of  President  and
Vice-President,  may be held by the same person,  but no officer shall  execute,
acknowledge  or  verify  any  instrument  in more  than  one  capacity,  if such
instrument is required by law to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or
more  officers.  The term of  office  of all  officers  shall be as fixed by the
Trustees;  however,  any officer may be removed  from office at any time with or
without  cause by the vote of a majority of the Trustees.  The officers,  agents
and  employees  of the Trust  shall have such  powers  and  duties as  generally
pertain to their  respective  offices,  as well as such powers and duties as may
from time to time be conferred by the Trustees or the Executive Committee.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                               Powers of Trustees
                               ------------------

                  1.  General.  The  Trustees  in  all  instances  shall  act as
principals,  and are and  shall be free from the  control  of the  Holders.  The
Trustees  shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make
and  execute  any and all  contracts  and  instruments  that  they may  consider
necessary or  appropriate in connection  with the  management of the Trust.  The
Trustees  shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future  laws or
customs in regard to Trust investments,  but shall have full authority and power
to make any and all investments  which they, in 
                                       6
<PAGE>
their  uncontrolled  discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of
this Trust.

                  2. Investments. The Trustees shall have power and authority to
hold, invest and reinvest the funds of the Trust, and in connection therewith to
hold part or all of such funds in cash,  and to purchase or  otherwise  acquire,
hold for investment or otherwise, sell, sell short, assign, negotiate, transfer,
exchange or otherwise dispose of or turn to account or realize upon,  securities
(which term  "securities"  shall for the purposes of this  Declaration of Trust,
without limitation of the generality  thereof,  be deemed to include any stocks,
shares,  bonds,  debentures,  notes,  mortgages  or other  obligations,  and any
certificates,  receipts,  warrants or other instruments  representing  rights to
receive,  purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing  any
other rights or  interests  therein,  or in any  property or assets)  created or
issued  by any  issuer  (which  term  "issuer"  shall for the  purposes  of this
Declaration of Trust,  without limitation of the generality thereof be deemed to
include   any   persons,   firms,   associations,    corporations,   syndicates,
combinations,  organizations,  governments,  or subdivisions  thereof) or in any
other  financial   instruments  whether  or  not  considered  as  securities  or
commodities;  and to  exercise,  as owner or holder of any  securities  or other
financial instruments, all rights, powers and privileges in respect thereof; and
to do any and all acts and things for the preservation,  protection, improvement
and enhancement in value of any or all such  securities.  The Trustees shall not
be limited to investing in obligations  maturing before the possible termination
of the  Trust,  nor  shall the  Trustees  be  limited  by any law  limiting  the
investments that may be made by fiduciaries.

                  3. Legal Title.  As soon as any person shall become a Trustee,
the Trust  estate  shall vest in the new Trustee  together  with the  continuing
Trustees  without any further act or conveyance.  All of the assets of the Trust
shall at all times be  considered  as vested in the  Trustees  and shall be held
separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter  held in any capacity  other
than as  Trustee  hereunder  by the  Trustees  or any  successor  Trustees.  The
Trustees  shall have the power to cause legal title to any property of the Trust
to be held by or in the  name of one or  more of the  Trustees  or of any  other
person on behalf of the Trust, on such terms as the Trustees may determine.
                                       7
<PAGE>
                  4. Sale of Interests.  Subject to any more detailed provisions
contained  herein,  the Trustees  shall have the power to permit the purchase of
Interests and to permit Holders to add to or reduce their Interest in the Trust.

                  5. Miscellaneous Powers.  Subject to any applicable limitation
in this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall have power and authority:

                               (a) to adopt By-Laws not  inconsistent  with this
           Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business of the
           Trust and to amend and  repeal  them to the  extent  that they do not
           reserve that right to the Holders;

                               (b)  to  employ  a  bank  or  trust   company  as
           custodian of any assets of the Trust  subject to any  conditions  set
           forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;

                               (c)  to  retain  a  transfer   agent  and  Holder
           servicing agent, or both;

                               (d) to provide for the  distribution of Interests
           either through a principal underwriter or the Trust itself or both;

                               (e) to set record  dates in the  manner  provided
           for in the By-Laws of the Trust.

                               (f) to delegate  such  authority as they consider
           desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any agent, custodian or
           underwriter;

                               (g) to vote  or  give  assent,  or  exercise  any
           rights of  ownership,  with respect to stock or other  securities  or
           property held in Trust  hereunder;  and to execute and deliver powers
           of  attorney  to such  person or persons as the  Trustees  shall deem
           proper,  granting to such person or persons such power and discretion
           with relation to  securities  or property as the Trustees  shall deem
           proper;

                               (h) to exercise powers and rights of subscription
           or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities
           held in trust hereunder;
                                       8
<PAGE>
                               (i) to consent to or  participate in any plan for
           the  reorganization,  consolidation  or merger of any  corporation or
           concern,  any  security of which is held in the Trust;  to consent to
           any contract,  lease, mortgage,  purchase or sale of property by such
           corporation  or  concern,  and to pay  calls  or  subscriptions  with
           respect to any security held in the Trust;

                               (j) to compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust
           claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in  controversy
           including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;

                               (k)  to  make,  in  the  manner  provided  in the
           By-Laws, distributions of income and of capital gains to Holders;

                               (l) to borrow  money and to pledge  assets to the
           extent and in the manner  permitted  by the 1940 Act and the  Trust's
           fundamental policy thereunder as to borrowing; and

                               (m)  to  enter  into   investment   advisory   or
           management  contracts,  subject to the 1940 Act, with any one or more
           corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations or other persons; if
           the other party or parties to any such  contract  are  authorized  to
           enter  into  securities  transactions  on behalf of the  Trust,  such
           transactions  shall be deemed to have been  authorized  by all of the
           Trustees.

                  6. Further  Powers.  The Trustees  shall have power to conduct
the business of the Trust in all its branches and maintain one or more  offices,
whether  within or without the State of New York or elsewhere in any part of the
world,  without restriction or limit as to extent. The Trustees shall have power
to carry out all or any of the  foregoing  objects and  purposes as principal or
agent, and alone or with associates or, to the extent now or hereafter permitted
by the laws of the State of New York,  as a member of, or as the owner or holder
of any  stock  of,  or share of  interest  in,  any  issuer,  and in  connection
therewith to make or enter into such deeds or contracts  with any issuers and to
do such acts and things and to exercise such powers,  as a natural  person could
lawfully make,  enter into, do or exercise.  The Trustees shall have power to do
any and all such further acts and things
                                       9
<PAGE>
and to exercise any and all such further powers as may be necessary, incidental,
relative, conducive,  appropriate or desirable for the accomplishment,  carrying
out or  attainment  of all or any of the purposes or objects for which the Trust
was established, and such power, objects and purposes shall, except as otherwise
expressly  provided,  be in no way limited or  restricted  by  reference  to, or
inference  from,  the terms of any other clause of this or any other Articles of
this  Declaration  of Trust,  and shall  each be  regarded  as  independent  and
construed  as powers as well as objects and  purposes,  and the  enumeration  of
specific  powers,  objects  and  purposes  shall  not be  construed  to limit or
restrict in any manner the meaning of general terms or the general powers of the
Trust now or hereafter  conferred by the laws of the State of New York nor shall
the expression of one thing be deemed to exclude  another,  though it be of like
nature, not expressed;  provided, however, that the Trust shall not carry on any
business, or exercise any powers, in any state,  territory,  district or country
except to the extent that the same may lawfully be carried on or exercised under
the laws thereof.

                                    ARTICLE V
                    Limitations of Liability; Indemnification
                    -----------------------------------------

                  1. Definitions.  As used in this Article,  the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:

                               (a) the term "indemnitee"  shall mean any present
           or former Trustee,  officer or employee of the Trust,  any present or
           former  Trustee  or officer of  another  trust or  corporation  whose
           securities are or were owned by the Trust or of which the Trust is or
           was a  creditor  and who  served or serves  in such  capacity  at the
           request  of the Trust,  any  present  or former  investment  adviser,
           sub-adviser  or  principal  underwriter  of the Trust and the  heirs,
           executors,  administrators,  successors  and  assigns  of  any of the
           foregoing; however, whenever conduct by an indemnitee is referred to,
           the conduct shall be that of the original indemnitee rather than that
           of the heir, executor, administrator, successor or assignee;

                               (b) the term "covered  proceeding" shall mean any
           threatened,  pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
           civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to
                                       10
<PAGE>
           which an  indemnitee  is or was a party or is threatened to be made a
           party  by  reason  of the fact or  facts  under  which he or it is an
           indemnitee as defined above;

                               (c)  the  term  "disabling  conduct"  shall  mean
           willful   misfeasance,   bad  faith,  gross  negligence  or  reckless
           disregard  of the  duties  involved  in the  conduct of the office in
           question;

                               (d)  the  term  "covered   expenses"  shall  mean
           expenses (including  attorney's fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts
           paid in settlement  actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnitee
           in connection with a covered proceeding; and

                               (e) the term  "adjudication  of liability"  shall
           mean,  as to any  covered  proceeding  and as to any  indemnitee,  an
           adverse  determination  as to the  indemnitee  whether  by  judgment,
           order,  settlement,  conviction or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or
           its equivalent.

                  2. No Personal Liability of Trustees and Others. No indemnitee
shall be subject to any personal liability to any Person other than the Trust or
its Holders in  connection  with the  property  or affairs of the Trust,  unless
arising from his bad faith,  wilful  misfeasance,  gross  negligence or reckless
disregard of his duty to such Person,  and all such Persons shall look solely to
the property of the Trust for  satisfaction  of claims of any nature  against an
indemnitee arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust.

                  3.  Indemnification.  The Trust shall indemnify any indemnitee
for  covered  expenses  in any  covered  proceeding,  whether or not there is an
adjudication of liability as to such indemnitee, to the maximum extent permitted
by law.  However,  the Trust shall not indemnify any  indemnitee for any covered
expenses  in any  covered  proceeding  if  there  has  been an  adjudication  of
liability  against  such  indemnitee  expressly  based on a finding of disabling
conduct.  Nothing in this  Declaration of Trust shall protect a Trustee  against
any  liability  to which such  Trustee  would  otherwise be subject by reason of
willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder.
                                       11
<PAGE>
                  4.  Advance  of  Expenses.  Covered  expenses  incurred  by an
indemnitee  in  connection  with a covered  proceeding  shall be advanced by the
Trust to an indemnitee  prior to the final  disposition of a covered  proceeding
upon the request of the indemnitee for such advance and the undertaking by or on
behalf of the indemnitee to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification  thereunder,  but only if one
or more of the  following  is the  case:  (i) the  indemnitee  shall  provide  a
security for such  undertaking;  (ii) the Trust shall be insured  against losses
arising  out  of  any  lawful  advances;  or  (iii)  there  shall  have  been  a
determination, based on a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a
full  trial-type  inquiry) that there is a reason to believe that the indemnitee
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification by either independent legal
counsel  in a  written  opinion  or by the vote of a  majority  of a  quorum  of
trustees  who are  neither  "interested  persons" as defined in the 1940 Act nor
parties to the covered proceeding.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to affect the
right of the Trust and/or any  indemnitee  to acquire and pay for any  insurance
covering any or all  indemnitees  to the extent  permitted by the 1940 Act or to
affect any other indemnification  rights to which any indemnitee may be entitled
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

                  5.  Liability  of Holders.  Each  Holder  shall be jointly and
severally liable (with rights of contribution  inter sese in proportion to their
respective  Interests in the Trust) for the  liabilities  and obligations of the
Trust in the  event  that  the  Trust  fails to  satisfy  such  liabilities  and
obligation;  provided,  however,  that to the extent assets are available in the
Trust the Trust shall  indemnify and hold each Holder  harmless from and against
any claim or liability to which such Holder may become  subject by reason of his
being or having been a Holder to the extent that such claim or liability imposes
on the Holder an obligation or liability which, when compared to the obligations
and  liabilities  imposed on other  Holders,  is greater than its Interest,  and
shall reimburse such Holder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred
by it in connection  with any such claim or liability.  The rights accruing to a
Holder under this section shall not exclude any other right to which such Holder
may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right
of the Trust to  indemnify or  reimburse a Holder in any  appropriate  situation
even though not specifically provided
                                       12
<PAGE>
herein.  Notwithstanding  the  indemnification  procedure described above, it is
intended  that each Holder  shall  remain  jointly and  severally  liable to the
Trust's creditors as a legal matter.

                  6.  Reliance  on  Experts.  The  Trustees  may take  advice of
counsel or other  experts  with  respect to the meaning and  operations  of this
Declaration  of Trust and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in
accordance  with such advice or for failing to follow such advice.  The Trustees
shall  not be  required  to give any bond as such,  nor any  surety if a bond is
required.

                  7. No Duty of Investigation.  No one dealing with the Trustees
shall be under any  obligation to make any inquiry  concerning  the authority of
the  Trustees,  or to see to the  application  of any payments  made or property
transferred by the Trustees or upon their order. The exercise by the Trustees of
their powers and  discretion  hereunder in good faith and with  reasonable  care
under  the  circumstances  then  prevailing,  shall  be  binding  upon  everyone
interested.  Subject to the  provisions  of  paragraph  2 of this  Article,  the
Trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                    Interests
                                    ---------

                  1.  Interests.  The  beneficial  interests  in the Trust shall
consist of non-transferable Interests.

                  2.  Limitations  on  Holders  of  Beneficial  Interest.   Only
institutional investors,  including regulated investment companies, group trusts
governed by Section  501(a) of the Code,  common trust funds governed by Section
584  of the  Code  and  similar  collective  investment  arrangements  may  hold
beneficial  interests in the Trust.  Such Holders may increase or decrease their
interests  in the Trust,  however,  such  interests  are not  transferable.  New
holders  of  beneficial  interest,  from the  institutional  investor  groups as
previously described, may be admitted as investors.

                  3. Rights of Holders.  All of the assets of the Trust shall at
all times be considered  as vested in the  Trustees.  Except as provided in this
Declaration  of Trust,  no  Holder  shall  have,  as such  holder of  beneficial
interest in the Trust, any
                                       13
<PAGE>
authority,  power or right  whatsoever to transact  business for or on behalf of
the Trust,  or on behalf of the  Trustees,  in  connection  with the property or
assets of the Trust,  or in any part  thereof,  except the rights to receive the
income and distributable amounts arising therefrom as set forth herein.

                  4. Record of Interests.  The  ownership of Interests  shall be
recorded in the books of the Trust or an agent. The record books of the Trust or
any agent,  as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Holders of
Interests and as to the Book Capital Account balance of each.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                     Holders
                                     -------

                  1.  Meetings  of  Holders.  Meetings  of the  Holders  for any
purpose or purposes  (including  the election of Trustees)  may be called by the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees,  if any, or by the  President or by the Board
of Trustees and shall be called by the Secretary  upon receipt of the request in
writing  signed  by  Holders  holding  not less  than ten per cent  (10%) of the
Interests of the Trust.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the
proposed  meeting.  All meetings of the Holders  shall be held at the  principal
office  of the  Trust  or at  such  other  place  as may  from  time  to time be
designated by the Board of Trustees and stated in the notice of meeting.

                  2.  Notice of  Meetings.  Not less than ten days' and not more
than ninety days' written or printed notice of every meeting of Holders, stating
the time and place thereof (and the general  nature of the business  proposed to
be transacted at any special or extraordinary  meeting),  shall be given to each
Holder entitled to vote thereat by leaving the same with him or at his residence
or usual place of business or by mailing it,  postage  prepaid and  addressed to
him at his address as it appears upon the books of the Trust.


                  No notice of the time,  place or  purpose  of any  meeting  of
Holders  need be given to any Holder who attends in person or by proxy or to any
Holder  who,  in writing  executed  and filed with the  records of the  meeting,
either before or after the holding thereof, waives such notice.
                                       14
<PAGE>
                  3. Record Dates. The Board of Trustees may fix, in advance,  a
date, not exceeding ninety days and not less than ten days preceding the date of
any meeting of Holders,  and not  exceeding  ninety days  preceding any dividend
payment date or any date for the  allotment of rights,  as a record date for the
determination  of the Holders  entitled to receive such dividends or rights,  as
the case may be; and only  Holders of record on such date shall be  entitled  to
notice of and to vote at such meeting or to receive such dividends or rights, as
the case may be.

                  4.  Quorum.  The presence in person or by proxy of the Holders
of  one-third  of the  Interests  of the Trust shall  constitute a quorum at any
meeting of the  Holders.  If at any meeting of the  Holders  there shall be less
than a quorum present,  the Holders present at such meeting may, without further
notice,  adjourn the same from time to time until a quorum shall attend,  but no
business shall be transacted at any such adjourned  meeting except such as might
have been lawfully transacted had the meeting not been adjourned.

                  5.  Voting.  The Holders  shall have power to vote (a) for the
election of Trustees,  (b) with respect to the amendment of this  Declaration of
Trust,  (c) to the  same  extent  as the  shareholders  of a New  York  business
corporation,  as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should be
brought or maintained  derivatively  or as a class action on behalf of the Trust
or the Holders,  and (d) with respect to such additional matters relating to the
Trust  as may be  required  by the  1940  Act or  authorized  by  law,  by  this
Declaration of Trust, or the By-Laws of the Trust or any registration  statement
of the Trust with the  Commission or any State,  or as the Trustees may consider
desirable. At all meetings of Holders each Holder shall be entitled to a vote in
proportion  to his interest in the Trust on the record date,  fixed as set forth
above.  All elections of Trustees  shall be had by a plurality of the votes cast
and all questions shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast, in each case
at a duly constituted meeting,  except as otherwise provided in this Declaration
of Trust or by specific  statutory  provision  superseding the  restrictions and
limitations contained in this Declaration of Trust.

                  6. Proxies and  Inspectors.  At all meetings of Holders  every
Holder of record  entitled  to vote  thereat  shall be  entitled to 
                                       15
<PAGE>
vote at such meeting  either in person or by proxy  appointed by  instrument  in
writing subscribed by such Holder or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.

                  At any  election  of  Trustees,  the Board of  Trustees  prior
thereto may, or, if they have not so acted, the Chairman of the meeting may, and
upon the request of the holders of ten per cent (10%) of the Interests  entitled
to vote at such  election  shall,  appoint two  inspectors of election who shall
first  subscribe  an oath of  affirmation  to execute  faithfully  the duties of
inspectors at such election with strict  impartiality  and according to the best
of their ability,  and shall after the election make a certificate of the result
of the vote taken.  No  candidate  for the office of Trustee  shall be appointed
such inspector.

                  The  Chairman  of the meeting may cause a vote by ballot to be
taken upon any election or matter, and such vote shall be taken upon the request
of the holders of ten per cent (10%) of the  Interests  entitled to vote on such
election or matter.

                  7. Conduct of Holders'  Meetings.  The meetings of the Holders
shall be presided  over by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees,  if any, or if
he shall not be present,  by the President,  or if he shall not be present, by a
Vice-President,  or if  neither  the  Chairman  of the  Board of  Trustees,  the
President nor any Vice-President is present,  by a chairman to be elected at the
meeting. The Secretary of the Trust, if present,  shall act as Secretary of such
meetings,  or if he is not  present,  an  Assistant  Secretary  shall so act; if
neither the  Secretary nor an Assistant  Secretary is present,  then the meeting
shall elect its secretary.

                  8.  Concerning  Validity  of Proxies,  Ballots,  etc. At every
meeting of the Holders, all proxies shall be received and taken in charge of and
all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of the meeting, who
shall decide all questions touching the qualification of voters, the validity of
the proxies,  and the  acceptance  or rejection of votes,  unless  inspectors of
election shall have been appointed as provided in Section 6, in which event such
inspectors of election shall decide all such questions.

                  9. Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by
Holders may be taken  without a meeting if the Holders  
                                       16
<PAGE>
holding  more than 50% of the total  Interests  entitled to vote (or such larger
proportion  thereof  as shall be  required  by any  express  provisions  of this
Declaration  of Trust)  shall  consent to the action in writing  and the written
consents  are filed with the records of the  meetings of Holders.  Such  consent
shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Holders.

                  10. Inspection of Records. The Holders shall have the right to
inspect the  records,  documents,  accounts  and books of the Trust,  subject to
reasonable  regulations  of the  Trustees,  not  contrary to New York law, as to
whether  and to what  extent,  and at what  times and  places,  and  under  what
conditions and regulations, such right shall be exercised.

                  11.   Other  Rights  of  Holders.   Notwithstanding   anything
elsewhere contained in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws of the Trust,
the Holders shall have such rights,  and the Trust,  the Board of Trustees,  and
the  Trustees  shall have such  obligations  as would  exist if the Trust were a
common law trust  covered by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act.  However,  the Trust
may at any time or from  time to time  apply to the  Commission  for one or more
exemptions  from all or part of said Section 16(c) and, if an exemptive order or
orders are issued by the  Commission,  such order or orders shall be deemed part
of said Section 16(c) for the purposes of this paragraph.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                         Management and Other Contracts
                         ------------------------------

                  1. Parties to Contracts. Subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, any Trustee, officer or employee, individually, or any partnership of which
any  Trustee,  officer  or  employee  may be a  member,  or any  corporation  or
association  of which  any  Trustee,  officer  or  employee  may be an  officer,
director,  trustee,  employee  or  stockholder,  may be a  party  to,  or may be
pecuniarily  or  otherwise  interested  in, any contract or  transaction  of the
Trust,  and in the absence of fraud no contract  or other  transaction  shall be
thereby  affected  or  invalidated;  provided  that  in  case  a  Trustee,  or a
partnership, corporation or association of which a Trustee is a member, officer,
director,  trustee, employee or stockholder is so interested, such fact shall be
disclosed  or shall have been known to the Trustees or a majority  thereof;  and
any Trustee who is so interested,  or who is also a director,  
                                       17
<PAGE>
officer,   trustee,  employee  or  stockholder  of  such  other  corporation  or
association  or a member  of such  partnership  which is so  interested,  may be
counted in determining  the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Trustees
which shall authorize any such contract or transaction,  and may vote thereat to
authorize any such contract or transaction,  with like force and effect as if he
were not such director,  officer, trustee, employee or stockholder of such other
trust or corporation or association or a member of a partnership so interested.

                  2. Management and Underwriting  Contracts.  Specifically,  but
without  limitation of the  foregoing,  the Trust may enter into a management or
investment advisory contract or underwriting  contract and other contracts with,
and may otherwise do business with any manager or investment  adviser and/or any
sub-adviser for the Trust and/or  principal  underwriter of the Interests of the
Trust or any  subsidiary or affiliate of any such manager or investment  adviser
and/or sub-adviser and/or principal  underwriter and may permit any such firm or
corporation  to enter into any  contracts or other  arrangements  with any other
firm or corporation relating to the Trust  notwithstanding that the Board of the
Trust may be composed in part of partners,  directors,  officers or employees of
any such firm or corporations, and officers of the Trust may have been or may be
or  become  partners,  directors,  officers  or  employees  of any such  firm or
corporation,  and in the  absence  of  fraud  the  Trust  and any  such  firm or
corporation may deal freely with each other, and no such contract or transaction
between the Trust and any such firm or  corporation  shall be  invalidated or in
any way  affected  thereby,  nor shall any  Trustee  or  officer of the Trust be
liable to the Trust or to any Holder or creditor  thereof or to any other person
for any loss  incurred by it or him solely  because of the existence of any such
contract or transaction;  provided that nothing herein shall protect any Trustee
or officer of the Trust  against any  liability  to the Trust or to its security
holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith,  gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his office.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   Redemptions
                                   -----------

                  Each  Holder,  upon  request  to  the  Trust  in  proper  form
determined by the Trust,  shall be entitled to redeem its Interest 
                                       18
<PAGE>
in the Trust,  by decreasing or withdrawing  all or part of such Interest.  Such
redemption  shall be  subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  provided  in this
Article.  The amount of such redemption shall be determined by a formula adopted
by the Board of  Trustees,  provided  that such  amount  shall  not  exceed  the
reduction in the  Holder's  Book Capital  Account  effected by such  redemption.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees, when permitted or required to do so
by the 1940 Act,  may  suspend  the right of the Holders to require the Trust to
redeem Interests.

                                    ARTICLE X
                     Determination of Book Capital Accounts
                     --------------------------------------

                  1. Book Capital  Account  Balances.  The Book Capital  Account
balances of Holders shall be determined at such time or times, at such frequency
and pursuant to such method as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The
power and duty to make such  calculations  may be  delegated  by the Trustees to
such person as the Trustees may determine.

                  2.  Distributions  and  Allocations  to Holders.  The Trustees
shall,  in compliance  with  applicable  provisions  of the Code or  regulations
thereunder,  agree to (a) the daily allocation of income or loss to each Holder,
(b) the  payment of  distributions  to Holders and (c) upon  liquidation  of the
Trust, the final  distribution of items of taxable income and expense.  Any such
agreement  may be  amended  from  time  to  time  to  comply  with  the  Code or
regulations thereunder.  The Trustees may retain from net profits such amount as
they may deem  necessary  to pay the debts or  expenses  of the Trust or to meet
obligations of the Trust, or as they may deem desirable to use in the conduct of
the affairs of the Trust or to retain for future  requirements  or  extension of
the business of the Trust.

                  3.  Power  to  Modify  Foregoing.  Notwithstanding  any of the
foregoing  provisions  of this  Article,  the  Trustees  may, in their  absolute
discretion,  prescribe such bases and times for  determining  the net income and
net  assets  of  the  Trust,   the  allocation  of  income  or  the  payment  of
distributions  to the  Holders  of the  Trust  as they  may  deem  necessary  or
desirable to enable the Trust to comply with any  provision of the 1940 Act, any
rule  or  regulation  thereunder,  or  any  order  of  exemption  issued  by the
Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or modified.
                                       19
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XI
                            Duration and Termination
                            ------------------------

                  1. Duration. Subject to possible termination or dissolution in
accordance  with the terms of this  Article,  the  Trust  created  hereby  shall
continue  until  the  expiration  of  twenty  years  after the death of the last
survivor  of the  initial  Trustees  named  herein and the last  survivor of the
descendants of Queen Victoria of England living on the date hereof.

                  2. Termination.  The Trustees,  with the favorable vote of the
Holders of not less than two-thirds of the Interests of the Trust,  may sell and
convey the assets of the Trust  (which sale may be subject to the  retention  of
assets for the payment of  liabilities  and  expenses)  to another  issuer for a
consideration  which may be or include  securities  of such issuer.  Upon making
provision  for the  payment of  liabilities,  by  assumption  by such  issuer or
otherwise,  the Trustees shall  distribute the remaining  proceeds ratably among
the Holders of the Interests of the Trust.

                  The Trustees,  with the  favorable  vote of the holders of not
less than  two-thirds  of the  Interests of the Trust,  may at any time sell and
convert into money all the assets of the Trust.  Upon making  provision  for the
payment of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities,  accrued or
contingent,  of the Trust, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining assets of
the Trust ratably among the Holders of the Interests.

                  Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining  proceeds
or the remaining  assets as provided  above,  the Trust shall  terminate and the
Trustees  shall be  discharged  of any and all  further  liabilities  and duties
hereunder  and the right,  title and interest of all parties  shall be cancelled
and discharged.

                  3. Dissolution. Upon the withdrawal, resignation,  retirement,
bankruptcy  or  expulsion  of any  Holder,  the  Trust  shall be  dissolved  and
terminated  effective 120 days after such event.  However, the Holders may, by a
unanimous  affirmative  vote of  Holders  of the  Interests  of the Trust at any
meeting of the Holders or by an instrument in writing  without a meeting  signed
by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by all of the Holders
                                       20
<PAGE>
of such Interests, agree to continue the business of the Trust even if there has
been a prior dissolution and termination.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                                  Miscellaneous
                                  -------------

                  1.  Requirement  for Action.  Except as otherwise  provided in
this  Declaration  of Trust or the By-Laws,  whenever this  Declaration of Trust
calls for or permits  any  action to be taken by the  Trustees  hereunder,  such
action shall mean that taken by the Board of Trustees by vote of the majority of
a quorum  of  Trustees  as set  forth  herein  or as  required  pursuant  to the
provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  2. Implied Powers. The Trustees shall possess and exercise any
and all such additional powers as are reasonably  implied from the powers herein
contained  such as may be necessary or convenient in the conduct of any business
or enterprise of the Trust, to do and perform anything necessary,  suitable,  or
proper for the  accomplishment of any of the purposes,  or the attainment of any
one or more of the objects, herein enumerated, or which shall at any time appear
conducive to or expedient for the protection or benefit of the Trust,  and to do
and perform all other acts or things  necessary  or  incidental  to the purposes
herein before set forth, or that may be deemed necessary by the Trustees.

                  3.  Organization  Costs. In the event that any person advances
the  organizational  expenses  of the  Trust,  such  advances  shall  become  an
obligation of the Trust subject to such terms and conditions as may be fixed by,
and on a date fixed by, or determined in accordance  with criteria  fixed by the
Board of Trustees,  to be amortized  over a period or periods to be fixed by the
Board.

                  4.  Proper  Action.  Whenever  any action is taken  under this
Declaration of Trust under any  authorization  to take action which is permitted
by the 1940 Act, such action shall be deemed to have been properly taken if such
action is in accordance with the  construction of the 1940 Act then in effect as
expressed in "no action"  letters of the staff of the Commission or any release,
rule, regulation or order under the 1940 Act or any decision of a
                                       21
<PAGE>
court of competent jurisdiction, notwithstanding that any of the foregoing shall
later be found to be invalid or  otherwise  reversed  or  modified by any of the
foregoing.

                  5. Determination of Value.  Whenever under this Declaration of
Trust, the Board of Trustees is permitted or required to place a value on assets
of the Trust,  such action may be delegated by the Board,  and/or  determined in
accordance with a formula  determined by the Board,  to the extent  permitted by
the 1940 Act.

                  6.  Amendment.  If  authorized by vote of the Trustees and the
favorable  vote of the  Holders of more than 50% of the  Interests  entitled  to
vote,  or by any larger  vote which may be  required  by  applicable  law in any
particular  case,  the  Trustees  shall  amend  or  otherwise   supplement  this
instrument.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the name of the Trust may be changed
if  authorized  by vote of the  Trustees and no vote of, or other action by, the
holders of the outstanding  Interests of the Trust is required.  A certification
in  recordable  form  signed by a  majority  of the  Trustees  setting  forth an
amendment  and reciting  that it was duly adopted by the Holders or the Trustees
as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, in recordable form, and executed by a
majority of the Trustees,  shall be conclusive  evidence of such  amendment when
lodged  among the  records of the Trust.  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions
hereof,  until such time as Interests are first sold, this  Declaration of Trust
may be  terminated  or  amended  in any  respect  by an  instrument  signed by a
majority of the Trustees.

                  7.  Certificate of Designation;  Agent for Service of Process.
The Trust shall file, in the Department of State of New York, a certificate,  in
the Trust name and signed by an officer of the Trust,  designating the Secretary
of State of New York as an agent upon whom  process in any action or  proceeding
against the Trust may be served.

                  8. Governing Law. The  Declaration of Trust is executed by the
Trustees and  delivered in the State of New York and with  reference to the laws
thereof,  and the rights of all parties and the  validity  and  construction  of
every provision  hereof shall be subject to and construed  according to the laws
of the State of New York and reference shall be  specifically  made to the trust
law of
                                       22
<PAGE>
the State of New York as to the construction of matters not specifically covered
herein or as to which an ambiguity exists.

                  9.   Counterparts.   This   Declaration   of   Trust   may  be
simultaneously  executed in several counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed
to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the
same  instrument,  which shall be  sufficiently  evidenced by any such  original
counterpart.

                  10. Reliance by Third Parties.  Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust or of any recording office
in which  this  Declaration  of Trust may be  recorded,  appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Holders, (b)
the due  authorization  of the execution of any  instrument or writing,  (c) the
form of any vote  passed at a meeting of  Trustees  or Holders (d) the fact that
the number of  Trustees  or  Holders  present at any  meeting or  executing  any
written instrument  satisfies the requirements of this Declaration of Trust, (e)
the form of any By-Laws  adopted by or the identity of any  officers  elected by
the  Trustees,  or (f) the  existence  of any fact or facts  which in any manner
related to the  affairs of the Trust,  shall be  conclusive  evidence  as to the
matters so certified in favor of any person  dealing with the Trustees and their
successors.

                  11. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.

                               (a) The  provisions of this  Declaration of Trust
           are severable,  and if the Trustees shall determine,  with the advice
           of counsel,  that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940
           Act, or with other applicable laws and  regulations,  the conflicting
           provision  shall be deemed never to have  constituted  a part of this
           Declaration;  provided,  however,  that such determination  shall not
           affect any of the remaining  provisions of this Declaration or render
           invalid  or  improper  any  action  taken  or  omitted  prior to such
           determination.

                               (b) If any provision of this Declaration of Trust
           shall be held  invalid or  unenforceable  in any  jurisdiction,  such
           invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in
           such  jurisdiction  and shall not in any manner affect such provision
           in any other  jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration
           of Trust in any jurisdiction.
                                       23
<PAGE>
                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  initial  trustees have
executed this instrument this 29th day of December, 1997.



                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Chris Kissack
                                        as Trustee and not individually

                                        479 West 22nd Street
                                        New York, NY  10011



                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Steven J. Paggioli
                                        as Trustee and not individually

                                        479 West 22nd Street
                                        New York, NY  10011




                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Robert H. Wadsworth
                                        as Trustee and not individually

                                        479 West 22nd Street
                                        New York, NY  10011
                                       24

                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO
                              MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

           AGREEMENT  made this 31st day of December,  1997,  by and between PIC
MIDCAP PORTFOLIO (the "Trust"), a trust organized under the laws of the State of
New York, and PROVIDENT INVESTMENT COUNSEL,  INC. (the "Advisor"),  a California
corporation.

                                   WITNESSETH:

           In  consideration  of  the  mutual  promises  and  agreements  herein
contained  and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the receipt of which is
hereby  acknowledged,  it is hereby agreed by and between the parties  hereto as
follows:

           l. In General

           The Trust hereby appoints the Advisor to act as investment adviser to
the Trust.  The Advisor agrees,  all as more fully set forth herein,  to provide
professional  investment management with respect to the investment of the assets
of the Trust and to supervise  and arrange the  purchase and sale of  securities
held in the portfolio of the Trust.

           2.  Duties and Obligations of the Advisor
               with respect to Management of the Trust

                     (a) Subject to the  succeeding  provisions  of this section
           and subject to the  direction and control of the Board of Trustees of
           the Trust, the Advisor shall:

                               (i)  Decide what securities shall be purchased or
                     sold by the Trust and when; and

                               (ii)  Arrange  for the  purchase  and the sale of
                     securities  held in the  portfolio  of the Trust by placing
                     purchase and sale orders for the Trust.

                     (b) Any  investment  purchases or sales made by the Advisor
           shall  at all  times  conform  to,  and be in  accordance  with,  any
           requirements imposed by: (l) the provisions of the Investment Company
           Act of 1940  (the  "Act")  and of any rules or  regulations  in force
           thereunder;  (2) any  other  applicable  provisions  of law;  (3) the
           provisions  of the  Declaration  of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust as
           amended from time to time; (4) any policies and determinations of the
           Board of Trustees of the Trust;  and (5) the fundamental  policies of
           the Trust, as reflected in its registration  statement under the Act,
           or as amended by the shareholders of the Trust.
                                       1
<PAGE>
                     (c) The  Advisor  shall  give the Trust the  benefit of its
           best  judgment and effort in  rendering  services  hereunder.  In the
           absence  of  willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross  negligence  or
           reckless  disregard of  obligations or duties  ("disabling  conduct")
           hereunder  on the part of the Advisor (and its  officers,  directors,
           agents,  employees,  controlling persons,  shareholders and any other
           person or entity  affiliated  with the Advisor) the Advisor shall not
           be subject to  liability  to the Trust or to any  shareholder  of the
           Trust for any act or  omission  in the course of, or  connected  with
           rendering services hereunder, including without limitation, any error
           of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by any of them
           in  connection  with the  matters  to which this  Agreement  related,
           except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the Act concerning
           loss  resulting  from a breach of fiduciary  duty with respect to the
           receipt of  compensation  for  services.  Except  for such  disabling
           conduct,  the Trust shall  indemnify  the Advisor (and its  officers,
           directors, agents, employees,  controlling persons,  shareholders and
           any other  person or entity  affiliated  with the  Advisor)  from any
           liability  arising from the Advisor's conduct under this Agreement to
           the extent permitted by the Declaration of Trust and applicable law.

                     (d) Nothing in this Agreement  shall prevent the Advisor or
           any  affiliated  person (as defined in the Act) of the  Advisor  from
           acting as investment adviser or manager and/or principal  underwriter
           for any other person,  firm or  corporation  and shall not in any way
           limit or  restrict  the  Advisor or any such  affiliated  person from
           buying,  selling  or  trading  any  securities  for its or their  own
           accounts or the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting,
           provided, however, that the Advisor expressly represents that it will
           undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect
           the performance of its obligations to the Trust under this Agreement.

                     (e)  It  is  agreed   that  the   Advisor   shall  have  no
           responsibility  or liability for the accuracy or  completeness of the
           Trust's  Registration  Statement under the Act except for information
           supplied by the Advisor for inclusion
           therein.

           3.  Broker-Dealer Relationships

           In connection  with its duties set forth in Section  2(a)(ii) of this
Agreement  to arrange for the purchase  and the sale of  securities  held by the
Trust by placing purchase and sale orders
                                        2
<PAGE>
for the Trust,  the Advisor  shall  select such  broker-dealers  ("brokers")  as
shall, in the Advisor's  judgment,  implement the policy of the Trust to achieve
"best  execution",  i.e.,  prompt and efficient  execution at the most favorable
securities  price.  In making  such  selection,  the  Advisor is  authorized  to
consider the reliability,  integrity and financial  condition of the broker. The
Advisor is also  authorized to consider  whether the broker  provides  brokerage
and/or research services to the Trust and/or other accounts of the Advisor.  The
commissions  paid to such brokers may be higher than  another  broker would have
charged if a good faith determination is made by the Advisor that the commission
is  reasonable in relation to the services  provided,  viewed in terms of either
that particular transaction or the Advisor's overall  responsibilities as to the
accounts as to which it exercises investment  discretion.  The Advisor shall use
its judgment in determining  that the amount of commissions  paid are reasonable
in relation to the value of brokerage  and research  services  provided and need
not place or attempt to place a specific dollar value on such services or on the
portion of commission rates  reflecting such services.  To demonstrate that such
determinations  were in good faith,  and to show the overall  reasonableness  of
commissions  paid, the Advisor shall be prepared to show that  commissions  paid
(i) were for purposes  contemplated by this  Agreement;  (ii) provide lawful and
appropriate  assistance to the Advisor in the performance of its decision-making
responsibilities;  and (iii) were within a  reasonable  range as compared to the
rates  charged by  qualified  brokers to other  institutional  investors as such
rates may become known from available information. The Trust recognizes that, on
any particular  transaction,  a higher than usual  commission may be paid due to
the difficulty of the transaction in question. The Advisor also is authorized to
consider  sales of shares as a factor in the  selection  of  brokers  to execute
brokerage  and  principal  transactions,  subject to the  requirements  of "best
execution", as defined above.

           4.  Allocation of Expenses

           The Advisor  agrees that it will furnish the Trust,  at the Advisor's
expense,  with all office  space and  facilities,  and  equipment  and  clerical
personnel  necessary  for  carrying  out its duties  under this  Agreement.  The
Advisor will also pay all  compensation of all Trustees,  officers and employees
of the Trust who are affiliated  persons of the Advisor.  All costs and expenses
not expressly  assumed by the Advisor under this Agreement  shall be paid by the
Trust,  including,  but not limited to (i)  interest and taxes;  (ii)  brokerage
commissions; (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation and expenses of its
                                        3
<PAGE>
Trustees other than those affiliated with the Advisor or its Administrator;  (v)
legal and audit  expenses;  (vi) fees and  expenses  of the  Trust's  custodian,
transfer agent and accounting  services  agent;  (vii) expenses  incident to the
issuance of its shares,  including stock  certificates and issuance of shares on
the payment of, or reinvestment of, dividends; (viii) fees and expenses incident
to the  registration  under Federal or state securities laws of the Trust or its
shares; (ix) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing reports, notices, proxy
material and  prospectuses to shareholders of the Trust;  (x) all other expenses
incidental  to  holding  meetings  of the  Trust's  shareholders;  (xi)  dues or
assessments  of or  contributions  to the  Investment  Company  Institute or any
successor or other industry  association;  (xii) such non-recurring  expenses as
may arise,  including  litigation  affecting the Trust and the legal obligations
which the Trust may have to indemnify  its  officers  and Trustees  with respect
thereto;  (xiii) fees of the Trust's  Administrator  and (xiii) the organization
costs of the Trust.

5.  Compensation of the Advisor

           (a) The Trust  agrees to pay the Advisor  and the  Advisor  agrees to
accept as full compensation for all services rendered by the Advisor as such, an
annual  management  fee,  payable  monthly and  computed on the value of the net
assets of the Trust as of the close of business  each business day at the annual
rate of 0.70 of 1% of such net assets of the Trust.

           (b) In the event the expenses of the Trust (including the fees of the
Advisor and the  Administrator  and  amortization of  organization  expenses but
excluding interest,  taxes,  brokerage  commissions,  extraordinary expenses and
sales charges and  distribution  fees) for any fiscal year exceed the limits set
by applicable  regulations of state  securities  commissions in states where the
Trust's shares are registered or qualified for sale, the Advisor will reduce its
fee  by  the  amount  of  such  excess.  Any  such  reductions  are  subject  to
readjustment  during the year.  The payment of the  management fee at the end of
any month will be reduced or postponed or, if  necessary,  a refund will be made
to the Trust so that at no time will there be any accrued  but unpaid  liability
under this expense limitation.

           6.  Duration and Termination

           (a) This  Agreement  shall go into effect on the date set forth above
and shall, unless terminated as hereinafter  provided,  continue in effect until
the earlier of December  31, 1999 or the first  meeting of  shareholders  of the
Trust and, if approved at
                                        4
<PAGE>
that meeting,  until the next December 30 after that meeting and thereafter from
year to year, but only so long as such  continuance is specifically  approved at
least  annually  by the  Trust's  Board  of  Trustees,  including  the vote of a
majority of the  Trustees who are not parties to this  Agreement or  "interested
persons"  (as  defined in the Act) of any such party cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or by the vote of the holders
of a "majority"  (as so defined) of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the
Trust.

           (b) This  Agreement  may be  terminated  by the  Advisor  at any time
without  penalty upon giving the Trust sixty (60) days'  written  notice  (which
notice  may be waived by the Trust)  and may be  terminated  by the Trust at any
time without  penalty upon giving the Advisor  sixty (60) days'  written  notice
(which notice may be waived by the Advisor),  provided that such  termination by
the Trust  shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of all of its
Trustees in office at the time or by the vote of the  holders of a majority  (as
defined in the Act) of the voting  securities of the Trust. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as so defined).

           IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto  have caused the  foregoing
instrument  to be  executed  by duly  authorized  persons  and their seals to be
hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                           PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO



                                           By
                                             -----------------------------------


ATTEST:
       -------------------------------




                                           PROVIDENT INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC.



                                           By
                                             -----------------------------------


ATTEST:
       -------------------------------
                                        5

                              PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO
                            ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT


           AGREEMENT  made this 31st day of December,  1997,  by and between PIC
MIDCAP PORTFOLIO (the "Trust"), a trust organized under the laws of the State of
New   York,   and   INVESTMENT   COMPANY    ADMINISTRATION    CORPORATION   (the
"Administrator"), a Delaware corporation.

                                   WITNESSETH:

           In  consideration  of  the  mutual  promises  and  agreements  herein
contained  and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the receipt of which is
hereby  acknowledged,  it is hereby agreed by and between the parties  hereto as
follows:

           l. In General.

           The  Trust  hereby   appoints   Investment   Company   Administration
Corporation as Administrator, subject to the overall supervision of the Board of
Trustees  of the  Trust  for the  period  and on the  terms  set  forth  in this
Agreement.  The Administrator  hereby accepts such appointment and agrees during
such  period  to  render  the  services  herein  described  and  to  assume  the
obligations set forth herein, for the compensation herein provided.

           2. Duties and Obligations of the Administrator.

                     (a)  Subject to the  direction  and control of the Board of
           Trustees of the Trust,  the  Administrator  shall be responsible  for
           providing  such  services as the  Trustees  may  reasonably  request,
           including  but not limited to (i)  maintaining  the Trust's books and
           records  (other  than  financial  or  accounting  books  and  records
           maintained by any custodian,  transfer  agent or accounting  services
           agent);  (ii) overseeing the Trust's insurance  relationships;  (iii)
           preparing for the Trust (or assisting  counsel and/or auditors in the
           preparation  of) all  required  tax  returns,  proxy  statements  and
           reports to the Trust's  shareholders  and Trustees and reports to and
           other filings with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  and any
           other  governmental  agency (the Trust agreeing to supply or cause to
           be supplied to the  Administrator  all necessary  financial and other
           information in connection  with the  foregoing);  (iv) preparing such
           applications  and reports as may be necessary to register or maintain
           the Trust's registration and/or the registration of the shares of the
           Trust under the  securities or "blue sky" laws of the various  states
           selected by the Trust (the Trust agreeing to pay all filing fees or
<PAGE>
           other similar fees in connection  therewith);  (v)  responding to all
           inquiries or other communications of shareholders,  if any, which are
           directed   to  the   Administrator,   or  if  any  such   inquiry  or
           communication  is more  properly  to be  responded  to by the Trust's
           custodian,  transfer agent or accounting  services agent,  overseeing
           their response thereto; (vi) overseeing all relationships between the
           Trust and any custodian(s), transfer agent(s) and accounting services
           agent(s), including the negotiation of agreements and the supervision
           of the  performance of such  agreements;  and (vii)  authorizing  and
           directing  any  of  the  Administrator's   directors,   officers  and
           employees  who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to
           serve in the capacities in which they are elected. All services to be
           furnished by the Administrator  under this Agreement may be furnished
           through the medium of any such  directors,  officers or  employees of
           the Administrator.

                     (b) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
           negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties ("disabling
           conduct")  hereunder  on the  part  of  the  Administrator  (and  its
           officers,   directors,   agents,   employees,   controlling  persons,
           shareholders  and any  other  person or  entity  affiliated  with the
           Administrator) the Administrator shall not be subject to liability to
           the Trust or to any  shareholder of the Trust for any act or omission
           in the course of, or connected with,  rendering  services  hereunder,
           including,  without  limitation,  any error of judgment or mistake of
           law or for any loss  suffered by any of them in  connection  with the
           matters  to  which  this  Agreement  relates,  except  to the  extent
           specified in Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
           "Act") concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with
           respect to the receipt of compensation for services.  Except for such
           disabling  conduct,  the Trust shall indemnify the Administrator (and
           its officers,  directors,  agents,  employees,  controlling  persons,
           shareholders  and any  other  person or  entity  affiliated  with the
           Administrator)  from any liability  arising from the  Administrator's
           conduct under 
<PAGE>
           this Agreement to the extent permitted by the Trust's  Declaration of
           Trust and applicable law.

                     (c) It is  agreed  that  the  Administrator  shall  have no
           responsibility  or liability for the accuracy or  completeness of the
           Trust's  Registration  Statement under the Act except for information
           supplied by the Administrator for inclusion
           therein.

           3. Allocation of Expenses

           The  Administrator  agrees  that it will  furnish  the Trust,  at the
Administrator's expense, with all office space and facilities, and equipment and
clerical  personnel  necessary for carrying out its duties under this Agreement.
The Administrator  will also pay all compensation of all Trustees,  officers and
employees  of the Trust who are  affiliated  persons of the  Administrator.  All
costs and  expenses  not  expressly  assumed  by the  Administrator  under  this
Agreement shall be paid by the Trust, including, but not limited to (i) interest
and taxes; (ii) brokerage fees and commissions;  (iii) insurance premiums;  (iv)
compensation  and expenses of the Trust's  Trustees other than those  affiliated
with the Advisor or the Administrator; (v) legal and auditing fees and expenses;
(vi) fees and expenses of the Trust's  custodian,  transfer agent and accounting
services agent;  (vii) expenses  incident to the issuance of the Trust's shares,
including issuance on the payment of, or reinvestment of, dividends; (viii) fees
and expenses incident to the registration under Federal or state securities laws
of the Trust or its shares;  (ix)  expenses of  preparing,  printing and mailing
reports and notices and proxy  material to  shareholders  of the Trust;  (x) all
other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Trust's shareholders;  (xi)
dues or assessments of or contributions to the Investment  Company  Institute or
any  successor;  (xii)  such  non-recurring  expenses  as may  arise,  including
litigation  affecting  the Trust and the legal  obligations  which the Trust may
have to indemnify  its officers and Trustees  with respect  thereto;  and (xiii)
organization costs of the Trust.

           4. Compensation of the Administrator

           The  Trust  agrees  to pay the  Administrator  and the  Administrator
agrees  to  accept  as  full  compensation  for  all  services  rendered  by the
Administrator  as such, an annual fee, payable monthly and computed based on the
value of the total net  assets of the Trust at the  annual  rate of 0.10% of the
such net assets.

           5. Duration and Termination
<PAGE>
                     (a) This Agreement  shall become  effective on the date set
           forth above and shall remain in force for two years thereafter unless
           terminated  pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) hereof.  This
           Agreement shall continue in force from year to year after the initial
           two-year term, but only so long as such  continuance is  specifically
           approved  annually by the Trust's Board of Trustees or by a vote of a
           majority of the Trust's outstanding voting securities.

                     (b) This  Agreement may be terminated by the  Administrator
           at any time without penalty upon giving the Trust not less than sixty
           (60) days'  written  notice (which notice may be waived by the Trust)
           and may be terminated  by the Trust at any time without  penalty upon
           giving the  Administrator  not less than  sixty  (60)  days'  written
           notice  (which notice may be waived by the  Administrator),  provided
           that such  termination  by the Trust shall be directed or approved by
           the vote of a majority  of all of its  Trustees in office at the time
           or by the vote of the  holders of a majority  (as defined in the Act)
           of the voting securities of the Trust.

           IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto  have caused the  foregoing
instrument  to be  executed  by duly  authorized  persons  and their seals to be
hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                     PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO


                                     By
                                       -----------------------------------


                                     INVESTMENT COMPANY ADMINISTRATION
                                     CORPORATION


                                     By
                                       -----------------------------------

                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT


           PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment
company,  and PIC  INVESTMENT  TRUST (the  "Investor"),  intending to be legally
bound, hereby agree as follows:

           1. In order to  provide  the  Trust  with its  initial  capital,  the
Investor hereby contributes $100,000 to purchase Interests in the Trust.

           2.  The  Investor  represents  and  warrants  to the  Trust  that the
Interests are being acquired for investment and not with a view to  distribution
thereof and that the Investor  has no present  intention to redeem or dispose of
any of the Interests.

           3. The  Investor  agrees that in the event that the Trust  liquidates
before  the  deferred  organizational  expenses  are fully  amortized,  then the
redemption price of the Interests may be subject to reduction in the amount of a
proportionate share of such unamortized organizational expenses.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement this day
of , 1997.


PIC MIDCAP PORTFOLIO                      PIC INVESTMENT TRUST



By                                        By
  ---------------------------               ---------------------------


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