December 23, 1998
VIA EDGAR
Keith O'Connell
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza, Mail Stop 5-5
Division of Investment Management
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Attention: Office of Filings, Information & Consumer Services
Re: Kobren Insight Funds (the "Trust")
File No. 811-07813
File No. 033-12075
Dear Mr. O'Connell:
Pursuant to Rule 497(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, enclosed
for filing on behalf of the Kobren Delphi Value Fund are the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information each dated December 17, 1998 which differs
from that contained in Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 (the "Amendment") to the
Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A. This Amendment was filed
electronically on December 17, 1998 (Accession No. 00000927405-98-000378).
Any comments on this filing should be directed to Gail A. Hanson at (617)
573-1557 or the undersigned at (617) 573-1580.
Please acknowledge receipt via Compuserve, Mailbox Number 74313, 402.
Very truly yours,
/s/ CHRISTOPHER HOWE
Christopher Howe
Paralegal
<PAGE>
P R O S P E C T U S
December 17, 1998
Kobren
Delphi Value Fund
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved the fund's shares as an
investment or determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is
a criminal offense to state otherwise.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
FACTORS EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD KNOW 3
Investment goal 3
Principal investments 3
How the manager selects the fund's investments 3
Principal investment risks 3
Who may want to invest 4
Fees and expenses 4
THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS 5
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUBADVISER 6
INVESTMENT AND ACCOUNT POLICIES 7
Calculation of net asset value 7
How to purchase shares 8
How to exchange shares 9
How to redeem shares 9
Dividends, distributions and taxes 10
FOR MORE INFORMATION 12
<PAGE>
FACTORS EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD KNOW
INVESTMENT GOAL
- - Long term growth of capital.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
- At least 65% of assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The fund
may invest in a mix of large, medium and small capitalization companies. The
fund may invest up to 35% of assets in securities of foreign issuers, including
emerging market issuers.
- Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter (OTC)
common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible debt securities,
trust certificates, partnership interests and equity participations
HOW THE MANAGER SELECTS THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
In selecting stocks for the fund's portfolio, the manager, Delphi Management,
Inc., follows a strict value discipline evaluating each company on its own
merits.
The manager uses a quantitative model to identify attractive companies that have
some of the following characteristics:
At least a 15% return on equity
Low debt to equity ratios
Sound financial conditions and conservative accounting practices
Good businesses with sustainable franchises
The model also considers revenues, earnings and free cash flow levels.
The manager engages in in-person visits or discussions with company management
before investing in a company.
The manager looks for management that is capable and candid about problems and
that has a viable strategic plan.
The manager selects for the fund's portfolio those attractive companies that
appear to be undervalued by the stock market. The measures of value used by the
manager include price/earnings multiples, cash flow multiples and low
price-to-liquidation values. These companies may be temporarily out of favor or
not closely followed by investors.
The manager intends to keep the fund fully invested in equity securities and
does not attempt to "time the market."
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
You could lose money on your investment in the Kobren Delphi Fund or the fund
could perform worse than other possible investments if any of the following
occurs:
The U.S. or a foreign stock market goes down.
The market favors growth stocks over value stocks or favors companies at a
particular capitalization level.
An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, depresses the value of
a particular company's stocks.
Prices of the fund's foreign securities go down because of unfavorable changes
in foreign currency exchange rates, foreign government actions, political
instability or the more limited availability of accurate information about
foreign issuers. These risks are more severe for issuers in emerging market
countries.
- - The manager's judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential
appreciation of particular companies' stocks prove to be incorrect.
<PAGE>
FACTORS EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD KNOW
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND
The fund may be appropriate for investors:
Seeking growth of capital.
With a long term time horizon and no need for current income.
Willing to accept stock market risk in exchange for the opportunity to achieve
higher long-term returns.
An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the estimated fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of the Kobren Delphi Fund.
For year ended 12/31/99 Retail Institutional
Class Class
Shareholder fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases None None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) None None
Redemption fee None None
Exchange fee None None
Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
Management fees 1.00% 1.00%
Distribution (12b-1) and/or service fees 0.25% None
Other expenses 0.23% 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses 1.48% 1.23%
The example assumes that
You invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated; Your investment
has a 5% return each year; The fund's operating expenses remain the same; and
You redeem your investment at the end of each period.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, under these assumptions your
costs would be:
Retail Class Institutional Class
1 year $151 $125
3 years $468 $390
<PAGE>
THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
More about the fund's strategies and investments
DEFENSIVE INVESTING
The fund may depart from its principal investment strategies by taking temporary
defensive positions in debt securities in response to adverse market, economic
or political conditions for up to 100% of the portfolio. These securities may be
of any maturity or duration and may be issued by the U.S. Governent or any of
its agencies, foreign governments, supranational entities such as the World Bank
and U.S. and foreign companies. Defensive investing may prevent the fund from
achieving its goal of capital growth. The fund could give up potential gains and
minimize losses while defensively invested.
DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
The fund may, but is not required to, use derivative contracts for any of the
following purposes:
To hedge against adverse changes in the market value of securities held by or to
be bought for the fund. These changes may be caused by changing stock market
prices or currency exchange rates.
As a substitute for purchasing or selling securities or foreign currencies.
A derivative contract will obligate or entitle the fund to deliver or receive an
asset or a cash payment that is based on the change in value of a designated
security, index or currency. Examples of derivative contracts are futures
contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, collars and floors.
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL
The board of trustees may change the fund's investment goal without obtaining
the approval of the fund's shareholders. The fund might not succeed in achieving
its goal.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT RISKS
The fund could lose money or underperform for the reasons listed in the "Factors
Every Investor Should Know" section or for the following additional reasons:
Small company risk. Securities of smaller companies may have more risks than
those of larger companies - they may be more susceptible to market downturns and
their prices may be more volative.
Interest rate risk. If interest rates go up, bond prices and the value of the
fund's investments in fixed income securities go down.
Credit risk. An issuer of a debt security or OTC derivative contract could
default on its obligation to pay principal and interest, or a rating
organization could downgrade the credit rating of the issuer.
Leverage risk. Because of investments in derivative contracts, the fund may
suffer disproportionately heavy losses relative to the amount of its investment.
Leverage can magnify the impact of poor investment decisions.
Correlation risk. Changes in the value of the fund's derivative contracts or
other hedging instruments may not match or fully offset changes in the value of
the hedged portfolio securities.
Liquidity and valuation risks. Securities that were liquid when purchased by the
fund may become temporarily illiquid and hard to value, especially in declining
markets.
Turnover risks. The fund may engage in active trading to achieve its investment
strategies. However, the fund anticipates an annual portfolio turnover rate of
less than 50%.
YEAR 2000
The fund's securities trades, pricing and accounting services and other
operations could be adversely affected if the computer systems of the adviser,
subadviser, distributor, custodian or transfer agent were unable to recognize
dates after 1999. The adviser, the subadviser and other service providers have
told the fund that they are taking action to prevent, and do not expect the fund
to suffer from, significant year 2000 problems. The value of their securities
could go down if they do noy fix these problems in time or if fixing them is
very expensive.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUBADVISER
KOBREN INSIGHT MANAGEMENT, INC.
Kobren Insight Management, Inc. ("KIM") provides investment advice and
portfolio management services to the fund. KIM has engaged Delphi Management,
Inc. ("Delphi") as the fund's subadviser. Under the supervision of KIM and the
board of trustees, Delphi makes the fund's day-to-day investment decisions,
arranges for the execution of portfolio transactions and generally manages the
fund's investments.
KIM, a registered investment adviser, was established in 1987. KIM currently
manages over 1,000 client accounts with assets totaling approximately $1
billion. KIM is also the investment adviser of three funds of funds under the
Kobren Insight Funds label.
Eric M. Kobren owns all of the stock of KIM and of the fund's distributor. Mr.
Kobren is also the principal shareholder of Mutual Fund Investors Association,
Inc., the publisher of Fidelity Insight and FundsNet Insight reports with over
100,000 paid subscribers.
Scott M. Black has been the fund's portfolio manager since the fund's inception
in 1998. Mr. Black has been the president and controlling shareholder of Delphi
since 1983. Since 1980, Delphi (and its predecessor firm) has limited its
management services to institutional investors, including pensions, endowments
and high net worth individuals. Delphi currently manages approximately $1
billion in assets.
The fund has agreed to pay KIM a monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of
1.00% of the fund's average daily net assets. KIM is responsible for Delphi's
subadvisory fee.
KIM has voluntarily agreed to cap the fund's total annual operating expenses of
the retail class at no more than 1.75% annually of the fund's average daily net
assets and of the institutional class at no more than 1.50%. This cap does not
apply to brokerage commissions, taxes, interest and litigation, indemnification
and other extraordinary expenses. Although this expense cap arrangement can be
revoked at any time, KIM plans to continue this arrangement until January 1,
2000.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1 for the retail class shares of the
fund. The plan allows the fund to use part of the fund's assets (up to .25% of
its average daily net assets) for the sale and distribution of its shares,
including advertising, marketing and other promotional activities. Because these
fees are paid out of fund assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of
your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Delphi Management, Inc. Composite Performance
The composite is made up of all high net worth individual and institutional
equity portfolios under Delphi's discretionary management. The portfolios have
objectives, policies and strategies similar to those of the fund.
Average Annual Total Return
Return of Composite
(for the Periods Ended June 30, 1998)
Since Inception
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years (January 1, 1980)
- ------ ------- ------- -------- -----------------
27.51% 27.13% 20.35% 15.62% 17.58%
Performance of the composite is not that of Kobren Delphi Value Fund, is not a
substitute for the fund's performance and does not predict the fund's future
performance results, which may differ from those of the composite.
Net performance data reflects the deduction of a 1.48% fee, which is the same as
Kobren Delphi Value Fund's estimated first year operating expenses. Composite
performance was calculated using a time-weighted methodology, adjusting for
significant cash flows and linking montly returns. Individual account
performance was equal-weighted and therefore did not factor in account size.
Composite performance would be reduced if advisory accounts held cash positions
or had inflows and outflows of cash to the same extent as the fund. In addition,
advisory accounts are not subject to 1940 Act investment restrictions nor to the
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to regulated investment
companies. These restrictions and provisions could have had an adverse affect on
the composite performance.
Since the above returns were not calculated for a mutual fund, they are not
based on SEC performance standards. Performance calculations based on SEC
standards would have been different.
<PAGE>
INVESMENT AND ACCOUNT POLICIES
The fund calculates its NAV every business day.
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The fund calculates the net asset value per share (NAV) for each class at the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m.
eastern time) on each business day. A business day is a weekday that is not a
holiday listed in the statement of additional information. If the New York Stock
Exchange closes early, the time for calculating NAV and the deadlines for share
transactions will be accelerated to the earlier closing times.
The fund's portfolio securities are valued on the basis of either market
quotations or at fair value, which may include the use of pricing services. Fair
value means estimating a security's value at other than the market quotation.
The effect of such method may be that the price used may be different than other
fund's pricing using market quotations.
PURCHASING FUND SHARES
Individuals, institutions, companies and fiduciaries may buy shares of the fund
without a sales charge at the NAV next calculated after the order has been
received in proper form.
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
The fund offers two share classes, each with its own expense structure. The
retail class has a 12b-1, or marketing fee. The fee allows the fund to pay for
certain activities and expenses intended primarily to result in the sale of the
retail class shares of the fund. The institutional class, available only to
qualified investors, does not have a marketing fee, but has substantial initial
and on-going minimum investment levels.
TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLANS
Traditional individual retirement account (IRA) plans and Roth individual
retirement plans can invest in the fund through Investor Services Group. The
following retirement plans are available through the mutual fund networks listed
on page 8.
Keough plans for self-employed individuals
SEP and SARSEP plans for corporations
Qualified pension and profit-sharing plans for employees, including 401(k) plans
and 403(b)(7) custodial accounts for employees of public school systems,
hospitals, colleges and other non-profit organizations
WIRE AND ACH TRANSFERS
The fund currently imposes no fee for wire and Automated Clearing House (ACH)
transfers of purchase payments and redemption proceeds. However, the fund's
custodian may charge a fee in the future.
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
The fund and Investor Services Group have procedures designed to verify that
telephone instructions are genuine. If they follow these procedures, they will
not be liable for any losses caused by acting on unauthorized telephone
instructions.
MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNTS
The following minimum investment requirements apply to initial purchases of the
retail class:
TYPE OF ACCOUNT RETAIL INSTITUTIONAL
Regular Accounts $2,500 $1 million
Individual Retirement Accounts $2,000 N/A
Through fund networks (see page 8) $2,500 $1 million
Retail Class: The minimum subsequent investment is $500.
Institutional Class: The minimum investment requirement for the institutional
class is $1million. For investors purchasing through registered investment
advisers, institutions such as trusts or foundations or other qualified
investors purchasing through an omnibus account, shareholder purchases may be
aggregated to meet this minimum. The minimum does not apply to employees of KIM
and its affiliates and their immediate families, KIM clients and employees of
Delphi and their immediate families.
Retail and Institutional Classes: You can get prospectuses, sales literature and
applications from the fund's distributor at the address and telephone number
listed on the back cover of this prospectus. The fund and its distributor may
reject all or part of any order to buy fund shares. The fund may be closed to
new investors, temporarily or permanently, without advance notice to investors.
Fund officers have discretion to waive or reduce any of the minimum investment
requirements.
<PAGE>
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
Method of Purchase/Purchase Procudures
By check
OPEN AN ACCOUNT
To open an account and make an initial investment in retail class shares, send a
minimum $2,500 ($2,000 for IRAs) check and account application to the address
shown below. The initial minimum investment in institutional class shares is $1
million.
An account application is included with this prospectus.
ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Send a check ($500 minimum for retail class shares; no minimum for institutional
class shares) with your account name and number to permit proper crediting. You
can use the deposit slip attached to the bottom of all account statements.
- If you are adding to an IRA account, please provide the contribution
year.
ALL PURCHASES
Your checks should be drawn on a U.S. bank or savings institution and should be
made payable to Kobren Insight Funds.
- - If an order to purchase shares is cancelled because your check does not clear,
you will be responsible for any resulting losses to the fund, its distributor or
Investor Services Group.
By wire
OPEN AN ACCOUNT
To purchase shares by wire, call Investor Services Group for instructions at the
number shown below.
Be prepared to give the name in which the account will be opened, the address,
telephone number and taxpayer identification number for the account and the name
of the bank that will wire the purchase payment.
You will be assigned a new account number. You should write this number on and
complete an account application, which must be sent promptly to the address
shown below.
Your purchase order will not take effect until both the wire and the purchase
order are received by the fund.
You will be able to redeem shares of the fund, but not receive the proceeds,
until the fund has received your completed account application form. Also, if a
signed application form is not received within 60 days, your account will be
subject to backup tax withholding.
ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
When you purchase more shares by wire, provide your fund name, account name and
account number to permit proper crediting.
- - To receive timely credit, you must call and tell Investor Services Group that
your bank is sending a wire.
By Automated Clearing House transfer (ACH)
If you want to purchase shares for non-retirement accounts via electronic funds
transfer, check this option in section 5 of your application.
Call Investor Services Group before 4:00 p.m. eastern time.
By automatic investment plan
After your initial investment, you can make automatic monthly, quarterly or
annual purchases (on the day you choose in advance) of $100 or more.
To use this plan, complete sections 5 and 6 of the application. You can change
the purchase amount or terminate the plan at any time by notifying the fund in
writing.
Through broker dealers and fund networks
Contact your broker or dealer to find out about its procedures for processing
orders to purchase fund shares. Purchase orders received by your dealer or
dealer or its authorized designees before 4:00 p.m. eastern time on any business
day receive that day's NAV. Your broker or dealer is responsible for promptly
transmitting properly completed orders to Investor Services Group.
The fund's retail class may also be purchased with no transaction fee through
the following fund networks (transaction fee applies to institutional class
purchases) subject to the policies of such networks and any other fees disclosed
to customers by such networks:
Fidelity Investments 800-544-9697
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 800-435-4000
Jack White & Company 800-323-3263
Waterhouse Securities 800-934-4443
Send mail to:
Kobren Insight Funds
P.O. Box 5146
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
Call:
Investor Services Group
toll-free at
800-895-9936
<PAGE>
HOW TO EXCHANGE/REDEEM SHARES
Method of Exchange/Exchange Procedures
All exchanges
You may exchange shares of the fund for shares of any other Kobren Insight fund
at the NAV of the funds next determined after receipt of your exchange request.
Exchanges must meet the applicable minimum initial investment requirements for
the acquired fund.
To protect other shareholders of the fund, the fund may cancel the exchange
privileges of any person that, in the opinion of the fund, is using market
timing strategies or making more than four exchanges per owner or controlling
person per calendar year. The fund may also close the accounts of shareholders
whose exchange privilege has been cancelled.
The fund's trustees may change or terminate the exchange privilege on 60 days'
prior notice to shareholders.
By mail
Send a written exchange request to the address shown below.
Your request must state the number of shares or dollar amount to be exchanged,
both funds' names and the applicable account numbers for both funds.
The request must be signed exactly as your name appears on the account
registration.
By telephone
Call Investor Services Group at the telephone number shown below.
If you are unable to execute a telephone exchange (for example during times of
unusual market activity), you should consider requesting an exchange by mail.
Method of Redemption/Redemption Procedures
By mail
You may redeem shares of the fund by sending a written redemption request to the
Kobren Insight funds at the address shown below.
Your request must state the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed and
the applicable account number.
The request must be signed exactly as your name appears on the account
registration.
If the shares to be redeemed have a value of $50,000 or more, your signature
must be guaranteed by one of the eligible guarantor institutions listed under
"Signature Guarantees" on page 10.
If you want redemption proceeds deposited directly through an ACH transfer in
the bank account or brokerage account designated on your account application,
you should specify this in your written redemption request. Call Investor
Services Group for more information about ACH transfers.
By telephone
To redeem by telephone, call Investor Services Group at the number shown below.
- - You can request that redemption proceeds be deposited directly through an ACH
transfer in the bank account or brokerage account designated on your account
application.
Through broker- dealers and fund networks
Contact your broker or dealer to find out about its procedures for processing
orders to redeem fund shares. Redemption orders received by your broker or
dealer or its authorized designee before 4:00 p.m. eastern time on any business
day receive that day's NAV. Your broker or dealer is responsible for promptly
transmitting properly completed orders to Investor Services Group and may charge
a transaction fee for this service.
Systematic withdrawal plan
If shares in your account have a value of at least $5,000, you may elect to
receive, or may designate another person to receive, monthly, quarterly or
annual payments in a specified amount. There is no charge for this service.
Call Investor Services Group at the number shown below for more information.
Send mail to:
Kobren Insight Funds
P.O. Box 5146
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
Call:
Investor Services Group
toll-free at
800-895-9936
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT AND ACCOUNT POLICIES
You may redeem shares of the fund on any business day at the NAV next calculated
after the receipt of your redemption request in proper form.
REDEEMING FUND SHARES
Redemption proceeds are usually sent on the business day after the effective
date of a redemption. However, the payment of redemption proceeds for shares
purchased by check will be delayed until after the check has cleared, which may
take up to 15 days. Under unusual circumstances, the fund may suspend
redemptions, if allowed by the SEC, or postpone payment.
Redemption proceeds are paid by wire or, at your request, ACH transfer to the
bank or brokerage account designated on your account application. If you have
not designated an account or if is impossible or impractical to wire redemption
proceeds, they will be sent by mail to your record address. You may change your
designated account by sending to the address on the previous page a written
request or supplemental telephone redemption authorization form (available from
Investor Services Group) that has been signature guaranteed by an eligible
guarantor institution.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
The fund will accept signature guarantees from the following institutions:
banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, savings institutions, national securities
exchanges, registered securities associations and clearing agencies.
Shareholders that are corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates or other
organizations may be required to provide documents evidencing that a request to
redeem shares or change a designated bank or brokerage account has been properly
authorized.
CLOSING OR CONVERSION OF SUB-MINIMUM ACCOUNTS
The fund may close your retail class account if, for reasons other than market
losses, the value of your shares falls below $1,000, or any other minimum set by
the fund's trustees. The fund may convert your institutional class shares to
retail class shares if the value of your account as a result of share
redemptions falls below $250,000. After the fund notifies you of its intention
to close your retail class account or convert your institutional shares, you
will have 60 days to bring the account back to the minimum level.
The fund declares and pays dividends according to the schedule on the right.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Redemptions and exchanges of fund shares are taxable events on which you may
recognize a gain or loss. Dividends and distributions are also taxable, as
described in the chart below, whether they are received in additional shares or
cash.
Dividends are paid in additional shares of the fund unless you elect to receive
them in cash.
Type of Distribution Declared and Paid Federal Tax Sta
Dividends from net annually Taxable as ordinary gain
investment income
Distributions of short annually Taxable as ordinary income
term capital gain
Distributions of long annually Taxable as capital gain
term capital gain
You should generally avoid investing in the fund shortly before an expected
dividend or distribution. Otherwise, you may pay taxes on dividends or
distributions that are economically equivalent to a partial return of your
investment.
You should consult your tax adviser about particular federal, state, local and
other taxes that may apply to you.
Every January, the fund will send you information about the fund's dividends and
distributions during the previous calendar year. Most of the fund's
distributions are expected to be capital gains.
If you do not provide the fund with a correct taxpayer identification number and
required certifications, you may be subject to federal backup withholding tax.
<PAGE>
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For investors who want more information about the fund, the following documents
are available free upon request.
Annual/Semiannual Reports
Additional information about the fund's investments is available in the fund's
annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. The fund's annual report contains
a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the fund's performance during its last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI provides more detailed information about the fund and is incorporated
into this prospectus by reference.
Contacting Principal Distributor
Investors can get free copies of reports and SAIs, request other information and
discuss their questions about the fund by contacting the fund's principal
distributor at:
Address: Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc.
20 William Street, Suite 310
P.O. Box 9150
Wellesley Hills, MA 02181
Phone: 1-800-4KOBREN (1-800-456-2736)
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.kobren.com
Contacting the SEC
Investors can review the fund's reports and SAIs at the Public Reference Room of
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information on the operation of the
Public Reference room may be obtained by calling the Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330. Investors can get text-only copies:
For a fee, by writing to or calling the Public Reference Room of the
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009 Telephone: 1-800-SEC-0330.
Free from the Commission's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov.
Investment Company Act file no. 811-07813
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Kobren Insight Management, Inc.
20 William Street, PO Box 9135
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Toll-free: 1-800-456-2736
ADMINISTRATOR
First Data Investor
Services Group, Inc.
TRANSFER AGENT
First Data Investor
Services Group, Inc.
Toll-free: 1-800-895-9936
SUBADVISER
Delphi Management, Inc.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
LEGAL COUNSEL
Hale and Dorr LLP
CUSTODIAN
Boston Safe Deposit
and Trust Company
<PAGE>
December 17, 1998
KOBREN INSIGHT FUNDS
KOBREN DELPHI VALUE FUND
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This statement of additional information is not a prospectus, but expands upon
and supplements the information contained in the prospectus of the Kobren Delphi
Value Fund (the "fund"), a series of Kobren Insight Funds (the "trust"), dated
December 17, 1998. The statement of additional information should be read in
conjunction with the fund's prospectus. The fund's prospectus may be obtained by
writing to the trust at P.O. Box 5146, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 or by
telephoning the Trust toll free at 800-895-9936. Terms not otherwise defined
herein have the same meaning as in the prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
I. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES 2
II. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 15
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND
A. Trustees and Officers 17
B. Investment Adviser 19
C. Subadviser 20
D. Distribution 20
E. Administrator, Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent 21
IV. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND DETERMINATION
OF NET ASSET VALUE 21
V. IN-KIND REDEMPTIONS 22
VI. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS 22
VII. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
A. Total Return 23
B. Non-Standardized Total Return 24
C. Other Information Concerning Fund Performance 24
VIII. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 30
IX. CUSTODIAN, COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 34
X. DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST 34
XI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 35
<PAGE>
I. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
Kobren Insight Funds (the "trust") is a no-load open-end, diversified
investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"). The Trust currently offers four separate series, each
with different investment objectives. This Statement of Additional Information
pertains to the Kobren Delphi Value Fund (the "fund") only. The fund's
investment objective is long term growth of capital. The fund seeks to achieve
its investment objective by investing at least 65% of its assets in equity
securities of U.S. companies.
Investments in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The securities of small, unseasoned
companies may have a limited trading market, which may adversely affect their
disposition and can result in their being priced lower than what might otherwise
be the case. If other investment companies and investors who invest in these
issuers sell the same securities when the fund attempts to dispose of its
holdings, the fund may receive lower prices than what might otherwise be
obtained.
Foreign Securities. The fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of
foreign issuers. These investments may be in the form of American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs") or similar securities representing interests in an underlying
foreign security. ADRs are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as
the underlying foreign securities. If an ADR is not sponsored by the issuer of
the underlying foreign security, the institution issuing the ADR may have
reduced access to information about the issuer.
Investments in foreign securities involve special risks and considerations that
may not be present when a fund invests in domestic securities. These risks
include less publicly-available financial and other information about foreign
companies; less rigorous securities regulation; the potential imposition of
currency controls, foreign withholding and other taxes; and war, expropriation
or other adverse governmental actions. Foreign equity markets may be less liquid
than United States markets and may be subject to delays in the settlement of
portfolio transactions. Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs in
foreign markets tend to be higher than in the United States. The value of
foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency will vary in accordance
with changes in currency exchange rates, which can be very volatile. In
addition, the value of foreign fixed income investments will fluctuate in
response to changes in U.S. and foreign interest rates.
Exchange Rates. Since the fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign
currencies, changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of
the assets from the perspective of U.S. investors. Changes in foreign currency
exchange rates may also affect the value of dividends and interest earned, gains
and losses realized on the sale of securities and net investment income and
gains, if any, to be distributed to the investor by a mutual fund. The rate of
exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by the
forces of supply and demand in foreign exchange markets. These forces are
affected by the international balance of payments and other economic and
financial conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors.
The fund may seek to protect itself against the adverse effects of currency
exchange rate fluctuations by entering into currency-forward, futures, options
or swaps contracts. Hedging transactions will not, however, always be fully
effective in protecting against adverse exchange rate fluctuations. Furthermore,
hedging transactions involve transaction costs and the risk that the fund will
lose money, either because exchange rates move in an unexpected direction,
because another party to a hedging contract defaults, or for other reasons.
Exchange Controls. The value of foreign investments and the investment income
derived from them may also be affected (either favorably or unfavorably) by
exchange control regulations. It is expected that the fund will invest only in
securities denominated in foreign currencies that are fully exchangeable into
U.S. dollars without legal restriction at the time of investment. However, there
is no assurance that currency controls will not be imposed after the time of
investment.
Limitations of Foreign Markets. There is often less information
publicly-available about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. Foreign
issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing, and financial
reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States. The
securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile
than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions,
custodial expenses, and other fees are also generally higher than for securities
traded in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations
may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or
in the recovery of the fund's assets held abroad) and expenses not present in
the settlement of domestic investments. A delay in settlement could hinder the
ability of the fund to take advantage of changing market conditions, with a
possible adverse effect on net asset value. There may also be difficulties in
enforcing legal rights outside the United States.
Foreign Laws, Regulations and Economies. There may be a possibility of
nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange
controls, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability, and
diplomatic developments that could affect the value of the fund's investments in
certain foreign countries. Legal remedies available to investors in certain
foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to
investments in the United States or in other foreign countries. The laws of some
foreign countries may limit the fund's ability to invest in securities of
certain issuers located in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign
economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such
respects as growth or gross national product, inflation rate, capital
reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions.
Foreign Tax Considerations. Income (possibly including, in some cases, capital
gains) received by the fund from sources within foreign countries may be reduced
by withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such
taxes in some cases. Any such taxes paid by the fund will reduce the net income
of the fund available for distribution. Special tax considerations apply to
foreign securities.
Emerging Markets. Risks may be intensified in the case of investments by the
fund in emerging markets or countries with limited or developing capital
markets. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile
than in more developed nations, reflecting the greater uncertainties of
investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries
with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, present the risk
of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, or
prohibitions on repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property
rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging
markets may be predominantly based on only a few industries, may be highly
vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from
extreme and volatile debt or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade
a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to
increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of
substantial holdings difficult or impossible at times. Securities of issuers
located in emerging market countries may have limited marketability and may be
subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Debt obligations of
developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may be in default or
present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of
the debt may be unwilling to repay principal and interest when due, and may
require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects
for repayment of principal and interest may depend on political as well as
economic factors.
Foreign Currency Transactions. The fund may enter into forward contracts to
purchase or sell an agreed-upon amount of a specific currency at a future date
that may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon
by the parties at a price set at the time of the contract. Under such an
arrangement, the fund could, at the time it enters into a contract to acquire a
foreign security for a specified amount of currency, purchase with U.S. dollars
the required amount of foreign currency for delivery at the settlement date of
the purchase; the fund could enter into similar forward currency transactions in
connection with the sale of foreign securities. The effect of such transactions
would be to fix a U.S. dollar price for the security to protect against a
possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the
U.S. dollar and the particular foreign currency during the period between the
date the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or
received (usually 3 to 14 days). These contracts are traded in the interbank
market between currency traders (usually large commercial banks and other
financial institutions) and their customers. A forward contract usually has no
deposit requirement and no commissions are charged for trades. While forward
contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the
currency involved, they also tend to limit any potential gain that might result
if the value of such currency were to increase during the contract period.
Portfolio Securities Loans. The fund may lend its portfolio securities as long
as: (1) the loan is continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S.
government securities, cash or cash equivalents maintained on a daily
mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of
the securities loaned; (2) the fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the
securities loaned; (3) the fund will receive any interest or dividends paid on
the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of the securities
loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the fund.
The fund may pay reasonable fees in connection with securities loans. Kobren
Insight Management, Inc. ("KIM" or the "Adviser") and/or Delphi Management, Inc.
("Delphi" or the "Subadviser") will evaluate the credit-worthiness of
prospective institutional borrowers and monitor the adequacy of the collateral
to reduce the risk of default by borrowers from the fund. Lending portfolio
securities involves risk of delay in the recovery of the loaned securities and
in some cases, the loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower fails.
Short Sales. The fund may sell securities short. In a short sale the fund sells
stock it does not own and makes delivery with securities "borrowed" from a
broker. The fund then becomes obligated to replace the security borrowed by
purchasing it at the market-price at the time of replacement. This price may be
more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the fund. Until
the security is replaced, the fund is obligated to pay to the lender any
dividends or interest accruing during the period of the loan. In order to borrow
the security, the fund may be required to pay a premium that would increase the
cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by
the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short
position is closed out.
When it engages in short sales, the fund must also deposit in a
segregated account an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the
difference between (1) the market value of the securities sold short and (2) the
value of the collateral deposited with the broker in connection with the short
sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale). While the short position
is open, the fund must maintain daily the segregated account at such a level
that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the
broker as collateral equals the current market value of the securities sold
short.
The fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of
the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which
the fund replaces the borrowed security. The fund will realize a gain if the
security declines in price between such dates. The amount of any gain will be
decreased and the amount of any loss increased by the amount of any premium,
dividends or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with a short
sale.
Short Sales "Against the Box". A short sale is "against the box" if at all times
when the short position is open, the fund owns an equal amount of the securities
or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration
for, securities of the same issuer as the securities sold short. The extent to
which such a transaction may be used to defer a gain for federal income tax
purposes was significantly curtailed by federal tax legislation enacted in 1997.
FUTURES, OPTIONS, SWAPS AND CURRENCY CONTRACTS
Futures, Options, Swaps and Currency Contracts and Their Risks. Any transactions
in derivative contracts involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to
unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates or currency
exchange rates. The fund incurs liability to a counterparty in connection with
transactions in futures contracts, swaps and forward contracts and the selling
of options, caps, floors and collars. As a result, the loss on these derivative
contracts may exceed the fund's initial investment. The fund may also lose the
entire premium paid for purchased options, caps, floors and collars that expire
before they can be profitably exercised by the fund. In addition, the fund
incurs transaction costs in opening and closing positions in derivative
contracts.
Derivative contracts may sometimes increase or leverage the fund's
exposure to a particular market risk. Leverage magnifies the price volatility of
derivative contracts held by the fund. A fund may cover, or partially offset,
the leverage inherent in derivative contracts by maintaining a segregated
account consisting of cash and liquid securities, by holding offsetting
portfolio securities or contracts or by covering written options.
The fund's success in using derivative contracts to hedge portfolio
assets depends on the degree of price correlation between the derivative
contract and the hedged asset. Imperfect correlation may be caused by several
factors, including temporary price disparities among the trading markets for the
derivative contract, the assets underlying the derivative contract, and the
fund's portfolio assets.
During periods of extreme market volatility, a commodity or options
exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative contract,
which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Some
over-the-counter options may be illiquid, while others may be determined to be
liquid in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees. The fund's
ability to terminate over-the-counter options, swaps, caps, floors, collars and
forward contracts may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such
contracts. For thinly traded derivative contracts, the only source of price
quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty.
Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Currency. The fund may purchase
and write (sell) call and put options on any securities in which it may invest,
any securities index based on securities in which it may invest or any currency
in which fund investments may be denominated. These options may be listed on
U.S. or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market.
The fund may write covered put and call options and purchase put and call
options to enhance total return, as a substitute for the purchase or sale of
securities or currency, or to protect against declines in the value of portfolio
securities and against increases in the cost of securities to be acquired.
Writing Covered Options. A call option on securities or currency written by the
fund obligates the fund to sell specified securities or currency to the holder
of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before
the expiration date. A put option on securities or currency written by the fund
obligates the fund to purchase specified securities or currency from the option
holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the
expiration date. Options on securities indices are similar to options on
securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash
settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of
securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price
fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather
than price fluctuations in a single security. Writing covered call options may
deprive the fund of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market
price of the securities or foreign currency assets in its portfolio. Writing
covered put options may deprive the fund of the opportunity to profit from a
decrease in the market price of the securities or foreign currency assets to be
acquired for its portfolio.
All call and put options written by the fund are covered. A written
call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid
securities, either of which may be quoted or denominated in any currency, in a
segregated account with a value at least equal to the fund's obligation under
the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii)
purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its
exercise price or otherwise, reduces the fund's net exposure on its written
option position. A written call option on securities is typically covered by
maintaining the securities that are subject to the option in a segregated
account. The fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning
securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the
underlying index.
The fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange traded call or
put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written.
Obligations under an over-the-counter option may be terminated only by entering
into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option. These
purchases are referred to as "closing purchase transactions."
Purchasing Options. The fund would normally purchase call options in
anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease
("protective puts"), in the market value of securities or currencies of the type
in which it may invest. The fund may also sell call and put options to close out
its purchased options.
The purchase of a call option would entitle the fund, in return for the
premium paid, to purchase specified securities or currency at a specified price
during the option period. The fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the
purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such
securities or currency exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid
and transaction costs; otherwise the fund would realize either no gain or a loss
on the purchase of the call option.
The purchase of a put option would entitle the fund, in exchange for
the premium paid, to sell specified securities or currency at a specified price
during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset
or hedge against a decline in the market value of the fund's portfolio
securities or the currencies in which they are denominated. Put options may also
be purchased by the fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a
decline in the price of securities or currencies which it does not own. The fund
would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the
underlying securities or currency decreased below the exercise price
sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the fund
would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains
and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing
changes in the value of the fund's portfolio securities.
The fund's options transactions will be subject to limitations
established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading
facilities on which these options are traded. These limitations govern the
maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a
single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether
the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards
of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more
accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the
fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by
other investment advisory clients of the fund's adviser. An exchange, board of
trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to
be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
Risks Associated with Options Transactions. There is no assurance that a liquid
secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any
particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If the fund is
unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options
it has written, the fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or
currencies or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options
expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the fund is unable to effect a closing
sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to
exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction
costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.
Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange
include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain
options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions
or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other
restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of
options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal
operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options
Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading
volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons,
decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options
(or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary
market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the
Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would
continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The fund's ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more
limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that
counterparties participating in these transactions will not fulfill their
obligations. The Adviser will determine the liquidity of the fund's
over-the-counter options in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Trustees.
The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity
which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options
depends in part on the ability of the fund's adviser or subadviser to predict
future price fluctuations and, for hedging transactions, the degree of
correlation between the options and securities or currency markets.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. To seek to increase total
return or hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency
exchange rates, the fund may purchase and sell various kinds of futures
contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on these futures
contracts. The fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions
with respect to any of these contracts and options. The futures contracts may be
based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities), securities
indices, foreign currencies and any other financial instruments and indices. All
futures contracts entered into by the fund are traded on U.S. or foreign
exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed, regulated or approved by the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC").
Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy
and sell particular financial instruments or currencies for an agreed price
during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the
case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical
delivery at the end of trading in the contract).
Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to
maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions which may
result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities or currency
will usually be liquidated in this manner, the fund may instead make, or take,
delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears
economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the
exchange on which futures contracts are traded guarantees that, if still open,
the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.
Hedging and Other Strategies. Hedging is an attempt to establish the effective
price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that the fund
proposes to acquire or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio
securities are quoted or denominated. When interest rates are rising or
securities prices are falling, the fund can seek to offset a decline in the
value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts.
When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, the fund,
through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or
prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated
purchases. The fund may seek to offset anticipated changes in the value of a
currency in which its portfolio securities, or securities that it intends to
purchase, are quoted or denominated by purchasing and selling futures contracts
on these currencies.
The fund may, for example, take a "short" position in the futures
market by selling futures contracts in an attempt to hedge against an
anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices or foreign
currency rates that would adversely affect the dollar value of the fund's
portfolio securities. These futures contracts may include contracts for the
future delivery of securities held by the fund or securities with
characteristics similar to those of the fund's portfolio securities. Similarly,
the fund may sell futures contracts on any currencies in which its portfolio
securities are quoted or denominated or in one currency to hedge against
fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency if
there is an established historical pattern of correlation between the two
currencies.
If, in the opinion of the Adviser or Subadviser, there is a sufficient
degree of correlation between price trends for the fund's portfolio securities
and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices
or other indices, the fund may also enter into these futures contracts as part
of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities
in the fund's portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of these
futures contracts, the Adviser or Subadviser will attempt to estimate the extent
of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for
any differential by having the fund enter into a greater or lesser number of
futures contracts or by attempting to achieve only a partial hedge against price
changes affecting the fund's portfolio securities.
When a short hedging position is successful, any depreciation in the
value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in
the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated
appreciation in the value of the fund's portfolio securities would be
substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.
On other occasions, the fund may take a "long" position by purchasing
futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when the fund anticipates
the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash,
but expects the prices or currency exchange rates then available in the
applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available.
The fund may also purchase futures contracts as a substitute for transactions in
securities or foreign currency, to alter the investment characteristics of or
currency exposure associated with portfolio securities or to gain or increase
its exposure to a particular securities market or currency.
Options on Futures Contracts. The fund may purchase and write options on futures
for the same purposes as its transactions in futures contracts. The purchase of
put and call options on futures contracts will give the fund the right (but not
the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the
underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the
purchaser of an option on a futures contract, a fund obtains the benefit of the
futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of
loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium
and transaction costs.
The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium
which may partially offset a decline in the value of the fund's assets. By
writing a call option, the fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium
(upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is
exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely,
the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium which may
partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the fund intends to
purchase. However, the fund becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to
purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value
lower than the exercise price. The loss incurred by the fund in writing options
on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate
its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option of the same series.
There is no guarantee that these closing transactions can be effected. The
fund's ability to establish and close out positions on these options will be
subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.
Other Considerations. The fund will engage in futures and related options
transactions either for bona fide hedging purposes or to seek to increase total
return as permitted by the CFTC. To the extent that the fund is using futures
and related options for hedging purposes, futures contracts will be sold to
protect against a decline in the price of securities (or the currency in which
they are quoted or denominated) that the fund owns or futures contracts will be
purchased to protect the fund against an increase in the price of securities (or
the currency in which they are quoted or denominated) it intends to purchase.
The fund will determine that the price fluctuations in the futures contracts and
options on futures used for hedging purposes are substantially related to price
fluctuations in securities held by the fund or securities or instruments which
it expects to purchase. As evidence of the fund's hedging intent, on 75% or more
of the occasions on which it takes a long futures or option position (involving
the purchase of futures contracts), the fund must have purchased, or will be in
the process of purchasing, equivalent amounts of related securities (or assets
denominated in the related currency) in the cash market at the time when the
futures or option position is closed out. However, in particular cases, when it
is economically advantageous for the fund to do so, a long futures position may
be terminated or an option may expire without the corresponding purchase of
securities or other assets.
To the extent that the fund engages in nonhedging transactions in
futures contracts and options on futures, the aggregate initial margin and
premiums required to establish these nonhedging positions may not exceed 5% of
the net asset value of the fund's portfolio, after taking into account
unrealized profits and losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by
which these options were in-the-money at the time of purchase.
Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve
brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in the case of contracts and
options obligating the fund to purchase securities or currencies, require the
fund to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities
in an amount equal to the underlying value of these contracts and options.
While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may
reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks.
For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or
currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance for the fund
than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
Perfect correlation between the fund's futures positions and portfolio
positions will be impossible to achieve. In the event of an imperfect
correlation between a futures position and the portfolio position to be hedged,
the desired protection may not be obtained and the fund may be exposed to risk
of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or protect against
currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in foreign
currencies because the value of these securities is likely to fluctuate as a
result of independent factors not related to currency fluctuations.
Some futures contracts or options on futures may become illiquid under
adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a
commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in a futures contract or related
option, which may make the instrument temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that
the price of a futures contract or related option can vary from the previous
day's settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made
that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the fund from closing out
positions and limiting its losses.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities. The fund may invest up to 15% of its net
assets in illiquid securities, including certain restricted and private
placement securities. It may be difficult to dispose of illiquid securities
quickly or at a price that fully reflects their fair value. Restricted
securities that are eligible for resale in reliance on Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and commercial paper
offered under Section 4(2) of the 1993 Act are not subject to the fund's 15%
limit on illiquid investments, if they are determined to be liquid.
Borrowing, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Leverage. The fund may borrow money
from banks or through reverse repurchase agreements for emergency and/or
leverage purposes. Using the cash proceeds of reverse repurchase agreements to
finance the purchase of additional investments is a form of leverage. Leverage
magnifies the sensitivity of a fund's net asset value to changes in the market
prices of the fund's portfolio securities. However, the fund will borrow solely
for temporary or emergency (and not for leverage) purposes. The aggregate amount
of such borrowings and reverse repurchase agreements may not exceed one-third of
the fund's total assets.
Under the 1940 Act, the fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage
of 300% with respect to such borrowings and to sell (within three days)
sufficient portfolio holdings in order to restore this coverage if it should
decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuation or otherwise. Such a sale
must occur even if disadvantageous from an investment point of view. Leveraging
exaggerates the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio
securities on the fund's net asset value. In addition, money borrowed is subject
to interest costs (which may include commitment fees and/or the cost of
maintaining minimum average balances) which may or may not exceed the income and
gains from the securities purchased with borrowed funds.
Defensive Investing. For temporary defensive purposes under abnormal market
conditions, the fund may hold or invest up to 100% of its total assets in cash,
investment grade fixed income securities, repurchase agreements and/or money
market fund shares.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
Fixed Income Securities. The value of fixed income securities, including U.S.
government securities, varies inversely with changes in interest rates. When
interest rates decline, the value of fixed income securities tends to rise. When
interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities tends to decline. The
market prices of zero coupon, delayed coupon and payment-in-kind securities are
affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and tend to be more
volatile than the market prices of securities providing for regular cash
interest payments.
In addition, fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the
issuer may default on its obligation to pay principal and interest. The value of
fixed income securities may also be reduced by the actual or perceived
deterioration in an issuer's credit-worthiness, including credit rating
downgrades.
Fixed income securities may be subject to both call (prepayment) risk and
extension risk. Call risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will exercise
its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier than scheduled. Early
principal payments tend to be made during periods of declining interest rates.
This forces the affected fund to reinvest the unanticipated cash flow in lower
yielding securities. Extension risk is the risk that an issuer will exercise its
right to pay principal later than expected. This typically happens during
periods of rising interest rates and prevents the affected fund from reinvesting
in higher yielding securities. Unscheduled principal prepayments and delays in
payment can both reduce the value of an affected security. Unlike most
conventional fixed income securities, mortgage-backed and asset-backed
securities are generally subject to both call (prepayment) risk and extension
risk.
Money Market Instruments. The fund may invest in money market instruments,
including obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its
agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit, time deposits and
bankers' acceptances issued by or maintained at U.S. and foreign banks; and
commercial paper.
Repurchase Agreements. The fund may, to the extent permitted by its investment
policies, enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement consists of
the sale to the fund of a U.S. government security or other debt obligation
together with an agreement to have the selling counterparty repurchase the
security at a specified future date and repurchase price. If a repurchase
agreement counterparty defaults on its repurchase obligation, the fund may,
under some circumstances, be limited or delayed in disposing of the repurchase
agreement collateral, which could result in a loss to the fund.
High Yield Securities and Their Risks. The fund will not invest more than 35% of
its total assets in high yield, high-risk, lower-rated securities, commonly
known as "junk bonds." Junk bonds are securities rated below the top four
long-term bond rating categories of Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser or Subadviser to be of
comparable credit quality. The fund's investments in these securities is subject
to the risks outlined below.
Growth of the High Yield Bond Market. The high yield, high risk market is at
times subject to substantial volatility. An economic downturn or increase in
interest rates may have a more significant effect on the high yield, high risk
securities in the fund's portfolio and their markets, as well as on the ability
of securities' issuers to repay principal and interest. Issuers of high yield,
high risk securities may be of low credit-worthiness, and high yield, high risk
securities may be subordinated to the claims of senior lenders. During periods
of economic downturn or rising interest rates, the issuers of high yield, high
risk securities may have greater potential for insolvency and default.
Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Changes. The prices of high yield,
high risk securities may be more or less sensitive to interest rate changes than
higher-rated investments but are more sensitive to adverse economic changes or
individual corporate developments. During an economic downturn or substantial
period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience
financial stress that would adversely affect their ability to service their
principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals,
and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a high yield, high risk
security owned by the fund defaults, the fund may incur additional expenses in
seeking recovery of amounts owed. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes
can be expected to increase the volatility of market prices of high yield, high
risk securities and the fund's net asset value. Yields on high yield, high risk
securities will fluctuate over time. Furthermore, the market prices of high
yield, high risk securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities
are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and therefore tend to
be more volatile than market prices of securities which pay interest
periodically and in cash.
Liquidity and Valuation. The secondary market may at times become less liquid or
respond to adverse publicity or investor perceptions, making it more difficult
for the fund to accurately value high yield, high risk securities or dispose of
them. To the extent the fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted high
yield, high risk securities, these securities may involve special registration
responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity difficulties. The
judgment of the Adviser or Subadviser will play a greater role in valuation
because there is less reliable and objective data available.
Credit Ratings. Credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest
payments, not the market value risk of high yield, high risk securities. Since
credit rating agencies may fail to change the credit ratings in a timely manner
to reflect subsequent events, the Adviser or Subadviser must monitor the issuers
of high yield, high risk securities in the fund's portfolio to determine if the
issuers will have sufficient cash flows and profits to meet required principal
and interest payments, and to attempt to assure the securities' liquidity so the
fund can meet redemption requests. To the extent that the fund invests in high
yield, high risk securities, the achievement of the fund's investment objective
may be more dependent on the fund's own credit analysis than is the case for
higher quality bonds. The fund may retain a portfolio security whose rating has
been changed.
See "Appendix" for credit rating information.
Mortgage-Backed, Asset-Backed, Indexed and Derivative Securities. The fund may
invest in mortgage-backed, asset-backed and indexed securities. Some of these
securities are considered to be derivative securities. Mortgage-backed
securities represent participation interests in pools of adjustable and
fixed-rate mortgages. They may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the
U.S. government or may be privately issued. Unlike conventional debt
obligations, mortgage-backed securities typically provide monthly payments
derived from the monthly interest and principal payments (including any
prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans.
The fund's investments in mortgage-backed securities may include
conventional mortgage pass through securities, stripped mortgage-backed
securities ("SMBS") and certain classes of multiple class collateralized
mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). Examples of SMBS include interest only ("IO") and
principal only ("PO") securities. Senior CMO classes typically have priority
over less senior and residual CMO classes as to the receipt of principal and/or
interest payments on the underlying mortgages. The CMO classes in which a fund
may invest include sequential and parallel pay CMOs, including planned
amortization class securities ("PACs").
The principal and interest on asset-backed securities are
collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables,
leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities
generally are not collateralized as securely as mortgage-backed securities.
The fund may invest in floating rate and other indexed securities. The
interest rate and/or the principal payable at the maturity of an indexed
security may change positively or inversely in relation to one or more interest
rates, financial indices, currency rates or other reference prices. In addition,
changes in the amount payable on a leveraged indexed security may be a multiple
of changes in the reference rate or price. Examples of indexed securities
include IOs, POs, inverse floaters, inverse IOs, super floaters, capped
floaters, range floaters, dual index or yield curve floaters and Cost of Funds
Index ("COFI") floaters.
Mortgage-backed, asset-backed and indexed securities are subject to
different combinations of call (prepayment), extension, interest-rate and other
market risks. These risks and the price volatility of a security are magnified
to the extent that a security has imbedded leverage. Under adverse market
conditions, any of these risks could lead to a decline in the yield on or market
value of these securities. In addition, these securities can at times be
difficult to price accurately or to liquidate at a fair price.
Conventional mortgage-backed securities and sequential pay CMOs are
subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged. PACs and other
senior classes of sequential and parallel pay CMOs usually involve less exposure
to prepayment, extension and interest-rate risk than other mortgage-based
securities, provided that prepayment rates stay within expected prepayment
ranges or collars. Call or prepayment risk is the risk primarily associated with
mortgage IOs and superfloaters. Mortgage POs, inverse IOs, inverse floaters,
capped floaters and COFI floaters are especially susceptible to extension and
interest rate risk. Range floaters are subject to the risk that a designated
interest rate will float outside the specified interest rate collar. Dual index
floaters are subject to depreciation if there is an unfavorable change in the
spread between two designated interest rates.
Year 2000 Risks. Like other mutual funds, financial and business organizations
and individuals around the world, the fund could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by the Adviser or Subadviser and other service providers
do not properly process and calculate date-related information from and after
January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." KIM is
taking steps that it believes are reasonably designed to address the Year 2000
Problem with respect to the computer systems that it uses and to obtain
satisfactory assurances that comparable steps are being taken by each of the
fund's other major service providers. At this time, however, there can be no
assurance that these steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the
fund.
In addition, the companies in which the fund may invest may have Year
2000 computer problems. The value of their securities could go down if they do
not fix their problems in time or if fixing them is very expensive.
II. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES. The fund has adopted certain
fundamental investment policies. These fundamental investment policies cannot be
changed unless the change is approved by the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the
voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the fund are present or represented by proxy,
or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the fund. These
fundamental policies provide that the fund may not:
1. Invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one
industry (securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its
agencies or instrumentalities are not considered to represent industries).
2. Borrow money or issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the
1940 Act.
3. Make loans of securities to other persons, except loans of securities not
exceeding 33 1/3% of the fund's total assets, investments in debt obligations
and transactions in repurchase agreements.
4. Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the fund may be
deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act") in selling portfolio securities.
5. Purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein, including interests in
real estate limited partnerships, except securities issued by companies
(including real estate investment trusts) that invest in real estate or
interests therein and real estate acquired as a result of owning securities.
6. Invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, provided that this
limitation shall not prohibit the purchase or sale by the fund of forward
currency contracts; financial futures contracts and options on financial futures
contracts; options on securities, currencies and securities indices; and swaps,
caps, floors and collars, as permitted by the fund's prospectus.
The 1940 Act currently prohibits the fund from issuing senior
securities or borrowing money. However, the fund may borrow from banks or
pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements in an amount not exceeding one-third
of total assets (including the amount borrowed). If borrowings exceed this
one-third limitation, for any reason, the fund must reduce the amount of its
borrowings to not more than one-third of total assets within three business
days.
Additional investment restrictions adopted by the fund, which may be
changed by the Board of Trustees, provide that the fund may not:
1. With respect to 75% of the fund's assets, invest more than 5% of the fund's
assets (taken at market value at the time of purchase) in the outstanding
securities of any single issuer or own more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of any one issuer, in each case other than (1) securities issued or
guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
or (2) securities of other investment companies.
2. Invest more than 15% of its net assets (taken at market value at the
time of purchase) in illiquid
securities.
<PAGE>
3. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management.
4. Invest in other investment companies except as permitted under the 1940 Act.
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND
A. Trustees and Officers
The principal occupations of the Trustees and officers of the trust
during the past five years are set forth below. Each Trustee who is deemed to be
an "interested person" of the trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by
an asterisk.
*ERIC M. KOBREN, 20 William Street, Suite 310, P.O. Box 9135, Wellesley
Hills, Massachusetts 02481 - Chairman of the Board, President and Trustee. Mr.
Kobren has served as President of Mutual Fund Investors Association, Inc. since
1985 and as President of Kobren Insight Management, Inc. and Kobren Insight
Brokerage, Inc. since 1987. These are a financial publishing concern, a
registered investment advisory firm and a registered broker-dealer,
respectively. Mr. Kobren is 44 years old.
*MICHAEL P. CASTELLANO, 134 Redspruce Drive, Lake Naomi, Pennsylvania,
18350 - Trustee. Retired. From December 1994 to June 1997, Mr. Castellano served
as Chief Administrative Officer of Kobren Insight Management, Inc. and as a
registered representative of Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc. From October 1993 to
December 1994, Mr. Castellano was employed as Executive Vice President and Chief
Administrative Officer of Wall Street Investor Services, a registered
broker-dealer. Prior to that time, he was a Senior Vice President with Fidelity
Investments, a registered investment advisory firm and broker-dealer. Mr.
Castellano is 56 years old.
EDWARD B. BLOOM, International Data Group Inc., 5 Speen Street, P.O. Box
9192, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 - Trustee. Mr. Bloom, Vice President and
Treasurer of International Data Group Inc., a publishing company, has been
employed there since November 1967. He is 47 years old.
ARTHUR DUBROFF, 335 Madison Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10017 -
Trustee. Since July 1996, Mr. Dubroff has served as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Enhance Financial Services Group, Inc. ("Enhance
Financial"). Mr. Dubroff also acted as a Director of Enhance Financial from 1986
to 1991 and 1992 to 1996. From November 1993 to July 1996, he was employed as a
Senior Vice President of First Data Corporation, a financial services company.
From February 1992 to November 1993, Mr. Dubroff was employed as an Executive
Vice President of Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc. Mr. Dubroff is 47 years old.
STUART J. NOVICK, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts 02115 - Trustee. Since April 1997, Mr. Novick has served as Senior
Vice President and General Counsel of Children's Hospital. From July 1984 to
April 1997, Mr. Novick served as Vice President and General Counsel of
Children's Hospital. He is 47 years old.
ERIC J. GODES, 20 William Street, Suite 310, P.O. Box 9135, Wellesley
Hills, Massachusetts 02481 - Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Godes,
an investment advisory representative of Kobren Insight Management, Inc. and
Vice President and a registered representative of Kobren Insight Brokerage,
Inc., has been associated with both companies since 1990. He is 37 years old.
EDWARD R. GOLDFARB, 20 William Street, Suite 310, P.O. Box 9135, Wellesley
Hills, Massachusetts 02481 - Vice President. Since September 1995, Mr. Goldfarb
has been Director of Research and Chief Strategist of Kobren Insight Management,
Inc. as well as a registered representative of Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc.
From June 1992 to September 1995, he was employed as a registered representative
of Aeltus Capital, Inc. and, from March 1994 to September 1995, he also served
as Managing Director of Aeltus Investment Management, Inc. From September 1982
to September 1995, Mr. Goldfarb was employed as a Vice President of Aetna Life &
Casualty serving in various capacities. During that time, he was also a
registered representative of Aetna Financial Services, Inc. and, from May 1992
to March 1994, a registered representative of Aetna Capital Management, Inc. Mr.
Goldfarb is 37 years old.
The Trustees who are not employed by the Adviser each receive a $5,000
annual retainer paid in quarterly installments, a $1,000 fee for each board
meeting attended and a $500 fee per committee meeting attended, plus
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending such meetings.
Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Trustees of
the trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. No compensation is paid
to any officers of the trust by the funds.
TOTAL COMPENSATION
AGGREGATE FROM THE FUND
NAME OF PERSON COMPENSATION AND FUND COMPLEX
AND POSITION FROM THE FUND PAID TO TRUSTEES
Eric M. Kobren, $ 0 $ 0
Chairman of the Board,
President and Trustee
Michael P. Castellano, $ 0 $ 0
Trustee
Edward B. Bloom, $ 0 $ 6,750
Trustee
Arthur Dubroff, $ 0 $ 7,250
Trustee
Stuart J. Novick, $ 0 $ 6,750
Trustee
Scott A. Schoen* $ 0 $ 6,250
- -------------------------------------------
* Resigned as Trustee effective 1/22/98
The trust's Declaration of trust provides that the trust will indemnify
its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in
connection with litigation in which they may be involved as a result of their
positions with the trust, unless, as to liability to the trust or its
shareholders, it is finally adjudicated that they engaged in willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in their offices, or unless with respect to any other matter it is
finally adjudicated that they did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief
that their actions were in the best interests of the trust and its funds. In the
case of settlement, such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been
determined by a court or other body approving the settlement or other
disposition, or by a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily
available facts, by vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees or in a written
opinion of independent counsel, that such officers or Trustees have not engaged
in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
their duties.
B. Investment Adviser
KIM serves as investment adviser to the trust and the fund pursuant to
a written investment advisory agreement. KIM is a Massachusetts corporation
organized in 1987, and is a registered investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. KIM has engaged Delphi as the fund's subadviser. Under the
supervision of KIM and the fund's Board of Trustees, Delphi makes the fund's
day-to-day investment decisions, arranges for the execution of portfolio
transactions and generally manages the fund's investments.
Certain services provided by KIM under the investment advisory agreement
are described in the prospectus. In addition to those services, KIM may, from
time to time, provide the fund with office space for managing its affairs, with
the services of required executive personnel, and with certain clerical services
and facilities. These services are provided without reimbursement by the fund
for any costs incurred. As compensation for its services, the fund pays KIM a
fee computed daily and paid monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of the fund's
average daily net assets. KIM is responsible for Delphi's subadvisory fee at the
annual rate of 0.50% of the fund's average daily net assets which are computed
daily and paid monthly.
The fund is responsible for all expenses not expressly assumed by KIM
or the administrator. These include, among other things, legal fees, audit and
accounting expenses, insurance costs, the compensation and expenses of the
Trustees, the expenses of printing and mailing reports, notices and proxy
statements to fund shareholders, registration fees under federal and state
securities laws, brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary
expenses (such as for litigation).
KIM has agreed to reimburse the fund to the extent necessary to
maintain the fund's operating expenses (excluding investment advisory fees,
distribution fees, brokerage commissions, taxes, interest and litigation,
indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) at 0.75% annually of the
fund's average daily net assets. Although this expense cap arrangement can be
revoked at any time, KIM plans to continue this arrangement until January 1,
2000.
By its terms, the trust's investment advisory agreement with respect to
the fund will remain in effect through December 15, 2000 and from year to year
thereafter, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board of Trustees or, with
respect to the fund, (b) a vote of the majority of the fund's outstanding voting
securities. In either event, continuance must also be approved by a majority of
the Trustees who are not interested persons of the trust, by a vote cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval. The trust's
investment advisory agreement with respect to the fund may be terminated at any
time, on 60 days' written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by the
Board of Trustees, by a vote of the majority of the fund's outstanding voting
securities, or by KIM. The investment advisory agreement automatically
terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder.
C. Subadviser
Scott M. Black has been the fund's portfolio manager since the fund's inception
in 1998. Mr. Black has been the president and controlling shareholder of Delphi
since 1983. Since 1980, Delphi (and its predecessor firm) has limited its
management services to institutional investors, including pensions, endowments
and high net worth individuals. Delphi currently manages approximately $1
billion in assets.
Additional Discussion of Portfolio Strategy. In addition to the information in
the prospectus, Mr. Black applies two principal questions when considering an
investment for the fund. 1) Is the company being considered,
a good business? and; 2) Can the business be purchased at a cheap price? The
first question is addressed using quantitative screening. Mr. Black likes
companies that grow revenues and earnings faster than inflation over three to
five years. He looks at the firm's free cash flow and determines if the company
can finance its growth through internally generated operating cash flow. He also
analyzes the areas of capital such as inventory turns, days of receivables, and
sales to fixed assets.
To determine if a business can be purchased at a cheap price, Mr. Black
considers businesses in two categories; earnings power plays and asset plays.
The earnings power play business consistently produces high returns on equity,
under normal circumstances. Mr. Black will not buy these companies for more than
12 times their forthcoming year's estimated earnings. Asset plays are companies
that can be depressed, but typically have earned 15% returns in the past and are
likely to do so again.
Although there is no restriction, Mr. Black intends to hold under 100
securities.
D. Distribution
Distributor
Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc., an affiliate of KIM, 20 William Street,
Suite 310, P.O. Box 9135, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02481, serves as the
fund's distributor pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually. The
fund's shares are sold on a continuous basis by Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc.
as agent, although Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc. is not obligated to sell any
particular amount of shares. The distributor pays the cost of printing and
distributing prospectuses to persons who are not shareholders of the fund
(excluding preparation and printing expenses necessary for the continued
registration of the fund's shares) and of preparing, printing and distributing
all sales literature.
Distribution Plan - (Retail Class Only)
The trust on behalf of the fund, has adopted a plan of distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the retail class
shares of the fund. Pursuant to the plan, the fund uses its assets to finance
activities relating to the distribution of retail class shares to investors and
provision of certain shareholder services. Certain categories of such
expenditures have been approved by the Board of Trustees and include, among
other things, compensation to and expenses (including overhead and telephone
expenses) of account executives and other employees of the Distributor or of
other broker-dealers who engage in or support the distribution of the fund's
shares, printing and mailing of prospectuses and other reports for other than
existing shareholders, advertising and allowances to other broker-dealers. The
fund compensates Kobren Insight Brokerage, Inc., distributor of the fund, at a
fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund's average daily net assets
attributable to retail class shares.
General In accordance with the terms of the plan, Kobren Insight
Brokerage, Inc. provides to the trust for review by the Trustees a quarterly
written report of the amounts expended under the plan and the purpose for which
such expenditures were made.
KIM and Delphi have assumed shared responsibility for any of the fund's
distribution expenses that exceed distribution fees payable under the plan. Eric
Kobren and Scott Black are the principal shareholders of KIM and Delphi,
respectively, and are also "interested" persons of the fund. As principles, they
benefit to the extent that payments under the plan reduce the distribution
expenses paid by KIM and Delphi.
The plan was adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees,
including all of the Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted,
interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (none of whom had or
have any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the plan),
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the plan. In
approving the plan, the Trustees identified and considered a number of potential
benefits which the plan may provide. The Board of Trustees believes that there
is a reasonable likelihood that the plan will benefit the fund and its future
shareholders. Under its terms, the plan remains in effect from year to year
provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Trustees in the
manner described above. The plan may not be amended to increase materially the
annual percentage limitation of average net assets which may be spent for the
services described therein without approval of the shareholders of the fund
affected thereby, and material amendments of the plan must also be approved by
the Trustees in the manner described above. The plan may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of the majority of the Trustees
who are not interested persons of the Trust and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operations of the plan, or by a vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Retail Class (as defined in the 1940
Act). The plan will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
E. Administrator, Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent
The Board of Trustees of the trust has approved an Administration
Agreement between the trust and First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.
("Investor Services Group"), a subsidiary of First Data Corporation, pursuant to
which Investor Services Group serves as administrator to the trust and to the
fund. Investor Services Group is located at One Exchange Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109. The administrative services necessary for the operation of
the trust and the fund provided by Investor Services Group include among other
things: (i) preparation of shareholder reports and communications, (ii)
regulatory compliance, such as reports to and filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") and state securities commissions and (iii) general
supervision of the operation of the trust and the fund, including coordination
of the services performed by the transfer agent, custodian, independent
accountants, legal counsel and others. For these services, Investor Services
Group is entitled to receive $67,500 annually for administration and fund
accounting on a per fund basis.
Investor Services Group also serves as the trust's transfer and
dividend paying agent and performs shareholder service activities. The location
for these services is 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. The
services of Investor Services Group are provided pursuant to a Transfer Agency
and Services Agreement between the trust and Investor Services Group. Pursuant
to such Agreement, Investor Services Group receives from the trust, with respect
to the fund, an annual fee of $14 per shareholder account (subject to a $32,000
annual minimum per fund). Investor Services Group also receives reimbursement
under the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement for certain out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in rendering such services.
IV. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Detailed information on purchase and redemption of shares is included
in the prospectus. The trust may suspend the right to redeem its shares or
postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than three business days
(i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend
or holiday closings) or trading on the exchange is restricted; (ii) for any
period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets; or (iii) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection
of shareholders of the trust.
The fund's investment securities are valued at the last sale price on
the securities exchange or national securities market on which such securities
primarily are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or national
securities market, or securities in which there were no transactions, are valued
at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices. Bid price is used when
no asked price is available. Short-term investments with remaining maturities of
60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
Any securities or other assets for which recent market quotations are not
readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or
under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Income, expenses and fees,
including the advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into
account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of the fund's shares.
The fund computes the net asset value ("NAV") of its shares at the
close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each
weekday that is not a holiday. The holidays (as observed) on which the NYSE is
scheduled to be closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's
Birthday, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If the NYSE closes early, the time of computing
the NAV and the deadlines for purchasing and redeeming shares will be
accelerated to the earlier closing time. The NAV of the fund's shares is
determined by subtracting from the value of the fund's total assets the amount
of the fund's liabilities and dividing the remainder by the number of
outstanding fund shares
Foreign securities in which the fund may invest may be listed primarily on
foreign stock exchanges that may trade on other days (i.e., Saturday).
Accordingly, the NAV of the fund's portfolio may be significantly affected by
such trading on days when investors do not have access to the funds.
V. IN-KIND REDEMPTIONS
If the Board of Trustees of the trust determines that it would be
detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the fund to
make payment wholly or partly in cash, the fund may pay the redemption price in
whole or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from the portfolio of
the fund, instead of in cash, in conformity with any applicable rules of the
SEC. The proceeds of redemption may be more or less than the amount invested
and, therefore, a redemption may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes.
VI. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Under the supervision of KIM and the Board of Trustees, Delphi is
responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the fund and for the
placement of the fund's portfolio business and negotiation of commissions, if
any, paid on these transactions.
In placing portfolio transactions with brokers and dealers, Delphi
attempts to obtain the best overall terms for the fund, taking into account such
factors as price (including dealer spread), the size, type and difficulty of the
transaction involved, and the financial condition and execution capability of
the broker or dealer. In selecting broker-dealers and to the extent that the
execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable, Delphi may
consider research, including statistical or pricing information, and brokerage
services furnished to the funds or Delphi. In addition, the fund may pay
brokerage commissions to brokers or dealers in excess of those otherwise
available upon a determination that the commission is reasonable in relation to
the value of the brokerage services provided, viewed in terms of either a
specific transaction or overall brokerage services provided with respect to the
fund's portfolio transactions by such broker or dealer. Delphi may use this
research in managing the funds' assets, as well as assets of other clients.
Stocks, other equity securities and options may be traded through
brokers on an agency basis with a stated brokerage commission or on a principal
basis in the over-the-counter market. Fixed income securities are generally
traded on the over-the-counter market on a "net" basis without a stated
commission, through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers.
Prices paid to a dealer on principal transactions will generally include a
"spread," which is the difference between the prices at which the dealer is
willing to purchase and sell the specific security at that time. Certain money
market instruments and government agency securities may be purchased directly
from the issuer, in which case no commissions or premiums are paid. Futures
contracts are traded on an agency basis with a futures commission merchant.
Swaps and other over-the-counter contracts are traded directly with the
counterparty, which is usually a dealer, a bank or other institution.
Other investment advisory clients advised by KIM and/or Delphi may also
invest in the same securities as the fund. When these clients buy or sell the
same securities at substantially the same time, KIM and/or Delphi may average
the transactions as to price and allocate the amount of available investments in
a manner which KIM and/or Delphi believes to be equitable to each client,
including the fund. In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely
affect the price paid or received by the fund or the size of the position
obtainable for it. On the other hand, to the extent permitted by law, KIM and/or
Delphi may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the fund with
those to be sold or purchased for other funds or clients managed by it in order
to obtain best execution.
VII. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
A. Total Return
From time to time, quotations of the fund's performance may be included
in advertisements, sales literature or reports to shareholders or prospective
investors. These performance figures may be calculated in the following manner:
Total return is computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of
return over the designated periods that would equate the initial amount invested
to the ending redeemable value, according to the following formula:
P(1+T)n = ERV
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the designated period assuming a
hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of the designated period
The calculation set forth above is based on the further assumptions
that: (i) all dividends and distributions of the fund during the period were
reinvested at the net asset value on the reinvestment dates; and (ii) all
recurring expenses that were charged to all shareholder accounts during the
applicable period were deducted.
Total returns quoted in advertising reflect all aspects of the fund's
return, including the effect of reinvesting dividends and capital gain
distributions, and any change in the fund's net asset value per share (NAV) over
the period. Average annual returns are calculated by determining the growth or
decline in value of a hypothetical historical investment in the fund over a
stated period, and then calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that
would have produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value
had been constant over the period. For example, a cumulative return of 100% over
ten years would produce an average annual return of 7.18%, which is the steady
annual return rate that would equal 100% growth on a compounded basis in ten
years. While average annual returns are a convenient means of comparing
investment alternatives, investors should realize that the fund's performance is
not constant over time, but changes from year to year, and that average annual
returns represent averaged figures as opposed to the actual year-to-year
performance of the fund.
B. Non-Standardized Total Return
In addition to the performance information described above, the fund
may provide total return information for designated periods, such as for the
most recent rolling six months or most recent rolling twelve months. The fund
may quote unaveraged or cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in
value of an investment over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total
returns may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount, and may be
calculated for a single investment, a series of investments, and/or a series of
redemptions over any time period. Total returns may be broken down into their
components of income and capital (including capital gains and changes in share
price) in order to illustrate the relationship of these factors and their
contributions to total return. Total returns and other performance information
may be quoted numerically or in a table, graph or similar illustration.
C. Other Information Concerning Fund Performance
The fund may quote its performance in various ways, using various types
of comparisons to market indices, other funds or investment alternatives, or to
general increases in the cost of living. All performance information supplied by
the fund in advertising is historical and is not intended to indicate future
returns. The fund's share prices and total returns fluctuate in response to
market conditions and other factors, and the value of a fund's shares when
redeemed may be more or less than their original cost.
The fund may compare its performance over various periods to various
indices or benchmarks or combinations of indices and benchmarks, including the
performance record of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index
("S&P"), Russell 2000 Index, Russell Value Indices, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average ("DJIA"), the NASDAQ Industrial Index, the Ten Year Treasury Benchmark
and the cost of living (measured by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI) over the
same period. Comparisons may also be made to yields on certificates of deposit,
treasury instruments or money market instruments. The comparisons to the S&P and
DJIA show how such fund's total return compare to the record of a broad average
of common stock prices (S&P) and a narrower set of stocks of major industrial
companies (DJIA). The fund may have the ability to invest in securities not
included in either index, and its investment portfolio may or may not be similar
in composition to the indices. Figures for the S&P and DJIA are based on the
prices of unmanaged groups of stocks, and unlike the fund's returns, their
returns do not include the effect of paying brokerage commissions and other
costs of investing.
Comparisons may be made on the basis of a hypothetical initial
investment in the fund (such as $1,000), and reflect the aggregate cost of
reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions for the period covered (that
is, their cash value at the time they were reinvested). Such comparisons may
also reflect the change in value of such an investment assuming distributions
are not reinvested. Tax consequences of different investments may not be
factored into the figures presented.
The fund's performance may be compared in advertising to the
performance of other mutual funds in general or to the performance of particular
types of mutual funds, especially those with similar objectives.
Other groupings of funds prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper") and other organizations may also be used for comparison to the funds.
Although Lipper and other organizations such as Investment Company Data, Inc.
("ICD"), CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. ("CDA") and Morningstar Investors,
Inc. ("Morningstar"), include funds within various classifications based upon
similarities in their investment objectives and policies, investors should be
aware that these may differ significantly among funds within a grouping.
From time to time, the fund may publish the ranking of the performance
of its shares by Morningstar, an independent mutual fund monitoring service that
ranks mutual funds, including the fund, in broad investment categories (equity,
taxable bond, tax-exempt and other) monthly, based upon each fund's one-,
three-, five- and ten-year average annual total returns (when available) and a
risk adjustment factor that reflects fund performance relative to three-month
U.S. Treasury bill monthly returns. Such returns are adjusted for fees and sales
loads. There are five ranking categories with a corresponding number of stars:
highest (5), above average (4), neutral (3), below average (2) and lowest (1).
Ten percent of the funds, series or classes in an investment category receive 5
stars, 22.5% receive 4 stars, 35% receive 3 stars, 22.5% receive 2 stars, and
the bottom 10% receive one star.
From time to time, in reports and promotional literature, the fund's
total return will be compared to indices of mutual funds and bank deposit
vehicles such as Lipper's "Lipper - Fixed Income Fund Performance Analysis," a
monthly publication which tracks net assets, total return, and yield on
approximately 1,700 fixed income mutual funds in the United States. Ibbotson
Associates, CDA Wiesenberger and F.C. Towers are also used for comparison
purposes as well as the Russell and Wilshire Indices. Comparisons may also be
made to bank certificates of deposit ("CD"), which differ from mutual funds,
such as the fund, in several ways. The interest rate established by the
sponsoring bank is fixed for the term of a CD, there are penalties for early
withdrawal from CDs, and the principal on a CD is insured. Comparisons may also
be made to the 10 year Treasury Benchmark.
Performance rankings and ratings reported periodically in national
financial publications such as Money Magazine, Forbes, Business Week, The Wall
Street Journal, Micropal, Inc., Morningstar, Stanger's, Barron's, etc.
will also be used.
Ibbotson Associates of Chicago, Illinois ("Ibbotson") and others
provide historical returns of the capital markets in the United States. The fund
may compare its performance to the long-term performance of the U.S. capital
markets in order to demonstrate general long-term risk versus reward investment
scenarios. Performance comparisons could also include the value of a
hypothetical investment in common stocks, long-term bonds or treasuries. The
fund may discuss the performance of financial markets and indices over various
time periods.
The capital markets tracked by Ibbotson are common stocks, small
capitalization stocks, long-term corporate bonds, intermediate-term government
bonds, long-term government bonds, Treasury bills, and the U.S. rate of
inflation. These capital markets are based on the returns of several different
indices. For common stocks the S&P is used. For small capitalization stocks,
return is based on the return achieved by Dimensional Fund Advisors Small
Company Fund. This fund is a market value-weighted index of the ninth and tenth
deciles of the NYSE, plus stocks listed on the American Stock Exchange and
over-the-counter with the same or less capitalization as the upper bound of the
NYSE ninth decile.
Long-term corporate bond returns are based on the performance of the Salomon
Brothers Long-Term High-Grade Corporate Bond Index which includes nearly all
Aaa- and Aa-rated bonds. Returns on intermediate-term government bonds are based
on a one-bond portfolio constructed each year, containing a bond which is the
shortest noncallable bond available with a maturity not less than five years.
This bond is held for the calendar year and returns are recorded. Returns on
long-term government bonds are based on a one-bond portfolio constructed each
year, containing a bond that meets several criteria, including having a term of
approximately 20 years. The bond is held for the calendar year and returns are
recorded. Returns on U.S. Treasury bills are based on a one-bill portfolio
constructed each month, containing the shortest-term bill having not less than
one month to maturity. The total return on the bill is the month-end price
divided by the previous month-end price, minus one. Data up to 1976 is from the
U.S. Government Bond file at the University of Chicago's Center for Research in
Security Prices; the Wall Street Journal is the source thereafter.
Inflation rates are based on the CPI. Ibbotson calculates total returns
in the same method as the fund.
<PAGE>
Other widely used indices that the fund may use for comparison purposes
include the Lehman Bond Index, the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, the Lehman GNMA
Single Family Index, the Lehman Government/Corporate Bond Index, the Salomon
Brothers Long-Term High Yield Index, the Salomon Brothers Non-Government Bond
Index, the Salomon Brothers Non-U.S. Government Bond Index, the Salomon Brothers
World Government Bond Index and the J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index. The
Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index generally represents the
performance of government debt securities of various markets throughout the
world, including the United States. The Lehman Government/Corporate Bond Index
generally represents the performance of intermediate and long-term government
and investment grade corporate debt securities. The Lehman Aggregate Bond Index
measures the performance of U.S. corporate bond issues, U.S. government
securities and mortgage-backed securities. The J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index
generally represents the performance of government bonds issued by various
countries including the United States. The foregoing bond indices are unmanaged
indices of securities that do not reflect reinvestment of capital gains or take
investment costs into consideration, as these items are not applicable to
indices.
The fund may also discuss in advertising the relative performance of
various types of investment instruments, such as stocks, treasury securities and
bonds, over various time periods and covering various holding periods. Such
comparisons may compare these investment categories to each other or to changes
in the CPI. In addition, the fund may employ historical mutual fund performance
data and industry asset allocation studies in their advertisements.
The fund may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment
plans, including the principle of dollar cost averaging. In such a program, the
investor invests a fixed dollar amount in the fund at periodic intervals,
thereby purchasing fewer shares when prices are high and more shares when prices
are low. While such a strategy does not assure a profit or guard against loss in
a declining market, the investor's average cost per share can be lower than if
fixed numbers of shares had been purchased at those intervals. In evaluating
such a plan, investors should consider their ability to continue purchasing
shares through periods of low price levels.
The fund may be available for purchase through retirement plans or
other programs offering deferral of or exemption from income taxes, which may
produce superior after-tax returns over time. For example, a $1,000 investment
earning a taxable return of 10% annually, compounded monthly, would have an
after-tax value of $2,009 after ten years, assuming tax was deducted from the
return each year at a 31% rate. An equivalent tax-deferred investment would have
an after-tax value of $2,178 after ten years, assuming tax was deducted at a 31%
rate from the deferred earnings at the end of the ten year period.
Evaluations of fund performance made by independent sources may also be
used in advertisements concerning the funds, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the fund. These editorials or
articles may include quotations of performance from other sources such as Lipper
or Morningstar. Sources for fund performance information and articles about the
fund may include the following:
BANXQUOTE, an on-line source of national averages for leading money market
and bank CD interest rates, published on a weekly basis by Masterfund, Inc. of
Wilmington, Delaware.
BARRON'S, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
THE BOSTON GLOBE, a regional daily newspaper.
BUSINESS WEEK, a national business weekly that periodically reports the
performance rankings and ratings of a variety of mutual funds investing abroad.
CDA INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., an organization which provides performance
and ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical
mutual fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market
indices.
CONSUMER DIGEST, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
FINANCIAL WORLD, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
FORBES, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
FORTUNE, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
FRANK RUSSELL ANALYTIC SERVICES, an independent consultant to the financial
services industry.
IBC/DONOGHUES' MONEY FUND REPORT, a weekly publication of the Donoghue
Organization, Inc. of Holliston, Massachusetts, reporting on the performance of
the nation's money market funds, summarizing money market fund activity, and
including certain averages as performance benchmarks, specifically "Donoghue's
Money Fund Average," and "Donoghue's Government Money Fund Average."
IBBOTSON ASSOCIATES, INC., a company specializing in investment research and
data.
INVESTMENT COMPANY DATA, INC., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic,
and business news.
KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE, a monthly business publication.
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.'S MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
MONEY, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
MORNINGSTAR INVESTOR and MORNINGSTAR PRINCIPIA, monthly mutual fund reporting
services.
MUTUAL FUND MAGAZINE, a monthly business magazine published by the Institute for
Econometric Research.
MUTUAL FUND VALUES, a bi-weekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance, risk and portfolio
characteristics.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
PERSONAL INVESTING NEWS, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
PERSONAL INVESTOR, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
SMART MONEY, a Dow Jones & Company, Inc. monthly business magazine.
SUCCESS, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
USA TODAY, a nationally distributed newspaper.
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, a national business weekly that periodically
reports mutual fund performance data.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, a Dow Jones & Company, Inc. newspaper which regularly
covers financial news.
WIESENBERGER INVESTMENT COMPANIES SERVICES, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' background, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records, and price ranges.
WORTH MAGAZINE, a monthly business publication.
When comparing total return and investment risk of shares of the fund
with other investments, investors should understand that certain other
investments have different risk characteristics than an investment in shares of
the fund. For example, certificates of deposit may have fixed rates of return
and may be insured as to principal and interest by the FDIC, while the fund's
returns will fluctuate and its share values and returns are not guaranteed.
Money market accounts offered by banks also may be insured by the FDIC and may
offer stability of principal. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Money market mutual funds may seek to offer a fixed price per share.
The performance of the fund is not fixed or guaranteed. Performance
quotations should not be considered to be representative of performance of a
fund for any period in the future. The performance of the fund is a function of
many factors including its earnings, expenses and number of outstanding shares.
Fluctuating market conditions, purchases and sales of the fund, sales and
redemptions of shares of beneficial interest, and changes in operating expenses
are all examples of items that can increase or decrease the fund's performance.
VIII. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Dividends and Distributions. If a shareholder has elected to receive dividends
and/or capital gain distributions in cash and the postal or other delivery
service is unable to deliver checks to the shareholder's address of record, such
shareholder's distribution option will automatically be converted to having all
dividends and other distributions reinvested in additional shares. No interest
will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption
checks.
The fund will distribute investment company taxable income and any net
capital gain at least annually. All dividends and distributions will be
reinvested automatically at net asset value in additional shares of the fund
making the distribution, unless the shareholder notifies the fund in writing of
his or her election to receive distributions in cash.
Taxes. The fund intends to qualify as a separate regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"). To qualify as such, the fund must satisfy certain requirements relating
to the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets, and the
distribution of its income to shareholders. In any year in which the fund
qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes to its shareholders
substantially all of its investment company taxable income (which includes,
among other items, interest, dividends and the excess of net short-term capital
gain over net long-term capital loss) and its net capital gain (the excess of
net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) the fund will not
be subject to federal income tax on the amounts distributed to shareholders in
the manner required under the Code. The fund would be taxed at regular corporate
income tax rates on any amounts not distributed to shareholders in accordance
with these requirements.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a separate
calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise
tax. To avoid imposition of the excise tax, the fund must distribute for each
calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its net ordinary
income (excluding any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at
least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses (adjusted for
certain ordinary losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31
of such year, and (3) all ordinary income and capital gains for the previous
year that were not distributed during such year and on which the fund has not
paid income tax. A distribution will be treated as paid by the fund, and taxable
to shareholders as if received, on December 31 of the year if it is declared by
the fund in October, November or December of that year with a record date in
such a month and paid by the fund during January of the following year. The fund
intends to seek to distribute its income in accordance with this requirement to
avoid or minimize any excise tax. Shortly after the end of each year, the trust
will notify shareholders of the federal tax status of dividends and
distributions for that year.
All income and capital gains will be distributed by the fund (after
deductions for the fund's allowable losses and expenses) and will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income, except for any distributions attributable to
the fund's net capital gain (as defined above), which will be taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long shareholders
have held their shares. Dividends the fund pays to its corporate shareholders
that are attributable to qualifying dividends the fund receives from U.S.
domestic corporations may be eligible, in the hands of these shareholders, for
the corporate dividends-received deduction, subject to certain holding period
requirements and debt financing limitations under the Code. In certain cases,
receipt of dividends that qualify for this deduction may increase a corporate
shareholder's liability for the federal alternative minimum tax or, if these
dividends are "extraordinary dividends" under Section 1059 of the Code, result
in basis reductions or, to the extent the basis of fund shares would otherwise
be reduced below zero, income inclusions.
Investors should consider the adverse tax implications of buying fund
shares immediately before a dividend or capital gain distribution. Investors who
purchase shares shortly before the record date for such a dividend or
distribution will pay a per share price that includes the value of the
anticipated dividend or distribution and will be taxed on it even though it
economically represents a return of a portion of the amount paid to purchase the
shares.
Redemptions and exchanges are taxable events for shareholders that are
subject to tax. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with
reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular
transaction in fund shares is properly treated as a sale for tax purposes, as
the following discussion assumes, and the character of and tax rate applicable
to any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. If a shareholder who has
received a capital gain distribution suffers a loss on the redemption or other
sale of his or her fund shares that have a tax holding period of six months or
less, the loss on those shares will be treated as a long-term capital loss to
the extent of the capital gain distribution received on those shares. Also, any
loss realized on a redemption or other sale of fund shares may be disallowed to
the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the fund
within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the
shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to automatic dividend reinvestments.
If the fund acquires any equity interest in certain foreign
corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive
sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital
gain) or hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive
income ("passive foreign investment companies"), the fund could be subject to
federal income tax and additional interest charges on "excess distributions"
received from such companies or gain from the sale of stock in such companies,
even if all income or gain actually received by the fund is timely distributed
to its shareholders. The fund would not be able to pass through to its
shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. An election may generally
be available to ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but any such election
could require the fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the
concurrent receipt of cash. These investments could also result in the treatment
of associated capital gains as ordinary income. The fund may limit and/or manage
its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize its tax
liability or maximize its return from these investments.
The fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes
imposed by foreign countries with respect to the fund's investments in foreign
securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or
eliminate such taxes in some cases. The fund does not expect to qualify to pass
such taxes or associated foreign tax credits or deductions through to its
shareholders, who consequently are not expected to take them into account on
their own tax returns.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the fund in connection
with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt
securities, foreign currency forward contracts, certain options and futures
contracts relating to foreign currency, foreign currencies, or payables or
receivables denominated in foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the
Code, which generally causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary
income and losses and may affect the amount, timing and character of
distributions to shareholders. Any such transactions that are not directly
related to the fund's investment in stock or securities, possibly including any
such transaction not used for hedging purposes, may under future Treasury
regulations produce income not among the types of "qualifying income" from which
the fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year. If
the net foreign exchange loss for a year treated as ordinary loss under Section
988 were to exceed the fund's investment company taxable income computed without
regard to such loss, the resulting overall ordinary loss for such year would not
be deductible by the fund or its shareholders in future years.
Limitations imposed by the Code on regulated investment companies like
the fund may restrict the fund's ability to enter into options and futures
contracts, foreign currency positions and foreign currency forward contracts.
Certain of these transactions may cause the fund to recognize gains or losses
from marking to market even though its positions have not been sold or
terminated and may affect the character as long-term or short-term (or, in the
case of certain foreign currency options, futures and forward contracts, as
ordinary income or loss) of some capital gains and losses realized by the fund.
The fund may also be required to recognize gain if an option, futures contract,
forward contract, short sale or other transaction that is not subject to the
mark to market rules is treated as a "constructive sale" of an "appreciated
financial position" held by the fund under Section 1259 of the Code. Any net
mark to market gains and/or gains from constructive sales may also have to be
distributed to satisfy the distribution requirements referred to above even
though no corresponding cash amounts may concurrently be received, possibly
requiring the disposition of portfolio securities or borrowing to obtain the
necessary cash. Additionally, certain of the fund's losses on transactions
involving options, futures, forward contracts, and any offsetting or successor
positions in its portfolio, may be deferred rather than being taken into account
currently in calculating the fund's taxable income or gain. Certain of such
transactions may also cause the fund to dispose of investments sooner than would
otherwise have occurred. These transactions may therefore affect the amount,
timing and character of the fund's distributions to shareholders. The fund will
take into account the special tax rules applicable to options, futures or
forward contracts, including consideration of available elections, in order to
seek to minimize any potential adverse tax consequences.
The federal income tax rules applicable to interest rate swaps, caps,
floors and collars and currency swaps are unclear in certain respects, and the
fund may be required to account for these instruments under tax rules in a
manner that, under certain circumstances, may limit its transactions in these
instruments.
Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or are in default
(i.e., junk bonds) present special tax issues for the fund. Tax rules are not
entirely clear about issues such as when the funds may cease to accrue interest,
original issue discount, or market discount, when and to what extent deductions
may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on
obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income, and
whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable. These
and other issues will be addressed by the fund, if it holds such obligations, in
order to reduce the risk of distributing insufficient income to preserve its
status as a regulated investment company and seek to avoid becoming subject to
federal income or excise tax.
If the fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities ("PIKs"), zero
coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other
securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the fund
elects to include market discount in income currently), the fund must accrue
income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior
to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the fund must
distribute, at least annually, all or substantially all of its net income,
including such accrued income, to shareholders to qualify as a regulated
investment company under the Code and avoid federal income and excise taxes.
Therefore, the fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under
disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself
by borrowing the cash, to satisfy distribution requirements.
The tax treatment of distributions from the fund is the same whether
the distributions are received in additional shares or in cash. Shareholders
receiving distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis
for federal income tax purposes in each share received equal to the amount of
cash that could have been received instead.
The fund may incur capital losses that it may carry forward to future
taxable years, to the extent provided by the Code and applicable regulations, to
offset capital gains it may realize in such years.
Depending upon a shareholder's residence for tax purposes,
distributions and the value of fund shares may also be subject to state and
local taxes, or other taxes. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers
regarding the tax consequences of ownership of shares of, and receipt of
distributions from, the fund in their particular circumstances.
The fund is generally required to withhold federal income tax at a rate
of 31% ("backup withholding") from dividends and other distributions, including
redemption proceeds, paid to individuals and other non-exempt shareholders if
(1) the shareholder fails to furnish the trust with and to certify his or her
correct social security number or other taxpayer identification number, (2) the
Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or a broker notifies the trust that the
shareholder is subject to withholding or (3) the shareholder fails to certify
that he or she is not subject to backup withholding.
<PAGE>
The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as
applicable to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic
corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates) subject to tax under such law.
The discussion does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes
of investors, such as retirement plans, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies
and financial institutions.
Non-U.S. investors not engaged in a U.S. trade or business with which their
fund investment is effectively connected will be subject to U.S. federal income
tax treatment that is different from that described above. These investors may
be subject to non-resident alien withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower
rate under an applicable tax treaty) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends
from the fund and, unless an effective Form W-8 is on file, 31% backup
withholding on certain other payments from the fund. Non-U.S. investors should
consult their tax advisers regarding such treatment and the applicability of
foreign taxes to an investment in the fund.
The fund is not subject to Massachusetts corporate excise or franchise
taxes. Provided that each fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under
the Code, the fund will also not be required to pay Massachusetts income tax.
IX. CUSTODIAN, COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Pursuant to a Custody Agreement between the trust and Boston Safe
Deposit and the trust Company ("Boston Safe"), a subsidiary of Mellon Bank
Corporation, Boston Safe provides custodial services to the trust and the fund.
The principal business address of Boston Safe is One Boston Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02108.
Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, is
counsel for the trust.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, One Post Office Square, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, are the independent accountants of the trust.
X. DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
The trust is an open-end, diversified series management investment
company established as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of trust dated September 13, 1996. The
name of the trust, formerly Insight Premier Funds, was changed to Kobren Insight
Funds in November 1996 by amendment to the Declaration of trust.
The Trustees of the trust have authority to issue an unlimited number
of shares of beneficial interest in an unlimited number of series, each share
with a par value of $.001. Currently, the trust consists of four series. Each
share in a particular series represents an equal proportionate interest in that
series with each other share of that series and is entitled to such dividends
and distributions as are declared by the Trustees of the trust. Upon any
liquidation of a series, shareholders of that series are entitled to share pro
rata in the net assets of that series available for distribution. Shareholders
in one of the series have no interest in, or rights upon liquidation of, any of
the other series.
The trust will normally not hold annual meetings of shareholders to
elect Trustees. If less than a majority of the Trustees of the trust holding
office have been elected by shareholders, a meeting of shareholders of the trust
will be called to elect Trustees. Under the Declaration of trust and the 1940
Act, the recordholders of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
the trust may remove a Trustee by votes cast in person or by proxy at a meeting
called for the purpose or by a written declaration filed with the trust's
custodian bank. Except as described above, the Trustees will continue to hold
office and may appoint successor Trustees.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the trust.
However, the Declaration of trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or
obligations of the trust and requires that notice of this disclaimer be given in
each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the funds
or the Trustees. The Declaration of trust provides for indemnification out of
the trust's property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally
liable for obligations of the trust and its funds. Accordingly, the risk of a
shareholder of the trust incurring a financial loss on account of shareholder
liability is limited to circumstances in which the trust itself would be unable
to meet its obligations. The likelihood of such circumstances is remote.
XI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Statements contained in the prospectus and this statement of additional
information as to the contents of any agreement or other documents referred to
are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the
copy of such agreement or other documents filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by
such reference.
