File No. 333-17391
811-07959
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | |
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 |x|
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 | |
Amendment No. 36 |x|
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): (602) 952-1100
ROBERT H. WADSWORTH
Advisors Series Trust
4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(Name and address of agent for service of process)
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the
effective date of the registration statement.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
| | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
| | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
|x| 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
| | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
| | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
| | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box
| | this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
Prospectus
March 1, 1999
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
PROSPECTUS
The Edgar Lomax Value Fund invests in value stocks for growth of capital
and also income.
This Prospectus contains basic information that you should know before you
invest. Please read it and keep it for future reference.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Table of Contents
<S> <C>
Goal and Strategy............................................ 2
Fund Performance............................................. 2
Expense Table................................................ 3
Management of the Fund....................................... 4
Investor Guide............................................... 6
Services Available to Shareholders........................... 8
How to Redeem Your Shares.................................... 8
Distributions and Taxes...................................... 10
Financial Highlights......................................... 11
</TABLE>
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
March 1, 1999
<PAGE>
Goal and Strategy
What is the Fund's goal?
The Fund seeks growth of capital and also income.
How will the Fund try to reach its goal?
The Edgar Lomax Company (the "Advisor") uses a disciplined approach to select
stocks for the Fund's portfolio that it believes are undervalued, reasonably
priced and have prospects for continued consistent growth. The Advisor uses
fundamental analysis of financial statements to select stocks of issuers which
have low price/earnings and price/book ratios as well as strong balance sheet
ratios and high and/or stable dividend yields.
The Fund will invest primarily in large, well-recognized companies. Currently,
the Advisor expects the Fund's portfolio to hold at least 20% of the stocks
comprising the Standard & Poor's 100 Index, a capitalization-weighted index of
100 stocks from a broad range of industries. The advisor does not expect the
Fund's annual turnover rate to exceed 50%.
Normally, the Fund will invest at least 85% of its total assets in equity
securities, consisting of common stocks and securities having the
characteristics of common stocks, such as convertible securities, Standard &
Poor's Depositary Receipts ("SPDRs"), rights and warrants. If the Advisor
believes that market conditions warrant a temporary defensive posture, the Fund
may invest without limit in high quality, short-term debt securities and money
market instruments. At such times, the Fund would not be seeking growth of
capital.
What are the principle risks of investing in the Fund?
The value of your investment in the Fund will go up and down as the stocks in
the Fund's portfolio change in price. The prices of the stocks the Advisor
selects may fall. Also, the stock market may decline suddenly and for extended
periods.
By itself, the Fund is not a complete, balanced investment plan. And no fund can
guarantee that it will achieve its goal. When you sell your shares, you may lose
money. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Fund Performance
The following performance information indicates some of the risk of investing in
the Fund. The bar chart shows the Fund's total return for calendar year 1998,
its only full calendar year of operation. The table shows the Fund's average
return over time compared with a broad-based market index. This past performance
is no guarantee of future results.
Calendar Year Total Returns
During the period of time displayed in the bar chart, the Fund's best quarter
was first quarter 1998, up 8.46% and its worst quarter was third quarter 1998,
down 6.68% .
<PAGE>
Average Annual Total Returns
as of December 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year Since Inception
December 12, 1997
<S> <C> <C>
Edgar Lomax Value Fund xx.xx% xx.xx%
S&P 500 Index xx.xx% xx.xx%
S&P/Barra Value Index xx.xx% xx.xx%
</TABLE>
The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged market value weighted index of 500 stocks
designed to represent the broad domestic economy.
The S&P/Barra Value Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that
contains approximately 50% of the stocks in the S&P 500 with lower price-to-book
ratios.
Expense Table
You pay certain fees and expenses as an investor in the Fund. There are two
types of expenses involved: shareholder transaction expenses, such as sales
loads, and annual operating expenses, such as investment advisory fees. The Fund
is a no-load mutual fund and has no shareholder transaction expenses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
<S> <C>
Investment Advisory Fees................................................. 1.00%
Other Expenses........................................................... 1.45%
------
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses..................................... 2.45%
Expense reimbursements1 ................................................. (.70)%
------
Actual operating expenses................................................ 1.75%
======
</TABLE>
1 The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse
expenses in order to limit the Fund's total annual operating expenses (excluding
interest and tax expenses) to 1.75%. The Advisor has also agreed to limit the
Fund's expenses to 1.50% once the Fund's total net assets reach $7 million, and
to 1.25% once total net assets reach $12 million. This contract has a one-year
term, renewable at the end of each fiscal year.
Expense Example
This Example will help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the
cost of investing in other mutual funds. It is based on the annual operating
expenses shown above, and it assumes that these expenses will remain the same
over the time periods shown. It also assumes that you make a single $10,000
investment in the Fund to start with and that you earn a 5% return each year.
Finally, it assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of each of the
time periods. Again, this Example is hypothetical, and your actual expenses may
be higher or lower.
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$177 $550 $946 $2,054
<PAGE>
Management of The Fund
The Advisor
The Fund's Advisor, The Edgar Lomax Company, 6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 310,
Springfield, Virginia 22150, has provided asset management services to
individuals and institutional investors since 1986. Randall R. Eley is
principally responsible for the management of the Fund's portfolio. Mr. Eley
(who controls the Advisor) is the President and Chief Investment Officer of the
Advisor and has been active in investment management with the Advisor since its
founding.
The Advisor provides the Fund with advice on buying and selling securities,
manages the investments of the Fund, furnishes the Fund with office space and
certain administrative services, and provides most of the personnel needed by
the Fund. As compensation, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly management fee.
The Advisor's management fee as a percentage of average net assets is 1.00%.
During the last fiscal period the Advisor waived its entire management fee.
Year 2000 Risk
Like other business organizations around the world, the Fund could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by its investment advisor and other
service providers do not properly process and calculate information related to
dates beginning January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000
Problem." Failure of computer systems used for securities trading could result
in settlement and liquidity problems for the Fund and investors. That failure
could have a negative impact on handling securities trades and pricing and
accounting services. Additionally, the services provided to the Fund depend on
the interaction of computer systems with those of brokers, information vendors
and other parties; therefore, any failure of the computer systems of those
parties may cause service problems for the Fund. The Board of Trustees of the
Fund has adopted a Year 2000 Project Plan that is reasonably designed to address
the Year 2000 Problem with respect to the Advisor's and other service providers'
computer systems. Included in the Year 2000 Project Plan is a contingency plan
for the retention of other service providers to replace those services providers
whose performance in converting to Year 2000 compliant data processing equipment
has been deemed to be less than satisfactory. There can be no assurance that
these actions will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Fund. The
extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this time.
Prior Performance of the Advisor
The following table sets forth composite performance data relating to the
historical performance of private accounts, each of which exceeds $1 million in
market value, managed by the Advisor for the periods indicated, that have
investment objectives, policies, strategies and risks substantially similar to
those of the Fund. The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of
the Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against a
market index and does not represent the performance of the Fund. You should not
consider this performance data as an indication of future performance of the
Fund or of the Advisor.
The composite performance data shown below were calculated in accordance with
recommended standards of the Association for Investment Management and Research
(AIMR*), retroactively applied to all time periods. All returns presented were
calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest,
accrued income and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All returns reflect
the deduction of investment advisory fees, brokerage commissions and execution
costs paid by private accounts of the Advisor without provision for federal or
state income taxes. Custodial fees, if any, were generally not included in the
calculation. The Advisor's composite includes all actual, fee-paying,
discretionary private accounts with assets in excess of $1 million managed by
the Advisor that have investment objectives, policies, strategies and risks
substantially similar to those of the Fund. Securities transactions are
accounted for on the trade date and accrual accounting is used. Cash and
equivalents are included in performance returns. The monthly returns of the
Advisor's composite combine the individual accounts' returns (calculated on a
time-weighted rate of return that is revalued whenever cash flows exceed 10% of
an account's value at the beginning of the period) by asset-weighting each
individual account's asset value as of the beginning of the month. Quarterly and
yearly returns are calculated by geometrically linking the monthly and quarterly
returns, respectively.
The private accounts that are included in the Advisor's composite are not
subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject nor to the
diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment
limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act or the Internal
Revenue Code. Consequently, the performance results for the Advisor's composite
could have been adversely affected if the private accounts included in the
composite had been regulated as investment companies.
The investment results of the Advisor's composite presented below have been
reviewed and verified (for an AIMR Level II examination) by an independent
auditing firm, to be computed in accordance with Performance Presentation
Standards of AIMR, but they are not intended to predict or suggest the returns
that might by experienced by the Fund or an individual investing in the Fund.
Investors should also be aware that the use of a methodology different from that
used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.
* AIMR is a non-profit membership and education organization with more than
60,000 members worldwide that, among other things, has formulated a set of
performance presentation standards for investment advisers. These AIMR
performance presentation standards are intended to (i) promote full and fair
presentations by investment advisers of their performance results, and (ii)
ensure uniformity in reporting so that performance results of investment
advisers are directly comparable.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annualized Total Return:
For Year ended Advisor's Composite S&P 500*
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1994 3.38% 1.30%
December 31, 1995 45.74% 37.53%
December 31, 1996 22.04% 22.99%
For the period
January 1 - September 30, 1997** 26.22% 29.58%
January 1, 1994 - September 30, 1997
Annualized Return 25.17% 23.70%
Cumulative 132.09% 122.04%
</TABLE>
* The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, known as the S&P 500,
is an unmanaged market value-weighted index consisting of representative samples
of stocks within important industry groups within the U.S. economy. It includes
dividends and distributions, but does not reflect fees, brokerage commissions or
other expenses of investing.
** Not annualized.
<PAGE>
Investor Guide
How to purchase shares of the Fund
There are several ways to purchase shares of the Fund. An Application Form,
which accompanies this Prospectus, is used if you send money directly to the
Fund by mail or by wire. If you have questions about how to invest, or about how
to complete the Application Form, please call an account representative at (888)
263-6438.
You may send money to the Fund by mail
If you wish to invest by mail, simply complete the Application Form and mail it
with a check (made payable to Edgar Lomax Value Fund) to the Fund's Shareholder
Servicing Agent, American Data Services, Inc., at the following address:
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
P.O. Box 640947
Cincinnati, OH 45264-0947
If you wish to send your Application Form and check via an overnight delivery
service (such as Federal Express), you should use the following address:
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
c/o Star Bank, N.A.
Mutual Fund Custody Department
425 Walnut Street, M/L 6118,
Sixth Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
You may wire money to the Fund
Before sending a wire, you should call the Fund at (888) 263-6438 between 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a day when the New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE") is open for trading, in order to receive an account number. It is
important to call and receive this account number, because if your wire is sent
without it or without the name of the Fund, there may be a delay in investing
the money you wire. You should then ask your bank to wire money to:
Star Bank, N.A. Cinti/Trust
ABA # 0420-0001-3
for credit to Edgar Lomax Value Fund
DDA #488840257
for further credit to [your name and account number]
Your bank may charge you a fee for sending a wire to the Fund.
You may purchase shares through an investment broker or dealer
You may be able to invest in and redeem shares of the Fund through an investment
broker or dealer, if the broker/dealer has made arrangements with the
Distributor. The broker/dealer is authorized to designate intermediaries to
accept orders on the Fund's behalf. The broker/dealer or the authorized designee
may place an order for you with the Fund and the Fund will be deemed to have
received the order when the authorized broker/dealer or authorized designee
accepts the order. The price you will pay will be the net asset value which is
next calculated after the acceptance of the order by the authorized
broker/dealer or the authorized designee. A broker/dealer may charge you a fee
for placing your order, but you could avoid paying such a fee by sending an
Application Form and payment directly to the Fund. The broker/dealer may also
hold the shares you purchase in its omnibus account rather than in your name in
the records of the Fund's transfer agent. The Fund may reimburse the dealer for
maintaining records of your account as well as for other services provided to
you.
<PAGE>
Your broker/dealer is responsible for sending your money to the Fund promptly
after placing the order to purchase shares, and the Fund may cancel the order if
payment is not received from the dealer promptly.
Minimum investments
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500. The minimum subsequent
investment is $100. However, if you are investing in an Individual Retirement
Account ("IRA"), or you are starting an Automatic Investment Plan (see below),
the minimum initial and subsequent investments are $1,000 and $100,
respectively.
Subsequent investments
You may purchase additional shares of the Fund by sending a check, with the stub
from an account statement, to the Fund at the address above. Please also write
your account number on the check. If you do not have a stub from an account
statement, you can write your name, address and account number on a separate
piece of paper and enclose it with your check. If you want to send additional
money for investment by wire, it is important for you to call the Fund at (888)
263-6438. You may also make additional purchases through an investment broker or
dealer, as described above.
When is money invested in the Fund?
Any money received for investment in the Fund from an investor, whether sent by
check or by wire, is invested at the net asset value of the Fund which is next
calculated after the money is received (assuming the check or wire correctly
identifies the Fund and account). Orders received from dealers are invested at
the net asset value next calculated after the order is received. The net asset
value is calculated at the close of regular trading of the NYSE, generally 4:00
p.m., Eastern time. A check or wire received after the NYSE closes is invested
at the next calculated net asset value of the Fund.
How does the Fund price its shares?
The price of the Fund's shares is its net asset value. In calculating this, the
Fund values its portfolio securities at current market values, if available.
When market quotations are not readily available, securities are valued at fair
value as determined by the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Fund does not price its
shares on days during which the NYSE is closed for trading.
Other information
The Fund's distributor may waive the minimum investment requirements for
purchases by certain group or retirement plans. All investments must be made in
U.S. dollars, and checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. Third party checks will
not be accepted. A charge may be imposed if a check used to make an investment
does not clear. The Fund and its distributor reserve the right to reject any
investment, in whole or in part. Federal tax law requires that investors provide
a certified taxpayer identification number and other certifications on opening
an account in order to avoid backup withholding of taxes. See the Application
Form for more information about backup withholding. The Fund is not required to
issue share certificates. All shares are normally held in non-certificated form
on the books of the Fund, for the account of the shareholder. The Fund, under
certain circumstances, may accept investments of securities appropriate for the
Fund's portfolio, in lieu of cash. Prior to making such a purchase, you should
call the Advisor to determine if such an investment may be made.
<PAGE>
Services Available to Shareholders
Retirement Plans
You may obtain prototype IRA plans from the Fund. Shares of the Fund are also
eligible investments for other types of retirement plans.
Automatic investing by check
You may make regular monthly investments in the Fund using the "Automatic
Investment Plan." A check is automatically drawn on your personal checking
account each month for a predetermined amount (but not less than $100), as if
you had written it directly. Upon receipt of the withdrawn funds, the Fund
automatically invests the money in additional shares of the Fund at the current
net asset value. Applications for this service are available from the Fund.
There is no charge by the Fund for this service. The Fund may terminate or
modify this privilege at any time, and shareholders may terminate their
participation by notifying the Shareholder Servicing Agent in writing,
sufficiently in advance of the next withdrawal.
Automatic withdrawals
The Fund offers a Systematic Withdrawal Program whereby shareholders may request
that a check drawn in a predetermined amount be sent to them each month or
calendar quarter. To start this Program, your account must have Fund shares with
a value of at least $10,000, and the minimum amount that may be withdrawn each
month or quarter is $50. This Program may be terminated or modified by a
shareholder or the Fund at any time without charge or penalty. A withdrawal
under the Systematic Withdrawal Program involves a redemption of shares of the
Fund, and may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. In
addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the dividends credited to your
account, the account ultimately may be depleted.
How to Redeem Your Shares
You have the right to redeem all or any portion of your shares of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value on each day the NYSE is open for trading.
Redemption in writing
You may redeem your shares by simply sending a written request to the Fund. You
should give your account number and state whether you want all or part of your
shares redeemed. The letter should be signed by all of the shareholders whose
names appear in the account registration. You should send your redemption
request to:
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
150 Motor Parkway, Suite 109
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0132
<PAGE>
Signature guarantee
If the value of the shares you wish to redeem exceeds $100,000, the signatures
on the redemption request must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution." These institutions include banks, broker-dealers, credit unions
and savings institutions. A broker-dealer guaranteeing a signature must be a
member of a clearing corporation or maintain net capital of at least $100,000.
Credit unions must be authorized to issue signature guarantees. Signature
guarantees will be accepted from any eligible guarantor institution which
participates in a signature guarantee program. A notary public is not an
acceptable guarantor.
Redemption by telephone
If you complete the Redemption by Telephone portion of the Fund's Application
Form, you may redeem shares on any business day the NYSE is open by calling the
Fund's Shareholder Servicing Agent at (888) 263-6438 before 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time. Redemption proceeds will be mailed or wired, at your direction, on the
next business day to the bank account you designated on the Application Form.
The minimum amount that may be wired is $1,000 (wire charges, if any, will be
deducted from redemption proceeds). Telephone redemptions cannot be made for IRA
accounts.
By establishing telephone redemption privileges, you authorize the Fund and its
Shareholder Servicing Agent to act upon the instruction of any person who makes
the telephone call to redeem shares from your account and transfer the proceeds
to the bank account designated in the Application Form. The Fund and the
Shareholder Servicing Agent will use procedures to confirm that redemption
instructions received by telephone are genuine, including recording of telephone
instructions and requiring a form of personal identification before acting on
these instructions. If these normal identification procedures are followed,
neither the Fund nor the Shareholder Servicing Agent will be liable for any
loss, liability, or cost which results from acting upon instructions of a person
believed to be a shareholder with respect to the telephone redemption privilege.
The Fund may change, modify, or terminate these privileges at any time upon at
least 60-days notice to shareholders.
You may request telephone redemption privileges after your account is opened.
However, the authorization form will require a separate signature guarantee.
Shareholders may experience delays in exercising telephone redemption privileges
during periods of abnormal market activity.
What price is used for a redemption?
The redemption price is the net asset value of the Fund's shares, next
determined after shares are validly tendered for redemption. All signatures of
account holders must be included in the request, and a signature guarantee, if
required, must also be included for the request to be valid.
When are redemption payments made?
As noted above, redemption payments for telephone redemptions are sent on the
day after the telephone call is received. Payments for redemptions sent in
writing are normally made promptly, but no later than seven days after the
receipt of a request that meets requirements described above. However, the Fund
may suspend the right of redemption under certain extraordinary circumstances in
accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
If shares were purchased by wire, they cannot be redeemed until the day after
the Application Form is received. If shares were purchased by check and then
redeemed shortly after the check is received, the Fund may delay sending the
redemption proceeds until it has been notified that the check used to purchase
the shares has been collected, a process which may take up to 15 days. This
delay may be avoided by investing by wire or by using a certified or official
bank check to make the purchase.
<PAGE>
Repurchases from dealers
The Fund may accept orders to repurchase shares from an investment dealer on
behalf of a dealer's customers. The net asset value for a repurchase is that
next calculated after receipt of the order from the dealer. The dealer is
responsible for forwarding any documents required in connection with a
redemption, including a signature guarantee, promptly, and the Fund may cancel
the order if these documents are not received promptly.
Other information about redemptions
A redemption may result in recognition of a gain or loss for income tax
purposes. Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller accounts, the
shares in your account may be redeemed by the Fund, and the proceeds sent to
you, if, due to redemptions you have made, the total value of your account is
reduced to less than $500. This does not apply to retirement plans or Uniform
Gifts or Transfers to Minors accounts. If the Fund determines to make such an
involuntary redemption, you will first be notified that the value of your
account is less than $500, and you will be allowed 30 days to make an additional
investment to bring the value of your account to at least $500 before the Fund
takes any action.
Distributions and Taxes
Dividends and other distributions
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are normally declared and paid by
the Fund in December. Capital gains distributions, if any, are also normally
made in December, but the Fund may make an additional payment of dividends or
distributions if it deems it desirable at another time during any year.
Dividends and capital gain distributions (net of any required tax withholding)
are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at the net asset
value per share on the reinvestment date unless you have previously requested in
writing to the Shareholder Servicing Agent that payment be made in cash.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund has the effect of reducing the net
asset value per share on the record date by the amount of the dividend or
distribution. You should note that a dividend or distribution paid on shares
purchased shortly before that dividend or distribution was declared will be
subject to income taxes even though the dividend or distribution represents, in
substance, a partial return of capital to you.
Taxes
Distributions made by the Fund will be taxable to shareholders whether received
in shares (through dividend reinvestment) or in cash. Distributions derived from
net investment income, including net short-term capital gains, are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions designated as capital gains
dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of
time you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum capital gains rate for
corporate shareholders is the same as the maximum tax rate for ordinary income.
Although distributions are generally taxable when received, certain
distributions made in January are taxable as if received the prior December. You
will be informed annually of the amount and nature of the Fund's distributions.
You should consult your own tax advisers concerning federal, state and local
taxation of distributions from the Fund.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance during its past fiscal period. Certain information
reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in
the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This
information has been audited by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. Their report and the
Fund's financial statements are included in the Fund's annual report which is
available upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For a share outstanding throughout the period
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 12, 1997*
through
October 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period.......................... $10.00
--------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income................................... 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments......... 0.72
--------
Total from investment operations.............................. 0.79
--------
Less distributions:
From net investment income.............................. (0.01)
--------
Net asset value, end of period................................ $10.78
=======
Total return.................................................. 7.89%+
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (000)............................... $3,294
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
Before expense reimbursement............................ 4.67%**
After expense reimbursement............................. 1.75%**
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
After expense reimbursement............................. 0.81%**
Portfolio turnover rate....................................... 32.71%
</TABLE>
*Commencement of operations.
**Annualized.
+Not annualized.
<PAGE>
For More Information
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) includes additional information
about the Fund.
The Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders contain additional
information about the Fund's investments. The annual report includes a
discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies which
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.
The SAI and shareholder reports are available free upon request. To request them
or other information, or to ask any questions, please call or write:
1-888-263-6438
Edgar Lomax Value Fund
6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 310
Springfield, VA 22150
www.edgarlomax.cihost.com
The SAI and other Fund information may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information
about its operations.
Reports and other Fund information are also available on the SEC's Internet site
at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment
of the proper duplicating fees, by writing to the SEC's Public Reference
Section, Washington, DC 20549-6009.
The Fund's SEC File Number is 811-07959.
<PAGE>
The Edgar Lomax Value Fund
Statement of Additional Information
Dated March 1, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It should be read
in conjunction with the prospectus dated March 1, 1999, as may be amended from
time to time, of the Edgar Lomax Value Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Advisors
Series Trust (the "Trust'). The Edgar Lomax Company (the 'Advisor") is the
Advisor to the Fund. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained from the Fund at
6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 310, Springfield, VA 22150; telephone (888) 263-6438.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
<S> <C>
Investment Policies.......................... B-2
Management................................... B-7
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage......... B-10
Net Asset Value.............................. B-11
Taxation..................................... B-12
Dividends and Distributions.................. B-14
Performance Information...................... B-15
General Information.......................... B-16
</TABLE>
B-1
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT POLICIES
This discussion supplements information contained in the prospectus as to
investment policies of the Fund.
Convertible Securities, Equity-Linked Derivatives and Warrants
The Fund may invest in convertible securities, equity-linked derivatives
and warrants. A convertible security is a fixed income security (a debt
instrument or a preferred stock) which may be converted at a stated price within
a specified period of time into a certain quantity of the common stock of the
same or a different issuer. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks
in an issuer's capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar
non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed income stream (generally
higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that
afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also
gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to
participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a
market price advance in the convertible security's underlying common stock.
Standard & Poor's ("S&P") Depository Receipts ("SPDRs") and S&P's MidCap
400 Depository Receipts ("MidCap SPDRs") are considered Equity-Linked
Derivatives. Each of these instruments are derivative securities whose value
follows a well-known securities index or basket of securities.
SPDRs and MidCap SPDRs are designed to follow the performance of S&P 500
Index and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, respectively. Because the prices of SPDRs
and MidCap SPDRs are correlated to diversified portfolios, they are subject to
the risk that the general level of stock prices may decline or that the
underlying indices decline. In addition, because SPDRs, MidCap SPDRs will
continue to be traded even when trading is halted in component stocks of the
underlying indices, price quotations for these securities may, at times, be
based upon non-current price information with respect to some or even all of the
stocks in the underlying indices.
A warrant gives the holder a right to purchase at any time during a
specified period a predetermined number of shares of common stock at a fixed
price. Unlike convertible debt securities or preferred stock, warrants do not
pay a fixed dividend. Investments in warrants involve certain risks, including
the possible lack of a liquid market for resale of the warrants, potential price
fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors, and failure of the
price of the underlying security to reach or have reasonable prospects of
reaching a level at which the warrant can be prudently exercised (in which event
the warrant may expire without being exercised, resulting in a loss of the
Fund's entire investment therein).
Short-Term Investments
The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers' Acceptances and Time Deposits. The
Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and time
deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against
funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a
specified return. Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of
exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific
merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank
unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.
Certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances acquired by the Fund will be
dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial
institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided
profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign
branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the
principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S.
Government. If the Fund holds instruments of foreign banks or financial
institutions, it may be subject to additional investment risks that are
different in some respects from those incurred by a fund which invests only in
debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. See "Foreign Investments" below. Such
risks include future political and economic developments, the possible
imposition of withholding taxes by the particular country in which the issuer is
located on interest income payable on the securities, the possible seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange
controls, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might
adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.
Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental
regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans which may be made and
interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the
banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds for the
purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market
conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit
B-2
<PAGE>
losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an
important part in the operations of the banking industry.
As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are,
among other things, required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited
in the amount which they can loan to a single borrower, and subject to other
regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and
regulations do not necessarily apply to foreign bank obligations that the Fund
may acquire.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances,
to the extent permitted under its investment objectives and policies stated
above and in its prospectus, the Fund may make interest-bearing time or other
interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are
non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified
period of time at a specified interest rate.
Savings Association Obligations. The Fund may invest in certificates of
deposit (interest-bearing time deposits) issued by savings banks or savings and
loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of
$100 million, based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if
the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S.
Government.
Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations. The
Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term
notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by
corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have
maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such
instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the
time of purchase "A-2" or higher by S&P, "Prime-1" or "Prime-2" by Moody's, or
similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization
or, if unrated, will be determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.
These rating symbols are described in the Appendix.
Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to
finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper. While such
obligations generally have maturities of ten years or more, the Fund may
purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or
less from the date of purchase and which are rated "AA" or higher by S&P or "Aa"
or higher by Moody's.
Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest in shares of other
investment companies. The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds in
connection with its management of daily cash positions. In addition to the
advisory and operational fees a Fund bears directly in connection with its own
operation, the Fund would also bear its pro rata portions of each other
investment company's advisory and operational expenses.
Government Obligations. The Fund may make short-term investments in U.S.
Government obligations. Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of
indebtedness, notes and bonds, and issues of such entities as the Government
National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Export-Import Bank of the United States,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home
Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks,
Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration,
Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation, and the Student Loan Marketing Association.
Some of these obligations, such as those of the GNMA, are supported by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the
Export-Import Bank of United States, are supported by the right of the issuer to
borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by
the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's
obligations; still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing
Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No
assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support
to U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so
by law.
The Fund may invest in sovereign debt obligations of foreign countries. A
sovereign debtor's willingness or ability to repay principal and interest in a
timely manner may be affected by a number of factors, including its cash flow
situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient
foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt
service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor's policy toward
principal international lenders and the political constraints to which it may be
subject. Emerging market governments
B-3
<PAGE>
could default on their sovereign debt. Such sovereign debtors also may be
dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral
agencies and other entities abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages
on their debt. The commitments on the part of these governments, agencies and
others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a sovereign debtor's
implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely
service of such debtor's obligations. Failure to meet such conditions could
result in the cancellation of such third parties' commitments to lend funds to
the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor's ability or
willingness to service its debt in a timely manner.
Foreign Investments and Currencies. The Fund may invest in securities of
foreign issuers, provided that they are publicly traded in the United States.
Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts ("DRs") include American
Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), Global
Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") or other forms of depositary receipts. DRs are
receipts typically issued in connection with a U.S. or foreign bank or trust
company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign
corporation.
Risks of Investing in Foreign Securities. Investments in foreign securities
involve certain inherent risks, including the following:
Political and Economic Factors. Individual foreign economies of certain
countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States' economy in
such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital
reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments
position. The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as
stable as those of the United States. Governments in certain foreign countries
also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest
or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could
include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of
goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market
prices of securities and payment of interest. The economies of many foreign
countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly
affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading
partners. Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation
could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of such
countries.
Currency Fluctuations. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in
foreign currencies. Accordingly, a change in the value of any such currency
against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar
value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency. Such changes will also
affect the Fund's income. The value of the Fund's assets may also be affected
significantly by currency restrictions and exchange control regulations enacted
from time to time.
Taxes. The interest and dividends payable on certain of the Fund's foreign
portfolio securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing
the net amount of income available for distribution to the Fund's shareholders.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with
respect to its portfolio securities. Pursuant to such agreements, the Fund
acquires securities from financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers
as are deemed to be creditworthy by the Advisor, subject to the seller's
agreement to repurchase and the Fund's agreement to resell such securities at a
mutually agreed upon date and price. The repurchase price generally equals the
price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current
short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the underlying
portfolio security). Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be held by
the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book-Entry System or an
equivalent foreign system. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be
required to maintain the value of the underlying securities at not less than
102% of the repurchase price under the agreement. If the seller defaults on its
repurchase obligation, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from a sale of the underlying securities are less than the repurchase
price under the agreement. Bankruptcy or insolvency of such a defaulting seller
may cause the Fund's rights with respect to such securities to be delayed or
limited. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans under the 1940 Act.
When-Issued Securities, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements. The
Fund may purchase securities on a "when-issued," forward commitment or delayed
settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian will segregate liquid assets
equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the
Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment.
In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently
B-4
<PAGE>
to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account
remains equal to the amount of the Fund's commitment. It may be expected that
the Fund's net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside
portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside
cash.
The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative
purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund
will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner
described, the Fund's liquidity and the ability of the Advisor to manage it may
be affected in the event the Fund's forward commitments, commitments to purchase
when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of
its net assets.
The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or
delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction.
If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may
dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell
securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to
the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable
capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment
and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate
the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund's incurring a
loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.
The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase,
forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any
subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when
determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to
purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it
has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the
settlement date.
Illiquid Securities. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of the value of
its net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or
contractual restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. The Advisor will
monitor the amount of illiquid securities in the Fund's portfolio, under the
supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees, to ensure compliance with the
Fund's investment restrictions.
Historically, illiquid securities have included securities subject to
contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), securities
which are otherwise not readily marketable and repurchase agreements having a
maturity of longer than seven days. Securities which have not been registered
under the Securities Act are referred to as private placement or restricted
securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary
market. Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of these
restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on
resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse
effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable
to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable
prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requests
within seven days. The Fund might also have to register such restricted
securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and
delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of
securities.
In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed for
certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including
repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal
securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors depend on an
efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily
resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment. The fact that
there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or
to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such
investments. If such securities are subject to purchase by institutional buyers
in accordance with Rule 144A promulgated by the Commission under the Securities
Act, the Trust's Board of Trustees may determine that such securities are not
illiquid securities notwithstanding their legal or contractual restrictions on
resale. In all other cases, however, securities subject to restrictions on
resale will be deemed illiquid.
Investment Restrictions
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as
fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable vote of the
holders of a "majority," as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the "vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote of the holders of
the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund
B-5
<PAGE>
represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its
outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund is diversified. The Fund's
investment objective is also fundamental.
In addition, the Fund may not:
1. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that
(i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its
total assets (not including the amount borrowed); and (ii) this restriction
shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in options transactions;
2. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as may be
necessary for the clearance of transactions and except that the Fund may borrow
money from banks to purchase securities;
3. Act as underwriter (except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an
underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its investment
portfolio);
4. Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of
purchase and taken at market value, in any one industry (other than U.S.
Government securities);
5. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real estate
limited partnerships (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which
are secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest or deal in
real estate);
6. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts;
7. Make loans of money (except for purchases of debt securities consistent
with the investment policies of the Fund and except for repurchase agreements);
or
8. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management.
The Fund observes the following restrictions as a matter of operating but
not fundamental policy, pursuant to positions taken by federal regulatory
authorities:
The Fund may not:
1. Invest in the securities of other investment companies or purchase any
other investment company's voting securities or make any other investment in
other investment companies except to the extent permitted by federal law;
2. Invest more than 15% of its assets in securities which are restricted as
to disposition or otherwise are illiquid or have no readily available market
(except for securities which are determined by the Board of Trustees to be
liquid);
3. Sell securities short;
4. Make loans of securities; or
5. Notwithstanding fundamental restriction 1 above, borrow money, except
from banks for temporary or emergency purposes, and in amounts not to exceed 5%
of total net assets, and subject to the further restriction that no additional
investment in securities will be made while any such loan is outstanding.
MANAGEMENT
The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is vested
with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements
between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including
the agreements with the Advisor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.
The day to day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, subject to
the Fund's investment objectives and policies and to general supervision by the
Board of Trustees.
The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their ages and positions with the
Trust, their business addresses and principal occupations during the past five
years are:
B-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, address and age Position Principal Occupation During Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
Walter Auch, Sr. (Born 1921) Trustee Director, Nicholas-Applegate Mutual Funds, Brinson Funds
6001 N. 62d Place (since 1994), Smith Barney Trak Fund, Pimco Advisors L.P.,
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Banyan Realty Trust, Banyan Land Fund II and Legend Properties.
Eric Banhazl (Born 1957)* Trustee, Senior Vice President, Investment Company Administration
2025 E. Financial Way President and Corporation; Vice President, First Fund Distributors; Assistant,
Glendora, CA 91740 Treasurer Treasurer, RNC Mutual Fund Group; Treasurer, Guinness Flight
Investment Funds, Inc. and Professionally Managed Portfolios.
Donald O'Connor (Born 1936) Trustee Retired; formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Operating 1700
Taylor Avenue Officer of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (until January, 1997), Fort
Washington, MD, 20744 Vice President, Operations, Investment Company Institute (until
June, 1993).
George Wofford III (Born 1939) Trustee Vice President, Information Services, Federal Home Loan Bank of
305 Glendora Circle San Francisco (since March, 1993); formerly Director of
Danville, CA 94526 Management Information Services, Morrison & Foerster ( law
firm).
Steven Paggioli (Born 1950) Vice Executive Vice President, Robert H. Wadsworth & Associates, Inc.
479 W. 22nd Street President and Investment Company Administration Corporation; Vice
New York, NY 10011 President First Fund Distributors, Inc.; President and Trustee,
Professionally Managed Portfolios; Director, Managers Funds, Inc.
Robert Wadsworth (Born 1940) Vice President, Robert H. Wadsworth & Associates, Inc., Investment
4455 E. Camelback Road President Company Administration Corporation and First Fund Distributors,
Suite 261E Inc.; Vice President, Professionally Managed Portfolios; President,
Phoenix, AZ 85018 Guinness Flight Investment Funds, Inc.; Director, Germany Fund,
Inc., New Germany Fund., Central European Equity Fund, Inc. and
Deutsche Funds, Inc.
Chris Moser (Born 1949) Secretary Employed by Investment Company Administration Corporation
4455 E. Camelback Road (since July, 1996); formerly employed by Bank One, N.A. (from
Suite 261E August until July, 1996); O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson,
Phoenix, AZ 85018 Killingsworth and Beshears (law firm) (until August, 1995) .
</TABLE>
* denotes Trustee who is an "interested person" of the Trust under the 1940 Act.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Position Aggregate Compensation from The Trust*
<S> <C>
Walter E. Auch, Sr., Trustee $12,000
Donald E. O'Connor, Trustee $12,000
George T. Wofford III, Trustee $12,000
</TABLE>
*For the calendar-year ended December 31, 1998. The Trust has no pension or
retirement plan. No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation
to the Trustees.
The Advisor
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, investment management
and related services are provided by the Advisor, pursuant to an Investment
Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement").
B-7
<PAGE>
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor agrees to invest the assets of
the Fund in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions
of the Fund as set forth in the Fund's and Trust's governing documents,
including, without limitation, the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust
and By-Laws; the Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information, and
undertakings; and such other limitations, policies and procedures as the
Trustees of the Trust may impose from time to time in writing to the Advisor. In
providing such services, the Advisor shall at all times adhere to the provisions
and restrictions contained in the federal securities laws, applicable state
securities laws, the Code, and other applicable law.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Advisor has agreed to
(i) furnish the Fund with advice and recommendations with respect to the
investment of the Fund's assets, (ii) effect the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities; (iii) manage and oversee the investments of the Fund, subject to the
ultimate supervision and direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees; (iv) vote
proxies and take other actions with respect to the Fund's securities; (v)
maintain the books and records required to be maintained with respect to the
securities in the Fund's portfolio; (vi) furnish reports, statements and other
data on securities, economic conditions and other matters related to the
investment of the Fund's assets which the Trustees or the officers of the Trust
may reasonably request; and (vii) render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such
periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request. The Advisor
has also agreed, at its own expense, to maintain such staff and employ or retain
such personnel and consult with such other persons as it shall from time to time
determine to be necessary to the performance of its obligations under the
Advisory Agreement. Personnel of the Advisor may serve as officers of the Trust
provided they do so without compensation from the Trust. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Advisor shall be
deemed to include persons employed or retained by the Advisor to furnish
statistical information, research, and other factual information, advice
regarding economic factors and trends, information with respect to technical and
scientific developments, and such other information, advice and assistance as
the Advisor or the Trust's Board of Trustees may desire and reasonably request.
With respect to the operation of the Fund, the Advisor has agreed to be
responsible for the expenses of printing and distributing extra copies of the
Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information, and sales and
advertising materials (but not the legal, auditing or accounting fees attendant
thereto) to prospective investors (but not to existing shareholders); and the
costs of any special Board of Trustees meetings or shareholder meetings convened
for the primary benefit of the Advisor.
As compensation for the Advisor's services, the Fund pays it an advisory
fee at the rate specified in the prospectus. In addition to the fees payable to
the Advisor and the Administrator, the Trust is responsible for its operating
expenses, including: fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance,
registration and transfer of its shares; brokerage and commission expenses; all
expenses of transfer, receipt, safekeeping, servicing and accounting for the
cash, securities and other property of the Trust for the benefit of the Fund
including all fees and expenses of its custodian, shareholder services agent and
accounting services agent; interest charges on any borrowings; costs and
expenses of pricing and calculating its daily net asset value and of maintaining
its books of account required under the 1940 Act; taxes, if any; a pro rata
portion of expenditures in connection with meetings of the Fund's shareholders
and the Trust's Board of Trustees that are properly payable by the Fund;
salaries and expenses of officers and fees and expenses of members of the
Trust's Board of Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are
not members of, affiliated with or interested persons of the Advisor or
Administrator; insurance premiums on property or personnel of the Fund which
inure to its benefit, including liability and fidelity bond insurance; the cost
of preparing and printing reports, proxy statements, prospectuses and statements
of additional information of the Fund or other communications for distribution
to existing shareholders; legal, auditing and accounting fees; trade association
dues; fees and expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining
registration of its shares for sale under federal and applicable state and
foreign securities laws; all expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder
accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping,
dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of the Fund,
if any; and all other charges and costs of its operation plus any extraordinary
and non-recurring expenses, except as otherwise prescribed in the Advisory
Agreement.
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. The Advisor has
contractually agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Fund and to pay Fund
operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund's aggregate annual
operating expenses (excluding interest and tax expenses) to the limit set forth
in the Expense Table (the "expense cap"). Any such reductions made by the
Advisor in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund's obligation are
subject to reimbursement by the Fund to the Advisor, if so requested by the
Advisor, in subsequent
B-8
<PAGE>
fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the
operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement)
does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses. The Advisor is
permitted to be reimbursed only for fee reductions and expense payments made in
the previous three fiscal years, but is permitted to look back five years and
four years, respectively, during the initial six years and seventh year of the
Fund's operations. Any such reimbursement is also contingent upon Board of
Trustees' subsequent review and ratification of the reimbursed amounts. Such
reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund's payment of current ordinary
operating expenses.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor will not be liable to the Trust
or the Fund or any shareholder for any act or omission in the course of, or
connected with, rendering services or for any loss sustained by the Trust except
in the case of a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of
compensation for services (in which case any award of damages will be limited as
provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the
Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for a period not to exceed two
years. Thereafter, if not terminated, the Advisory Agreement will continue
automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (i) by a majority vote of the
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Board of Trustees or by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund at
any time without penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Advisor. The Advisory
Agreement also may be terminated by the Advisor on 60 days written notice to the
Trust. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically upon its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
During the period beginning December 12, 1997 and ending October 31, 1998,
the Advisor earned $23,571 in advisory fees. The Advisor has contractually
agreed to limit total fund operating expenses to 1.75% of average net assets
annually. As a result of that limitation, the Advisor waived the full amount of
its fee and paid Fund operating expenses in the amount of $45,516.
The Administrator. The Administrator has agreed to be responsible for
providing such services as the Trustees may reasonably request, including but
not limited to (i) maintaining the Trust's books and records (other than
financial or accounting books and records maintained by any custodian, transfer
agent or accounting services agent); (ii) overseeing the Trust's insurance
relationships; (iii) preparing for the Trust (or assisting counsel and/or
auditors in the preparation of) all required tax returns, proxy statements and
reports to the Trust's shareholders and Trustees and reports to and other
filings with the Commission and any other governmental agency (the Trust
agreeing to supply or cause to be supplied to the Administrator all necessary
financial and other information in connection with the foregoing); (iv)
preparing such applications and reports as may be necessary to permit the offer
and sale of the shares of the Trust under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
the various states selected by the Trust (the Trust agreeing to pay all filing
fees or other similar fees in connection therewith); (v) responding to all
inquiries or other communications of shareholders, if any, which are directed to
the Administrator, or if any such inquiry or communication is more properly to
be responded to by the Trust's custodian, transfer agent or accounting services
agent, overseeing their response thereto; (vi) overseeing all relationships
between the Trust and any custodian(s), transfer agent(s) and accounting
services agent(s), including the negotiation of agreements and the supervision
of the performance of such agreements; and (vii) authorizing and directing any
of the Administrator's directors, officers and employees who may be elected as
Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are
elected. All services to be furnished by the Administrator under this Agreement
may be furnished through the medium of any such directors, officers or employees
of the Administrator. For its services, the Administrator receives a fee monthly
at the following annual rate:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fund asset level Fee rate
<S> <C> <C>
First $50 million 0.20% of average daily net assets
Next $50 million 0.15% of average daily net assets
Next $50 million 0.10% of average daily net assets
Next $50 million, and thereafter 0.05% of average daily net assets
</TABLE>
B-9
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Advisory Agreement states that the Advisor shall be responsible for
broker-dealer selection and for negotiation of brokerage commission rates,
provided that the Advisor shall not direct orders to an affiliated person of the
Advisor without general prior authorization to use such affiliated broker or
dealer by the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Advisor's primary consideration in
effecting a securities transaction will be execution at the most favorable
price. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute each particular transaction, the
Advisor may take the following into consideration: the best net price available;
the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer; the
size of and difficulty in executing the order; and the value of the expected
contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a
continuing basis. The price to the Fund in any transaction may be less favorable
than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably
justified by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered.
Subject to such policies as the Advisor and the Board of Trustees of the
Trust may determine, the Advisor shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or
to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by
reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides
(directly or indirectly) brokerage or research services to the Advisor an amount
of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of
commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction, if the Advisor determines in good faith that such amount of
commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research
services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that
particular transaction or the Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to
the Fund. The Advisor is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it
on behalf of the Fund to such brokers or dealers who also provide research or
statistical material, or other services, to the Trust, the Advisor, or any
affiliate of either. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as
the Advisor shall determine, and the Advisor shall report on such allocations
regularly to the Advisor and the Trust, indicating the broker-dealers to whom
such allocations have been made and the basis therefor. The Advisor is also
authorized to consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection
of brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions, subject to the
requirements of best execution, i.e., that such brokers or dealers are able to
execute the order promptly and at the best obtainable securities price.
On occasions when the Advisor deems the purchase or sale of a security to
be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the Advisor, the
Advisor, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may
aggregate the securities to be so purchased or sold in order to obtain the most
favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and the most efficient execution.
In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Advisor in the manner
it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary
obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.
Brokerage commissions paid during the period beginning December 12, 1997,
and ending October 31, 1998. totaled $5,438.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate and is determined
as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE")
(generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each business day. The NYSE annually
announces the days on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent
announcement indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However,
the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.
The net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the
securities held by the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including interest
and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities (including
accrued expenses) by the total number of shares in the Fund outstanding at such
time.
Generally, the Fund's investments are valued at market value or, in the
absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the
Advisor and the Trust's Valuation Committee pursuant to procedures approved by
or under the direction of the Board.
B-10
<PAGE>
The Fund's securities, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, which are traded on
securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which
such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the
securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between
the last available bid and asked price. Securities that are traded on more than
one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Advisor to be the
primary market. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at
the mean between the last available bid and asked price prior to the time of
valuation. Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily
available (including restricted securities which are subject to limitations as
to their sale) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under
the direction of the Board.
Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days
are valued at current market prices, as discussed above. Short-term securities
with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions indicate
otherwise, amortized to maturity based on their cost to the Fund if acquired
within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the Fund on the 60th day,
based on the value determined on the 61st day.
All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in good
faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.
TAXATION
The Fund intends to continue to qualify and elect to be treated as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, (the "Code"), for each taxable year by complying with all applicable
requirements regarding the source of its income, the diversification of its
assets, and the timing of its distributions. The Fund's policy is to distribute
to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net
realized capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the
distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to
any federal income or excise taxes based on net income. However, the Board may
elect to pay such excise taxes if it determines that payment is, under the
circumstances, in the best interests of the Fund.
In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must, among
other things, (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of stock and securities,
gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign
currency gains related to investments in stock or securities, or other income
(generally including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived
with respect to the business of investing in stock, securities or currency, and
(b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at
least 50% of the market value of its assets is represented by cash, cash items,
U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies
and other securities limited, for purposes of this calculation, in the case of
other securities of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the
Fund's assets or 10% of the voting securities of the issuer, and (ii) not more
than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of any one
issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other regulated
investment companies). As such, and by complying with the applicable provisions
of the Code, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable
income (including realized capital gains) that is distributed to shareholders in
accordance with the timing requirements of the Code. If the Fund is unable to
meet certain requirements of the Code, it may be subject to taxation as a
corporation.
Distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains by
the Fund will be taxable to shareholders whether made in cash or reinvested by
the Fund in shares. In determining amounts of net realized capital gains to be
distributed, any capital loss carry-overs from the eight prior taxable years
will be applied against capital gains. Shareholders receiving a distribution
from the Fund in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for
federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset
value of a share of the Fund on the reinvestment date. Fund distributions also
will be included in individual and corporate shareholders' income on which the
alternative minimum tax may be imposed.
The Fund or the securities dealer effecting a redemption of the Fund's
shares by a shareholder will be required to file information reports with the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with respect to distributions and
B-11
<PAGE>
payments made to the shareholder. In addition, the Fund will be required to
withhold federal income tax at the rate of 31% on taxable dividends, redemptions
and other payments made to accounts of individual or other non-exempt
shareholders who have not furnished their correct taxpayer identification
numbers and certain required certifications on the New Account application or
with respect to which the Fund or the securities dealer has been notified by the
IRS that the number furnished is incorrect or that the account is otherwise
subject to withholding.
The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends and other distributions, as
stated in the prospectuses. In order to avoid the payment of any federal excise
tax based on net income, the Fund must declare on or before December 31 of each
year, and pay on or before January 31 of the following year, distributions at
least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for that calendar year and at least
98% of the excess of any capital gains over any capital losses realized in the
one-year period ending October 31 of that year, together with any undistributed
amounts of ordinary income and capital gains (in excess of capital losses) from
the previous calendar year.
The Fund may receive dividend distributions from U.S. corporations. To the
extent that the Fund receives such dividends and distributes them to its
shareholders, and meets certain other requirements of the Code, corporate
shareholders of the Fund may be entitled to the "dividends received" deduction.
Availability of the deduction is subject to certain holding period and
debt-financing limitations.
If more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Fund at the end of its
fiscal year is invested in stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund
may elect to pass through to its shareholders the pro rata share of all foreign
income taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, shareholders will be
(i) required to include in their gross income their pro rata share of the Fund's
foreign source income (including any foreign income taxes paid by the Fund), and
(ii) entitled either to deduct their share of such foreign taxes in computing
their taxable income or to claim a credit for such taxes against their U.S.
income tax, subject to certain limitations under the Code, including certain
holding period requirements. In this case, shareholders will be informed in
writing by the Fund at the end of each calendar year regarding the availability
of any credits on and the amount of foreign source income (including or
excluding foreign income taxes paid by the Fund) to be included in their income
tax returns. If not more than 50% in value of the Fund's total assets at the end
of its fiscal year is invested in stock or securities of foreign corporations,
the Fund will not be entitled under the Code to pass through to its shareholders
their pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. In this case, these
taxes will be taken as a deduction by the Fund.
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends and
interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations.
The use of hedging strategies, such as entering into futures contracts and
forward contracts and purchasing options, involves complex rules that will
determine the character and timing of recognition of the income received in
connection therewith by the Fund. Income from foreign currencies (except certain
gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations) and income from
transactions in options, futures contracts and forward contracts derived by the
Fund with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign
currencies will qualify as permissible income under Subchapter M of the Code.
For accounting purposes, when the Fund purchases an option, the premium
paid by the Fund is recorded as an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the
current market value of the option. Any gain or loss realized by the Fund upon
the expiration or sale of such options held by the Fund generally will be
capital gain or loss.
Any security, option, or other position entered into or held by the Fund
that substantially diminishes the Fund's risk of loss from any other position
held by the Fund may constitute a "straddle" for federal income tax purposes. In
general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the amount,
character and timing of the Fund's gains and losses with respect to straddle
positions by requiring, among other things, that the loss realized on
disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred until gain is realized on
disposition of the offsetting position; that the Fund's holding period in
certain straddle positions not begin until the straddle is terminated (possibly
resulting in the gain being treated as short-term capital gain rather than
long-term capital gain); and that losses recognized with respect to certain
straddle positions, which would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses,
be treated as long-term capital losses. Different elections are available to the
Fund that may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules.
B-12
<PAGE>
Certain options, futures contracts and forward contracts that are subject
to Section 1256 of the Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") and that are held by the
Fund at the end of its taxable year generally will be required to be "marked to
market" for federal income tax purposes, that is, deemed to have been sold at
market value. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss recognized on these deemed
sales and 60% of any net gain or loss realized from any actual sales of Section
1256 Contracts will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the
balance will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.
Section 988 of the Code contains special tax rules applicable to certain
foreign currency transactions that may affect the amount, timing and character
of income, gain or loss recognized by the Fund. Under these rules, foreign
exchange gain or loss realized with respect to foreign currency-denominated debt
instruments, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency denominated
payables and receivables and foreign currency options and futures contracts
(other than options and futures contracts that are governed by the
mark-to-market and 60/40 rules of Section 1256 of the Code and for which no
election is made) is treated as ordinary income or loss. Some part of the Fund's
gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of shares of a foreign corporation
may, because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, be treated as
ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the Code rather than as capital
gain or loss.
A shareholder who purchases shares of the Fund by tendering payment for the
shares in the form of other securities may be required to recognize gain or loss
for income tax purposes on the difference, if any, between the adjusted basis of
the securities tendered to the fund and the purchase price of the Fund's shares
acquired by the shareholder.
Section 475 of the Code requires that a "dealer" in securities must
generally "mark to market" at the end of its taxable year all securities which
it owns. The resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary (and not capital)
gain or loss, except to the extent allocable to periods during which the dealer
held the security for investment. The "mark to market" rules do not apply,
however, to a security held for investment which is clearly identified in the
dealer's records as being held for investment before the end of the day in which
the security was acquired. The IRS has issued guidance under Section 475 that
provides that, for example, a bank that regularly originates and sells loans is
a dealer in securities, and subject to the "mark to market" rules. Shares of the
Fund held by a dealer in securities will be subject to the "mark to market"
rules unless they are held by the dealer for investment and the dealer property
identifies the shares as held for investment.
Redemptions and exchanges of shares of the Fund will result in gains or
losses for tax purposes to the extent of the difference between the proceeds and
the shareholder's adjusted tax basis for the shares. Any loss realized upon the
redemption or exchange of shares within six months from their date of purchase
will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions of
long-term capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion
of a loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent
shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested
dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.
Distributions and redemptions may be subject to state and local income
taxes, and the treatment thereof may differ from the federal income tax
treatment. Foreign taxes may apply to non-U.S. investors.
The above discussion and the related discussion in the prospectuses are not
intended to be complete discussions of all applicable federal tax consequences
of an investment in the Fund. The law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
LLP has expressed no opinion in respect thereof. Nonresident aliens and foreign
persons are subject to different tax rules, and may be subject to withholding of
up to 30% on certain payments received from the Fund. Shareholders are advised
to consult with their own tax advisers concerning the application of foreign,
federal, state and local taxes to an investment in the Fund.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned
on its investments in securities. This income, less the expenses incurred in its
operations, is the Fund's net investment income, substantially all of which will
be declared as dividends to the Fund's shareholders.
B-13
<PAGE>
The amount of income dividend payments by the Fund is dependent upon the
amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio
holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board. The
Fund does not pay "interest" or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an
investment in its shares.
The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales
or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain the Fund may
realize from transactions involving investments held less than the period
required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing
short-term capital gains and losses (taking into account any carryover of
capital losses from the eight previous taxable years), although a distribution
from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of
dividends giving rise to ordinary income. If during any year the Fund realizes a
net gain on transactions involving investments held more than the period
required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing
long-term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital
gain. After deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the
balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses carried over from the
eight previous taxable years) will be distributed and treated as long-term
capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time
the Fund's shares may have been held by the shareholders. For more information
concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax advisor.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund reduces the Fund's net asset
value per share on the date paid by the amount of the dividend or distribution
per share. Accordingly, a dividend or distribution paid shortly after a purchase
of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a partial return of
capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it
would be subject to income taxes.
Dividends and other distributions will be made in the form of additional
shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated. Investors
have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing, but any
such change will be effective only as to dividends and other distributions for
which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent
has received the written request.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Total Return
Average annual total return quotations used in the Fund's advertising and
promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
where "P" equals a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000; "T" equals average
annual total return; "n" equals the number of years; and "ERV" equals the ending
redeemable value at the end of the period of a hypothetical $1000 payment made
at the beginning of the period.
Under the foregoing formula, the time periods used in advertising will be
based on rolling calendar quarters, updated to the last day of the most recent
quarter prior to submission of the advertising for publication. Average annual
total return, or "T" in the above formula, is computed by finding the average
annual compounded rates of return over the period that would equate the initial
amount invested to the ending redeemable value. Average annual total return
assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.
For the period from December 12, 1997, (commencement of operations) through
October 31, 1998, the Fund had a total return of 7.89%.
Yield
Annualized yield quotations used in the Fund's advertising and promotional
materials are calculated by dividing the Fund's investment income for a
specified thirty-day period, net of expenses, by the average number of shares
outstanding during the period, and expressing the result as an annualized
percentage (assuming semi-annual
B-14
<PAGE>
compounding) of the net asset value per share at the end of the period. Yield
quotations are calculated according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2 [(a-b + 1)6 - 1]
cd
where "a" equals dividends and interest earned during the period; "b" equals
expenses accrued for the period, net of reimbursements; "c" equals the average
daily number of shares outstanding during the period that are entitled to
receive dividends and "d" equals the maximum offering price per share on the
last day of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining net investment income earned during
the period ("a" in the above formula), the Fund calculates interest earned on
each debt obligation held by it during the period by (1) computing the
obligation's yield to maturity, based on the market value of the obligation
(including actual accrued interest) on the last business day of the period or,
if the obligation was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus
accrued interest; (2) dividing the yield to maturity by 360 and multiplying the
resulting quotient by the market value of the obligation (including actual
accrued interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each
debt obligation held by the Fund, net investment income is then determined by
totaling all such interest earned.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of an obligation with one
or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the obligation
reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity date.
Other information
Performance data of the Fund quoted in advertising and other promotional
materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict or indicate
future results. The return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will
fluctuate, and an investor's redemption proceeds may be more or less than the
original investment amount. In advertising and promotional materials the Fund
may compare its performance with data published by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc. ("Lipper"), Morningstar, Inc. or CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. ("CDA").
The Fund also may refer in such materials to mutual fund performance rankings
and other data, such as comparative asset, expense and fee levels, published by
Lipper or CDA. Advertising and promotional materials also may refer to
discussions of the Fund and comparative mutual fund data and ratings reported in
independent periodicals including, but not limited to, The Wall Street Journal,
Money Magazine, Forbes, Business Week, Financial World and Barron's.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Trust was organized as a Delaware business trust on October 3, 1996.
The Trust has no business history prior to the offering of the first of its
series of shares. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an
unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest and to
divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without
thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the Fund. Each share
represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each
other share. Upon the Fund's liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata
in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.
The Declaration of Trust does not require the issuance of stock
certificates. If stock certificates are issued, they must be returned by the
registered owners prior to the transfer or redemption of shares represented by
such certificates.
If they deem it advisable and in the best interest of shareholders, the
Board of Trustees may create additional series of shares which differ from each
other only as to dividends. The Board of Trustees has created several series of
shares, and may create additional series in the future, which have separate
assets and liabilities. Income and operating expenses not specifically
attributable to a particular Fund are be allocated fairly among the Funds by the
Trustees, generally on the basis of the relative net assets of each Fund.
B-15
<PAGE>
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment company
which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required to be
submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the Rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the
matter. Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of
Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants. The Rule contains
special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or
more, but not all, series. A change in investment policy may go into effect as
to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the
required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.
The Fund's principal underwriter is First Fund Distributors, Inc., 4455 E.
Camelback Road, Suite 261E, Phoenix, AZ 85018.
The Fund's custodian, Star Bank, 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
is responsible for holding the Funds' assets. American Data Services, P.O. Box
5536, Hauppauge NY 11788 acts as the Fund's transfer agent and accounting
services agent. The Fund's independent accountants, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, 555
Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, assist in the preparation of certain reports
to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund's tax returns.
The Fund is a management, open-end, diversified investment company
Shares of the Fund owned by the Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a
group, were less than 1% at December 9, 1998.
On December 9, 1998, the following persons owned of record and/or
beneficially more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding voting securities:
The Edgar Lomax Co., DTD: 09-01-1986, Randall R. Eley, President, 6564
Loisdale CT, Suite #310, Springfield, VA 22150; 45.00% of record.
Lomax Investment Limited Partnership, DTD 06-25-1990, Randall R. Eley, Gen.
Partner, 6564 Loisdale CT, Suite #310, Springfield, VA 22150; 24.16% of record.
B-16
<PAGE>
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item 23. Exhibits.
<S> <C>
(1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust (1)
(2) By-Laws (1)
(3) Not applicable
(4) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement (2)
(5) Distribution Agreement (2)
(6) Not applicable
(7) Custodian Agreement (3)
(8) (i) Administration Agreement with Investment Company
Administration Corporation (2)
(ii) Fund Accounting Service Agreement (2)
(iii) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement (2)
(9) Not applicable
(10) Consent of Auditors
(11) Not applicable
(12) Investment letters (3)
(13) Distribution Plan (4)
(14) Financial Data Schedule
(15) Not applicable
</TABLE>
(1) Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-17391) on December 6, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-17391) on January 29, 1997 and incorporated
herein by reference.
(3) Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-17391) on February 28, 1997 and incorporated
herein by reference.
(4) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-17391) on June 29, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
None.
Item 25. Indemnification.
Article VI of Registrant's By-Laws states as follows:
Section 1. AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES. For the purpose of this
Article, "agent" means any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or
other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic
<PAGE>
corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor entity; "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed
action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative;
and "expenses" includes without limitation attorney's fees and any expenses of
establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
Section 2. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of
the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses,
judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with such proceeding, if it is determined that person acted in
good faith and reasonably believed:
(a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a Trustee of the
Trust, that his conduct was in the Trust's best interests, and
(b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the
Trust's best interests, and
(c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause
to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful.
The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of
itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person's
conduct was unlawful.
Section 3. ACTIONS BY THE TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that that person is or was an agent of this
Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in
connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in
good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent
person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
Section 4. EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for
any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
the agent's office with this Trust.
No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:
(a) In respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that person
shall have been adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal
benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit
resulted from an action taken in the person's official capacity; or
(b) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that person shall
have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that person's
duty to this Trust, unless and only to the extent that the court in
which that action was brought shall determine upon application that in
view of all the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable
by reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding
paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the
expenses which the court shall determine; or
<PAGE>
(c) of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or
pending action, with or without court approval, or of expenses
incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled
or otherwise disposed of without court approval, unless the required
approval set forth in Section 6 of this Article is obtained.
Section 5. SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT. To the extent that an agent of this
Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to
in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, before the court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought,
the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred
by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board of Trustees,
including a majority who are disinterested, non-party Trustees, also determines
that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by reason of the
disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.
Section 6. REQUIRED APPROVAL. Except as provided in Section 5 of this
Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only
if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of
the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and
is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set
forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:
(a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not parties
to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940); or
(b) A written opinion by an independent legal counsel.
Section 7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the
proceeding upon a written undertaking by or on behalf of the agent, to repay the
amount of the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not
entitled to indemnification, together with at least one of the following as a
condition to the advance: (i)security for the undertaking; or (ii) the existence
of insurance protecting the Trust against losses arising by reason of any lawful
advances; or (iii) a determination by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are
not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust, or by
an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, based on a review of readily
available facts that there is reason to believe that the agent ultimately will
be found entitled to indemnification. Determinations and authorizations of
payments under this Section must be made in the manner specified in Section 6 of
this Article for determining that the indemnification is permissible.
Section 8. OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Article
shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than Trustees
and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract
or otherwise.
Section 9. LIMITATIONS. No indemnification or advance shall be made under
this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6 in any circumstances where
it appears:
(a) that it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust, a resolution of the shareholders,
or an agreement in effect at the time of accrual of the alleged cause
of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were
incurred or other amounts were paid which prohibits or otherwise
limits indemnification; or
<PAGE>
(b) that it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by
a court in approving a settlement.
Section 10. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the
Board of Trustees of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any
liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising
out of the agent's status as such, but only to the extent that this Trust would
have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the
provisions of this Article and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the
Trust.
Section 11. FIDUCIARIES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. This Article does not
apply to any proceeding against any Trustee, investment manager or other
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person's capacity as such, even
though that person may also be an agent of this Trust as defined in Section 1 of
this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to
indemnification to which such a Trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary
may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the
extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
The information required by this item with respect to American Trust
Company is as follows:
American Trust Company is a trust company chartered under the laws of the
State of New Hampshire. Its President and Director, Paul H. Collins, is a
director of:
MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd.
360 State Road 90
Aurora, NY 13026
Great Northern Arts
Castle Music, Inc.
World Family Foundation
all with an address at
Gordon Road, Middletown, NY
Robert E. Moses, a Director of American Trust Company, is a director of:
Mascoma Mutual Hold Corp.
On The Green
Lebanon, NH 03766
Information required by this item is contained in the Form ADV of the
following entities and is incorporated herein by reference:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of investment adviser File No.
<S> <C> <C>
Bay Isle Financial Corporation 801-27563
Kaminski Asset Management, Inc. 801-53485
Rockhaven Asset Management, LLC 801-54084
Chase Investment Counsel Corp. 801-3396
<PAGE>
Avatar Investors Associates Corp. 801-7061
The Edgar Lomax Company 801-19358
Van Deventer & Hoch 801-6118
Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. 801-30528
Heritage West Advisors, LLC 801-55233
Howard Capital Management 801-10188
Segall Bryant & Hamill 801-47232
</TABLE>
Item 27. Principal Underwriters.
(a) The Registrant's principal underwriter also acts as principal
underwriter for the following investment companies:
Guinness Flight Investment Funds, Inc.
Fleming Capital Mutual Fund Group
Fremont Mutual Funds
Jurika & Voyles Mutual Funds
Kayne Anderson Mutual Funds
Masters' Select Funds Trust
O'Shaughnessy Funds, Inc.
PIC Investment Trust
Purisima Fund
Professionally Managed Portfolios
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
RNC Mutual Fund Group
Brandes Investment Funds
Titan Financial Services Fund
Trent Equity Fund
RNC Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
(b) The following information is furnished with respect to the officers and
directors of First Fund Distributors, Inc.: Position and Offices Position and
Name and Principal with Principal Offices with Business Address Underwriter
Registrant
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Robert H. Wadsworth President and Vice President
4455 E. Camelback Road Treasurer
Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Eric M. Banhazl Vice President President,
2025 E. Financial Way Treasurer
Glendora, CA 91741 and Trustee
Steven J. Paggioli Vice President and Vice President
479 West 22nd Street Secretary
New York, New York 10011
</TABLE>
(c) Not applicable.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records.
<PAGE>
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession of the following persons:
(a) the documents required to be maintained by paragraph (4) of Rule
31a-1(b) will be maintained by the Registrant;
(b) the documents required to be maintained by paragraphs (5), (6), (10)
and (11) of Rule 31a-1(b) will be maintained by the respective investment
advisors:
American Trust Company, One Court Street, Lebanon, NH 03766
Bay Isle Financial Corporation, 160 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
Kaminski Asset Management, Inc., 319 First Avenue, Suite400, Minneapolis,
MN 55401
Rockhaven Asset Management, 100 First Avenue, Suite 1050, Pittsburgh, PA
15222
Chase Investment Counsel Corp., 300 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville, VA
22902
Avatar Associates Investment Corp., 900 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
The Edgar Lomax Company, 6564 Loisdale Court, Springfield, VA 22150
Van Deventer & Hoch, 800 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203
Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. 465 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Heritage West Advisors, LLC, 1850 North Central Ave., Suite 610, Phoenix,
AZ 85004
Liberty Bank and Trust Company, 4101 Pauger St., Suite 105, New Orleans, LA
70122
Howard Capital Management, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1440, New York, New
York 10111
Segall Bryant & Hamill, 10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2150, Chicago, IL
60606
(c) with respect to The Heritage West Dividend Capture Income Fund series
of the Registrant, all other records will be maintained by the Registrant; and
(d) all other documents will be maintained by Registrant's custodian, Star
Bank, 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Item 29. Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 30. Undertakings.
Registrant hereby undertakes to:
<PAGE>
(a) Furnish each person to whom a Prospectus is delivered a copy of the
applicable latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and
without charge.
(b) If requested to do so by the holders of at least 10% of the Trust's
outstanding shares, call a meeting of shareholders for the purposes of
voting upon the question of removal of a director and assist in
communications with other shareholders.
(c) On behalf of each of its series, to change any disclosure of past
performance of an Advisor to a series to conform to changes in the
position of the staff of the Commission with respect to such
presentation.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to
the Registration Statement on Form N- 1A of Advisors Series Trust to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of
Phoenix and State of Arizona on the 30th day of December, 1998.
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
By /s/ Eric M. Banhazl*
Eric M. Banhazl
President
This Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Advisors
Series Trust has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
indicated on December 30, 1998.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Eric M. Banhazl* President, Principal Financial
Eric M. Banhazl and Accounting Officer, and Trustee
/s/ Walter E. Auch Sr.* Trustee
Walter E. Auch, Sr.
/s/ Donald E. O'Connor* Trustee
Donald E. O'Connor
/s/ George T. Wofford III* Trustee
George T. Wofford III
* /s/ Robert H. Wadsworth
By: Robert H. Wadsworth
Attorney in Fact
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description
99.B10 Consent of Independent Auditor
27.9 Financial Data Schedule
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We hereby consent to the use of our report dated December 4 1998, on the
financial statements of Edgar Lomax Value Fund series of Advisors Series Trust
referred to therein, in this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-17391 of Advisors Series Trust as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
We also consent to the reference to our Firm in the Prospectus under the
caption "Financial Highlights" and in the Statement of Additional
Information under the caption "General Information."
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
New York, New York
December 29, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001027596
<NAME> ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 9
<NAME> EDGAR LOMAX VALUE FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 11-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> DEC-12-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,150,561
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,318,107
<RECEIVABLES> 281,617
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,498
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,602,222
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 282,303
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 26,085
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 308,388
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,097,583
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 305,456
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 19,206
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 11,374
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 167,546
<NET-ASSETS> 3,293,834
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57,093
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,472
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 41,359
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,206
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11,374
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 167,546
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 198,126
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,875
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 334,640
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 29,369
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 185
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,293,834
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 23,571
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 110,446
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,689,534
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.72
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 01.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
