ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
497, 1999-07-16
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THE AL FRANK FUND


[PHOTO OF AL FRANK]


PROSPECTUS
JULY 12, 1999




THE AL FRANK FUND
465 FOREST AVENUE, SUITE I
LAGUNA BEACH, CA 92651
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES: (888) 263-6443
DAILY NAV: (877) 654-1325
WWW.ALFRANK.COM
<PAGE>
                                THE AL FRANK FUND

                                   PROSPECTUS

                                  JULY 12, 1999

THE AL FRANK FUND invests in value stocks for growth of capital.

This Prospectus contains basic information that you should know before you
invest. Please read it and keep it for future reference.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Goal and Strategy................    1

Fund Performance.................    2

Expense Table....................    2

Investment Objectives,
   Principal Strategies
   and Related Risks.............    3

Management of the Fund...........    5

Investor Guide...................    5

Services Available to Shareholders   7

How to Redeem Your Shares........    8

Distributions and Taxes..........    9

Financial Highlights.............   11

THE  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED  THESE
SECURITIES  OR PASSED UPON THE  ADEQUACY OR  ACCURACY  OF THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. GOAL AND STRATEGY

GOAL AND STRATEGY

WHAT IS THE FUND'S GOAL?
The Fund seeks growth of capital.

HOW WILL THE FUND TRY TO REACH ITS GOAL?

Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. (the Advisor) selects equity securities that it
believes are out of favor and undervalued. The Advisor then purchases the
securities and holds them until it believes that the securities have reached a
fair value or sells them when it believes a strong market sell signal has been
generated. The Advisor does not expect the Fund's annual turnover rate to exceed
25%.

For leverage purposes, the Fund may borrow money from banks, up to one-third of
its total assets, and may also sell securities short. If the Advisor believes
that market conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may
invest without limit in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money
market instruments. In this scenario, the Fund will not be pursuing its stated
investment objective.

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 adversely affecting the prices of the stocks held by the Fund.

Additional risks are associated with borrowing money and selling stocks short.
Please see a description of these risks in the "Investment Objectives, Principal
Strategies
                                       1                              PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>
and Related Risks" section of this prospectus.

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.

FUND PERFORMANCE

The following performance information indicates some of the risks of investing
in the Fund. The bar chart shows the Fund's total return for calendar year 1998,
its first year of operations. 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

                              1998
                              ----
                             -9.30%

During the period of time displayed in the bar chart, the Fund's best quarter
was Q4 1998, up 19.03%, and its worst quarter was Q3 1998, down 22.48%.

ADDITIONAL TOTAL RETURN INFORMATION

                            1 year   Six months
                             ended      ended
                           12/31/98*   6/30/99
                           ---------   -------
The Al Frank Fund           -9.30%     25.14%
Russell 2000 Index          -3.45%      8.47%

*The Fund commenced operations on January 2, 1998.

The  Russell  2000  Index is a widely  regarded  small  cap  index of the  2,000
smallest stocks of the Russell 3000 index which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S.
stocks as determined by total market capitalization.

EXPENSE TABLE

There are two types of expenses involved: shareholder transaction expenses, such
as sales loads and redemption fees, and annual operating expenses, such as
investment advisory fees. THE FUND IS A NO-LOAD MUTUAL FUND.

SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases                               None
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends                    None
Deferred Sales Load                                                   None
Redemption Fee (a) (on shares held less than 6 months)                2.00%

ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
   (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Investment Advisory Fees                                              1.00%
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Fee                                           0.25%
Other Expenses                                                        2.49%
                                                                      ----
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses                                  3.74%
Expense Reimbursements (b)                                           (1.49)%
                                                                      ----
Annual Operating Expenses                                             2.25%
                                                                      ====

(a) A 2.00% redemption fee, payable to the Fund, will be assessed on shares
purchased and held for less than 6 months.

(b) The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay Fund
expenses in order to limit the Fund's total annual operating expenses (excluding
interest and tax expenses) to 2.25%. This contract's term is indefinite and may
be terminated only by the Board of Trustees. The advisor is permitted to be
reimbursed, subject to limitations, for fees it waives and for Fund expenses it
pays.

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<PAGE>
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
  ------   -------   -------   --------
   $227     $701     $1,205     $2,588

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek growth of capital.

HOW DOES THE FUND SEEK TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVE?

The Advisor selects equity securities for the Fund's portfolio that it believes
are out of favor and undervalued -- i.e., those trading for low fundamental
valuations relative to what the Advisor thinks their businesses will be worth
over the next five years. The Advisor then attempts to purchase the securities
and hold them until it believes that the securities have reached a fair value.

There is no assurance that the Fund's objective will be achieved. As prices of
common stocks and other securities fluctuate, the value of an investment in the
Fund will vary as the market value of its investment portfolio changes.

HOW DOES THE ADVISOR SELECT EQUITY SECURITIES FOR THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO?

The Advisor selects equity securities, consisting of common stocks and
securities having the characteristics of common stocks, such as convertible
securities, rights and warrants, on the basis of fundamental corporate analysis.
It screens a universe of more than 6,000 stocks in order to identify those with
low price-to-earnings, price-to-book value, price-to-cash flow and
price-to-revenues. The Advisor also uses technical analysis to anticipate
periods when the securities markets are either extremely undervalued and
oversold, or overvalued and overbought. When the Advisor believes the market is
undervalued, it may borrow money to leverage the Fund's portfolio, as described
below. When it believes the market is overvalued, it may take a temporary
defensive position or use options, as described below. The Fund's portfolio is
expected to be highly diversified, generally with more than 100 separate
securities.

The Advisor sells a stock when its analysis indicates that it is fairly valued
or when it believes a strong market sell signal has been generated.

WHAT DOES THE FUND USE FOR CASH RESERVES?

For temporary defensive purposes, the Advisor may invest up to 100% of the
Fund's total assets in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money-market
instruments. These short-term debt securities and money-market instruments
include shares of other mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit,

                                        3                             PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>
bankers' acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements.

BORROWING MONEY.

The Fund may borrow money from banks for leverage, up to one-third of its total
assets. The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risks that may not be
associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies. Leverage
magnifies the effect of fluctuating stock prices on the value of the Fund's
shares that you own. The asset value per share of the Fund will tend to increase
more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when
its portfolio securities decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if
the Fund did not borrow funds. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may
fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or
exceed the return earned on borrowed funds. Under adverse market conditions, the
Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal
payments at a time when the principal strategy does not favor such sales. The
Fund is required to designate assets with its custodian equal to the amount it
has borrowed.

SELLING SHORT.

The Fund may sell securities short by borrowing securities it does not own and
selling them. The Fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed securities by
purchasing them at the market price at a later time. If the securities sold
short increase in value between the time of sale and the time the Fund purchases
them, the Fund will incur a loss. On the other hand, if the securities decline
in value, the Fund may repurchase them at a lower price and realize a profit.
There are limits on the extent to which the Fund may engage in short sales, as
described in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information (SAI). Please see
the back cover of this prospectus for information on how to obtain the SAI.

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 "Y2K 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. In addition, this situation may
negatively affect the companies in which the Fund invests and consequently, the
value of the Fund's shares. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has adopted a Y2K
Project Plan that is reasonably designed to address the Y2K Problem with respect
to the Advisor's and other service providers' computer systems. Included in the
Y2K Project Plan is a provision for a contingency plan to convert to Y2K
compliant data processing equipment in the event that the Fund determines its
suppliers Y2K efforts have been less than satisfactory. There can be no
assurance that these actions will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on

PROSPECTUS                             4
<PAGE>
the Fund. The extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this time.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

THE ADVISOR.

The Fund's Advisor, Al Frank Asset Management, Inc., 465 Forest Avenue, Suite I,
Laguna Beach, California 92651, has provided asset management services to
individuals and institutional investors since 1977. The Advisor was established
and is controlled by its President, Al Frank. Mr. Frank and John Buckingham,
another member of the firm, are principally responsible for the management of
the Fund's portfolio. Mr. Buckingham has been Executive Vice President and
Director of Research of the Advisor since 1990, having joined the firm in 1987.
The Advisor also publishes a newsletter under the name THE PRUDENT SPECTULATOR.
This publication has been in circulation for over 22 years.

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
based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund at the annual rate of 1.00%.
During the last fiscal year the Advisor waived its entire management fee.

INVESTOR GUIDE

PRICING THE FUND'S SHARES.

The Fund's price, or net asset value per share, is calculated by dividing the
value of a Fund's total assets, less its liabilities, by the number of its
shares outstanding. In calculating the net asset value, portfolio securities are
valued using current market values, if available. Securities for which market
quotations are not readily available are valued at fair values determined in
good faith by or under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
The net asset value is calculated at the close of regular trading of the New
York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), normally 4:00 pm, Eastern time.

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)
263-6443.

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 The Al Frank Fund) to the Fund's Shareholder
Servicing Agent, American Data Services, Inc., at the following address:

The Al Frank Fund
P.O. Box 641265
Cincinnati, OH 45264-1265

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:

The Al Frank Fund
c/o Firstar 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

                                       5                              PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>
Fund at (888) 263-6443 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:

Firstar Bank, N.A.
     ABA # 0420-0001-3
for credit to The Al Frank Fund
     DDA # 488877309
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 DEALER.

You may buy and sell Fund shares through certain brokers (and their authorized
agents, together "brokers") that have made arrangements with the Fund. An order
placed with such a broker is treated as if it were placed directly with the
Fund, and will be executed at the next share price calculated by the Fund. Your
shares will be held in a pooled account in the broker's name, and the broker
will maintain your individual ownership information. The Fund may pay the broker
for maintaining these records as well as providing other shareholder services.
In addition, the broker may charge you a fee for handling your order. The broker
is responsible for processing your order correctly and promptly, keeping you
advised of the status of your individual account, confirming your transactions
and ensuring that you receive copies of the Fund's prospectus.

MINIMUM INVESTMENTS.

The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $5,000. The minimum subsequent
investment is $500. 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 $2,000 and $250,
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 previously noted address. 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) 263-6443. 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. A check or wire
received after the NYSE closes is invested as of the next calculation of the
Fund's net asset value.

OTHER INFORMATION.

The Fund's Distributor may waive the

PROSPECTUS                             6
<PAGE>
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 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. The Advisor may, at its own expense, pay third parties
for assistance in gathering assets for the Fund.

The daily Net Asset Value (NAV) can be obtained from The Al Frank fund website
(www.alfrank.com) or by calling toll-free 877-654-1325.

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 $250), 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. No
redemption fee will apply to redemptions made under the Automatic Withdrawal
Program. In addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the dividends credited to
your account, the account ultimately may be depleted.

                                       7                              PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR SHARES

You have the right to redeem all or any portion of your shares of the Fund at
their net asset value on each day the NYSE is open for trading. You will be
charged a 2.00% redemption fee, payable to the Fund, on shares redeemed within 6
months of the purchase date. The fee will be applied on a first-in, first-out
basis.

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:

The Al Frank Fund
150 Motor Parkway, Suite 109
Hauppauge, NY 11788

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) 263-6443 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.

PROSPECTUS                             8
<PAGE>
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 less the
redemption fee (if applicable), 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.

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, 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 federal income tax
purposes. Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller accounts, the
shares in your account (unless it is a retirement plan or Uniform Gifts or
Transfers to Minors Act account) may be redeemed by the Fund if, due to
redemptions you have made, the total value of your account is reduced to less
than $500. 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 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.

                                       9                              PROSPECTUS
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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 or on the new account application
form 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 advisors concerning federal, state and local
taxation of distributions from the Fund.

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS.

Pursuant to a plan of distribution adopted by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund,
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan"), the Fund may reimburse
the Advisor for sales distribution and related expenses incurred by the Advisor
up to 0.25% of the Fund's average annual net assets. Expenses permitted to be
paid include preparation, printing and mailing of prospectuses, shareholder
reports such as semi-annual and annual reports, performance reports and
newsletters, sales literature and other promotional material to prospective
investors, direct mail solicitations, advertising, public relations,
compensation of sales personnel, advisors or other third parties for their
assistance with respect to the distribution of the Fund's shares, payments to
financial intermediaries for shareholder support, administrative and accounting
services with respect to shareholders of the Fund and such other expenses as may
be approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, over
time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in the Fund and may
cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

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<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.

FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                               January 2, 1998*
                                                                    through
                                                               December 31, 1998


Net asset value, beginning period.................................  $10.00
                                                                    ------

Income from investment operations:
     Net investment loss..........................................  ( 0.08)
     Net realized and unrealized loss on securities...............   (0.85)
                                                                    ------
Total from investment operations..................................   (0.93)
                                                                    ------

Net asset value, end of period....................................  $ 9.07
                                                                    ======

Total return......................................................   (9.30%)+

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (thousands).............................  $7,042

Ratio of expenses to average net assets...........................    2.25%++
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets................   (1.28%)++

Portfolio turnover rate...........................................    5.82%

*  Commencement of operations.

++ Annualized. These figures reflect the effect of the Advisor's agreement to
   waive its fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses.

+  Not annualized.

                                       11                             PROSPECTUS
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                                THE AL FRANK FUND

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                               Dated July 12, 1999

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus, and it should be
read in conjunction with the prospectus dated July 12, 1999, as may be amended
from time to time, of The Al Frank Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Advisors
Series Trust (the "Trust"). Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the Advisor to the Fund. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained by writing to
the Fund at 465 Forest Avenue, Suite I, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; or by calling
888-263-6443.

                               THE AL FRANK FUND,
                        A SERIES OF ADVISORS SERIES TRUST

                              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:

                       888-263-6443 (Shareholder Services)
                            877-654-1325 (Daily NAV)

                                The Al Frank Fund
                           c/o American Data Services
                           150 Motor Parkway, Ste. 109
                               Hauppauge, NY 11788

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 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 AL FRANK FUND

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                               Dated July 12, 1999

This Statement of Additional  Information is not a prospectus,  and it should be
read in conjunction  with the prospectus  dated July 12, 1999, as may be amended
from time to time,  of The Al Frank  Fund  (the  "Fund"),  a series of  Advisors
Series Trust (the "Trust").  Al Frank Asset Management,  Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the Advisor to the Fund. A copy of the  prospectus may be obtained by writing to
the Fund at 465 Forest Avenue,  Suite I, Laguna Beach,  CA 92651;  or by calling
888-263-6443.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Investment Policies ...................................................      B-2

Management ............................................................      B-9

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage ..................................     B-13

Net Asset Value .......................................................     B-14

Taxation ..............................................................     B-15

Dividends and Distributions ...........................................     B-17

Performance Information ...............................................     B-18

General Information ...................................................     B-18

                                       B-1
<PAGE>
                               INVESTMENT POLICIES

         This  discussion  below  supplements   information   contained  in  the
prospectus as to investment policies of the Fund.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES AND WARRANTS

         The  Fund  may  invest  in  convertible   securities  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.

         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 OR 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
monies  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 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.

                                       B-2
<PAGE>
         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 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.

                                       B-3
<PAGE>
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.

OPTIONS ON SECURITIES

         PURCHASING  PUT AND CALL OPTIONS.  The Fund may purchase  covered "put"
and "call" options with respect to securities  which are otherwise  eligible for
purchase  by the Fund and with  respect  to  various  stock  indices  subject to
certain  restrictions,  not in excess of 5% of the Fund's total net assets.  The
Fund will  engage in  trading  of such  derivative  securities  exclusively  for
hedging purposes.

         If the Fund purchases a put option, the Fund acquires the right to sell
the underlying  security at a specified price at any time during the term of the
option  (for  "American-style"  options) or on the option  expiration  date (for
"European-style"  options).  Purchasing  put  options may be used as a portfolio
investment strategy when the Advisor perceives  significant  short-term risk but
substantial long-term  appreciation for the underlying security.  The put option
acts as an insurance policy, as it protects against  significant  downward price
movement while it allows full participation in any upward movement.  If the Fund
is  holding a  security  which it feels has  strong  fundamentals,  but for some
reason may be weak in the near term,  the Fund may purchase a put option on such
security,  thereby  giving  itself the right to sell such  security at a certain
strike  price  throughout  the term of the option.  Consequently,  the Fund will
exercise the put only if the price of such security falls below the strike price
of the put. The  difference  between the put's strike price and the market price
of the  underlying  security  on the  date  the Fund  exercises  the  put,  less
transaction  costs,  will be the  amount by which the Fund will be able to hedge
against a decline in the underlying security. If during the period of the option
the  market  price for the  underlying  security  remains  at or above the put's
strike price,  the put will expire  worthless,  representing a loss of the price
the  Fund  paid  for the  put,  plus  transaction  costs.  If the  price  of the
underlying security  increases,  the profit the Fund realizes on the sale of the
security  will be reduced by the premium paid for the put option less any amount
for which the put may be sold.

                                       B-4
<PAGE>
         If the Fund purchases a call option,  it acquires the right to purchase
the underlying  security at a specified price at any time during the term of the
option.  The  purchase of a call option is a type of  insurance  policy to hedge
against  losses  that  could  occur  if the  Fund  has a short  position  in the
underlying  security and the security  thereafter  increases in price.  The Fund
will  exercise a call  option  only if the price of the  underlying  security is
above the strike price at the time of exercise.  If during the option period the
market price for the underlying security remains at or below the strike price of
the call option,  the option will expire  worthless,  representing a loss of the
price paid for the option,  plus transaction  costs. If the call option has been
purchased to hedge a short position of the Fund in the  underlying  security and
the price of the  underlying  security  thereafter  falls,  the  profit the Fund
realizes on the cover of the short  position in the security  will be reduced by
the  premium  paid for the call option less any amount for which such option may
be sold.

         Prior to  exercise  or  expiration,  an option  may be sold when it has
remaining value by a purchaser  through a "closing sale  transaction,"  which is
accomplished  by selling an option of the same  series as the option  previously
purchased.  The Fund  generally  will  purchase only those options for which the
Advisor  believes  there is an active  secondary  market to  facilitate  closing
transactions.

         WRITING CALL OPTIONS.  The Fund may write covered call options.  A call
option is "covered" if the Fund owns the security  underlying the call or has an
absolute right to acquire the security  without  additional  cash  consideration
(or, if additional cash  consideration is required,  cash or cash equivalents in
such amount as are held in a segregated account by the Custodian). The writer of
a call option  receives a premium and gives the  purchaser  the right to buy the
security  underlying  the  option at the  exercise  price.  The  writer  has the
obligation  upon  exercise  of the option to  deliver  the  underlying  security
against payment of the exercise price during the option period. If the writer of
an  exchange-traded  option wishes to terminate his obligation,  he may effect a
"closing purchase  transaction." This is accomplished by buying an option of the
same series as the option previously  written. A writer may not effect a closing
purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option.

         Effecting a closing  transaction  in the case of a written  call option
will permit the Fund to write  another  call option on the  underlying  security
with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. Also, effecting
a closing  transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale
of any securities  subject to the option to be used for other investments of the
Fund.  If the Fund desires to sell a particular  security  from its portfolio on
which it has written a call option,  it will effect a closing  transaction prior
to or concurrent with the sale of the security.

         The Fund will realize a gain from a closing  transaction if the cost of
the closing  transaction  is less than the  premium  received  from  writing the
option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are more than the premium
paid to  purchase  the  option.  The Fund  will  realize  a loss  from a closing
transaction  if the cost of the  closing  transaction  is more than the  premium
received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction
are less  than  the  premium  paid to  purchase  the  option.  However,  because
increases in the market price of a call option will generally  reflect increases
in the market price of the underlying  security,  any loss to the Fund resulting
from the  repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part
by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund.

         STOCK INDEX  OPTIONS.  The Fund may also  purchase put and call options
with  respect  to the S&P 500 and  other  stock  indices.  Such  options  may be
purchased as a hedge against  changes  resulting  from market  conditions in the
values of securities  which are held in the Fund's portfolio or which it intends
to purchase or sell, or when they are economically appropriate for the reduction
of risks inherent in the ongoing management of the Fund.

         The  distinctive  characteristics  of options on stock  indices  create
certain  risks that are not present with stock  options  generally.  Because the
value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the index rather
than the price of a  particular  stock,  whether the Fund will realize a gain or
loss on the purchase or sale of an option on an index depends upon  movements in
the level of stock prices in the stock market generally rather than movements in
the price of a  particular  stock.  Accordingly,  successful  use by the Fund of
options on a stock  index would be subject to the  Advisor's  ability to predict
correctly  movements  in the  direction  of the  stock  market  generally.  This
requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the price of
individual stocks.

                                       B-5
<PAGE>
         Index prices may be distorted if trading of certain stocks  included in
the index is  interrupted.  Trading of index options also may be  interrupted in
certain circumstances, such as if trading were halted in a substantial number of
stocks included in the index. If this were to occur,  the Fund would not be able
to close out options which it had  purchased,  and if  restrictions  on exercise
were  imposed,  the Fund might be unable to exercise  an option it holds,  which
could result in substantial  losses to the Fund. It is the policy of the Fund to
purchase  put or call  options  only with  respect to an index which the Advisor
believes  includes a sufficient number of stocks to minimize the likelihood of a
trading halt in the index.

         RISKS OF INVESTING IN OPTIONS.  There are several risks associated with
transactions in options on securities and indices.  Options may be more volatile
than the  underlying  securities  and,  therefore,  on a  percentage  basis,  an
investment in options may be subject to greater  fluctuation  than an investment
in the underlying securities themselves.  There are also significant differences
between the  securities  and options  markets  that could result in an imperfect
correlation  between these markets,  causing a given  transaction not to achieve
its objective. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options may
be absent for reasons which  include the  following:  there may be  insufficient
trading interest in certain options;  restrictions may be imposed by an exchange
on  opening  transactions  or  closing  transactions  or  both;  trading  halts,
suspensions  or other  restrictions  may be imposed with  respect to  particular
classes or series of options of  underlying  securities;  unusual or  unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange;  the facilities of
an exchange or clearing  corporation  may not at all times be adequate to handle
current trading volume;  or one or more exchanges  could,  for economic or other
reasons,  decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue  the trading
of options  (or a  particular  class or series of  options),  in which event the
secondary  market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would
cease to exist,  although outstanding options that had been issued by a clearing
corporation  as a  result  of  trades  on that  exchange  would  continue  to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.

         A decision as to  whether,  when and how to use  options  involves  the
exercise of skill and judgment,  and even a  well-conceived  transaction  may be
unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The
extent to which the Fund may enter into options  transactions  may be limited by
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") requirements for qualification of
the Fund as a regulated  investment  company.  See "Dividends and Distributions"
and "Taxation."

         DEALER OPTIONS.  The Fund may engage in transactions  involving  dealer
options  as  well as  exchange-traded  options.  Certain  additional  risks  are
specific to dealer options.  While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation
to  exercise  exchange-traded  options,  if the Fund were to  purchase  a dealer
option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to
perform  if the  option  were  exercised.  Failure  by the dealer to do so would
result  in the  loss  of the  premium  paid  by the  Fund as well as loss of the
expected benefit of the transaction.

         Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while
dealer options may not. Consequently,  the Fund may generally be able to realize
the value of a dealer  option it has  purchased  only by exercising or reselling
the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer
option,  the Fund may  generally  be able to close out the  option  prior to its
expiration only by entering into a closing purchase  transaction with the dealer
to whom the Fund originally wrote the option.  While the Fund will seek to enter
into dealer  options  only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected
to be capable of entering into closing  transactions with the Fund, there can be
no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option
at a  favorable  price at any time prior to  expiration.  Unless the Fund,  as a
covered  dealer  call  option  writer,  is able to  effect  a  closing  purchase
transaction,  it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used
as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of
the other  party,  the Fund may be unable to  liquidate  a dealer  option.  With
respect to options  written by the Fund,  the  inability to enter into a closing
transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example,  because the
Fund must  maintain a secured  position  with  respect  to any call  option on a
security it writes,  the Fund may not sell the assets which it has segregated to
secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may
impair the Fund's ability to sell portfolio  securities at a time when such sale
might be advantageous.

         The Staff of the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission")
has taken the position that purchased  dealer  options are illiquid  securities.
The Fund may treat the cover used for  written  dealer  options as liquid if the
dealer agrees that the Fund may  repurchase the dealer option it has written for
a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined  formula. In such cases, the
dealer  option  would be  considered  illiquid  only to the extent  the  maximum
purchase  price under the formula  exceeds  the  intrinsic  value of the option.
Accordingly,  the Fund will  treat  dealer  options  as  subject  to the  Fund's
limitation on illiquid securities. If the Commission changes its position on the
liquidity  of  dealer  options,  the Fund  will  change  its  treatment  of such
instruments accordingly.

                                       B-6
<PAGE>
         SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options from
securities   dealers.   These   covered   spread   options  are  not   presently
exchange-listed  or  exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the
Fund the right to put securities  that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed
yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but
which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of
dealer options  described  above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any
transaction  costs.  The purchase of spread  options will be used to protect the
Fund against adverse  changes in prevailing  credit quality  spreads,  I.E., the
yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities.  This protection
is provided only during the life of the spread options.

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 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.

                                       B-7
<PAGE>
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         The Fund may lend its  portfolio  securities in an amount not exceeding
one-third  of its  total  assets  to  financial  institutions  such as banks and
brokers if the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable regulations.
Under the  present  regulatory  requirements  which  govern  loans of  portfolio
securities,  the loan collateral  must, on each business day, at least equal the
value of the loaned  securities  and must consist of cash,  letters of credit of
domestic banks or domestic  branches of foreign banks, or securities of the U.S.
Government or its agencies.  To be acceptable as  collateral,  letters of credit
must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by the Fund if the demand meets the
terms  of the  letter.  Such  terms  and  the  issuing  bank  would  have  to be
satisfactory  to the Fund.  Any loan  might be secured by any one or more of the
three types of collateral. The terms of the Fund's loans must permit the Fund to
reacquire  loaned  securities  on five  days'  notice  or in time to vote on any
serious matter and must meet certain tests under the Code.

SHORT SALES

         The Fund is  authorized to make short sales of  securities.  In a short
sale,  the Fund sells a security  which it does not own,  in  anticipation  of a
decline in the market value of the security. To complete the sale, the Fund must
borrow the security  (generally  from the broker through which the short sale is
made) in order to make  delivery  to the buyer.  The Fund is then  obligated  to
replace the security  borrowed by  purchasing it at the market price at the time
of  replacement.  The Fund is said to have a "short  position" in the securities
sold until it delivers them to the broker.  The period during which the Fund has
a short position can range from one day to more than a year.  Until the security
is replaced,  the proceeds of the short sale are retained by the broker, and the
Fund is required to pay to the broker a negotiated  portion of any  dividends or
interest  which accrue  during the period of the loan.  To meet  current  margin
requirements,  the Fund is also  required to deposit with the broker  additional
cash or securities so that the total deposit with the broker is maintained daily
at 150% of the current  market value of the  securities  sold short (100% of the
current market value if a security is held in the account that is convertible or
exchangeable  into the security  sold short  within 90 days without  restriction
other than the payment of money).

         Short sales by the Fund  create  opportunities  to increase  the Fund's
return but, at the same time,  involve specific risk  considerations  and may be
considered  a  speculative  technique.  Since the Fund in effect  profits from a
decline in the price of the securities sold short without the need to invest the
full purchase  price of the securities on the date of the short sale, the Fund's
net asset value per share will tend to increase more when the  securities it has
sold short  decrease in value,  and to decrease more when the  securities it has
sold short  increase in value,  than would  otherwise  be the case if it had not
engaged in such short sales.  The amount of any gain will be decreased,  and the
amount  of any loss  increased,  by the  amount  of any  premium,  dividends  or
interest  the Fund may be  required  to pay in  connection  with the short sale.
Furthermore,  under adverse  market  conditions  the Fund might have  difficulty
purchasing  securities  to meet its short sale delivery  obligations,  and might
have to sell  portfolio  securities  to raise the capital  necessary to meet its
short sale  obligations  at a time when  fundamental  investment  considerations
would not favor such sales.

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 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:

                                      B-8
<PAGE>
         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  or short
sales;

         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,  except
that the Fund may  purchase and sell foreign  currency  contracts in  accordance
with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

         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 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); or

         3. Purchase or sell future contracts.

                                   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:

<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 LLC;
2025 E. Financial Way         President and  Vice President, First Fund Distributors, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer,
Glendora, CA 91740            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).
</TABLE>

                                   B-9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>            <C>
George Wofford III            Trustee        Vice President, Information Services, Federal Home Loan Bank of
(Born 1939)                                  San Francisco (since March, 1993); formerly Director of
305 Glendora Circle                          Management Information Services, Morrison & Foerster (law
Danville, CA 94526                           firm).

Steven J. Paggioli            Vice           Executive Vice President, Robert H. Wadsworth & Associates, Inc.
(Born 1950)                   President      and Investment Company Administration LLC; Vice President,
479 W. 22nd Street                           First Fund Distributors, Inc.; President and Trustee,
New York, NY 10011                           Professionally Managed Portfolios; Director, Managers Funds, Inc.

Robert H. Wadsworth           Vice           President, Robert H. Wadsworth & Associates, Inc., Investment
(Born 1940)                   President      Company Administration, LLC and First Fund Distributors, Inc.;
4455 E. Camelback Road                       Vice President, Professionally Managed Portfolios; President,
Suite 261E                                   Guinness Flight Investment Funds, Inc.; Director, Germany Fund,
Phoenix, AZ 85018                            Inc., New Germany Fund, Inc. and 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.

NAME AND POSITION                         AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM THE TRUST*
- -----------------                         --------------------------------------
Walter E. Auch, Sr., Trustee                            $12,000

Donald E. O'Connor, Trustee                             $12,000

George T. Wofford III, Trustee                          $12,000

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998,  Trustees' fees and expenses in the
amount of $12,000 per independent  Trustee were paid by the Trust. 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").  The  Advisor  is
controlled by Alfred Frank.

         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.

                                      B-10
<PAGE>
         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 (vi) 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 Fund 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 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, except that it 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 the 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.

                                      B-11
<PAGE>
         During the year ended  December 31, 1998, the Advisor earned $50,113 in
advisory  fees.  The  Advisor  has  contractually  agreed  to limit  total  fund
operating expenses to 2.25% of average net assets annually.  As a result of that
limitation, during the year ended December 31, 1998, the Advisor waived the full
amount of its fee and paid Fund operating expenses in the amount of $25,133.

         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).

         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, subject to a $30,000 minimum:

Fund asset level                             Fee rate
- ----------------                             --------
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

                                      B-12
<PAGE>
                            DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

         Pursuant to a plan of  distribution  adopted by the Trust, on behalf of
the Fund,  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan"),  the Fund may
pay  distribution  and related expenses up to 0.25% of its average net assets to
the Advisor as distribution  coordinator.  Expenses permitted to be paid include
preparation,  printing and mailing of prospectuses,  shareholder reports such as
semi-annual  and annual  reports,  performance  reports and  newsletters,  sales
literature and other promotional material to prospective investors,  direct mail
solicitations,  advertising, public relations,  compensation of sales personnel,
advisors  or other  third  parties  for their  assistance  with  respect  to the
distribution  of the Fund's  shares,  payments to financial  intermediaries  for
shareholder  support,  administrative  and  accounting  services with respect to
shareholders of the Fund and such other expenses as may be approved from time to
time by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

         The Plan allows excess  distribution  expenses to be carried forward by
the Advisor, as distribution coordinator, and resubmitted in a subsequent fiscal
year, provided that (i) distribution expenses cannot be carried forward for more
than three years  following  initial  submission;  (ii) the Trustees have made a
determination at the time of initial  submission that the distribution  expenses
are  appropriate  to be carried  forward and (iii) the  Trustees  make a further
determination,  at the time any  distribution  expenses  which have been carried
forward are  submitted  for payment,  that  payment at the time is  appropriate,
consistent  with the objectives of the Plan and in the current best interests of
shareholders.

         Under  the  Plan,  the  Trustees  will  be  furnished   quarterly  with
information  detailing  the  amount  of  expenses  paid  under  the Plan and the
purposes for which payments were made. The Plan may be terminated at any time by
vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested  persons.
Continuation  of the Plan is considered by such Trustees no less frequently than
annually.

         During the year ended December 31, 1998, the Fund paid the Distribution
Coordinator  distribution  fees  totaling  $12,529.  These  fees  were  used  to
reimburse the Advisor for Fund advertising expenses,  presentation and road show
expenses incurred, marketing-related printing and postage, trail commissions and
dealer  fees paid to brokers  who sold  shares of the Fund and  compensation  to
employees involved in distribution of Fund shares.

                      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.

                                      B-13
<PAGE>
         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 by the Fund during the year ended December
31, 1998, totaled $35,541.

         Portfolio  turnover  for the Fund  during the year ended  December  31,
1998, was 5.82%.

                                 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.

         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 primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System
for which market  quotations are readily  available  shall be valued at the last
sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at
the mean between the bid and asked prices.  Over-the-counter  ("OTC") securities
which are not traded in the NASDAQ National Market System shall be valued at the
most recent trade price.  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.

         An option that is written by the Fund is  generally  valued at the last
sale price or, in the absence of the last sale price,  the last offer price.  An
option that is purchased by the Fund is generally  valued at the last sale price
or, in the  absence of the last sale  price,  the last bid price.  If an options
exchange  closes  after  the  time at  which  the  Fund's  net  asset  value  is
calculated,  the last sale or last bid and asked  prices as of that time will be
used to calculate the net asset value.

         All other  assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in
good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.

                                      B-14
<PAGE>
                                    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 as amended,  (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 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.

                                      B-15
<PAGE>
         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.

         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.

                                      B-16
<PAGE>
         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.

         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.

                                      B-17
<PAGE>
         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:

                 n
         P(1 + T)  = ERV

where "P" equals a  hypothetical  initial  payment of $1000;  "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 January 2, 1998(commencement of operations) through
December 31, 1998, the Fund had a total return of -9.30%.

OTHER INFORMATION

         Performance   data  of  the  Fund  quoted  in  advertising   and  other
promotional materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict
or guarantee 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")  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

         Advisors  Series  Trust is an open-end  management  investment  company
organized as a Delaware  business  trust under the laws of the State of Delaware
on October 3, 1996.  The Trust  currently  consists  of 16  effective  series of
shares of beneficial  interest,  par value of 0.01 per share. 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.

                                      B-18
<PAGE>
         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 two 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.

         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, Firstar 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 diversified series of the Trust.

         Shares of the Fund owned by the  Trustees  and officers as a group were
less than 1% at January 22, 1999.

         On February 23, 1999, the following  additional persons owned of record
and/or  beneficially  more  than 5% of The Al Frank  Fund's  outstanding  voting
securities:

         Robert & Linda  Green,  JT TEN,  6076 Maiden Lane,  Memphis,  Tennessee
38120; 6.78% record.

                                      B-19


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