SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL
MID CAP FUND
PROSPECTUS
FEBRUARY 26, 1999
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SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL MID CAP FUND
10 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2150
CHICAGO, IL 60606
ADVISOR: (312) 474-4122
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES: (TOLL-FREE) 877-829-8413
PROSPECTUS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund (the "Fund") is a mutual fund with the
investment objective of seeking growth of capital with income as a secondary
objective. The Fund attempts to achieve its objectives by investing in
securities of medium capitalization companies. See "Investment Objectives and
Policies." Shares are available on a no-load basis to investors. There can be no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
This Prospectus sets forth basic information about the Fund that prospective
investors should know before investing. It should be read and retained for
future reference. The Fund is a separate series of Advisors Series Trust (the
"Trust"), an open-end registered management investment company. A Statement of
Additional Information (the "SAI") dated February 26, 1999, as may be revised,
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is
incorporated herein by reference. This SAI is available without charge upon
request to the Fund at the address given above. The SEC maintains an internet
site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the SAI, other material incorporated by
reference and other information about companies that file electronically with
the SEC.
FEBRUARY 26, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Expense Table............................................ 2
Investment Objectives and Policies....................... 2
Investment Techniques and Their Risks.................... 3
Management of the Fund................................... 7
Investor Guide........................................... 10
Services Available to Shareholders....................... 12
How to Redeem Your Shares................................ 12
Dividends and Distributions.............................. 14
Taxes ................................................... 14
General Information...................................... 14
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and
Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon
the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary
is a criminal offense.
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EXPENSE TABLE
Expenses are one of several factors to consider when investing in the Fund.
There are two types of expenses involved: shareholder transaction expenses, such
as sales loads, redemption fees, and annual operating expenses, such as
investment advisory fees. The Fund is a no-load mutual fund. The Fund has
adopted a plan of distribution under which it will pay the Advisor, as
Distribution Coordinator, a fee at the annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's
net assets. A long-term shareholder may pay more, directly and indirectly, in
such fees than the maximum sales charge permitted under the rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Shares will be redeemed at net
asset value per share.
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases............................. None
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends.................. None
Deferred Sales Load................................................. None
Redemption Fee...................................................... None
ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
(As a percentage of average net assets)
Investment Advisory Fee............................................. 0.75%
12b-1 Fee........................................................... 0.25%
Other Expenses (after reimbursement)*............................... 0.40%
----
Total Fund Operating Expenses*...................................... 1.40%
====
* Other Expenses are estimated for the first fiscal year of the Fund. The
Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or pay expenses of the
Fund to insure that the Fund's expenses will not exceed 1.40%. If the Advisor
did not limit the Fund's expenses, it is estimated that "Other Expenses" in the
above table would be 1.45% and "Total Fund Operating Expenses" would be 2.45%.
If the Advisor does waive any of its fees or pay Fund expenses, the Fund may
reimburse the Advisor in future years. See "Management of the Fund."
EXAMPLE
This table illustrates the net operating expenses that would be incurred by an
investment in the Fund over different time periods assuming a $1,000 investment,
a 5% annual return, and redemption at the end of each time period.
1 Year 3 Years
------ -------
$14 $44
The Example shown above should not be considered a representation of past or
future expenses and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. In
addition, federal regulations require the Example to assume a 5% annual return,
but the Fund's actual return may be higher or lower. See "Management of the
Fund."
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek growth of capital with income as
a secondary objective. The Fund will pursue its investment objectives by
investing substantially in securities of medium capitalization (mid cap)
companies. A company's market capitalization is the total market value of its
outstanding common stock. Mid cap companies are those whose market
capitalization falls within the range of $1 billion to $10 billion at the time
of the Fund's investment. Companies whose capitalizations decrease below or
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increase above this amount after purchase continue to be considered mid cap for
this purpose. Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Fund's total
assets will be invested in securities of mid cap companies. This can include
common stock, preferred stock, bond, warrants and securities convertible into or
exchangeable for common stock. Investing in securities of mid cap companies may
involve greater risk than investing in securities of large cap companies, since
securities of mid cap companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic
movements in value. However, they tend to involve less risk than securities of
small cap companies. When the Advisor believes market conditions warrant, or
when the Advisor believes it is necessary to achieve the Fund's objectives, the
Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in investment grade corporate debt
securities; I.E., debt securities which are rated at least BBB by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's"), or unrated debt securities deemed to be of comparable quality by
the Advisor. The Fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes and
make loans of portfolio securities.
Segall Bryant & Hamill, the Fund's investment advisor (the "Advisor") employs an
investment strategy that is neither pure growth nor pure value. The Advisor uses
"bottom-up" fundamental research to identify attractively priced companies with
strong or improving return on investment whose profitability is reasonably
expected to lead to significant capital appreciation. Such companies are deemed
to be rapidly growing companies that are committed to building long-term
shareholder value by focusing on effectively utilizing their capital resources.
Value is assessed by determining the intrinsic value for each company being
considered, seeking to invest in companies trading at a discount to its
intrinsic value. In an attempt to allow time for this intrinsic value analysis
to be reflected in the security's market price and to minimize capital gain
taxes, the Adviser evaluates companies on a two to three year horizon. Overall,
the Advisor looks for companies that are dominant in their industry, have a high
return on capital, a growth record that is 50% greater than projected earnings
of the Standard & Poor's Index of 500 Common Stocks and a sustainable operating
advantage over their competition. The Advisor is very selective in making
investments. When the Fund experiences heavy cash flows, the Fund may not be
fully invested.
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 commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, U.S.
Government securities and repurchase agreements.
The Fund's investment objectives are fundamental policies and may not be amended
without first obtaining the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Fund. There is, of course, no assurance that the Fund's objectives will be
achieved. Because 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 and investors may have a gain or loss when they
redeem their Fund shares.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AND THEIR RISKS
In addition to the risks associated with particular types of securities, which
are discussed below and in the SAI, the Fund is subject to general market risks.
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks. The market risks associated with
stocks include the possibility that the entire market for common stocks could
suffer a decline in price over a short or even an extended period. This could
affect the net asset value of your Fund shares. The U.S. stock market tends to
be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when
stock prices generally decline. The market risks associated with bonds (in which
the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets) include the possibility that the
value of corporate, government and other bonds held by the Fund will fluctuate
with movements in interest rates and changes in the perceived creditworthiness
of the issuers of those securities. Accordingly, the Fund generally will be an
appropriate investment only for investors looking for a long-term investment.
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BORROWING MONEY
The Fund may borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or
emergency purposes or for clearance of transactions in amounts not to exceed 20%
of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowings. The use of
borrowing by the Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be
associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies which are
discussed in detail in the SAI.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities in which the Fund may invest, including both convertible
debt and convertible preferred stock, may be converted at either a stated price
or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock. Because of this feature,
convertible securities enable an investor to benefit from increases in the
market price of the underlying common stock. Convertible securities provide
higher yields than the underlying equity securities, but generally offer lower
yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Like bonds, the value
of convertible securities fluctuates in relation to changes in interest rates
and, in addition, fluctuates in relation to the underlying common stock.
DEBT SECURITIES
Because the market value of debt obligations can be expected to vary inversely
to changes in prevailing interest rates, investing in debt obligations may
provide an opportunity for capital growth when interest rates are expected to
decline. The success of such a strategy is dependent upon the Advisor's ability
to accurately forecast changes in interest rates. The market value of debt
obligations may be expected to vary depending upon, among other factors,
interest rates, the ability of the issuer to repay principal and interest, any
change in investment rating and general economic conditions. The Fund may invest
in debt securities rated at least Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P, or, if unrated,
are deemed to be of comparable quality by the Advisor. Debt securities in these
rating categories although considered investment grade, have speculative
characteristics and changes in economic circumstances are more likely to lead to
a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case
with higher grade bonds. If a change in credit quality after acquisition causes
a security to no longer be investment grade, the Fund will dispose of the
security, if necessary, to keep its holdings of below investment grade
securities to 5% or less of the Fund's net assets.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities issued by
foreign companies. Investing in foreign securities involves more risk than
investing in securities of U.S. companies. These risks include those resulting
from fluctuations in currency exchange rates, changes in exchange control
regulations and fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the
currencies of different nations, as well as by economic and political
developments. Other risks involved in foreign securities include the following:
there may be less publicly available information about foreign companies
comparable to the reports and ratings that are published about companies in the
U.S.; foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those
applicable to U.S. companies; some foreign stock markets have substantially less
volume than U.S. markets, and securities of some foreign companies are less
liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies; there may
be less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges,
brokers and listed companies than exist in the U.S.; and there may be the
possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social
instability or diplomatic developments which could affect assets of the Fund
held in foreign countries.
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EMERGING MARKETS. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers in less
developed foreign countries. The Fund's investments in emerging markets include
investments in countries whose economies or securities markets are not yet
highly developed. Special considerations associated with these investments (in
addition to the considerations regarding foreign investments generally) may
include, among others, greater political uncertainties, an economy's dependence
on revenue from particular commodities or on international aid or development
assistance, currency transfer restrictions, a limited number of potential buyers
for such securities and delays and disruptions in securities settlement
procedures.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS. The Fund may invest in Depositary Receipts ("DRs"),
including American Depositary Receipts, European Depositary Receipts, Global
Depositary Receipts or other forms of depositary receipts. DRs are receipts
typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the
underlying securities of foreign issuers, and other forms of depository receipts
for securities of foreign issuers.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may enter into foreign currency
transactions either on a spot or cash basis at prevailing rates or through
forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to have the necessary
currencies to settle transactions. The Fund may also enter into foreign currency
transactions to protect Fund assets against adverse changes in foreign currency
exchange rates. Such efforts could limit potential gains that might result from
a relative increase in the value of such currencies, and might, in certain
cases, result in losses to the Fund.
ILLIQUID AND RESTRICTED SECURITIES
The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities,
including (a) securities for which there is no readily available market; (ii)
securities the disposition of which would be subject to legal restriction
(so-called "restricted securities") and (iii) repurchase agreements having more
than seven days to maturity. A considerable period of time may elapse between
the Fund's decision to dispose of such securities and the time when the Fund is
able to dispose of them, during which time the value of the securities could
decline. Securities which meet the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933 are restricted, but may be determined to be liquid by the Trustees,
based on an evaluation of the applicable trading markets.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES STRATEGIES
OPTIONS. The Fund may deal in options on individual securities, indices and
financial futures contracts to manage stock prices. The Fund will not purchase
or sell options if more than 25% of its net assets would be hedged. The Fund may
also write covered call options and secured put options to seek to lock in gains
on up to 25% of its net assets.
A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates
the writer to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price at any time
during the options period. Conversely a put option gives the purchaser of the
option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying
security at the exercise price at any time during the option period. A covered
call option sold by the Fund, which is a call option with respect to which the
Fund owns the underlying security, exposes the Fund during the term of the
option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market
price of the underlying security or to possible continued holding of a security
which might otherwise have been sold to protect against depreciation in the
market price of the security. A covered put option sold by the Fund exposes the
Fund during the term of the option to a decline in the price of the underlying
security. A put option sold by the Fund is covered when, among other things,
liquid assets are segregated to fulfill the obligation undertaken.
To close out a position when writing covered options, the Fund may make a
"closing purchase transaction," which involves purchasing an option on the same
security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option which it
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has previously written on the security. To close out a position as a purchaser
of an option, the Fund may make a "closing sale transaction," which involves
liquidating the Fund's position by selling the option previously purchased. The
Fund will realize a profit or less from a closing purchase or sale transaction
depending upon the difference between the amount paid to purchase an option and
the amount received from the sale thereof.
FINANCIAL FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS. The Fund may enter into financial futures
contracts and related options as a hedge against anticipated changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities or securities which it intends to
purchase or in the exchange rate of foreign currencies. Hedging is the
initiation of an off-setting position in the futures market which is intended to
minimize the risk associated with a position's underlying securities in the cash
market. As a general rule, the Fund will not purchase or sell futures if,
immediately thereafter, more than 25% of its net assets would be hedged.
Financial futures contracts consist of interest rate futures contracts and
securities index futures contracts. An interest rate futures contract obligates
the seller of the contract to deliver, and the purchaser to take delivery of,
the interest rate securities called for in the contract at a specified future
time and at a specified price. A securities index assigns relative values to the
securities included in the index, and the index fluctuates with changes in the
market values of the securities so included. A securities index futures contract
is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make
delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the
difference between the index value at the close of the last trading day of the
contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. An
option on a financial futures contract gives the purchaser the right to assume a
position in the contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short
position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time
during the period of the option. A call option on a securities index is similar
to a call option on an individual security, except that the value of the option
depends on the weighted value of the group of securities comprising the index
and all settlements are made in cash. A call option may be terminated by the
writer (seller) by entering into a closing purchase transaction in which it
purchases an option of the same series as the option previously written. A put
option on a securities index is similar to a put option on an individual
security, except that the value of the option depends on the weighted value of
the group of securities comprising the index and all settlements are made in
cash.
Engaging in transactions in financial futures contracts involves certain risks,
such as the possibility of an imperfect correlation between futures market
prices and cash market prices and the possibility that the Adviser could be
incorrect in its expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest
rate movements, in which case the Fund's return might have been greater had
hedging not taken place. There is also the risk that a liquid secondary market
may not exist. The risk in purchasing an option on a financial futures contract
is that the Fund will lose the premium it paid. Also, there may be circumstances
when the purchase of an option on a financial futures contract would result in a
loss to the Fund while the purchase or sale of the contract would not have
resulted in a loss.
The Fund's options and futures transactions will generally be entered into for
hedging purposes-to protect against possible changes in the market values of
securities held in or to be purchased for the Fund's portfolio resulting from
securities markets or interest rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund's
unrealized gains in the values of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the
sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective
maturity or duration of the Fund's portfolio, or to establish a position in the
derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchase or sale of particular
securities. However, in addition to the hedging transactions referred to above,
the Fund may enter into options and futures transactions to enhance potential
gain in circumstances where hedging is not involved. The Fund's net loss
exposure resulting from transactions entered into for such purposes will not
exceed 5% of its net assets at any one time and, to the extent necessary, the
Fund will close out transactions in order to comply with this limitation. Such
transactions are subject to the limitations described above under "Options" and
"Futures and Options on Futures."
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SECURITIES LENDING
The Fund may lend securities to financial institutions such as banks,
broker-dealers and other recognized institutional investors in amounts up to 30%
of the Fund's total assets. These loans earn income for the Fund and are
collateralized by cash, securities or letters of credit. The Fund might
experience a loss if the financial institution defaults on the loan.
WARRANTS
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in warrants. Warrants are
securities that give the holder the right, but not the obligation to purchase
newly created equity issues of the company issuing the warrants, or a related
company, at a fixed price either on a date certain or during a set period.
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 securities borrowed by
purchasing them at the market price at the time of replacement. 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 SAI.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Unless otherwise states, the investment policies, techniques and strategies
discussed above represent "non-fundamental" policies of the Fund and may be
changed by action of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has adopted certain
investment restrictions, which are described fully in the SAI. Like the Fund's
investment objectives, certain of these restrictions are fundamental and may be
changed only by a majority vote of the Fund's outstanding shares. As a
non-fundamental policy, the Fund intends to operate as a "diversified"
management investment company, as defined in the Investment Company Act (the
"1940 Act"), which means that at least 75% of its total assets must be
represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), government
securities, securities of other investment companies, and other securities for
the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one issuer to an
amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund
and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees of the Trust establishes the Fund's policies and
supervises and reviews the management of the Fund.
THE ADVISOR
The Fund's Advisor, Segall Bryant & Hamill, 10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2150,
Chicago, IL 60606, has provided asset management services to individuals and
institutional investors since 1994. The Advisor is a Minnesota partnership which
is 50% owned by an affiliated company, Voyageur Advisory Services LLP, and 50%
owned by SBGP Holdings, Inc. Voyageur Advisory Services LLC is owned by
Dougherty Financial Group LLC. SBGP Holdings, Inc. is owned 50% by Ralph M.
Segall and 50% by C. Alfred Bryant. Mr. Segall will be principally responsible
for the management of the Fund's portfolio. Mr. Segal was primarily responsible
for the management of the Voyageur Growth and Income Fund and its successor
fund, Segall Bryant & Hamill Growth and Income Fund, from inception in 1995. Mr.
Bryant has been Managing Director of the Advisor since becoming a founding
member in 1994. Prior to that, Mr. Segall had been a senior portfolio manager
with Stein Rose & Farnham Incorporated where he had over 18 years experience.
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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 0.75%.
PRIOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISOR
The following table sets forth composite performance data relating to the
historical performance of institutional private accounts managed by the Advisor
with assets greater than $1 million and one full month returns for the periods
indicated, that have investment objectives, policies, strategies and risks
substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data is provided to illustrate
the past performance of the Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts
and does not represent the performance of the Fund. You should not consider this
performance data as an indication of future performance of the Fund or of the
Advisor.
The composite performance data shown below were calculated in accordance with
recommended standards of the Association for Investment Management and Research
(AIMR+). All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and
include all dividends and interest, accrued income and realized and unrealized
gains and losses. All returns reflect the deduction of investment advisory fees,
brokerage commissions and execution costs paid by institutional private accounts
of the Advisor without provision for federal or state income taxes. Custodial
fees, if any, were not included in the calculation. The Advisor's Composite
includes all actual, fee-paying, discretionary institutional private accounts
managed by the Advisor that have investment objectives, policies, strategies and
risks substantially similar to those of the Fund. Securities transactions are
accounted for on the trade date and accrual accounting is used. Cash and
equivalents are included in the performance returns.
The institutional private accounts that are included in the Advisor's Composite
are not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject nor
to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment
limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act or the Internal
Revenue Code. Consequently, the performance results for the Advisor's Composite
could have been adversely affected if the institutional private accounts
included in the Composite had been regulated as investment companies. To the
extent that the Fund's operating expenses are higher than those of the Advisor's
Composite, the Fund's performance will be correspondingly lower.
The investment result of the Advisor's Composite presented below are unaudited
and are not intended to predict or suggest the returns that might be experienced
by the Fund or an individual investing in the Fund. Investors should also be
aware that the use of a methodology different from that used below to calculate
performance, such as the method that mutual funds are required to use, could
result in different performance.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Mkt % of
YTD YTD Composite of Value % of Total
Period 1st Q 2nd Q 3rd Q 4th Q Gross Net Dispersion Accounts ($mil) Product Assets
- ------ ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- --- ---------- -------- ------ ------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1996* -- -- 4.23% 5.21% -- -- -- 1 $ 2.2 81.48% 0.13%
1997 1.63% 14.10% 15.26% (2.05%) 30.92% 29.86% -- 1 $ 3.3 52.38% 0.16%
1998 10.64% (0.02%) (10.53%) 16.94% 15.74% 15.15% 1.85% 2 $16.9 50.60% 0.72%
</TABLE>
* For the period commencing July 1, 1996.
+ AIMR is a non-profit membership and education organization with more than
60,000 members worldwide that, among other things, has formulated a set of
performance presentation standards for investment advisers. These AIMR
performance presentation standards are intended to (i) promote full and fair
presentations by investment advisers of their performance results, and (ii)
ensure uniformity in reporting so that performance results of investment
advisers are directly comparable.
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THE ADMINISTRATOR
Investment Company Administration, LLC (the "Administrator") prepares various
federal and state regulatory filings, reports and returns for the Fund, prepares
reports and materials to be supplied to the trustees, monitors the activities of
the Fund's custodian, shareholder servicing agent and accountants, and
coordinates the preparation and payment of Fund expenses and reviews the Fund's
expense accruals. For its services, the Administrator receives a monthly fee at
the annual rate of 0.20% of average daily net assets, subject to a $30,000
annual minimum.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. The Advisor has 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 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, but
is permitted to look back five years and four years, respectively, during the
initial six years and seventh year of the Fund's operations. Any such
reimbursement is also contingent upon Board of Trustees review and approval at
time the reimbursement is made. Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the
Fund's payment of current ordinary operating expenses.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the "Plan").
The Plan permits the Fund to pay for distribution and related expenses at an
annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The expenses
which the Fund may pay include the cost of preparing and distributing
prospectuses and other sales material, advertising and public relations
expenses, payments to financial intermediaries and compensation of personnel
involved in selling shares of the Fund. Payments made pursuant to the Plan will
represent compensation for distribution and service activities, not
reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. The Plan allows excess
distribution expenses to be carried forward for the following three fiscal
years. See the SAI for a full discussion of the Plan.
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
The Advisor considers a number of factors in determining which brokers or
dealers to use for the Fund's portfolio transactions. While these are more fully
discussed in the SAI, the factors include, but are not limited to, the
reasonableness of commissions, quality of services and execution, and the
availability of research which the Advisor may lawfully and appropriately use in
its investment advisory capacities. Provided the Fund receives prompt execution
at competitive prices, the Advisor may also consider the sale of Fund shares as
a factor in selecting broker-dealers for the Fund's portfolio transactions.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Advisor anticipates that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate will not exceed
50%. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to
increased transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable
transactions. See "Taxes" and the SAI for more information on portfolio
turnover.
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INVESTOR GUIDE
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES OF THE FUND
There are several ways to purchase shares of the Fund. An Application Form,
which accompanies this Prospectus, is used if you send money directly to the
Fund by mail or by wire. If you have questions about how to invest, or about how
to complete the Application Form, please call an account representative at
(toll-free) 877-829-8413. First Fund Distributors, Inc., 4455 E. Camelback Road,
Suite 261E, Phoenix, Arizona 85018, an affiliate of the Administrator, is the
principal underwriter ("Distributor") of the Fund's shares.
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 Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund) to the Fund's
Shareholder Servicing Agent, American Data Services, Inc. at the following
address:
Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund
P.O. Box 5536
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0132
If you wish to send your Application Form and check via an overnight delivery
service (such as FedEx), delivery cannot be made to a post office box. In that
case, you should use the following address:
Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund
c/o Star Bank, N.A.
Mutual Fund Custody Department
425 Walnut Street, M.L. 6118, Sixth Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
YOU MAY WIRE MONEY TO THE FUND
Before sending a wire, you should call the Fund at (toll-free) 877-829-8413
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a day when the New York Stock
Exchange ("NYSE") is open for trading, in order to receive an account number. It
is important to call and receive this account number, because if your wire is
sent without it or without the name of the Fund, there may be a delay in
investing the money you wire. You should then ask your bank to wire money to:
Star Bank, N.A. Cinti/Trust
ABA # 0420-0001-3
for credit to Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund
DDA # 488921321
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 shares of the Fund through certain brokers (and their
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
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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 $1,000. The minimum subsequent
investment is $100. However, if you are investing in an Individual Retirement
Account ("IRA"), or you are starting an Automatic Investment Plan (see below),
the minimum initial and subsequent investments are $250 and $100, respectively.
SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS
You may purchase additional shares of the Fund by sending a check, with the stub
from an account statement, to the Fund at the address above. Please also write
your account number on the check. (If you do not have a stub from an account
statement, you can write your name, address and account number on a separate
piece of paper and enclose it with your check.) If you want to send additional
money for investment by wire, it is important for you to call the Fund at
(toll-free) 877-829-8413. You may also make additional purchases through an
investment dealer, as described above.
INVESTMENT OF MONEY IN THE FUND
Any money received for investment in the Fund from an investor, whether sent by
check or by wire, is invested at the net asset value of the Fund which is next
calculated after the money is received (assuming the check or wire correctly
identifies the Fund and account). Orders received from dealers are invested at
the net asset value next calculated after the order is received. The net asset
value is calculated at the close of regular trading of the NYSE, normally 4:00
p.m., Eastern time. A check or wire received after the NYSE closes is invested
as of the next calculation of the Fund's net asset value.
THE FUND'S NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund's net asset value per share is calculated by dividing the value of the
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 fair value of short-term obligations with remaining maturities of 60 days or
less is considered to be their amortized cost.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Distributor may waive the minimum investment requirements for purchases by
certain group or retirement plans. All investments must be made in U.S. dollars,
and checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. Third party checks will not be accepted.
A charge may be imposed if a check used to make an investment does not clear.
The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any investment, in
whole or in part. Federal tax law requires that investors provide a certified
taxpayer identification number and other certifications on opening an account in
order to avoid backup withholding of taxes. See the Application Form for more
information about backup withholding. The Fund is not required to issue share
certificates; all shares are normally held in non-certificated form on the books
of the Fund, for the account of the shareholder.
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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 INVESTMENT PLAN
You may make regular monthly investments in the Fund using the Automatic
Investment Plan. A check is automatically drawn on your personal checking
account each month for a predetermined amount (but not less than $100), as if
you had written it directly. Upon receipt of the withdrawn funds, the Fund
automatically invests the money in additional shares of the Fund at the next
calculated 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 scheduled withdrawal.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWALS
The Fund offers a Systematic Withdrawal Program whereby shareholders may request
that a check drawn in a predetermined amount be sent to them each month or
calendar quarter. To start this Program, your account must have Fund shares with
a value of at least $10,000, and the minimum amount that may be withdrawn each
month or quarter is $50. This Program may be terminated or modified by a
shareholder or the Fund at any time without charge or penalty. A withdrawal
under the Systematic Withdrawal Program involves a redemption of shares of the
Fund, and may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. In
addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the dividends credited to your
account, the account ultimately may be depleted.
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR SHARES
You have the right to redeem all or any portion of your shares of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value on each day the NYSE is open for trading.
REDEMPTION IN WRITING
You may redeem your shares by simply sending a written request to the Fund. You
should give your account number and state whether you want all or some of your
shares redeemed. The letter should be signed by all of the shareholders whose
names appear in the account registration information. You should send your
redemption request to:
Segall Bryant & Hamill Mid Cap Fund
P.O. Box 5536
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0132
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
If the value of the shares you wish to redeem exceeds $5,000, 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
12
<PAGE>
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 (toll-free) 877-829-8413 before the close
of trading on the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Redemption proceeds
will be mailed or wired, at your direction, on the next business day to the bank
account you designated on the Application Form. The minimum amount that may be
wired is $1,000 (wire charges, if any, will be deducted from redemption
proceeds). Telephone redemptions cannot be made for IRA accounts.
By establishing telephone redemption privileges, you authorize the Fund and its
Shareholder Servicing Agent to act upon the instruction of any person who makes
the telephone call to redeem shares from your account and transfer the proceeds
to the bank account designated in the Application Form. The Fund and the
Shareholder Servicing Agent will use procedures to confirm that redemption
instructions received by telephone are genuine, including recording of telephone
instructions and requiring a form of personal identification before acting on
these instructions. If these normal identification procedures are followed,
neither the Fund nor the Shareholder Servicing Agent will be liable for any
loss, liability, or cost which results from acting upon instructions of a person
believed to be a shareholder with respect to the telephone redemption privilege.
The Fund may change, modify, or terminate these privileges at any time upon at
least 60 days' notice to shareholders.
You may request telephone redemption privileges after your account is opened;
however, the authorization form will require a separate signature guarantee.
Shareholders may experience delays in exercising telephone redemption privileges
during periods of abnormal market activity.
REDEMPTION PRICE AND PAYMENTS
The redemption price is the net asset value of the Fund's shares next calculated
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. 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, payment of redemption proceeds cannot be made
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.
13
<PAGE>
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.
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.
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 calculated on the reinvestment date unless you have previously
requested in writing to the Shareholder Servicing Agent that payment be made in
cash.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund has the effect of reducing the net
asset value per share on the record date by the amount of the dividend or
distribution. You should note that a dividend or distribution paid on shares
purchased shortly before that dividend or distribution was declared will be
subject to income taxes even though the dividend or distribution represents, in
substance, a partial return of capital to you.
TAXES
The Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. As long as the Fund
continues to qualify, and as long as the Fund distributes all of its income each
year to the shareholders, the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or
excise taxes. Distributions made by the Fund will be taxable to shareholders
whether received in shares (through dividend reinvestment) or incash.
Distributions derived from net investment income, including net short-term
capital gains, are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. A portion of
these distributions may qualify for the intercorporate dividends-received
deduction. Distributions designated as capital gains dividends are taxable as
capital gains regardless of the length of time shares of the Fund have been
held. 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.
Additional information about taxes is set forth in the SAI. You should consult
your own advisors concerning federal, state and local taxation of distributions
from the Fund.
GENERAL INFORMATION
THE TRUST
The Trust was organized as a Delaware business trust on October 3, 1996. The
Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits the Board of Trustees (the "Board")
to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial
interest, par value $0.01 per share, which may be issued in any number of
series. The Board may, from time to time, authorize other series, the assets and
liabilities of which will be separate and distinct from all other series. The
Board may also authorize the issuance of additional classes of shares for an
existing series.
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SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
Shares issued by the Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription
rights. Shareholders have equal and exclusive rights as to dividends and
distributions as declared by the Fund and to the net assets of the Fund upon
liquidation or dissolution. The Fund, as a separate series of the Trust, votes
separately on matters affecting only the Fund (E.G., approval of the Investment
Advisory Agreement); all series of the Trust vote as a single class on matters
affecting all series jointly or the Trust as a whole (E.G., election or removal
of Trustees). Voting rights are not cumulative, so that the holders of more than
50% of the shares voting in any election of Trustees can, if they so choose,
elect all of the Trustees. While the Trust is not required and does not intend
to hold annual meetings of shareholders, such meetings may be called by the
Trustees in their discretion, or upon demand by the holders of 10% or more of
the outstanding shares of the Trust for the purpose of electing or removing
Trustees.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
From time to time, the Fund may publish its total return in advertisements and
communications to investors. Total return information will include the Fund's
average annual compounded rate of return over the most recent four calendar
quarters and over the period from the Fund's inception of operations. The Fund
may also advertise aggregate and average total return information over different
periods of time. The Fund's total return will be based upon the value of the
shares acquired through a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the
specified period and the net asset value of those shares at the end of the
period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions. Total return figures will
reflect all recurring charges against Fund income. You should note that the
investment results of the Fund will fluctuate over time, and any presentation of
the Fund's total return for any prior period should not be considered as a
representation of what an investor's total return may be in any future period.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES
Shareholder inquiries should be directed to the Shareholder Servicing Agent at
(toll-free) 877-829-8413.
YEAR 2000 RISK
Like other business organizations around the world, the Fund could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by its investment advisor and other
service providers do not properly process and calculate information related to
dates beginning January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000
Problem." Failure of computer systems used for securities trading could result
in settlement and liquidity problems for the Fund and investors. That failure
could have a negative impact on handling securities trades and pricing and
accounting services. Additionally, the services provided to the Fund depend on
the interaction of computer systems with those of brokers, information vendors
and other parties; therefore, any failure of the computer systems of those
parties may cause service problems for the Fund. 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 Year
2000 Project Plan that is reasonably designed to address the Year 2000 Problem
with respect to the Advisor's and other service providers' computer systems.
Included in the Year 2000 Project Plan is a provision for a contingency plan for
the retention of other service providers to replace those services providers
whose performance in converting to Year 2000 compliant data processing equipment
has been deemed to be less than satisfactory. There can be no assurance that
these actions will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Fund. The
extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this time.
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ADVISOR
Segall Bryant & Hamill
10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 836-4265
DISTRIBUTOR
First Fund Distributors, Inc.
4455 East Camelback Road, Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
CUSTODIAN
Star Bank, N.A.
525 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
TRANSFER AGENT AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT
American Data Services
P.O. Box 5536
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0132
(toll-free) 877-829-8413
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
555 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
LEGAL COUNSEL
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
345 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94014
<PAGE>
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL MID CAP FUND
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dated February 26, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus, and it
should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated February 26, 1999, as
may be revised, of the SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL MID CAP FUND (the "Fund"), a
series of Advisors Series Trust (the "Trust"). Segall Bryant & Hamill (the
"Advisor") is the advisor to the Fund. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained
from the Fund c/o American Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 5536, Hauppauge, NY
11788-0132 or by calling toll free at 877-829-8413.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cross-reference to sections
Page in the prospectus
---- ---------------------------
Investment Objectives and Policies ....... B-2 Investment Objectives and
Policies
Management................................ B-14 Management of the Fund
Distribution Plan ........................ B-17 Management of the Fund
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage...... B-17 Management of the Fund
Portfolio Turnover ....................... B-18 Management of the Fund
Net Asset Value........................... B-18 Investor Guide
Taxation ........................... B-19 Taxes
Dividends and Distributions............... B-22 Dividends and Distributions
Performance Information................... B-22 General Information
General Information....................... B-23 General Information
Appendix - Description of Ratings......... B-25 Not applicable
B-1
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek growth of capital with
income as a secondary objective. The Fund attempts to achieve its objectives by
investing primarily in securities of medium capitalization companies. There is
no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objectives. The 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
affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to
participate in the capital appreciation attendant 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).
RISKS OF INVESTING IN DEBT SECURITIES
There are a number of risks generally associated with an investment in
debt securities (including convertible securities). Yields on short-,
intermediate-, and long-term securities depend on a variety of factors,
including the general condition of the money and bond markets, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the
issue.
Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields
and are generally subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and
depreciation than obligations with short maturities and lower yields. The market
prices of debt securities usually vary, depending upon available yields. An
increase in interest rates will generally reduce the value of such portfolio
investments, and a decline in interest rates will generally increase the value
of such portfolio investments.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT, BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES AND TIME DEPOSITS. The
Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and time
deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against
funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a
specified return. Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of
exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific
merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank
unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.
Certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances acquired by the Fund will be
dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks, savings and loan
associations 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.
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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.
COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM NOTES. 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 Standard & Poor's Ratings Group,
"Prime-1" or "Prime-2" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., 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.
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may under certain circumstances invest a portion of its assets
in other investment companies, including money market funds. An investment in a
mutual fund will involve payment by the Fund of its pro rata share of advisory
and administrative fees charged by such fund.
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
B-3
<PAGE>
performance and the timely service of such debtor's obligations. Failure to meet
such conditions could result in the cancellation of such third parties'
commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such
debtor's ability or willingness to service its debt in a timely manner.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND CURRENCIES
The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are not
publicly traded in the United States. The Fund may also invest in depositary
receipts, purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and enter into
forward currency contracts (see "Forward Currency Contracts," below).
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 US 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.
EURO CONVERSION. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in
foreign currencies. 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.
MARKET CHARACTERISTICS. The Advisor expects that many foreign
securities in which the Fund invest will be purchased in over-the-counter
markets or on exchanges located in the countries in which the principal offices
of the issuers of the various securities are located, if that is the best
available market. Foreign exchanges and markets may be more volatile than those
in the United States. While growing in volume, they usually have substantially
less volume than U.S. markets, and the Fund's foreign securities may be less
liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities. Moreover, settlement practices
for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in United States
markets, and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States.
Foreign security trading practices, including those involving securities
settlement where Fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment or
securities, may expose the Fund to increased risk in the event of a failed trade
or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS. Certain foreign countries may have less
supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities, and less
financial information available to issuers, than is available in the United
States.
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.
COSTS. To the extent that the Fund invests in foreign securities, its
expense ratio is likely to be higher than those of investment companies
investing only in domestic securities, since the cost of maintaining the custody
of foreign securities is higher.
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EMERGING MARKETS. Some of the securities in which the Fund may invest
may be located in developing or emerging markets, which entail additional risks,
including less social, political and economic stability; smaller securities
markets and lower trading volume, which may result in less liquidity and greater
price volatility; national policies that may restrict the Fund's investment
opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries, or
expropriation or confiscation of assets or property; and less developed legal
structures governing private or foreign investment.
In considering whether to invest in the securities of a foreign
company, the Advisor considers such factors as the characteristics of the
particular company, differences between economic trends and the performance of
securities markets within the U.S. and those within other countries, and also
factors relating to the general economic, governmental and social conditions of
the country or countries where the company is located. The extent to which the
Fund will be invested in foreign companies and countries and depository receipts
will fluctuate from time to time within the limitations described in the
prospectus, depending on the Advisor's assessment of prevailing market, economic
and other conditions.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES STRATEGIES
The Fund may purchase put and call options and engage in the writing of
covered call options and secured put options, and employ a variety of other
investment techniques. Specifically, the Fund may engage in the purchase and
sale of stock index future contracts, interest rate futures contracts, and
options on such futures, all as described more fully below. Such investment
policies and techniques may involve a greater degree of risk than those
inherentin more conservative investment approaches.
The Fund will engage in such transactions only to hedge existing
positions and not for the purposes of speculation or leverage. The Fund will not
engage in such options or futures transactions unless it receives any necessary
regulatory approvals permitting it to engage in such transactions.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES. To hedge against adverse market shifts, the Fund
may purchase put and call options on securities held in its portfolio. In
addition, the Fund may seek to increase its income in an amount designed to meet
operating expenses or may hedge a portion of its portfolio investments through
writing (that is, selling) "covered" put and call options. A put option provides
its purchaser with the right to compel the writer of the option to purchase from
the option holder an underlying security at a specified price at any time during
or at the end of the option period. In contrast, a call option gives the
purchaser the right to buy the underlying security covered by the option from
the writer of the option at the stated exercise price. A covered call option
contemplates that, for so long as the Fund is obligated as the writer of the
option, it will own (1) the underlying securities subject to the option or (2)
securities convertible into, or exchangeable without the payment of any
consideration for, the securities subject to the option. The value of the
underlying securities on which covered call options will be written at any one
time by the Fund will not exceed 25% of the Fund's total assets. The Fund will
be considered "covered" with respect to a put option it writes if, so long as it
is obligated as the writer of a put option, it segregates cash or liquid
high-grade debt obligations that are acceptable to the appropriate regulatory
authority.
The Fund may purchase options on securities that are listed on
securities exchanges or that are traded over-the-counter ("OTC"). As the holder
of a put option, the Fund has the right to sell the securities underlying the
option and as the holder of a call option, the Fund has the right to purchase
the securities underlying the option, in each case at the option's exercise
price at any time prior to, or on, the option's expiration date. The Fund may
choose to exercise the options it holds, permit them to expire or terminate them
prior to their expiration by entering into closing sale transactions. In
entering into a closing sale transaction, the Fund would sell an option of the
same series as the one it has purchased.
The Fund receives a premium when it writes call options, which
increases the Fund's return on the underlying security in the event the option
expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. By writing a call, the Fund
limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the
underlying security above the exercise price of the option for as long as the
Fund's obligation as writer of the option continues. The Fund receives a premium
when it writes put options, which increases the Fund's return on the underlying
security in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a
profit. By writing a put, the Fund limits its opportunity to profit from an
increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price
of the option for as long as the Fund's obligation as writer of the option
continues. Thus, in some periods, the Fund will receive less total return and in
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other periods greater total return from its hedged positions than it would have
received from its underlying securities if unhedged.
In purchasing a put option, the Fund seeks to benefit from a decline in
the market price of the underlying security, whereas in purchasing a call
option, the Fund seeks to benefit from an increase in the market price of the
underlying security. If an option purchased is not sold or exercised when it has
remaining value, or if the market price of the underlying security remains equal
to or greater than the exercise price, in the case of a put, or remains equal to
or below the exercise price, in the case of a call, during the life of the
option, the Fund will lose its investment in the option. For the purchase of an
option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must
decline sufficiently below the exercise price, in the case of a put, and must
increase sufficiently above the exercise price, in the case of a call, to cover
the premium and transaction costs. Because option premiums paid by the Fund are
small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options,
buying options can result in large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by
trading in options could cause the Fund's net asset value to be subject to more
frequent and wider fluctuations than would be the case if the Fund did not
invest in options.
OTC OPTIONS. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in several
respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing
corporation, and there is a risk of non-performance by the dealer. However, the
premium is paid in advance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a
greater variety of securities and foreign currencies, and in a wider range of
expiration dates and exercise prices than exchange-traded options. Since there
is no exchange, pricing is normally done by reference to information from a
market maker, which information is carefully monitored or caused to be monitored
by the Adviser and verified in appropriate cases.
A writer or purchaser of a put or call option can terminate it
voluntarily only by entering into a closing transaction. In the case of OTC
options, there can be no assurance that a continuous liquid secondary market
will exist for any particular option at any specific time. Consequently, the
Fund may be able to realize the value of an OTC option it has purchased only by
exercising it or entering into a closing sale transaction with the dealer that
issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes an OTC option, it generally can close
out that option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase
transaction with the dealer to which it originally wrote the option. If a
covered call option writer cannot effect a closing transaction, it cannot sell
the underlying security or foreign currency until the option expires or the
option is exercised. Therefore, the writer of a covered OTC call option may not
be able to sell an underlying security even though it might otherwise be
advantageous to do so. Likewise, the writer of a covered OTC put option may be
unable to sell the securities pledged to secure the put for other investment
purposes while it is obligated as a put writer. Similarly, a purchaser of an OTC
put or call option might also find it difficult to terminate its position on a
timely basis in the absence of a secondary market.
The Fund may purchase and write OTC put and call options in negotiated
transactions. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has previously
taken the position that the value of purchased OTC options and the assets used
as "cover" for written OTC options are illiquid securities and, as such, are to
be included in the calculation of the Fund's 15% limitation on illiquid
securities. However, the staff has eased its position somewhat in certain
limited circumstances. The Fund will attempt to enter into contracts with
certain dealers with which it writes OTC options. Each such contract will
provide that the Fund has the absolute right to repurchase the options it writes
at any time at a repurchase price which represents the fair market value, as
determined in good faith through negotiation between the parties, but which in
no event will exceed a price determined pursuant to a formula contained in the
contract. Although the specific details of such formula may vary among
contracts, the formula will generally be based upon a multiple of the premium
received by the Fund for writing the option, plus the amount, if any, of the
option's intrinsic value. The formula will also include a factor to account for
the difference between the price of the security and the strike price of the
option. If such a contract is entered into, the Fund will count as illiquid only
the initial formula price minus the option's intrinsic value.
The Fund will enter into such contracts only with primary U.S.
Government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York. Moreover, such primary dealers will be subject to the same standards as
are imposed upon dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements.
SECURITIES INDEX OPTIONS. In seeking to hedge all or a portion of its
investment, the Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities
indices listed on securities exchanges, which indices include securities held in
the Fund's portfolio.
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A securities index measures the movement of a certain group of stocks
or debt securities by assigning relative values to the securities included in
the index. Options on securities indexes are generally similar to options on
specific securities. Unlike options on specific securities, however, options on
securities indexes do not involve the delivery of an underlying security; the
option in the case of an option on a stock index represents the holder's right
to obtain from the writer in cash a fixed multiple of the amount by which the
exercise price exceeds (in the case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a
call) the closing value of the underlying stock index on the exercise date.
When the Fund writes an option on a securities index, it will segregate
assets in an amount equal to the market value of the option, and will maintain
while the option is open.
Securities index options are subject to position and exercise limits
and other regulations imposed by the exchange on which they are traded. If the
Fund writes a securities index option, it may terminate its obligation by
effecting a closing purchase transaction, which is accomplished by purchasing an
option of the same series as the option previously written. The ability of the
Fund to engage in closing purchase transactions with respect to securities index
options depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market. Although the Fund
generally purchases or writes securities index options only if a liquid
secondary market for the options purchased or sold appears to exist, no such
secondary market may exist, or the market may cease to exist at some future
date, for some options. No assurance can be given that a closing purchase
transaction can be effected when the Fund desires to engage in such a
transaction.
RISKS RELATING TO PURCHASE AND SALE OF OPTIONS ON STOCK INDICES.
Purchase and sale of options on stock indices by the Fund are subject to certain
risks that are not present with options on securities. Because the effectiveness
of purchasing or writing stock index options as a hedging technique depends upon
the extent to which price movements in the Fund's portfolio correlate with price
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 writing of an
option on an index depends upon movements in the level of stock prices in the
stock market generally or, in the case of certain indices, in an industry or
market segment, rather than movements in the price of a particular stock.
Accordingly, successful use by the Fund of options on indexes will be subject to
the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the direction of
the stock market generally or of a particular industry. This requires different
skills and techniques than predicting changes in the price of individual stocks.
In the event the Advisor is unsuccessful in predicting the movements of an
index, the Fund could be in a worse position than had no hedge been attempted.
Index prices may be distorted if trading of certain stocks included in
the index is interrupted. Trading in 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 occurred, the Fund would not be able to
close out options which it had purchased or written and, if restrictions on
exercise were imposed, might be unable to exercise an option it holds, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. However, it will be the Fund's
policy to purchase or write options only on indices which include a sufficient
number of stocks so that the likelihood of a trading halt in the index is
minimized.
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may
purchase and sell stock index futures contracts. The purpose of the acquisition
or sale of a futures contract by the Fund is to hedge against fluctuations in
the value of its portfolio without actually buying or selling securities. The
futures contracts in which the Fund may invest have been developed by and are
traded on national commodity exchanges. Stock index futures contracts may be
based upon broad-based stock indices such as the S&P 500 or upon narrow-based
stock indices. A buyer entering into a stock index futures contract will, on a
specified future date, pay or receive a final cash payment equal to the
difference between the actual value of the stock index on the last day of the
contract and the value of the stock index established by the contract. The Fund
may assume both "long" and "short" positions with respect to futures contracts.
A long position involves entering into a futures contract to buy a commodity,
whereas a short position involves entering into a futures contract to sell a
commodity.
The purpose of trading futures contracts is to protect the Fund from
fluctuations in value of its investment securities without necessarily buying or
selling the securities. Because the value of the Fund's investment securities
will exceed the value of the futures contracts sold by the Fund, an increase in
the value of the futures contracts could only mitigate, but not totally offset,
the decline in the value of the Fund's assets. No consideration is paid or
received by the Fund upon trading a futures contract. Upon trading a futures
contract, the Fund will be required to segregate an amount of cash, short-term
Government Securities or other U.S. dollar-denominated, high-grade, short-term
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money market instruments equal to approximately 1% to 10% of the contract amount
(this amount is subject to change by the exchange on which the contract is
traded and brokers may charge a higher amount). This amount is known as "initial
margin" and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the
contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract,
assuming that all contractual obligations have been satisfied; the broker will
have access to amounts in the margin account if the Fund fails to meet its
contractual obligations. Subsequent payments, known as "variation margin," to
and from the broker, will be made daily as the price of the currency or
securities underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short
positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as
"marking-to-market." At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract,
the Fund may elect to close a position by taking an opposite position, which
will operate to terminate the Fund's existing position in the contract.
Each short position in a futures or options contract entered into by
the Fund is secured by the Fund's ownership of underlying securities. The Fund
does not use leverage when it enters into long futures or options contracts; the
Fund segregates, with respect to each of its long positions, cash or money
market instruments having a value equal to the underlying commodity value of the
contract.
The Fund may trade stock index futures contracts to the extent
permitted under rules and interpretations adopted by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (the "CFTC"). U.S. futures contracts have been designed by
exchanges that have been designated as "contract markets" by the CFTC, and must
be executed through a futures commission merchant, or brokerage firm, that is a
member of the relevant contract market. Futures contracts trade on a number of
contract markets, and, through their clearing corporations, the exchanges
guarantee performance of the contracts as between the clearing members of the
exchange.
The Fund intends to comply with CFTC regulations and avoid "commodity
pool operator" status. These regulations require that the Fund use futures and
options positions (a) for "bona fide hedging purposes" (as defined in the
regulations) or (b) for other purposes so long as aggregate initial margins and
premiums required in connection with non-hedging positions do not exceed 5% of
the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund currently does not
intend to engage in transactions in futures contracts or options thereon for
speculation, but will engage in such transactions only for bona fide hedging
purposes.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES
CONTRACTS. There are several risks in using stock index futures contracts as
hedging devices. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to
initial margin and variation margin requirements. Rather than making additional
variation margin payments, investors may close the contracts through offsetting
transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the index or
security and the futures market. Second, the margin requirements in the futures
market are lower than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a
result the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities
market. Increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also
cause temporary price distortions. Because of possible price distortion in the
futures market and because of imperfect correlation between movements in stock
indices or securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, even a
correct forecast of general market trends may not result in a successful hedging
transaction over a very short period.
Another risk arises because of imperfect correlation between movements
in the value of the futures contracts and movements in the value of securities
subject to the hedge. With respect to stock index futures contracts, the risk of
imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the Fund's portfolio
diverges from the securities included in the applicable stock index. It is
possible that the Fund might sell stock index futures contracts to hedge its
portfolio against a decline in the market, only to have the market advance and
the value of securities held in the Fund's portfolio decline. If this occurred,
the Fund would lose money on the contracts and also experience a decline in the
value of its portfolio securities. While this could occur, the Advisor believes
that over time the value of the Fund's portfolio will tend to move in the same
direction as the market indices and will attempt to reduce this risk, to the
extent possible, by entering into futures contracts on indices whose movements
they believe will have a significant correlation with movements in the value of
the Fund's portfolio securities sought to be hedged.
Successful use of futures contracts by the Fund is subject to the
ability of the Advisor to predict correctly movements in the direction of
interest rates or the market. If the Fund has hedged against the possibility of
a decline in the value of the stocks held in its portfolio or an increase in
interest rates adversely affecting the value of fixed-income securities held in
its portfolio and stock prices increase or interest rates decrease instead, the
Fund would lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its
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security which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its
futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient
cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin
requirements. Such sales of securities may, but will not necessarily, be at
increased prices which reflect the rising market or decline in interest rates.
The Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to
do so.
LIQUIDITY OF FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may elect to close some or all
of its contracts prior to expiration. The purpose of making such a move would be
to reduce or eliminate the hedge position held by the Fund. The Fund may close
its positions by taking opposite positions. Final determinations of variation
margin are then made, additional cash as required is paid by or to the Fund, and
the Fund realizes a loss or a gain. Positions in futures contracts may be closed
only on an exchange or board of trade providing a secondary market for such
futures contracts. Although the Fund intends to enter into futures contracts
only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be an active
secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for any particular contract at any particular time.
In addition, most domestic futures exchanges and boards of trade limit
the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single
trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a
futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement
price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in
a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that
limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading
day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent
the liquidation of unfavorable positions. It is possible that futures contract
prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with
little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions
and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses. In such event, it
will not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse
price movements, the Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of
variation margin. In such circumstances, an increase in the value of the portion
of the portfolio being hedged, if any, may partially or completely offset losses
on the futures contract. However, as described above, there is no guarantee that
the price of the securities being hedged will, in fact, correlate with the price
movements in the futures contract and thus provide an offset to losses on a
futures contract.
RISKS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The
use of options on interest rate and stock index futures contracts also involves
additional risk. Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the
purchase of call or put options on futures contracts involves less potential
risk to the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the
options (plus transactions costs). The writing of a call option on a futures
contract generates a premium which may partially offset a decline in the value
of the Fund's portfolio assets. By writing a call option, the Fund becomes
obligated to sell a futures contract, which may have a value higher than the
exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract
generates a premium, but the Fund becomes obligated to purchase a futures
contract, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss
incurred by the Fund in writing options on futures contracts may exceed the
amount of the premium received.
The effective use of options strategies is dependent, among other
things, on the Fund's ability to terminate options positions at a time when the
Advisor deems it desirable to do so. Although the Fund will enter into an option
position only if the Advisor believes that a liquid secondary market exists for
such option, there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing
transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The Fund's
transactions involving options on futures contracts will be conducted only on
recognized exchanges.
The Fund's purchase or sale of put or call options on futures contracts
will be based upon predictions as to anticipated interest rates or market trends
by the Advisor, which could prove to be inaccurate. Even if the expectations of
the Advisor are correct, there may be an imperfect correlation between the
change in the value of the options and of the Fund's portfolio securities.
Investments in futures contracts and related options by their nature
tend to be more short-term than other equity investments made by the Fund. The
Fund's ability to make such investments, therefore, may result in an increase in
the Fund's portfolio activity and thereby may result in the payment of
additional transaction costs.
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts in anticipation of
changes in currency exchange rates. A forward currency contract is an obligation
to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed
number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a
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price set at the time of the contract. For example, the Fund might purchase a
particular currency or enter into a forward currency contract to preserve the
U.S. dollar price of securities it intends to or has contracted to purchase.
Alternatively, it might sell a particular currency on either a spot or forward
basis to hedge against an anticipated decline in the dollar value of securities
it intends to or has contracted to sell. Although this strategy could minimize
the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, it could
also limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the currency.
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 Investment Company Act (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 designate liquid
assets equal to the amount of the commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be
required subsequently to designate 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 designate 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 incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain an advantageous price.
The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, a
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.
BORROWING
The Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary,
extraordinary or emergency purposes or for clearance of transactions in amounts
not to exceed 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets at the time of such
borrowings. The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risk
considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar
objectives and policies. Since substantially all of the Fund's assets fluctuate
in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed
by the terms of the Fund's agreement with its lender, the net 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 assets decrease in
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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 fundamental
investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Fund is required to
designate specific liquid assets with its custodian equal to the amount it has
borrowed.
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
The Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not exceeding
30% 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 Internal Revenue Code (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 as little as 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.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund may not invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in
securities that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual restrictions
on resale or are otherwise illiquid. The Advisor will monitor the amount of
illiquid securities in the Fund's portfolio, under the supervision of the
Trust's Board of Trustees, to ensure compliance with the Fund's investment
restrictions.
Historically, illiquid securities have included securities subject to
contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), securities
which are otherwise not readily marketable and repurchase agreements having a
maturity of longer than seven days. Securities which have not been registered
under the Securities Act are referred to as private placement or restricted
securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary
market. Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of these
restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on
resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse
B-11
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effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable
to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable
prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requests
within seven days. The Fund might also have to register such restricted
securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and
delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of
securities.
In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed
for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act,
including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal
securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors depend on an
efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily
resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment. The fact that
there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or
to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such
investments. If such securities are subject to purchase by institutional buyers
in accordance with Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act,
the Trust's Board of Trustees may determine that such securities are not
illiquid securities notwithstanding their legal or contractual restrictions on
resale. In all other cases, however, securities subject to restrictions on
resale will be deemed illiquid.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following
restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the
favorable vote of the holders of a "majority," as defined in the 1940 Act, of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the "vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote
of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund 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. Except
with respect to borrowing, and illiquid securities, changes in values of the
Fund's assets will not cause a violation of the following investment
restrictions so long as percentage requirements are observed by the Fund at the
time it purchases any security.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund's investment objectives are
fundamental.
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<PAGE>
In addition, the Fund may not:
1. The Fund will not borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from
banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, including the
meeting of redemption requests and cash payments of dividends and distributions
that might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, in an
amount not to exceed 33- 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including
the amount borrowed) valued at market less liabilities (not including the amount
borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. Whenever borrowings exceed 5% of
the value of the total assets of the Fund, the Fund will not make any additional
investments.
2. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. For purposes of this
restriction, the term industry will be deemed to include the government of any
country other than the United States, but not the U.S. Government.
3. The Fund will not lend money to other persons, except through
purchasing debt obligations, lending portfolio securities and entering into
repurchase agreements.
4. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. For purposes of this
restriction, the term industry will be deemed to include the government of any
country other than the United States, but not the U.S. Government.
5. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate or real estate
limited partnership interests, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests in real estate.
6. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity
contracts, except futures contracts and related options and other similar
contracts.
7. The Fund will not act as an underwriter of securities, except that
the Fund may acquire securities under circumstances in which, if the securities
were sold, the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
8. The Fund will not issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940
Act, other than as set forth in restriction #1 above and except to the extent
that using options and futures contracts or purchasing or selling securities on
a when-issued or forward commitment basis may be deemed to constitute issuing a
senior security.
The Fund has adopted the following operating (i.e. non-fundamental)
investment policies and restrictions which may be changed by the Board of
Directors without shareholder approval:
1. The Fund will not 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; or
2. The Fund will not participate on a joint or joint-and-several basis
in any securities trading account.
3. The Fund will not invest in warrants (other than warrants acquired
by the Fund as part of a unit or attached to securities at the time of purchase)
if, as a result, the investments (valued at the lower of cost or market) would
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's net assets of which not more than 2% of the
Fund's net assets may be invested in warrants not listed on a recognized foreign
or domestic stock exchange.
4. The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, except that the
Fund may obtain any short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases
and sales of securities. For purposes of this restriction, the deposit or
payment of initial or variation margin in connection with futures contracts or
options on futures contracts will not be deemed to be a purchase of securities
on margin.
5. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in
securities which are restricted as to disposition or otherwise are illiquid or
have no readily available market (except for securities which are determined by
the Board of Trustees to be liquid).
Except for the Fund's policies regarding borrowing and illiquid
securities, any investment restriction described in the prospectus and this SAI
which involves a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be
considered to be violated unless an excess over the applicable percentage occurs
immediately after an acquisition of securities or utilization of assets and such
excess results therefrom.
B-13
<PAGE>
DIVERSIFICATION
The Fund intends to operate as a "diversified" management investment
company, as defined in the 1940 Act, which means that at least 75% of its total
assets must be represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S.
Government securities, securities of other investment companies, and other
securities for the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one
issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of total assets of
the Fund and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such
issuer
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 objective 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:
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
NAME, ADDRESS AND AGE POSITION PAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------- -------- ---------------
Walter E. Auch, Sr. Trustee Director, Nicholas-Applegate Mutual
(born 1921) Funds, Brinson Place Funds (since
6001 N. 62nd Place 1994), Smith Barney Trak Fund, Pimco
Paradise Valley, AZ 85153 Advisors, L.P., Semele Land Fund II
and Legend Properties
Eric M. Banhazl* Trustee, Senior Vice President, Investment
(born 1957) President and Company Administration, LLC; Vice
2020 E. Financial Way Treasurer President, First Fund Distributors,
Glendora, CA 91741 Inc.; RNC Mutual Fund Group; RNC
Mutual Fund Group; Treasurer,
Guinness Flight Investment Funds,
Inc.
Donald E. O'Connor Trustee Financial Consultant; Director, The
(born 1936) Parnassus Fund and The Parnassus
1700 Taylor Avenue Income Fund; formerly Executive Vice
Fort Washington, MD 10744 President and Chief Operating
Officer of ICI Mutual Insurance
Company (until January 1997)
George T. Wofford III Trustee Vice President, Information
(born 1939) Services, Federal Home Loan Bank of
305 Glendora Circle San Francisco (since March 1993)
Danville, CA 94526
Steven J. Paggioli Vice Executive Vice President, Robert H.
(born 1950) President Wadsworth & Associates, Inc.,
915 Broadway Investment Company Administration,
New York, NY 10010 LLC; Vice President, First Fund
Distributors, Inc.; President and
Trustee, Professionally Managed
Portfolios; Trustee, Managers Funds
Robert H. Wadsworth Vice President, Robert H. Wadsworth &
(born 1940) President Associates, Inc., Investment Company
4455 E. Camelback Rd. Administration, LLC and First Fund
Suite 261-E Distributors, Inc.; Vice President,
Phoenix, AZ 85018 Professionally Managed Portfolios;
President, Guinness Flight
Investment Funds, Inc.; Director,
Germany Fund, Inc., New Germany
Fund, Inc., Central European Equity
Fund, Inc. and Deutsche Funds, Inc.
B-14
<PAGE>
Chris O. Kissack Secretary Employed by Investment Company
(born 1959) Administration, LLC (since July
4455 E. Camelback Rd. 1996); Formerly employed by Bank
Suite 261-E One, N.A. (from August 1995 until
Phoenix, AZ 85018 July 1996; O'Connor, Cavanagh,
Anderson, Killingsworth and Beshears
(law firm) (until August 1995)
- ----------
* 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
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").
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, SAI, and undertakings; and such
other limitations, policies and procedures as the Trustees of the Trust may
impose from time to time in writing to the Advisor. In providing such services,
the Advisor shall at all times adhere to the provisions and restrictions
contained in the federal securities laws, applicable state securities laws, the
Code, and other applicable law.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Advisor has
agreed to (i) furnish the Fund with advice and recommendations with respect to
the investment of the Fund's assets, (ii) effect the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities; (iii) manage and oversee the investments of the Fund,
subject to the ultimate supervision and direction of the Trust's Board of
Trustees; (iv) vote proxies and take other actions with respect to the Fund's
securities; (v) maintain the books and records required to be maintained with
respect to the securities in the Fund's portfolio; (vi) furnish reports,
statements and other data on securities, economic conditions and other matters
related to the investment of the Fund's assets which the Trustees or the
officers of the Trust may reasonably request; and (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, SAI, 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
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<PAGE>
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 SAIs 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.
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
Advisory 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 SEC 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 rates:
B-16
<PAGE>
FUND ASSET LEVEL FEE RATE
---------------- --------
Less than $15 million $30,000
$15 million to less than $50 million 0.20% of average daily net assets
$50 million to less than $100 million 0.15% of average daily net assets
$100 million to less than $150 million 0.10% of average daily net assets
more than $150 million 0.05% of average daily net assets
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
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.
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
B-17
<PAGE>
of brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions, subject to the
requirements of best execution, I.E., that such brokers or dealers are able to
execute the order promptly and at the best obtainable securities price.
On occasions when the Advisor deems the purchase or sale of a security
to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the Advisor,
the Advisor, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may
aggregate the securities to be so purchased or sold in order to obtain the most
favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and the most efficient execution.
In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Advisor in the manner
it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary
obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading
purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time
they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investing
considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the
fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities
owned during the fiscal year. A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur if all
the securities in the Fund's portfolio, with the exception of securities whose
maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and
either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio
turnover (100% or more) generally leads to transaction costs and may result in a
greater number of taxable transactions. See "Portfolio Transactions and
Brokerage."
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") (normally 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 for the following holidays: 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, trading in and valuation of foreign securities is
substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the
NYSE. In addition, trading in and valuation of foreign securities may not take
place on every day in which the NYSE is open for trading. In that case, the
price used to determine the Fund's net asset value on the last day on which such
exchange was open will be used, unless the Trust's Board of Trustees determines
that a different price should be used. Furthermore, trading takes place in
various foreign markets on days in which the NYSE is not open for trading and on
which the Fund's net asset value is not calculated. Occasionally, events
affecting the values of such securities in U.S. dollars on a day on which the
Fund calculates its net asset value may occur between the times when such
securities are valued and the close of the NYSE that will not be reflected in
the computation of the Fund's net asset value unless the Board or its delegates
deem that such events would materially affect the net asset value, in which case
an adjustment would be made.
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, which are traded on securities exchanges are
valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are
traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued
or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and
asked price. Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on
the exchange determined by the Advisor to be the primary market. Securities
traded in the OTC market are valued at the mean between the last available bid
and asked price prior to the time of valuation. Securities and assets for which
market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities
which are subject to limitations as to their sale) are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.
Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60
days are valued at current market prices, as discussed above. Short-term
securities with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions
B-18
<PAGE>
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.
Corporate debt securities are valued on the basis of valuations
provided by dealers in those instruments, by an independent pricing service,
approved by the Board, or at fair value as determined in good faith by
procedures approved by the Board. Any such pricing service, in determining
value, will use information with respect to transactions in the securities being
valued, quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable securities,
analyses and evaluations of various relationships between securities and yield
to maturity information.
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.
Any assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign
currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the official exchange rate or,
alternatively, at the mean of the current bid and asked prices of such
currencies against the U.S. dollar last quoted by a major bank that is a regular
participant in the foreign exchange market or on the basis of a pricing service
that takes into account the quotes provided by a number of such major banks. If
neither of these alternatives is available or both are deemed not to provide a
suitable methodology for converting a foreign currency into U.S. dollars, the
Board in good faith will establish a conversion rate for such currency.
All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in
good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.
TAXATION
The Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of 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 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% or 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
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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 prospectus. 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 of securities of foreign corporations, the
Fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders the pro rata share of all
foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, shareholders
will be (i) required to include in their gross income their pro rata share of
the Fund's foreign source income (including any foreign income taxes paid by the
Fund), and (ii) entitled either to deduct their share of such foreign taxes in
computing their taxable income or to claim a credit for such taxes against their
U.S. income tax, subject to certain limitations under the Code, including
certain holding period requirements. In this case, shareholders will be informed
in writing by the Fund at the end of each calendar year regarding the
availability of any credits on and the amount of foreign source income
(including or excluding foreign income taxes paid by the Fund) to be included in
their income tax returns. If not more than 50% in value of the Fund's total
assets at the end of its fiscal year is invested in stock or securities of
foreign corporations, the Fund will not be entitled under the Code to pass
through to its shareholders their pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by
the Fund. In this case, these taxes will be taken as a deduction by the Fund.
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends and
interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations.
The use of hedging strategies, such as entering into futures contracts
and forward contracts and purchasing options, involves complex rules that will
determine the character and timing of recognition of the income received in
connection therewith by the Fund. Income from foreign currencies (except certain
gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations) and income from
transactions in options, futures contracts and forward contracts derived by the
Fund with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign
currencies will qualify as permissible income under Subchapter M of the Code.
For accounting purposes, when the Fund purchases an option, the premium
paid by the Fund is recorded as an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the
current market value of the option. Any gain or loss realized by the Fund upon
the expiration or sale of such options held by the Fund generally will be
capital gain or loss.
Any security, option, or other position entered into or held by the
Fund that substantially diminishes the Fund's risk of loss from any other
position held by the Fund may constitute a "straddle" for federal income tax
purposes. In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the
amount, character and timing of the Fund's gains and losses with respect to
straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that the loss realized on
disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred until gain is realized on
disposition of the offsetting position; that the Fund's holding period in
certain straddle positions not begin until the straddle is terminated (possibly
resulting in the gain being treated as short-term capital gain rather than
long-term capital gain); and that losses recognized with respect to certain
straddle positions, which would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses,
be treated as long-term capital losses. Different elections are available to the
Fund that may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules.
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
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<PAGE>
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 and
foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables and foreign currency
options and futures contracts (other than options and futures contracts that are
governed by the mark-to-market and 60/40 rules of Section 1256 of the Code and
for which no election is made) is treated as ordinary income or loss. Some part
of the Fund's gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of shares of a
foreign corporation may, because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates,
be treated as ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the Code, rather than
as capital gain or loss.
A shareholder who purchases shares of the Fund by tendering payment for
the shares in the form of other securities may be required to recognize gain or
loss for income tax purposes on the difference, if any, between the adjusted
basis of the securities tendered to the Fund and the purchase price of the
Fund's shares acquired by the shareholder.
Section 475 of the Code requires that a "dealer" in securities must
generally "mark to market" at the end of its taxable year all securities which
it owns. The resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary (and not capital)
gain or loss, except to the extent allocable to periods during which the dealer
held the security for investment. The "mark to market" rules do not apply,
however, to a security held for investment which is clearly identified in the
dealer's records as being held for investment before the end of the day in which
the security was acquired. The IRS has issued guidance under Section 475 that
provides that, for example, a bank that regularly originates and sells loans is
a dealer in securities, and subject to the "mark to market" rules. Shares of the
Fund held by a dealer in securities will be subject to the "mark to market"
rules unless they are held by the dealer for investment and the dealer property
identifies the shares as held for investment.
Redemptions and exchanges of shares of the Fund will result in gains or
losses for tax purposes to the extent of the difference between the proceeds and
the shareholder's adjusted tax basis for the shares. Any loss realized upon the
redemption or exchange of shares within six months from their date of purchase
will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions of
long-term capital gain dividends with respect to such shares during such
six-month period. All or a portion of a loss realized upon the redemption of
shares of the Fund may be disallowed to the extent shares of the Fund 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 Prospectus 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 advisors concerning the
application of foreign, federal, state and local taxes to an investment in the
Fund.
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<PAGE>
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, and dividends paid on short sales, 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 gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long-term
capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital gain. After
deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the balance (to the
extent not offset by any capital losses carried over from the eight previous
taxable years) will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the
hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund's shares may
have been held by the shareholders. For more information concerning applicable
capital gains tax rates, see your tax advisor.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund reduces the Fund's net
asset value per share on the date paid by the amount of the dividend or
distribution per share. Accordingly, a dividend or distribution paid shortly
after a purchase of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a
partial return of capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased),
even though it would be subject to income taxes.
Dividends and other distributions will be made in the form of
additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated.
Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in
writing, but any such change will be effective only as to dividends and other
distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the
Transfer Agent has received the written request.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
TOTAL RETURN
Average annual total return quotations used in the Fund's advertising
and promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
where "P" equals a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000; "T" equals average
annual total return; "n" equals the number of years; and "ERV" equals the ending
redeemable value at the end of the period of a hypothetical $1,000 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.
YIELD
Annualized yield quotations used in the Fund's advertising and
promotional materials are calculated by dividing the Fund's investment income
for a specified thirty-day period, net of expenses, by the average number of
shares outstanding during the period, and expressing the result as an annualized
percentage (assuming semi-annual compounding) of the net asset value per share
at the end of the period. Yield quotations are calculated according to the
following formula:
YIELD = 2 [(a-b + 1)(6) - 1]
---
cd
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<PAGE>
where "a" equals dividends and interest earned during the period; "b" equals
expenses accrued for the period, net of reimbursements; "c" equals the average
daily number of shares outstanding during the period that are entitled to
receive dividends, and "d" equals the maximum offering price per share on the
last day of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining net investment income earned
during the period ("a" in the above formula), the Fund calculates interest
earned on each debt obligation held by it during the period by (1) computing the
obligation's yield to maturity, based on the market value of the obligation
(including actual accrued interest) on the last business day of the period or,
if the obligation was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus
accrued interest; (2) dividing the yield to maturity by 360 and multiplying the
resulting quotient by the market value of the obligation (including actual
accrued interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each
debt obligation held by the Fund, net investment income is then determined by
totaling all such interest earned.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of an obligation with
one or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the
obligation reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity
date.
OTHER INFORMATION
Performance data of the Fund quoted in advertising and other
promotional materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict
or 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 14 series of shares of
beneficial interest, par value $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.
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 14 series of
shares, and may create additional series in the future, each of 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.
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If the Board of Trustees should determine that it would be detrimental
to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment
wholly or partly in cash, the Fund may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in
part by a distribution in kind of securities from the portfolio of the Fund, in
compliance with the Trust's election to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940
Act. Pursuant to Rule 18f-1, the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in
cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund
during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares are redeemed in
kind, the redeeming shareholder will likely incur brokerage costs in converting
the assets into cash.
The Fund's Custodian, Star Bank, N.A., 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202, is responsible for holding the Fund's assets. American Data
Services, Inc., 150 Motor Parkway, Suite 109, Hauppauge, NY 11788 acts as the
Fund's transfer agent and accounting services agent. The Fund's independent
accountants, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, assist in the preparation of certain
reports to the SEC and the Fund's tax returns.
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality and
carry the smallest degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by
a large or by an exceptionally stable margin, and principal is secure. While the
various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Aa-Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A-Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be
present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa-Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade
obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured.
Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great period of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers "1", "2" and "3" in each generic
rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The
modifier "1" indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic
rating category; the modifier "2" indicates a mid-range ranking; and the
modifier "3" indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic
rating category.
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
AAA-This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and
interest.
AA-Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.
Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A-Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB-Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.
Plus (+) or Minus(-)--The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
categories.
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COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's commercial paper ratings are assessments of the issuer's
ability to repay punctually promissory obligations. Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the
relative repayment capacity of rated issuers: Prime 1--highest quality; Prime
2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.
A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment. Ratings are graded into four categories,
ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.
Issues assigned the highest rating, A, are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated
with the numbers "1", "2" and "3" to indicate the relative degree of safety. The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A-1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics. Capacity for
timely payment on issues with the designation "A-2" is strong. However, the
relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
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