VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND INC
485BPOS, 1995-02-24
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<PAGE>   1
 
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM N-1A

                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 2-11444) UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                        /X/
                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 75                      /X/
                                      AND
 
              REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
                                  ACT OF 1940
                                AMENDMENT NO. 75                             /X/
 
                         VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
 
                     P.O. BOX 2600, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
 
                  REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER (610) 669-1000
 
                         RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, ESQUIRE
                                  P.O. BOX 876
                             VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
 
   
               IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING BECOME EFFECTIVE:
            on March 3, 1995, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    
 
                 APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective*.
 
   
     REGISTRANT ELECTS TO REGISTER AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF SHARES PURSUANT TO
REGULATION 24F-2 UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. REGISTRANT FILED ITS
RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1994 ON JANUARY 30, 1995.
    
 
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<PAGE>   2
 
                         VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
 
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 FORM N-1A                        
ITEM NUMBER                                                    LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
<S>           <C>                                              <C>
    Item 1.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
    Item 2.   Synopsis......................................   Not Applicable
    Item 3.   Condensed Financial Information...............   Financial Highlights; Fund Expenses
    Item 4.   General Description of Registrant.............   Investment Objective; Investment
                                                               Limitations; Investment Policies;
                                                               General Information; Investment Risks
    Item 5.   Management of the Fund........................   Directors and Officers; Management of
                                                               the Fund; Investment Adviser
    Item 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   Opening an Account and Purchasing
                                                               Shares; Selling Your Shares; The
                                                               Fund's Share; Dividends, Capital
                                                               Gains and Taxes; General Information
    Item 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered..........   Cover Page; Opening an Account and
                                                               Purchasing Shares
    Item 8.   Redemption or Repurchase......................   Selling your shares
    Item 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings.....................   Not Applicable
 
<CAPTION>
 FORM N-1A                                                      LOCATION IN STATEMENTS
ITEM NUMBER                                                    OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
<S>           <C>                                              <C>
   Item 10.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
   Item 11.   Table of Contents.............................   Cover Page
   Item 12.   General Information and History...............   Investment Objectives and Policies;
                                                               General Information
   Item 13.   Investment Objective and Policies.............   Investment Objectives and Policies;
                                                               Investment Limitations
   Item 14.   Management of the Fund........................   Management of the Fund; Investment
                                                               Management
   Item 15.   Control Persons and Principal Holders of
              Securities....................................   Management of the Fund; General
                                                               Information
   Item 16.   Investment Advisory and Other Services........   Management of the Fund; Investment
                                                               Management
   Item 17.   Brokerage Allocation..........................   Not Applicable
   Item 18.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   General Information; Financial
                                                               Statements
   Item 19.   Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities
              Being Offered.................................   Purchase of Shares; Redemption of
                                                               Shares
   Item 20.   Tax Status....................................   Appendix
   Item 21.   Underwriters..................................   Not Applicable
   Item 22.   Calculations of Yield Quotations of Money
              Market Fund...................................   Not Applicable
   Item 23.   Financial Statements..........................   Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
 
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[VANGUARD WELLINGTON FUND LOGO]                   A Member of The Vanguard Group
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PROSPECTUS--MARCH 3, 1995
    
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NEW ACCOUNT INFORMATION: INVESTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT--1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
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SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES: CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT--1-800-662-2739 (CREW)
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INVESTMENT            Vanguard/Wellington Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is an open-end
OBJECTIVES &          diversified investment company designed to provide
POLICIES              conservative investors with a prudent investment program.
                      The objectives of the Fund include conservation of
                      principal, a reasonable income return, and profits without
                      undue risk. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of
                      common stocks and bonds, with common stocks expected to
                      represent 60% to 70% of the Fund's total assets. There is
                      no assurance that the Fund will achieve its stated
                      objectives. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor
                      guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including
                      the FDIC.
    
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OPENING AN            To open a regular (non-retirement) account, please
ACCOUNT               complete and return the Account Registration Form. If you
                      need assistance in completing this Form, please call the
                      Investor Information Department. To open an Individual
                      Retirement Account (IRA), please use the Vanguard IRA
                      Adoption Agreement. To obtain a copy of this form, call
                      1-800-662-7447, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to
                      9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                      (Eastern time). The minimum initial investment is $3,000
                      for a non-retirement account or $500 for Uniform
                      Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts. The Fund is
                      offered on a no-load basis (i.e., there are no sales
                      commissions or 12b-1 fees). However, the Fund incurs
                      expenses for investment advisory, management,
                      administrative, and distribution services.
    
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ABOUT THIS            This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the
PROSPECTUS            information you should know about the Fund before you
                      invest. It should be retained for future reference. A
                      "Statement of Additional Information" containing
                      additional information about the Fund has been filed with
                      the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Statement is
                      dated March 3, 1995, and has been incorporated by
                      reference into this Prospectus. It may be obtained,
                      without charge, by writing to the Fund or by calling the
                      Investor Information Department.
    
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                                       <C>
                                 Page                                       Page                                       Page
Fund Expenses ...................  2      Management of the Fund ...........  7     SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
Financial Highlights ............  2      Investment Adviser ...............  8     Opening an Account and
Yield and Total Return ..........  3      Performance Record ............... 10         Purchasing Shares ............. 13
         FUND INFORMATION                 Dividends, Capital Gains and              When Your Account Will Be
Investment Objectives ...........  4          Taxes ........................ 10         Credited ...................... 16
Investment Policies .............  4      The Share Price of the                    Selling Your Shares ............... 16
Investment Risks ................  5          Fund ......................... 12     Exchanging Your Shares ............ 18
Who Should Invest ...............  6      General Information .............. 12     Important Information About
Implementation of Policies ......  6                                                    Telephone Transactions ........ 19
Investment Limitations ..........  7                                                Transferring Registration ......... 28     
                                                                                    Other Vanguard Services ........... 20
</TABLE>
    
 
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
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<PAGE>   4
 
   
FUND EXPENSES         The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that
                      you would incur as a shareholder of the Fund. The expenses
                      set forth below are for the 1994 fiscal year.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
                      <S>                                                                <C>       <C>
                                               SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Sales Load Imposed on Purchases...............................                None
                      Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends....................                None
                      Redemption Fees...............................................                None
                      Exchange Fees.................................................                None
           
                                                ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Management & Administrative Expenses..........................                0.26%
                      Investment Advisory Fees......................................                0.06
                      12b-1 Fees....................................................                None
                      Other Expenses
                        Distribution Costs..........................................     0.02%
                        Miscellaneous Expenses......................................     0.01
                                                                                         ----
                      Total Other Expenses..........................................                0.03
                                                                                                   ------
                               TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES.............................                0.35%
                                                                                                   ------
                                                                                                   ------
</TABLE>   
    
 
                      The purpose of this table is to assist you in
                      understanding the various costs and expenses that you
                      would bear directly or indirectly as an investor in the
                      Fund.
 
                      The following example illustrates the expenses that you
                      would incur on a $1,000 investment over various periods,
                      assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2) redemption
                      at the end of each period. As noted in the table above,
                      the Fund charges no redemption fees of any kind.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        
                                1 YEAR        3 YEARS       5 YEARS       10 YEARS
                                -------       -------       -------       --------
                                <S>           <C>           <C>           <C>
                                  $ 4          $  11         $  20          $ 44
</TABLE>
    
 
                      THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF
                      PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES
                      MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
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FINANCIAL             The following financial highlights insofar as they relate
HIGHLIGHTS            to each of the five years in the period ended November 30,
                      1994, have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
                      independent accountants, whose report thereon was
                      unqualified. This information should be read in
                      conjunction with the Fund's financial statements and notes
                      thereto which are incorporated by reference in the
                      Statement of Additional Information and this Prospectus,
                      and which appear, along with the report of Price
                      Waterhouse LLP, in the Fund's 1994 Annual Report to
                      Shareholders. For a more complete discussion of the Fund's
                      performance, please see the Fund's 1994 Annual Report to
                      Shareholders which may be obtained without charge by
                      writing to the Fund or by calling our Investor Information
                      Department at 1-800-662-7447.
    
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         1994       1993       1992       1991       1990       1989       1988       1987       1986       1985
<S>                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
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NET ASSET VALUE,
  BEGINNING OF YEAR...  $20.78     $19.34     $17.95     $16.29     $18.40     $16.82     $14.92     $16.06     $13.99     $12.08
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Net Investment
    Income............     .88        .92        .93        .96       1.01       1.02        .96        .95        .94        .91
  Net Realized and
    Unrealized Gains
    (Losses)..........   (1.03)      1.62       1.65       1.71      (1.46)      2.12       2.06      (1.55)      2.41       2.22
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    TOTAL FROM
      INVESTMENT
      OPERATIONS......    (.15)      2.54       2.58       2.67       (.45)      3.14       3.02       (.60)      3.35       3.13
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DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends from Net
    Investment
    Income............    (.92)      (.94)      (.96)     (1.01)     (1.06)      (.98)      (.98)      (.54)      (.94)      (.92)
  Distributions from
    Realized Capital
    Gains.............    (.38)      (.16)      (.23)        --       (.60)      (.58)      (.14)        --       (.34)      (.30)
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    TOTAL
      DISTRIBUTIONS...   (1.30)     (1.10)     (1.19)     (1.01)     (1.66)     (1.56)     (1.12)      (.54)     (1.28)     (1.22)
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NET ASSET VALUE,
  END OF YEAR.........  $19.33     $20.78     $19.34     $17.95     $16.29     $18.40     $16.82     $14.92     $16.06     $13.99
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TOTAL RETURN..........   (0.82)%   13.62%     14.99%     16.81%      (2.65)%   19.98%     21.03%      (4.26)%   24.34%     26.47%
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
  DATA
Net Assets, End of
  Year (Millions).....  $8,638     $7,917     $5,359     $3,473     $2,317     $2,035     $1,527     $1,274     $1,103     $  778
Ratio of Expenses to
  Average Net
  Assets..............    .35%       .34%       .33%       .35%       .43%       .42%       .47%       .43%       .53%       .64%
Ratio of Net
  Investment
  Income to Average
  Net Assets..........   4.35%      4.55%      4.98%      5.39%      5.99%      5.77%      5.88%      5.56%      5.88%      6.84%
Portfolio Turnover
  Rate................     32%        34%        24%        35%        33%        30%        28%        27%        25%        27%
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</TABLE>
    
 
   
YIELD AND TOTAL       From time to time the Fund may advertise its yield and
RETURN                total return. Both yield and total return figures are
                      based on historical earnings and are not intended to
                      indicate future performance. The "total return" of the
                      Fund refers to the average annual compounded rates of
                      return over one- five- and ten-year periods or the life
                      of the Fund (as stated in the advertisement) that would
                      equate an initial amount invested at the beginning of a
                      stated period to the ending redeemable value of the
                      investment, assuming the reinvestment of all dividend and
                      capital gains distributions.
    
 
   
                      In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                      yield" of the Fund is calculated by dividing the net
                      investment income per share earned during a 30-day period
                      by the net asset value per share on the last day of the
                      period. Net investment income includes interest and
                      dividend income earned on the Fund's securities and is net
                      of all expenses and all recurring and nonrecurring charges
                      that have been applied to all shareholder accounts. The
                      yield calculation assumes that the net investment income
                      earned over 30 days is compounded monthly for six months
                      and then annualized. Methods used to calculate advertised
                      yields are standardized for all stock and bond mutual
                      funds. However, these methods differ from the accounting
                      methods used by the Fund to maintain its books and
                      records, and so the advertised
    
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
                      30-day yield may not fully reflect the income paid to your
                      own account or the yield reported in the Fund's reports to
                      shareholders.
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INVESTMENT            The Fund is an open-end diversified investment company
OBJECTIVES            designed to provide conservative investors with a prudent
                      investment program. The objectives of the
THE FUND IS DESIGNED  Fund include conservation of principal, a reasonable
TO PROVIDE A PRUDENT  income return, and profits without undue risk.
INVESTMENT PROGRAM  
                      There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
                      stated objectives.
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INVESTMENT            The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in a
POLICIES              diversified portfolio of common stocks and bonds. Under
                      normal circumstances, it is expected that common stocks
THE FUND INVESTS IN   and securities convertible into common stock will
COMMON STOCKS AND     represent 60% to 70% of the Fund's total assets. The
BONDS                 Fund's common stocks, in the aggregate, are held to
                      provide reasonable dividend income and long-term growth of
                      capital and income. These securities are primarily common
                      stocks but may also include securities convertible into
                      common stocks.
    
 
                      The remaining 30% to 40% of the Fund's assets will be
                      invested in investment grade corporate bonds (those rated
                      a minimum of Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB
                      by Standard & Poor's Corporation) as well as securities
                      issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies and
                      instrumentalities, including Government National Mortgage
                      Association (GNMA) mortgage pass-through certificates. The
                      Fund may also hold certain short-term fixed income
                      securities as cash reserves.
 
   
                      The amount invested in stocks, bonds and cash reserves may
                      be varied from time to time, depending upon the investment
                      adviser's assessment of business, economic and market
                      conditions. The Fund reserves the right to hold equity,
                      fixed-income and cash securities in whatever proportion
                      deemed desirable at any given time for defensive purposes.
                      The Fund is managed without regard to tax ramifications.
    
 
   
                      In addition, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets
                      in foreign securities, and may invest in stock and bond
                      index futures and options to a limited extent. The Fund is
                      also authorized to invest in preferred stocks. See
                      "Implementation of Policies" for a description of these
                      and other investment practices of the Fund.
    
 
                      The Fund's objectives and investment policies are not
                      fundamental and so may be changed by the Board of
                      Directors without shareholder approval. However,
                      shareholders would be notified prior to any material
                      change in either.
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                                        4
<PAGE>   7
                     
INVESTMENT RISKS      Like any investment program, the Fund entails certain
                      risks. As a mutual fund investing 60% to 70% of its assets
INVESTORS ARE EXPOSED in common stocks, the Fund is subject to stock market
TO STOCK MARKET AND   risk--i.e., the possibility that stock prices in general
INTEREST RATE RISK    will decline over short or even extended periods. The
                      stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when stock
                      prices generally rise and periods when stock prices
                      generally decline.
 
   
                      To illustrate the volatility of stock prices, the
                      following table sets forth the extremes for U.S. stock
                      market returns as well as the average return for the
                      period from 1926 to 1994, as measured by the Standard &
                      Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AVERAGE ANNUAL U.S. STOCK MARKET RETURNS (1926-1994)
                                           OVER VARIOUS TIME HORIZONS

                                      1 YEAR       5 YEARS       10 YEARS       20 YEARS
                                      ------       -------       --------       --------
                        <S>           <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>
                        Best          +53.9 %       +23.9%         +20.1%         +16.9%
                        Worst         -43.3         -12.5          - 0.9          + 3.1
                        Average       +12.2         +10.2          +10.7          +10.7
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                      As shown, common stocks have provided annual total returns
                      (capital appreciation plus dividend income) averaging
                      +10.7% for all 10-year periods from 1926 to 1994. The
                      return in individual years has varied from a low of -43.3%
                      to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the short-term volatility
                      of stock prices. While the average return can be used as a
                      guide for setting reasonable expectations for future stock
                      market returns, it may not be useful for forecasting
                      future returns in any particular period, as stock returns
                      are quite volatile from year to year.
    
 
                      Since the Fund also invests in bonds, investors in the
                      Fund are also exposed to interest rate risk--i.e.,
                      fluctuations in the market value of bonds due to changing
                      interest rates. Bond prices are influenced primarily by
                      changes in the level of interest rates. When interest
                      rates rise, the prices of bonds generally fall;
                      conversely, when interest rates fall, bond prices
                      generally rise. While bonds normally fluctuate less in
                      price than stocks, there have been extended periods of
                      cyclical increases in interest rates that has caused
                      significant declines in bond prices. For example, bond
                      prices fell 48% from December 1976 to September 1981.
                      However, a decline in the market value of bonds may be
                      offset in whole or in part by the high level of income
                      that bonds provide.
 
                      To a limited extent, the Fund is also subject to credit
                      risk--i.e., the likelihood that a bond issuer will fail to
                      make timely payments of interest and principal to the
                      Fund. Such credit risk is expected to be low, however, due
                      to the credit quality and diversification of the Fund's
                      bond investments.
 
                      From time to time, the stock and bond markets may
                      fluctuate independently of one another. In other words, a
                      decline in the stock market may in certain instances be
                      offset by a rise in the bond market, or vice versa. As a
                      result, the Fund, with its balance of common stock and
                      bond investments, is expected to entail less investment
                      risk (and a potentially lower return) than a mutual fund
                      investing exclusively in common stocks.
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                                        5
<PAGE>   8
                  
WHO SHOULD            The Fund is designed for conservative investors who are
INVEST                seeking a prudent investment program that offers relative
                      capital stability, a reasonable level of income, and the
INVESTORS SEEKING     potential for capital appreciation. By balancing its
A BALANCE AMONG       investments among common stocks and bonds, the Fund is
STABILITY, INCOME     expected to provide lower investment risk and share price
AND GROWTH            volatility (and a lower total return in the long run) than
                      a mutual fund which invests exclusively in common stocks.
                      The Fund is thus suitable for investors who wish to gain
                      exposure to the potential capital growth provided by the
                      stock market, while limiting investment risk. The Fund is
                      intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not
                      designed to provide investors with a means of speculating
                      on short-term market movements. Investors who engage in
                      excessive account activity generate additional costs which
                      are borne by all of the Fund's shareholders. In order to
                      minimize such costs the Fund has adopted the following
                      policies. The Fund reserves the right to reject any
                      purchase request (including exchange purchases from other
                      Vanguard portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be
                      disruptive to efficient portfolio management, either
                      because of the timing of the investment or previous
                      excessive trading by the investor. Additionally, the Fund
                      has adopted exchange privilege limitations as described in
                      the section "Exchange Privilege Limitations." Finally, the
                      Fund reserves the right to suspend the offering of its
                      shares.
 
                      No assurance can be given that shareholders will be fully
                      protected from the market risks inherent in investing in
                      stocks and bonds. Only investors able to tolerate
                      short-term, possibly substantial fluctuations in the value
                      of their investment, brought about by generally declining
                      stock or bond prices, should contemplate an investment in
                      the Fund. The balanced investment approach of the Fund
                      tends to limit stock and bond market risks; it does not
                      eliminate them.
 
                      The Fund is intended as a balanced long-term investment
                      program. Investors may wish to reduce the potential risk
                      of investing in the Fund by purchasing shares on a
                      regular, periodic basis (dollar-cost averaging) rather
                      than making an investment in one lump sum.
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IMPLEMENTATION        In addition to investing primarily in common stocks and
OF POLICIES           bonds, the Fund uses a number of other investment vehicles
                      to achieve its objective.
THE FUND MAY INVEST
IN SHORT-TERM FIXED   Although it normally seeks to remain fully invested in
INCOME SECURITIES     equity common stocks and bonds, the Fund may invest in
                      certain short-term fixed income securities. Such
                      securities may be used to invest uncommitted cash
                      balances, to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder
                      redemptions, or to take a temporarily defensive position
                      against potential stock market declines. These securities
                      include: obligations of the United States Government and
                      its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper, bank
                      certificates of deposit, and bankers' acceptances; and
                      repurchase agreements collateralized by these securities.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
                     
THE FUND MAY          The Fund may utilize stock and bond futures contracts and
USE FUTURES CONTRACTS options to a limited extent. Specifically, the Fund may
AND OPTIONS           enter into futures contracts provided that not more than
                      5% of its assets are required as a futures contract
                      deposit. In addition, the Fund may enter into futures
                      contracts and options transactions only to the extent that
                      obligations under such contracts or transactions represent
                      not more than 20% of the Fund's assets.
 
THE FUND MAY LEND     The Fund may lend its investment securities to qualified
ITS SECURITIES        institutional investors for either short-term or long-term
                      purposes of realizing additional income. Loans of
                      securities by the Fund will be collateralized by cash,
                      letters of credit, or securities issued or guaranteed by
                      the U.S. Government or its agencies. The collateral will
                      equal at least 100% of the current market value of the
                      loaned securities.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER IS The Fund retains the right to sell securities irrespective
NOT EXPECTED TO       of how long they have been held. However, it is
EXCEED 50%            anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund
                      will not exceed 50%. A turnover rate of 50% would occur,
                      for example, if one half of the Fund's securities were
                      replaced within one year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT            The Fund has adopted certain limitations in an attempt to
LIMITATIONS           reduce its exposure to specific situations. Some of these
                      limitations are that the Fund will not:                  
THE FUND HAS ADOPTED
   
CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL   (a)  with respect to 75% of its assets invest more than 5%
LIMITATIONS                of its assets in the securities of any single        
                           company, excluding obligations of the U.S. Government
                           and its instrumentalities;                           
                      
 
                      (b)  with respect to 75% of its assets purchase more than
                           10% of the outstanding voting securities of any
                           issuer;
 
                      (c)  invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities
                           of companies that have a continuous operating history
                           of less than three years;
 
                      (d)  invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                           industry; and
 
                      (e)  borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                           emergency purposes, and then only in an amount not in
                           excess of 10% of total assets taken at the lower of
                           their market value or cost.
 
                      The above-mentioned investment limitations are considered
                      at the time investment securities are purchased. The
                      limitations described here and in the Statement of
                      Additional Information may be changed only with the
                      approval of a majority of the Fund's shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
MANAGEMENT            The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment
OF THE FUND           Companies, a family of more than 30 investment companies
                      with more than 80 distinct investment portfolios and total
VANGUARD              assets in excess of $130 billion. Through their
ADMINISTERS AND       jointly-owned subsidiary, The Vanguard Group, Inc.
DISTRIBUTES THE FUND  ("Vanguard"), the Fund and the other Funds in the Group
                      obtain at cost virtually all of their corporate
                      management, administrative, shareholder accounting and
                      distribution services. Vanguard also provides investment
                      advisory services on an at-cost basis to certain Vanguard
                      Funds. As a result of Vanguard's unique corporate
                      structure, the Vanguard Funds have costs
    
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
   
                      substantially lower than those of most competing mutual
                      funds. In 1994, the average expense ratio (annual costs
                      including advisory fees divided by total net assets) for
                      the Vanguard Funds amounted to approximately .30% compared
                      to an average of 1.05% for the mutual fund industry (data
                      provided by Lipper Analytical Services).
    
 
                      The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day operations
                      and are responsible to the Fund's Board of Directors. The
                      Directors set broad policies for each fund and choose its
                      Officers. A list of the Directors and Officers of the Fund
                      and a statement of their present positions and principal
                      occupations during the past five years can be found in the
                      Statement of Additional Information.
 
                      Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and
                      administrative personnel needed to provide the requisite
                      services to the funds and also furnishes the funds with
                      necessary office space, furnishings and equipment. Each
                      fund pays its share of Vanguard's total expenses, which
                      are allocated among the funds under methods approved by
                      the Board of Directors (Trustees) of each fund. in
                      addition, each fund bears its own direct expenses, such as
                      legal, auditing and custodian fees.
 
                      Vanguard also provides distribution and marketing services
                      to the Vanguard funds. The funds are available on a
                      no-load basis (i.e., there are no sales commissions or
                      12b-1 fees). However, each fund bears its share of the
                      Group's distribution costs.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT            The Fund employs Wellington Management Company ("WMC"), 75
ADVISER               State Street, Boston, MA 02109, under an investment
                      advisory agreement dated as of April 1, 1993, to manage
WELLINGTON            the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund
MANAGEMENT            and to continuously review, supervise and administer the
COMPANY MANAGES       Fund's investment program. WMC discharges its
THE FUND'S            responsibilities subject to the control of the Officers
INVESTMENTS           and Directors of the Fund.
 
   
                      WMC is a professional investment advisory firm which
                      globally provides services to investment companies,
                      institutions, and individuals. Among the clients of WMC
                      are more than 10 investment companies of The Vanguard
                      Group. As of December 31, 1994, WMC held discretionary
                      management authority with respect to more than $80 billion
                      of assets. WMC and its predecessor organizations have
                      provided advisory services to investment companies since
                      1933 and to investment counseling clients since 1960.
    
 
   
                      Vincent Bajakian, Senior Vice President of WMC, serves as
                      portfolio manager of the Fund, a position he has held
                      since 1972. Mr. Bajakian is assisted by Paul D. Kaplan,
                      Senior Vice President of WMC, who began managing the
                      Fund's fixed-income investments in 1994. Messrs. Bajakian
                      and Kaplan are supported by research and other investment
                      services provided by the professional staff of WMC.
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
                      The Fund pays WMC an advisory fee at the end of each
                      fiscal quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate,
                      based on the following annual percentage rates, to the
                      Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            
                                            NET ASSETS         RATE
                                       --------------------    ----
                                       <S>                     <C>
                                       First $500 million      .125%
                                       Next $500 million       .100%
                                       Next $1 billion         .075%
                                       Next $1 billion         .050%
                                       Over $3 billion         .040%
</TABLE>
 
   
                      The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                      applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                      performance of the Fund relative to the investment record
                      of "a combined index" 65% of which shall be comprised of
                      the Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index and 35%
                      of which shall be comprised of the Salomon Brothers High
                      Grade Corporate Bond Index. During the fiscal year ended
                      November 30, 1994, the total advisory fees paid by the
                      Fund to WMC represented an effective annual base rate of
                      .06 of 1% of average net assets.
    
 
                      The investment advisory agreement authorizes WMC (with
                      approval of the Fund's Board of Directors) to select the
                      brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and
                      sales of portfolio securities for the Fund and directs WMC
                      to use its best efforts to obtain the best available price
                      and most favorable execution with respect to all
                      transactions for the Fund. The full range and quality of
                      brokerage services available are considered in making
                      these determinations.
 
                      The Fund has authorized WMC to pay higher commissions in
                      recognition of brokerage services felt necessary for the
                      achievement of better execution, provided WMC believes
                      this to be in the best interest of the Fund. Although the
                      Fund does not market its shares through intermediary
                      brokers or dealers, the Fund may place portfolio orders
                      with qualified broker-dealers who recommend the Fund to
                      clients if the Officers of the Fund believe that the
                      quality of the transaction and the commission are
                      comparable to what they would be with other qualified
                      brokerage firms.
 
                      The Fund's Board of Directors may, without the approval of
                      shareholders, provide for: (a) the employment of a new
                      investment adviser pursuant to the terms of a new advisory
                      agreement either as a replacement for an existing adviser
                      or as an additional adviser; (b) a change in the terms of
                      an advisory agreement; and (c) the continued employment of
                      an existing adviser on the same advisory contract terms
                      where a contract has been assigned because of a change in
                      control of the adviser. Any such change will only be made
                      upon not less than 30 days prior written notice to
                      shareholders of the Fund which shall include substantially
                      the information concerning the adviser that would have
                      normally been included in a proxy statement.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
PERFORMANCE           The table in this section provides investment results for
RECORD                the Fund for several periods throughout the Fund's
                      lifetime. The results shown represent the Fund's "total
                      return" investment performance, which assumes the
                      reinvestment of all capital gains and income dividends for
                      the indicated periods. Also included is comparative
                      information with respect to two performance indexes: a
                      Composite Index, a measure of the investment performance
                      of a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds, comprised of
                      the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index
                      (65%) and the Salomon Brothers High Grade Bond Index
                      (35%); and the Consumer Price Index, a statistical measure
                      of changes in the prices of goods and services. The table
                      does not make any allowance for federal, state or local
                      income taxes, which shareholders must pay on a current
                      basis.
 
                      The results shown should not be considered a
                      representation of the total return from an investment made
                      in the Fund today. This information is provided to help
                      investors better understand the Fund and may not provide a
                      basis for comparison with other investments or mutual
                      funds which use a different method to calculate
                      performance.
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURN
                                           -------------------------------------------------
                        FISCAL PERIODS     VANGUARD/WELLINGTON     COMPOSITE      CONSUMER
                        ENDED 11/30/94            FUND               INDEX       PRICE INDEX
                        ---------------    -------------------     ---------     -----------
                        <S>                <C>                     <C>           <C>
                        1 Year                      -0.8%              -1.6%          +2.7%
                        5 Years                     +8.1               +8.6           +3.5
                        10 Years                   +12.4              +13.5           +3.6
                        Lifetime*                   +7.8               +8.3           +3.4

                        *July 1, 1929 to November 30, 1994.
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   
DIVIDENDS,            The Fund expects to pay dividends quarterly from net
CAPITAL GAINS         investment income. (The Fund has paid quarterly dividends
AND TAXES             since 1930.) Net capital gains distributions, if any, will
                      be made annually.
THE FUND WILL PAY  
QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS   Dividend and capital gains distributions may be
                      automatically reinvested or received in cash. See
                      "Choosing a Distribution Option" for a description of
                      these distribution methods.
 
                      In addition, in order to satisfy certain distribution
                      requirements of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Fund may
                      declare special year-end dividend and capital gains
                      distributions during December. Such distributions, if
                      received by shareholders by January 31, are deemed to have
                      been paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on
                      December 31 of the prior year.
 
                      The Fund intends to continue to qualify for taxation as a
                      "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue
                      Code so that it will not be subject to federal income tax
                      to the extent its income is distributed to shareholders.
                      Dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income,
                      whether received in cash or reinvested in additional
                      shares, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary
                      income. For corporate investors, dividends from net
                      investment income will generally qualify in part for the
                      intercorporate dividends-received deduction. However, the
                      portion of the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
                      dividends so qualified depends on the aggregate taxable
                      qualifying dividend income received by the Fund from
                      domestic (U.S.) sources.
 
   
                      Distributions paid by the Fund from net long-term capital
                      gains, whether received in cash or reinvested in
                      additional shares, are taxable as long-term capital gains,
                      regardless of the length of time you have owned shares in
                      the Fund. Capital gains distributions are made when the
                      Fund realizes net capital gains on sales of portfolio
                      securities during the year. The Fund does not seek to
                      realize any particular amount of capital gains during a
                      year; rather, realized gains are a by-product of portfolio
                      management activities. Consequently, capital gains
                      distributions may be expected to vary considerably from
                      year to year; there will be no capital gains distributions
                      in years when the Fund realizes net capital losses.
    
 
                      Note that if you accept capital gains distributions in
                      cash, instead of reinvesting them in additional shares,
                      you are in effect reducing the capital at work for you in
                      the Fund. In addition, keep in mind that if you purchase
                      shares in the Fund shortly before the record date for a
                      dividend or capital gains distribution, a portion of your
                      investment will be returned to you as a taxable
                      distribution, regardless of whether you are reinvesting
                      your distributions or receiving them in cash.
 
                      The Fund will notify you annually as to the tax status of
                      dividend and capital gains distributions paid by the Fund.
 
A CAPITAL GAIN OR     A sale of shares of the Fund is a taxable event and may
LOSS MAY BE REALIZED  result in a capital gain or loss. A capital gain or loss
UPON EXCHANGE OR      may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or
REDEMPTION            an exchange of shares between two mutual funds (or two
                      portfolios of a mutual fund).
 
                      Dividend distributions, capital gains distributions, and
                      capital gains or losses from redemptions and exchanges may
                      be subject to state and local taxes.
 
                      The Fund is required to withhold 31% of taxable dividends,
                      capital gains distributions, and redemptions paid to
                      shareholders who have not complied with IRS taxpayer
                      identification regulations. You may avoid this withholding
                      requirement by certifying on the Account Registration Form
                      your proper Social Security or Taxpayer Identification
                      Number and by certifying that you are not subject to
                      backup withholding.
 
                      The Fund has obtained a Certificate of Authority to do
                      business as a foreign corporation in Pennsylvania and does
                      business and maintains an office in that state. In the
                      opinion of counsel, the shares of the Fund are exempt from
                      Pennsylvania personal property taxes.
 
                      The tax discussion set forth above is included for general
                      information only. Prospective investors should consult
                      their own tax advisers concerning the tax consequences of
                      an investment in the Fund. The Fund is managed without
                      regard to tax ramifications.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
THE SHARE PRICE       The Fund's share price or "net asset value" per share is
OF THE FUND           determined by dividing the total assets of the Fund, less
                      all liabilities, by the total number of shares
                      outstanding. Net asset value is determined at the close of
                      regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally
                      4:00 p.m. Eastern time).
 
                      Portfolio securities that are listed on a securities
                      exchange are valued at the latest quoted sales price as of
                      the close of the Exchange on the day the valuation is
                      made. Price information on listed securities is taken from
                      the exchange where the security is primarily traded.
                      Listed securities which are not traded on the valuation
                      date and for which market quotations are available are
                      valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices.
                      Unlisted securities are valued at the latest bid price.
 
   
                      Bonds and other fixed-income securities may be valued on
                      the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when
                      such prices are believed to reflect the fair market value
                      of such securities. The prices provided by a pricing
                      service are determined without regard to bid or last sale
                      prices of each security but take into account
                      institutional size transactions in similar groups of
                      securities as well as any developments related to specific
                      securities. Other securities, including restricted
                      securities, for which no quotations are readily available
                      are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by
                      the Board of Directors. Temporary cash investments are
                      valued at cost which approximates market value.
    
 
                      The Fund's price per share can be found daily in the
                      mutual fund section of most major newspapers under the
                      heading of The Vanguard Group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
GENERAL               The Fund is a Maryland corporation. The Fund's Articles of
INFORMATION           Incorporation permit the Directors to issue 550,000,000
                      shares of common stock, with a $1.00 par value. The Board
                      of Directors has the power to designate one or more
                      classes ("Portfolios") of shares of common stock and to
                      classify or reclassify any unissued shares with respect to
                      such Portfolios. Currently the Fund is offering one class
                      of shares.
    
 
                      The shares of the Fund are fully paid and nonassessable;
                      have no preferences as to conversion, exchange, dividends,
                      retirement or other features; and have no pre-emptive
                      rights. Such shares have non-cumulative voting rights,
                      meaning that the holders of more than 50% of the shares
                      voting for the election of Directors can elect 100% of the
                      Directors if they so choose. A shareholder is entitled to
                      one vote for each full share held (and a fractional vote
                      for each fractional share held).
 
                      Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as
                      required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other
                      applicable law. If requested in writing by holders of not
                      less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, an
                      annual meeting will be held to vote on the removal of a
                      Director or Directors.
 
   
                      All securities and cash are held by Morgan Guaranty Trust
                      Company, New York, NY. The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley
                      Forge, PA, serves as the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
                      Disbursing Agent. Price Waterhouse LLP, serves as
                      independent accountants for the Fund and will audit its
                      financial statements annually. The Fund is not involved in
                      any litigation.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
                                              SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
           
OPENING AN            You may open a regular (non-retirement) account, either by
ACCOUNT AND           mail or wire. Simply complete and return an Account
PURCHASING            Registration Form and any required legal documentation,
SHARES                indicating the amount you wish to invest. Your purchase
                      must be equal to or greater than the $3,000 minimum
                      initial investment requirement ($500 for Uniform
                      Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts). You must open a
                      new Individual Retirement Account by mail (IRAs may not be
                      opened by wire) using a Vanguard IRA Adoption Agreement.
                      Your purchase must be equal to or greater than the $500
                      minimum initial investment requirement, but no more than
                      $2,000 if you are making a regular IRA contribution.
                      Rollover contributions are generally limited to the amount
                      withdrawn within the past 60 days from an IRA or other
                      qualified Retirement Plan. If you need assistance with the
                      forms or have any questions, please call our Investor
                      Information Department at 1-800-662-7447. Note: For other
                      types of account registrations (e.g., corporations,
                      associations, other organizations, trusts or powers of
                      attorney), please call us to determine which additional
                      forms you may need.
 
                      Because of the risks associated with common stock
                      investments, the Fund is intended to be a long-term
                      investment vehicle and is not designed to provide
                      investors with a means of speculating on short-term stock
                      market movements. Consequently, the Fund reserves the
                      right to reject any specific purchase (and exchange
                      purchase) request. The Fund also reserves the right to
                      suspend the offering of shares for a period of time.
 
                      The Fund's shares are purchased at the next determined net
                      asset value after your investment has been received. The
                      Fund is offered on a no-load basis (i.e., there are no
                      sales commissions or 12b-1 fees).
 
ADDITIONAL            Subsequent investments to regular accounts may be made by
INVESTMENTS           mail ($100 minimum), wire ($1,000 minimum), exchange from
                      an existing Vanguard Fund account ($100 minimum) or
                      Vanguard Fund Express. Subsequent investments to
                      Individual Retirement Accounts may be made by mail ($100
                      minimum) or exchange from another Vanguard Fund account.
                      In some instances, contributions may be made by wire or
                      Vanguard Fund Express. Please call us for more information
                      on these options.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>                                       <C>
                                                                       ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
                                 NEW ACCOUNT                             TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS
PURCHASING BY MAIL        Please include the amount of              Additional investments should
                          your initial investment, make             include the Invest-by-Mail
Complete and sign the     your check payable to The                 remittance form attached to your
enclosed Account          Vanguard Group-21, and mail to:           Fund confirmation statements.
Registration Form                                                   Please make your check payable
                          VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER                 to The Vanguard Group-21, write
                          P.O. BOX 2600                             your account number on your
                          VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482                    check and, using the return
                                                                    envelope provided, mail to the
                                                                    address indicated on the Invest-
                                                                    by-Mail Form.
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>                                       <C>
For express or        VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER                 All written requests should be
registered mail,      455 DEVON PARK DRIVE                      mailed to one of the addresses
send to:              WAYNE, PA 19087                           indicated for new accounts. Do
                                                                not send registered or express
                                                                mail to the post office box
                                                                address.
                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASING BY WIRE                      CORESTATES BANK, N.A.
                                        ABA 031000011
Money should be                         CORESTATES NO. 0101 9897
wired to:                               ATTN VANGUARD
                                        VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND
BEFORE WIRING                           ACCOUNT NUMBER
                                        ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
Please contact        
Client Services       
(1-800-662-2739)      To assure proper receipt, please be sure your bank includes the name of
                      the Fund selected, the account number Vanguard has assigned to you and
                      the eight digit CoreStates number. If you are opening a new account,
                      please complete the Account Registration Form and mail it to the "New
                      Account" address after completing your wire arrangement. Note: Federal
                      Funds wire purchase orders will be accepted only when the Fund and
                      Custodian Bank are open for business.
</TABLE>              
                      
                      ------------------------------------------------------

PURCHASING BY         You may open a new account or purchase additional shares
EXCHANGE (from a      by making an exchange from an existing Vanguard Fund
Vanguard account)     account. However, the Fund reserves the right to refuse
                      any exchange purchase request. Call our Client Services
                      Department at 1-800-662-2739 for more information. The new
                      account will have the same registration as the existing
                      account.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
                    
                    
PURCHASING BY         The Fund Express Special Purchase option lets you move
FUND EXPRESS          money from your bank account to your Vanguard account on
Special Purchase and  an "as needed" basis. Or if you choose the Automatic
Automatic Investment  Investment option, money will be moved automatically from
                      your bank account to your Vanguard account on the schedule
                      (monthly, bimonthly [every other month], quarterly or
                      yearly) you select. To establish these Fund Express
                      options, please provide the appropriate information on the
                      Account Registration Form. We will send you a confirmation
                      of your Fund Express service; please wait three weeks
                      before using the service.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            
CHOOSING A            You must select one of three distribution options:
DISTRIBUTION
OPTION                1. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT OPTION--Both dividends and
                         capital gains distributions will be reinvested in
                         additional Fund shares. This option will be selected
                         for you automatically unless you specify one of the
                         other options.
 
                      2. CASH DIVIDEND OPTION--Your dividends will be paid in
                         cash and your capital gains will be reinvested in
                         additional Fund shares.
 
                      3. ALL CASH OPTION--Both dividend and capital gains
                         distributions will be paid in cash.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
                      You may change your option by calling our Client Services
                      Department (1-800-662-2739).
 
                      In addition, an option to invest your cash dividends
                      and/or capital gains distributions in another Vanguard
                      Fund account is available. Please call our Client Services
                      Department (1-800-662-2739) for information. You may also
                      elect Vanguard Dividend Express which allows you to
                      transfer your cash dividends and/or capital gains
                      distributions automatically to your bank account. Please
                      see "Other Vanguard Services" for more information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                    
TAX CAUTION           Under Federal tax laws, the Fund is required to distribute
                      net capital gains and dividend income to Fund
INVESTORS SHOULD ASK  shareholders. These distributions are made to all
ABOUT THE TIMING OF   shareholders who own Fund shares as of the distribution's
CAPITAL GAINS         record date, regardless of how long the shares have been
AND DIVIDEND          owned. Purchasing shares just prior to the record date
DISTRIBUTIONS         could have a significant impact on your tax liability for
BEFORE INVESTING      the year. For example, if you purchase shares immediately
                      prior to the record date of a sizable capital gain or
                      income dividend distribution, you will be assessed taxes
                      on the amount of the capital gain and/or dividend
                      distribution even though you owned the Fund shares for
                      just a short period of time. (Taxes are due on the
                      distributions even if the dividend or gain is reinvested
                      in additional Fund shares.) While the total value of your
                      investment will be the same after the distribution--the
                      amount of the distribution will offset the drop in the net
                      asset value of the shares--you should be aware of the tax
                      implications the timing of your purchase may have.
    
 
                      Prospective investors should, therefore, inquire about
                      potential distributions before investing. The Fund's
                      annual capital gains distribution normally occurs in
                      December, while income dividends are generally paid
                      quarterly in March, June, September and December. For
                      additional information on distributions and taxes, see the
                      section titled "Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT             The easiest way to establish optional Vanguard services on
INFORMATION           your account is to select the options you desire when you
                      complete your Account Registration Form. If you wish to
ESTABLISHING          add shareholder options later, you may need to provide
OPTIONAL SERVICES     Vanguard with additional information and a signature
                      guarantee. Please call our Client Services Department
                      (1-800-662-2739) for further assistance.
 
SIGNATURE             For our mutual protection, we may require a signature
GUARANTEES            guarantee on certain written transaction requests. A
                      signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your
                      signature, and may be obtained from banks, brokers and any
                      other guarantor that Vanguard deems acceptable. A
                      SIGNATURE GUARANTEE CANNOT BE PROVIDED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC.
 
CERTIFICATES          Share certificates will be issued upon request. If a
                      certificate is lost, you may incur an expense to replace
                      it.
 
BROKER-DEALER         If you purchase shares in Vanguard Funds through a
PURCHASES             registered broker-dealer or investment adviser, the
                      broker-dealer or adviser may charge a service fee.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
   
CANCELLING TRADES     The Fund will not cancel any trade (e.g., a purchase,
                      exchange or redemption) believed to be authentic, received
                      in writing or by telephone, once the trade request has
                      been received.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
WHEN YOUR             Your trade date is the date on which your account is
ACCOUNT WILL          credited. If your purchase is made by check, Federal Funds
BE CREDITED           wire, bank wire or exchange and is received by the close
                      of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
                      (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), your trade date is the
                      day of receipt. If your purchase is received after the
                      close of the Exchange, your trade date is the next
                      business day. Your shares are purchased at the net asset
                      value determined on your trade date. Vanguard will not
                      accept third-party checks to open an account. Please be
                      sure your purchase check is made payable to the Vanguard
                      Group.
    
 
   
                      In order to prevent lengthy processing delays caused by
                      the clearing of foreign checks, Vanguard will only accept
                      a foreign check which has been drawn in U.S. dollars and
                      has been issued by a foreign bank with a U.S.
                      correspondent bank. The name of the U.S. correspondent
                      bank must be printed on the face of the foreign check.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING YOUR          You may withdraw any portion of the funds in your account
SHARES                by redeeming shares at any time. You may initiate a
                      request by writing or by telephoning. Your redemption
                      proceeds are normally mailed within two business days
                      after the receipt of the request in Good Order.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY MAIL       Requests should be mailed to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                      VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA
                      19482. (For express or registered mail, send your request
                      to Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard/Wellington Fund,
                      455 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
 
                      The redemption price of shares will be the Fund's net
                      asset value next determined after Vanguard has received
                      all required documents in Good Order.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
DEFINITION OF         GOOD ORDER means that the request includes the following:
GOOD ORDER   
                      1. The account number and Fund name.
                      2. The amount of the transaction (specified in dollars or
                         shares).
                      3. Signatures of all owners EXACTLY as they are registered
                         on the account.
                      4. Any required signature guarantees.
                      5. Other supporting legal documentation that might be
                         required, in the case of estates, corporations, trusts,
                         and certain other accounts.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY TELEPHONE  To sell shares by telephone, you or your pre-authorized
                      representative may call our Client Services Department at
                      1-800-662-2739. The proceeds will be sent to you by mail.
                      Please see "Important Information About Telephone
                      Transactions."
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   19
 
   
SELLING BY FUND       If you select the Fund Express Automatic Withdrawal
EXPRESS               option, money will be automatically moved from your
                      Vanguard Fund account to your bank account according to
Automatic             the schedule you have selected. The Special Redemption
Withdrawal            option lets you move money from your Vanguard account to
& Special Redemption  your bank account on an "as needed" basis. To establish
                      these Fund Express options, please provide the appropriate
                      information on the Account Registration Form. We will send
                      you a confirmation of your Fund Express service; please
                      wait three weeks before using the service.
    
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY EXCHANGE   You can sell shares of the Fund by making an exchange into
                      another Vanguard Fund account. Please see "Exchanging Your
                      Shares" for details.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
   
IMPORTANT             Shares purchased by check or Fund Express may be redeemed
REDEMPTION            at any time. However, your redemption proceeds will not be
INFORMATION           paid until payment for the purchase is collected, which
                      may take up to ten calendar days.
    
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
DELIVERY OF           Redemption requests received by telephone prior to close
REDEMPTION PROCEEDS   of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
                      (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) are processed on the
                      day of receipt and the redemption proceeds are normally
                      sent on the following business day.
 
                      Redemption requests received by telephone after close of
                      the Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) are
                      processed on the business day following receipt and the
                      proceeds are normally sent on the second business day
                      following receipt.
 
                      Redemption proceeds must be sent to you within seven days
                      of receipt of your request in Good Order.
 
                      If you experience difficulty in making a telephone
                      redemption during periods of drastic economic or market
                      changes, your redemption request may be made by regular or
                      express mail. It will be implemented at the net asset
                      value next determined after your request has been received
                      by Vanguard in Good Order. The Fund reserves the right to
                      revise or terminate the telephone redemption privilege at
                      any time.
 
                      The Fund may suspend the redemption right or postpone
                      payment at times when the New York Stock Exchange is
                      closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined
                      by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                      If the Board of Directors determines that it would be
                      detrimental to the best interests of the Fund's remaining
                      shareholders to make payment in cash, the Fund may pay
                      redemption proceeds in excess of $250,000 in whole or in
                      part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable
                      securities.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
                  
VANGUARD'S AVERAGE    If you make a redemption from a qualifying account,
COST STATEMENT        Vanguard will send you an Average Cost Statement which
                      provides you with the tax basis of the shares you
                      redeemed. Please see "Other Vanguard Services" for
                      additional information.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   20
 
   
MINIMUM ACCOUNT       Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller
BALANCE               accounts, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares in
REQUIREMENT           any account that is below the minimum initial investment
                      amount of $3,000. If at any time your total investment
                      does not have a value of at least $3,000, you may be
                      notified that your account is below the Fund's minimum
                      account balance requirement. You would then be allowed 60
                      days to make an additional investment before the account
                      is liquidated. Proceeds would be promptly paid to the
                      registered shareholder. (This minimum requirement does not
                      apply to IRAs, other retirement accounts, and Uniform
                      Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts.)
    
 
   
                      The Fund's minimum account balance requirement will not
                      apply if your account falls below $3,000 solely as a
                      result of declining markets (i.e., a decline in a Fund's
                      net asset value).
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING            Should your investment goals change, you may exchange your
YOUR SHARES           shares of Wellington Fund for those of other available    
                      Vanguard Funds.                                           
EXCHANGING BY
   
TELEPHONE             When exchanging shares by telephone, please have ready the
                      Fund name, account number, Social Security number or      
Call Client Services  Employer Identification number listed on the account, and 
(1-800-662-2739)      the exact name and address in which the account is        
                      registered. Requests for telephone exchanges received     
                      prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock       
                      Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) are processed 
                      at the close of business that same day. Requests received 
                      after the close of the Exchange are processed the next    
                      business day. TELEPHONE EXCHANGES ARE NOT ACCEPTED INTO OR
                      FROM VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX FUND, VANGUARD INDEX TRUST,  
                      VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX FUND AND VANGUARD     
                      QUANTITATIVE PORTFOLIOS. If you experience difficulty in  
                      making a telephone exchange, your exchange request may be 
                      made by regular or express mail, and it will be           
                      implemented at the closing net asset value on the date    
                      received by Vanguard provided the request is received in  
                      Good Order.                                               
                      
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING BY MAIL    Please be sure to include on your exchange request the
                      name and account number of your current Fund, and the name
                      of the Fund you wish to exchange into, the amount you wish
                      to exchange, and the signatures of all registered account
                      holders. Send your request to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                      VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA
                      19482. (For express or registered mail, send your request
                      to Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard/Wellington Fund,
                      455 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT EXCHANGE    Before you make an exchange, you should consider the
INFORMATION           following:
 
                      - Please read the Fund's prospectus before making an
                        exchange. For a copy and for answers to any questions
                        you may have, call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447).
 
                      - An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase.
                        Therefore, you could realize a taxable gain or loss on
                        the transaction.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   21
 
                      - Exchanges are accepted only if the registrations and the
                        Taxpayer Identification numbers of the two accounts are
                        identical.
 
                      - The shares to be exchanged must be on deposit and not
                        held in certificate form.
 
                      - New accounts are not currently accepted in
                        Vanguard/Windsor Fund.
 
                      - The redemption price of shares redeemed by exchange is
                        the net asset value next determined after Vanguard has
                        received the required documentation in Good Order.
 
                      - When opening a new account by exchange, you must meet
                        the minimum investment requirement of the new Fund.
 
                      Every effort will be made to maintain the exchange
                      privilege. However, the Fund reserves the right to revise
                      or terminate its provisions, limit the amount of or reject
                      any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.
 
   
                      The exchange privilege is only available in states in
                      which shares of the Fund are registered for sale. The
                      Fund's shares are currently registered for sale in all 50
                      states and the Fund intends to maintain such registration.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            
EXCHANGE              The Fund's exchange privilege is not intended to afford
PRIVILEGE             shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in
LIMITATIONS           the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use
                      of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the
                      management of the Fund and increase transaction costs, the
                      Fund has established a policy of limiting excessive
                      exchange activity.
 
                      Exchange activity generally will not be deemed excessive
                      if limited to TWO SUBSTANTIVE EXCHANGE REDEMPTIONS (AT
                      LEAST 30 DAYS APART) from the Fund during any twelve
                      month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Fund
                      reserves the right to reject any purchase request
                      (including exchange purchases from other Vanguard
                      portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be disruptive to
                      efficient portfolio management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT             The ability to initiate redemptions (except wire
INFORMATION           redemptions) and exchanges by telephone is automatically
ABOUT TELEPHONE       established on your account unless you request in writing
TRANSACTIONS          that telephone transactions on your account not be
                      permitted.
 
                      To protect your account from losses resulting from
                      unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions,
                      Vanguard adheres to the following security procedures:
 
   
                      1.SECURITY CHECK. To request a transaction by telephone,
                        the caller must know (i) the name of the Portfolio; (ii)
                        the 10-digit account number; (iii) the exact name and
                        address used in the registration; and (iv) the Social
                        Security or Taxpayer Identification number listed on the
                        account.
    
 
                      2.PAYMENT POLICY. The proceeds of any telephone redemption
                        made by mail will be made payable to the registered
                        shareowner and mailed to the address of record, only.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   22
 
   
                      Neither the Fund nor Vanguard will be responsible for the
                      authenticity of transaction instructions received by
                      telephone, provided that reasonable security procedures
                      have been followed. Vanguard believes that the security
                      procedures described above are reasonable, and that if
                      such procedures are followed, you will bear the risk of
                      any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent
                      telephone transactions on your account.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            
TRANSFERRING          You may transfer the registration of any of your Fund
REGISTRATION          shares to another person by completing a transfer form and
                      sending it to: VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER, P.O. BOX 1110,
                      VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482 ATTENTION: TRANSFER DEPARTMENT. The
                      request must be in Good Order. BEFORE MAILING YOUR
                      REQUEST, PLEASE CALL CLIENT SERVICES (1-800-662-2739) FOR
                      FULL INSTRUCTIONS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
STATEMENTS AND        Vanguard will send you a confirmation statement each time
REPORTS               you initiate a transaction in your account except for
                      checkwriting redemptions from Vanguard money market
                      accounts. You will also receive a comprehensive account
                      statement at the end of each calendar quarter. The
                      fourth-quarter statement will be a year-end statement,
                      listing all transaction activity for the entire calendar
                      year.
    
 
                      Vanguard's Average Cost Statement provides you with the
                      average cost of shares redeemed from your account, using
                      the average cost single category method. This service is
                      available for most taxable accounts opened since January
                      1, 1986. In general, investors who redeemed shares from a
                      qualifying Vanguard account may expect to receive their
                      Average Cost Statement in February of the following year.
                      Please call our Client Services Department
                      (1-800-662-2739) for information.
 
                      Financial reports on the Fund will be mailed to you
                      semi-annually, according to the Fund's fiscal year-end.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
OTHER VANGUARD        For more information about any of these services, please
SERVICES              call our Investor Information Department at
                      1-800-662-7447.
    
 
VANGUARD DIRECT       With Vanguard's Direct Deposit Service, most U.S.
DEPOSIT SERVICE       Government checks (including Social Security and military
                      pension checks) and private payroll checks may be
                      automatically deposited into your Vanguard Fund account.
                      Separate brochures and forms are available for direct
                      deposit of U.S. Government and private payroll checks.
 
   
VANGUARD AUTOMATIC    Vanguard's Automatic Exchange Service allows you to move
EXCHANGE SERVICE      money automatically among your Vanguard Fund accounts. For
                      instance, the service can be used to "dollar cost average"
                      from a money market portfolio into a stock or bond fund or
                      to contribute to an IRA or other retirement plan. Please
                      contact our Client Service Department at 1-800-662-2739
                      for additional information.
    
 
VANGUARD FUND         Vanguard's Fund Express allows you to transfer money
EXPRESS               between your Fund account and your account at a bank,
                      savings and loan association, or a credit union that is a
                      member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. You
                      may elect this service on the Account Registration Form or
                      call the Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447)
                      for a Fund Express application.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   23
 
                      The minimum amount that can be transferred by telephone is
                      $100. However, if you have established one of the
                      automatic options, the minimum amount is $50. The maximum
                      amount that can be transferred using any of the options is
                      $100,000.
 
                      Special rules govern how your Fund Express purchases or
                      redemptions are credited to your account. In addition,
                      some services of Fund Express cannot be used with specific
                      Vanguard Funds. For more information, please refer to the
                      Vanguard Fund Express brochure.
 
VANGUARD DIVIDEND     Vanguard's Dividend Express allows you to transfer your
EXPRESS               dividends and/or capital gains distributions automatically
                      from your Fund account, one business day after the Fund's
                      payable date, to your account at a bank, savings and loan
                      association, or a credit union that is a member of the
                      Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. You may elect this
                      service on the Account Registration Form or call our
                      Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447) for a
                      Vanguard Dividend Express application.
 
   
VANGUARD              Vanguard's Tele-Account is a convenient, automated service
TELE-ACCOUNT          that provides share price, price change and yield
                      quotations on Vanguard Funds through any TouchToneTM
                      telephone. This service also lets you obtain information
                      about your account balance, your last transaction, and
                      your most recent dividend or capital gains payment. To
                      contact Vanguard's Tele-Account service, dial
                      1-800-ON-BOARD (1-800-662-6273). A brochure offering
                      detailed operating instructions is available from our
                      Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447).
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   24
 
                     (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)
<PAGE>   25
 
   
                     (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)
    
<PAGE>   26
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                                       <C>
                                 [VANGUARD  WELLINGTON                                   [VANGUARD WELLINGTON
                                       FUND LOGO]                                             FUND LOGO]

                                 ---------------------------                      P   R   O   S   P   E   C   T   U   S
                                 THE VANGUARD GROUP
                                 OF INVESTMENT                                                MARCH 3, 1995
                                 COMPANIES
                                 Vanguard Financial Center
                                 P.O. Box 2600
                                 Valley Forge, PA 19482
                                 INVESTOR INFORMATION
                                 DEPARTMENT:
                                 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
                                 CLIENT SERVICES
                                 DEPARTMENT:
                                 1-800-662-2739 (CREW)
                                 TELE-ACCOUNT FOR
                                 24-HOUR ACCESS:
                                 1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD)
                                 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
                                 FOR THE HEARING-IMPAIRED:
                                 1-800-662-2738
                                 TRANSFER AGENT:
                                 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                                 Vanguard Financial Center
                                 Valley Forge, PA 19482

     P021                                                                              [THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]

</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   27
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[VANGUARD WELLINGTON 
    FUND LOGO]                                   A Member of The Vanguard Group
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
PROSPECTUS--MARCH 3, 1995
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
FUND INFORMATION: PARTICIPANT SERVICES--1-800-523-1188
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT            Vanguard/Wellington Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is an open-end
OBJECTIVES &          diversified investment company designed to provide       
POLICIES              conservative investors with a prudent investment program.
                      The objectives of the Fund include conservation of        
                      principal, a reasonable income return, and profits without
                      undue risk. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of
                      common stocks and bonds, with common stocks expected to   
                      represent 60% to 70% of the Fund's total assets. There is
                      no assurance that the Fund will achieve its stated        
                      objectives. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor    
                      guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including
                      the FDIC.                                                
                     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT NOTE        This Prospectus is intended exclusively for participants
                      in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans, such as
                      tax-qualified pension and profit-sharing plans and 401(k)
                      thrift plans, as well as 403(b) custodial accounts for
                      non-profit educational and charitable organizations.
                      Another version of this Prospectus, containing information
                      on how to open a personal investment account with the
                      Fund, is available for individual investors. To obtain a
                      copy of that version of the Prospectus, please call
                      1-800-662-7447.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OPENING AN            The Fund is an investment option under a retirement or    
ACCOUNT               savings program sponsored by your employer. The           
                      administrator of your retirement plan or your employee    
                      benefits office can provide you with detailed information 
                      on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the   
                      Fund as an investment option.                             
                     
                      If you have any questions about the Fund, please contact
                      Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188. If you have any
                      questions about your plan account, contact your plan
                      administrator or the organization that provides
                      recordkeeping services for your plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
ABOUT THIS            This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the    
PROSPECTUS            information you should know about the Fund before you     
                      invest. It should be retained for future reference. A     
                      "Statement of Additional Information" containing          
                      additional information about the Fund has been filed with
                      the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Statement is
                      dated March 3, 1995, and has been incorporated by         
                      reference into this Prospectus. It may be obtained,       
                      without charge, by writing to the Fund or by calling the  
                      Investor Information Department.                          
                     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>
                                  Page                                       Page                                       Page
Fund Expenses ....................  2      Investment Risks .................  4      Performance Record ...............  9
Financial Highlights .............  2      Who Should Invest ................  6      Dividends, Capital Gains and
Yield and Total Return ...........  3      Implementation of Policies .......  6         Taxes ......................... 10
        FUND INFORMATION                   Investment Limitations ...........  7      The Share Price of the Fund ...... 10
Investment Objectives ............  4      Management of the Fund ...........  7      General Information .............. 11
Investment Policies ..............  4      Investment Adviser ...............  8               SERVICE GUIDE   
                                                                                      Participating in Your Plan ....... 12
</TABLE> 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   28
 
   
FUND EXPENSES         The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that
                      a shareholder of the Fund would incur. The expenses set
                      forth below are for the 1994 fiscal year.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
                      <S>                                                                <C>       <C>
                                               SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Sales Load Imposed on Purchases...............................                None
                      Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends....................                None
                      Redemption Fees...............................................                None
                      Exchange Fees.................................................                None

                                                ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Management & Administrative Expenses..........................                0.26%
                      Investment Advisory Fees......................................                0.06
                      12b-1 Fees....................................................                None
                      Other Expenses
                        Distribution Costs..........................................     0.02%
                        Miscellaneous Expenses......................................     0.01
                                                                                         ----
                      Total Other Expenses..........................................                0.03
                                                                                                   ------
                               TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES.............................                0.35%
                                                                                                   ------
                                                                                                   ------
</TABLE>              
                      
 
                      The purpose of this table is to assist you in
                      understanding the various costs and expenses an investor
                      would bear directly or indirectly as a shareholder in the
                      Fund.
 
                      The following example illustrates the expenses that you
                      would incur on a $1,000 investment over various periods,
                      assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2) redemption
                      at the end of each period. As noted in the table above,
                      the Fund charges no redemption fees of any kind.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      
                                1 YEAR       3 YEARS       5 YEARS       10 YEARS
                                ------       -------       -------       --------
                                <S>          <C>           <C>           <C>
                                 $  4         $  11         $  20          $ 44
</TABLE>
    
 
                      THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF
                      PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES
                      MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FINANCIAL             The following financial highlights, insofar as they relate
HIGHLIGHTS            to each of the five years in the period ended November 30,
                      1994, have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,          
                      independent accountants, whose report thereon was         
                      unqualified. This information should be read in           
                      conjunction with the Fund's financial statements and notes
                      thereto which are incorporated by reference in the        
                      Statement of Additional Information and this Prospectus,  
                      and which appear, along with the report of Price          
                      Waterhouse LLP, in the Fund's 1994 Annual Report to       
                      Shareholders. For a more complete discussion of the Fund's
                      performance, please see the Fund's 1994 Annual Report to  
                      Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge by     
                      writing to the Fund or by calling Participant Services at 
                      1-800-523-1188.                                           
                                                                                
                      
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   29
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         1994       1993       1992       1991       1990       1989       1988       1987       1986       1985
<S>                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE,
  BEGINNING OF YEAR...  $20.78     $19.34     $17.95     $16.29     $18.40     $16.82     $14.92     $16.06     $13.99     $12.08
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Net Investment
    Income............     .88        .92        .93        .96       1.01       1.02        .96        .95        .94        .91
  Net Realized and
    Unrealized Gains
    (Losses)..........   (1.03)      1.62       1.65       1.71      (1.46)      2.12       2.06      (1.55)      2.41       2.22
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    TOTAL FROM
      INVESTMENT
      OPERATIONS......    (.15)      2.54       2.58       2.67       (.45)      3.14       3.02       (.60)      3.35       3.13
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends from Net
    Investment
    Income............    (.92)      (.94)      (.96)     (1.01)     (1.06)      (.98)      (.98)      (.54)      (.94)      (.92)
  Distributions from
    Realized Capital
    Gains.............    (.38)      (.16)      (.23)        --       (.60)      (.58)      (.14)        --       (.34)      (.30)
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    TOTAL
      DISTRIBUTIONS...   (1.30)     (1.10)     (1.19)     (1.01)     (1.66)     (1.56)     (1.12)      (.54)     (1.28)     (1.22)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE,
  END OF YEAR.........  $19.33     $20.78     $19.34     $17.95     $16.29     $18.40     $16.82     $14.92     $16.06     $13.99
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN..........   (0.82)%   13.62%     14.99%     16.81%      (2.65)%   19.98%     21.03%      (4.26)%   24.34%     26.47%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
  DATA
Net Assets, End of
  Year (Millions).....  $8,638     $7,917     $5,359     $3,473     $2,317     $2,035     $1,527     $1,274     $1,103     $  778
Ratio of Expenses to
  Average Net
  Assets..............    .35%       .34%       .33%       .35%       .43%       .42%       .47%       .43%       .53%       .64%
Ratio of Net
  Investment
  Income to Average
  Net Assets..........   4.35%      4.55%      4.98%      5.39%      5.99%      5.77%      5.88%      5.56%      5.88%      6.84%
Portfolio Turnover
  Rate................     32%        34%        24%        35%        33%        30%        28%        27%        25%        27%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
YIELD AND TOTAL       From time to time the Fund may advertise its yield and
RETURN                total return. Both yield and total return figures are
                      based on historical earnings and are not intended to
                      indicate future performance. The "total return" of the
                      Fund refers to the average annual compounded rates of
                      return over one- five- and ten-year periods or the life of
                      the Fund (as stated in the advertisement) that would
                      equate an initial amount invested at the beginning of a
                      stated period to the ending redeemable value of the
                      investment, assuming the reinvestment of all dividend and
                      capital gains distributions.
    
 
   
                      In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                      yield" of the Fund is calculated by dividing the net
                      investment income per share earned during a 30-day period
                      by the net asset value per share on the last day of the
                      period. Net investment income includes interest and
                      dividend income earned on the Fund's securities and is net
                      of all expenses and all recurring and nonrecurring charges
                      that have been applied to all shareholder accounts. The
                      yield calculation assumes that the net investment income
                      earned over 30 days is compounded monthly for six months
                      and then annualized. Methods used to calculate advertised
                      yields are standardized for all stock and bond mutual
                      funds. However, these methods differ from the accounting
                      methods used by the Fund to maintain its books and
                      records, and so the advertised
    
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   30
 
                      30-day yield may not fully reflect the income paid to your
                      own account or the yield reported in the Fund's reports to
                      shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT            The Fund is an open-end diversified investment company    
OBJECTIVES            designed to provide conservative investors with a prudent 
                      investment program. The objectives of the Fund include    
THE FUND IS DESIGNED  conservation of principal, a reasonable income return, and
TO PROVIDE A PRUDENT  profits without undue risk.                               
INVESTMENT PROGRAM                                                              
                      There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its      
                      stated objectives.                                        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT            The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in a
POLICIES              diversified portfolio of common stocks and bonds. Under   
                      normal circumstances, it is expected that common stocks   
THE FUND INVESTS IN   and securities convertible into common stock will         
COMMON STOCKS AND     represent 60% to 70% of the Fund's total assets. The      
BONDS                 Fund's common stocks, in the aggregate, are held to       
                      provide reasonable dividend income and long-term growth of
                      capital and income. These securities are primarily common 
                      stocks but may also include securities convertible into   
                      common stocks.                                            
                      
 
                      The remaining 30% to 40% of the Fund's assets will be
                      invested in investment grade corporate bonds (those rated
                      a minimum of Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB
                      by Standard & Poor's Corporation) as well as securities
                      issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies and
                      instrumentalities, including Government National Mortgage
                      Association (GNMA) mortgage pass-through certificates. The
                      Fund may also hold certain short-term fixed income
                      securities as cash reserves.
 
   
                      The amount invested in stocks, bonds and cash reserves may
                      be varied from time to time, depending upon the investment
                      adviser's assessment of business, economic and market
                      conditions. The Fund reserves the right to hold equity,
                      fixed-income and cash securities in whatever proportion
                      deemed desirable at any given time for defensive purposes.
                      The Fund is managed without regard to tax ramifications.
    
 
   
                      In addition, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets
                      in foreign securities, and may invest in stock and bond
                      index futures and options to a limited extent. The Fund is
                      also authorized to invest in preferred stocks. See
                      "Implementation of Policies" for a description of these
                      and other investment practices of the Fund.
    
 
                      The Fund's objectives and investment policies are not
                      fundamental and so may be changed by the Board of
                      Directors without shareholder approval. However,
                      shareholders would be notified prior to any material
                      change in either.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT RISKS      Like any investment program, the Fund entails certain     
                      risks. As a mutual fund investing 60% to 70% of its assets
INVESTORS ARE EXPOSED in common stocks, the Fund is subject to stock market     
TO STOCK MARKET AND   risk--i.e., the possibility that stock prices in general  
INTEREST RATE RISK    will decline over short or even extended periods. The     
                      stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when stock
                      prices generally rise and periods when stock prices       
                      generally decline.                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                      
                                        4
<PAGE>   31
 
   
                      To illustrate the volatility of stock prices, the
                      following table sets forth the extremes for U.S. stock
                      market returns as well as the average return for the
                      period from 1926 to 1994, as measured by the Standard &
                      Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AVERAGE ANNUAL U.S. STOCK MARKET RETURNS (1926-1994)
                                           OVER VARIOUS TIME HORIZONS

                                      1 YEAR       5 YEARS       10 YEARS       20 YEARS
                                      ------       -------       --------       --------
                        <S>           <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>
                        Best          +53.9%        +23.9%         +20.1%         +16.9%
                        Worst         -43.3         -12.5          - 0.9          + 3.1
                        Average       +12.2         +10.2          +10.7          +10.7
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                      As shown, common stocks have provided annual total returns
                      (capital appreciation plus dividend income) averaging
                      +10.7% for all 10-year periods from 1926 to 1994. The
                      return in individual years has varied from a low of -43.3%
                      to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the short-term volatility
                      of stock prices. While the average return can be used as a
                      guide for setting reasonable expectations for future stock
                      market returns. It may not be useful for forecasting
                      future returns in any particular period, as stock returns
                      are quite volatile from year to year.
    
 
                      Since the Fund also invests in bonds, investors in the
                      Fund are also exposed to interest rate risk--i.e.,
                      fluctuations in the market value of bonds due to changing
                      interest rates. Bond prices are influenced primarily by
                      changes in the level of interest rates. When interest
                      rates rise, the prices of bonds generally fall;
                      conversely, when interest rates fall, bond prices
                      generally rise. While bonds normally fluctuate less in
                      price than stocks, there have been extended periods of
                      cyclical increases in interest rates that has caused
                      significant declines in bond prices. For example, bond
                      prices fell 48% from December 1976 to September 1981.
                      However, a decline in the market value of bonds may be
                      offset in whole or in part by the high level of income
                      that bonds provide.
 
                      To a limited extent, the Fund is also subject to credit
                      risk--i.e., the likelihood that a bond issuer will fail to
                      make timely payments of interest and principal to the
                      Fund. Such credit risk is expected to be low, however, due
                      to the credit quality and diversification of the Fund's
                      bond investments.
 
                      From time to time, the stock and bond markets may
                      fluctuate independently of one another. In other words, a
                      decline in the stock market may in certain instances be
                      offset by a rise in the bond market, or vice versa. As a
                      result, the Fund, with its balance of common stock and
                      bond investments, is expected to entail less investment
                      risk (and a potentially lower return) than a mutual fund
                      investing exclusively in common stocks.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   32
 
WHO SHOULD INVEST     The Fund is designed for conservative investors who are   
                      seeking a prudent investment program that offers relative 
INVESTORS SEEKING A   capital stability, a reasonable level of income, and the  
BALANCE AMONG         potential for capital appreciation. By balancing its      
STABILITY, INCOME     investments among common stocks and bonds, the Fund is    
AND GROWTH            expected to provide lower investment risk and share price 
                      volatility (and a lower total return in the long run) than
                      a mutual fund which invests exclusively in common stocks. 
                      The Fund is thus suitable for investors who wish to gain  
                      exposure to the potential capital growth provided by the  
                      stock market, while limiting investment risk. The Fund is 
                      intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not  
                      designed to provide investors with a means of speculating 
                      on short-term market movements. Investors who engage in   
                      excessive account activity generate additional costs which
                      are borne by all of the Fund's shareholders. In order to  
                      minimize such costs the Fund has adopted the following    
                      policies. The Fund reserves the right to reject any       
                      purchase request (including exchange purchases from other 
                      Vanguard portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be      
                      disruptive to efficient portfolio management, either      
                      because of the timing of the investment or previous       
                      excessive trading by the investor. Finally, the Fund      
                      reserves the right to suspend the offering of its shares. 
                                                                                
                      No assurance can be given that shareholders will be fully
                      protected from the market risks inherent in investing in
                      stocks and bonds. Only investors able to tolerate
                      short-term, possibly substantial fluctuations in the value
                      of their investment, brought about by generally declining
                      stock or bond prices, should contemplate an investment in
                      the Fund. The balanced investment approach of the Fund
                      tends to limit stock and bond market risks; it does not
                      eliminate them.
 
                      The Fund is intended as a balanced long-term investment
                      program. Investors may wish to reduce the potential risk
                      of investing in the Fund by purchasing shares on a
                      regular, periodic basis (dollar-cost averaging) rather
                      than making an investment in one lump sum.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF     In addition to investing primarily in common stocks and   
POLICIES              bonds, the Fund uses a number of other investment vehicles
                      to achieve its objective.                                 
THE FUND MAY INVEST                                                             
IN SHORT-TERM FIXED   Although it normally seeks to remain fully invested in    
INCOME SECURITIES     equity common stocks and bonds, the Fund may invest in    
                      certain short-term fixed income securities. Such          
                      securities may be used to invest uncommitted cash         
                      balances, to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder       
                      redemptions, or to take a temporarily defensive position  
                      against potential stock market declines. These securities 
                      include: obligations of the United States Government and  
                      its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper, bank 
                      certificates of deposit, and bankers' acceptances; and    
                      repurchase agreements collateralized by these securities. 
                                                                                
THE FUND MAY          The Fund may utilize stock and bond futures contracts and
USE FUTURES           options to a limited extent. Specifically, the Fund may  
CONTRACTS             enter into futures contracts provided that not more than 
AND OPTIONS           5% of its assets are required as a futures contract
                      deposit. In addition, the Fund may enter into futures
                      contracts and options transactions only to the extent that
                      obligations under such contracts or transactions represent
                      not more than 20% of the Fund's assets.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   33
 
THE FUND MAY LEND     The Fund may lend its investment securities to qualified  
ITS SECURITIES        institutional investors for either short-term or long-term
                      purposes of realizing additional income. Loans of         
                      securities by the Fund will be collateralized by cash,    
                      letters of credit, or securities issued or guaranteed by  
                      the U.S. Government or its agencies. The collateral will  
                      equal at least 100% of the current market value of the    
                      loaned securities.                                        
                      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER    The Fund retains the right to sell securities irrespective
IS NOT EXPECTED TO    of how long they have been held. However, it is           
EXCEED 50%            anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund 
                      will not exceed 50%. A turnover rate of 50% would occur,  
                      for example, if one half of the Fund's securities were    
                      replaced within one year.                                 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT            The Fund has adopted certain limitations in an attempt to
LIMITATIONS           reduce its exposure to specific situations. Some of these
                      limitations are that the Fund will not:                  
THE FUND HAS ADOPTED
   
CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL   (a)  with respect to 75% of its assets invest more than 5%
LIMITATIONS                of its assets in the securities of any single        
                           company, excluding obligations of the U.S. Government
                           and its instrumentalities;                           
                      
 
                      (b)  with respect to 75% of its assets purchase more than
                           10% of the outstanding voting securities of any
                           issuer;
 
                      (c)  invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities
                           of companies that have a continuous operating history
                           of less than three years;
 
                      (d)  invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                           industry; and
 
                      (e)  borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                           emergency purposes, and then only in an amount not in
                           excess of 10% of total assets taken at the lower of
                           their market value or cost.
 
                      The above-mentioned investment limitations are considered
                      at the time investment securities are purchased. The
                      limitations described here and in the Statement of
                      Additional Information may be changed only with the
                      approval of a majority of the Fund's shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
MANAGEMENT            The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment  
OF THE FUND           Companies, a family of more than 30 investment companies  
                      with more than 80 distinct investment portfolios and total
VANGUARD              assets in excess of $130 billion. Through their           
ADMINISTERS AND       jointly-owned subsidiary, The Vanguard Group, Inc.        
DISTRIBUTES THE       ("Vanguard"), the Fund and the other Funds in the Group   
FUND                  obtain at cost virtually all of their corporate           
                      management, administrative, shareholder accounting and    
                      distribution services. Vanguard also provides investment  
                      advisory services on an at-cost basis to certain Vanguard 
                      Funds. As a result of Vanguard's unique corporate         
                      structure, the Vanguard Funds have costs substantially    
                      lower than those of most competing mutual funds. In 1994, 
                      the average expense ratio (annual costs including advisory
                      fees divided by total net assets) for the Vanguard Funds  
                      amounted to approximately .30% compared to an average of  
                      1.05% for the mutual fund industry (data provided by      
                      Lipper Analytical Services).                              
                      
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   34
 
                      The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day operations
                      and are responsible to the Fund's Board of Directors. The
                      Directors set broad policies for each fund and choose its
                      Officers. A list of the Directors and Officers of the Fund
                      and a statement of their present positions and principal
                      occupations during the past five years can be found in the
                      Statement of Additional Information.
 
                      Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and
                      administrative personnel needed to provide the requisite
                      services to the funds and also furnishes the funds with
                      necessary office space, furnishings and equipment. Each
                      fund pays its share of Vanguard's total expenses, which
                      are allocated among the funds under methods approved by
                      the Board of Directors (Trustees) of each fund. In
                      addition, each fund bears its own direct expenses, such as
                      legal, auditing and custodian fees.
 
                      Vanguard also provides distribution and marketing services
                      to the Vanguard funds. The funds are available on a
                      no-load basis (i.e., there are no sales commissions or
                      12b-1 fees). However, each fund bears its share of the
                      Group's distribution costs.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT            The Fund employs Wellington Management Company ("WMC"), 75
ADVISER               State Street, Boston, MA 02109, under an investment       
                      advisory agreement dated as of April 1, 1993 to manage the
WELLINGTON            investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund and 
MANAGEMENT            to continuously review, supervise and administer the      
COMPANY MANAGES       Fund's investment program. WMC discharges its             
THE FUND'S            responsibilities subject to the control of the Officers   
INVESTMENTS           and Directors of the Fund.                                

   
                      WMC is a professional investment advisory firm which
                      globally provides services to investment companies,
                      institutions, and individuals. Among the clients of WMC
                      are more than 10 investment companies of The Vanguard
                      Group. As of December 31, 1994, WMC held discretionary
                      management authority with respect to more than $80 billion
                      of assets. WMC and its predecessor organizations have
                      provided advisory services to investment companies since
                      1933 and to investment counseling clients since 1960.
    
 
   
                      Vincent Bajakian, Senior Vice President of WMC, serves as
                      portfolio manager of the Fund, a position he has held
                      since 1972. Mr. Bajakian is assisted by Paul D. Kaplan,
                      Senior Vice President of WMC, who began managing the
                      Fund's fixed-income investments in 1994. Messrs. Bajakian
                      and Kaplan are supported by research and other investment
                      services provided by the professional staff of WMC.
    
 
                      The Fund pays WMC an advisory fee at the end of each
                      fiscal quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate,
                      based on the following annual percentage rates, to the
                      Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          
                                                      ANNUAL
                               NET ASSETS              RATE
                               ------------------     -----
                               <S>                    <C>
                               First $500 million     .125%
                               Next $500 million      .100%
                               Next $1 billion        .075%
                               Next $1 billion        .050%
                               Over $3 billion        .040%
</TABLE>                      
                              
                                        8
<PAGE>   35
 
   
                      The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                      applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                      performance of the Fund relative to the investment record
                      of "a combined index" 65% of which shall be comprised of
                      the Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index and 35%
                      of which shall be comprised of the Salomon Brothers High
                      Grade Corporate Bond Index. During the fiscal year ended
                      November 30, 1994, the total advisory fees paid by the
                      Fund to WMC represented an effective annual base rate of
                      .06 of 1% of average net assets.
    
 
                      The investment advisory agreement authorizes WMC (with
                      approval of the Fund's Board of Directors) to select the
                      brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and
                      sales of portfolio securities for the Fund and directs WMC
                      to use its best efforts to obtain the best available price
                      and most favorable execution with respect to all
                      transactions for the Fund. The full range and quality of
                      brokerage services available are considered in making
                      these determinations.
 
                      The Fund has authorized WMC to pay higher commissions in
                      recognition of brokerage services felt necessary for the
                      achievement of better execution, provided WMC believes
                      this to be in the best interest of the Fund. Although the
                      Fund does not market its shares through intermediary
                      brokers or dealers, the Fund may place portfolio orders
                      with qualified broker-dealers who recommend the Fund to
                      clients if the Officers of the Fund believe that the
                      quality of the transaction and the commission are
                      comparable to what they would be with other qualified
                      brokerage firms.
 
                      The Fund's Board of Directors may, without the approval of
                      shareholders, provide for: (a) the employment of a new
                      investment adviser pursuant to the terms of a new advisory
                      agreement either as a replacement for an existing adviser
                      or as an additional adviser; (b) a change in the terms of
                      an advisory agreement; and (c) the continued employment of
                      an existing adviser on the same advisory contract terms
                      where a contract has been assigned because of a change in
                      control of the adviser. Any such change will only be made
                      upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to
                      shareholders of the Fund which shall include substantially
                      the information concerning the adviser that would have
                      normally been included in a proxy statement.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PERFORMANCE
RECORD                The table in this section provides investment results for
                      the Fund for several periods throughout the Fund's
                      lifetime. The results shown represent the Fund's "total
                      return" investment performance, which assumes the
                      reinvestment of all capital gains and income dividends for
                      the indicated periods. Also included is comparative
                      information with respect to two performance indexes: a
                      Composite Index, a measure of the investment performance
                      of a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds, comprised of
                      the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index
                      (65%) and the Salomon Brothers High Grade Bond Index
                      (35%); and the Consumer Price Index, a statistical measure
                      of changes in the prices of goods and services. The table
                      does not make any allowance for federal, state or local
                      income taxes, which shareholders must pay on a current
                      basis.
 
                      The results shown should not be considered a
                      representation of the total return from an investment made
                      in the Fund today. This information is provided to help
                      investors
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   36
 
                      better understand the Fund and may not provide a basis for
                      comparison with other investments or mutual funds which
                      use a different method to calculate performance.
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURN              
                                           -------------------------------------------------
                        FISCAL PERIODS     VANGUARD/WELLINGTON     COMPOSITE      CONSUMER
                        ENDED 11/30/94            FUND               INDEX       PRICE INDEX
                        ---------------    -------------------     ---------     -----------
                        <S>                <C>                     <C>           <C>
                        1 Year                     - 0.8%             - 1.6%         +2.7%
                        5 Years                    + 8.1              + 8.6          +3.5
                        10 Years                   +12.4              +13.5          +3.6
                        Lifetime*                  + 7.8              + 8.3          +3.4

                        *July 1, 1929 to November 30, 1994.
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIVIDENDS,            The Fund expects to pay dividends quarterly. (The Fund has
CAPITAL GAINS         paid quarterly dividends since 1930.) Net capital gains
AND TAXES             distributions, if any, will be made annually. All dividend
                      and capital gains distributions are automatically
                      reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. In order to
                      satisfy certain distribution requirements of the IRS, the
                      Fund may also declare special year-end distributions
                      during December. The Fund intends to continue to qualify
                      as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
                      Revenue Code so that it will not be subject to federal
                      income tax to the extent that its income is distributed to
                      its shareholders.
 
                      If you utilize the Fund as an investment option in an
                      employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, dividend and
                      capital gains distributions from the Fund will generally
                      not be subject to current taxation, but will accumulate on
                      a tax-deferred basis. In general, employer-sponsored
                      retirement and savings plans are governed by a complex set
                      of tax rules. If you participate in such a plan, consult
                      your plan administrator, your plan's Summary Plan
                      Description, or a professional tax adviser regarding the
                      tax consequences of your participation in the plan and of
                      any plan contributions or withdrawals.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                
THE SHARE PRICE       The Fund's share price or "net asset value" per share is
OF THE FUND           determined by dividing the total assets of the Fund, less
                      all liabilities, by the total number of shares
                      outstanding. Net asset value is determined at the close of
                      regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally
                      4:00 p.m. Eastern time).
 
                      Portfolio securities that are listed on a securities
                      exchange are valued at the latest quoted sales price as of
                      the close of the Exchange on the day the valuation is
                      made. Price information on listed securities is taken from
                      the exchange where the security is primarily traded.
                      Listed securities which are not traded on the valuation
                      date and for which market quotations are available are
                      valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices.
                      Unlisted securities are valued at the latest bid price.
 
   
                      Bonds and other fixed-income securities may be valued on
                      the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when
                      such prices are believed to reflect the fair market value
                      of such securities. The prices provided by a pricing
                      service are determined without regard to bid or last sale
                      prices of each security but take into account
                      institutional size transactions in similar groups of
                      securities as well as any
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   37
 
                      developments related to specific securities. Other
                      securities, including restricted securities, for which no
                      quotations are readily available are valued at fair value
                      as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
                      Temporary cash investments are valued at cost which
                      approximates market value.
 
                      The Fund's price per share can be found daily in the
                      mutual fund section of most major newspapers under the
                      heading of The Vanguard Group. The Fund is managed without
                      regard to tax ramifications.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
GENERAL               The Fund is a Maryland corporation. The Fund's Articles of
INFORMATION           Incorporation permit the Directors to issue 550,000,000
                      shares of common stock, with a $1.00 par value. The Board
                      of Directors has the power to designate one or more
                      classes ("Portfolios") of shares of common stock and to
                      classify or reclassify any unissued shares with respect to
                      such Portfolios. Currently the Fund is offering one class
                      of shares.
    
 
                      The shares of the Fund are fully paid and nonassessable;
                      have no preferences as to conversion, exchange, dividends,
                      retirement or other features; and have no pre-emptive
                      rights. Such shares have non-cumulative voting rights,
                      meaning that the holders of more than 50% of the shares
                      voting for the election of Directors can elect 100% of the
                      Directors if they so choose. A shareholder is entitled to
                      one vote for each full share held (and a fractional vote
                      for each fractional share held).
 
                      Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as
                      required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other
                      applicable law. If requested in writing by holders of not
                      less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, an
                      annual meeting will be held to vote on the removal of a
                      Director or Directors.
 
   
                      All securities and cash are held by Morgan Guaranty Trust
                      Company, New York, NY. The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley
                      Forge, PA, serves as the Fund's Transfer and Dividend
                      Disbursing Agent. Price Waterhouse LLP, serves as
                      independent accountants for the Fund and will audit its
                      financial statements annually. The Fund is not involved in
                      any litigation.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   38
 
                                                  SERVICE GUIDE
                
PARTICIPATING IN      The Fund is available as an investment option in your
YOUR PLAN             retirement or savings plan. The administrator of your plan
                      or your employee benefits office can provide you with
                      detailed information on how to participate in your plan
                      and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.
 
                      If you have any questions about the Fund, including the
                      Fund's investment objective, policies, risk
                      characteristics or historical performance, please contact
                      Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188.
 
                      If you have questions about your account, contact your
                      plan administrator or the organization which provides
                      recordkeeping services for your plan.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
                  
INVESTMENT OPTIONS    You may be permitted to elect different investment
AND ALLOCATIONS       options, alter the amounts contributed to your plan, or
                      change how contributions are allocated among your
                      investment options in accordance with your plan's specific
                      provisions. See your plan administrator or employee
                      benefits office for more details.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
               
TRANSACTIONS IN       Contributions, exchanges or distributions of the Fund's
FUND SHARES           shares are effective when received in "good order" by
                      Vanguard. "Good order" means that complete information on
                      the contribution, exchange or redemption and the
                      appropriate monies has been received by Vanguard.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
MAKING EXCHANGES      Your plan may allow you to exchange monies from one
                      investment option to another. However, the Fund reserves
                      the right to refuse any exchange purchase request. Check
                      with your plan administrator for details on the rules
                      governing exchanges in your plan. Certain investment
                      options, particularly company stock or guaranteed
                      investment contracts (GICs), may be subject to unique
                      restrictions.
 
                      Before making an exchange, you should consider the
                      following:
 
                      - If you are making an exchange to another Vanguard Fund
                        option, please read the Fund's prospectus. Contact
                        Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188 for a copy.
 
                      - Exchanges are accepted by Vanguard only as permitted by
                        your plan. Your plan administrator can explain how
                        frequently exchanges are allowed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   39
 
   
                     (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)
    
<PAGE>   40
 
   
                     (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)
    
<PAGE>   41
 
   
                     (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)
    
<PAGE>   42
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                                                 <C>
        [VANGUARD WELLINGTON                                                            [VANGUARD WELLINGTON
            FUND LOGO]                                                                       FUND LOGO]
        ---------------------------
        THE VANGUARD GROUP                                                      I  N  S  T  I  T  U  T  I  O  N  A  L
        OF INVESTMENT                                                               P  R  O  S  P  E  C  T  U  S
        COMPANIES                                                                                        
        Vanguard Financial Center                                                           MARCH 3, 1995
        P.O. Box 2900
        Valley Forge, PA 19482

        INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPANT
        SERVICE DEPARTMENT:
        1-800-523-1188

        TRANSFER AGENT:
        The Vanguard Group, Inc.
        Vanguard Financial Center
        Valley Forge, PA 19482

        
        I021                                                                         [THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]

</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   43
 
                                     PART B
 
                         VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
 
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   
                                 MARCH 3, 1995
    
 
   
This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the
Fund's current Prospectus (dated March 3, 1995). To obtain the Prospectus please
call the Investor Information Department:
    
 
                                 1-800-662-7447
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            PAGE
                                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                                         <C>
Investment Objectives and Policies........................................................     1
Yield & Total Return......................................................................     5
Purchase of Shares........................................................................     5
Redemption of Shares......................................................................     5
Investment Limitations....................................................................     6
Management of the Fund....................................................................     8
Investment Advisory Services..............................................................    11
Portfolio Transactions....................................................................    12
Financial Statements......................................................................    13
Performance Measures......................................................................    13
</TABLE>
    
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
The following policies supplement the Fund's investment objectives and policies
set forth in the Prospectus.
 
   
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS  The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with
commercial banks, brokers, or dealers either for defensive purposes due to
market conditions or to generate income from its excess cash balances. A
repurchase agreement is an agreement under which the Fund acquires a money
market instrument (generally a security issued by the U.S. Government or an
agency thereof, a banker's acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a
commercial bank, broker or dealer, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed
upon price and date (normally, the next business day). A repurchase agreement
may be considered a loan collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects
an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by
the Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument. In
these transactions, the securities acquired by the Fund (including accrued
interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the
repurchase agreement and are held by the Fund's Custodian Bank until
repurchased. In addition, the Fund's Board of Directors will monitor the Fund's
repurchase agreement transactions generally and will establish guidelines and
standards for review by the investment adviser of the creditworthiness of any
bank, broker or dealer party to a repurchase agreement with the Fund. No more
than an aggregate of 15% of the Fund's assets, at the time of investment, will
be invested in repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days
and securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, or for
which there are no readily available market quotations.
    
 
The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the
other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the
underlying security at a time when the value of the security has
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   44
 
declined, the Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the
other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidations or
reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine
that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by the Fund not within the
control of the Fund and therefore the realization by the Fund on such collateral
may be automatically stayed. Finally, it is possible that the Fund may not be
able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed
an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement. While the Fund's
management acknowledges these risks, it is expected that they can be controlled
through careful monitoring procedures.
 
   
LENDING OF SECURITIES  The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to qualified
institutional investors who need to borrow securities in order to complete
certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver
securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its portfolio
securities, the Fund attempts to increase its income through the receipt of
interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities
loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of
the Fund. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to qualified brokers,
dealers, banks or other financial institutions, so long as the terms, the
structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the
Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Rules and Regulations or interpretations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, which
currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund
collateral consisting of cash, a letter of credit issued by a domestic U.S.
bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government having
a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned,
(b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities
loaned rises (i.e., the borrower "marks to the market" on a daily basis), (c)
the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time, and (d) the
Fund receive reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the Fund's
investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), any
distribution on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value.
Loan arrangements made by the Fund will comply with all other applicable
regulatory requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
which rules presently require the borrower, after notice, to redeliver the
securities within the normal settlement time of five business days. All relevant
facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the broker, dealer or
institution, will be considered in making decisions with respect to the lending
of securities, subject to review by the Fund's Board of Directors.
    
 
At the present time, the Staff of the Commission does not object if an
investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned
securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and
approved by the investment company's directors. In addition, voting rights may
pass with the loaned securities but if a material event will occur affecting an
investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted.
 
FUTURES CONTRACTS  The Fund may enter into futures contracts, options, and
options on futures contracts for the purpose of simulating full investment and
reducing transactions costs. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by
one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific
security at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts
which are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument
are traded on national futures exchanges. Futures exchanges and trading are
regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC"), a U.S. Government Agency.
 
Although futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance
of the underlying securities, in most cases the contracts are closed out before
the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Closing out an
open futures position is done by taking an opposite position ("buying" a
contract which has
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   45
 
previously been "sold," or "selling" a contract previously purchased) in an
identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred
when a futures contract is bought or sold.
 
Futures traders are required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or
government securities with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open
positions in futures contracts. A margin deposit is intended to assure
completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying security)
if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Minimal initial
margin requirements are established by the futures exchange and may be changed.
Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange
minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold which may range
upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
 
After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked
to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the
margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional
"variation" margin will be required. Conversely, change in the contract value
may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the
contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and from the futures
broker as long as the contract remains open. The Fund expects to earn interest
income on its margin deposits.
 
Traders in futures contracts may be broadly classified as either "hedgers" or
"speculators." Hedgers use the futures market primarily to offset unfavorable
changes in the value of securities otherwise held for investment purposes or
expected to be acquired by them. Speculators are less inclined to own the
securities underlying the futures contracts which they trade, and use futures
contracts with the expectation of realizing profits from fluctuations in the
prices of underlying securities. The Fund intends to use futures contracts only
for bonafide hedging purposes.
 
Regulations of CFTC applicable to the Fund require that all of its futures
transactions constitute bonafide hedging transactions. The Fund will only sell
futures contracts to protect securities it owns against price declines or
purchase contracts to protect against an increase in the price of securities it
intends to purchase. As evidence of this hedging interest, the Fund expects that
approximately 75% of its futures contract purchases will be "completed," that
is, equivalent amounts of related securities will have been purchased or are
being purchased by the Fund upon sale of open futures contracts.
 
Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of futures contracts could
be used to control the Fund's exposure to market fluctuations, the use of
futures contracts may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. While
the Fund will incur commission expenses in both opening and closing out futures
positions, these costs are lower than transactions costs incurred in the
purchase and sale of underlying securities.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FUTURES CONTRACTS  The Fund will not enter into
futures contract transactions to the extent that, immediately thereafter, the
sum of its initial margin deposits on open contracts exceeds 5% of the market
value of the Fund's total assets. In addition, the Fund will not enter into
futures contracts to the extent that its outstanding obligations to purchase
securities under these contracts would exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets.
 
RISK FACTORS IN FUTURES TRANSACTIONS  Positions in futures contracts may be
closed out only on an Exchange which provides a secondary market for such
futures. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not
be possible to close a futures position. In the event of adverse price
movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to
maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient
cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements
at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   46
 
In addition, the Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments
underlying futures contracts it holds. The inability to close options and
futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the ability to
effectively hedge it.
 
The Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures
contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures
exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.
 
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be
substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely
high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively
small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and
substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if at the time
of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a
subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a
total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction
costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a
loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed
out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in
excess of the amount invested in the contract. However, because the futures
strategies of the Fund are engaged in only for hedging purposes, the Adviser
does not believe that the Fund is subject to the risks of loss frequently
associated with futures transactions. The Fund would presumably have sustained
comparable losses if, instead of the futures contract, it had invested in the
underlying financial instrument and sold it after the decline.
 
Utilization of futures transactions by the Fund does involve the risk of
imperfect or no correlation where the securities underlying futures contracts
have different maturities than the portfolio securities being hedged. It is also
possible that the Fund could both lose money on futures contacts and also
experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities. There is also the
risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a
broker with whom the Fund as an open position in a futures contract or related
option.
 
Most futures exchanges 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 type of contract, no trades may
be made on 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. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit
for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby
preventing prompt liquidation of future positions and subjecting some futures
traders to substantial losses.
 
   
FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES CONTRACTS  The Fund is required for federal
income tax purposes to recognize as income for each taxable year its net
unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts as of the end of the
year as well as those actually realized during the year. In most cases, any gain
or loss recognized with respect to a futures contract is considered to be 60%
long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without
regard to the holding period of the contract. Furthermore, sales of futures
contracts which are intended to hedge against a change in the value of
securities held by the Fund may affect the holding period of such securities
and, consequently, the nature of the gain or loss on such securities upon
disposition. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on
futures contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions
held by the Fund.
    
 
In order for the Fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as
a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable
year must be derived from qualifying income; i.e., dividends, interest, income
derived from loans of securities, gains from the sale of securities or of
foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to the Fund's business
of investing in securities. In addition, gains realized on
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   47
 
   
the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than three months must
be limited to less than 30% of the Fund's annual gross income. It is anticipated
that any net gain realized from the closing out of futures contracts will be
considered gain from the sale of securities and therefore be qualifying income
for purposes of the 90% requirement. In order to avoid realizing excessive gains
on securities held less than three months, the Fund may be required to defer the
closing out of futures contracts beyond the time when it would otherwise be
advantageous to do so. It is anticipated that unrealized gains on futures
contracts, which have been open for less than three months as of the end of the
Fund's fiscal year and which are recognized for tax purposes, will not be
considered gains on sales of securities held less than three months for the
purpose of the 30% test.
    
 
   
The Fund will distribute to shareholders annually any net capital gains which
have been recognized for Federal income tax purposes (including unrealized gains
at the end of the Fund's fiscal year) on futures transaction. Such distributions
will be combined with distributions of capital gains realized on the Fund's
other investments and shareholders will be advised on the nature of the
transactions.
    
 
                             YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN
 
   
The yield of the Fund for the 30-day period ended November 30, 1994 was +5.00%.
Yields are calculated daily and premiums and discounts on asset-backed accounts
are not amortized.
    
 
   
The average annual total return of the Fund for the one- five- and ten-year
periods ending November 30, 1994 was -0.82%, +8.06% and +12.41%, respectively.
Total return is computed by finding the average compounded rates of return over
the one- five- and ten-year periods set forth above that would equate an initial
amount invested at the beginning of the periods to the ending redeemable value
of the investment.
    
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
The purchase price of shares of the Fund is the net asset value next determined
after the order is received. The net asset value is calculated as of the close
of the New York Stock Exchange on each day the Exchange is open for business. An
order received prior to the close of the Exchange will be executed at the price
computed on the date of receipt: and an order received after the close of the
Exchange will be executed at the price computed on the next day the Exchange is
open.
 
The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the offering
of its shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders when in the judgment of management
such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to reduce or waive
the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary
accounts such as employee benefit plans or under circumstances where certain
economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund's shares.
 
                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment (i)
during any period that the New York Stock Exchange is closed, or trading on the
Exchange is restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"), (ii) during any period when an emergency exists as defined
by the rules of the Commission as a result of which it is not reasonably
practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to
determine the value of its assets, and (iii) for such other periods as the
Commission may permit.
 
The Fund has made an election with the Commission to pay in cash all redemptions
requested by any shareholder of record limited in amount during any 90-day
period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   48
 
assets of the Fund at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is
irrevocable without the prior approval of the Commission. Redemptions in excess
of the above limits may be paid in whole or in part, in investment securities or
in cash, as the Directors may deem advisable; however, payment will be made
wholly in cash unless the Directors believe that economic or market conditions
exist which would make such a practice detrimental to the best interest of the
Fund. If redemptions are paid in investment securities, such securities will be
valued as set forth in the Prospectus under "The Fund's Share Price" and a
redeeming shareholder would normally incur brokerage expenses if he converted
these securities to cash.
 
No charge is made by the Fund for redemptions. Any redemption may be more or
less than the shareholder's cost depending on the market value of the Fund's
portfolio securities.
 
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES  To protect your account, the Fund and Vanguard from fraud,
signature guarantees are required for certain redemptions. Signatures guarantees
enable the Fund to verify the identity the person who has authorized a
redemption from your account. SIGNATURE GUARANTEES ARE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION
WITH: (1) REDEMPTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN $25,000 ON THE DATE OF RECEIPT BY
VANGUARD OF ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; (2) ALL REDEMPTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE
AMOUNT INVOLVED, WHEN THE PROCEEDS ARE TO BE PAID TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE
REGISTERED OWNER(S) AND/OR TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ADDRESS OF RECORD; AND
(3) SHARE TRANSFER REQUESTS. These requirements are not applicable to
redemptions in Vanguard's prototype plans except in connection with: (1)
distributions made when the proceeds are to be paid to someone other than the
plan participant; (2) certain authorizations to effect exchanges by telephone;
and (3) when proceeds are to be wired. These requirements may be waived by the
Fund in certain instances.
 
Signature guarantees may be provided by banks, brokers, or any other guarantor
institution that Vanguard deems acceptable. NOTARIES PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
GUARANTORS.
 
The signature guarantees must appear either: (1) on the written request for
redemption; (2) on a separate instrument for assignment ("stock power") which
should specify the total number of shares to be redeemed; or (3) on all stock
certificates tendered for redemption and, if shares held by the Fund are also
being redeemed, on the letter or stock power.
 
                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
The Fund is subject to the following restrictions which may not be changed
without the approval of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund. The Fund will not: (1) invest in commodities or real estate
although it may purchase and sell securities of companies which deal in real
estate or interests therein, and it may invest in stock and bond futures
contracts and options to the extent that not more than 5% of its assets are
required as deposit to secure obligations under futures contracts and not more
than 20% of the Fund's assets are invested in futures and options at any time;
(2) make loans except (i) by purchasing a portion of an issue of bonds,
debentures or similar obligations (including repurchase agreements) which are
publicly distributed or customarily purchased by institutional investors, and
(ii) as provided under "Lending of Securities" (See page 2); (3) with respect to
75% of the Fund's total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (except
obligations of the United States Government and its instrumentalities) if as a
result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
the issuer, or more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets would be
invested in the securities of such issuer; (4) borrow money except up to a limit
of 10% of total assets for extraordinary or emergency purposes (the Fund has
never borrowed money and intends to limit any future borrowing to 5% of the
lower of the market value or cost of its assets); (5) the Fund will not engage
in the business of underwriting securities issued by other persons except to the
extent that the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in disposing of
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   49
 
   
portfolio securities. Additionally, the Fund will not purchase or otherwise
acquire any security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be
invested in securities that are illiquid (this limitation includes the Fund's
investment in The Vanguard Group, Inc.); (6) purchase securities on margin, or
sell securities short; (7) invest in securities of other investment companies,
except as may be acquired as a part of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of
assets or otherwise to the extent permitted by Section 12 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940. The Fund will invest only in investment companies which
have investment objectives and investment policies consistent with those of the
Fund; (8) invest to control other companies nor concentrate its investments in a
particular industry or group of industries.
    
 
   
The above-mentioned investment limitations are considered at the time investment
securities are purchased. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Fund may own
the securities of, or make loans to, or contribute to the costs or other
financial requirements of any company which will be wholly-owned by the Fund and
one or more other investment companies and is primarily engaged in the business
of providing, at cost, management, administrative or related services to the
Fund and other investment companies (See "The Vanguard Group", page 8). As a
non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not purchase or retain securities of an
issuer if (i) one or more officers or directors of the Fund or its investment
adviser individually own or would own, directly or beneficially, more than 1/2
of 1% of the securities of such issuer and (ii) such persons own or would own in
the aggregate 5% of such securities.
    
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   50
 
                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
 
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
   
The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day operations and are responsible to
the Fund's Board of Directors. The Directors set broad policies for the Fund and
choose its Officers. The following is a list of Directors and Officers of the
Fund and a statement of their present positions and principal occupations during
the past five years. The mailing address of the Fund's Directors and Officers is
Post Office Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.
    
 
JOHN C. BOGLE, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director*
 
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc.,
  and of each of the investment companies in The Vanguard Group; Director of the
  Mead Corporation and General Accident Insurance.
 
JOHN J. BRENNAN, President & Director*
 
  President and Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and of each of the other
  investment companies in The Vanguard Group.
 
ROBERT E. CAWTHORN, Director
 
   
  Chairman of Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc.; Director of Sun Company, Inc.
    
 
BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER, Director
 
   
  Director of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, ALCO Standard Corp.,
  Raytheon Company, Knight-Ridder, Inc., and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
  Co., and Trustee Emerita of Wellesley College.
    
 
BRUCE K. MACLAURY, Director
 
   
  President, The Brookings Institution; Director of American Express Bank, Ltd.,
  The St. Paul Companies, Inc., and Scott Paper Company.
    
 
BURTON G. MALKIEL, Director
 
   
  Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of Economics, Princeton University;
  Director of Prudential Insurance Co. of America, Amdahl Corporation, Baker
  Fentress & Co., The Jeffrey Co., and Southern New England Communications
  Company.
    
 
ALFRED M. RANKIN, Director
 
   
  Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of NACCO Industries, Inc.;
  Director of the BFGoodrich Company, The Standard Products Company and The
  Reliance Electric Company.
    
 
JOHN C. SAWHILL, Director
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy; formerly,
  Director and Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co.; President, New York University;
  Director of Pacific Gas and Electric Company and NACCO Industries.
 
JAMES O. WELCH, JR., Director
 
  Retired Chairman of Nabisco Brands Inc., retired Vice Chairman and Director of
  RJR Nabisco; Director of TECO Energy, Inc.
 
J. LAWRENCE WILSON, Director
 
   
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rohm & Haas Company; Director of
  Cummins Engine Company; Trustee of Vanderbilt University and the Culver
  Educational Foundation.
    
 
RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, Secretary*
 
  Senior Vice President and Secretary of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Secretary of
  each of the investment companies in The Vanguard Group.
 
RICHARD F. HYLAND, Treasurer*
 
  Treasurer of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each of the investment companies
  in The Vanguard Group.
 
KAREN E. WEST, Controller*
 
  Vice President of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Controller of each of the
  investment companies in The Vanguard Group.
 
- ------------
*Officers of the Fund are "interested persons" as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
 
THE VANGUARD GROUP
 
The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies. Through
their jointly-owned subsidiary, The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("Vanguard"), the Fund
and the other Funds in the Group obtain at cost
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   51
 
virtually all of their corporate management, administrative and distribution
services. Vanguard also provides investment advisory services on an at-cost
basis to several of the Vanguard Funds.
 
Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and administrative personnel
needed to provide the requisite services to the Funds and also furnishes the
Funds with necessary office space, furnishings and equipment. Each Fund pays its
share of Vanguard's total expenses which are allocated among the Funds under
methods approved by the Board of Directors (Trustees) of each Fund. In addition,
each Fund bears its own direct expenses such as legal, auditing and custodian
fees.
 
The Fund's officers are also Officers and employees of Vanguard. No Officer or
employee owns, or is permitted to own, any securities of any external adviser
for the Funds.
 
   
The Vanguard Group adheres to a Code of Ethics established pursuant to Rule
17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Code is designed to prevent
unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by
persons associated with Vanguard. Under Vanguard's Code of Ethics certain
officers and employees of Vanguard who are considered access persons are
permitted to engage in personal securities transactions. However, such
transactions are subject to procedures and guidelines substantially similar to
those recommended by the mutual fund industry and approved by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
    
 
   
The Vanguard Group was established and operates under a Funds' Service Agreement
which was approved by the shareholders of each of the Funds. The amounts of
which each of the Funds have invested are adjusted from time to time in order to
maintain the proportionate relationship between each Fund's relative net assets
and its contribution to Vanguard's capital. At November 30, 1994, the Fund had
contributed capital of $1,365,000 to Vanguard, representing 6.8% of Vanguard's
capitalization. The Funds' Service Agreement was amended on May 10, 1993 to
provide as follows: (a) each Vanguard Fund may invest up to .40% of its current
assets in Vanguard, and (b) there is no other limitation on the amount that each
Vanguard Fund may contribute to Vanguard's capitalization.
    
 
   
MANAGEMENT  Corporate management and administrative services include: (1)
executive staff; (2) accounting and financial; (3) legal and regulatory; (4)
shareholder account maintenance; (5) monitoring and control of custodian
relationships; (6) shareholder reporting, and (7) review and evaluation of
advisory and other services provided to the Funds by third parties. During the
fiscal year ended November 30, 1994, the Fund's share of Vanguard's actual net
costs of operation relating to management and administrative services (including
transfer agency) totaled approximately $21,378,000.
    
 
DISTRIBUTION  Vanguard provides all distribution and marketing activities for
the Funds in the Group. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc., acts as Sales Agent for shares of the
Funds, in connection with any sales made directly to investors in the states of
Florida, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas and such other states as it may be
required.
 
The principal distribution expenses are for advertising, promotional materials
and marketing personnel. Distribution services may also include organizing and
offering to the public, from time to time, one or more new investment companies
which will become members of the Group. The Directors and Officers of Vanguard
determine the amount to be spent annually on distribution activities, the manner
and amount to be spent on each Fund, and whether to organize new investment
companies.
 
   
One half of the distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional nature is
allocated among the Funds based upon their relative net assets. The remaining
one half of these expenses is allocated among the Funds based upon each Fund's
sales for the preceding 24 months relative to the total sales of the Funds as a
Group, provided, however, that no Fund's aggregate quarterly rate of
contribution for distribution expenses of a
    
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   52
 
   
marketing and promotional nature shall exceed 125% of the average distribution
expense rate for the Group, and that no Fund shall incur annual distribution
expenses in excess of 20/100 of 1% of its average month end net assets. During
the fiscal year ended November 30, 1994, the Fund paid approximately $1,649,000,
of the Group's distribution and marketing expenses.
    
 
   
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES  Vanguard provides Vanguard Money Market Reserves,
Vanguard Institutional Money Market Portfolio, Vanguard Admiral Funds, Vanguard
Municipal Bond Fund, several Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities
Fund, Vanguard International Equity Index Fund, Vanguard Balanced Index Fund,
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard Bond Index Fund, Vanguard Index
Trust, several Portfolios of Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund, the Vanguard
California Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Florida Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New
York Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Ohio
Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund,
Vanguard Horizon Fund, a portion of Vanguard/Windsor II, a portion of
Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund as well as several indexed separate accounts with
investment advisory services. These services are provided on an at-cost basis
from a money management staff employed directly by Vanguard. The compensation
and other expenses of this staff are paid by the Funds utilizing these services.
    
 
   
                     REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
    
 
   
The Fund pays each Director, who is not also an Officer an annual fee plus
travel and other expenses incurred in attending Board meetings. The Fund's
officers and employees are paid by Vanguard which, in turn, is reimbursed by the
Fund, and each other Fund in the Group, for its proportionate share of officers'
and employees' salaries and retirement benefits.
    
 
   
The following table provides detailed information with respect to the amounts
paid or accrued for the Directors and Officers of the Fund for whom the Fund's
proportionate share of remuneration exceeded $60,000 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1994.
    
 
   
                            VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND
    
   
                               COMPENSATION TABLE
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                AGGREGATE       PENSION OR RETIREMENT        ESTIMATED          TOTAL COMPENSATION
                               COMPENSATION      BENEFITS ACCRUED AS      ANNUAL BENEFITS     FROM ALL VANGUARD FUNDS
    NAMES OF DIRECTORS          FROM FUND       PART OF FUND EXPENSES     UPON RETIREMENT      PAID TO DIRECTORS(2)
- ---------------------------    ------------     ---------------------     ---------------     -----------------------
<S>                            <C>              <C>                       <C>                 <C>
John C. Bogle(1)                 $189,167              $20,477                     --                      --
John J. Brennan(1)               $ 93,634              $11,415                     --                      --
Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer       $  4,879              $   989                $15,000                 $50,000
Robert E. Cawthorn               $  4,879              $   824                $13,000                 $50,000
Bruce K. MacLaury                $  4,391              $   824                $12,000                 $45,000
Burton G. Malkiel                $  4,879              $   660                $15,000                 $50,000
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.            $  4,879              $   521                $15,000                 $50,000
John C. Sawhill                  $  4,879              $   618                $15,000                 $50,000
James O. Welch, Jr.              $  4,684              $   761                $15,000                 $48,000
J. Lawrence Wilson               $  4,782              $   550                $15,000                 $49,000
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1)As "Interested Directors," Messrs. Bogle and Brennan receive no compensation
   for their service as Directors. Compensation amounts reported for Messrs.
   Bogle and Brennan relate to their respective positions as Chief Executive
   Officer and President of the Fund.
    
   
(2)The amounts reported in this column reflect the total compensation paid to
   each Director for their service as Director or Trustee of 33 Vanguard Funds
   (32 in the case of Mr. MacLaury).
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   53
 
                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
 
The Fund employs Wellington Management Company (WMC) under an investment
advisory agreement dated April 1, 1993 to manage the investment and reinvestment
of the assets of the Fund and to continuously review, supervise and administer
the Fund's investment program. WMC discharges its responsibilities subject to
the control of the officers and Directors of the Fund.
 
The Fund pays WMC a Basic Fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated by
applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
the Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NET ASSETS                                            RATE
                    ----------                                            ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $500 million..................................  .125%
                    Next $500 million...................................  .100%
                    Next $1 billion.....................................  .075%
                    Next $1 billion.....................................  .050%
                    Over $3 billion.....................................  .040%
</TABLE>
 
   
During the fiscal years ended November 30, 1992, 1993 and 1994, the Fund paid
the following advisory fees:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1992          1993          1994
                                                              ----------    ----------    ----------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>           <C>
Basic Fee..................................................   $3,006,000    $3,913,000    $4,570,000
Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment.............     (572,000)     (177,000)           --
  Total....................................................   $2,434,000    $3,736,000    $4,570,000
                                                              ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
    
 
The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by applying an adjustment
formula based on the investment performance of the Fund relative to the
investment record of "a combined index" 65% of which shall be comprised of the
Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index and 35% of which shall be
comprised of the Salomon Brothers High Grade Corporate Bond Index.
 
   
The present agreement continues until March 31, 1995. The agreement is renewable
thereafter, for successive one-year periods, only if each renewal is
specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, including the
affirmative votes of a majority of the directors who are not parties to the
contract or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such approval. The agreement is automatically terminated if
assigned, and may be terminated without penalty at any time (1) by vote of the
Board of Directors of the Fund on 60 days' written notice to WMC, or (2) by WMC
upon 90 days' written notice to the Fund.
    
 
The Fund's Board of Directors may, without the approval of shareholders, provide
for:
 
          A. The employment of a new investment adviser pursuant to the terms of
     a new advisory agreement, either as a replacement for an existing adviser
     or as an additional adviser.
 
          B. A change in the terms of an advisory agreement.
 
          C. The continued employment of an existing adviser on the same
     advisory contract terms where a contract has been assigned because of a
     change in control of the adviser.
 
Any such change will only be made upon not less than 30 days' prior written
notice to shareholders, which shall include the information concerning the
adviser that would have normally been included in a proxy statement.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   54
 
The agreement is automatically terminated if assigned, and may be terminated
without penalty at any time (1) by vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund on
60 days' written notice to WMC, or (2) by WMC upon 90 days' written notice to
the Fund.
 
Because WMC provides only investment advisory services to the Fund and has no
control over the Fund's expenses, WMC has not undertaken to guarantee expenses
of the Fund. The officers of the Fund have worked out alternative arrangements
with state authorities which require an expense guarantee.
 
DESCRIPTION OF WMC.  WMC is a Massachusetts general partnership of which the
following persons are managing partners: Robert W. Doran, Duncan M. McFarland,
and John B. Neff.
 
                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
The investment advisory agreement authorizes WMC (with the approval of the
Fund's Board of Directors) to select the brokers or dealers that will execute
the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Fund and directs WMC to
use its best efforts to obtain the best available price and most favorable
execution as to all transactions for the Fund. WMC has undertaken to execute
each investment transaction at a price and commission which provides the most
favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances.
 
In placing portfolio transactions, WMC will use its best judgment to choose the
broker most capable of providing the brokerage services necessary to obtain best
available price and most favorable execution. The full range and quality of
brokerage services available will be considered in making these determinations.
In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker
can offer the brokerage services needed to obtain the best available price and
most favorable execution, consideration may be given to those brokers which
supply investment research and statistical information and provide other
services in addition to execution services to the Fund and/or WMC. WMC considers
such information useful in the performance of its obligations under the
agreement but is unable to determine the amount by which such services may
reduce its expenses.
 
The investment advisory agreement also incorporates the concepts of Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by providing that, subject to the
approval of the Fund's Board of Directors, WMC may cause the Fund to pay a
broker-dealer which furnishes brokerage and research services a higher
commission than that which might be charged by another broker-dealer for
effecting the same transaction; provided that such commission is deemed
reasonable in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall
responsibilities of WMC to the Fund and the other Funds in the Group.
 
Currently, it is the Fund's policy that WMC may at times pay higher commissions
in recognition of brokerage services felt necessary for the achievement of
better execution of certain securities transactions that otherwise might not be
available. WMC will only pay such higher commissions if it believes this to be
in the best interest of the Fund. Some brokers or dealers who may receive such
higher commissions in recognition of brokerage services related to execution of
securities transactions are also providers of research information to WMC and/or
the Fund. However, WMC has informed the Fund that it will not pay higher
commission rates specifically for the purpose of obtaining research services.
 
Since the Fund does not market its shares through intermediary brokers or
dealers, it is not the Fund's practice to allocate brokerage or principal
business on the basis of sales of its shares which may be through such firms.
However, the Fund may place portfolio orders with qualified broker-dealers who
recommend the Fund to other clients, or who act as agent in the purchase of the
Fund's shares for their clients, and may, when a number of brokers and dealers
can provide comparable best price and execution on a particular transaction,
consider the sale of Fund shares by a broker or dealer in selecting among
qualified broker-dealers.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   55
 
   
During the fiscal years ended November 30, 1992, 1993 and 1994 the Fund paid
$1,868,363, $3,236,184 and $2,583,152 in brokerage commissions, respectively.
    
 
Some securities considered for investment by the Fund may also be appropriate
for other Funds and/or clients served by WMC. If purchase or sale of securities
consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and one or more of these
other Funds or clients served by WMC are considered at or about the same time,
transactions in such securities will be allocated among the several Funds and
clients in a manner deemed equitable by WMC.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
The Fund's Financial Statements for the year ended November 30, 1994, including
the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended November
30, 1994, appearing in the Vanguard/Wellington Fund 1994 Annual Report to
Shareholders, and the report thereon of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, also appearing therein, are incorporated by reference in this
Statement of Additional Information. The Fund's 1994 Annual Report to
Shareholders is enclosed with this Statement of Additional Information.
    
 
                              PERFORMANCE MEASURES
 
Each of the investment company members of the Vanguard Group, including
Vanguard/Wellington Fund, may from time to time, use one or more of the
following unmanaged indexes for comparative performance purposes.
 
STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX -- is a well diversified
list of 500 companies representing the U.S. Stock Market.
 
   
WILSHIRE 5000 EQUITY INDEXES -- consists of more than 6,000 common equity
securities, covering all stocks in the U.S. for which daily pricing is
available.
    
 
WILSHIRE 4500 EQUITY INDEX -- consists of all stocks in the Wilshire 5000 except
for the 500 stocks in the Standard and Poor's 500 Index.
 
   
RUSSELL 3000 STOCK INDEX -- a diversified portfolio of approximately 3,000
common stocks accounting for over 90% of the market value of publicly traded
stocks in the U.S.
    
 
RUSSELL 2000 STOCK INDEX -- a subset of approximately 2,000 of the smallest
stocks contained in the Russell 3000; a widely used benchmark for small
capitalization common stocks.
 
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EAFE INDEX -- is an arithmetic, market
value-weighted average of the performance of over 900 securities listed on the
stock exchanges of countries in Europe, Australia and the Far East.
 
GOLDMAN SACHS 100 CONVERTIBLE BOND INDEX -- currently includes 67 bonds and 33
preferreds. The original list of names was generated by screening for
convertible issues of 100 million or greater in market capitalization. The index
is priced monthly.
 
SALOMON BROTHERS GNMA INDEX -- includes pools of mortgages originated by private
lenders and guaranteed by the mortgage pools of the Government National Mortgage
Association.
 
SALOMON BROTHERS HIGH-GRADE CORPORATE BOND INDEX -- consists of publicly issued,
nonconvertible corporate bonds rated AA or AAA. It is a value-weighted, total
return index, including approximately 800 issues with maturities of 12 years or
greater.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   56
 
   
LEHMAN LONG-TERM TREASURY BOND -- is composed of all bonds covered by the
Shearson Lehman Hutton Treasury Bond Index with maturities of 10 years or
greater.
    
 
MERRILL LYNCH CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT BOND -- consists of over 4,500 U.S.
Treasury, Agency and investment grade corporate bonds.
 
   
LEHMAN CORPORATE (BAA) BOND INDEX -- all publicly offered fixed-rate,
nonconvertible domestic corporate bonds rated Baa by Moody's, with a maturity
longer than 1 year and with more than $25 million outstanding. This index
includes over 1,000 issues.
    
 
   
BOND BUYER MUNICIPAL INDEX (20 YEAR) BOND -- is a yield index on current coupon
high-grade general obligation municipal bonds.
    
 
STANDARD & POOR'S PREFERRED INDEX -- is a yield index based upon the average
yield of four high grade, non-callable preferred stock issues.
 
NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL INDEX -- is composed of more than 3,000 industrial issues. It
is a value-weighted index calculated on price change only and does not include
income.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 70% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 30% NASDAQ Industrial
Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 35% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 65% Salomon Brothers
High-Grade Bond Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 65% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 35% Salomon Brothers
High-Grade Bond Index.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS AGGREGATE BOND INDEX -- is a market weighted index that contains
individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, corporate, and mortgage pass-through
securities corporate rated BBB - or better. The Index has a market value of over
$4 trillion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND SHORT (1-5) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a
market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency,
and corporate investment grade bonds rated BBB - or better with maturities
between 1 and 5 years. The index has a market value of over $1.3 trillion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND INTERMEDIATE (5-10) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is
a market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency,
and corporate securities rated BBB - or better with maturities between 5 and 10
years. The index has a market value of over $600 billion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND LONG (10+) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a market
weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, and
corporate securities rated BBB - or better with maturities greater than 10
years. The index has a market value of over $900 billion.
 
LIPPER SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND AVERAGE -- the average performance of small
company growth funds as defined by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Lipper
defines a small company growth fund as a fund that by prospectus or portfolio
practice, limits its investments to companies on the basis of the size of the
company. From time to time, Vanguard may advertise using the average performance
and/or the average expense ratio of the small company growth funds. (This fund
category was first established in 1982. For years prior to 1982, the results of
the Lipper Small Company Growth category were estimated using the returns of the
Funds that constituted the Group at its inception.)
 
LIPPER BALANCED FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of average balanced funds
with similar investment objectives and policies, as measured by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   57
 
LIPPER NON-GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of
average non-government money market funds with similar investment objectives and
policies, as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of average
government money market funds with similar investment objectives and policies,
as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   58
 
                                     PART C
                             WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
                               OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
     (A) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
The Registrant's Financial Statements for the year ended November 30, 1994,
including Price Waterhouse LLP's report thereon, are incorporated by reference,
in the Statement of Additional Information, from the Registrant's 1994 Annual
Report to Shareholders which has been filed with the Commission. The Financial
Statements included in the Annual Report are:
    
 
   
1. Statement of Net Assets as of November 30, 1994.
    
 
   
2. Statement of Operations for the year ended November 30, 1994.
    
 
   
3. Statement of Changes in Net Assets for each of the two years in the period
ended November 30, 1994.
    
 
   
4. Financial Highlights for each of the five years in the period ended November
   30, 1994.
    
 
5. Notes to Financial Statements.
 
6. Report of Independent Accountants.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                <C>
(B) EXHIBITS
 Exhibit Number    Description
  1............... Articles of Incorporation**
  2............... By-Laws of Registrant**
  3............... Not Applicable
  4............... Not Applicable
  5............... Not Applicable
  6............... Not Applicable
  7............... Reference is made to the section entitled "Management of the Fund" in
                   the Registrant's Statement of Additional Information
  8............... Form of Custody Agreement**
  9............... Form of Vanguard Service Agreement**
 10............... Opinion of Counsel**
 11............... Consent of Independent Accountants*
 12............... Financial Statements--reference is made to (a) above
 13............... Not Applicable
 14............... Not Applicable
 15............... Not Applicable
 16............... Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations*
 27............... Financial Data Schedule*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 *Filed herewith
 
**Previously filed
<PAGE>   59
 
ITEM 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT
   
Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any person. The
officers of the Registrant, the investment companies in The Vanguard Group of
Investment Companies and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are identical. Reference is
made to the caption "The Vanguard Group" in the Prospectus constituting Part A
and "Management of the Fund" in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.
    
 
ITEM 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
   
As of November 30, 1994 there were 545,007 shareholders.
    
 
ITEM 27. INDEMNIFICATION
Reference is made to Article XI of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to Directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
ITEM 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
Reference is made to the caption "Investment Adviser" in each of the
prospectuses constituting Part A on this Registration Statement and "Investment
Advisory Services" in Part B of this Registration Statement.
 
Wellington Management Company is a Massachusetts general partnership of which
the following persons are managing partners: Robert W. Doran, Duncan M.
McFarland and John B. Neff.
 
ITEM 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) None.
(b) Not Applicable.
 
ITEM 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the
Investment Company
Act and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained in the physical
possession of Registrant; Registrant's Transfer Agent, The Vanguard Group, Inc.
c/o The Vanguard Financial Center, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482; and the
Registrant's Custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02105.
 
ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Other than the Amended and Restated Funds Service Agreement with The Vanguard
Group, Inc. which was previously filed as Exhibit 9(c) and described in Part B
hereof under "Management of the Fund;" the Registrant is not a party of any
management-related service contract.
<PAGE>   60
 
ITEM 32. UNDERTAKINGS
Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") or other applicable law. Registrant
hereby undertakes to comply with the provisions of Section 16(C) of the 1940 Act
in regard to shareholders' rights to call a meeting of shareholders for the
purpose of voting on the removal of Directors and to assist in shareholder
communications in such matters, to the extent required by law.
 
Registrant hereby undertakes to provide an Annual Report to Shareholders or
prospective investors, free of charge, upon request.
<PAGE>   61
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 the Registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the
requirements for effectiveness pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act
of 1933 and, has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on
the 24th day of February, 1995.
    
 
    VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky) John C. Bogle*, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John C. Bogle*, Chairman of the Board, Director,
    and Chief Executive Officer
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John J. Brennan*, Director and President
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer*, Director
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Bruce K. MacLaury*, Director
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Burton G. Malkiel*, Director
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    James O. Welch, Jr.*, Director
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    J. Lawrence Wilson*, Director
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Richard F. Hyland*, Treasurer and Principal
    Financial Officer and Accounting Officer
   
    February 24, 1995
    
 
*By Power of Attorney. See File Number 2-14336, January 23, 1990. Incorporated
by Reference.
<PAGE>   62
 
                         VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Consent of Independent Accountants...................................................  EX-99. B11
Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations...................................  EX-99. B16
Financial Data Schedule..............................................................       EX-27
</TABLE>
    

<PAGE>   1
 
   
                                                                      EX-99. B11
    
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
  We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectuses and
the Statement of Additional Information, constituting parts of this amended
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, of our report dated December 30, 1994
relating to the financial statements, including the financial highlights,
appearing in the November 30, 1994 Annual Report to Shareholders of
Vanguard/Wellington Fund, Inc., which are also incorporated by reference into
the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the
headings "Financial Highlights" and "General Information" in the Prospectuses
and "Financial Statements" in the Statement of Additional Information.
    
 
   
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
    
Philadelphia, PA
   
February 23, 1995
    

<PAGE>   1
 
   
                                                                      EX-99. B16
    
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                                WELLINGTON FUND
 
   
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of November 30, 1994)
        P (1 + T)n = ERV
    
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>   
     Where:  P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T = average annual total return
             N = number of years
           ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the period
</TABLE>
 
   
<TABLE>
     <S>         <C>
     EXAMPLE:
  
     One Year

             P = $1,000
             T = -0.82%
             N = 1
           ERV = $991.76

     Five Years

             P = $1,000
             T = +8.06%
             N = 5
           ERV = $1,473.51

     Ten Years

             P = $1,000
             T = +12.41%
             N = 10
           ERV = $3,221.53
</TABLE>
    
 
   
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended November 30, 1994)
    
 
   
                       a
         Yield = 2[( ----- + 1)(6) - 1] - b X 100
                     c X d

     Where:  a = dividends and interest paid during the period
             b = expense ratios during the period (net of reimbursements)
             c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during 
                 the period
             d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of 
                 the period
 
     Example a = $37,209,446.15
             b = 0.234
             c = 446,402,921.757
             d = $19.33
         Yield = 5.00%
    

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000105563
<NAME> VANGUARD/WELLINGTON FUND, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1993
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1994
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          7935857
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         8613776
<RECEIVABLES>                                   183495
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    1365
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 8798636
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         52064
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       108299
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             160363
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       7826067
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           446803
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           380994
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       121695
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          12592
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        677919
<NET-ASSETS>                                   8638273
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               185205
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               211245
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   29195
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         367255
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         14803
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     (469401)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (87343)
<EQUALIZATION>                                    8194
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       376406
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        145379
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         109655
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      67803
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              23956
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          721605
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         122652
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       143168
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             4570
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  29195
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           8443604
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            20.78
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.88
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (1.03)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.92
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         0.38
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              19.33
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                  0.004
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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