LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND
486BPOS, 2000-12-28
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AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON December 27, 2000.

                                       SECURITIES ACT FILE NO. 333-51788
                                       INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-09709

                  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  FORM N-2
                     (Check appropriate box or boxes)

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933            [X]

                    Pre-Effective Amendment No.                    [ ]


                    Post-Effective Amendment No.  1                [X]

                               and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940    [X]

                    Amendment No. 5                                [X]

                          LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND
         (FORMERLY LIBERTY-STEIN ROE ADVISOR FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND)
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
                (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

                  One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
                  -------------------------------------------------
                       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (617) 426-3750
                                 --------------
                (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                          Name and Address of Agents for Service

William J. Ballou                                       John M. Loder
Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund                    Ropes & Gray
One Financial Center                                    One International Place
Boston, MA 02111                                        Boston, MA 02110-2624

      APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: December 13, 2000

If any securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), other than securities offered only in
connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the
following box.   [X]

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[ ] when declared  effective  pursuant to Section 8(c)
[ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph  (b)
[X] on December 29, 2000  pursuant to paragraph  (b)
[ ] 60 days after filing  pursuant to paragraph (a)
[ ] on (date)  pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486

[ ]  This  post-effective  amendment  designates  a  new  effective  date  for a
previously filed registration statement.

[ ] The Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act and the  Securities  Act  registration
number of the earlier effective registration is _________.


<PAGE>


                    LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND
                     Cross   Reference  Sheet  Items
                          Required by Form N-2
                       Class A, B and C shares
PART A.

          Item Number and Item Caption               Caption in Prospectus
          ----------------------------               ---------------------

1.        Outside Front Cover                        Front Cover Page

2.        Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Page   Front Cover Page;
                                                     Outside Back Cover

3.        Fee Table and Synopsis                     Fund Expenses; Prospectus
                                                     Summary

4.        Financial Highlights                       Financial Statements

5.        Plan of Distribution                       Cover Page; Use of
                                                     Proceeds; How to Buy
                                                     Shares

6.        Selling Shareholders                       Not Applicable

7.        Use of Proceeds                            Use of Proceeds; Investment
                                                     Objectives and Policies;
                                                     How the Fund Invests;
                                                     Principal Risks; Other
                                                     Investment Practices

8.        General Description of the Registrant      Prospectus Summary;
                                                     The Fund; Investment
                                                     Objectives and
                                                     Policies; How the Fund
                                                     Invests; Principal Risks;
                                                     Other Investment Practices;
                                                     How to Buy Shares;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

9.        Management                                 Management of the Fund;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

10.       Capital Stock; Long-Term Debt and Other    The Fund; Distributions
           Securities                                and Income Taxes; Periodic
                                                     Repurchase Offers;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

11.       Defaults and Arrears on Senior Securities  Not Applicable

12.       Legal Proceedings                          Not Applicable

13.       Table of Contents of the Statement of      Statement of Additional
           Additional Information                    Information Table of
                                                     Contents



PROSPECTUS, January 1, 2001


Class A, B and C Shares

Advised by Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated


Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company that is continuously offered.

Investment Objective. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level
of current income,  consistent with  preservation of capital.  The Fund seeks to
achieve its objective by investing  primarily (at least 80% of its total assets)
in adjustable  rate senior loans  (Senior  Loans),  the interest  rates of which
float or vary  periodically  based  upon a  benchmark  indicator  of  prevailing
interest  rates.  Senior  Loans are  business  loans that have a senior right to
payment to most other debts of the  borrower.  Senior Loans are often secured by
specific  assets of the  borrower,  although  the Fund may also invest in Senior
Loans that are not secured by any collateral.  All or  substantially  all of the
Fund's  Senior  Loans  may  be  rated  below  investment  grade.  The  Fund  may
periodically  borrow money for the purpose of financing  long-term  investments,
obtaining  short-term  liquidity and for temporary,  emergency or  extraordinary
purposes.  To the  extent  the  Fund  borrows  more  money  than it has  cash or
short-term cash  equivalents and invests the proceeds in Senior Loans,  the Fund
will create financial leverage.


                                   Price to      Maximum Sales       Proceeds to
                                   Public (1)    Load(2)             Fund (3)
          --------------------- ------------- ------------------- --------------

          Per Class A Share        $12.04        $0.42                  $11.62
          Per Class B Share        $12.02        None                   $12.02
          Per Class C Share        $12.02        None                   $12.02

         (1)  The shares are offered on a best efforts basis at a price equal to
              net asset value. The shares are offered continuously.  The minimum
              initial  purchase  is $2,500.  No  arrangements  have been made to
              place the funds in an escrow, trust, or similar arrangement. As of
              November  30,  2000,  net  asset  value  per share of the Fund was
              $12.04 for Class A, $12.02 for each of Class B and Class C shares.

         (2)  The  maximum  initial  sales load on Class A shares is 3.5% of the
              public offering price.  Class B and C shares are not subject to an
              initial sales load but are subject to an early withdrawal  charge.
              Class A, B and C shares are  subject to a  distribution  fee and a
              service fee.

(3)      Assumes the sale of all shares registered. (3)


<PAGE>



         Periodic Repurchase  Offers. To provide liquidity to shareholders,  the
              Fund will make  quarterly  repurchase  offers for 5% to 25% of its
              outstanding  shares.  For each Repurchase Offer, it is anticipated
              that the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be on the 15th day in
              each of the months of February,  May,  August and November,  or if
              the 15th day is not a business  day, the next  business day. It is
              anticipated that normally the Repurchase  Pricing Date will be the
              same  date as the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline,  and if so,  the
              Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be set for a time no later than
              the close of the NYSE on such date. The Fund has  determined  that
              the  Repurchase  Pricing Date may occur no later than the 14th day
              after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next business day if
              the  14th  day is not a  business  day.  The  Fund  will  repay  a
              Repurchase  Offer no later than  seven  days after the  Repurchase
              Pricing Date. (See "Periodic Repurchase Offers.")


Not Exchange Listed.  The Fund does not intend to list the shares on any
national securities exchange.  Shares of the Fund have no
history of public trading and there is not expected to be any secondary trading
market in the shares.  An investment in the shares
should be considered illiquid.  (See "Principal Risks.")

Investment  in the Fund involves  risks,  including the possible loss of some or
all of the  principal  investment,  risks  associated  with  leverage  and risks
associated with securities  rated below  investment  grade (often referred to as
"junk bonds"). (See "Principal Risks.")


The Prospectus sets forth concisely the information that a prospective  investor
should know before investing in Class A, B or C shares of the Fund.  Please read
and retain this  Prospectus  for future  reference.  A Statement  of  Additional
Information  regarding the Fund dated  January 1, 2001,  has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and can be obtained without charge by
calling  800-426-3750.  A table  of  contents  to the  Statement  of  Additional
Information  is located  on the last page of this  Prospectus.  This  Prospectus
incorporates  by  reference  the  entire  Statement  of  Additional  Information
(together  with any  supplement to it). The Statement of Additional  Information
and  other  related  materials  are  available  at the SEC's  internet  web site
(http://www.sec.gov).

The Fund's investment advisor is Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated (Stein Roe).
The address of the Fund is One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts  02111.

This prospectus applies to the offering of shares of beneficial  interest of the
Fund,  which may be  continuously  issued and sold from time to time by the Fund
through   Liberty  Funds   Distributor,   Inc.,  as  distributor  and  principal
underwriter,  and through your financial advisor. (See "How to Buy Shares.") The
Fund is  authorized  as a  Massachusetts  business  trust to issue an  unlimited
number of common shares and has registered 20,625,000 Class A and 10,625,000 for
each of Class B and C common shares.


The Fund's  Class A shares  are  subject to a  front-end  sales  charge and to a
distribution  fee and other  expenses.  The  Fund's  Class B shares  will not be
subject to a front-end  sales charge,  but will be subject to a declining  early
withdrawal  charge (EWC) over a five-year period and a distribution fee, as well
as other expenses.  Class B shares will convert  automatically to Class A shares
eight  years from the end of the month in which the shares were  purchased.  The
Fund's Class C shares will not be subject to a front-end sales charge,  but will
be  subject to an EWC of 1% during  the first  year a  shareholder  owns Class C
shares  and a  distribution  fee,  as well as other  expenses.  The Fund may add
additional classes of shares in the future.

The Fund has received  exemptive  relief from the SEC with respect to the Fund's
distribution fee arrangements, EWCs and multi-class structure. As a condition of
such relief, the Fund will be required to comply with regulations that would not
otherwise be applicable to the Fund.

Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed
by, any bank or other  insured  depository  institution,  and are not  federally
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,  the Federal Reserve Board
or any other government agency.


<PAGE>


                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This  is only a  summary.  You  should  review  the  more  detailed  information
contained in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.


The Fund.  The Fund is a continuously-offered non-diversified, closed-end
management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts
business trust.  Prior to July 14, 2000, the Fund was known as Liberty-Stein
Roe Advisor Floating Rate Advantage Fund.


         The  Fund  intends  to  offer  its  shares  continuously   through  the
         Distributor,  as principal underwriter,  and through financial advisors
         at a price equal to the next determined net asset value per share.  The
         minimum  initial  investment is $2,500 ($25 for  individual  retirement
         accounts)  and the  minimum  subsequent  investment  is $50.  The  Fund
         reserves  the right to change the  investment  minimums and to refuse a
         purchase order for any reason.

Classes of Shares.  The Fund offers three classes of shares in this prospectus,
         with each class having its own sales charge and
         expense structure.  Each class has distinct advantages and
         disadvantages for different investors.  (See "Multiple Share
         Classes.")

Investment Objective.  The investment objective of the Fund is to provide a high
         level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. There
         can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Fund  will  achieve  its  investment
         objective.

         The Fund seeks to achieve its  objective  by  investing  primarily  (at
         least 80% of its  total  assets)  in a  portfolio  of  Senior  Loans to
         corporations,  partnerships and other entities (Borrowers) that operate
         in a variety of industries and geographic regions  (including  domestic
         and foreign entities).

Investment Policies. Under normal market conditions,  at least 80% of the Fund's
         total assets will be invested in Senior Loans of domestic  Borrowers or
         foreign  Borrowers  (so long as Senior Loans to such foreign  Borrowers
         are U.S. dollar  denominated and payments of interest and repayments of
         principal pursuant to such Senior Loans are required to be made in U.S.
         dollars).  Although most Senior Loans are secured,  the Fund may invest
         up to 20% of its total assets in interests in Senior Loans that are not
         secured by any collateral.  During normal market  conditions,  the Fund
         may invest up to 20% of its total assets  (including  assets maintained
         by the Fund as a reserve  against any additional  loan  commitments) in
         (i) high quality,  short-term debt securities with remaining maturities
         of one  year or less and  (ii)  warrants,  equity  securities  and,  in
         limited  circumstances,  junior debt securities  acquired in connection
         with the Fund's investments in Senior Loans.



<PAGE>


         A maximum of 25% of the Fund's  total assets  (taken at current  value)
         may be invested in Senior Loans to Borrowers  and  securities  of other
         issuers in any one industry. However, the Fund may invest more than 25%
         of its total assets in securities the issuer of which is engaged in the
         financial services industry,  which includes  commercial banks,  thrift
         institutions,  insurance  companies  and  finance  companies.  The Fund
         invests at these levels  because it regards the issuers of Senior Loans
         in which the Fund may invest to  include  the  Borrower  as well as any
         Agent that administers the Senior Loans.  Accordingly,  the Fund may be
         more at risk to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence
         affecting such industries.

         The Fund may  borrow  money in an  amount  up to 33 1/3% of the  Fund's
         total assets (after giving effect to the amount borrowed). The Fund may
         borrow for the purpose of financing  long-term  investments,  obtaining
         short-term  liquidity  and for  temporary,  extraordinary  or emergency
         purposes. To the extent the Fund borrows more money than it has cash or
         short-term  cash  equivalents and invests the proceeds in Senior Loans,
         the Fund will  create  financial  leverage.  It will do so only when it
         expects to be able to invest the  proceeds  at a higher  rate of return
         than its cost of borrowing.

How      the Fund Invests.  Senior Loans generally are arranged  through private
         negotiations  between a Borrower  and  several  financial  institutions
         (Lenders)  represented  in each case by one or more such Lenders acting
         as agent  (Agent)  of the  several  Lenders.  On behalf of the  several
         Lenders,  the Agent is primarily  responsible  for negotiating the loan
         agreement  (Loan  Agreement)  that  establishes  the relative terms and
         conditions  of the  Senior  Loan and  rights  of the  Borrower  and the
         several Lenders.  The Fund may invest all or  substantially  all of its
         assets in Senior  Loans that are rated below  investment  grade,  or in
         comparable  unrated  securities.  Senior  Loans in which  the Fund will
         purchase   interests   generally   pay   interest  at  rates  that  are
         periodically  redetermined  by  reference to a base lending rate plus a
         premium.  The Fund may  invest in  participations  (Participations)  in
         Senior Loans,  may purchase  assignments  (Assignments)  of portions of
         Senior  Loans  from third  parties,  and may act as one of the group of
         Lenders originating a Senior Loan (Primary Lender).

         Stein Roe expects the Fund's policy of acquiring  interests in floating
         or variable rate Senior Loans to minimize the fluctuations in net asset
         value as a result of changes in interest  rates.  However,  the Fund is
         not a money market fund and its net asset value will fluctuate.



<PAGE>


PrincipalRisks.  You should  consider the following risk  considerations  before
         investing in the Fund. As described below, the risks could cause you to
         lose money as a result of investing in the Fund.

         Non-Payment  Risk. Senior Loans, like other corporate debt obligations,
         are  subject  to the  risk of  non-payment  of  scheduled  interest  or
         principal.  Such  non-payment  would result in a reduction of income to
         the Fund,  a  reduction  in the value of the Senior  Loan  experiencing
         non-payment,  and a  potential  decrease  in the net asset value of the
         Fund.

         Below  Investment  Grade  Securities.   The  Fund  may  invest  all  or
         substantially  all of its  assets in Senior  Loans or other  securities
         that  are  rated  below  investment  grade,  or in  comparable  unrated
         securities.  These  securities  are commonly  referred to as high-yield
         debt or "junk debt." The purchase of such Senior Loans exposes the Fund
         to financial,  market, and interest-rate risks and greater credit risks
         than would the purchase of higher-rated  Senior Loans. Such investments
         are also likely to result in  increased  fluctuation  in the Fund's net
         asset value, particularly in response to economic downturns.

         Restrictions  on Resale of Senior  Loans.  Senior  Loans,  at  present,
         generally are not readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions
         on  resale.  As a result,  the  ability  of the Fund to  dispose of its
         investments in a timely fashion and at a fair price may be restricted.

         Borrowing. The Fund is authorized to borrow money in an amount up to 33
         1/3% of the Fund's  total  assets  (after  giving  effect to the amount
         borrowed).   The  use  of  leverage  for  investment  purposes  creates
         opportunities  for greater  total returns but at the same time involves
         risks.  Any  investment  income or gains  earned  with  respect  to the
         amounts  borrowed,  which is in excess of the interest  which is due on
         the  borrowing,  will  augment the Fund's  income.  Conversely,  if the
         investment  performance  with respect to the amounts  borrowed fails to
         cover the interest on such  borrowings,  the value of the Fund's shares
         may  decrease  more  quickly  than  would  otherwise  be the  case  and
         dividends  on the  shares  would be  reduced  or  eliminated.  Interest
         payments and fees  incurred in  connection  with such  borrowings  will
         reduce the amount of net income available for payment to the holders of
         Shares.

         Repurchase  Offer Risks. The Fund, as a fundamental  policy,  will make
         quarterly  repurchases for 5% to 25% of shares outstanding at net asset
         value. (See "Periodic  Repurchase  Offers" below for more information.)
         However,  shares are less  liquid  than shares of funds that trade on a
         stock  exchange,  and  Class B and Class C  shareholders  who offer for
         repurchase  shares  held  for  less  than  five  years  and  one  year,
         respectively, will pay an EWC. (See "How to Buy Shares.") Under limited
         circumstances,  the Fund may suspend or postpone a quarterly repurchase
         offer--the Fund must meet regulatory requirements to do so. There is no
         guarantee  that  shareholders  will be able to sell all of their shares
         that they desire to sell in a quarterly repurchase offer.

         Closed-End  Fund Risks.  The Fund is a  closed-end  investment  company
         designed  primarily  for  long-term  investors  and  not  as a  trading
         vehicle. The Fund does not intend to list its shares for trading on any
         national securities exchange. There is not expected to be any secondary
         trading  market in the  shares  and the  shares  should  be  considered
         illiquid. The shares are, therefore, not readily marketable. The shares
         of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount from their
         net asset values and, in the unlikely event that a secondary market for
         the shares were to develop, the shares likewise may trade at a discount
         from net asset value.

         Legislation;  Restrictions.  To the extent that legislation or state or
         federal regulators impose additional  requirements or restrictions with
         respect  to the  ability  of  financial  institutions  to make loans in
         connection  with highly  leveraged  transactions,  the  availability of
         Senior  Loan  interests  for  investment  by the Fund may be  adversely
         affected.

         Financial  Services  Industry  Concentration.  The  financial  services
         industries  are subject to extensive  government  regulation  which can
         limit  both  the  amounts  and  types  of  loans  and  other  financial
         commitments  they can make,  and the  interest  rates and fees they can
         charge. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost
         of capital funds, and can fluctuate  significantly  when interest rates
         change.   Credit  losses  resulting  from  financial   difficulties  of
         borrowers can negatively affect the financial services industries.  The
         financial services industries are currently undergoing relatively rapid
         change as existing  distinctions  between  financial  service  segments
         become less clear.

         Prepayment Risk.  Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled
         due date. Borrowers may find it advantageous to prepay principal due to
         a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow. Such prepayments
         may  require  the Fund to replace a Senior  Loan with a  lower-yielding
         security.  This may adversely  affect the net asset value of the Fund's
         shares.


         Limited  Information.  The types of Senior Loans in which the Fund will
         invest  historically  have not been  rated by a  nationally  recognized
         statistical rating organization,  have not been registered with the SEC
         or any state  securities  commission,  and have not been  listed on any
         national  securities  exchange.  Although the Fund will  generally have
         access to financial and other information made available to the Lenders
         in  connection  with  Senior  Loans,  the amount of public  information
         available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less extensive
         than  that   available  for  rated,   registered  or  exchange   listed
         securities.  As a result,  the Fund is more dependent on the analytical
         ability of Stein Roe than other funds which may be able to rely on more
         publicly available information.


         Non-Diversification  Risk.  The  Fund  is not  subject  to the  general
         limitations  under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) that,
         for 75% of its total  assets,  it not invest  more than 5% of its total
         assets in the  securities  of a single  issuer.  To the extent the Fund
         invests a relatively  high percentage of its assets in obligations of a
         limited number of Borrowers,  it will be more  susceptible  than a more
         widely diversified investment company to the consequences of any single
         corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

Distributions.  Income  dividends are normally  declared each business day, paid
         monthly,  and confirmed at least quarterly.  Capital gains, if any, are
         distributed at least annually,  usually in December.  Income  dividends
         and capital gains  distributions  may be received in cash or reinvested
         in additional full and fractional shares of the Fund.


Investment Advisor.  Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated.


Distributor.  Liberty Funds Distributor, Inc.

Periodic Repurchase  Offers.  The Fund has adopted a fundamental policy to offer
         each calendar quarter to repurchase a specified  percentage (between 5%
         and 25%) of the shares then  outstanding  at its net asset value.  Such
         repurchase  offers are  referred to as a Repurchase  Offer.  Repurchase
         Offers are scheduled to occur on the 15th day (or the next business day
         if the 15th is not a  business  day) in the  months of  February,  May,
         August, and November. (See "Periodic Repurchase Offers.")



<PAGE>


                                  FUND EXPENSES


The  following  tables are  intended to assist  investors in  understanding  the
various costs and expenses  directly or indirectly  associated with investing in
Class A, B and C shares of the Fund.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (1)                                      Class A      Class B (2)      Class C
                                                                          -------      -------          -------
<S>                                                                        <C>          <C>             <C>
Sales Load Imposed (as a percentage of offering price)                     3.50%        None            None
Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends.........................        None         None            None
Early Withdrawal Charge (3)........................................        None(4)      3.25%           1.00%
Exchange Fee.......................................................        None         None            None

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Annual Expenses (as a percentage of average net assets attributable to
common shares) (5)

<S>                                                                         <C>          <C>            <C>
Management Fees(%) (6).............................................         0.97         0.97           0.97
Distribution and Service Fees(%) ..................................         0.35         0.70           0.85
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(%).............................         3.30         3.30           3.30
Other Expenses(%)(7)...............................................         1.24         1.24           1.24
Total Annual Expenses(%)(7) .......................................         5.86         6.21           6.36

</TABLE>



(1)   Financial   advisors  may   independently   charge   additional  fees  for
      shareholder  transactions  or for  advisory  services.  Please  see  their
      materials for details.
(2) Class B shares  will  automatically  convert to Class A shares  eight  years
after purchase.

(3)   The maximum EWC on Class B shares applies for repurchases during the first
      year. The charge is 3.25% for shares submitted and accepted for repurchase
      during the first year after each  purchase,  3.00% during the second year,
      2.00%  during the third  year,  1.50%  during the fourth  year,  and 1.00%
      during the fifth year. There is no EWC on Class B shares  thereafter.  The
      EWC on Class C shares is 1.00%  within the first year from each  purchase.
      There is no EWC on Class C shares thereafter.

(4)   Class A  shares  bought  without  an  initial  sales  charge  in  accounts
      aggregating  $1 million to $5  million  are  subject to a 1.00% EWC if the
      shares  are  sold  within  18  months  of the time of each  purchase.  The
      18-month  period  begins  on the first  day of the  month  following  each
      purchase.
(5)   Figures  assume  the Fund  borrows an amount  representing  33 1/3% of the
      Fund's total assets  (including  the  proceeds of such  borrowing  but not
      reflecting the amount of the liability of the borrowing). If the Fund does
      not  utilize  any  leverage,  the Fund  estimates  that  annual  operating
      expenses would be approximately as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Class A         Class B         Class C
                                                                          -------         -------         -------

      <S>                                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
      Management Fees(%)                                                   0.65            0.65            0.65
      Distribution and Service Fees(%)                                     0.35            0.70            0.85
      Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(%)                               0.00            0.00            0.00

                                                                       --------------- --------------- ---------------

      Other Expenses(%)(7)                                                 1.24            1.24            1.24

                                                                       --------------- --------------- ---------------

      Total Annual Expenses(%)(7)                                          2.24            2.59            2.74

</TABLE>





(6)   Management  fees includes both the management  fee and the  administrative
      fee  charged  to the Fund.  Without  giving  effect to the  assumed  level
      leverage,  Stein Roe receives an annual  management  fee of 0.45% from the
      Fund and  Colonial  Management  Associates,  Inc.  (Colonial)  receives an
      administrative  fee of 0.20% from the Fund.  Giving  effect to the assumed
      level leverage,  Stein Roe receives a management fee of 0.68% and Colonial
      receives an administration fee of 0.29%.

(7)   Stein Roe has  voluntarily  agreed  to  reimburse  the  Fund  for  its
      ordinary operating   expenses  to  the  extent  that  such  expenses
      exceed  0.15% exclusive of  management  fees,  administrative  fees,
      distribution  and service  fees and  interest  expenses).  After such
      reimbursement,  Other Expenses would be 0.15% for each class of shares
      and Total Annual Expenses, with and without leverage, would be  4.77% and
      1.15% for Class A shares, 5.12% and 1.50% for Class B shares and 5.27%
      and 1.65% for Class C shares,  respectively.  This arrangement may
      be  modified  or  terminated  by  the  Advisor  at  any  time.   Any  such
      reimbursement  will lower the particular class's overall expense ratio and
      increase its overall return to investors.



Service and distribution  fees include an asset-based sales charge--as a result,
if you hold your  shares for a long  period of time,  then you may pay more than
the economic  equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charges permitted by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (See "Multiple Share Classes.")

Example. This Example helps you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the
cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that (i) you invest
$1,000 in the Fund,  (ii) your  investment  has a 5%  return  each  year,  (iii)
operating  expenses remain the same, (iv) all income dividends and capital gains
distributions are reinvested in additional  shares,  and (v) expense  reductions
are in effect for the first year in the periods below. The Example should not be
considered a representation of future expenses.  Your actual costs may be higher
or lower.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Class*                                      1 year       3 years      5 years      10 years
-----                                       ------       -------      -------      --------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
Class A                                        913         2,023        3,115         5,764
Class B**
     sold all your shares at the end of        942         2,028        3,110         5,785
     the period
     did not sell your shares                  617         1,828        3,010         5,785

Class C

     sold all your shares at the end of        731         1,868        3,072         5,941
     the period
     did not sell your shares                  631         1,868        3,072         5,941

</TABLE>
         ---------
         *The table assumes  leverage  representing 33 1/3% of total assets.  In
         the event that the Fund does not utilize any leverage an investor would
         pay the following expenses based on the assumptions in the example:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Class                                                     1 year  3 years   5 years   10 years
-----                                                     ------  -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                         <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>
Class A                                                     569     1,026     1,508     2,835
Class B**
     sold all your shares at the end of the period          587     1,005     1,475     2,840
     did not sell your shares                               262       805     1,375     2,840

Class C

     sold all your shares at the end of the period         377        850     1,450     3,070
     did not sell your shares                              277        850     1,450     3,070

</TABLE>

         **Class B shares  convert  to Class A shares  after  eight  years.  The
         10-year  expense  example  for  Class B shares  reflects  Class B share
         expenses for eight years and Class A expenses for two years.



<PAGE>



                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial  highlights  table explains the Fund's  financial  performance for
Class A, B, and C shares. The Fund's fiscal year runs from September 1 to August
31. The total returns in the table  represent the return that  investors  earned
assuming  that  they  reinvested  all  dividends  and   distributions.   Certain
information in the table reflects the financial results for a single Fund share.
This  information has been derived from the Fund's  financial  statements  which
have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants,  whose
report,  along with this  information  appears in the Fund's annual  report.  To
request the Fund's annual report, please call 800-422-3737.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                             Period ended
                                                                          August 31, 2000(b)
                                                                    Class A       Class B       Class C

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period ($)                            12.000        12.000        12.000

Income from investment operations
Net investment income (a)                                            0.645         0.624         0.615
Net realized and unrealized  gain                                    0.066         0.046         0.046
Total from investment operations                                     0.711         0.670         0.661

Distributions
Net investment income                                               (0.621)       (0.600)       (0.591)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net asset value, end of period ($)                                  12.090        12.070        12.070

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total return (%) (c) (d) (e)                                          6.04          5.69          5.62


Net assets, end of period ($) (000's)                               54,402        19,964        13,013
Operating expenses((%)f)(g)                                            1.01          1.36          1.51
Interest and commitment fees expenses(%)(g)                           1.91          1.91          1.91
Total expenses(%)(f)(g)                                               2.92          3.27          3.42
Net investment income(%)(f)(g)                                        9.49          9.14          8.99
Fees and expenses waived or borne by the Advisor(%)(f)(g)             1.41          1.41          1.41
Portfolio turnover(%)(e)                                                 8             8             8

(a) Net of fees and expenses waived or borne by the
   Advisor/Administrator which amounted to ($):                      0.046         0.046         0.046

</TABLE>

(b)          The Fund commenced investment operations on January 13, 2000.
(c)          Total  return  at  net  asset  value  assuming  all   distributions
             reinvested  and no initial sales charge or early  withdrawal  sales
             charge.
(d)          Had the Advisor not waived or reimbursed a portion of expenses,
             total return would have been reduced.
(e)          Not annualized.
(f)          The benefits derived from custody credits and directed brokerage
             arrangements had no impact.
(g)          Annualized.




<PAGE>



                                    THE FUND

The  Fund  is  a  non-diversified,   closed-end  management  investment  company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 8, 1999. The Fund is engaged
in a continuous public offering of shares at the next determined net asset value
per share.  The Fund's  principal  office is  located at One  Financial  Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 and its telephone number is 1-800-345-6611.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

The net  proceeds  from the sale of the shares  offered  hereby will be invested
typically within 30 days after receipt, in accordance with the Fund's investment
objective and policies.  The Fund's actual  investment  timetable will depend on
the availability of Senior Loans and other market conditions. Pending investment
by  the  Fund,  the  proceeds  may  be  invested  in  high  quality,  short-term
securities, and the Fund may not achieve its objective during this time.

                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

Investment Objective. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level
of  current  income,   consistent  with  preservation  of  capital.  The  Fund's
investment objective is a non-fundamental  policy, which means that the Board of
Trustees can change it without shareholder approval.

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective through  investment  primarily (at least
80% of its total assets) in a professionally  managed  portfolio of interests in
Senior Loans to Borrowers that operate in a variety of industries and geographic
regions (including domestic and foreign entities). Although the Fund's net asset
value per share will vary, the Fund's policy of acquiring  interests in floating
or variable  rate Senior Loans is expected to minimize the  fluctuations  in the
Fund's net asset value per share as a result of changes in interest  rates.  The
Fund's net asset value may be affected by various factors,  including changes in
the credit  quality of Borrowers  with respect to Senior Loan interests in which
the Fund invests.

An  investment in the Fund may not be  appropriate  for all investors and is not
intended to be a complete investment program. No assurance can be given that the
Fund  will  achieve  its  investment  objective.  The  Fund is  appropriate  for
investors  seeking  a high  level of  current  income  consistent  with  capital
preservation.

Policies.  Under normal market conditions,  the Fund will invest at least 80% of
its total assets  (either as a Primary Lender or as a purchaser of an Assignment
or Participation) in Senior Loans of domestic Borrowers or foreign Borrowers (so
long as Senior Loans to such foreign  Borrowers are U.S. dollar  denominated and
payments of interest and  repayments of principal  pursuant to such Senior Loans
are  required  to be made in U.S.  dollars).  Although  most  Senior  Loans  are
collateralized,  the Fund may  invest up to 20% of its total  assets  (valued at
time of investment) in Senior Loans that are not secured by any collateral.

During  normal  market  conditions,  the Fund may  invest up to 20% of its total
assets  (including  assets  maintained  by the  Fund as a  reserve  against  any
additional  loan  commitments)  in (i) high quality,  short-term debt securities
with  remaining  maturities  of one  year  or less  and  (ii)  warrants,  equity
securities  and junior debt  securities  acquired in connection  with the Fund's
investments  in Senior  Loans.  Such high  quality,  short-term  securities  may
include  commercial paper rated at least Baa, P-3 or higher by Moody's Investors
Service,  Inc. (Moody's) or BBB, A-3 or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P) (or if
unrated,  determined  by Stein Roe to be of  comparable  quality),  interests in
short-term  loans  and  short-term  loan   participations  of  Borrowers  having
short-term debt obligations rated or a short-term credit rating at least in such
rating  categories  (or having no such rating,  determined by Stein Roe to be of
comparable  quality),  certificates  of deposit  and  bankers'  acceptances  and
securities  issued  or  guaranteed  by the  U.S.  government,  its  agencies  or
instrumentalities.  Such high quality, short-term securities may pay interest at
rates that are periodically redetermined or may pay interest at fixed rates.

                              HOW THE FUND INVESTS

Senior Loans.  Senior Loans generally are arranged through private  negotiations
between a Borrower and Lenders represented in each case by one or more Agents of
the several  Lenders.  On behalf of the  several  Lenders,  the Agent,  which is
frequently a commercial bank or other entity that originates the Senior Loan and
the person that invites  other  parties to join the lending  syndicate,  will be
primarily  responsible for  negotiating the Loan Agreement that  establishes the
relative terms,  conditions and rights of the Borrower and the several  Lenders.
In larger transactions it is common to have several Agents;  however,  generally
only  one  such  Agent  has  primary   responsibility   for   documentation  and
administration of a Senior Loan.

In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent  administers the terms of the Loan Agreement
and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments
from the Borrower and the  apportionment  of those payments to the credit of all
Lenders that are parties to the Loan Agreement.  The Fund generally will rely on
the Agent to collect its portion of the payments on a Senior Loan.  Furthermore,
the Fund will rely on the Agent to use appropriate creditor remedies against the
Borrower. Typically, under a Loan Agreement, the Agent is given broad discretion
in  monitoring  the  Borrower's  performance  under  the Loan  Agreement  and is
obligated  to use only the same care it would use in the  management  of its own
property.  Upon an event of default, the Agent typically will act to enforce the
Loan Agreement after  instruction  from Lenders holding a majority of the Senior
Loan.  The  Borrower  compensates  the  Agent  for the  Agent's  services.  This
compensation may include special fees paid on structuring and funding the Senior
Loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. The typical practice of an Agent
in relying  exclusively  or primarily on reports from the Borrower may involve a
risk of fraud by the Borrower.

It is  anticipated  that the proceeds of the Senior Loans in which the Fund will
acquire  interests   primarily  will  be  used  to  finance  leveraged  buyouts,
recapitalizations,  mergers,  acquisitions,  stock repurchases, and, to a lesser
extent,  to  finance  internal  growth  and  for  other  corporate  purposes  of
Borrowers.  Senior Loans have the most senior  position in a Borrower's  capital
structure,  although  some  Senior  Loans may hold an equal  ranking  with other
senior securities and other  obligations of the Borrower.  The capital structure
of a Borrower may include  Senior  Loans,  senior and junior  subordinated  debt
(which may include "junk bonds"), preferred stock and common stock issued by the
Borrower,  typically in descending  order of seniority with respect to claims on
the  Borrower's  assets.  Senior and junior  subordinated  debt is  collectively
referred  to in this  Prospectus  as  "junior  debt  securities."  Senior  Loans
generally are secured by specific collateral,  which may include guarantees from
affiliates of the Borrower.

To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of its assets in Senior Loans that
are not secured by  specific  collateral,  the Fund will not enjoy the  benefits
associated  with  collateralization  with  respect to such Senior Loans and such
Senior  Loans may pose a  greater  risk of  nonpayment  of  interest  or loss of
principal than do collateralized  Senior Loans. As discussed below, the Fund may
also acquire  warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt securities issued by
the  Borrower  or its  affiliates  as part of a package  of  investments  in the
Borrower  or its  affiliates.  Warrants,  equity  securities,  and  junior  debt
securities  will not be treated as Senior Loans and thus assets invested in such
securities  will not  count  toward  the 80% of the  Fund's  total  assets  that
normally  will be invested in Senior  Loans.  The Fund may acquire  interests in
warrants, other equity securities or junior debt securities through a negotiated
restructuring of a Senior Loan or in a bankruptcy proceeding of the Borrower.

In order to borrow money  pursuant to a  collateralized  Senior Loan, a Borrower
will typically,  for the term of the Senior Loan,  pledge as collateral  assets,
including but not limited to, accounts receivable,  inventory,  buildings, other
real  estate,  trademarks,  franchises  and  common and  preferred  stock in its
subsidiaries.  In  addition,  in the case of some  Senior  Loans,  there  may be
additional  collateral pledged in the form of guarantees by and/or securities of
affiliates of the Borrowers.  In instances,  a collateralized Senior Loan may be
secured  only by stock  in the  Borrower  or its  subsidiaries.  Collateral  may
consist of assets that are not  readily  liquidated,  and there is no  assurance
that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a Borrower's obligations
under a Senior Loan. Similarly, in the event of bankruptcy proceedings involving
the  Borrower,  the  Lenders  may  be  delayed  or  prevented  from  liquidating
collateral or may choose not to do so as part of their  participation  in a plan
of reorganization of the Borrower.

Loan Agreements may also include various restrictive covenants designed to limit
the  activities of the Borrower in an effort to protect the right of the Lenders
to receive  timely  payments of interest on and  repayment  of  principal of the
Senior Loans.  Restrictive covenants may include mandatory prepayment provisions
related to excess  cash flows and  typically  include  restrictions  on dividend
payments,  specific mandatory minimum financial ratios, limits on total debt and
other financial tests. Breach of such a covenant,  if not waived by the Lenders,
is generally an event of default  under the  applicable  Loan  Agreement and may
give the Lenders the right to accelerate principal and interest payments.  Stein
Roe will  consider the terms of  restrictive  covenants  in deciding  whether to
invest in Senior Loans for the Fund's investment portfolio.  When the Fund holds
a  Participation  in a Senior  Loan,  it may not have the right to vote to waive
enforcement of a restrictive covenant breached by a Borrower.  Lenders voting in
connection with a potential waiver of a restrictive  covenant may have interests
different  from  those  of the  Fund and such  Lenders  will  not  consider  the
interests of the Fund in connection with their votes.

Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest  generally pay interest at rates that
are  periodically  redetermined  by  reference  to a base  lending  rate  plus a
premium. These base lending rates generally are the prime or base lending (Prime
Rate) rate  offered by one or more major United  States banks or other  standard
lending rates used by commercial lenders,  such as the London Inter-Bank Offered
Rate (LIBOR) or the certificate of deposit (CD) rate.  LIBOR, as provided for in
Loan  Agreements,  is an  average  of  the  interest  rates  quoted  by  several
designated banks as the rates at which such banks would offer to pay interest to
major financial institutional  depositors in the London interbank market on U.S.
dollar  denominated  deposits for a specified  period of time.  The CD rate,  as
generally  provided  for in Loan  Agreements,  is the average rate paid on large
certificates   of  deposit  traded  in  the  secondary   market.   Senior  Loans
traditionally  have been  structured so that Borrowers pay higher  premiums when
they elect  LIBOR,  in order to permit  Lenders to obtain  generally  consistent
yields on Senior Loans, regardless of whether Borrowers select the LIBOR option,
or the Prime Rate option. In recent years, however, the differential between the
lower LIBOR base rates and the higher  Prime Rate base rates  prevailing  in the
commercial  bank markets has widened to the point where the higher  margins paid
by  Borrowers  for  LIBOR  pricing   options  do  not  currently   outweigh  the
differential between the Prime Rate and the LIBOR rate. Consequently,  Borrowers
have increasingly selected the LIBOR-based pricing option,  resulting in a yield
on Senior Loans that is  consistently  lower than the yield  available  from the
Prime Rate-based pricing option. This trend will significantly limit the ability
of  the  Fund  to  achieve  a  net  return  to  shareholders  that  consistently
approximates the average published Prime Rate of leading U.S. banks.

Primary  Lender  Transactions,  Assignments,  and  Participations.  The Fund may
invest in Participations  in Senior Loans, may purchase  Assignments of portions
of Senior  Loans from third  parties  and may act as one of the group of Primary
Lenders.  The Fund may  invest up to 100% of its assets in  Participations.  The
selling Lenders and other persons  interpositioned  between such Lenders and the
Fund with respect to Participations will likely conduct their principal business
activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries.  Although,
as discussed below,  the Fund has taken measures that it believes  significantly
reduce its exposure to risks  associated  with  Participations,  the Fund may be
more   susceptible   than  an  investment   company  that  does  not  invest  in
Participations  in Senior Loans to any single economic,  political or regulatory
occurrence  affecting these industries.  Persons engaged in these industries may
be more  susceptible than are persons engaged in some other industries to, among
other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market
Committee's monetary policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries
and concerning  capital  raising  activities  generally and  fluctuations in the
financial markets generally.

Participation  by the Fund in a Lender's portion of a Senior Loan typically will
result in the Fund having a contractual  relationship only with such Lender, not
with the Borrower.  As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments
of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender
selling the  Participation  and only upon receipt by the Lender of payments from
the Borrower. In connection with purchasing  Participations,  the Fund generally
will have no right to enforce  compliance  by the Borrower with the terms of the
Loan  Agreement,  nor any rights  with  respect to any funds  acquired  by other
Lenders  through  set-off  against the  Borrower,  and the Fund may not directly
benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased
the Participation.  As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the
Borrower  and  the  Lender  selling  the  Participation.  In  the  event  of the
insolvency of the Lender selling a  Participation,  the Fund may be treated as a
general creditor of the Lender, and may not benefit from any set-off between the
Lender and the Borrower. In an effort to minimize such risks, the Fund will only
acquire  Participations if the Lender selling the  Participation,  and any other
institution  interpositioned between the Fund and the Lender, (i) at the time of
investment has outstanding  debt or deposit  obligations  rated investment grade
(BBB or A-3 or higher by S&P or Baa or P-3 or higher by Moody's) or, if unrated,
determined by Stein Roe to be of comparable quality and (ii) has entered into an
agreement  that  provides for the holding of payments on the Senior Loan for the
benefit of, or the prompt disbursement of payments to, the Fund.  Long-term debt
rated BBB by S&P is regarded by S&P as having adequate  capacity to pay interest
and repay  principal  and debt rated Baa by Moody's is  regarded by Moody's as a
medium  grade  obligation;  i.e.,  it is  neither  highly  protected  nor poorly
secured.  The Fund ordinarily will purchase a Participation only if, at the time
of the purchase, the Fund believes that the party from whom it is purchasing the
Participation  is retaining an interest in the  underlying  Senior Loan.  In the
event that the Fund does not so believe,  it will only purchase a  Participation
if, in addition to the  requirements  set forth  above,  the party from whom the
Fund is  purchasing  such  Participation  (i) is a bank,  a member of a national
securities  exchange or other entity  designated in the 1940 Act as qualified to
serve as a  custodian  for a  registered  investment  company  and (ii) has been
approved as a custodian by the Board of the Fund.

The Fund  may also  purchase  Assignments  from  Lenders.  The  purchaser  of an
Assignment  typically  succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan
Agreement of the assigning  Lender and becomes a Lender under the Loan Agreement
with the same rights and obligations as the assigning Lender.

When  the  Fund  is  a  Primary  Lender,  it  will  have  a  direct  contractual
relationship with the Borrower,  may enforce compliance by the Borrower with the
terms of the Loan  Agreement and may under  contractual  arrangements  among the
Lenders have rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders  through
set-off.  A Lender also has full voting and consent  rights under the applicable
Loan Agreement.  Action subject to Lender vote or consent generally requires the
vote  or  consent  of the  holders  of a  majority  or  some  greater  specified
percentage  of the  outstanding  principal  amount of the Senior  Loan.  Certain
decisions,  such as reducing  the amount or  increasing  the time for payment of
interest on or repayment of principal of a Senior Loan, or releasing  collateral
therefor,  frequently  require  the  unanimous  vote or consent  of all  Lenders
affected.  When the Fund is a Primary  Lender  originating  a Senior Loan it may
share in a fee paid by the Borrower to the Primary Lenders.  The Fund will never
act as the Agent,  Originator,  or principal  negotiator or  administrator  of a
Senior Loan.

The Fund will  purchase  an  Assignment  or act as a Lender  with  respect  to a
syndicated  Senior Loan only where the Agent with  respect to the Senior Loan at
the  time of  investment  has  outstanding  debt or  deposit  obligations  rated
investment  grade  (BBB  or A-3 or  higher  by  S&P or Baa or P-3 or  higher  by
Moody's) or determined by Stein Roe to be of comparable quality.

Loan  Agreements  typically  provide for the  termination  of the Agent's agency
status in the event that it fails to act as  required  under the  relevant  Loan
Agreement, becomes insolvent, enters FDIC receivership,  or if not FDIC insured,
enters into bankruptcy.  Should an Agent,  Lender or any other  institution with
respect  to an  Assignment  interpositioned  between  the Fund and the  Borrower
become insolvent or enter FDIC  receivership or bankruptcy,  any interest in the
Senior Loan of any such interpositioned institution and any loan payment held by
any such  interpositioned  institution for the benefit of the Fund should not be
included in the estate of such  interpositioned  institution.  If, however,  any
such amount were included in such interpositioned institution's estate, the Fund
would  incur  costs and delays in  realizing  payment or could  suffer a loss of
principal or interest.  In such event,  the Fund could  experience a decrease in
net asset value.

Portfolio Maturity.  The Fund is not subject to any restrictions with respect to
the maturity of Senior Loans held in its portfolio.  It is currently anticipated
that the Fund's  assets  invested in Senior  Loans will  consist of Senior Loans
with stated maturities of between three and ten years, inclusive, and with rates
of interest that are redetermined either daily, monthly, quarterly, semiannually
or   annually.   Investment   in  Senior   Loans  with  longer   interest   rate
redetermination  periods may increase fluctuations in the Fund's net asset value
as a result of  changes  in  interest  rates.  The  Senior  Loans in the  Fund's
investment  portfolio will at all times have a  dollar-weighted  average days to
reset until the next  interest  rate  redetermination  of 90 days or less.  As a
result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Fund from
its  investments  in Senior Loans should  increase,  and as short-term  interest
rates  decrease,  interest  payable to the Fund from its  investments  in Senior
Loans should decrease.  The amount of time required to pass before the Fund will
realize  the  effects  of  changing  short-term  market  interest  rates  on its
portfolio  will  vary  with the  dollar-weighted  average  time  until  the next
interest rate  redetermination on the Senior Loans in the investment  portfolio.
The Fund may utilize the investment  practices  described in this prospectus to,
among other things,  shorten the effective interest rate redetermination  period
of Senior Loans in its  portfolio.  In such event,  the Fund will  consider such
shortened  period to be the interest rate  redetermination  period of the Senior
Loan;  provided,  however,  that the Fund will not  invest in Senior  Loans that
permit the Borrower to select an interest rate redetermination  period in excess
of one year.  Because  most Senior  Loans in the  investment  portfolio  will be
subject to mandatory  and/or  optional  prepayment  and there may be significant
economic  incentives  for a Borrower to prepay its loans,  prepayments of Senior
Loans in the Fund's investment  portfolio may occur.  Accordingly,  the economic
maturity of the Fund's  investment  portfolio  invested in Senior Loans may vary
substantially  from the average stated  maturity of the Senior Loans held in the
Fund's investment portfolio. As a result of anticipated prepayments from time to
time  of  Senior  Loans  in  the  investment  portfolio,   based  on  historical
experience,  Stein Roe believes  that the economic  maturity of the Senior Loans
held in its portfolio will be approximately 18-24 months.

Net Asset Value Fluctuation.  When prevailing interest rates decline,  the value
of a  portfolio  invested  in  fixed-rate  obligations  can be expected to rise.
Conversely,  when  prevailing  interest  rates  rise,  the value of a  portfolio
invested in  fixed-rate  obligations  can be expected to decline.  Although  the
Fund's net asset  value  will  vary,  Stein Roe  expects  the  Fund's  policy of
acquiring  interests  in  floating or  variable  rate  Senior  Loans to minimize
fluctuations  in net  asset  value as a result of  changes  in  interest  rates.
Accordingly,  Stein  Roe  expects  the  value  of the  investment  portfolio  to
fluctuate  significantly  less  than a  portfolio  of  fixed-rate,  longer  term
obligations as a result of interest rate changes. However, changes in prevailing
interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the Fund's net asset
value.  In addition to changes in interest  rates,  various  factors,  including
defaults by or changes in the credit quality of Borrowers,  will also affect the
Fund's net asset value. A default or serious deterioration in the credit quality
of a Borrower  could cause a prolonged or  permanent  decrease in the Fund's net
asset value.

Debt  Restructuring.  The Fund may  purchase  and  retain  in its  portfolio  an
interest in a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has filed for protection  under the
federal  bankruptcy  laws or has had an  involuntary  bankruptcy  petition filed
against it by its creditors.  Stein Roe's decision to purchase or retain such an
interest will depend on its assessment of the suitability of such investment for
the Fund, the Borrower's  ability to meet debt service on Senior Loan interests,
the likely duration, if any, of a lapse in the scheduled repayment of principal,
and prevailing interest rates. At times, in connection with the restructuring of
a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy
court  proceedings,  the Fund may  determine  or be  required  to accept  equity
securities  or junior  debt  securities  in  exchange  for all or a portion of a
Senior Loan interest. Depending upon, among other things, Stein Roe's evaluation
of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be
obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof, the Fund may determine
to hold such  securities in its  portfolio.  Any equity  security or junior debt
security held by the Fund will not be treated as a Senior Loan and thus will not
count toward the 80% of assets that normally will be invested in Senior Loans.

Borrower  Credit  Ratings.  Senior  Loans  historically  have not been  rated by
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations,  such as S&P or Moody's.
Because  of the  senior  capital  structure  position  of  Senior  Loans and the
collateralized or guaranteed nature of most Senior Loans, the Fund and Stein Roe
believe that ratings of other securities issued by a Borrower do not necessarily
reflect adequately the relative quality of a Borrower's Senior Loans. Therefore,
although Stein Roe may consider such ratings in determining whether to invest in
a  particular  Senior Loan,  Stein Roe is not  required to consider  ratings and
ratings will not be the  determinative  factor in Stein Roe's  analysis.  To the
extent  that  Senior  Loans are rated,  the Fund may invest in the lowest  rated
loans,  but does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in Senior Loans
rated  below  B- or B3 by S&P or  Moody's.  The Fund  may  invest a  substantial
portion of its  assets in Senior  Loans to  Borrowers  having  outstanding  debt
securities rated below investment grade by a nationally  recognized  statistical
rating  organization (or unrated but of comparable  quality to such securities).
Debt  securities  rated below  investment  grade (or  unrated but of  comparable
quality)  commonly are referred to as "junk bonds." The Fund will invest only in
those Senior Loans with respect to which the Borrower,  in the judgment of Stein
Roe, demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics:  sufficient cash
flow to service debt; adequate liquidity;  successful operating history;  strong
competitive   position;   experienced   management;   and,   with   respect   to
collateralized  Senior  Loans,  collateral  coverage  that equals or exceeds the
outstanding  principal  amount of the Senior Loan.  In addition,  Stein Roe will
consider, and may rely in part, on the analyses performed by the Agent and other
Lenders,  including  such  persons'  determinations  with respect to  collateral
securing a Senior Loan.

Fees.  The  Fund  may  be  required  to  pay or may  receive  various  fees  and
commissions  in connection  with  purchasing,  selling and holding  interests in
Senior  Loans.  The fees  normally  paid by Borrowers  may include  three types:
facility fees, commitment fees and prepayment penalties.  Facility fees are paid
to the Lenders upon  origination of a Senior Loan.  Commitment  fees are paid to
Lenders on an ongoing  basis based upon the  undrawn  portion  committed  by the
Lenders of the underlying Senior Loan. Lenders may receive prepayment  penalties
when a Borrower  prepays  all or part of a Senior  Loan.  The Fund will  receive
these fees  directly from the Borrower if the Fund is a Primary  Lender,  or, in
the case of commitment  fees and prepayment  penalties,  if the Fund acquires an
interest in a Senior Loan by way of Assignment. Whether or not the Fund receives
a facility fee from the Lender in the case of an Assignment,  or any fees in the
case of a  Participation,  depends  upon  negotiations  between the Fund and the
Lender selling such interests.  When the Fund is an assignee, it may be required
to pay a fee, or forgo a portion of interest  and any fees payable to it, to the
Lender selling the Assignment.  Occasionally, the assignor will pay a fee to the
Fund based on the  portion of the  principal  amount of the Senior  Loan that is
being  assigned.  A Lender  selling  a  Participation  to the Fund may  deduct a
portion of the interest  and any fees  payable to the Fund as an  administrative
fee prior to payment  thereof to the Fund.  The Fund may be required to pay over
or pass along to a  purchaser  of an  interest  in a Senior Loan from the Fund a
portion of any fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.

Prepayments.  Pursuant  to  the  relevant  Loan  Agreement,  a  Borrower  may be
required, and may have the option at any time, to prepay the principal amount of
a Senior Loan, often without incurring a prepayment  penalty.  In the event that
like-yielding  loans are not  available in the  marketplace,  Stein Roe believes
that the prepayment of and subsequent  reinvestment  by the Fund in Senior Loans
could have a  materially  adverse  impact on the yield on the Fund's  investment
portfolio.  Prepayments may have a beneficial impact on income due to receipt of
prepayment  penalties,  if any, and any facility fees earned in connection  with
reinvestment.

Commitments to Make Additional  Payments. A Lender may have obligations pursuant
to a Loan  Agreement to make  additional  loans in certain  circumstances.  Such
circumstances  may include,  without  limitation,  obligations  under  revolving
credit  facilities  and  facilities  that provide for further loans to Borrowers
based upon compliance with specified financial requirements.  The Fund currently
intends to reserve  against any such  contingent  obligation  by  segregating  a
sufficient  amount of cash,  liquid securities and liquid Senior Loans. The Fund
will not purchase  interests in Senior Loans that would require the Fund to make
any such additional  loans if the aggregate of such additional loan  commitments
would  exceed 20% of the Fund's  total assets or would cause the Fund to fail to
meet the  diversification  requirements set forth under the heading  "Investment
Restrictions" in the Statement of Additional Information.

Bridge  Financing.  The Fund may  acquire  interests  in Senior  Loans  that are
designed to provide  temporary or "bridge"  financing to a Borrower  pending the
sale of  identified  assets  or the  arrangement  of  longer-term  loans  or the
issuance  and  sale of debt  obligations.  A  Borrower's  use of a  bridge  loan
involves a risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to
replace   the  bridge   loan,   which  may  impair  the   Borrower's   perceived
creditworthiness.

Borrowing.  The Fund may  borrow  money in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the Fund's
total assets (after giving effect to the amount  borrowed).  The Fund may borrow
for  the  purpose  of  financing  long-term  investments,  obtaining  short-term
liquidity and for temporary,  extraordinary or emergency purposes. To the extent
the Fund borrows more money than it has cash or short-term cash  equivalents and
invests the proceeds in Senior Loans, the Fund will create  financial  leverage.
It will do so only when it expects to be able to invest the proceeds at a higher
rate of return than its cost of borrowing.

Other Securities.  The Fund will acquire warrants,  equity securities and junior
debt  securities  only as are incident to the  purchase or intended  purchase of
interests  in  collateralized  Senior  Loans.  The Fund  generally  will acquire
interests in warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt  securities only when
Stein Roe believes  that the relative  value being given by the Fund in exchange
for such interests is  substantially  outweighed by the potential  value of such
instruments.   Investment  in  warrants,   equity  securities  and  junior  debt
securities  entail risks in addition to those  associated  with  investments  in
Senior  Loans.  Warrants and equity  securities  have a  subordinate  claim on a
Borrower's  assets as compared with debt securities,  and junior debt securities
have a subordinate  claim on such assets as compared with Senior Loans. As such,
the values of warrants and equity securities generally are more dependent on the
financial  condition  of the  Borrower and less  dependent  on  fluctuations  in
interest  rates  than are the  values of many  debt  securities.  The  values of
warrants, equity securities and junior debt securities may be more volatile than
those of Senior Loans and thus may have an adverse  impact on the ability of the
Fund to minimize fluctuations in its net asset value. (See "Principal Risks.")

Defensive  Investment  Policy.  If Stein Roe determines  that market  conditions
temporarily  warrant a  defensive  investment  policy,  the Fund may (but is not
required to) invest, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid
portfolio of Senior  Loans,  up to 100% of its assets in cash and high  quality,
short-term debt securities.  The Fund may also lend its portfolio  securities to
other parties and may enter into  repurchase and reverse  repurchase  agreements
for securities.  For further  discussion of the Fund's investment  objective and
policies and its  investment  practices and the associated  considerations,  see
"Other Investment Practices."

Fundamental  Restrictions  and  Policies.  The Fund  has  adopted  a  number  of
fundamental investment restrictions and policies which may not be changed unless
authorized  by a  shareholder  vote.  These  are set forth in the  Statement  of
Additional Information.  Among these fundamental restrictions,  the Fund may not
purchase  any  security  if, as a result of the  purchase,  more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities
of Borrowers and other issuers having their principal business activities in the
same industry (the electric,  gas, water and telephone utility  industries being
treated as separate  industries for the purpose of this  restriction).  However,
the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in  securities  the issuer
of which is deemed to be in the financial institutions industry,  which includes
commercial  banks,   thrift   institutions,   insurance  companies  and  finance
companies.  There  is no  limitation  with  respect  to  obligations  issued  or
guaranteed by the U.S.  government or any of its agencies or  instrumentalities.
Except for the  fundamental  restrictions  and policies set forth as such in the
Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the  Fund's  investment  objective  and
policies  are not  fundamental  policies and  accordingly  may be changed by the
Board without obtaining the approval of shareholders.

                                 PRINCIPAL RISKS

You should consider the following  Principal Risks before investing in the Fund.
As  described  below,  these  risks could cause you to lose money as a result of
investing in the Fund. The Fund is a closed-end  investment company. The Fund is
designed primarily for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.

Non-Payment. Senior Loans, like other corporate debt obligations, are subject to
the risk of non-payment of scheduled  interest or principal.  Non-payment  would
result in a reduction  of income to the Fund,  a  reduction  in the value of the
Senior Loan experiencing  non-payment and a potential  decrease in the net asset
value of the Fund. The Fund generally will invest in collateralized Senior Loans
only if Stein Roe  believes  the  value of the  collateral,  which  may  include
guarantees,  exceeds  the  principal  amount of the  Senior  Loan at the time of
initial investment.  However,  there can be no assurance that the liquidation of
any  collateral  would  satisfy  the  Borrower's  obligation  in  the  event  of
non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral
could be readily  liquidated.  Moreover,  as a practical matter,  most Borrowers
cannot  satisfy their debts by selling  their assets.  Borrowers pay their debts
from the cash flow they generate.  This is  particularly  the case for Borrowers
that are highly  leveraged.  Many of the Senior Loans purchased by the Fund will
be to highly leveraged Borrowers. If the Borrower's cash flow is insufficient to
pay its debts as they  come  due,  the  Borrower  is far more  likely to seek to
restructure  its debts than it is to sell off  assets to pay its  Senior  Loans.
Borrowers may try to restructure  their debts either by seeking  protection from
creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal  Bankruptcy Code or negotiating a work
out. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower,  the Fund could experience delays
or  limitations  with  respect to its  ability to realize  the  benefits  of the
collateral  securing  a  Senior  Loan.  To the  extent  that a  Senior  Loan  is
collateralized by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose
all or  substantially  all of  its  value  in the  event  of  bankruptcy  of the
Borrower.  The Agent generally is responsible  for determining  that the Lenders
have  obtained a perfected  security  interest in the  collateral  securing  the
Senior Loan. If a Borrower files for protection  from creditors under Chapter 11
of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  the Code will impose an automatic stay that prohibits
the Agent from liquidating collateral. The Agent may ask the bankruptcy court to
lift the stay. As a practical matter,  the court is unlikely to lift the stay if
it concludes  that the  Borrower has a chance to emerge from the  reorganization
proceedings  and the  collateral  is likely to hold  most of its  value.  If the
Lenders  have a good  security  interest,  the Senior  Loan will be treated as a
separate  class in the  reorganization  proceedings  and will  retain a priority
interest in the collateral.  Chapter 11  reorganization  plans typically are the
product of  negotiation  among the  Borrower and the various  creditor  classes.
Successful  negotiations  may  require  the  Lenders  to  extend  the  time  for
repayment,  change the interest rate or accept some consideration in the form of
junior debt or equity  securities.  A work out outside of bankruptcy may produce
similar concessions by senior lenders.

Some  Senior  Loans in which the Fund may invest are  subject to the risk that a
court,   pursuant  to  fraudulent   conveyance  or  other  similar  laws,  could
subordinate such Senior Loans to current or future  indebtedness of the Borrower
or take other action  detrimental  to the holders of Senior  Loans,  such as the
Fund, including,  under certain  circumstances,  invalidating such Senior Loans.
Lenders  commonly have  obligations  pursuant to the Loan  Agreement,  which may
include the obligation to make additional loans or release collateral.

Below Investment Grade  Securities.  Securities rated below investment grade are
commonly  referred to as  high-yield  debt or "junk  debt." They are regarded as
predominantly  speculative  with  respect to the  issuing  company's  continuing
ability to meet  principal  and  interest  payments.  The  prices of  high-yield
securities  have been found to be less  sensitive to interest  rate changes than
higher-rated  investments,  but more sensitive to adverse economic  downturns or
individual corporate developments.  A projection of an economic downturn or of a
period of rising  interest  rates,  for  example,  could  cause a decline in the
prices of high-yield securities.

The secondary market in which high-yield securities are traded is generally less
liquid than the market for  higher-grade  debt.  Less liquidity in the secondary
trading market could  adversely  affect the price at which the Fund could sell a
high-yield  Senior Loan, and could  adversely  affect the net asset value of the
Fund's  shares.  At times of less  liquidity,  it may be more difficult to value
high-yield  Senior Loans because this valuation may require more  research,  and
elements of judgment  may play a greater  role in the  valuation  since there is
less reliable, objective data available.

Investments  in  high-yield  Senior  Loans may result in greater net asset value
fluctuation than if the Fund did not make such investments.

There is no limit on the  percentage  of assets  that may be  invested in Senior
Loans and other  securities  that are rated below  investment  grade or that are
unrated but of comparable quality.

Restrictions  on Resale.  Senior  Loans,  at present,  generally are not readily
marketable  and may be subject to  restrictions  on resale.  Interests in Senior
Loans generally are not listed on any national  securities exchange or automated
quotation  system and no active market may exist for many of the Senior Loans in
which the Fund may invest.  To the extent that a secondary  market may exist for
the  Senior  Loans in which the Fund  invests,  such  market  may be  subject to
irregular trading  activity,  wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement
periods.  The Fund has no  limitation  on the amount of its  assets  that may be
invested  in Senior  Loans that are not  readily  marketable  or are  subject to
restrictions on resale.  Because a substantial  portion of the Fund's assets may
be invested in Senior Loan interests,  the ability of the Fund to dispose of its
investments in a timely  fashion and at a fair price may be restricted,  and the
Fund and  shareholders may suffer capital losses as a result.  However,  many of
the  Senior  Loans in which the Fund  expects  to  purchase  interests  are of a
relatively  large principal  amount and are held by a relatively large number of
owners which should, in Stein Roe's opinion,  enhance the relative  liquidity of
such interests.  The risks associated with illiquidity are particularly acute in
situations where the Fund's operations require cash, such as when the Fund makes
a  Repurchase  Offer  for  its  shares,  and may  result  in  borrowing  to meet
short-term cash requirements.

Borrowing.  The Fund is authorized to borrow money in an amount up to 33 1/3% of
the Fund's total assets (after giving effect to the amount  borrowed).  The Fund
is  authorized   to  borrow  money  for  the  purpose  of  financing   long-term
investments,   obtaining  short-term  liquidity  in  connection  with  quarterly
repurchase offers and for temporary,  extraordinary or emergency  purposes.  The
use of leverage for investment purposes creates  opportunities for greater total
returns but at the same time  involves  risks.  Any  investment  income or gains
earned with respect to the amounts borrowed,  which is in excess of the interest
which is due on the borrowing,  will augment the Fund's income.  Conversely,  if
the investment  performance  with respect to the amounts borrowed fails to cover
the  interest on such  borrowings,  the value of the Fund's  shares may decrease
more quickly than would  otherwise be the case and dividends on the shares would
be reduced or eliminated. Interest payments and fees incurred in connection with
such  borrowings  will reduce the amount of net income  available for payment to
the holders of Shares.


Repurchase Offer Risks. The Fund, as a fundamental  policy,  will make quarterly
repurchases  for 5% to 25% of  shares  outstanding  at  net  asset  value.  (See
"Periodic  Repurchase Offers" below for more information.)  However,  shares are
less liquid than shares of funds that trade on a stock exchange, and Class B and
Class C  shareholders  who offer for  repurchase  shares held for less than five
years and one year,  respectively,  will pay an EWC.  (See "How to Buy Shares.")
Under  limited  circumstances,  the Fund may  suspend or  postpone  a  quarterly
repurchase offer--the Fund must meet regulatory  requirements to do so. There is
no  guarantee  that  shareholders  will be able to sell all of their shares that
they desire to sell in a quarterly repurchase offer.

Closed-End  Fund Risks.  The Fund is a closed-end  investment  company  designed
primarily for long-term  investors and not as a trading  vehicle.  The Fund does
not intend to list its shares for trading on any national  securities  exchange.
There is not expected to be any secondary  trading  market in the shares and the
shares should be considered  illiquid.  The shares are,  therefore,  not readily
marketable.  The shares of  closed-end  investment  companies  often  trade at a
discount from their net asset values and, in the unlikely event that a secondary
market for the  shares  were to  develop,  the  shares  likewise  may trade at a
discount from net asset value.



Legislation;  Restrictions.  To the extent that  legislation or state or federal
regulators  impose  additional  requirements or restrictions with respect to the
ability of  financial  institutions  to make  loans in  connection  with  highly
leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loan interests for investment
by the Fund  may be  adversely  affected.  In  addition,  such  requirements  or
restrictions  may  reduce  or  eliminate   sources  of  financing  for  affected
Borrowers.  Further,  to  the  extent  that  legislation  or  federal  or  state
regulators  require  such  institutions  to  dispose  of Senior  Loan  interests
relating to highly leveraged  transactions or subject such Senior Loan interests
to increased regulatory scrutiny,  such financial  institutions may determine to
sell Senior Loan  interests  in a manner  that  results in a price that,  in the
opinion of Stein Roe, is not indicative of fair value.  Were the Fund to attempt
to sell a Senior  Loan  interest  at a time  when a  financial  institution  was
engaging in such a sale with respect to the Senior Loan  interest,  the price at
which the Fund could consummate such a sale might be adversely affected.

Financial Services Industry Concentration. The financial services industries are
subject to extensive government  regulation which can limit both the amounts and
types of loans and other financial  commitments  they can make, and the interest
rates  and fees they can  charge.  Profitability  is  largely  dependent  on the
availability  and cost of capital funds,  and can fluctuate  significantly  when
interest rates change.  Credit losses  resulting from financial  difficulties of
borrowers can negatively  affect the financial  services  industries.  Insurance
companies can be subject to severe price  competition.  The  financial  services
industries  are  currently  undergoing   relatively  rapid  change  as  existing
distinctions between financial service segments become less clear. For instance,
recent business  combinations have included insurance,  finance,  and securities
brokerage  under single  ownership.  Some  primarily  retail  corporations  have
expanded into securities and insurance  industries.  Moreover,  the federal laws
generally  separating  commercial  and  investment  banking are currently  being
studied by Congress.

Prepayment Risk. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date.
Borrowers  may find it  advantageous  to prepay  principal  due to a decline  in
interest rates or an excess in cash flow. Such  prepayments may require the Fund
to replace a Senior  Loan with a  lower-yielding  security.  This may  adversely
affect the net asset value of the Fund's shares.

Limited  Information.  The types of Senior  Loans in which the Fund will  invest
historically have not been rated by a nationally  recognized  statistical rating
organization,  have not been  registered  with the SEC or any  state  securities
commission,  and have not  been  listed  on any  national  securities  exchange.
Although the Fund will generally have access to financial and other  information
made  available to the Lenders in connection  with Senior  Loans,  the amount of
public information available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less
extensive  than  that  available  for  rated,   registered  or  exchange  listed
securities. As a result, the performance of the Fund and its ability to meet its
investment  objective is more dependent on the  analytical  ability of Stein Roe
than would be the case for an  investment  company  that  invests  primarily  in
rated, registered or exchange listed securities.

To the extent  that  Senior  Loans are rated,  the Fund may invest in the lowest
rated loans,  but does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in Senior
Loans rated below B- or B3 by S&P or Moody's.

Non-Diversification.  The Fund has registered as a "non-diversified"  investment
company so that,  subject  to its  investment  restrictions,  it will be able to
invest more than 5% of the value of its assets in the  obligations of any single
issuer,  including Senior Loans of a single Borrower or Participations purchased
from a  single  Lender.  (See  "Investment  Restrictions"  in the  Statement  of
Additional  Information.) The Fund does not intend, however, to invest more than
5% of the value of its assets in interests in Senior Loans of a single Borrower,
and the  Fund  intends  to  limit  its  investments  so as to  comply  with  the
diversification   requirements   imposed  by  the  Internal   Revenue  Code  for
qualification  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  To the  extent  the Fund
invests a relatively  high  percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited
number  of  issuers,  the  Fund  will be  more  susceptible  than a more  widely
diversified  investment  company to the  consequences  of any single  corporate,
economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

Ongoing Monitoring.  On behalf of the several Lenders,  the Agent generally will
be required  to  administer  and manage the Senior  Loans and,  with  respect to
collateralized  Senior  Loans,  to service or monitor  the  collateral.  In this
connection,  the valuation of assets  pledged as collateral  will reflect market
value  and the  Agent  may rely on  independent  appraisals  as to the  value of
specific collateral. The Agent, however, may not obtain an independent appraisal
as to the value of assets pledged as collateral in all cases.  The Fund normally
will rely  primarily on the Agent (where the Fund is a Primary Lender or owns an
Assignment)  or the  selling  Lender  (where the Fund owns a  Participation)  to
collect  principal  of and  interest  on a Senior  Loan.  Furthermore,  the Fund
usually  will rely on the Agent  (where the Fund is a Primary  Lender or owns an
Assignment)  or the  selling  Lender  (where the Fund owns a  Participation)  to
monitor  compliance by the Borrower with the  restrictive  covenants in the Loan
Agreement and notify the Fund of any adverse change in the Borrower's  financial
condition or any  declaration  of insolvency.  Collateralized  Senior Loans will
frequently be secured by all assets of the Borrower that qualify as  collateral,
which  may  include   common  stock  of  the   Borrower  or  its   subsidiaries.
Additionally, the terms of the Loan Agreement may require the Borrower to pledge
additional  collateral  to secure the Senior  Loan,  and enable the Agent,  upon
proper  authorization  of the Lenders,  to take  possession of and liquidate the
collateral  and to  distribute  the  liquidation  proceeds  pro rata  among  the
Lenders.  If the terms of a Senior Loan do not  require  the  Borrower to pledge
additional  collateral  in the event of a decline  in the value of the  original
collateral,  the  Fund  will be  exposed  to the  risk  that  the  value  of the
collateral  will not at all times  equal or exceed the amount of the  Borrower's
obligations  under  the  Senior  Loan.  Lenders  that  have  sold  Participation
interests in such Senior Loan will distribute  liquidation  proceeds received by
the Lenders pro rata among the  holders of such  Participations.  Stein Roe will
also monitor these aspects of the Fund's  investments  and,  where the Fund is a
Primary Lender or owns an Assignment,  will be directly  involved with the Agent
and the other Lenders regarding the exercise of credit remedies.

Investments  in Equity  Securities.  To the  extent  the Fund  invests in equity
securities,  the value of its portfolio will be affected by changes in the stock
markets,  which may be the result of  domestic  or  international  political  or
economic news,  changes in interest rates, or changing investor  sentiment.  The
stock  market can be volatile  and stock  prices can change  substantially.  The
equity  securities of smaller companies are more sensitive to these changes than
those of larger  companies.  This  market  risk will affect the Fund's net asset
value,  which will  fluctuate  as the value of the  securities  held by the Fund
changes.  Not all stock prices change  uniformly or at the same time and not all
stock markets move in the same direction at the same time.  Other factors affect
a particular stock's prices, such as poor earnings reports by an issuer, loss of
major customers,  major litigation against an issuer, or changes in governmental
regulations  affecting  an  industry.  Adverse  news  affecting  one company can
sometimes  depress the stock prices of all companies in the same  industry.  Not
all factors can be predicted.

Investments in Non-U.S. Issuers.  Investment in non-U.S. issuers involves
special risks, including that non-U.S. issuers may be
subject to less rigorous accounting and reporting requirements than are U.S.
issuers, less rigorous regulatory requirements,
differing legal systems and laws relating to creditors' rights, the potential
inability to enforce legal judgments, and the potential
for political, social and economic adversities.

Other  Practices.  The Fund may use various  investment  practices  that involve
special  considerations,  including  engaging in interest rate and other hedging
transactions,  lending its portfolio  securities,  entering into when-issued and
delayed-delivery   transactions   and  entering  into   repurchase  and  reverse
repurchase agreements.  For further discussion of these practices and associated
special considerations, see "Other Investment Practices."

                           OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES

Stein Roe may use some or all of the following investment practices when, in its
opinion,  their use is appropriate.  These investment  practices involve special
risk considerations  that are discussed below.  Although Stein Roe believes that
these investment  practices may further the investment  objective,  no assurance
can be given that the  utilization  of these  investment  practices will achieve
that result.



<PAGE>


Structured  Notes.  The  Fund  may  invest  up to  10% of its  total  assets  in
structured  notes,  including  "total rate of return swaps" with rates of return
determined  by  reference  to the  total  rate of  return  on one or more  loans
referenced  in such  notes.  The rate of  return on the  structured  note may be
determined  by  applying  a  multiplier  to the  rate  of  total  return  on the
referenced  loan or loans.  Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use
of financial leverage, a speculative technique. Leverage magnifies the potential
for gain and the risk of loss,  because a relatively  small decline in the value
of a referenced  loan could result in a relatively  large loss in the value of a
structured  note.  Structured  notes are treated as Senior Loans for purposes of
the Fund's  policy of  normally  investing  at least 80% of its total  assets in
Senior Loans.

Interest  Rate  Swaps and Other  Hedging  Transactions.  The Fund may enter into
various interest rate hedging and risk management  transactions.  These interest
rate  hedging and risk  management  transactions  may be  considered  to involve
derivative instruments. A derivative is a financial instrument whose performance
is  derived  at  least in part  from the  performance  of an  underlying  index,
security  or  asset.   The  values  of  certain   derivatives  can  be  affected
dramatically  by  even  small  market  movements,  sometimes  in ways  that  are
difficult to predict.  There are many different  types of derivatives  with many
different uses. The Fund expects to enter into these  transactions  primarily to
seek  to  preserve  a  return  on a  particular  investment  or  portion  of its
portfolio,  and may also enter into such transactions to seek to protect against
decreases in the anticipated  rate of return on floating or variable rate Senior
Loans the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for other risk
management  strategies  such as managing the effective  dollar-weighted  average
duration of the investment portfolio.  In addition,  the Fund may also engage in
hedging  transactions,  including entering into put and call options, to seek to
protect the value of its portfolio against declines in net asset value resulting
from changes in interest rates or other market changes.  Market  conditions will
determine  whether and in what  circumstances  the Fund would employ any hedging
and risk  management  techniques.  The  Fund  will  not  engage  in any of these
transactions for speculative purposes and will use them only as a means to hedge
or manage  the risks  associated  with  assets  held in,  or  anticipated  to be
purchased for, the investment portfolio or obligations incurred by the Fund. The
successful  utilization  of hedging and risk  management  transactions  requires
skills  different  from those needed in the selection of Senior Loans.  The Fund
will  incur   brokerage  and  other  costs  in   connection   with  its  hedging
transactions.

The Fund may enter into  interest  rate swaps or purchase or sell  interest rate
caps or floors. The Fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors that it does
not own. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party
of their respective obligations to pay or receive interest; e.g., an exchange of
an  obligation  to make  floating  rate payments for an obligation to make fixed
rate payments.  For example, the Fund may seek to shorten the effective interest
rate redetermination  period of a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has selected an
interest rate  redetermination  period of one year.  The Fund could exchange the
Borrower's obligation to make fixed rate payments for one year for an obligation
to make payments that readjust  monthly.  In such event, the Fund would consider
the interest rate  redetermination  period of such Senior Loan to be the shorter
period.

The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser,  to the extent that
a specified index exceeds a predetermined  interest rate, to receive payments of
interest at the  difference  between the index and the  predetermined  rate on a
notional  principal  amount (the reference amount with respect to which interest
obligations are determined although no actual exchange of principal occurs) from
the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor
entitles  the  purchaser,  to the extent  that a  specified  index falls below a
predetermined  interest rate, to receive  payments of interest at the difference
between the index and the predetermined rate on a notional principal amount from
the party selling such interest rate floor.  The Fund will not enter into swaps,
caps or floors if, on a net basis, the aggregate  notional principal amount with
respect to such agreements exceeds the net assets of the Fund.

In  circumstances  in which  Stein Roe  anticipates  that  interest  rates  will
decline,  the Fund might,  for example,  enter into an interest rate swap as the
floating rate payor or,  alternatively,  purchase an interest rate floor. In the
case of purchasing an interest rate floor,  if interest rates declined below the
floor rate, the Fund would receive  payments from its  counterparty  which would
wholly or partially  offset the  decrease in the payments it would  receive with
respect  to the  portfolio  assets  being  hedged.  In the case  where  the Fund
purchases  such an interest  rate swap, if the floating rate payments fell below
the  level of the fixed  rate  payment  set in the swap  agreement,  the  Fund's
counterparty  would  pay the Fund  amounts  equal to  interest  computed  at the
difference  between the fixed and  floating  rates over the  notional  principal
amount.  Such  payments  would  offset or  partially  offset the decrease in the
payments the Fund would receive with respect to floating rate  portfolio  assets
being hedged.

The successful use of swaps, caps and floors to preserve the rate of return on a
portfolio of Senior Loans  depends on Stein Roe's  ability to predict  correctly
the  direction  and extent of movements in interest  rates.  Although  Stein Roe
believes that use of the hedging and risk management  techniques described above
will benefit the Fund, if Stein Roe's  judgment about the direction or extent of
the movement in interest  rates is  incorrect,  the Fund's  overall  performance
would be  worse  than if it had not  entered  into  any  such  transaction.  For
example,  if the Fund had  purchased an interest  rate swap or an interest  rate
floor to hedge against its  expectation  that  interest  rates would decline but
instead  interest  rates rose, the Fund would lose part or all of the benefit of
the increased payments it would receive as a result of the rising interest rates
because  it  would  have to pay  amounts  to its  counterparty  under  the  swap
agreement or would have paid the purchase price of the interest rate floor.

Inasmuch as these  hedging  transactions  are entered into for  good-faith  risk
management  purposes,  Stein Roe and the Fund  believe such  obligations  do not
constitute  senior  securities.  The Fund will usually  enter into interest rate
swaps on a net basis;  i.e.,  where the two parties make net  payments  with the
Fund  receiving  or paying,  as the case may be,  only the net amount of the two
payments.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's  obligations over
its entitlements  with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued and an
amount of cash or liquid securities having an aggregate net asset value at least
equal to the accrued excess will be  maintained.  If the Fund enters into a swap
on other  than a net  basis,  the Fund  will  maintain  the full  amount  of its
obligations under each such swap. Accordingly,  the Fund does not treat swaps as
senior  securities.  The Fund may enter into swaps,  caps and floors with member
banks of the  Federal  Reserve  System,  members of the New York Stock  Exchange
(NYSE) or other entities determined to be creditworthy by Stein Roe, pursuant to
procedures  adopted and reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Board.  If a default
occurs by the other party to such  transactions,  the Fund will have contractual
remedies  pursuant  to the  agreements  related  to the  transaction,  but  such
remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency  laws that could affect the
Fund's rights as a creditor.  The swap market has grown  substantially in recent
years with a large number of banks and financial  services  firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the swap market has become  relatively  liquid.  Caps and floors are more recent
innovations  and they are less  liquid than  swaps.  There can be no  assurance,
however,  that the Fund will be able to enter  into  interest  rate  swaps or to
purchase  interest  rate caps or floors at prices or on terms Stein Roe believes
are  advantageous to the Fund. In addition,  although the terms of interest rate
swaps,  caps and floors may provide for  termination,  there can be no assurance
that the Fund  will be able to  terminate  an  interest  rate swap or to sell or
offset interest rate caps or floors that it has purchased.

New financial  products  continue to be developed and the Fund may invest in any
such products as may be developed to the extent  consistent  with its investment
objective  and  the  regulatory  and  federal  tax  requirements  applicable  to
investment companies.

"When-issued" and  "Delayed-delivery"  Transactions.  The Fund may also purchase
and  sell  interests  in  Senior  Loans  and  other  portfolio  securities  on a
"when-issued"  and  "delayed-delivery"  basis.  No income accrues to the Fund on
such Senior Loans in  connection  with such purchase  transactions  prior to the
date the Fund actually takes delivery of such Senior Loans.  These  transactions
are subject to market  fluctuation;  the value of the  interests in Senior Loans
and other  portfolio debt  securities at delivery may be more or less than their
purchase  price,  and  yields  generally  available  on such  Senior  Loans when
delivery  occurs may be higher or lower than yields on the Senior Loans obtained
pursuant to such  transactions.  Because the Fund relies on the buyer or seller,
as the case may be, to consummate the transaction, failure by the other party to
complete  the  transaction  may result in the Fund  missing the  opportunity  of
obtaining a price or yield considered to be  advantageous.  When the Fund is the
buyer in such a transaction, however, it will maintain cash or liquid securities
having an aggregate value equal to the amount of such purchase commitments until
payment is made. The Fund will make commitments to purchase such Senior Loans on
such basis only with the intention of actually acquiring these Senior Loans, but
the Fund may sell such Senior Loans prior to the settlement date if such sale is
considered to be advisable.  To the extent the Fund engages in "when-issued" and
"delayed-delivery"  transactions,  it will do so for the  purpose  of  acquiring
Senior  Loans  for its  investment  portfolio  consistent  with  its  investment
objective  and  policies  and not for the  purpose of  investment  leverage.  No
specific limitation exists as to the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be
used to acquire securities on a "when-issued" or "delayed-delivery" basis.

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (a purchase
of, and a  simultaneous  commitment  to resell,  a  financial  instrument  at an
agreed-upon  price on an agreed-upon date) only with member banks of the Federal
Reserve System and member firms of the NYSE.  When  participating  in repurchase
agreements,  the Fund buys  securities  from a seller (e.g., a bank or brokerage
firm) with the agreement  that the seller will  repurchase  the  securities at a
higher price at a later date.  Such  transactions  afford an opportunity for the
Fund to earn a return  on  available  liquid  assets  at  minimal  market  risk,
although  the Fund may be  subject  to  various  delays and risks of loss if the
counterparty is unable to meet its obligation to repurchase. Under the 1940 Act,
repurchase agreements are deemed to be collateralized loans of money by the Fund
to the counterparty. In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement,
Stein Roe will consider carefully the  creditworthiness of the counterparty.  If
the member  bank or member  firm that is the party to the  repurchase  agreement
petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise  becomes  subject to the Bankruptcy  Code,
the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. The securities underlying
a repurchase  agreement  will be marked to market every business day so that the
value of the  collateral  is at least equal to the value of the loan,  including
the  accrued  interest  thereon,  and  Stein Roe will  monitor  the value of the
collateral.  No specific  limitation  exists as to the  percentage of the Fund's
assets that may be used to participate in repurchase agreements.

Reverse  Repurchase  Agreements.  The Fund may  enter  into  reverse  repurchase
agreements with respect to debt  obligations that could otherwise be sold by the
Fund. A reverse  repurchase  agreement is an instrument under which the Fund may
sell an underlying debt security and simultaneously obtain the commitment of the
purchaser (a commercial bank or a broker or dealer) to sell the security back to
the Fund at an agreed-upon  price on an agreed-upon date. The Fund will maintain
cash or liquid  securities in an amount sufficient to cover its obligations with
respect to reverse  repurchase  agreements.  The Fund receives  payment for such
securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer by its
custodian. SEC regulations require either that securities sold by the Fund under
a reverse  repurchase  agreement be  segregated  pending  repurchase or that the
proceeds  be  segregated  on the Fund's  books and records  pending  repurchase.
Reverse  repurchase  agreements  could  involve risks in the event of default or
insolvency of the other party,  including  possible delays or restrictions  upon
the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying  securities.  An additional risk
is that  the  market  value  of  securities  sold by the  Fund  under a  reverse
repurchase  agreement  could  decline  below  the  price  at  which  the Fund is
obligated to repurchase them. Reverse  repurchase  agreements will be considered
borrowings  by the Fund and as such  would be  subject  to the  restrictions  on
borrowing described in the Statement of Additional Information under "Investment
Restrictions."  The Fund  will not hold  more  than 5% of the value of its total
assets in reverse repurchase  agreements as of the time the agreement is entered
into.

                         DISTRIBUTIONS AND INCOME TAXES

Distributions.  Income  dividends  are declared each business day, paid monthly,
and confirmed at least  quarterly.  Capital  gains,  if any, are  distributed at
least annually, usually in December. Shares accrue dividends as long as they are
issued and outstanding  (i.e.,  from the date the payment for the purchase order
is received to the day before the repurchase settles).

Dividend  payments are not guaranteed  and may vary with each payment.  The Fund
does not pay "interest" or guarantee any fixed rate of return.

If you do not  indicate  on  your  application  your  preferences  for  handling
distributions,  the  Fund  will  automatically  reinvest  all  distributions  in
additional  shares of the Fund. You can choose one of the following  options for
distributions  when you open your  account:  (1) reinvest all  distributions  in
additional  shares of the Fund;  (2)  reinvest  all  distributions  in shares of
another fund; (3) receive  dividends in cash and reinvest  capital gains; or (4)
receive  all   distributions  in  cash.   Distributions  of  $10  or  less  will
automatically  be  reinvested  in  additional  shares.  If you elect to  receive
distributions by check and the check is returned as undeliverable,  or if you do
not  cash a  distribution  check  within  six  months  of the  check  date,  the
distribution will be reinvested in additional shares.

The Fund is authorized to borrow money  subject to  restrictions.  (See "How the
Fund  Invests.")  Under the 1940 Act,  the Fund may not declare any  dividend or
other  distribution  on  its  shares  unless  the  Fund  has,  at  the  time  of
declaration,  asset  coverage  of at least 300% of its  aggregate  indebtedness,
after deducting the amount of the  distribution.  This limitation may impair the
Fund's  ability to  maintain  its  qualification  for  taxation  as a  regulated
investment company.

Income  Taxes.  The Fund intends to satisfy those  requirements  relating to the
sources of its income, the distribution of its income,  and the  diversification
of its assets  necessary  to qualify for the special tax  treatment  afforded to
regulated  investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and
thereby be  relieved  of federal  income or excise  taxes to the extent  that it
distributes  its  net  investment  income  and net  realized  capital  gains  to
shareholders in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code. For
a detailed  discussion  of tax issues  pertaining to the Fund,  see  "Additional
Income Tax Considerations" in the Statement of Additional Information.

Your  distributions  will be  taxable  to you,  under  income  tax law,  whether
received in cash or  reinvested  in additional  shares.  For federal  income tax
purposes, any distribution that is paid in January but was declared in the prior
calendar year is deemed paid in the prior calendar year.

You will be subject to federal income tax at ordinary rates on income  dividends
and  distributions  of  net  short-term  capital  gains.  Distributions  of  net
long-term  capital  gains  will be  taxable to you as  long-term  capital  gains
regardless of the length of time you have held your shares.

You will be advised annually as to the source of distributions for tax purposes.
If you are not  subject to tax on your  income,  you will not be required to pay
tax on these amounts.

A  shareholder  who,  pursuant to a Repurchase  Offer,  offers all of his or her
shares for repurchase (and is not considered to own any other shares pursuant to
attribution  rules  contained  in the Code) may  realize a taxable  gain or loss
depending upon the shareholder's basis in the shares. Such gain or loss realized
on the  disposition  of shares  (whether  pursuant to a  Repurchase  Offer or in
connection  with a sale or other  taxable  disposition  of shares in a secondary
market)  generally  will be treated  as  long-term  capital  gain or loss if the
shares  have  been  held as a  capital  asset  for  more  than  one  year and as
short-term capital gain or loss if held as a capital asset for one year or less.
Starting in 2001, net long-term  capital gains realized upon the  disposition of
shares held longer  than five years will be subject to a lower  maximum  capital
gains tax rate than is currently  available.  If shares are sold at a loss after
being held for six months or less, the loss will be treated as long-term instead
of  short-term  capital  loss to the extent of any  capital  gain  distributions
received  on those  shares.  All or a portion of any loss  realized on a sale or
exchange of shares of the Fund will be  disallowed if the  shareholder  acquires
other shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the
basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Different  tax  consequences   may  apply  to  shareholders   whose  shares  are
repurchased  (other than  shareholders  who do not offer all of their shares for
repurchase  described in the previous  paragraph) and to shareholders who do not
offer their shares for repurchase in connection with the Repurchase  Offer.  For
example,  if a shareholder  offers for repurchase fewer than all his shares, the
proceeds received could be treated as a taxable  dividend,  a return of capital,
or capital  gain  depending  on the  portion of shares  repurchased,  the Fund's
earnings and profits,  and the  shareholder's  basis in the repurchased  shares.
Moreover,  when fewer than all shares  owned by a  shareholder  are  repurchased
pursuant to a Repurchase Offer,  there is a remote possibility that shareholders
whose shares are not  repurchased  may be  considered  to have received a deemed
distribution  that is  taxable  to them in  whole  or in  part.  You may wish to
consult your tax advisor prior to offering your shares for repurchase.

Backup  Withholding.  The Fund may be required to  withhold  federal  income tax
("backup   withholding")  from  certain  payments  to  a  shareholder  generally
distribution  payments  and  redemption  proceeds.  Backup  withholding  may  be
required if:

o the  shareholder  fails to furnish its properly  certified  Social Security or
other tax identification number; o the shareholder fails to certify that its tax
identification number is correct or that it is not subject to backup
withholding due to the underreporting of certain income;
o the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) informs the Fund that the
shareholder's tax identification number is incorrect.

These  certifications  are contained in the application that you should complete
and return when you open an account.  The Fund must  promptly pay to the IRS all
amounts  withheld.  Therefore,  it is  usually  not  possible  for  the  Fund to
reimburse you for amounts withheld.  You may, however, claim the amount withheld
as a credit on your federal income tax return.

The federal  income tax  discussion  set forth above is for general  information
only. Prospective investors should consult their advisors regarding the specific
federal and state tax  consequences  of  purchasing,  holding and  disposing  of
shares,  as well as the effects of other  state,  local and foreign tax laws and
any proposed tax law changes.

                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND


Board of Trustees and Investment Advisor.  The Board of Trustees of the Fund has
overall  management  responsibility  for  the  Fund.  See  "Management"  in  the
Statement of Additional Information for the names of and other information about
the trustees, and officers.

The  investment  advisor,  Stein Roe & Farnham  Incorporated,  One South  Wacker
Drive,  Chicago, IL 60606, is responsible for managing the investment  portfolio
and the  business  affairs of the Fund,  subject to the  direction of the Board.
Stein Roe is registered as an investment  advisor under the Investment  Advisers
Act of 1940.  Stein Roe is a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of Liberty  Funds Group,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial Services, Inc., which is
a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Liberty  Financial   Companies,   Inc.(Liberty
Financial),  which is a majority owned subsidiary of Liberty Corporate Holdings,
Inc.,  which is a wholly owned  subsidiary  of LFC  Holdings,  Inc.,  which is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance  Company.  Stein Roe and its
predecessor  have  advised  and  managed  mutual  funds since 1949 and have been
providing investment advisory services since 1932.

Stein Roe's mutual funds and institutional  investment  advisory  businesses are
part of a larger  business unit known as Liberty Funds Group (LFG) that includes
several separate legal entities. LFG includes affiliates of Stein Roe, including
Colonial  Management  Associates,  Inc.  (Colonial).  The LFG  business  unit is
managed by a single management team.  Colonial and other LFG entities also share
personnel,  facilities, and systems with Stein Roe that may be used in providing
administrative  or operational  services to the Funds.  Colonial is a registered
investment advisor.  Stein Roe also has a wealth management business that is not
part of LFG and is managed by a different team. Stein Roe and the other entities
that make up LFG are subsidiaries of Liberty Financial.


Fees and Expenses.  Stein Roe provides portfolio management services to the Fund
for a monthly  management  fee,  computed and accrued daily,  based on an annual
rate of 0.45% of Average Daily Managed Assets of the Fund.  Colonial  Management
Associates, Inc. provides administrative services to the Fund for a monthly fee,
computed and accrued  daily,  based on an annual rate of 0.20% of Average  Daily
Managed Assets of the Fund. "Average Daily Managed Assets" of the Fund means the
average daily value of the total assets of the Fund less all accrued liabilities
of the Fund  (other  than the  aggregate  amount of any  outstanding  borrowings
constituting financial leverage).

Because the fee paid to the Advisor and the Administrator  will be calculated on
the basis of the Fund's managed assets,  which include the proceeds of leverage,
the dollar amount of the fees paid by the Fund to the Advisor and  Administrator
will be higher (and the  Advisor and  Administrator  will be  benefited  to that
extent) when leverage is utilized.  The Advisor will utilize leverage only if it
would result in a net benefit to the Fund shareholders after taking into account
the  higher  fees  and  expenses  associated  with  leverage  (including  higher
management and administration fees).

Stein Roe provides  office space and executive  and other  personnel to the Fund
and bears any sales or  promotional  expenses.  The Fund pays all expenses other
than those paid by Stein Roe,  including but not limited to printing and postage
charges,  securities registration and custodian fees, and expenses incidental to
its organization.

Portfolio Managers.  Brian W. Good and James R. Fellows, vice presidents of
Stein Roe, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Fund.  Mr. Fellows and Mr. Good have been employed by Stein
Roe since April 1998.  Prior thereto, Mr. Good was vice
president and portfolio manager at Van Kampen American Capital since 1989 and
Mr. Fellows was vice president and senior credit
analyst at Van Kampen American Capital since 1988.

Transfer Agent.  Liberty Funds Services, Inc. (Transfer Agent), P.O. Box 1722,
Boston, MA 02105-1722, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Liberty Financial, is the agent of the Fund for the transfer of shares,
disbursement of dividends, and maintenance of shareholder
accounting records.

Distributor.  Fund shares are offered for sale through Liberty Funds
Distributor, Inc. (Distributor).  The Distributor is a wholly
owned indirect subsidiary of Liberty Financial.  The business address of the
 Distributor is One Financial Center, Boston, MA  02111.

Custodian.  State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA
02101, is the custodian of the Fund. The custodian,  among other things, attends
to the  collection  of principal  and income and payment for and  collection  of
proceeds of securities bought and sold.

                                HOW TO BUY SHARES

Your  financial  advisor  can  help  you  establish  an  appropriate  investment
portfolio, buy shares, and monitor your investments. When the Fund receives your
purchase  request  in  "good  form,"  your  shares  will be  bought  at the next
calculated net asset value. In "good form" means that you placed your order with
your  brokerage  firm or your payment has been received and your  application is
complete, including all necessary signatures.

Outlined below are various ways you can purchase shares:


Method                     Instructions

Through your financial      Your financial advisor can help you establish your
 advisor                    account and buy Fund shares on your behalf.

-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By check                    For new accounts, send a completed application and
(new account)               check made payable to the Fund to the
                            transfer agent, Liberty Funds Services, Inc., P.O.
                            Box 1722, Boston, MA 02105-1722.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By check                    For existing  accounts,  fill out and return the
(existing account)          additional  investment stub included in your
                            quarterly  statement,  or send a letter
                            of instruction, including your Fund name and account
                            number with a check made payable to the Fund to
                            Liberty Funds Services, Inc., P.O. Box 1722,
                            Boston, MA 02105-1722.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By                         exchange  You or your  financial  advisor may acquire
                           shares by  exchanging  shares you own in one Fund for
                           shares of the same class of the Fund at no additional
                           cost. To exchange by telephone,  call 1-800-422-3737.
                           There may be an  additional  charge  when  exchanging
                           from a money market fund.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By                         wire You may  purchase  shares by wiring  money  from
                           your bank account to your Fund account. To wire funds
                           to your Fund account, call 1-800-422-3737 to obtain a
                           control number and the wiring instructions.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By electronic funds        You may purchase shares by electronically
transfer                   transferring money from your bank account to your
                           Fund account by calling  1-800-422-3737.
                           Your money may take up to two business days to be
                           invested.  You must set up this feature prior to
                           your telephone request.  Be sure to complete
                           the appropriate section of the application.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Automatic                  You can make  monthly  or  quarterly
investment  plan           investments  automatically  from your bank account to
                           your Fund  account.  You can select a  pre-authorized
                           amount to be sent via electronic  funds transfer.  Be
                           sure  to  complete  the  appropriate  section  of the
                           application for this feature.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By dividend                You may automatically invest dividends  distributed
 diversification           by the Fund into the same class of shares of another
                           fund at no additional sales charge. To invest your
                           dividends in another fund, call 1-800-422-3737.


Investment Minimums
Initial Investment                               $2,500
Subsequent Investments                              $50
Automatic Investment Plan                           $50
Retirement Plans                                    $25

The Fund  reserves the right to change the  investment  minimums.  The Fund also
reserves  the right to refuse a purchase  order for any reason,  including if it
believes  that  doing  so  would  be in the  best  interest  of the Fund and its
shareholders.

                             MULTIPLE SHARE CLASSES

Choosing  a Share  Class.  The Fund  offers  three  classes  of  shares  in this
prospectus--Class  A, B and C. Each  share  class has its own sales  charge  and
expense structure.  Determining which share class is best for you depends on the
dollar  amount  you are  investing  and the  number  of years  for which you are
willing to invest. Purchases of $1 million or more are automatically invested in
Class A shares.  Based on your personal  situation,  your financial  advisor can
help you decide  which  class of shares  makes the most sense for you.  The Fund
also offers Class Z shares,  which are available only to institutional and other
investors through a separate prospectus.

Sales  Charges.  You may be subject to an initial sales charge when you purchase
or an early  withdrawal  charge (EWC) when you offer your shares for repurchase.
These sales charges are described below. In certain  circumstances,  these sales
charges  are waived,  as  described  below and in the  Statement  of  Additional
Information.

Class A Shares.  Your  purchases of Class A shares  generally  are at the public
offering  price.  This price includes a sales charge that is based on the amount
of your investment.  The sales charge you pay on additional investments is based
on the  amount  of your  additional  purchase,  plus the  current  value of your
account.  The amount of the sales  charge  differs  depending  on the amount you
invest as shown in the table  below.  The table below also shows the  commission
paid to the financial advisor firm on sales of Class A shares.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     % of offering
                                               As a % of the                         price paid to
             Amount of Purchase               public offering    As a % of your        financial
                                                   price         net investment      advisor firm
<S>                                                 <C>               <C>               <C>
Less than $100,000                                  3.50              3.63               3.25
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
$100,000 to less than $500,000                      2.25              2.30               2.00
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000                    1.25              1.27               1.00
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
$1,000,000 or more*                                 0.00              0.00               1.00
</TABLE>


           *Class A shares  bought  without an initial  sales charge in accounts
           aggregating  $1 million to $5 million at the time of purchase  may be
           subject to a 1.00% EWC if the shares are sold within 18 months of the
           time of each purchase.  Subsequent Class A share purchases that bring
           your  account  value  above $1 million  but less than $5 million  are
           subject to a 1.00% EWC if redeemed  within 18 months of each purchase
           date.  The  18-month  period  begins  on the  first  day of the month
           following each purchase.


Class A Shares.  For Class A share  purchases  of $1 million or more,  financial
advisors receive a commission from the Distributor as follows:



               Amount Purchased                    Commission %
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
First $3 million                                        1.00
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------

$3 million to less than $5 million                      0.80

-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------

$5 million to less than $25 million                     0.50

-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------

$25 million or more                                     0.25*

-------------------------------------------- -----------------------
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------

*Paid  over 12 months  but only to the  extent  the shares remain outstanding.


For Class A share purchases by participants  in certain group  retirement  plans
offered  through  a  fee-based  program,  financial  advisors  receive  a  1.00%
commission from the Distributor on all purchases of less than $3 million.


Reduced Sales Charges for Larger Investments.  There are two ways for you to pay
a lower sales charge when purchasing Class A shares. The first is through Rights
of Accumulation.  If the combined value of the Fund accounts  maintained by you,
your spouse or your minor children  reaches a discount  level  (according to the
above chart), your next purchase will receive the lower sales charge. The second
is by signing a Statement of Intent  within 90 days of your  purchase.  By doing
so, you would be able to pay the lower sales charge on all purchases by agreeing
to invest a total of at least  $100,000  within 13 months.  If your Statement of
Intent  purchases  are not completed  within 13 months,  you will be charged the
applicable  sales charge.  In addition,  certain  investors may purchase Class A
shares at a reduced  sales  charge or net asset  value,  which is the value of a
Fund  share  excluding  any  sales  charges.  See the  Statement  of  Additional
Information for a description of these situations.

Class B Shares.  Your  purchases  of Class B shares  are at the Fund's net asset
value.  Class B shares have no front-end sales charge,  but carry an EWC that is
imposed only on shares sold prior to the  completion of the periods shown in the
chart below. The EWC generally declines each year and eventually disappears over
time. Class B shares automatically  convert to Class A shares after eight years.
The  Distributor  pays,  from its own  assets,  the  financial  advisor  firm an
up-front commission of 3.25% on sales of Class B shares.


Holding period after purchase             % deducted when shares are sold
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Through first year                                     3.25
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Through second year                                    3.00
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Through third year                                     2.00
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Through fourth year                                    1.50
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Through fifth year                                     1.00
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Longer than five years                                 0.00

Class C Shares. Like Class B shares, your purchases of Class C shares are at the
Fund's net asset value.  Although Class C shares have no front-end sales charge,
they  carry an EWC of 1% that is applied  to shares  sold  within the first year
after they are  purchased.  After holding shares for one year, you may sell them
at any time  without  paying an EWC.  Class C shares do not convert into Class A
shares. The Distributor pays, from its own assets, the financial advisor firm an
up-front commission of 1.00% on sales of Class C shares.

Distribution  and Service  Fees.  In addition to an EWC, each class of shares is
authorized under a distribution plan (Plan) to use the assets  attributable to a
class to finance activities relating to the distribution of shares to investors.
These include  marketing and other activities to support the distribution of the
Class A, B, and C shares  and the  services  provided  to you by your  financial
advisor.  The Plan was approved and  reviewed in a manner  consistent  with Rule
12b-1  under the 1940  Act,  which  regulates  the  manner in which an  open-end
investment  company may directly or indirectly bear the expenses of distributing
its shares.  Although  the Fund is not an open-end  investment  company,  it has
undertaken to comply with the terms of Rule 12b-1 as a condition of an exemptive
order under the 1940 Act to permit it to have a multi-class structure,  EWCs and
distribution fees.

Under  the  Plan,  distribution  and  service  fees  paid  by  the  Fund  to the
Distributor  may equal up to an annual rate of 0.35% of average daily net assets
attributable to Class A shares,  0.70% of average daily net assets  attributable
to Class B shares, and 0.85% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C
shares,  respectively.  Since the  distribution  and  service  fees are  payable
regardless of the Distributor's  expenses,  the Distributor may realize a profit
from the  fees.  The  Plan  authorizes  any  other  payments  by the Fund to the
Distributor  and its  affiliates  to the  extent  that  such  payments  might be
construed to be indirect financing of the distribution of Fund shares.

The trustees  believe that the Plan could be a significant  factor in the growth
and retention of Fund assets resulting in a more advantageous  expense ratio and
increased  investment  flexibility  which  could  benefit  each  class  of  Fund
shareholders.  The Plan will  continue  in  effect  from year to year so long as
continuance  is  specifically  approved  at  least  annually  by a  vote  of the
trustees,  including the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and
who have no direct or indirect  financial  interest in the operation of the Plan
or in any agreements related to the Plan (Independent Trustees),  cast in person
at a meeting  called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.  The Plan may not be
amended to increase the fee materially  without approval by a vote of a majority
of the  outstanding  voting  securities of the relevant  class of shares and all
material  amendments  of the Plan must be approved by the trustees in the manner
provided in the foregoing sentence.  The Plan may be terminated at any time by a
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding  voting securities of the relevant class of shares.  The continuance
of the Plan  will only be  effective  if the  selection  and  nomination  of the
Independent Trustees is effected by such Independent Trustees.

Early  Withdrawal  Charges (EWCs).  As described above,  certain  investments in
Class  A, B and C shares  are  subject  to an EWC.  You will pay the EWC only on
shares  you offer for  repurchase  within  the  prescribed  amount of time after
purchase.  The EWC  generally  declines  each year until  there is no charge for
shares  repurchased.  The EWC is applied  to the net asset  value at the time of
purchase or repurchase, whichever is lower. For purposes of calculating the EWC,
the start of the  holding  period is the first day of the month  following  each
purchase. Shares you purchase with reinvested dividends or capital gains are not
subject to an EWC.  When  shares are  repurchased,  the Fund will  automatically
repurchase  those  shares not subject to an EWC and then those you have held the
longest. This policy helps reduce and possibly eliminate the potential impact of
the EWC.  In certain  circumstances,  EWCs may be waived,  as  described  in the
Statement of Additional Information.

Conversion Feature.  Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares
after  eight  years and after  that  date,  converted  shares  will no longer be
subject to the distribution  fees applicable to Class B shares.  Conversion will
be on the  basis of the  relative  net  asset  values  per  share,  without  the
imposition  of any  sales  charge,  fee or  other  charge.  The  purpose  of the
conversion  feature is to relieve the holders of Class B shares from asset-based
distribution  expenses  applicable  to such  shares  at such time as the Class B
shares have been  outstanding  for a duration  sufficient for the Distributor to
have been substantially  compensated for distribution-related  expenses incurred
in  connection  with  those  shares.  Class C shares do not  convert  to Class A
shares.  Therefore,  holders  of  Class C  shares  will  continue  to  bear  the
asset-based  distribution  fees on the  Class C shares  for as long as they hold
such shares.

How to Exchange  Shares.  Shareholders  of the Fund whose shares are repurchased
during a Repurchase Offer may exchange those shares for shares of the same class
of a fund  distributed  by Liberty Funds  Distributor,  Inc. at net asset value.
Fund shareholders will not be able to participate in this exchange  privilege at
any time other than in connection  with a Repurchase  Offer.  If your shares are
subject to an EWC,  you will not be charged an EWC upon the  exchange.  However,
when you sell the shares acquired  through the exchange,  the shares sold may be
subject  to a CDSC  (a CDSC  is the  deferred  sales  charge  applicable  to the
open-end Liberty Funds) or EWC, depending upon when you originally purchased the
shares you  exchanged.  For purposes of computing the CDSC or EWC, the length of
time you have owned your shares will be computed  from the date of your original
purchase and the applicable CDSC or EWC will be the EWC of the original Fund.

Unless your account is part of a tax-deferred  retirement plan, an exchange is a
taxable event. Therefore, you may realize a gain or a loss for tax purposes. The
Fund may terminate  your exchange  privilege if Stein Roe  determines  that your
exchange activity is likely to adversely impact its ability to manage the Fund.

                           PERIODIC REPURCHASE OFFERS

The Board has adopted share repurchase policies as fundamental  policies.  Those
policies, which may not be changed without the vote of the holders of a majority
of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, provide that each calendar quarter,
the Fund  intends  to make a  Repurchase  Offer to  repurchase  a portion of the
outstanding shares from shareholders who request  repurchases.  The price of the
repurchases of shares normally will be the net asset value per share  determined
as of the close of business (4 p.m.,  Eastern  time) on the date the  Repurchase
Offer  ends or within a maximum of 14 days  after the  Repurchase  Offer ends as
described below.

Repurchase  Procedure.  At the beginning of each Repurchase Offer,  shareholders
will be notified in writing  about the  Repurchase  Offer,  how they may request
that the Fund  repurchase  their  shares and the deadline  for  shareholders  to
provide their repurchase  requests to the Distributor  (the "Repurchase  Request
Deadline"),  which is the date the  Repurchase  Offer ends. The time between the
notification of the  shareholders  and the Repurchase  Request Deadline may vary
from no more than six weeks to no less than  three  weeks.  For each  Repurchase
Offer, it is anticipated  that each Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be on the
15th day in each of the months of February, May, August and November, or, if the
15th day is not a business day, the next business day. The  repurchase  price of
the shares  will be the net asset  value as of the close of the NYSE on the date
on which the  repurchase  price of shares will be  determined  (the  "Repurchase
Pricing Date"). It is anticipated that normally the Repurchase Pricing Date will
be the same date as the Repurchase  Request Deadline,  and if so, the Repurchase
Request  Deadline  will be set for a time no later than the close of the NYSE on
such date. The Fund has determined that the Repurchase Pricing Date may occur no
later  than the 14th day  after  the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline  or the next
business day if the 14th day is not a business day.

The Board may  establish  other  policies  for  repurchases  of shares  that are
consistent  with the 1940 Act and  other  pertinent  laws.  Shares  offered  for
repurchase  by  shareholders  by  any  Repurchase   Request   Deadline  will  be
repurchased  subject to the aggregate  repurchase  amounts  established for that
Repurchase Request Deadline. Repurchase proceeds will be paid to shareholders in
cash within seven days after each Repurchase  Pricing Date. The end of the seven
days is referred to as the "Repurchase Payment Deadline."

Repurchase  offers and the need to fund  repurchase  obligations  may affect the
ability of the Fund to be fully invested,  which may reduce  returns.  Moreover,
diminution in the size of the Fund through  repurchases  without  offsetting new
sales may result in untimely  sales of Senior Loans and a higher  expense  ratio
and  may  limit  the  ability  of the  Fund  to  participate  in new  investment
opportunities. The Fund may borrow to meet repurchase obligations, which entails
risks and costs (see  "Borrowing").  The Fund may also sell Senior Loans to meet
repurchase  obligations  which may adversely  affect the market for Senior Loans
and reduce the Fund's value.

Repurchase Amounts. The Board, in its sole discretion, will determine the number
of shares that the Fund will offer to repurchase (the "Repurchase Offer Amount")
for a given Repurchase  Request Deadline.  However,  the Repurchase Offer Amount
will  be at  least  5% and no  more  than  25% of the  total  number  of  shares
outstanding on the Repurchase Request Deadline.

If shareholders offer for repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount for a
given Repurchase  Offer, the Fund may repurchase an additional  amount of shares
of up to 2% of the shares outstanding on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If the
Fund determines not to repurchase more than the Repurchase  Offer Amount,  or if
the Fund  determines to repurchase the additional 2% of the shares  outstanding,
but Fund shareholders  offer shares for repurchase in excess of that amount, the
Fund will  repurchase  the shares on a pro rata  basis.  The Fund may,  however,
accept all shares offered for repurchase by  shareholders  who own less than 100
shares  and who offer all their  shares,  before  accepting  on a pro rata basis
shares offered by other shareholders.  In the event there is an oversubscription
of a Repurchase  Offer,  shareholders  may be unable to liquidate all or a given
percentage  of  their  investment  in the Fund at net  asset  value  during  the
Repurchase Offer.

Notices to  Shareholders.  Notice of each  quarterly  Repurchase  Offer (and any
additional  discretionary  repurchase  offers) will be given to each  beneficial
owner of shares between 21 and 42 days before each Repurchase  Request Deadline.
The notice will contain  information  shareholders  should  consider in deciding
whether or not to offer  their  shares  for  repurchase.  The  notice  will also
include detailed instructions on how to offer shares for repurchase.  The notice
will state the Repurchase Offer Amount.  The notice will also identify the dates
of the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline,  scheduled  Repurchase  Pricing Date, and
scheduled  Repurchase  Payment  Deadline.  The notice will  describe the risk of
fluctuation in the net asset value between the Repurchase  Request  Deadline and
the Repurchase Pricing Date, if such dates do not coincide,  and the possibility
that the Fund may use an  earlier  Repurchase  Pricing  Date than the  scheduled
Repurchase  Pricing Date (if the  scheduled  Repurchase  Pricing Date is not the
Repurchase  Request  Deadline).  The notice will describe (i) the procedures for
shareholders to offer their shares for  repurchase,  (ii) the procedures for the
Fund to repurchase shares on a pro rata basis,  (iii) the circumstances in which
the Fund may suspend or postpone a  Repurchase  Offer,  and (iv) the  procedures
that will enable  shareholders  to withdraw or modify their offers of shares for
repurchase until the Repurchase Request Deadline.  The notice will set forth the
net asset value of the shares to be  repurchased  no more than seven days before
the date of  notification,  and how  shareholders  may as certain  the net asset
value after the notification date.

Repurchase  Price.  The current net asset value of the shares is computed daily.
The Board has  determined  that the time at which  the net asset  value  will be
computed will be as of the close of regular session trading on the NYSE. You may
call  1-800-345-6611  to learn the net asset value per share.  The notice of the
Repurchase  Offer will also provide  information  concerning the net asset value
per share,  such as the net asset  value as of a recent  date or a  sampling  of
recent net asset values,  and a toll-free  number for information  regarding the
Repurchase Offer.

Suspension or Postponement of Repurchase Offer. The Fund may suspend or postpone
a repurchase  offer only: (a) if making or effecting the repurchase  offer would
cause the Fund to lose its status as a regulated  investment  company  under the
Internal Revenue Code; (b) for any period during which the NYSE or any market on
which the securities owned by the Fund are principally  traded is closed,  other
than  customary  weekend and holiday  closings,  or during which trading in such
market is restricted;  (c) for any period during which an emergency  exists as a
result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable,  or  during  which it is not  reasonably  practicable  for the Fund
fairly to determine  the value of its net assets;  or (d) for such other periods
as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.

Liquidity  Requirements.  The Fund must  maintain  liquid  assets equal to their
Repurchase  Offer  Amount from the time that the notice is sent to  shareholders
until the  Repurchase  Pricing  Date.  The Fund will ensure that a percentage of
their  respective  net  assets  equal to at least 100% of the  Repurchase  Offer
Amount  consists of assets (a) that can be sold or  disposed of in the  ordinary
course of business at  approximately  the price at which the Fund has valued the
investment  within the time period between the Repurchase  Request  Deadline and
the Repurchase  Payment Deadline;  or (b) that mature by the Repurchase  Payment
Deadline.

The Board of the Fund has adopted  procedures  that are  reasonably  designed to
ensure that the assets are sufficiently  liquid so that the Fund can comply with
the Repurchase  Offer and the liquidity  requirements  described in the previous
paragraph.  If,  at any  time,  the Fund  falls  out of  compliance  with  these
liquidity  requirements,  their respective Boards will take whatever action they
deem appropriate to ensure compliance.

                                 NET ASSET VALUE

The purchase or redemption  price of shares is generally the net asset value per
share except for Class A share purchases at the public offering price.  The Fund
determines the net asset value of its shares as of the close of regular  session
trading on the NYSE (currently 4 p.m.,  Eastern time) by dividing the difference
between  the  values  of its  assets  and  liabilities  by the  number of shares
outstanding.  Net asset  value will not be  determined  on days when the NYSE is
closed  unless,  in the judgment of the Board of  Trustees,  the net asset value
should be  determined on any such day, in which case the  determination  will be
made at 4 p.m., Eastern time.

The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest  generally  are not listed on any
securities exchange.  Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors
in an  over-the-counter  secondary  market for Senior Loan  obligations that has
developed  over the past several years.  This secondary  market for those Senior
Loans generally is comparatively  illiquid  relative to markets for other income
securities  and no active  trading  market  exists  for many  Senior  Loans.  In
determining  net asset  value,  the Fund will utilize the  valuations  of Senior
Loans furnished to Stein Roe by an independent  third-party pricing service. The
pricing  service  provider has no obligation to provide a valuation for a Senior
Loan if it believes that it cannot  determine such a valuation.  There can be no
assurance  that the pricing  service  provider  will  continue to provide  these
services or will provide a value for each Senior Loan held by the Fund. However,
Stein Roe believes that if the pricing service provider  declines to continue to
act as such for the Fund, or does not provide  values for a significant  portion
of the Senior Loans in the Fund's portfolio, one or more alternative independent
third-party  pricing service  providers will be available to provide  comparable
services on similar terms.

A pricing service provider  typically will value Senior Loans at the mean of the
highest  bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when  current  quotations
are readily available. Senior Loans for which current quotations are not readily
available  are  valued at a fair  value as  determined  by the  pricing  service
provider using a wide range of market data and other  information  and analysis,
including  credit  considerations  considered  relevant by the  pricing  service
provider to determine valuations. The procedures of any pricing service provider
and its  valuations  will be  reviewed  by the  officers  of Stein Roe under the
general supervision of the Board. If Stein Roe believes that a value provided by
a  pricing  service  provider  does not  represent  a fair  value as a result of
information,  specific to that Senior  Loan or  Borrower or its  affiliates,  of
which Stein Roe believes that the pricing agent may not be aware,  Stein Roe may
in its  discretion  value the Senior Loan subject to procedures  approved by the
Board and  reviewed on a periodic  basis,  and the Fund will  utilize that price
instead of the price as determined by the pricing service provider.  In addition
to such  information,  Stein Roe will  consider,  among other  factors,  (i) the
creditworthiness  of the Borrower and (ii) the current interest rate, the period
until next  interest  rate reset and  maturity of such Senior Loan  interests in
determining  a fair value of a Senior  Loan.  If the  pricing  service  does not
provide a value for a Senior  Loan or if no  pricing  service  provider  is then
acting, a value will be determined by Stein Roe in the manner described above.

It is expected  that the Fund's net asset value will  fluctuate as a function of
interest rate and credit factors. Although the Fund's net asset value will vary,
Stein Roe  expects  the Fund's  policy of  acquiring  interests  in  floating or
variable  rate  Senior  Loans to minimize  fluctuations  in net asset value as a
result of changes in interest rates. Accordingly, Stein Roe expects the value of
the  investment  portfolio to fluctuate  significantly  less than a portfolio of
fixed-rate, longer term obligations as a result of interest rate changes.

Other  long-term  debt  securities  for which market  quotations are not readily
available  are  valued at fair value  based on  valuations  provided  by pricing
services  approved by the Board,  which may employ  electronic  data  processing
techniques,  including a matrix system,  to determine  valuations.  The value of
interest rate swaps,  caps,  and floors will be determined in accordance  with a
formula and then  confirmed  periodically  by obtaining a quotation.  Short-term
debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their
amortized cost, which does not take into account unrealized gains or losses. The
Board  believes  that  the  amortized  cost  represents  a fair  value  for such
securities. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 60
days for which market  quotations are not readily available are valued by use of
a matrix  prepared by Stein Roe based on quotations for  comparable  securities.
Other assets and securities held by the Fund for which these  valuation  methods
do not produce a fair value are valued by a method that the Board  believes will
determine a fair value.

                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The  Fund  seeks to  provide  an  effective  yield  that is  higher  than  other
short-term instrument alternatives.  From time to time, the Fund may include its
current and/or  effective yield based on various  specific time periods.  Yields
will  fluctuate  from  time to time and are not  necessarily  representative  of
future results.

The  current  yield  is  calculated  by  annualizing  the  most  recent  monthly
distribution  (i.e.,  multiplying the distribution amount by 365/31 for a 31 day
month) and  dividing  the product by the current  maximum  offering  price.  The
effective yield is calculated by dividing the current yield by 365/31 and adding
1. The resulting  quotient is then taken to the 365/31st power and reduced by 1.
The result is the effective yield.

On occasion,  the Fund may compare its yield to: (a) LIBOR,  quoted daily in the
Wall Street Journal;  (b) the CD Rate as quoted daily in the Wall Street Journal
as the  average of top rates paid by major New York banks on primary  new issues
of negotiable CDs, usually on amounts of $1 million or more; (c) the Prime Rate,
quoted daily in The Wall Street  Journal as the base rate on corporate  loans at
large U.S. money center  commercial  banks; (d) one or more averages compiled by
Donoghue's Money Fund Report, a widely recognized  independent  publication that
monitors the  performance  of money market mutual  funds;  (e) the average yield
reported by the Bank Rate  Monitor  National  IndexTM for money  market  deposit
accounts  offered by the 100 leading  banks and thrift  institutions  in the ten
largest  standard  metropolitan  statistical  areas; (f) yield data published by
Lipper,  Inc.;  (g) the yield on an  investment  in 90-day  Treasury  bills on a
rolling basis, assuming quarterly  compounding;  or (h) the yield on an index of
loan funds comprised of all continually  offered  closed-end bank loan funds, as
categorized by Lipper (the "loan fund index"). In addition, the Fund may compare
the Prime Rate, the Donoghue's averages and the other yield data described above
to each other.  Yield  comparisons  should not be  considered  indicative of the
Fund's yield or relative performance for any future period.


From time to time  advertisements  and other  sales  materials  for the Fund may
include information  concerning the historical performance of the Fund. Any such
information  may  include  a  distribution   rate  and  an  average   compounded
distribution  rate of the Fund for specified  periods of time. Such  information
may also include  performance  rankings and similar information from independent
organizations  such as Lipper,  Inc.,  Business  Week,  Forbes or other industry
publications.

The Fund's  distribution  rate  generally is  determined on a monthly basis with
respect  to  the  immediately   preceding  monthly   distribution   period.  The
distribution rate is computed by first annualizing the Fund's  distributions per
Share during such a monthly  distribution  period and  dividing  the  annualized
distribution  by the Fund's maximum  offering price per Share on the last day of
such period. The Fund calculates the compounded  distribution rate by adding one
to the  monthly  distribution  rate,  raising  the  sum to the  power  of 12 and
subtracting one from the product.  In  circumstances  in which the Fund believes
that, as a result of decreases in market rates of interest, its expected monthly
distributions may be less than the distributions with respect to the immediately
preceding monthly  distribution period, the Fund reserves the right to calculate
the distribution rate on the basis of a period of less than one month.

When utilized by the Fund,  distribution  rate and compounded  distribution rate
figures are based on  historical  performance  and are not  intended to indicate
future  performance.  Distribution  rate,  compounded  distribution rate and net
asset value per share can be expected to fluctuate over time.


Advertisements  and  communications to present or prospective  shareholders also
may  cite a  total  return  for  any  period.  Total  return  is  calculated  by
subtracting  the net asset value of a single  purchase of shares at a given date
from  the  net  asset  value  of  those   shares   (assuming   reinvestment   of
distributions) or a later date. The difference divided by the original net asset
value is the total  return.  The Fund may  include  information  about the total
return on the Loan Fund Index,  and compare that to the total return of the Fund
and other indices.
In  calculating  the Fund's total return,  all dividends and  distributions  are
assumed to be reinvested  in  additional  shares of the Fund at net asset value.
Therefore,  the  calculation  of the Fund's  total  return and  effective  yield
reflects the effect of compounding.  The  calculations of total return,  current
yield and effective  yield do not reflect the amount of any  shareholder  income
tax liability,  which would reduce the performance quoted. If the Fund's fees or
expenses are waived or reimbursed, the Fund's performance will be higher.

Finally,  the Fund may include information on the history of its net asset value
per share and the net asset  value per share of the Loan Fund  Index,  including
comparisons  between them, in  advertisements  and other  material  furnished to
present and prospective  shareholders.  Information about the performance of the
Fund or other  investments is not necessarily  indicative of future  performance
and should not be considered a  representative  of what an  investor's  yield or
total return may be in the future.

                     ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES


The Fund is a  Massachusetts  business  trust  organized  under an Agreement and
Declaration of Trust  (Declaration of Trust) dated June 8, 1999,  which provides
that each  shareholder  shall be deemed to have  agreed to be bound by the terms
thereof.  The Declaration of Trust may be amended by a vote of either the Fund's
shareholders or its trustees.  The Fund offers four classes of  shares--Class A,
Class B,  Class C, and Class Z. Class Z shares  are  offered  through a separate
prospectus to eligible investors.


Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts  business trust such as
the Fund could, in some circumstances, be held personally liable for unsatisfied
obligations  of the trust.  However,  the  Declaration  of Trust  provides  that
persons  extending credit to,  contracting with, or having any claim against the
Fund shall look only to its assets for payment  under such  credit,  contract or
claim, and that the  shareholders,  trustees and officers of the Fund shall have
no personal liability therefor. The Declaration of Trust requires that notice of
such  disclaimer  of  liability  be  given  in  each  contract,   instrument  or
undertaking  executed or made on behalf of the Fund. Further, the Declaration of
Trust  provides  for  indemnification  of any  shareholder  against any loss and
expense arising from personal liability solely by reason of being or having been
a  shareholder.  Thus,  the risk of a shareholder  incurring  financial  loss on
account of shareholder  liability is believed to be remote,  because it would be
limited to  circumstances  in which the disclaimer was  inoperative and the Fund
was unable to meet its obligations.

The shares  are not,  and are not  expected  to be,  listed  for  trading on any
national securities exchange nor, to the Fund's knowledge, is there, or is there
expected to be, any secondary trading market in the shares.

Dividends,  Voting and  Liquidation  Rights.  Each  common  share of  beneficial
interest of the Fund has one vote and shares  equally  with other  shares of its
class in dividends and distributions when and if declared by the Fund and in the
Fund's net assets upon liquidation.  All shares, when issued, are fully paid and
are  non-assessable  by the Fund.  There are no preemptive or conversion  rights
applicable to any of the common shares  except for such  conversion  rights that
may be established by the Trustees in connection with the designation of a class
of shares  including  the  conversion  of Class B shares to Class A shares eight
years after purchase.  Fund shares do not have cumulative  voting rights and, as
such,  holders of more than 50% of the shares  voting for Trustees can elect all
Trustees and the remaining shareholders would not be able to elect any Trustees.
The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

Anti-Takeover  Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.  The Declaration of Trust
includes  provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other
entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund. In addition,  in the event a
secondary  market were to develop in the shares,  such provisions could have the
effect of depriving  holders of shares of an opportunity to sell their shares at
a premium over prevailing market prices.

The  Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of the holders of not less
than  three-fourths of the outstanding shares then entitled to vote to authorize
certain transactions,  unless at least three-fourths of the members of the Board
then in office and at least  three-fourths  of the  non-interested  trustees who
have acted in such  capacities for at least 12 months (or since  commencement of
operation if that period is less than 12 months)  authorize such transaction and
then only a vote of the majority of the holders of the  outstanding  shares then
entitled to vote is required.

The Board has determined that the voting requirements described above, which are
greater than the minimum  requirements under  Massachusetts law or the 1940 Act,
are in the best interests of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to
the  Declaration  of  Trust  on file  with  the SEC for the  full  text of these
provisions.

Status of Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any issued or
unissued  shares of the Fund into  shares  of any  class by  redesignating  such
shares or by setting or changing in any one or more respects, from time to time,
prior to the  issuance of such  shares,  the  preferences,  conversion  or other
rights,   voting   powers,   restrictions,    limitations   as   to   dividends,
qualifications,  or terms or conditions  of repurchase of such shares.  Any such
classification or  reclassification  will comply with the provisions of the 1940
Act.


As of November 30, 2000, the following shares of the Fund were outstanding:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

                            (2)                     (3)                                 (4)
        (1)               Amount         Amount held by Fund or for       Amount Outstanding Exclusive of
   Title of Class       Authorized              its Account                    Amount Shown Under (3)

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

<S>                      <C>                         <C>                           <C>
Class A                  Unlimited                   0                             7,641,266.122

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Class B                  Unlimited                   0                             2,909,518.071

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Class C                  Unlimited                   0                             2,592,433.568

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Class Z                  Unlimited                   0                                225,667.843

--------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                               SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

The Fund issues reports to its shareholders semi-annually that include financial
information.

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Fund will  furnish  without  charge,  when  available,  copies of its Annual
Report and any subsequent Semi-Annual Report to shareholders upon request to the
Fund,   One   Financial   Center,   Boston,   Massachusetts   02111,   toll-free
1-800-422-3737.



<PAGE>


                              TABLE OF CONTENTS OF
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                                                           Page
The Fund...................................................................
Investment Policies........................................................
Portfolio Investments and Strategies.......................................
Investment Restrictions....................................................
Repurchase Offer Fundamental Policy........................................
Management.................................................................
Financial Statements.......................................................
Principal Shareholders.....................................................
Investment Advisory and Other Services.....................................
Distributor................................................................
Transfer Agent.............................................................
Custodian..................................................................
Independent Accountants....................................................
Programs for Reducing or Eliminating Sales Charges.........................
Portfolio Transactions.....................................................
Additional Income Tax Considerations.......................................
Investment Performance.....................................................
Appendix--Ratings..........................................................

762-

<PAGE>

                     LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND
                      Cross   Reference  Sheet  Items
                           Required by Form N-2
                              Class Z shares
PART A.

          Item Number and Item Caption               Caption in Prospectus
          ----------------------------               ----------------------

1.        Outside Front Cover                        Front Cover Page

2.        Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Page   Front Cover Page; Outside
                                                     Back Cover

3.        Fee Table and Synopsis                     Fund Expenses; Prospectus
                                                     Summary

4.        Financial Highlights                       Financial Statements

5.        Plan of Distribution                       Cover Page; Use of
                                                     Proceeds; How to Buy
                                                     Shares

6.        Selling Shareholders                       Not Applicable

7.        Use of Proceeds                            Use of Proceeds; Investment
                                                     Objectives and Policies;
                                                     How the
                                                     Fund Invests; Principal
                                                     Risks; Other Investment
                                                     Practices

8.        General Description of the Registrant      Prospectus Summary; The
                                                     Fund; Investment Objectives
                                                     and Policies; How the Fund
                                                     Invests; Principal Risks;
                                                     Other Investment Practices;
                                                     How to Buy Shares;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

9.        Management                                 Management of the Fund;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

10.       Capital Stock; Long-Term Debt and Other    The Fund; Distributions and
          Securities                                 Income Taxes; Periodic
                                                     Repurchase Offers;
                                                     Organization and
                                                     Description of Shares

11.       Defaults and Arrears on Senior Securities  Not Applicable

12.       Legal Proceedings                          Not Applicable

13.       Table of Contents of the Statement of      Statement of Additional
          Additional Information                     Information Table of
                                                     Contents
<PAGE>


PROSPECTUS, January 1, 2001


Class Z Shares

Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company that is continuously offered.

Investment Objective. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level
of current income,  consistent with  preservation of capital.  The Fund seeks to
achieve its objective by investing  primarily (at least 80% of its total assets)
in adjustable  rate senior loans  (Senior  Loans),  the interest  rates of which
float or vary  periodically  based  upon a  benchmark  indicator  of  prevailing
interest  rates.  Senior  Loans are  business  loans that have a senior right to
payment to most other debts of the  borrower.  Senior Loans are often secured by
specific  assets of the  borrower,  although  the Fund may also invest in Senior
Loans that are not secured by any collateral.  All or  substantially  all of the
Fund's  Senior  Loans  may  be  rated  below  investment  grade.  The  Fund  may
periodically  borrow money for the purpose of financing  long-term  investments,
obtaining  short-term  liquidity and for temporary,  emergency or  extraordinary
purposes.  To the  extent  the  Fund  borrows  more  money  than it has  cash or
short-term cash  equivalents and invests the proceeds in Senior Loans,  the Fund
will create financial leverage.


                                                 Maximum         Proceeds to
                  Price to Public (1)            Sales Load      Fund (2)
          ------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------


          Per Class Z Share        $12.03           None           $12.03

         (1)  The shares are offered on a best efforts basis at a price equal to
              net asset value. The shares are offered continuously.  The minimum
              initial  purchase  is $2,500.  No  arrangements  have been made to
              place the funds in an escrow, trust, or similar arrangement. As of
              November 30, 2000, net asset value per share of the Fund's Class Z
              shares was $12.03.

         (2)  Assumes the sale of all shares registered hereby.

<PAGE>


         Periodic Repurchase  Offers. To provide liquidity to shareholders,  the
              Fund will make  quarterly  repurchase  offers for 5% to 25% of its
              outstanding  shares.  For each Repurchase Offer, it is anticipated
              that each Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be on the 15th day in
              each of the months of February,  May,  August and November,  or if
              the 15th day is not a business  day, the next  business day. It is
              anticipated that normally the Repurchase  Pricing Date will be the
              same  date as the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline,  and if so,  the
              Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be set for a time no later than
              the close of the NYSE on such date. The Fund has  determined  that
              the  Repurchase  Pricing Date may occur no later than the 14th day
              after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next business day if
              the  14th  day is not a  business  day.  The  Fund  will  repay  a
              Repurchase  Offer no later than  seven  days after the  Repurchase
              Pricing  Date.  The first  Repurchase  Offer will be May 15, 2000.
              (See "Periodic Repurchase Offers.")

Not Exchange Listed.  The Fund does not intend to list the shares on any
national securities exchange.  Shares of the Fund have no history of public
trading and there is not expected to be any secondary trading market in the
shares.  An investment in the shares should be considered illiquid.
(See "Principal Risks.")

Investment  in the Fund involves  risks,  including the possible loss of some or
all of the  principal  investment,  risks  associated  with  leverage  and risks
associated with securities  rated below  investment  grade (often referred to as
"junk bonds"). (See "Principal Risks.")


The Prospectus sets forth concisely the information that a prospective  investor
should know before investing in shares of the Fund.  Please read and retain this
Prospectus for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information regarding
the Fund dated January 1,, 2001, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and can be obtained without charge by calling 800-426-3750. A
table of contents to the Statement of Additional  Information  is located on the
last page of this  Prospectus.  This  Prospectus  incorporates  by reference the
entire Statement of Additional Information (together with any supplement to it).
The  Statement  of  Additional  Information  and  other  related  materials  are
available at the SEC's internet web site (http://www.sec.gov).

The Fund's investment advisor is Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated (Stein Roe).
The address of the Fund is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts  02111.

This prospectus applies to the offering of shares of beneficial  interest of the
Fund,  which may be  continuously  issued and sold from time to time by the Fund
through   Liberty  Funds   Distributor,   Inc.,  as  distributor  and  principal
underwriter,  and through your financial  advisor.  Only eligible  investors may
purchase  Class Z shares.  See "How to Buy Shares." The Fund is  authorized as a
business trust to issue an unlimited  number of common shares and has registered
1,123,000 common shares for its Class Z shares.


The Fund has received  exemptive  relief from the SEC with respect to the Fund's
distribution fee arrangements, EWCs and multi-class structure. As a condition of
such relief, the Fund will be required to comply with regulations that would not
otherwise be applicable to the Fund.

Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed
by, any bank or other  insured  depository  institution,  and are not  federally
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,  the Federal Reserve Board
or any other government agency.







<PAGE>


                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This  is only a  summary.  You  should  review  the  more  detailed  information
contained in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.


The Fund.  The Fund is a continuously-offered non-diversified, closed-end
           management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business
           trust.  Prior to July 14, 2000, the Fund was known as
           Liberty-Stein Roe Advisor Floating Rate Advantage Fund.


         The  Fund  intends  to  offer  its  shares  continuously   through  the
         Distributor,  as principal underwriter,  and through financial advisors
         at a price equal to the next determined net asset value per share.  The
         minimum  initial  investment is $2,500 ($25 for  individual  retirement
         accounts)  and the  minimum  subsequent  investment  is $50.  The  Fund
         reserves  the right to change the  investment  minimums and to refuse a
         purchase order for any reason.

Investment Objective.  The investment objective of the Fund is to provide a high
         level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. There
         can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Fund  will  achieve  its  investment
         objective.

         The Fund seeks to achieve its  objective  by  investing  primarily  (at
         least 80% of its  total  assets)  in a  portfolio  of  Senior  Loans to
         corporations,  partnerships and other entities (Borrowers) that operate
         in a variety of industries and geographic regions  (including  domestic
         and foreign entities).

Investment Policies. Under normal market conditions,  at least 80% of the Fund's
         total assets will be invested in Senior Loans of domestic  Borrowers or
         foreign  Borrowers  (so long as Senior Loans to such foreign  Borrowers
         are U.S. dollar  denominated and payments of interest and repayments of
         principal pursuant to such Senior Loans are required to be made in U.S.
         dollars).  Although most Senior Loans are secured,  the Fund may invest
         up to 20% of its total assets in interests in Senior Loans that are not
         secured by any collateral.  During normal market  conditions,  the Fund
         may invest up to 20% of its total assets  (including  assets maintained
         by the Fund as a reserve  against any additional  loan  commitments) in
         (i) high quality,  short-term debt securities with remaining maturities
         of one  year or less and  (ii)  warrants,  equity  securities  and,  in
         limited  circumstances,  junior debt securities  acquired in connection
         with the Fund's investments in Senior Loans.

         A maximum of 25% of the Fund's  total assets  (taken at current  value)
         may be invested in Senior Loans to Borrowers  and  securities  of other
         issuers in any one industry. However, the Fund may invest more than 25%
         of its total assets in securities the issuer of which is engaged in the
         financial services industry,  which includes  commercial banks,  thrift
         institutions,  insurance  companies  and  finance  companies.  The Fund
         invests at these levels  because it regards the issuers of Senior Loans
         in which the Fund may invest to  include  the  Borrower  as well as any
         Agent that administers the Senior Loans.  Accordingly,  the Fund may be
         more at risk to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence
         affecting such industries.

         The Fund may  borrow  money in an  amount  up to 33 1/3% of the  Fund's
         total assets (after giving effect to the amount borrowed). The Fund may
         borrow for the purpose of financing  long-term  investments,  obtaining
         short-term  liquidity  and for  temporary,  extraordinary  or emergency
         purposes. To the extent the Fund borrows more money than it has cash or
         short-term  cash  equivalents and invests the proceeds in Senior Loans,
         the Fund will  create  financial  leverage.  It will do so only when it
         expects to be able to invest the  proceeds  at a higher  rate of return
         than its cost of borrowing.

How      the Fund Invests.  Senior Loans generally are arranged  through private
         negotiations  between a Borrower  and  several  financial  institutions
         (Lenders)  represented  in each case by one or more such Lenders acting
         as agent  (Agent)  of the  several  Lenders.  On behalf of the  several
         Lenders,  the Agent is primarily  responsible  for negotiating the loan
         agreement  (Loan  Agreement)  that  establishes  the relative terms and
         conditions  of the  Senior  Loan and  rights  of the  Borrower  and the
         several Lenders.  The Fund may invest all or  substantially  all of its
         assets in Senior  Loans that are rated below  investment  grade,  or in
         comparable  unrated  securities.  Senior  Loans in which  the Fund will
         purchase   interests   generally   pay   interest  at  rates  that  are
         periodically  redetermined  by  reference to a base lending rate plus a
         premium.  The Fund may  invest in  participations  (Participations)  in
         Senior Loans,  may purchase  assignments  (Assignments)  of portions of
         Senior  Loans  from third  parties,  and may act as one of the group of
         Lenders originating a Senior Loan (Primary Lender).

         Stein Roe expects the Fund's policy of acquiring  interests in floating
         or variable rate Senior Loans to minimize the fluctuations in net asset
         value as a result of changes in interest  rates.  However,  the Fund is
         not a money market fund and its net asset value will fluctuate.

PrincipalRisks.  You should  consider the following risk  considerations  before
         investing in the Fund. As described below, the risks could cause you to
         lose money as a result of investing in the Fund.

         Non-Payment  Risk. Senior Loans, like other corporate debt obligations,
         are  subject  to the  risk of  non-payment  of  scheduled  interest  or
         principal.  Such  non-payment  would result in a reduction of income to
         the Fund,  a  reduction  in the value of the Senior  Loan  experiencing
         non-payment,  and a  potential  decrease  in the net asset value of the
         Fund.



<PAGE>


         Below  Investment  Grade  Securities.   The  Fund  may  invest  all  or
         substantially  all of its  assets in Senior  Loans or other  securities
         that  are  rated  below  investment  grade,  or in  comparable  unrated
         securities.  These  securities  are commonly  referred to as high-yield
         debt or "junk debt." The purchase of such Senior Loans exposes the Fund
         to financial,  market, and interest-rate risks and greater credit risks
         than would the purchase of higher-rated  Senior Loans. Such investments
         are also likely to result in  increased  fluctuation  in the Fund's net
         asset value, particularly in response to economic downturns.

         Restrictions  on Resale of Senior  Loans.  Senior  Loans,  at  present,
         generally are not readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions
         on  resale.  As a result,  the  ability  of the Fund to  dispose of its
         investments in a timely fashion and at a fair price may be restricted.

         Borrowing. The Fund is authorized to borrow money in an amount up to 33
         1/3% of the Fund's  total  assets  (after  giving  effect to the amount
         borrowed).   The  use  of  leverage  for  investment  purposes  creates
         opportunities  for greater  total returns but at the same time involves
         risks.  Any  investment  income or gains  earned  with  respect  to the
         amounts  borrowed,  which is in excess of the interest  which is due on
         the  borrowing,  will  augment the Fund's  income.  Conversely,  if the
         investment  performance  with respect to the amounts  borrowed fails to
         cover the interest on such  borrowings,  the value of the Fund's shares
         may  decrease  more  quickly  than  would  otherwise  be the  case  and
         dividends  on the  shares  would be  reduced  or  eliminated.  Interest
         payments and fees  incurred in  connection  with such  borrowings  will
         reduce the amount of net income available for payment to the holders of
         Shares.

         Repurchase  Offer Risks. The Fund, as a fundamental  policy,  will make
         quarterly  repurchases for 5% to 25% of shares outstanding at net asset
         value. (See "Periodic  Repurchase  Offers" below for more information.)
         However,  shares are less  liquid  than shares of funds that trade on a
         stock  exchange,  and  Class B and Class C  shareholders  who offer for
         repurchase  shares  held  for  less  than  five  years  and  one  year,
         respectively, will pay an EWC. (See "How to Buy Shares.") Under limited
         circumstances,  the Fund may suspend or postpone a quarterly repurchase
         offer--the Fund must meet regulatory requirements to do so. There is no
         guarantee  that  shareholders  will be able to sell all of their shares
         that they desire to sell in a quarterly repurchase offer.

         Closed-End  Fund Risks.  The Fund is a  closed-end  investment  company
         designed  primarily  for  long-term  investors  and  not  as a  trading
         vehicle. The Fund does not intend to list its shares for trading on any
         national securities exchange. There is not expected to be any secondary
         trading  market in the  shares  and the  shares  should  be  considered
         illiquid. The shares are, therefore, not readily marketable. The shares
         of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount from their
         net asset values and, in the unlikely event that a secondary market for
         the shares were to develop, the shares likewise may trade at a discount
         from net asset value.

         Legislation;  Restrictions.  To the extent that legislation or state or
         federal regulators impose additional  requirements or restrictions with
         respect  to the  ability  of  financial  institutions  to make loans in
         connection  with highly  leveraged  transactions,  the  availability of
         Senior  Loan  interests  for  investment  by the Fund may be  adversely
         affected.

         Financial  Services  Industry  Concentration.  The  financial  services
         industries  are subject to extensive  government  regulation  which can
         limit  both  the  amounts  and  types  of  loans  and  other  financial
         commitments  they can make,  and the  interest  rates and fees they can
         charge. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost
         of capital funds, and can fluctuate  significantly  when interest rates
         change.   Credit  losses  resulting  from  financial   difficulties  of
         borrowers can negatively affect the financial services industries.  The
         financial services industries are currently undergoing relatively rapid
         change as existing  distinctions  between  financial  service  segments
         become less clear.

         Prepayment Risk.  Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled
         due date. Borrowers may find it advantageous to prepay principal due to
         a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow. Such prepayments
         may  require  the Fund to replace a Senior  Loan with a  lower-yielding
         security.  This may adversely  affect the net asset value of the Fund's
         shares.

         Limited  Information.  The types of Senior Loans in which the Fund will
         invest  historically  have not been  rated by a  nationally  recognized
         statistical rating organization,  have not been registered with the SEC
         or any state  securities  commission,  and have not been  listed on any
         national  securities  exchange.  Although the Fund will  generally have
         access to financial and other information made available to the Lenders
         in  connection  with  Senior  Loans,  the amount of public  information
         available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less extensive
         than  that   available  for  rated,   registered  or  exchange   listed
         securities.  As a result,  the Fund is more dependent on the analytical
         ability of Stein Roe.

         Non-Diversification  Risk.  The  Fund  is not  subject  to the  general
         limitations  under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) that,
         for 75% of its total  assets,  it not invest  more than 5% of its total
         assets in the  securities  of a single  issuer.  To the extent the Fund
         invests a relatively  high percentage of its assets in obligations of a
         limited number of Borrowers,  it will be more  susceptible  than a more
         widely diversified investment company to the consequences of any single
         corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

Distributions.  Income  dividends are normally  declared each business day, paid
         monthly,  and confirmed at least quarterly.  Capital gains, if any, are
         distributed at least annually,  usually in December.  Income  dividends
         and capital gains  distributions  may be received in cash or reinvested
         in additional full and fractional shares of the Fund.


Investment Advisor.  Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated.


Distributor.  Liberty Funds Distributor, Inc.

Periodic Repurchase  Offers.  The Fund has adopted a fundamental policy to offer
         each calendar quarter to repurchase a specified  percentage (between 5%
         and 25%) of the shares then  outstanding  at its net asset value.  Such
         repurchase  offers are  referred to as a Repurchase  Offer.  Repurchase
         Offers are scheduled to occur on the 15th day (or the next business day
         if the 15th is not a  business  day) in the  months of  February,  May,
         August, and November. (See "Periodic Repurchase Offers.")

                                  FUND EXPENSES

The  following  tables are  intended to assist  investors in  understanding  the
various costs and expenses  directly or indirectly  associated with investing in
the  Fund.  Because  the  Fund  does  not yet have an  operating  history,  this
information is based on estimated  fees,  expenses and net assets for the fiscal
year ending August 31, 2000.

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (1)
Sales Load Imposed (as a percentage of offering price).............         None
Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends.........................         None
Early Withdrawal Charge............................................         None
Exchange Fee.......................................................         None


Annual Expenses (as a percentage of average net assets attributable to
common shares) (2)
Management Fees(%) (3).............................................        0.97%
Distribution and Service Fees(%) ..................................        0.00%
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(%).............................        3.30%
Other Expenses(%)(4)...............................................        1.24%
Total Annual Expenses(%)(4)........................................        5.51%

-


(1)   Financial   advisors  may   independently   charge   additional  fees  for
      shareholder  transactions  or for  advisory  services.  Please  see  their
      materials for details.


<PAGE>


(2)   Figures  assume  the Fund  borrows an amount  representing  33 1/3% of the
      Fund's total assets  (including  the  proceeds of such  borrowing  but not
      reflecting the amount of the liability of the borrowing). If the Fund does
      not  utilize  any  leverage,  the Fund  estimates  that  annual  operating
      expenses would be approximately as follows:


      Management Fees(%)                                                   0.65
      Distribution and Service Fees(%)                                     0.00
      Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(%)                               0.00

                                                                       ---------

      Other Expenses(%)(4)                                                 1.24

                                                                       ---------

      Total Annual Expenses(%)(4)                                          1.89


                                                                       ---------


(3)   Management  fees includes both the management  fee and the  administrative
      fee charged to the Fund.  Without  leverage,  Stein Roe receives an annual
      management fee of 0.45% from the Fund and Colonial Management  Associates,
      Inc.  (Colonial)  receives an  administrative  fee of 0.20% from the Fund.
      With  leverage,  Stein Roe receives a management fee of 0.68% and Colonial
      receives an administration fee of 0.29%.


(4)   Stein Roe has  voluntarily  agreed to reimburse  the Fund for its ordinary
      operating   expenses  to  the  extent  that  such  expenses  exceed  0.15%
      (exclusive of  management  fees,  administrative  fees,  distribution  and
      service  fees and  interest  expenses).  After such  reimbursement,  Other
      Expenses  would be 0.15%  and  Total  Annual  Expenses  would be 4.42% and
      0.80%,  with and without leverage,  respectively.  This arrangement may be
      modified or terminated by the Advisor at anytime.


 This Example helps you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the
cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that (i) you invest
$1,000 in the Fund,  (ii) your  investment  has a 5%  return  each  year,  (iii)
operating  expenses remain the same, (iv) all income dividends and capital gains
distributions are reinvested in additional  shares,  and (v) expense  reductions
are in effect for the first year in the periods below. The Example should not be
considered a representation of future expenses.  Your actual costs may be higher
or lower.


Class*                          1 year       3 years      5 years      10 years
-----                           ------       -------      -------      --------
Class Z                          549         1,639        2,718         5,368


         *The table assumes  leverage  representing 33 1/3% of total assets.  In
         the event that the Fund does not utilize any leverage an investor would
         pay the following expenses based on the assumptions in the example:


Class                                   1 year  3 years   5 years   10 years
-----                                   ------  -------   -------   --------
Class Z                                  192      594      1,021     2,212




<PAGE>



                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial  highlights  table explains the Fund's  financial  performance for
Class Z shares.  The Fund's fiscal year runs from  September 1 to August 31. The
total returns in the table  represent the return that investors  earned assuming
that they reinvested all dividends and distributions. Certain information in the
table reflects the financial  results for a single Fund share.  This information
has been derived from the Fund's financial statements which have been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, independent  accountants,  whose report, along with
this  information  appears in the Fund's  annual  report.  To request the Fund's
annual report, please call 800-422-3737.


                                                                  Period ended
                                                                   August 31,
                                                                    2000(b)
                                                                    Class Z

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net asset value, beginning of period ($)                          12.000

Income from investment operations
Net investment income (a)                                          0.667
Net realized and unrealized gain                                   0.056
Total from investment operations                                   0.723

Distributions
Net investment income                                             (0.643)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net asset value, end of period ($)                                12.080

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Total return (%) (c) (d) (e)                                         6.11


Net assets, end of period ($) (000's)                               2,656
Operating expenses(%)(f)(g)                                          0.66
Interest and commitment fees expenses(%)(g)                          1.91
Total expenses(%)(f)(g)                                              2.57
Net investment income(%)(f)(g)                                       9.84
Fees and expenses waived or borne by the Advisor(%)(f)(g)            1.41
Portfolio turnover(%)(e)                                                8
(a) Net of fees and expenses waived or borne by the
   Advisor/Administrator which amounted to ($):                     0.046

(b)          The Fund commenced investment operations on January 13, 2000.
(c)          Total  return  at  net  asset  value  assuming  all   distributions
             reinvested  and no initial sales charge or early  withdrawal  sales
             charge.
(d)          Had the Advisor not waived or reimbursed a portion of expenses,
             total return would have been reduced.
(e)          Not annualized.
(f)          The benefits derived from custody credits and directed brokerage
             arrangements had no impact.
(g)          Annualized.




<PAGE>


                                    THE FUND

The  Fund  is  a  non-diversified,   closed-end  management  investment  company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 8, 1999. The Fund is engaged
in a continuous public offering of shares at the next determined net asset value
per share.  The Fund's  principal  office is  located at One  Financial  Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 and its telephone number is 1-800-345-6611.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

The net  proceeds  from the sale of the shares  offered  hereby will be invested
typically within 30 days after receipt, in accordance with the Fund's investment
objective and policies.  The Fund's actual  investment  timetable will depend on
the availability of Senior Loans and other market conditions. Pending investment
by  the  Fund,  the  proceeds  may  be  invested  in  high  quality,  short-term
securities, and the Fund may not achieve its objective during this time.

                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

Investment Objective. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level
of  current  income,   consistent  with  preservation  of  capital.  The  Fund's
investment objective is a non-fundamental  policy, which means that the Board of
Trustees can change it without shareholder approval.

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective through  investment  primarily (at least
80% of its total assets) in a professionally  managed  portfolio of interests in
Senior Loans to Borrowers that operate in a variety of industries and geographic
regions (including domestic and foreign entities). Although the Fund's net asset
value per share will vary, the Fund's policy of acquiring  interests in floating
or variable  rate Senior Loans is expected to minimize the  fluctuations  in the
Fund's net asset value per share as a result of changes in interest  rates.  The
Fund's net asset value may be affected by various factors,  including changes in
the credit  quality of Borrowers  with respect to Senior Loan interests in which
the Fund invests.

An  investment in the Fund may not be  appropriate  for all investors and is not
intended to be a complete investment program. No assurance can be given that the
Fund  will  achieve  its  investment  objective.  The  Fund is  appropriate  for
investors  seeking  a high  level of  current  income  consistent  with  capital
preservation.

Policies.  Under normal market conditions,  the Fund will invest at least 80% of
its total assets  (either as a Primary Lender or as a purchaser of an Assignment
or Participation) in Senior Loans of domestic Borrowers or foreign Borrowers (so
long as Senior Loans to such foreign  Borrowers are U.S. dollar  denominated and
payments of interest and  repayments of principal  pursuant to such Senior Loans
are  required  to be made in U.S.  dollars).  Although  most  Senior  Loans  are
collateralized,  the Fund may  invest up to 20% of its total  assets  (valued at
time of investment) in Senior Loans that are not secured by any collateral.


During  normal  market  conditions,  the Fund may  invest up to 20% of its total
assets  (including  assets  maintained  by the  Fund as a  reserve  against  any
additional  loan  commitments)  in (i) high quality,  short-term debt securities
with  remaining  maturities  of one  year  or less  and  (ii)  warrants,  equity
securities  and junior debt  securities  acquired in connection  with the Fund's
investments  in Senior  Loans.  Such high  quality,  short-term  securities  may
include  commercial paper rated at least Baa, P-3 or higher by Moody's Investors
Service,  Inc. (Moody's) or BBB, A-3 or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P) (or if
unrated,  determined  by Stein Roe to be of  comparable  quality),  interests in
short-term  loans  and  short-term  loan   participations  of  Borrowers  having
short-term debt obligations rated or a short-term credit rating at least in such
rating  categories  (or having no such rating,  determined by Stein Roe to be of
comparable  quality),  certificates  of deposit  and  bankers'  acceptances  and
securities  issued  or  guaranteed  by the  U.S.  government,  its  agencies  or
instrumentalities.  Such high quality, short-term securities may pay interest at
rates that are periodically redetermined or may pay interest at fixed rates.


                              HOW THE FUND INVESTS

Senior Loans.  Senior Loans generally are arranged through private  negotiations
between a Borrower and Lenders represented in each case by one or more Agents of
the several  Lenders.  On behalf of the  several  Lenders,  the Agent,  which is
frequently a commercial bank or other entity that originates the Senior Loan and
the person that invites  other  parties to join the lending  syndicate,  will be
primarily  responsible for  negotiating the Loan Agreement that  establishes the
relative terms,  conditions and rights of the Borrower and the several  Lenders.
In larger transactions it is common to have several Agents;  however,  generally
only  one  such  Agent  has  primary   responsibility   for   documentation  and
administration of a Senior Loan.

In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent  administers the terms of the Loan Agreement
and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments
from the Borrower and the  apportionment  of those payments to the credit of all
Lenders that are parties to the Loan Agreement.  The Fund generally will rely on
the Agent to collect its portion of the payments on a Senior Loan.  Furthermore,
the Fund will rely on the Agent to use appropriate creditor remedies against the
Borrower. Typically, under a Loan Agreement, the Agent is given broad discretion
in  monitoring  the  Borrower's  performance  under  the Loan  Agreement  and is
obligated  to use only the same care it would use in the  management  of its own
property.  Upon an event of default, the Agent typically will act to enforce the
Loan Agreement after  instruction  from Lenders holding a majority of the Senior
Loan.  The  Borrower  compensates  the  Agent  for the  Agent's  services.  This
compensation may include special fees paid on structuring and funding the Senior
Loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. The typical practice of an Agent
in relying  exclusively  or primarily on reports from the Borrower may involve a
risk of fraud by the Borrower.

It is  anticipated  that the proceeds of the Senior Loans in which the Fund will
acquire  interests   primarily  will  be  used  to  finance  leveraged  buyouts,
recapitalizations,  mergers,  acquisitions,  stock repurchases, and, to a lesser
extent,  to  finance  internal  growth  and  for  other  corporate  purposes  of
Borrowers.  Senior Loans have the most senior  position in a Borrower's  capital
structure,  although  some  Senior  Loans may hold an equal  ranking  with other
senior securities and other  obligations of the Borrower.  The capital structure
of a Borrower may include  Senior  Loans,  senior and junior  subordinated  debt
(which may include "junk bonds"), preferred stock and common stock issued by the
Borrower,  typically in descending  order of seniority with respect to claims on
the  Borrower's  assets.  Senior and junior  subordinated  debt is  collectively
referred  to in this  Prospectus  as  "junior  debt  securities."  Senior  Loans
generally are secured by specific collateral,  which may include guarantees from
affiliates of the Borrower.

To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of its assets in Senior Loans that
are not secured by  specific  collateral,  the Fund will not enjoy the  benefits
associated  with  collateralization  with  respect to such Senior Loans and such
Senior  Loans may pose a  greater  risk of  nonpayment  of  interest  or loss of
principal than do collateralized  Senior Loans. As discussed below, the Fund may
also acquire  warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt securities issued by
the  Borrower  or its  affiliates  as part of a package  of  investments  in the
Borrower  or its  affiliates.  Warrants,  equity  securities,  and  junior  debt
securities  will not be treated as Senior Loans and thus assets invested in such
securities  will not  count  toward  the 80% of the  Fund's  total  assets  that
normally  will be invested in Senior  Loans.  The Fund may acquire  interests in
warrants, other equity securities or junior debt securities through a negotiated
restructuring of a Senior Loan or in a bankruptcy proceeding of the Borrower.

In order to borrow money  pursuant to a  collateralized  Senior Loan, a Borrower
will typically,  for the term of the Senior Loan,  pledge as collateral  assets,
including but not limited to, accounts receivable,  inventory,  buildings, other
real  estate,  trademarks,  franchises  and  common and  preferred  stock in its
subsidiaries.  In  addition,  in the case of some  Senior  Loans,  there  may be
additional  collateral pledged in the form of guarantees by and/or securities of
affiliates of the Borrowers.  In instances,  a collateralized Senior Loan may be
secured  only by stock  in the  Borrower  or its  subsidiaries.  Collateral  may
consist of assets that are not  readily  liquidated,  and there is no  assurance
that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a Borrower's obligations
under a Senior Loan. Similarly, in the event of bankruptcy proceedings involving
the  Borrower,  the  Lenders  may  be  delayed  or  prevented  from  liquidating
collateral or may choose not to do so as part of their  participation  in a plan
of reorganization of the Borrower.

Loan Agreements may also include various restrictive covenants designed to limit
the  activities of the Borrower in an effort to protect the right of the Lenders
to receive  timely  payments of interest on and  repayment  of  principal of the
Senior Loans.  Restrictive covenants may include mandatory prepayment provisions
related to excess  cash flows and  typically  include  restrictions  on dividend
payments,  specific mandatory minimum financial ratios, limits on total debt and
other financial tests. Breach of such a covenant,  if not waived by the Lenders,
is generally an event of default  under the  applicable  Loan  Agreement and may
give the Lenders the right to accelerate principal and interest payments.  Stein
Roe will  consider the terms of  restrictive  covenants  in deciding  whether to
invest in Senior Loans for the Fund's investment portfolio.  When the Fund holds
a  Participation  in a Senior  Loan,  it may not have the right to vote to waive
enforcement of a restrictive covenant breached by a Borrower.  Lenders voting in
connection with a potential waiver of a restrictive  covenant may have interests
different  from  those  of the  Fund and such  Lenders  will  not  consider  the
interests of the Fund in connection with their votes.

Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest  generally pay interest at rates that
are  periodically  redetermined  by  reference  to a base  lending  rate  plus a
premium. These base lending rates generally are the prime or base lending (Prime
Rate) rate  offered by one or more major United  States banks or other  standard
lending rates used by commercial lenders,  such as the London Inter-Bank Offered
Rate (LIBOR) or the certificate of deposit (CD) rate.  LIBOR, as provided for in
Loan  Agreements,  is an  average  of  the  interest  rates  quoted  by  several
designated banks as the rates at which such banks would offer to pay interest to
major financial institutional  depositors in the London interbank market on U.S.
dollar  denominated  deposits for a specified  period of time.  The CD rate,  as
generally  provided  for in Loan  Agreements,  is the average rate paid on large
certificates   of  deposit  traded  in  the  secondary   market.   Senior  Loans
traditionally  have been  structured so that Borrowers pay higher  premiums when
they elect  LIBOR,  in order to permit  Lenders to obtain  generally  consistent
yields on Senior Loans, regardless of whether Borrowers select the LIBOR option,
or the Prime Rate option. In recent years, however, the differential between the
lower LIBOR base rates and the higher  Prime Rate base rates  prevailing  in the
commercial  bank markets has widened to the point where the higher  margins paid
by  Borrowers  for  LIBOR  pricing   options  do  not  currently   outweigh  the
differential between the Prime Rate and the LIBOR rate. Consequently,  Borrowers
have increasingly selected the LIBOR-based pricing option,  resulting in a yield
on Senior Loans that is  consistently  lower than the yield  available  from the
Prime Rate-based pricing option. This trend will significantly limit the ability
of  the  Fund  to  achieve  a  net  return  to  shareholders  that  consistently
approximates the average published Prime Rate of leading U.S. banks.



<PAGE>


Primary  Lender  Transactions,  Assignments,  and  Participations.  The Fund may
invest in Participations  in Senior Loans, may purchase  Assignments of portions
of Senior  Loans from third  parties  and may act as one of the group of Primary
Lenders.

The Fund may  invest up to 100% of its  assets in  Participations.  The  selling
Lenders and other persons interpositioned between such Lenders and the Fund with
respect  to  Participations   will  likely  conduct  their  principal   business
activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries.  Although,
as discussed below,  the Fund has taken measures that it believes  significantly
reduce its exposure to risks  associated  with  Participations,  the Fund may be
more   susceptible   than  an  investment   company  that  does  not  invest  in
Participations  in Senior Loans to any single economic,  political or regulatory
occurrence  affecting these industries.  Persons engaged in these industries may
be more  susceptible than are persons engaged in some other industries to, among
other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market
Committee's monetary policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries
and concerning  capital  raising  activities  generally and  fluctuations in the
financial markets generally.

Participation  by the Fund in a Lender's portion of a Senior Loan typically will
result in the Fund having a contractual  relationship only with such Lender, not
with the Borrower.  As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments
of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender
selling the  Participation  and only upon receipt by the Lender of payments from
the Borrower. In connection with purchasing  Participations,  the Fund generally
will have no right to enforce  compliance  by the Borrower with the terms of the
Loan  Agreement,  nor any rights  with  respect to any funds  acquired  by other
Lenders  through  set-off  against the  Borrower,  and the Fund may not directly
benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased
the Participation.  As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the
Borrower  and  the  Lender  selling  the  Participation.  In  the  event  of the
insolvency of the Lender selling a  Participation,  the Fund may be treated as a
general creditor of the Lender, and may not benefit from any set-off between the
Lender and the Borrower. In an effort to minimize such risks, the Fund will only
acquire  Participations if the Lender selling the  Participation,  and any other
institution  interpositioned between the Fund and the Lender, (i) at the time of
investment has outstanding  debt or deposit  obligations  rated investment grade
(BBB or A-3 or higher by S&P or Baa or P-3 or higher by Moody's) or, if unrated,
determined by Stein Roe to be of comparable quality and (ii) has entered into an
agreement  that  provides for the holding of payments on the Senior Loan for the
benefit of, or the prompt disbursement of payments to, the Fund.  Long-term debt
rated BBB by S&P is regarded by S&P as having adequate  capacity to pay interest
and repay  principal  and debt rated Baa by Moody's is  regarded by Moody's as a
medium  grade  obligation;  i.e.,  it is  neither  highly  protected  nor poorly
secured.  The Fund ordinarily will purchase a Participation only if, at the time
of the purchase, the Fund believes that the party from whom it is purchasing the
Participation  is retaining an interest in the  underlying  Senior Loan.  In the
event that the Fund does not so believe,  it will only purchase a  Participation
if, in addition to the  requirements  set forth  above,  the party from whom the
Fund is  purchasing  such  Participation  (i) is a bank,  a member of a national
securities  exchange or other entity  designated in the 1940 Act as qualified to
serve as a  custodian  for a  registered  investment  company  and (ii) has been
approved as a custodian by the Board of the Fund.

The Fund  may also  purchase  Assignments  from  Lenders.  The  purchaser  of an
Assignment  typically  succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan
Agreement of the assigning  Lender and becomes a Lender under the Loan Agreement
with the same rights and obligations as the assigning Lender.

When  the  Fund  is  a  Primary  Lender,  it  will  have  a  direct  contractual
relationship with the Borrower,  may enforce compliance by the Borrower with the
terms of the Loan  Agreement and may under  contractual  arrangements  among the
Lenders have rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders  through
set-off.  A Lender also has full voting and consent  rights under the applicable
Loan Agreement.  Action subject to Lender vote or consent generally requires the
vote  or  consent  of the  holders  of a  majority  or  some  greater  specified
percentage  of the  outstanding  principal  amount of the Senior  Loan.  Certain
decisions,  such as reducing  the amount or  increasing  the time for payment of
interest on or repayment of principal of a Senior Loan, or releasing  collateral
therefor,  frequently  require  the  unanimous  vote or consent  of all  Lenders
affected.  When the Fund is a Primary  Lender  originating  a Senior Loan it may
share in a fee paid by the Borrower to the Primary Lenders.  The Fund will never
act as the Agent,  Originator,  or principal  negotiator or  administrator  of a
Senior Loan.

The Fund will  purchase  an  Assignment  or act as a Lender  with  respect  to a
syndicated  Senior Loan only where the Agent with  respect to the Senior Loan at
the  time of  investment  has  outstanding  debt or  deposit  obligations  rated
investment  grade  (BBB  or A-3 or  higher  by  S&P or Baa or P-3 or  higher  by
Moody's) or determined by Stein Roe to be of comparable quality.

Loan  Agreements  typically  provide for the  termination  of the Agent's agency
status in the event that it fails to act as  required  under the  relevant  Loan
Agreement, becomes insolvent, enters FDIC receivership,  or if not FDIC insured,
enters into bankruptcy.  Should an Agent,  Lender or any other  institution with
respect  to an  Assignment  interpositioned  between  the Fund and the  Borrower
become insolvent or enter FDIC  receivership or bankruptcy,  any interest in the
Senior Loan of any such interpositioned institution and any loan payment held by
any such  interpositioned  institution for the benefit of the Fund should not be
included in the estate of such  interpositioned  institution.  If, however,  any
such amount were included in such interpositioned institution's estate, the Fund
would  incur  costs and delays in  realizing  payment or could  suffer a loss of
principal or interest.  In such event,  the Fund could  experience a decrease in
net asset value.


<PAGE>


Portfolio Maturity.  The Fund is not subject to any restrictions with respect to
the maturity of Senior Loans held in its portfolio.  It is currently anticipated
that the Fund's  assets  invested in Senior  Loans will  consist of Senior Loans
with stated maturities of between three and ten years, inclusive, and with rates
of interest that are redetermined either daily, monthly, quarterly, semiannually
or   annually.   Investment   in  Senior   Loans  with  longer   interest   rate
redetermination  periods may increase fluctuations in the Fund's net asset value
as a result of  changes  in  interest  rates.  The  Senior  Loans in the  Fund's
investment  portfolio will at all times have a  dollar-weighted  average days to
reset until the next  interest  rate  redetermination  of 90 days or less.  As a
result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Fund from
its  investments  in Senior Loans should  increase,  and as short-term  interest
rates  decrease,  interest  payable to the Fund from its  investments  in Senior
Loans should decrease.  The amount of time required to pass before the Fund will
realize  the  effects  of  changing  short-term  market  interest  rates  on its
portfolio  will  vary  with the  dollar-weighted  average  time  until  the next
interest rate  redetermination on the Senior Loans in the investment  portfolio.
The Fund may utilize the investment  practices  described in this prospectus to,
among other things,  shorten the effective interest rate redetermination  period
of Senior Loans in its  portfolio.  In such event,  the Fund will  consider such
shortened  period to be the interest rate  redetermination  period of the Senior
Loan;  provided,  however,  that the Fund will not  invest in Senior  Loans that
permit the Borrower to select an interest rate redetermination  period in excess
of one year.  Because  most Senior  Loans in the  investment  portfolio  will be
subject to mandatory  and/or  optional  prepayment  and there may be significant
economic  incentives  for a Borrower to prepay its loans,  prepayments of Senior
Loans in the Fund's investment  portfolio may occur.  Accordingly,  the economic
maturity of the Fund's  investment  portfolio  invested in Senior Loans may vary
substantially  from the average stated  maturity of the Senior Loans held in the
Fund's investment portfolio. As a result of anticipated prepayments from time to
time  of  Senior  Loans  in  the  investment  portfolio,   based  on  historical
experience,  Stein Roe believes  that the economic  maturity of the Senior Loans
held in its portfolio will be approximately 18-24 months.

Net Asset Value Fluctuation.  When prevailing interest rates decline,  the value
of a  portfolio  invested  in  fixed-rate  obligations  can be expected to rise.
Conversely,  when  prevailing  interest  rates  rise,  the value of a  portfolio
invested in  fixed-rate  obligations  can be expected to decline.  Although  the
Fund's net asset  value  will  vary,  Stein Roe  expects  the  Fund's  policy of
acquiring  interests  in  floating or  variable  rate  Senior  Loans to minimize
fluctuations  in net  asset  value as a result of  changes  in  interest  rates.
Accordingly,  Stein  Roe  expects  the  value  of the  investment  portfolio  to
fluctuate  significantly  less  than a  portfolio  of  fixed-rate,  longer  term
obligations as a result of interest rate changes. However, changes in prevailing
interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the Fund's net asset
value.  In addition to changes in interest  rates,  various  factors,  including
defaults by or changes in the credit quality of Borrowers,  will also affect the
Fund's net asset value. A default or serious deterioration in the credit quality
of a Borrower  could cause a prolonged or  permanent  decrease in the Fund's net
asset value.

Debt  Restructuring.  The Fund may  purchase  and  retain  in its  portfolio  an
interest in a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has filed for protection  under the
federal  bankruptcy  laws or has had an  involuntary  bankruptcy  petition filed
against it by its creditors.  Stein Roe's decision to purchase or retain such an
interest will depend on its assessment of the suitability of such investment for
the Fund, the Borrower's  ability to meet debt service on Senior Loan interests,
the likely duration, if any, of a lapse in the scheduled repayment of principal,
and prevailing interest rates. At times, in connection with the restructuring of
a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy
court  proceedings,  the Fund may  determine  or be  required  to accept  equity
securities  or junior  debt  securities  in  exchange  for all or a portion of a
Senior Loan interest. Depending upon, among other things, Stein Roe's evaluation
of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be
obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof, the Fund may determine
to hold such  securities in its  portfolio.  Any equity  security or junior debt
security held by the Fund will not be treated as a Senior Loan and thus will not
count toward the 80% of assets that normally will be invested in Senior Loans.

Borrower  Credit  Ratings.  Senior  Loans  historically  have not been  rated by
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations,  such as S&P or Moody's.
Because  of the  senior  capital  structure  position  of  Senior  Loans and the
collateralized or guaranteed nature of most Senior Loans, the Fund and Stein Roe
believe that ratings of other securities issued by a Borrower do not necessarily
reflect adequately the relative quality of a Borrower's Senior Loans. Therefore,
although Stein Roe may consider such ratings in determining whether to invest in
a  particular  Senior Loan,  Stein Roe is not  required to consider  ratings and
ratings will not be the  determinative  factor in Stein Roe's  analysis.  To the
extent  that  Senior  Loans are rated,  the Fund may invest in the lowest  rated
loans,  but does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in Senior Loans
rated  below  B- or B3 by S&P or  Moody's.  The Fund  may  invest a  substantial
portion of its  assets in Senior  Loans to  Borrowers  having  outstanding  debt
securities rated below investment grade by a nationally  recognized  statistical
rating  organization (or unrated but of comparable  quality to such securities).
Debt  securities  rated below  investment  grade (or  unrated but of  comparable
quality)  commonly are referred to as "junk bonds." The Fund will invest only in
those Senior Loans with respect to which the Borrower,  in the judgment of Stein
Roe, demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics:  sufficient cash
flow to service debt; adequate liquidity;  successful operating history;  strong
competitive   position;   experienced   management;   and,   with   respect   to
collateralized  Senior  Loans,  collateral  coverage  that equals or exceeds the
outstanding  principal  amount of the Senior Loan.  In addition,  Stein Roe will
consider, and may rely in part, on the analyses performed by the Agent and other
Lenders,  including  such  persons'  determinations  with respect to  collateral
securing a Senior  Loan.  Fees.  The Fund may be  required to pay or may receive
various fees and commissions in connection with purchasing,  selling and holding
interests in Senior Loans. The fees normally paid by Borrowers may include three
types: facility fees,  commitment fees and prepayment  penalties.  Facility fees
are paid to the Lenders upon  origination of a Senior Loan.  Commitment fees are
paid to Lenders on an ongoing basis based upon the undrawn portion  committed by
the Lenders of the  underlying  Senior  Loan.  Lenders  may  receive  prepayment
penalties  when a Borrower  prepays all or part of a Senior Loan.  The Fund will
receive these fees  directly from the Borrower if the Fund is a Primary  Lender,
or,  in the  case of  commitment  fees  and  prepayment  penalties,  if the Fund
acquires an interest in a Senior Loan by way of  Assignment.  Whether or not the
Fund  receives a facility fee from the Lender in the case of an  Assignment,  or
any fees in the case of a Participation,  depends upon negotiations  between the
Fund and the Lender selling such interests. When the Fund is an assignee, it may
be required to pay a fee, or forgo a portion of interest and any fees payable to
it, to the Lender selling the Assignment.  Occasionally, the assignor will pay a
fee to the Fund based on the portion of the principal  amount of the Senior Loan
that is being assigned.  A Lender selling a Participation to the Fund may deduct
a portion of the interest and any fees payable to the Fund as an  administrative
fee prior to payment  thereof to the Fund.  The Fund may be required to pay over
or pass along to a  purchaser  of an  interest  in a Senior Loan from the Fund a
portion of any fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.

Prepayments.  Pursuant  to  the  relevant  Loan  Agreement,  a  Borrower  may be
required, and may have the option at any time, to prepay the principal amount of
a Senior Loan, often without incurring a prepayment  penalty.  In the event that
like-yielding  loans are not  available in the  marketplace,  Stein Roe believes
that the prepayment of and subsequent  reinvestment  by the Fund in Senior Loans
could have a  materially  adverse  impact on the yield on the Fund's  investment
portfolio.  Prepayments may have a beneficial impact on income due to receipt of
prepayment  penalties,  if any, and any facility fees earned in connection  with
reinvestment.

Commitments to Make Additional  Payments. A Lender may have obligations pursuant
to a Loan  Agreement to make  additional  loans in certain  circumstances.  Such
circumstances  may include,  without  limitation,  obligations  under  revolving
credit  facilities  and  facilities  that provide for further loans to Borrowers
based upon compliance with specified financial requirements.  The Fund currently
intends to reserve  against any such  contingent  obligation  by  segregating  a
sufficient  amount of cash,  liquid securities and liquid Senior Loans. The Fund
will not purchase  interests in Senior Loans that would require the Fund to make
any such additional  loans if the aggregate of such additional loan  commitments
would  exceed 20% of the Fund's  total assets or would cause the Fund to fail to
meet the  diversification  requirements set forth under the heading  "Investment
Restrictions" in the Statement of Additional Information.

Bridge  Financing.  The Fund may  acquire  interests  in Senior  Loans  that are
designed to provide  temporary or "bridge"  financing to a Borrower  pending the
sale of  identified  assets  or the  arrangement  of  longer-term  loans  or the
issuance  and  sale of debt  obligations.  A  Borrower's  use of a  bridge  loan
involves a risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to
replace   the  bridge   loan,   which  may  impair  the   Borrower's   perceived
creditworthiness.

Borrowing.  The Fund may  borrow  money in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the Fund's
total assets (after giving effect to the amount  borrowed).  The Fund may borrow
for  the  purpose  of  financing  long-term  investments,  obtaining  short-term
liquidity and for temporary,  extraordinary or emergency purposes. To the extent
the Fund borrows more money than it has cash or short-term cash  equivalents and
invests the proceeds in Senior Loans, the Fund will create  financial  leverage.
It will do so only when it expects to be able to invest the proceeds at a higher
rate of return than its cost of borrowing.

Other Securities.  The Fund will acquire warrants,  equity securities and junior
debt  securities  only as are incident to the  purchase or intended  purchase of
interests  in  collateralized  Senior  Loans.  The Fund  generally  will acquire
interests in warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt  securities only when
Stein Roe believes  that the relative  value being given by the Fund in exchange
for such interests is  substantially  outweighed by the potential  value of such
instruments.   Investment  in  warrants,   equity  securities  and  junior  debt
securities  entail risks in addition to those  associated  with  investments  in
Senior  Loans.  Warrants and equity  securities  have a  subordinate  claim on a
Borrower's  assets as compared with debt securities,  and junior debt securities
have a subordinate  claim on such assets as compared with Senior Loans. As such,
the values of warrants and equity securities generally are more dependent on the
financial  condition  of the  Borrower and less  dependent  on  fluctuations  in
interest  rates  than are the  values of many  debt  securities.  The  values of
warrants, equity securities and junior debt securities may be more volatile than
those of Senior Loans and thus may have an adverse  impact on the ability of the
Fund to minimize fluctuations in its net asset value. (See "Principal Risks.")

Defensive  Investment  Policy.  If Stein Roe determines  that market  conditions
temporarily  warrant a  defensive  investment  policy,  the Fund may (but is not
required to) invest, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid
portfolio of Senior  Loans,  up to 100% of its assets in cash and high  quality,
short-term debt securities.  The Fund may also lend its portfolio  securities to
other parties and may enter into  repurchase and reverse  repurchase  agreements
for securities.  For further  discussion of the Fund's investment  objective and
policies and its  investment  practices and the associated  considerations,  see
"Other Investment Practices."



<PAGE>


Fundamental  Restrictions  and  Policies.  The Fund  has  adopted  a  number  of
fundamental investment restrictions and policies which may not be changed unless
authorized  by a  shareholder  vote.  These  are set forth in the  Statement  of
Additional Information.  Among these fundamental restrictions,  the Fund may not
purchase  any  security  if, as a result of the  purchase,  more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities
of Borrowers and other issuers having their principal business activities in the
same industry (the electric,  gas, water and telephone utility  industries being
treated as separate  industries for the purpose of this  restriction).  However,
the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in  securities  the issuer
of which is deemed to be in the financial institutions industry,  which includes
commercial  banks,   thrift   institutions,   insurance  companies  and  finance
companies.  There  is no  limitation  with  respect  to  obligations  issued  or
guaranteed by the U.S.  government or any of its agencies or  instrumentalities.
Except for the  fundamental  restrictions  and policies set forth as such in the
Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the  Fund's  investment  objective  and
policies  are not  fundamental  policies and  accordingly  may be changed by the
Board without obtaining the approval of shareholders.

                                 PRINCIPAL RISKS

You should consider the following  Principal Risks before investing in the Fund.
As  described  below,  these  risks could cause you to lose money as a result of
investing in the Fund. The Fund is a closed-end  investment company. The Fund is
designed primarily for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.

Non-Payment. Senior Loans, like other corporate debt obligations, are subject to
the risk of non-payment of scheduled  interest or principal.  Non-payment  would
result in a reduction  of income to the Fund,  a  reduction  in the value of the
Senior Loan experiencing  non-payment and a potential  decrease in the net asset
value of the Fund. The Fund generally will invest in collateralized Senior Loans
only if Stein Roe  believes  the  value of the  collateral,  which  may  include
guarantees,  exceeds  the  principal  amount of the  Senior  Loan at the time of
initial investment.  However,  there can be no assurance that the liquidation of
any  collateral  would  satisfy  the  Borrower's  obligation  in  the  event  of
non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral
could be readily  liquidated.  Moreover,  as a practical matter,  most Borrowers
cannot  satisfy their debts by selling  their assets.  Borrowers pay their debts
from the cash flow they generate.  This is  particularly  the case for Borrowers
that are highly  leveraged.  Many of the Senior Loans purchased by the Fund will
be to highly leveraged Borrowers. If the Borrower's cash flow is insufficient to
pay its debts as they  come  due,  the  Borrower  is far more  likely to seek to
restructure  its debts than it is to sell off  assets to pay its  Senior  Loans.
Borrowers may try to restructure  their debts either by seeking  protection from
creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal  Bankruptcy Code or negotiating a work
out. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower,  the Fund could experience delays
or  limitations  with  respect to its  ability to realize  the  benefits  of the
collateral  securing  a  Senior  Loan.  To the  extent  that a  Senior  Loan  is
collateralized by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose
all or  substantially  all of  its  value  in the  event  of  bankruptcy  of the
Borrower.  The Agent generally is responsible  for determining  that the Lenders
have  obtained a perfected  security  interest in the  collateral  securing  the
Senior Loan. If a Borrower files for protection  from creditors under Chapter 11
of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  the Code will impose an automatic stay that prohibits
the Agent from liquidating collateral. The Agent may ask the bankruptcy court to
lift the stay. As a practical matter,  the court is unlikely to lift the stay if
it concludes  that the  Borrower has a chance to emerge from the  reorganization
proceedings  and the  collateral  is likely to hold  most of its  value.  If the
Lenders  have a good  security  interest,  the Senior  Loan will be treated as a
separate  class in the  reorganization  proceedings  and will  retain a priority
interest in the collateral.  Chapter 11  reorganization  plans typically are the
product of  negotiation  among the  Borrower and the various  creditor  classes.
Successful  negotiations  may  require  the  Lenders  to  extend  the  time  for
repayment,  change the interest rate or accept some consideration in the form of
junior debt or equity  securities.  A work out outside of bankruptcy may produce
similar concessions by senior lenders.

Some  Senior  Loans in which the Fund may invest are  subject to the risk that a
court,   pursuant  to  fraudulent   conveyance  or  other  similar  laws,  could
subordinate such Senior Loans to current or future  indebtedness of the Borrower
or take other action  detrimental  to the holders of Senior  Loans,  such as the
Fund, including,  under certain  circumstances,  invalidating such Senior Loans.
Lenders  commonly have  obligations  pursuant to the Loan  Agreement,  which may
include the obligation to make additional loans or release collateral.


Closed-End Fund Risks.


Below Investment Grade  Securities.  Securities rated below investment grade are
commonly  referred to as  high-yield  debt or "junk  debt." They are regarded as
predominantly  speculative  with  respect to the  issuing  company's  continuing
ability to meet  principal  and  interest  payments.  The  prices of  high-yield
securities  have been found to be less  sensitive to interest  rate changes than
higher-rated  investments,  but more sensitive to adverse economic  downturns or
individual corporate developments.  A projection of an economic downturn or of a
period of rising  interest  rates,  for  example,  could  cause a decline in the
prices of high-yield securities.

The secondary market in which high-yield securities are traded is generally less
liquid than the market for  higher-grade  debt.  Less liquidity in the secondary
trading market could  adversely  affect the price at which the Fund could sell a
high-yield  Senior Loan, and could  adversely  affect the net asset value of the
Fund's  shares.  At times of less  liquidity,  it may be more difficult to value
high-yield  Senior Loans because this valuation may require more  research,  and
elements of judgment  may play a greater  role in the  valuation  since there is
less reliable, objective data available.

Investments  in  high-yield  Senior  Loans may result in greater net asset value
fluctuation than if the Fund did not make such investments.

There is no limit on the  percentage  of assets  that may be  invested in Senior
Loans and other  securities  that are rated below  investment  grade or that are
unrated but of comparable quality.

Restrictions  on Resale.  Senior  Loans,  at present,  generally are not readily
marketable  and may be subject to  restrictions  on resale.  Interests in Senior
Loans generally are not listed on any national  securities exchange or automated
quotation  system and no active market may exist for many of the Senior Loans in
which the Fund may invest.  To the extent that a secondary  market may exist for
the  Senior  Loans in which the Fund  invests,  such  market  may be  subject to
irregular trading  activity,  wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement
periods.  The Fund has no  limitation  on the amount of its  assets  that may be
invested  in Senior  Loans that are not  readily  marketable  or are  subject to
restrictions on resale.  Because a substantial  portion of the Fund's assets may
be invested in Senior Loan interests,  the ability of the Fund to dispose of its
investments in a timely  fashion and at a fair price may be restricted,  and the
Fund and  shareholders may suffer capital losses as a result.  However,  many of
the  Senior  Loans in which the Fund  expects  to  purchase  interests  are of a
relatively  large principal  amount and are held by a relatively large number of
owners which should, in Stein Roe's opinion,  enhance the relative  liquidity of
such interests.  The risks associated with illiquidity are particularly acute in
situations where the Fund's operations require cash, such as when the Fund makes
a  Repurchase  Offer  for  its  shares,  and may  result  in  borrowing  to meet
short-term cash requirements.

Borrowing.  The Fund is authorized to borrow money in an amount up to 33 1/3% of
the Fund's total assets (after giving effect to the amount  borrowed).  The Fund
is  authorized   to  borrow  money  for  the  purpose  of  financing   long-term
investments,   obtaining  short-term  liquidity  in  connection  with  quarterly
repurchase offers and for temporary,  extraordinary or emergency  purposes.  The
use of leverage for investment purposes creates  opportunities for greater total
returns but at the same time  involves  risks.  Any  investment  income or gains
earned with respect to the amounts borrowed,  which is in excess of the interest
which is due on the borrowing,  will augment the Fund's income.  Conversely,  if
the investment  performance  with respect to the amounts borrowed fails to cover
the  interest on such  borrowings,  the value of the Fund's  shares may decrease
more quickly than would  otherwise be the case and dividends on the shares would
be reduced or eliminated. Interest payments and fees incurred in connection with
such  borrowings  will reduce the amount of net income  available for payment to
the holders of Shares.


Repurchase Offer Risks. The Fund, as a fundamental  policy,  will make quarterly
repurchases  for 5% to 25% of  shares  outstanding  at  net  asset  value.  (See
"Periodic  Repurchase Offers" below for more information.)  However,  shares are
less liquid than shares of funds that trade on a stock exchange, and Class B and
Class C  shareholders  who offer for  repurchase  shares held for less than five
years and one year,  respectively,  will pay an EWC.  (See "How to Buy Shares.")
Under  limited  circumstances,  the Fund may  suspend or  postpone  a  quarterly
repurchase offer--the Fund must meet regulatory  requirements to do so. There is
no  guarantee  that  shareholders  will be able to sell all of their shares that
they desire to sell in a quarterly repurchase offer.

Closed-End  Fund Risks.  The Fund is a closed-end  investment  company  designed
primarily for long-term  investors and not as a trading  vehicle.  The Fund does
not intend to list its shares for trading on any national  securities  exchange.
There is not expected to be any secondary  trading  market in the shares and the
shares should be considered  illiquid.  The shares are,  therefore,  not readily
marketable.  The shares of  closed-end  investment  companies  often  trade at a
discount from their net asset values and, in the unlikely event that a secondary
market for the  shares  were to  develop,  the  shares  likewise  may trade at a
discount from net asset value.





<PAGE>


Legislation;  Restrictions.  To the extent that  legislation or state or federal
regulators  impose  additional  requirements or restrictions with respect to the
ability of  financial  institutions  to make  loans in  connection  with  highly
leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loan interests for investment
by the Fund  may be  adversely  affected.  In  addition,  such  requirements  or
restrictions  may  reduce  or  eliminate   sources  of  financing  for  affected
Borrowers.  Further,  to  the  extent  that  legislation  or  federal  or  state
regulators  require  such  institutions  to  dispose  of Senior  Loan  interests
relating to highly leveraged  transactions or subject such Senior Loan interests
to increased regulatory scrutiny,  such financial  institutions may determine to
sell Senior Loan  interests  in a manner  that  results in a price that,  in the
opinion of Stein Roe, is not indicative of fair value.  Were the Fund to attempt
to sell a Senior  Loan  interest  at a time  when a  financial  institution  was
engaging in such a sale with respect to the Senior Loan  interest,  the price at
which the Fund could consummate such a sale might be adversely affected.

Financial Services Industry Concentration. The financial services industries are
subject to extensive government  regulation which can limit both the amounts and
types of loans and other financial  commitments  they can make, and the interest
rates  and fees they can  charge.  Profitability  is  largely  dependent  on the
availability  and cost of capital funds,  and can fluctuate  significantly  when
interest rates change.  Credit losses  resulting from financial  difficulties of
borrowers can negatively  affect the financial  services  industries.  Insurance
companies can be subject to severe price  competition.  The  financial  services
industries  are  currently  undergoing   relatively  rapid  change  as  existing
distinctions between financial service segments become less clear. For instance,
recent business  combinations have included insurance,  finance,  and securities
brokerage  under single  ownership.  Some  primarily  retail  corporations  have
expanded into securities and insurance  industries.  Moreover,  the federal laws
generally  separating  commercial  and  investment  banking are currently  being
studied by Congress.

Prepayment Risk. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date.
Borrowers  may find it  advantageous  to prepay  principal  due to a decline  in
interest rates or an excess in cash flow. Such  prepayments may require the Fund
to replace a Senior  Loan with a  lower-yielding  security.  This may  adversely
affect the net asset value of the Fund's shares.

Limited  Information.  The types of Senior  Loans in which the Fund will  invest
historically have not been rated by a nationally  recognized  statistical rating
organization,  have not been  registered  with the SEC or any  state  securities
commission,  and have not  been  listed  on any  national  securities  exchange.
Although the Fund will generally have access to financial and other  information
made  available to the Lenders in connection  with Senior  Loans,  the amount of
public information available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less
extensive  than  that  available  for  rated,   registered  or  exchange  listed
securities. As a result, the performance of the Fund and its ability to meet its
investment  objective is more dependent on the  analytical  ability of Stein Roe
than would be the case for an  investment  company  that  invests  primarily  in
rated, registered or exchange listed securities.

To the extent  that  Senior  Loans are rated,  the Fund may invest in the lowest
rated loans,  but does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in Senior
Loans rated below B- or B3 by S&P or Moody's.

Non-Diversification.  The Fund has registered as a "non-diversified"  investment
company so that,  subject  to its  investment  restrictions,  it will be able to
invest more than 5% of the value of its assets in the  obligations of any single
issuer,  including Senior Loans of a single Borrower or Participations purchased
from a  single  Lender.  (See  "Investment  Restrictions"  in the  Statement  of
Additional  Information.) The Fund does not intend, however, to invest more than
5% of the value of its assets in interests in Senior Loans of a single Borrower,
and the  Fund  intends  to  limit  its  investments  so as to  comply  with  the
diversification   requirements   imposed  by  the  Internal   Revenue  Code  for
qualification  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  To the  extent  the Fund
invests a relatively  high  percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited
number  of  issuers,  the  Fund  will be  more  susceptible  than a more  widely
diversified  investment  company to the  consequences  of any single  corporate,
economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

Ongoing Monitoring.  On behalf of the several Lenders,  the Agent generally will
be required  to  administer  and manage the Senior  Loans and,  with  respect to
collateralized  Senior  Loans,  to service or monitor  the  collateral.  In this
connection,  the valuation of assets  pledged as collateral  will reflect market
value  and the  Agent  may rely on  independent  appraisals  as to the  value of
specific collateral. The Agent, however, may not obtain an independent appraisal
as to the value of assets pledged as collateral in all cases.  The Fund normally
will rely  primarily on the Agent (where the Fund is a Primary Lender or owns an
Assignment)  or the  selling  Lender  (where the Fund owns a  Participation)  to
collect  principal  of and  interest  on a Senior  Loan.  Furthermore,  the Fund
usually  will rely on the Agent  (where the Fund is a Primary  Lender or owns an
Assignment)  or the  selling  Lender  (where the Fund owns a  Participation)  to
monitor  compliance by the Borrower with the  restrictive  covenants in the Loan
Agreement and notify the Fund of any adverse change in the Borrower's  financial
condition or any  declaration  of insolvency.  Collateralized  Senior Loans will
frequently be secured by all assets of the Borrower that qualify as  collateral,
which  may  include   common  stock  of  the   Borrower  or  its   subsidiaries.
Additionally, the terms of the Loan Agreement may require the Borrower to pledge
additional  collateral  to secure the Senior  Loan,  and enable the Agent,  upon
proper  authorization  of the Lenders,  to take  possession of and liquidate the
collateral  and to  distribute  the  liquidation  proceeds  pro rata  among  the
Lenders.  If the terms of a Senior Loan do not  require  the  Borrower to pledge
additional  collateral  in the event of a decline  in the value of the  original
collateral,  the  Fund  will be  exposed  to the  risk  that  the  value  of the
collateral  will not at all times  equal or exceed the amount of the  Borrower's
obligations  under  the  Senior  Loan.  Lenders  that  have  sold  Participation
interests in such Senior Loan will distribute  liquidation  proceeds received by
the Lenders pro rata among the  holders of such  Participations.  Stein Roe will
also monitor these aspects of the Fund's  investments  and,  where the Fund is a
Primary Lender or owns an Assignment,  will be directly  involved with the Agent
and the other Lenders regarding the exercise of credit remedies.

Investments  in Equity  Securities.  To the  extent  the Fund  invests in equity
securities,  the value of its portfolio will be affected by changes in the stock
markets,  which may be the result of  domestic  or  international  political  or
economic news,  changes in interest rates, or changing investor  sentiment.  The
stock  market can be volatile  and stock  prices can change  substantially.  The
equity  securities of smaller companies are more sensitive to these changes than
those of larger  companies.  This  market  risk will affect the Fund's net asset
value,  which will  fluctuate  as the value of the  securities  held by the Fund
changes.  Not all stock prices change  uniformly or at the same time and not all
stock markets move in the same direction at the same time.  Other factors affect
a particular stock's prices, such as poor earnings reports by an issuer, loss of
major customers,  major litigation against an issuer, or changes in governmental
regulations  affecting  an  industry.  Adverse  news  affecting  one company can
sometimes  depress the stock prices of all companies in the same  industry.  Not
all factors can be predicted.

Investments in Non-U.S. Issuers.  Investment in non-U.S. issuers involves
special risks, including that non-U.S. issuers may be subject to less rigorous
accounting and reporting requirements than are U.S. issuers, less rigorous
regulatory requirements, differing legal systems and laws relating to creditors'
rights, the potential inability to enforce legal judgments, and the potential
for political, social and economic adversities.

Other  Practices.  The Fund may use various  investment  practices  that involve
special  considerations,  including  engaging in interest rate and other hedging
transactions,  lending its portfolio  securities,  entering into when-issued and
delayed-delivery   transactions   and  entering  into   repurchase  and  reverse
repurchase agreements.  For further discussion of these practices and associated
special considerations, see "Other Investment Practices."

                           OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES

Stein Roe may use some or all of the following investment practices when, in its
opinion,  their use is appropriate.  These investment  practices involve special
risk considerations  that are discussed below.  Although Stein Roe believes that
these investment  practices may further the investment  objective,  no assurance
can be given that the  utilization  of these  investment  practices will achieve
that result.



<PAGE>


Structured  Notes.  The  Fund  may  invest  up to  10% of its  total  assets  in
structured  notes,  including  "total rate of return swaps" with rates of return
determined  by  reference  to the  total  rate of  return  on one or more  loans
referenced  in such  notes.  The rate of  return on the  structured  note may be
determined  by  applying  a  multiplier  to the  rate  of  total  return  on the
referenced  loan or loans.  Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use
of financial leverage, a speculative technique. Leverage magnifies the potential
for gain and the risk of loss,  because a relatively  small decline in the value
of a referenced  loan could result in a relatively  large loss in the value of a
structured  note.  Structured  notes are treated as Senior Loans for purposes of
the Fund's  policy of  normally  investing  at least 80% of its total  assets in
Senior Loans.

Interest  Rate  Swaps and Other  Hedging  Transactions.  The Fund may enter into
various interest rate hedging and risk management  transactions.  These interest
rate  hedging and risk  management  transactions  may be  considered  to involve
derivative instruments. A derivative is a financial instrument whose performance
is  derived  at  least in part  from the  performance  of an  underlying  index,
security  or  asset.   The  values  of  certain   derivatives  can  be  affected
dramatically  by  even  small  market  movements,  sometimes  in ways  that  are
difficult to predict.  There are many different  types of derivatives  with many
different uses. The Fund expects to enter into these  transactions  primarily to
seek  to  preserve  a  return  on a  particular  investment  or  portion  of its
portfolio,  and may also enter into such transactions to seek to protect against
decreases in the anticipated  rate of return on floating or variable rate Senior
Loans the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for other risk
management  strategies  such as managing the effective  dollar-weighted  average
duration of the investment portfolio.  In addition,  the Fund may also engage in
hedging  transactions,  including entering into put and call options, to seek to
protect the value of its portfolio against declines in net asset value resulting
from changes in interest rates or other market changes.  Market  conditions will
determine  whether and in what  circumstances  the Fund would employ any hedging
and risk  management  techniques.  The  Fund  will  not  engage  in any of these
transactions for speculative purposes and will use them only as a means to hedge
or manage  the risks  associated  with  assets  held in,  or  anticipated  to be
purchased for, the investment portfolio or obligations incurred by the Fund. The
successful  utilization  of hedging and risk  management  transactions  requires
skills  different  from those needed in the selection of Senior Loans.  The Fund
will  incur   brokerage  and  other  costs  in   connection   with  its  hedging
transactions.

The Fund may enter into  interest  rate swaps or purchase or sell  interest rate
caps or floors. The Fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors that it does
not own. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party
of their respective obligations to pay or receive interest; e.g., an exchange of
an  obligation  to make  floating  rate payments for an obligation to make fixed
rate payments.  For example, the Fund may seek to shorten the effective interest
rate redetermination  period of a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has selected an
interest rate  redetermination  period of one year.  The Fund could exchange the
Borrower's obligation to make fixed rate payments for one year for an obligation
to make payments that readjust  monthly.  In such event, the Fund would consider
the interest rate  redetermination  period of such Senior Loan to be the shorter
period.

The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser,  to the extent that
a specified index exceeds a predetermined  interest rate, to receive payments of
interest at the  difference  between the index and the  predetermined  rate on a
notional  principal  amount (the reference amount with respect to which interest
obligations are determined although no actual exchange of principal occurs) from
the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor
entitles  the  purchaser,  to the extent  that a  specified  index falls below a
predetermined  interest rate, to receive  payments of interest at the difference
between the index and the predetermined rate on a notional principal amount from
the party selling such interest rate floor.  The Fund will not enter into swaps,
caps or floors if, on a net basis, the aggregate  notional principal amount with
respect to such agreements exceeds the net assets of the Fund.

In  circumstances  in which  Stein Roe  anticipates  that  interest  rates  will
decline,  the Fund might,  for example,  enter into an interest rate swap as the
floating rate payor or,  alternatively,  purchase an interest rate floor. In the
case of purchasing an interest rate floor,  if interest rates declined below the
floor rate, the Fund would receive  payments from its  counterparty  which would
wholly or partially  offset the  decrease in the payments it would  receive with
respect  to the  portfolio  assets  being  hedged.  In the case  where  the Fund
purchases  such an interest  rate swap, if the floating rate payments fell below
the  level of the fixed  rate  payment  set in the swap  agreement,  the  Fund's
counterparty  would  pay the Fund  amounts  equal to  interest  computed  at the
difference  between the fixed and  floating  rates over the  notional  principal
amount.  Such  payments  would  offset or  partially  offset the decrease in the
payments the Fund would receive with respect to floating rate  portfolio  assets
being hedged.

The successful use of swaps, caps and floors to preserve the rate of return on a
portfolio of Senior Loans  depends on Stein Roe's  ability to predict  correctly
the  direction  and extent of movements in interest  rates.  Although  Stein Roe
believes that use of the hedging and risk management  techniques described above
will benefit the Fund, if Stein Roe's  judgment about the direction or extent of
the movement in interest  rates is  incorrect,  the Fund's  overall  performance
would be  worse  than if it had not  entered  into  any  such  transaction.  For
example,  if the Fund had  purchased an interest  rate swap or an interest  rate
floor to hedge against its  expectation  that  interest  rates would decline but
instead  interest  rates rose, the Fund would lose part or all of the benefit of
the increased payments it would receive as a result of the rising interest rates
because  it  would  have to pay  amounts  to its  counterparty  under  the  swap
agreement or would have paid the purchase price of the interest rate floor.

Inasmuch as these  hedging  transactions  are entered into for  good-faith  risk
management  purposes,  Stein Roe and the Fund  believe such  obligations  do not
constitute  senior  securities.  The Fund will usually  enter into interest rate
swaps on a net basis;  i.e.,  where the two parties make net  payments  with the
Fund  receiving  or paying,  as the case may be,  only the net amount of the two
payments.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's  obligations over
its entitlements  with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued and an
amount of cash or liquid securities having an aggregate net asset value at least
equal to the accrued excess will be  maintained.  If the Fund enters into a swap
on other  than a net  basis,  the Fund  will  maintain  the full  amount  of its
obligations under each such swap. Accordingly,  the Fund does not treat swaps as
senior  securities.  The Fund may enter into swaps,  caps and floors with member
banks of the  Federal  Reserve  System,  members of the New York Stock  Exchange
(NYSE) or other entities determined to be creditworthy by Stein Roe, pursuant to
procedures  adopted and reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Board.  If a default
occurs by the other party to such  transactions,  the Fund will have contractual
remedies  pursuant  to the  agreements  related  to the  transaction,  but  such
remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency  laws that could affect the
Fund's rights as a creditor.  The swap market has grown  substantially in recent
years with a large number of banks and financial  services  firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the swap market has become  relatively  liquid.  Caps and floors are more recent
innovations  and they are less  liquid than  swaps.  There can be no  assurance,
however,  that the Fund will be able to enter  into  interest  rate  swaps or to
purchase  interest  rate caps or floors at prices or on terms Stein Roe believes
are  advantageous to the Fund. In addition,  although the terms of interest rate
swaps,  caps and floors may provide for  termination,  there can be no assurance
that the Fund  will be able to  terminate  an  interest  rate swap or to sell or
offset interest rate caps or floors that it has purchased.

New financial  products  continue to be developed and the Fund may invest in any
such products as may be developed to the extent  consistent  with its investment
objective  and  the  regulatory  and  federal  tax  requirements  applicable  to
investment companies.

"When-issued" and  "Delayed-delivery"  Transactions.  The Fund may also purchase
and  sell  interests  in  Senior  Loans  and  other  portfolio  securities  on a
"when-issued"  and  "delayed-delivery"  basis.  No income accrues to the Fund on
such Senior Loans in  connection  with such purchase  transactions  prior to the
date the Fund actually takes delivery of such Senior Loans.  These  transactions
are subject to market  fluctuation;  the value of the  interests in Senior Loans
and other  portfolio debt  securities at delivery may be more or less than their
purchase  price,  and  yields  generally  available  on such  Senior  Loans when
delivery  occurs may be higher or lower than yields on the Senior Loans obtained
pursuant to such  transactions.  Because the Fund relies on the buyer or seller,
as the case may be, to consummate the transaction, failure by the other party to
complete  the  transaction  may result in the Fund  missing the  opportunity  of
obtaining a price or yield considered to be  advantageous.  When the Fund is the
buyer in such a transaction, however, it will maintain cash or liquid securities
having an aggregate value equal to the amount of such purchase commitments until
payment is made. The Fund will make commitments to purchase such Senior Loans on
such basis only with the intention of actually acquiring these Senior Loans, but
the Fund may sell such Senior Loans prior to the settlement date if such sale is
considered to be advisable.  To the extent the Fund engages in "when-issued" and
"delayed-delivery"  transactions,  it will do so for the  purpose  of  acquiring
Senior  Loans  for its  investment  portfolio  consistent  with  its  investment
objective  and  policies  and not for the  purpose of  investment  leverage.  No
specific limitation exists as to the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be
used to acquire securities on a "when-issued" or "delayed-delivery" basis.

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (a purchase
of, and a  simultaneous  commitment  to resell,  a  financial  instrument  at an
agreed-upon  price on an agreed-upon date) only with member banks of the Federal
Reserve System and member firms of the NYSE.  When  participating  in repurchase
agreements,  the Fund buys  securities  from a seller (e.g., a bank or brokerage
firm) with the agreement  that the seller will  repurchase  the  securities at a
higher price at a later date.  Such  transactions  afford an opportunity for the
Fund to earn a return  on  available  liquid  assets  at  minimal  market  risk,
although  the Fund may be  subject  to  various  delays and risks of loss if the
counterparty is unable to meet its obligation to repurchase. Under the 1940 Act,
repurchase agreements are deemed to be collateralized loans of money by the Fund
to the counterparty. In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement,
Stein Roe will consider carefully the  creditworthiness of the counterparty.  If
the member  bank or member  firm that is the party to the  repurchase  agreement
petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise  becomes  subject to the Bankruptcy  Code,
the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. The securities underlying
a repurchase  agreement  will be marked to market every business day so that the
value of the  collateral  is at least equal to the value of the loan,  including
the  accrued  interest  thereon,  and  Stein Roe will  monitor  the value of the
collateral.  No specific  limitation  exists as to the  percentage of the Fund's
assets that may be used to participate in repurchase agreements.

Reverse  Repurchase  Agreements.  The Fund may  enter  into  reverse  repurchase
agreements with respect to debt  obligations that could otherwise be sold by the
Fund. A reverse  repurchase  agreement is an instrument under which the Fund may
sell an underlying debt security and simultaneously obtain the commitment of the
purchaser (a commercial bank or a broker or dealer) to sell the security back to
the Fund at an agreed-upon  price on an agreed-upon date. The Fund will maintain
cash or liquid  securities in an amount sufficient to cover its obligations with
respect to reverse  repurchase  agreements.  The Fund receives  payment for such
securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer by its
custodian. SEC regulations require either that securities sold by the Fund under
a reverse  repurchase  agreement be  segregated  pending  repurchase or that the
proceeds  be  segregated  on the Fund's  books and records  pending  repurchase.
Reverse  repurchase  agreements  could  involve risks in the event of default or
insolvency of the other party,  including  possible delays or restrictions  upon
the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying  securities.  An additional risk
is that  the  market  value  of  securities  sold by the  Fund  under a  reverse
repurchase  agreement  could  decline  below  the  price  at  which  the Fund is
obligated to repurchase them. Reverse  repurchase  agreements will be considered
borrowings  by the Fund and as such  would be  subject  to the  restrictions  on
borrowing described in the Statement of Additional Information under "Investment
Restrictions."  The Fund  will not hold  more  than 5% of the value of its total
assets in reverse repurchase  agreements as of the time the agreement is entered
into.

                         DISTRIBUTIONS AND INCOME TAXES

Distributions.  Income  dividends  are declared each business day, paid monthly,
and confirmed at least  quarterly.  Capital  gains,  if any, are  distributed at
least annually, usually in December. Shares accrue dividends as long as they are
issued and outstanding  (i.e.,  from the date the payment for the purchase order
is received to the day before the repurchase settles).

Dividend  payments are not guaranteed  and may vary with each payment.  The Fund
does not pay "interest" or guarantee any fixed rate of return.

If you do not  indicate  on  your  application  your  preferences  for  handling
distributions,  the  Fund  will  automatically  reinvest  all  distributions  in
additional  shares of the Fund. You can choose one of the following  options for
distributions  when you open your  account:  (1) reinvest all  distributions  in
additional  shares of the Fund;  (2)  reinvest  all  distributions  in shares of
another fund; (3) receive  dividends in cash and reinvest  capital gains; or (4)
receive  all   distributions  in  cash.   Distributions  of  $10  or  less  will
automatically  be  reinvested  in  additional  shares.  If you elect to  receive
distributions by check and the check is returned as undeliverable,  or if you do
not  cash a  distribution  check  within  six  months  of the  check  date,  the
distribution will be reinvested in additional shares.

The Fund is authorized to borrow money  subject to  restrictions.  (See "How the
Fund  Invests.")  Under the 1940 Act,  the Fund may not declare any  dividend or
other  distribution  on  its  shares  unless  the  Fund  has,  at  the  time  of
declaration,  asset  coverage  of at least 300% of its  aggregate  indebtedness,
after deducting the amount of the  distribution.  This limitation may impair the
Fund's  ability to  maintain  its  qualification  for  taxation  as a  regulated
investment company.

Income  Taxes.  The Fund intends to satisfy those  requirements  relating to the
sources of its income, the distribution of its income,  and the  diversification
of its assets  necessary  to qualify for the special tax  treatment  afforded to
regulated  investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and
thereby be  relieved  of federal  income or excise  taxes to the extent  that it
distributes  its  net  investment  income  and net  realized  capital  gains  to
shareholders in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code. For
a detailed  discussion  of tax issues  pertaining to the Fund,  see  "Additional
Income Tax Considerations" in the Statement of Additional Information.

Your  distributions  will be  taxable  to you,  under  income  tax law,  whether
received in cash or  reinvested  in additional  shares.  For federal  income tax
purposes, any distribution that is paid in January but was declared in the prior
calendar year is deemed paid in the prior calendar year.

You will be subject to federal income tax at ordinary rates on income  dividends
and  distributions  of  net  short-term  capital  gains.  Distributions  of  net
long-term  capital  gains  will be  taxable to you as  long-term  capital  gains
regardless of the length of time you have held your shares.

You will be advised annually as to the source of distributions for tax purposes.
If you are not  subject to tax on your  income,  you will not be required to pay
tax on these amounts.

A  shareholder  who,  pursuant to a Repurchase  Offer,  offers all of his or her
shares for repurchase (and is not considered to own any other shares pursuant to
attribution  rules  contained  in the Code) may  realize a taxable  gain or loss
depending upon the shareholder's basis in the shares. Such gain or loss realized
on the  disposition  of shares  (whether  pursuant to a  Repurchase  Offer or in
connection  with a sale or other  taxable  disposition  of shares in a secondary
market)  generally  will be treated  as  long-term  capital  gain or loss if the
shares  have  been  held as a  capital  asset  for  more  than  one  year and as
short-term capital gain or loss if held as a capital asset for one year or less.
Starting in 2001, net long-term  capital gains realized upon the  disposition of
shares held longer  than five years will be subject to a lower  maximum  capital
gains tax rate than is currently  available.  If shares are sold at a loss after
being held for six months or less, the loss will be treated as long-term instead
of  short-term  capital  loss to the extent of any  capital  gain  distributions
received  on those  shares.  All or a portion of any loss  realized on a sale or
exchange of shares of the Fund will be  disallowed if the  shareholder  acquires
other shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the
basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Different  tax  consequences   may  apply  to  shareholders   whose  shares  are
repurchased  (other than  shareholders  who do not offer all of their shares for
repurchase  described in the previous  paragraph) and to shareholders who do not
offer their shares for repurchase in connection with the Repurchase  Offer.  For
example,  if a shareholder  offers for repurchase fewer than all his shares, the
proceeds received could be treated as a taxable  dividend,  a return of capital,
or capital  gain  depending  on the  portion of shares  repurchased,  the Fund's
earnings and profits,  and the  shareholder's  basis in the repurchased  shares.
Moreover,  when fewer than all shares  owned by a  shareholder  are  repurchased
pursuant to a Repurchase Offer,  there is a remote possibility that shareholders
whose shares are not  repurchased  may be  considered  to have received a deemed
distribution  that is  taxable  to them in  whole  or in  part.  You may wish to
consult your tax advisor prior to offering your shares for repurchase.

Backup  Withholding.  The Fund may be required to  withhold  federal  income tax
("backup   withholding")  from  certain  payments  to  a  shareholder  generally
distribution  payments  and  redemption  proceeds.  Backup  withholding  may  be
required if:

o        the shareholder fails to furnish its properly certified Social Security
         or other tax identification number;
o        the shareholder fails to certify that its tax identification number is
         correct or that it is not subject to backup withholding due to the
         underreporting of certain income;
o        the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) informs the Fund that the
         shareholder's tax identification number is incorrect.

These  certifications  are contained in the application that you should complete
and return when you open an account.  The Fund must  promptly pay to the IRS all
amounts  withheld.  Therefore,  it is  usually  not  possible  for  the  Fund to
reimburse you for amounts withheld.  You may, however, claim the amount withheld
as a credit on your federal income tax return.

The federal  income tax  discussion  set forth above is for general  information
only. Prospective investors should consult their advisors regarding the specific
federal and state tax  consequences  of  purchasing,  holding and  disposing  of
shares,  as well as the effects of other  state,  local and foreign tax laws and
any proposed tax law changes.

                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND


Board of Trustees and Investment Advisor.  The Board of Trustees of the Fund has
overall  management  responsibility  for  the  Fund.  See  "Management"  in  the
Statement of Additional Information for the names of and other information about
the trustees, and officers.

The  investment  advisor,  Stein Roe & Farnham  Incorporated,  One South  Wacker
Drive,  Chicago, IL 60606, is responsible for managing the investment  portfolio
and the  business  affairs of the Fund,  subject to the  direction of the Board.
Stein Roe is registered as an investment  advisor under the Investment  Advisors
Act of 1940.  Stein Roe is a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of Liberty  Funds Group,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial Services, Inc., which is
a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Liberty  Financial   Companies,   Inc.(Liberty
Financial),  which is a majority owned subsidiary of Liberty Corporate Holdings,
Inc.,  which is a wholly owned  subsidiary  of LFC  Holdings,  Inc.,  which is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance  Company.  Stein Roe and its
predecessor  have  advised  and  managed  mutual  funds since 1949 and have been
providing investment advisory services since 1932.

Stein Roe's mutual funds and institutional  investment  advisory  businesses are
part of a larger  business unit known as Liberty Funds Group (LFG) that includes
several separate legal entities. LFG includes affiliates of Stein Roe, including
Colonial  Management  Associates,  Inc.  (Colonial).  The LFG  business  unit is
managed by a single management team.  Colonial and other LFG entities also share
personnel,  facilities, and systems with Stein Roe that may be used in providing
administrative  or operational  services to the Funds.  Colonial is a registered
investment advisor.  Stein Roe also has a wealth management business that is not
part of LFG and is managed by a different team. Stein Roe and the other entities
that make up LFG are subsidiaries of Liberty Financial.


Fees and Expenses.  Stein Roe provides portfolio management services to the Fund
for a monthly  management  fee,  computed and accrued daily,  based on an annual
rate of 0.45% of Average Daily Managed Assets of the Fund.  Colonial  Management
Associates, Inc. provides administrative services to the Fund for a monthly fee,
computed and accrued  daily,  based on an annual rate of 0.20% of Average  Daily
Managed Assets of the Fund. "Average Daily Managed Assets" of the Fund means the
average daily value of the total assets of the Fund less all accrued liabilities
of the Fund  (other  than the  aggregate  amount of any  outstanding  borrowings
constituting financial leverage).

Because the fee paid to the Advisor and the Administrator  will be calculated on
the basis of the Fund's managed assets,  which include the proceeds of leverage,
the dollar amount of the fees paid by the Fund to the Advisor and  Administrator
will be higher (and the  Advisor and  Administrator  will be  benefited  to that
extent) when leverage is utilized.  The Advisor will utilize leverage only if it
would result in a net benefit to the Fund shareholders after taking into account
the  higher  fees  and  expenses  associated  with  leverage  (including  higher
management and administration fees).

Stein Roe provides  office space and executive  and other  personnel to the Fund
and bears any sales or  promotional  expenses.  The Fund pays all expenses other
than those paid by Stein Roe,  including but not limited to printing and postage
charges,  securities registration and custodian fees, and expenses incidental to
its organization.

Portfolio Managers.  Brian W. Good and James R. Fellows, vice presidents of
Stein Roe, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
Mr. Fellows and Mr. Good have been employed by Stein Roe since April
1998.  Prior thereto, Mr. Good was vice president and portfolio manager at
Van Kampen American Capital since 1989
and Mr. Fellows was vice president and senior credit analyst at Van Kampen
American Capital since 1988.  Transfer Agent.  Liberty Funds Services, Inc.
Transfer Agent), P.O. Box 1722, Boston, MA 02105-1722, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Liberty Financial, is the agent of the Fund for the
transfer of shares, disbursement of dividends, and maintenance of shareholder
accounting records.

Distributor.  Fund shares are offered for sale through Liberty Funds
Distributor, Inc. (Distributor).  The Distributor is a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of Liberty Financial.  The business address of the Distributor
is One Financial Center, Boston, MA  02111.

Custodian.  State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA
02101, is the custodian of the Fund. The custodian,  among other things, attends
to the  collection  of principal  and income and payment for and  collection  of
proceeds of securities bought and sold.

                                HOW TO BUY SHARES

Your  financial  advisor  can  help  you  establish  an  appropriate  investment
portfolio, buy shares, and monitor your investments. When the Fund receives your
purchase  request  in  "good  form,"  your  shares  will be  bought  at the next
calculated net asset value. In "good form" means that you placed your order with
your  brokerage  firm or your payment has been received and your  application is
complete, including all necessary signatures.



<PAGE>


Outlined below are various ways you can purchase shares:

Method                     Instructions

Through your financial      Your financial advisor can help you establish your
 advisor                    account and buy Fund shares on your behalf.

-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By check                    For new accounts, send a completed application and
(new account)               check made payable to the Fund to the
                            transfer agent, Liberty Funds Services, Inc., P.O.
                            Box 1722, Boston, MA 02105-1722.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By check                    For existing  accounts,  fill out and return the
(existing account)          additional  investment stub included in your
                            quarterly  statement,  or send a letter
                            of instruction, including your Fund name and account
                            number with a check made payable to the Fund to
                            Liberty Funds Services, Inc., P.O. Box 1722,
                            Boston, MA 02105-1722.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By                         exchange  You or your  financial  advisor may acquire
                           shares by  exchanging  shares you own in one Fund for
                           shares of the same class of the Fund at no additional
                           cost. To exchange by telephone,  call 1-800-422-3737.
                           There may be an  additional  charge  when  exchanging
                           from a money market fund.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By                         wire You may  purchase  shares by wiring  money  from
                           your bank account to your Fund account. To wire funds
                           to your Fund account, call 1-800-422-3737 to obtain a
                           control number and the wiring instructions.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By electronic funds        You may purchase shares by electronically
transfer                   transferring money from your bank account to your
                           Fund account by calling  1-800-422-3737.
                           Your money may take up to two business days to be
                           invested.  You must set up this feature prior to
                           your telephone request.  Be sure to complete
                           the appropriate section of the application.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Automatic                  You can make  monthly  or  quarterly
investment  plan           investments  automatically  from your bank account to
                           your Fund  account.  You can select a  pre-authorized
                           amount to be sent via electronic  funds transfer.  Be
                           sure  to  complete  the  appropriate  section  of the
                           application for this feature.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
By dividend                You may automatically invest dividends  distributed
 diversification           by the Fund into the same class of shares of another
                           fund at no additional sales charge. To invest your
                           dividends in another fund, call 1-800-422-3737.



Investment Minimums
Initial Investment                             $100,000
Subsequent Investments                              $50
Automatic Investment Plan                           $50
Retirement Plans                                    $25

The Fund  reserves the right to change the  investment  minimums.  The Fund also
reserves  the right to refuse a purchase  order for any reason,  including if it
believes  that  doing  so  would  be in the  best  interest  of the Fund and its
shareholders.


 The following investors are eligible to purchase Class Z shares: (i) clients of
 broker-dealers  or  registered  investment  advisors  that both  recommend  the
 purchase of Fund  shares and charge such  clients an  asset-based  fee;  (ii) a
 retirement  plan (or the custodian for such plan) with aggregate plan assets of
 at least $5 million at the time of purchase and which purchases shares directly
 from Liberty Funds  Distributor,  Inc.,  the Fund's  distributor,  or through a
 third party broker-dealer;  (iii) any insurance company,  trust company or bank
 purchasing shares for its own account;  (iv) any endowment,  investment company
 or foundation; (v) clients of investment advisory affiliates of the distributor
 provided that the clients meet certain criteria  established by the distributor
 and its affiliates; (vi) any shareholder (or family member of such shareholder)
 who owned shares of any of the funds of Liberty  Acorn Trust on  September  29,
 2000  (when all of the then  outstanding  shares of  Liberty  Acorn  Trust were
 re-designated Class Z shares) and who has since then continued to own shares of
 any funds  distributed  by Liberty Funds  Distributor,  Inc.;  (vii) any person
 investing all or part of the proceeds of a distribution,  roll over or transfer
 of assets into a Liberty IRA, from any deferred  compensation  plan which was a
 shareholder  of any of the funds of Liberty  Acorn Trust on September 29, 2000,
 in which the investor was a participant and through which the investor invested
 in one or more of the funds of Liberty  Acorn  Trust  immediately  prior to the
 distribution, transfer or roll over; (viii) any trustee of Liberty Acorn Trust,
 any  employee of Liberty  Wanger  Asset  Management,  L.P.,  or a member of the
 family of such trustee or employee; and (ix) any person or entity listed in the
 account  registration  for  any  account  (such  as  joint  owners,   trustees,
 custodians,  and designated beneficiaries) that held shares of any of the funds
 of Liberty Acorn Trust on September 29, 2000 and that has since then  continued
 to hold shares of any fund distributed by Liberty Funds Distributor, Inc.

 Initial purchases of Class Z shares are subject to a minimum purchase amount of
 $100,000,  except that  purchases by (a) retirement  plans  described in clause
 (ii) above are not subject to any initial investment minimum, and (b) investors
 described  in clauses  (vi),  (viii)  and (ix)  above are  subject to a minimum
 purchase amount of $1,000. The Fund reserves the right to change the investment
 minimums.




                             MULTIPLE SHARE CLASSES

Choosing  a  Share  Class.   The  Fund  offers  one  class  of  shares  in  this
prospectus--Class  Z shares.  Class Z shares are available to institutional  and
other  investors at net asset value  without a sales charge or early  withdrawal
charge.  The  Fund  also  offers  Class  A, B and C shares  through  a  separate
prospectus.

How to Exchange  Shares.  Shareholders  of the Fund whose shares are repurchased
during a Repurchase Offer may exchange those shares for shares of the same class
of a fund  distributed  by Liberty Funds  Distributor,  Inc. at net asset value.
Fund shareholders will not be able to participate in this exchange  privilege at
any time other than in connection  with a Repurchase  Offer.  If your shares are
subject to an EWC,  you will not be charged an EWC upon the  exchange.  However,
when you sell the shares acquired  through the exchange,  the shares sold may be
subject  to a CDSC  (a CDSC  is the  deferred  sales  charge  applicable  to the
open-end Liberty Funds) or EWC, depending upon when you originally purchased the
shares you  exchanged.  For purposes of computing the CDSC or EWC, the length of
time you have owned your shares will be computed  from the date of your original
purchase and the applicable CDSC or EWC will be the EWC of the original Fund.

Unless your account is part of a tax-deferred  retirement plan, an exchange is a
taxable event. Therefore, you may realize a gain or a loss for tax purposes. The
Fund may terminate  your exchange  privilege if Stein Roe  determines  that your
exchange activity is likely to adversely impact its ability to manage the Fund.

                           PERIODIC REPURCHASE OFFERS

The Board has adopted share repurchase policies as fundamental  policies.  Those
policies, which may not be changed without the vote of the holders of a majority
of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, provide that each calendar quarter,
the Fund  intends  to make a  Repurchase  Offer to  repurchase  a portion of the
outstanding shares from shareholders who request  repurchases.  The price of the
repurchases of shares normally will be the net asset value per share  determined
as of the close of business (4 p.m.,  Eastern  time) on the date the  Repurchase
Offer  ends or within a maximum of 14 days  after the  Repurchase  Offer ends as
described below.

Repurchase  Procedure.  At the beginning of each Repurchase Offer,  shareholders
will be notified in writing  about the  Repurchase  Offer,  how they may request
that the Fund  repurchase  their  shares and the deadline  for  shareholders  to
provide their repurchase  requests to the Distributor  (the "Repurchase  Request
Deadline"),  which is the date the  Repurchase  Offer ends. The time between the
notification of the  shareholders  and the Repurchase  Request Deadline may vary
from no more than six weeks to no less than  three  weeks.  For each  Repurchase
Offer, it is anticipated  that each Repurchase  Request  Deadline will be on the
15th day in each of the months of February, May, August and November, or, if the
15th day is not a business day, the next business day. The  repurchase  price of
the shares  will be the net asset  value as of the close of the NYSE on the date
on which the  repurchase  price of shares will be  determined  (the  "Repurchase
Pricing Date"). It is anticipated that normally the Repurchase Pricing Date will
be the same date as the Repurchase  Request Deadline,  and if so, the Repurchase
Request  Deadline  will be set for a time no later than the close of the NYSE on
such date. The Fund has determined that the Repurchase Pricing Date may occur no
later  than the 14th day  after  the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline  or the next
business day if the 14th day is not a business day.

The Board may  establish  other  policies  for  repurchases  of shares  that are
consistent  with the 1940 Act and  other  pertinent  laws.  Shares  offered  for
repurchase  by  shareholders  by  any  Repurchase   Request   Deadline  will  be
repurchased  subject to the aggregate  repurchase  amounts  established for that
Repurchase Request Deadline. Repurchase proceeds will be paid to shareholders in
cash within seven days after each Repurchase Pricing Date.
The end of the seven days is referred to as the "Repurchase Payment Deadline."

Repurchase  offers and the need to fund  repurchase  obligations  may affect the
ability of the Fund to be fully invested,  which may reduce  returns.  Moreover,
diminution in the size of the Fund through  repurchases  without  offsetting new
sales may result in untimely  sales of Senior Loans and a higher  expense  ratio
and  may  limit  the  ability  of the  Fund  to  participate  in new  investment
opportunities. The Fund may borrow to meet repurchase obligations, which entails
risks and costs (see  "Borrowing").  The Fund may also sell Senior Loans to meet
repurchase  obligations  which may adversely  affect the market for Senior Loans
and reduce the Fund's value.

Repurchase Amounts. The Board, in its sole discretion, will determine the number
of shares that the Fund will offer to repurchase (the "Repurchase Offer Amount")
for a given Repurchase  Request Deadline.  However,  the Repurchase Offer Amount
will  be at  least  5% and no  more  than  25% of the  total  number  of  shares
outstanding on the Repurchase Request Deadline.

If shareholders offer for repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount for a
given Repurchase  Offer, the Fund may repurchase an additional  amount of shares
of up to 2% of the shares outstanding on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If the
Fund determines not to repurchase more than the Repurchase  Offer Amount,  or if
the Fund  determines to repurchase the additional 2% of the shares  outstanding,
but Fund shareholders  offer shares for repurchase in excess of that amount, the
Fund will  repurchase  the shares on a pro rata  basis.  The Fund may,  however,
accept all shares offered for repurchase by  shareholders  who own less than 100
shares  and who offer all their  shares,  before  accepting  on a pro rata basis
shares offered by other shareholders.  In the event there is an oversubscription
of a Repurchase  Offer,  shareholders  may be unable to liquidate all or a given
percentage  of  their  investment  in the Fund at net  asset  value  during  the
Repurchase Offer.

Notices to  Shareholders.  Notice of each  quarterly  Repurchase  Offer (and any
additional  discretionary  repurchase  offers) will be given to each  beneficial
owner of shares between 21 and 42 days before each Repurchase  Request Deadline.
The notice will contain  information  shareholders  should  consider in deciding
whether or not to offer  their  shares  for  repurchase.  The  notice  will also
include detailed instructions on how to offer shares for repurchase.  The notice
will state the Repurchase Offer Amount.  The notice will also identify the dates
of the  Repurchase  Request  Deadline,  scheduled  Repurchase  Pricing Date, and
scheduled  Repurchase  Payment  Deadline.  The notice will  describe the risk of
fluctuation in the net asset value between the Repurchase  Request  Deadline and
the Repurchase Pricing Date, if such dates do not coincide,  and the possibility
that the Fund may use an  earlier  Repurchase  Pricing  Date than the  scheduled
Repurchase  Pricing Date (if the  scheduled  Repurchase  Pricing Date is not the
Repurchase  Request  Deadline).  The notice will describe (i) the procedures for
shareholders to offer their shares for  repurchase,  (ii) the procedures for the
Fund to repurchase shares on a pro rata basis,  (iii) the circumstances in which
the Fund may suspend or postpone a  Repurchase  Offer,  and (iv) the  procedures
that will enable  shareholders  to withdraw or modify their offers of shares for
repurchase until the Repurchase Request Deadline.  The notice will set forth the
net asset value of the shares to be  repurchased  no more than seven days before
the date of  notification,  and how  shareholders  may as certain  the net asset
value after the notification date.

Repurchase  Price.  The current net asset value of the shares is computed daily.
The Board has  determined  that the time at which  the net asset  value  will be
computed will be as of the close of regular session trading on the NYSE. You may
call  1-800-345-6611  to learn the net asset value per share.  The notice of the
Repurchase  Offer will also provide  information  concerning the net asset value
per share,  such as the net asset  value as of a recent  date or a  sampling  of
recent net asset values,  and a toll-free  number for information  regarding the
Repurchase Offer.

Suspension or Postponement of Repurchase Offer. The Fund may suspend or postpone
a repurchase  offer only: (a) if making or effecting the repurchase  offer would
cause the Fund to lose its status as a regulated  investment  company  under the
Internal Revenue Code; (b) for any period during which the NYSE or any market on
which the securities owned by the Fund are principally  traded is closed,  other
than  customary  weekend and holiday  closings,  or during which trading in such
market is restricted;  (c) for any period during which an emergency  exists as a
result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable,  or  during  which it is not  reasonably  practicable  for the Fund
fairly to determine  the value of its net assets;  or (d) for such other periods
as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.

Liquidity  Requirements.  The Fund must  maintain  liquid  assets equal to their
Repurchase  Offer  Amount from the time that the notice is sent to  shareholders
until the  Repurchase  Pricing  Date.  The Fund will ensure that a percentage of
their  respective  net  assets  equal to at least 100% of the  Repurchase  Offer
Amount  consists of assets (a) that can be sold or  disposed of in the  ordinary
course of business at  approximately  the price at which the Fund has valued the
investment  within the time period between the Repurchase  Request  Deadline and
the Repurchase  Payment Deadline;  or (b) that mature by the Repurchase  Payment
Deadline.

The Board of the Fund has adopted  procedures  that are  reasonably  designed to
ensure that the assets are sufficiently  liquid so that the Fund can comply with
the Repurchase  Offer and the liquidity  requirements  described in the previous
paragraph.  If,  at any  time,  the Fund  falls  out of  compliance  with  these
liquidity  requirements,  their respective Boards will take whatever action they
deem appropriate to ensure compliance.

                                 NET ASSET VALUE

The purchase or redemption  price of shares is generally the net asset value per
share except for Class A share purchases at the public offering price.  The Fund
determines the net asset value of its shares as of the close of regular  session
trading on the NYSE (currently 4 p.m.,  Eastern time) by dividing the difference
between  the  values  of its  assets  and  liabilities  by the  number of shares
outstanding.  Net asset  value will not be  determined  on days when the NYSE is
closed  unless,  in the judgment of the Board of  Trustees,  the net asset value
should be  determined on any such day, in which case the  determination  will be
made at 4 p.m., Eastern time.

The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest  generally  are not listed on any
securities exchange.  Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors
in an  over-the-counter  secondary  market for Senior Loan  obligations that has
developed  over the past several years.  This secondary  market for those Senior
Loans generally is comparatively  illiquid  relative to markets for other income
securities  and no active  trading  market  exists  for many  Senior  Loans.  In
determining  net asset  value,  the Fund will utilize the  valuations  of Senior
Loans furnished to Stein Roe by an independent  third-party pricing service. The
pricing  service  provider has no obligation to provide a valuation for a Senior
Loan if it believes that it cannot  determine such a valuation.  There can be no
assurance  that the pricing  service  provider  will  continue to provide  these
services or will provide a value for each Senior Loan held by the Fund. However,
Stein Roe believes that if the pricing service provider  declines to continue to
act as such for the Fund, or does not provide  values for a significant  portion
of the Senior Loans in the Fund's portfolio, one or more alternative independent
third-party  pricing service  providers will be available to provide  comparable
services on similar terms.

A pricing service provider  typically will value Senior Loans at the mean of the
highest  bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when  current  quotations
are readily available. Senior Loans for which current quotations are not readily
available  are  valued at a fair  value as  determined  by the  pricing  service
provider using a wide range of market data and other  information  and analysis,
including  credit  considerations  considered  relevant by the  pricing  service
provider to determine valuations. The procedures of any pricing service provider
and its  valuations  will be  reviewed  by the  officers  of Stein Roe under the
general supervision of the Board. If Stein Roe believes that a value provided by
a  pricing  service  provider  does not  represent  a fair  value as a result of
information,  specific to that Senior  Loan or  Borrower or its  affiliates,  of
which Stein Roe believes that the pricing agent may not be aware,  Stein Roe may
in its  discretion  value the Senior Loan subject to procedures  approved by the
Board and  reviewed on a periodic  basis,  and the Fund will  utilize that price
instead of the price as determined by the pricing service provider.  In addition
to such  information,  Stein Roe will  consider,  among other  factors,  (i) the
creditworthiness  of the Borrower and (ii) the current interest rate, the period
until next  interest  rate reset and  maturity of such Senior Loan  interests in
determining  a fair value of a Senior  Loan.  If the  pricing  service  does not
provide a value for a Senior  Loan or if no  pricing  service  provider  is then
acting, a value will be determined by Stein Roe in the manner described above.

It is expected  that the Fund's net asset value will  fluctuate as a function of
interest rate and credit factors. Although the Fund's net asset value will vary,
Stein Roe  expects  the Fund's  policy of  acquiring  interests  in  floating or
variable  rate  Senior  Loans to minimize  fluctuations  in net asset value as a
result of changes in interest rates. Accordingly, Stein Roe expects the value of
the  investment  portfolio to fluctuate  significantly  less than a portfolio of
fixed-rate, longer term obligations as a result of interest rate changes.

Other  long-term  debt  securities  for which market  quotations are not readily
available  are  valued at fair value  based on  valuations  provided  by pricing
services  approved by the Board,  which may employ  electronic  data  processing
techniques,  including a matrix system,  to determine  valuations.  The value of
interest rate swaps,  caps,  and floors will be determined in accordance  with a
formula and then  confirmed  periodically  by obtaining a quotation.  Short-term
debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their
amortized cost, which does not take into account unrealized gains or losses. The
Board  believes  that  the  amortized  cost  represents  a fair  value  for such
securities. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 60
days for which market  quotations are not readily available are valued by use of
a matrix  prepared by Stein Roe based on quotations for  comparable  securities.
Other assets and securities held by the Fund for which these  valuation  methods
do not produce a fair value are valued by a method that the Board  believes will
determine a fair value.

                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The  Fund  seeks to  provide  an  effective  yield  that is  higher  than  other
short-term instrument alternatives.  From time to time, the Fund may include its
current and/or  effective yield based on various  specific time periods.  Yields
will  fluctuate  from  time to time and are not  necessarily  representative  of
future results.

The  current  yield  is  calculated  by  annualizing  the  most  recent  monthly
distribution  (i.e.,  multiplying the distribution amount by 365/31 for a 31 day
month) and  dividing  the product by the current  maximum  offering  price.  The
effective yield is calculated by dividing the current yield by 365/31 and adding
1. The resulting  quotient is then taken to the 365/31st power and reduced by 1.
The result is the effective yield.

On occasion,  the Fund may compare its yield to: (a) LIBOR,  quoted daily in the
Wall Street Journal;  (b) the CD Rate as quoted daily in the Wall Street Journal
as the  average of top rates paid by major New York banks on primary  new issues
of negotiable CDs, usually on amounts of $1 million or more; (c) the Prime Rate,
quoted daily in The Wall Street  Journal as the base rate on corporate  loans at
large U.S. money center  commercial  banks; (d) one or more averages compiled by
Donoghue's Money Fund Report, a widely recognized  independent  publication that
monitors the  performance  of money market mutual  funds;  (e) the average yield
reported by the Bank Rate  Monitor  National  IndexTM for money  market  deposit
accounts  offered by the 100 leading  banks and thrift  institutions  in the ten
largest  standard  metropolitan  statistical  areas; (f) yield data published by
Lipper,  Inc.;  (g) the yield on an  investment  in 90-day  Treasury  bills on a
rolling basis, assuming quarterly  compounding;  or (h) the yield on an index of
loan funds comprised of all continually  offered  closed-end bank loan funds, as
categorized by Lipper (the "loan fund index"). In addition, the Fund may compare
the Prime Rate, the Donoghue's averages and the other yield data described above
to each other.  Yield  comparisons  should not be  considered  indicative of the
Fund's yield or relative performance for any future period.


From time to time  advertisements  and other  sales  materials  for the Fund may
include information  concerning the historical performance of the Fund. Any such
information  may  include  a  distribution   rate  and  an  average   compounded
distribution  rate of the Fund for specified  periods of time. Such  information
may also include  performance  rankings and similar information from independent
organizations  such as Lipper,  Inc.,  Business  Week,  Forbes or other industry
publications.

The Fund's  distribution  rate  generally is  determined on a monthly basis with
respect  to  the  immediately   preceding  monthly   distribution   period.  The
distribution rate is computed by first annualizing the Fund's  distributions per
Share during such a monthly  distribution  period and  dividing  the  annualized
distribution  by the Fund's maximum  offering price per Share on the last day of
such period. The Fund calculates the compounded  distribution rate by adding one
to the  monthly  distribution  rate,  raising  the  sum to the  power  of 12 and
subtracting one from the product.  In  circumstances  in which the Fund believes
that, as a result of decreases in market rates of interest, its expected monthly
distributions may be less than the distributions with respect to the immediately
preceding monthly  distribution period, the Fund reserves the right to calculate
the distribution rate on the basis of a period of less than one month.

When utilized by the Fund,  distribution  rate and compounded  distribution rate
figures are based on  historical  performance  and are not  intended to indicate
future  performance.  Distribution  rate,  compounded  distribution rate and net
asset value per share can be expected to fluctuate over time.


Advertisements  and  communications to present or prospective  shareholders also
may  cite a  total  return  for  any  period.  Total  return  is  calculated  by
subtracting  the net asset value of a single  purchase of shares at a given date
from  the  net  asset  value  of  those   shares   (assuming   reinvestment   of
distributions) or a later date. The difference divided by the original net asset
value is the total  return.  The Fund may  include  information  about the total
return on the Loan Fund Index,  and compare that to the total return of the Fund
and other  indices.  In calculating  the Fund's total return,  all dividends and
distributions  are assumed to be reinvested in additional  shares of the Fund at
net asset  value.  Therefore,  the  calculation  of the Fund's  total return and
effective  yield reflects the effect of compounding.  The  calculations of total
return,  current  yield and  effective  yield do not  reflect  the amount of any
shareholder income tax liability,  which would reduce the performance quoted. If
the Fund's fees or expenses  are waived or  reimbursed,  the Fund's  performance
will be higher.

Finally,  the Fund may include information on the history of its net asset value
per share and the net asset  value per share of the Loan Fund  Index,  including
comparisons  between them, in  advertisements  and other  material  furnished to
present and prospective  shareholders.  Information about the performance of the
Fund or other  investments is not necessarily  indicative of future  performance
and should not be considered a  representative  of what an  investor's  yield or
total return may be in the future.

                     ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES


The Fund is a  Massachusetts  business  trust  organized  under an Agreement and
Declaration of Trust  (Declaration of Trust) dated June 8, 1999,  which provides
that each  shareholder  shall be deemed to have  agreed to be bound by the terms
thereof.  The Declaration of Trust may be amended by a vote of either the Fund's
shareholders or its trustees.  The Fund offers four classes of  shares--Class A,
Class B,  Class C, and Class Z. Class A, B and C shares  are  offered  through a
separate prospectus.


Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts  business trust such as
the Fund could, in some circumstances, be held personally liable for unsatisfied
obligations  of the trust.  However,  the  Declaration  of Trust  provides  that
persons  extending credit to,  contracting with, or having any claim against the
Fund shall look only to its assets for payment  under such  credit,  contract or
claim, and that the  shareholders,  trustees and officers of the Fund shall have
no personal liability therefor. The Declaration of Trust requires that notice of
such  disclaimer  of  liability  be  given  in  each  contract,   instrument  or
undertaking  executed or made on behalf of the Fund. Further, the Declaration of
Trust  provides  for  indemnification  of any  shareholder  against any loss and
expense arising from personal liability solely by reason of being or having been
a  shareholder.  Thus,  the risk of a shareholder  incurring  financial  loss on
account of shareholder  liability is believed to be remote,  because it would be
limited to  circumstances  in which the disclaimer was  inoperative and the Fund
was unable to meet its obligations.

The shares  are not,  and are not  expected  to be,  listed  for  trading on any
national securities exchange nor, to the Fund's knowledge, is there, or is there
expected to be, any secondary trading market in the shares.

Dividends,  Voting and  Liquidation  Rights.  Each  common  share of  beneficial
interest of the Fund has one vote and shares  equally  with other  shares of its
class in dividends and distributions when and if declared by the Fund and in the
Fund's net assets upon liquidation.  All shares, when issued, are fully paid and
are  non-assessable  by the Fund.  There are no preemptive or conversion  rights
applicable to any of the common shares  except for such  conversion  rights that
may be established by the Trustees in connection with the designation of a class
of shares  including  the  conversion  of Class B shares to Class A shares eight
years after purchase.  Fund shares do not have cumulative  voting rights and, as
such,  holders of more than 50% of the shares  voting for Trustees can elect all
Trustees and the remaining shareholders would not be able to elect any Trustees.
The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

Anti-Takeover  Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.  The Declaration of Trust
includes  provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other
entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund. In addition,  in the event a
secondary  market were to develop in the shares,  such provisions could have the
effect of depriving  holders of shares of an opportunity to sell their shares at
a premium over prevailing market prices.

The  Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of the holders of not less
than  three-fourths of the outstanding shares then entitled to vote to authorize
certain transactions,  unless at least three-fourths of the members of the Board
then in office and at least  three-fourths  of the  non-interested  trustees who
have acted in such  capacities for at least 12 months (or since  commencement of
operation if that period is less than 12 months)  authorize such transaction and
then only a vote of the majority of the holders of the  outstanding  shares then
entitled to vote is required.

The Board has determined that the voting requirements described above, which are
greater than the minimum  requirements under  Massachusetts law or the 1940 Act,
are in the best interests of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to
the  Declaration  of  Trust  on file  with  the SEC for the  full  text of these
provisions.

Status of Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any issued or
unissued  shares of the Fund into  shares  of any  class by  redesignating  such
shares or by setting or changing in any one or more respects, from time to time,
prior to the  issuance of such  shares,  the  preferences,  conversion  or other
rights,   voting   powers,   restrictions,    limitations   as   to   dividends,
qualifications,  or terms or conditions  of repurchase of such shares.  Any such
classification or  reclassification  will comply with the provisions of the 1940
Act.


As of November 30, 2000, the following shares of the Fund were outstanding:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                            (2)                     (3)                                 (4)
        (1)               Amount         Amount held by Fund or for       Amount Outstanding Exclusive of
   Title of Class       Authorized              its Account                    Amount Shown Under (3)

<S>                      <C>                         <C>                           <C>
Class A                  Unlimited                   0                             7,641,266.122

Class B                  Unlimited                   0                             2,909,518.071

Class C                  Unlimited                   0                             2,592,433.568

Class Z                  Unlimited                   0                                225,667.843

</TABLE>


                               SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

The Fund issues reports to its shareholders semi-annually that include financial
information.

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Fund will  furnish  without  charge,  when  available,  copies of its Annual
Report and any subsequent Semi-Annual Report to shareholders upon request to the
Fund,   One   Financial   Center,   Boston,   Massachusetts   02111,   toll-free
1-800-422-3737.



<PAGE>


                              TABLE OF CONTENTS OF
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                                                           Page
The Fund................................................................
Investment Policies.....................................................
Portfolio Investments and Strategies....................................
Investment Restrictions.................................................
Repurchase Offer Fundamental Policy.....................................
Management..............................................................
Financial Statements....................................................
Principal Shareholders..................................................
Investment Advisory and Other Services..................................
Distributor.............................................................
Transfer Agent..........................................................
Custodian...............................................................
Independent Accountants.................................................
Programs for Reducing or Eliminating Sales Charges......................
Portfolio Transactions..................................................
Additional Income Tax Considerations....................................
Investment Performance..................................................
Appendix--Ratings.......................................................

762-
                 LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND
                     Cross   Reference  Sheet  Items
                          Required by Form N-2

PART B.

                                                    Caption in Statement of
          Item Number and Item Caption              Additional Information
          -----------------------------             -------------------------

14.       Cover Page                                 Cover Page

15.       Table of Contents                          Table of Contents

16.       General Information and History            Not Applicable

17.       Investment Objective and Policies          Investment Policies;
                                                     Portfolio Investments and
                                                     Strategies; Investment
                                                     Restrictions

18.       Management                                 Management

19.       Control Persons and Principal Holders of   Principal Shareholders
          Securities

20.       Investment Advisory and Other Services     Investment Advisory and
                                                     Other Services;
                                                     Distributor; Transfer
                                                     Agent; Custodian

21.       Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices   Portfolio Transactions

22.       Tax Status                                 Additional Income Tax
                                                     Considerations

23.       Financial Statements                       Financial Statements


<PAGE>




                Statement of Additional Information Dated January 1, 2001


                      LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND


                One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111

                                  800-345-6611



         This  Statement  of  Additional  Information  is not a  prospectus  but
provides  additional  information  that should be read in  conjunction  with the
Fund's  Prospectus  dated  January  1,  2001  and  any  supplements  thereto.  A
Prospectus may be obtained at no charge by telephoning 800-426-3750.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           Page
The Fund
Investment Policies.........................................................
Portfolio Investments and Strategies........................................
Investment Restrictions.....................................................
Other Investment Policies...................................................
Repurchase Offer Fundamental Policy.........................................
management of the Fund......................................................
Principal Shareholders......................................................
Investment Advisory and Other Services......................................
Distributor.................................................................
Transfer Agent..............................................................
Custodian...................................................................
Independent Accountants.....................................................
Programs for Reducing or Eliminating Sales Charges..........................
Portfolio Transactions......................................................
Additional Income Tax Considerations........................................
Investment Performance......................................................
Financial Statements........................................................
Report of Independent Accountants...........................................
Appendix--Ratings...........................................................



<PAGE>


                                    THE FUND


         Liberty  Floating Rate  Advantage  Fund ("Fund") is a  non-diversified,
closed-end  management  investment company.  The Fund is engaged in a continuous
public offering of its shares.  The Fund makes Repurchase  Offers on a quarterly
basis to  repurchase  between 5% and 25% of its  outstanding  shares at the then
current net asset value of the shares.  Capitalized terms used in this Statement
of Additional Information and not otherwise defined have the meanings given them
in the Fund's Prospectus.  The Fund offers four classes of shares--Classes A, B,
C, and Z. On July 14, 2000, the Fund's name was changed from  Liberty-Stein  Roe
Advisor Floating Rate Advantage Fund to Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund.


         Stein  Roe & Farnham  Incorporated  ("Stein  Roe")  provides
investment  advisory  services  to the Fund.
Colonial Management Associates,  Inc. ("Colonial") provides  administrative,
accounting and recordkeeping services to the Fund.


Code of Ethics.  The Fund,  the Advisor,  and LFD have  adopted  Codes of Ethics
pursuant to the  requirements of the Act. These Codes of Ethics permit personnel
subject to the Codes to invest in securities,  including  securities that may be
purchased or held by the funds.




                               INVESTMENT POLICIES

         The following information  supplements the discussion of the investment
objectives and policies of the Fund described in the Prospectus. In pursuing its
objective, the Fund will invest as described below and may employ the investment
techniques  described  in the  Prospectus  and  elsewhere  in this  Statement of
Additional Information. The investment objective is a non-fundamental policy and
may be  changed  by  the  Board  without  the  approval  of a  "majority  of the
outstanding voting securities"1 of the Fund.

         The  investment  objective  of the Fund is to  provide a high  level of
current  income,  consistent  with  preservation  of  capital.  To achieve  this
objective  the Fund invests  primarily  (at least 80% of its total  assets) in a
portfolio of Senior Loans to Borrowers  that operate in a variety of  industries
and geographic regions (including domestic and foreign entities).

         Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund's total assets
will be invested in Senior Loans of domestic  Borrowers or foreign Borrowers (so
long as Senior Loans to such foreign  Borrowers are U.S. dollar  denominated and
payments of interest and  repayments of principal  pursuant to such Senior Loans
are  required  to be made in U.S.  dollars).  Although  most  Senior  Loans  are
secured,  the Fund may  invest up to 20% of its total  assets  in  interests  in
Senior  Loans that are not  secured  by any  collateral  and in other  permitted
investments (as described below).

         In addition, during normal market conditions, the Fund may invest up to
20% of its total assets  (including  assets  maintained by the Fund as a reserve
against any additional loan  commitments)  in (i) high quality,  short-term debt
securities  with  remaining  maturities  of one year or less and (ii)  warrants,
equity securities and, in limited circumstances, junior debt securities acquired
in connection  with the Fund's  investments in Senior Loans.  Such high quality,
short-term  securities may include  commercial  paper rated at least Baa, P-3 or
higher by Moody's or BBB,  A-3 or higher by S&P (or if  unrated,  determined  by
Stein  Roe to be of  comparable  quality),  interests  in  short-term  loans and
short-term loan  participations  of Borrowers having short-term debt obligations
rated or a  short-term  credit  rating at least in such  rating  categories  (or
having no such rating,  determined  by Stein Roe to be of  comparable  quality),
certificates  of deposit  and  bankers'  acceptances  and  securities  issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.  Such high
quality,  short-term  securities may pay interest at rates that are periodically
redetermined or may pay interest at fixed rates.  For more  information,  please
refer to the Prospectus under the caption "Investment Objectives and Policies."

                      PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIES

         The following sets forth information  about the investment  policies of
the Fund and the  types of  securities  the  Fund  may  buy.  Please  read  this
information  together with  information in the Prospectus under the caption "How
the Fund Invests."

         Senior  Loans.  Senior Loans  generally  are arranged  through  private
negotiations  between a Borrower and the Lenders represented in each case by one
or more  Agents  of the  several  Lenders.  Senior  Loans in which the Fund will
purchase  interests  generally  pay  interest  at rates  that  are  periodically
redetermined  by reference  to a base  lending  rate plus a premium.  These base
lending rates are generally Prime Rate, LIBOR, the CD rate or other base lending
rates used by  commercial  lenders.  The Senior  Loans in the Fund's  investment
portfolio  will at all times  have a  dollar-weighted  average  time  until next
interest  rate  redetermination  of 90  days  or  less.  Because  of  prepayment
provisions,  the economic maturity of Senior Loans may vary  substantially  from
the stated maturity of such loans. As a result of anticipated  prepayments  from
time to time of Senior Loans in the  investment  portfolio,  based on historical
experience, Stein Roe believes that the economic maturity of Senior Loans in the
portfolio will be approximately 18-24 months.

         Participations  and Assignments.  The Fund may invest in Participations
in Senior Loans, may purchase Assignments of portions of Senior Loans from third
parties and may act as one of the group of Primary Lenders.

         When the Fund purchases a Participation,  the Fund will typically enter
into a contractual  relationship with the Lender selling the Participation,  but
not with the Borrower. As a result, the Fund will assume the credit risk of both
the  Borrower  and the Lender  selling the  Participation,  and the Fund may not
directly benefit from the collateral  supporting the Senior Loan in which it has
purchased the  Participation.  The Fund will purchase a Participation  only when
the Lender selling the Participation,  and any other institution interpositioned
between such Lender and the Fund at the time of investment have outstanding debt
obligations rated investment grade (BBB or A-3 or higher by S&P or Baa or P-3 or
higher by Moody's) or, if unrated,  determined  by Stein Roe to be of comparable
quality.  The  rights  of the  Fund  when it  acquires  a  Participation  may be
different  from,  and more  limited  than,  the rights of Primary  Lenders or of
persons who acquire an Assignment.  The Fund may pay a fee or forgo a portion of
interest  payments to the Lender selling a Participation or Assignment  pursuant
to the terms of such Participation or Assignment.

         Debt  Restructuring.  The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio
an interest in a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has filed for  protection  under
the federal bankruptcy laws or has had an involuntary  bankruptcy petition filed
against it by its creditors.  Stein Roe's decision to purchase or retain such an
interest  will  depend  on  its  assessment  of the  likelihood  that  the  Fund
ultimately  will receive full  repayment of the  principal  amount of the Senior
Loan  interests,  the  likely  duration,  if any,  of a lapse  in the  scheduled
repayment of principal,  and prevailing  interest rates. At times, in connection
with the restructuring of a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in
the  context of  bankruptcy  court  proceedings,  the Fund may  determine  or be
required to accept equity  securities or junior debt  securities in exchange for
all or a portion of a Senior Loan interest.  Depending upon, among other things,
Stein Roe's  evaluation of the potential value of such securities in relation to
the  price  that  could be  obtained  by the Fund at any  given  time  upon sale
thereof,  the Fund may determine to hold such  securities in its portfolio.  Any
equity  security or junior debt security held by the Fund will not be treated as
a Senior  Loan and thus  will not  count  toward  the 80% of total  assets  that
normally will be invested in Senior Loans.

         Bridge  Financing.  The Fund may acquire interests in Senior Loans that
are designed to provide  temporary or "bridge"  financing to a Borrower  pending
the sale of identified  assets or the  arrangement of  longer-term  loans or the
issuance  and  sale of debt  obligations.  A  Borrower's  use of a  bridge  loan
involves a risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to
replace   the  bridge   loan,   which  may  impair  the   Borrower's   perceived
creditworthiness.

         Other Securities. The Fund will acquire warrants, equity securities and
junior debt securities only as are incident to the purchase or intended purchase
of interests in  collateralized  Senior Loans.  The Fund  generally will acquire
interests in warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt  securities only when
Stein Roe believes  that the relative  value being given by the Fund in exchange
for such interests is  substantially  outweighed by the potential  value of such
instruments.

         Investment in warrants,  equity  securities and junior debt  securities
entails certain risks in addition to those associated with investments in Senior
Loans.  Warrants and equity  securities have a subordinate claim on a Borrower's
assets as  compared  with debt  securities,  and junior debt  securities  have a
subordinate  claim on such assets as compared  with Senior Loans.  As such,  the
values of warrants and equity  securities  generally  are more  dependent on the
financial  condition  of the  Borrower and less  dependent  on  fluctuations  in
interest  rates  than are the  values of many  debt  securities.  The  values of
warrants, equity securities and junior debt securities may be more volatile than
those of Senior Loans and thus may have an adverse  impact on the ability of the
Fund to minimize fluctuations in its net asset value.

         Defensive  Investment  Policy.  If Stein  Roe  determines  that  market
conditions  temporarily warrant a defensive investment policy, the Fund may (but
is not required to) invest,  subject to its ability to liquidate its  relatively
illiquid  portfolio of Senior  Loans,  up to 100% of its assets in cash and high
quality,  short-term debt securities.  The Fund may also engage in interest rate
and other  hedging  transactions,  lend  portfolio  holdings,  purchase and sell
interests in Senior Loans and other portfolio debt securities on a "when-issued"
or  "delayed-delivery"  basis, and enter into repurchase and reverse  repurchase
agreements.   These   investment   practices   involve   certain   special  risk
considerations.  Stein  Roe may  use  some  or all of the  following  investment
practices when, in the opinion of Stein Roe, their use is appropriate.  Although
Stein Roe  believes  that these  investment  practices  may  further  the Fund's
investment  objective,  no assurance can be given that the  utilization of these
investment practices will achieve that result.

         Structured  Notes. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
structured  notes,  including  "total rate of return swaps" with rates of return
determined  by  reference  to the  total  rate of  return  on one or more  loans
referenced  in such  notes.  The rate of  return on the  structured  note may be
determined  by  applying  a  multiplier  to the  rate  of  total  return  on the
referenced  loan or loans.  Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use
of financial leverage, which is a speculative technique.  Leverage magnifies the
potential for gain and the risk of loss,  because a relatively  small decline in
the value of a referenced  note could  result in a relatively  large loss in the
value of a  structured  note.  Structured  notes are treated as Senior Loans for
purposes of the Fund's  policy of normally  investing at least 80% of its assets
in Senior Loans.

         Derivatives.  The Fund may enter into various interest rate hedging and
risk  management  transactions.  Certain of these interest rate hedging and risk
management transactions may be considered to involve derivative  instruments.  A
derivative is a financial  instrument  whose  performance is derived at least in
part from the performance of an underlying index,  security or asset. The values
of  certain  derivatives  can be  affected  dramatically  by even  small  market
movements,  sometimes  in ways that are  difficult  to  predict.  There are many
different  types of derivatives  with many  different  uses. The Fund expects to
enter  into  these  transactions  primarily  to seek to  preserve  a return on a
particular investment or portion of its portfolio,  and may also enter into such
transactions  to seek to protect against  decreases in the  anticipated  rate of
return on floating  or  variable  rate  financial  instruments  the Fund owns or
anticipates  purchasing at a later date, or for other risk management strategies
such as managing the effective  dollar-weighted  average  duration of the Fund's
investment portfolio.

         Hedging Transactions.  In addition, the Fund may also engage in hedging
transactions,  including entering into put and call options,  to seek to protect
the value of its portfolio  against  declines in net asset value  resulting from
changes in  interest  rates or other  market  changes.  Market  conditions  will
determine  whether and in what  circumstances  the Fund would employ any hedging
and  risk  management  techniques.  The  Fund  will  not  engage  in  any of the
transactions for speculative purposes and will use them only as a means to hedge
or manage  the risks  associated  with  assets  held in,  or  anticipated  to be
purchased for, the investment portfolio or obligations incurred by the Fund. The
successful  utilization  of hedging and risk  management  transactions  requires
skills different from those needed in the selection of portfolio securities. The
Fund  will  incur  brokerage  and other  costs in  connection  with its  hedging
transactions.

         Interest Rate Swaps, Caps and Floors.  The Fund may enter into interest
rate swaps or purchase or sell interest  rate caps or floors.  The Fund will not
sell  interest  rate caps or floors  that it does not own.  Interest  rate swaps
involve  the  exchange  by the Fund  with  another  party  of  their  respective
obligations  to pay or receive  interest;  e.g., an exchange of an obligation to
make floating rate payments for an obligation to make fixed rate  payments.  For
example,   the  Fund  may  seek  to  shorten   the   effective   interest   rate
redetermination  period of a Senior  Loan to a  Borrower  that has  selected  an
interest rate  redetermination  period of one year.  The Fund could exchange the
Borrower's obligation to make fixed rate payments for one year for an obligation
to make payments that readjust  monthly.  In such event, the Fund would consider
the interest rate  redetermination  period of such Senior Loan to be the shorter
period.

         The purchase of an interest  rate cap entitles  the  purchaser,  to the
extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined  interest rate, to receive
payments of interest at the difference  between the index and the  predetermined
rate on a notional  principal amount (the reference amount with respect to which
interest  obligations  are determined  although no actual  exchange of principal
occurs)  from the party  selling  such  interest  rate cap.  The  purchase of an
interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index
falls below a  predetermined  interest rate, to receive  payments of interest at
the  difference  between  the index  and the  predetermined  rate on a  notional
principal  amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The Fund will
not enter into swaps, caps or floors, if, on a net basis, the aggregate notional
principal  amount with respect to such agreements  exceeds the net assets of the
Fund.

         In  circumstances  in which Stein Roe  anticipates  that interest rates
will decline,  the Fund might, for example,  enter into an interest rate swap as
the floating rate payor or,  alternatively,  purchase an interest rate floor. In
the case of purchasing an interest rate floor,  if interest rates declined below
the floor rate, the Fund would receive payments from its counterparty that would
wholly or partially  offset the  decrease in the payments it would  receive with
respect  to the  portfolio  assets  being  hedged.  In the case  where  the Fund
purchases  such an interest  rate swap, if the floating rate payments fell below
the  level of the fixed  rate  payment  set in the swap  agreement,  the  Fund's
counterparty  would  pay the Fund  amounts  equal to  interest  computed  at the
difference  between the fixed and  floating  rates over the  notional  principal
amount.  Such  payments  would  offset or  partially  offset the decrease in the
payments the Fund would receive with respect to floating rate  portfolio  assets
being hedged.

         The  successful  use of swaps,  caps and floors to preserve the rate of
return on a portfolio of Senior Loans  depends on Stein Roe's ability to predict
correctly  the  direction  and extent of movements in interest  rates.  Although
Stein  Roe  believes  that use of the  hedging  and risk  management  techniques
described  above  will  benefit  the Fund,  if Stein  Roe's  judgment  about the
direction or extent of the movement in interest  rates is incorrect,  the Fund's
overall  performance  could be worse  than if it had not  entered  into any such
transaction.  For example, if the Fund had purchased an interest rate swap or an
interest rate floor to hedge against its  expectation  that interest rates would
decline but instead  interest rates rose, the Fund would lose part or all of the
benefit of the  increased  payments  it would  receive as a result of the rising
interest  rates because it would have to pay amounts to its  counterparty  under
the swap  agreement or would have paid the purchase  price of the interest  rate
floor.

         Inasmuch as these hedging  transactions are entered into for good-faith
risk management purposes, Stein Roe and the Fund believe such obligations do not
constitute  senior  securities.  The Fund will usually  enter into interest rate
swaps on a net basis;  i.e.,  where the two parties make net  payments  with the
Fund  receiving  or paying,  as the case may be,  only the net amount of the two
payments.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's  obligations over
its entitlements  with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued and an
amount of cash or liquid securities having an aggregate net asset value at least
equal to the accrued excess will be  maintained.  If the Fund enters into a swap
on other  than a net  basis,  the Fund  will  maintain  the full  amount  of its
obligations under each such swap. Accordingly,  the Fund does not treat swaps as
senior  securities.  The Fund may enter into swaps,  caps and floors with member
banks of the  Federal  Reserve  System,  members of the New York Stock  Exchange
(NYSE) or other entities determined to be creditworthy by Stein Roe, pursuant to
procedures  adopted and reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Board.  If a default
occurs by the other party to such  transactions,  the Fund will have contractual
remedies  pursuant  to the  agreements  related  to the  transaction,  but  such
remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency  laws that could affect the
Fund's rights as a creditor.  The swap market has grown  substantially in recent
years with a large number of banks and financial  services  firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the swap market has become  relatively  liquid.  Caps and floors are more recent
innovations  and they are less  liquid than  swaps.  There can be no  assurance,
however,  that the Fund will be able to enter  into  interest  rate  swaps or to
purchase  interest  rate caps or floors at prices or on terms Stein Roe believes
are  advantageous to the Fund. In addition,  although the terms of interest rate
swaps,  caps and floors may provide for  termination,  there can be no assurance
that the Fund  will be able to  terminate  an  interest  rate swap or to sell or
offset interest rate caps or floors that it has purchased.

         New Financial Products. New financial products continue to be developed
and the Fund may invest in any such  products as may be  developed to the extent
consistent  with its  investment  objective and the  regulatory  and federal tax
requirements applicable to investment companies.

         Borrowing. The Fund is authorized to borrow money in an amount up to 33
1/3% of the Fund's total assets (after  giving  effect to the amount  borrowed).
The Fund is  authorized  to borrow money for the purpose of financing  long-term
investments,   obtaining  short-term  liquidity  in  connection  with  quarterly
repurchase offers and for temporary,  extraordinary or emergency  purposes.  The
use of leverage for investment purposes creates  opportunities for greater total
returns but at the same time involves  certain risks.  Any investment  income or
gains  earned with  respect to the amounts  borrowed,  which is in excess of the
interest  which  is  due on the  borrowing,  will  augment  the  Fund's  income.
Conversely,  if the investment  performance with respect to the amounts borrowed
fails to cover the interest on such  borrowings,  the value of the Fund's shares
may decrease more quickly than would  otherwise be the case and dividends on the
shares would be reduced or  eliminated.  Interest  payments and fees incurred in
connection with such  borrowings will reduce the amount of net income  available
for distribution to the holders of Shares.

         Lending of Portfolio Holdings. The Fund may seek to increase its income
by lending  financial  instruments  in its portfolio in accordance  with present
regulatory  policies,  including  those of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and the SEC. Such loans may be made,  without limit,  to brokers,
dealers,  banks  or  other  recognized   institutional  Borrowers  of  financial
instruments  and would be required  to be secured  continuously  by  collateral,
including cash, cash equivalents or U.S.  Treasury bills maintained on a current
basis  at an  amount  at  least  equal  to the  market  value  of the  financial
instruments  loaned. The Fund would have the right to call a loan and obtain the
financial  instruments loaned at any time on five days' notice. For the duration
of a loan,  the Fund would  continue to receive the  equivalent  of the interest
paid by the issuer on the  financial  instruments  loaned and also would receive
compensation from the investment of the collateral.  The Fund would not have the
right  to vote  any  financial  instruments  having  voting  rights  during  the
existence of the loan,  but the Fund could call the loan in  anticipation  of an
important  vote to be taken among  holders of the  financial  instruments  or in
anticipation  of the giving or withholding of their consent on a material matter
affecting the financial  instruments.  As with other extensions of credit,  such
loans entail risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral
should the Borrower of the financial instruments fail financially.  However, the
loans would be made only to borrowers deemed by Stein Roe to be of good standing
and when,  in the  judgment of Stein Roe, the  consideration  that can be earned
currently   from  loans  of  this  type   justifies  the  attendant   risk.  The
creditworthiness of firms to which the Fund lends its portfolio holdings will be
monitored on an ongoing  basis by Stein Roe pursuant to  procedures  adopted and
reviewed, on an ongoing basis, by the Board. No specific limitation exists as to
the percentage of the Fund's assets that the Fund may lend.

         "When-Issued" and  "Delayed-Delivery"  Transactions.  The Fund may also
purchase and sell interests in Senior Loans and other portfolio  securities on a
"when-issued"  and  "delayed-delivery"  basis.  No income accrues to the Fund on
such Senior Loans in  connection  with such purchase  transactions  prior to the
date the Fund actually takes delivery of such Senior Loans.  These  transactions
are subject to market  fluctuation,  the value of the  interests in Senior Loans
and other  portfolio debt  securities at delivery may be more or less than their
purchase  price,  and  yields  generally  available  on such  Senior  Loans when
delivery  occurs may be higher or lower than yields on the Senior Loans obtained
pursuant to such  transactions.  Because the Fund relies on the buyer or seller,
as the case may be, to consummate the transaction, failure by the other party to
complete  the  transaction  may result in the Fund  missing the  opportunity  of
obtaining a price or yield considered to be  advantageous.  When the Fund is the
buyer in such a transaction, however, it will maintain cash or liquid securities
having  an  aggregate  value  at  least  equal to the  amount  of such  purchase
commitments  until payment is made.  The Fund will make  commitments to purchase
such Senior Loans on such basis only with the  intention  of actually  acquiring
these  Senior  Loans,  but the Fund  may sell  such  Senior  Loans  prior to the
settlement  date if such sale is considered  to be advisable.  To the extent the
Fund engages in "when-issued" and "delayed-delivery" transactions, it will do so
for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  Senior  Loans  for  its  investment  portfolio
consistent with its investment objective and policies and not for the purpose of
investment  leverage.  No specific limitations exist as to the percentage of the
Fund's  assets  that may be used to acquire  securities  on a  "when-issued"  or
"delayed-delivery" basis.

         Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (a
purchase of, and simultaneous commitment to resell, a financial instrument at an
agreed upon price on an agreed upon date) only with member  banks of the Federal
Reserve  System and member  firms of the NYSE.  In  entering  into a  repurchase
agreement,  the Fund buys  securities from the bank or  broker-dealer,  with the
agreement that the seller will  repurchase the securities at a higher price at a
later  date.  Such  transactions  afford an  opportunity  for the Fund to earn a
return on available liquid assets at minimal market risk,  although the Fund may
be subject to various delays and risks of loss if the  counterparty is unable to
meet its obligation to repurchase. Under the 1940 Act, repurchase agreements are
deemed to be collateralized  loans of money by the Fund to the counterparty.  In
evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement, Stein Roe will consider
carefully the creditworthiness of the counterparty. If the bank or broker-dealer
that is the seller petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise  becomes subject to the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. The
securities  underlying  a  repurchase  agreement  will be marked to market every
business  day and adjusted in amount so that the value of the  collateral  is at
least equal to the value of the loan,  including the accrued  interest  thereon,
and Stein Roe will monitor the value of the collateral.  No specific  limitation
exists  as to the  percentage  of the  Fund's  assets  that may be  invested  in
repurchase agreements.

         Reverse  Repurchase  Agreements.   The  Fund  may  enter  into  reverse
repurchase  agreements with respect to debt  obligations that could otherwise be
sold by the Fund. Under a reverse  repurchase  agreement,  the Fund sells a debt
security and simultaneously obtain the commitment of the purchaser (a commercial
bank or a broker-dealer) to sell the security back to the Fund at an agreed upon
price on an agreed upon date.  The Fund will maintain cash or liquid  securities
in an amount  sufficient  to cover  its  obligations  with  respect  to  reverse
repurchase  agreements.  The Fund receives payment for such securities only upon
physical  delivery  or evidence of book entry  transfer  by its  custodian.  SEC
regulations  require  either  that  securities  sold by the Fund under a reverse
repurchase  agreement be segregated  pending  repurchase or that the proceeds be
segregated  on  the  Fund's  books  and  records  pending  repurchase.   Reverse
repurchase  agreements  could  involve  certain risks in the event of default or
insolvency of the other party,  including  possible delays or restrictions  upon
the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying  securities.  An additional risk
is that  the  market  value  of  securities  sold by the  Fund  under a  reverse
repurchase  agreement  could  decline  below  the  price  at  which  the Fund is
obligated to repurchase  them.  Reverse  repurchase  agreements  are  considered
borrowings by the Fund and as such are subject to the  restrictions on borrowing
described  below under  "Investment  Restrictions."  The Fund will not hold more
than 5% of the value of its total assets in reverse repurchase  agreements as of
the time the agreement is entered into.

         Rated  Securities.  For a description of the ratings applied by Moody's
and S&P to  short-term  securities,  please  refer to the  Appendix.  The  rated
short-term   securities   described  under  Investment  Policies  above  include
securities  given a rating  conditionally by Moody's or provisionally by S&P. If
the rating of a security  held by the Fund is withdrawn or reduced,  the Fund is
not  required to sell the  security,  but Stein Roe will  consider  such fact in
determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.

         Portfolio Turnover. The frequency and amount of portfolio purchases and
sales  (known  as the  "turnover  rate")  will  vary  from  year to year.  It is
anticipated  that the Fund's  turnover  rate will be between  50% and 100%.  The
portfolio  turnover  rate is not expected to exceed  100%,  but may vary greatly
from  year to year  and will not be a  limiting  factor  when  Stein  Roe  deems
portfolio  changes  appropriate.  Although the Fund generally does not intend to
trade  for  short-term  profits,  the  securities  held by the Fund will be sold
whenever  Stein Roe believes it is  appropriate  to do so, without regard to the
length of time a  particular  security  may have  been  held.  Higher  portfolio
turnover  involves  correspondingly  greater  brokerage  commissions  and  other
transaction costs that the Fund will bear directly.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

         The Fund operates under the following fundamental investment
restrictions.  The Fund may:

         (1)    issue senior securities or borrow money to the extent permitted
                by the 1940 Act;

         (2)    only own real estate acquired as a result of owning securities;

         (3)    purchase and sell futures contracts and related options;

         (4)    underwrite securities issued by others only when disposing of
portfolio securities;

         (5)    make loans through  lending of securities,  through the purchase
                of  debt   instruments  or  similar   evidence  of  indebtedness
                typically sold to financial  institutions and through repurchase
                agreements;

         (6)    not  concentrate  more than 25% of its  total  assets in any one
                industry;  provided  that this  limitation  shall not apply with
                respect  to  obligations   issued  or  guaranteed  by  the  U.S.
                government or by its agencies or instrumentalities; and provided
                further  that the fund will  invest more than 25% and may invest
                up to  100%  of its  assets  in  securities  of  issuers  in the
                industry group  consisting of financial  institutions  and their
                holding   companies,    including   commercial   banks,   thrift
                institutions,  insurance  companies and finance  companies.  For
                purposes of this  restriction,  the term  "issuer"  includes the
                Borrower and the Agent (as defined under "Prospectus Summary" in
                the Prospectus); and

         (7)    not  purchase  or sell  commodities  or  commodities  contracts,
                except that,  consistent with its investment policies,  the Fund
                may purchase and sell  financial  futures  contracts and options
                and may enter into swap agreements,  foreign exchange  contracts
                and other financial  transactions  not requiring the delivery of
                physical commodities.

         The above restrictions are fundamental  policies and may not be changed
without the approval of a "majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities," as
defined  under   "Investment   Policies"   above.  The  restrictions  and  other
limitations  set  forth  above  will  apply  only  at the  time of  purchase  of
securities  and will not be considered  violated  unless an excess or deficiency
occurs  or  exists  immediately  after  and as a  result  of an  acquisition  of
securities.  Notwithstanding  the investment  policies and  restrictions  of the
Fund,  the  Fund  may  invest  all or a  portion  of its  investable  assets  in
investment companies with substantially the same investment objective,  policies
and restrictions as the Fund.


                            OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES

         As  non-fundamental  investment  policies  which may be  changed by the
Trust without a shareholder vote, the Fund may not:

         1.     purchase securities on margin, but it may receive short-term
                credit to clear securities transactions and may make initial or
                maintenance margin deposits in connection with futures
                transactions; and

         2.     invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
                development programs, including leases.

                       REPURCHASE OFFER FUNDAMENTAL POLICY

         The Board has adopted a resolution setting forth the Fund's fundamental
policy that it will conduct  quarterly  Repurchase Offers (the "Repurchase Offer
Fundamental Policy").

         The Repurchase Offer Fundamental  Policy sets the interval between each
Repurchase  Offer at one  quarter  and  provides  that the Fund shall  conduct a
Repurchase Offer each quarter (unless  suspended or postponed in accordance with
regulatory requirements). The Repurchase Request Deadline will be established by
the Fund and will be based on factors  such as market  conditions,  liquidity of
the Fund's assets and shareholder  servicing  conditions.  The Repurchase  Offer
Fundamental  Policy also  provides that the  repurchase  pricing shall occur not
later than the fourteenth day after the Repurchase  Request Deadline or the next
business day if the fourteenth day is not a business day.

         The  Repurchase  Offer  Fundamental  Policy  may be  changed  only by a
majority vote of the outstanding voting securities. For more information, please
refer to the Prospectus under the caption "Periodic Repurchase Offers."



<PAGE>


                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers
---------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



<S>                             <C>       <C>                <C>
Tom Bleasdale                   70        Trustee            Retired (formerly Chairman of the Board and Chief
102 Clubhouse Drive #275                                     Executive Officer, Shore Bank & Trust Company from 1992
Naples, Florida  34105                                       to 1993);  Director of Empire Co..

Lora S. Collins                 64        Trustee            Attorney (formerly Attorney, Kramer, Levin, Naftalis &
1175 Hill Road                                               Frankel from September, 1986 to November, 1996).
Southold, NY 11971

James E. Grinnell               71        Trustee            Private Investor since November, 1988.
63 Leicester Road
Marblehead, MA 01945

Richard W. Lowry                64        Trustee            Private Investor since August, 1987.
10701 Charleston Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963

Salvatore Macera                69        Trustee            Private Investor (formerly Executive Vice President and
26 Little Neck Lane                                          Director of Itek Corporation (electronics) from 1975 to
New Seabury, MA  02649                                       1981).

William E. Mayer*               60        Trustee            Partner, Park Avenue Equity Partners (venture capital)
500 Park Avenue, 5th Floor                                   (formerly Dean, College of Business and Management,
New York, NY 10022                                           University of Maryland from October, 1992 to November,
                                                             1996); Director, Johns Manville; Director, Lee
                                                             Enterprises; Director, WR Hambrecht & Co.

James L. Moody, Jr.             68        Trustee            Retired (formerly Chairman of the Board, Hannaford Bros.
16 Running Tide Road                                         Co. (food retailer) from May, 1984 to May, 1997, and
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107                                     Chief Executive Officer, Hannaford Bros. Co. from May,
                                                             1973 to May, 1992).

John J. Neuhauser               57        Trustee            Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculties since
84 College Road                                              August, 1999, Boston College (formerly Dean, Boston
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3838                                 College School of Management from September, 1977 to
                                                             September, 1999).

Joseph R. Palombo               47        Trustee            Chief Operations Officer of Mutual Funds, Liberty
                                                             Financial Companies, Inc. since August, 2000; Executive
                                                             Vice President and Director of the Advisor since April,
                                                             1999; Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
                                                             Officer of LFG since April, 1999; Director of Stein Roe &
                                                             Farnham Incorporated (SR&F) since September 1, 2000;
                                                             Trustee and Chairman of the Board of the Stein Roe Mutual
                                                             Funds since October, 2000; Manager of Stein Roe Floating
                                                             Rate Limited Liability Company since October, 2000
                                                             (formerly Vice President of the Funds from April, 1999 to
                                                             August, 2000 and Chief Operating Officer, Putnam Mutual
                                                             Funds from 1994 to 1998).

Thomas E. Stitzel               64        Trustee            Business Consultant (formerly Professor of Finance from
2208 Tawny Woods Place                                       1975 to 1999 and Dean from 1977 to 1991, College of
Boise, ID  83706                                             Business, Boise State University); Chartered Financial
                                                             Analyst.

Anne-Lee Verville               55        Trustee            Consultant (formerly General Manager, Global Education
359 Stickney Hill Road                                       Industry from 1994 to 1997, and President, Applications
Hopkinton, NH  03229                                         Solutions Division from 1991 to 1994, IBM Corporation
                                                             (global education and global applications)).

J. Kevin Connaughton            36        Treasurer and      Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
                                          Chief Financial    of the Funds and of the Liberty All-Star Funds since December, 2000
                                          Officer and        (formerly Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the
                                          Chief Accounting   Funds  from February, 1998 to October, 2000); Vice
                                          Officer            President of the Advisor since February, 1998 (formerly
                                                             Senior Tax Manager, Coopers &  Lybrand,
                                                             LLP   from   April, 1996  to   January,
                                                             1998;          Vice  President,   440
                                                             Financial  Group/First Data Investor   Services
                                                             Group  from  March,  1994   to    April, 1996).

Michael G. Clarke               31        Controller         Controller of the Funds and
                                                             of the Liberty All-Star Funds since December, 2000,
                                                             Assistant Vice President of the Advisor since August,
                                                             1999; Assistant Vice President of LFG since April, 2000
                                                             (formerly Audit Manager from May, 1997 to August, 1999,
                                                             Audit Senior Accountant from September, 1995 to May, 1997
                                                             and Audit Staff Accountant from September, 1993 to
                                                             September, 1995 of Deloitte & Touche LLP).

Stephen E. Gibson               47        President          President of the Liberty Funds since June, 1998;
                                                             President of Liberty-Stein Roe Mutual Funds since
                                                             November, 1999; Chairman of the Board since July, 1998,
                                                             Chief Executive Officer and President since December,
                                                             1996 and Director, since July, 1996 of the Advisor
                                                             (formerly Executive Vice President from July, 1996 to
                                                             December, 1996); Director, Chief Executive Officer and
                                                             President of LFG since December, 1998 (formerly Director,
                                                             Chief Executive Officer and President of The Colonial
                                                             Group, Inc. (TCG) from December, 1996 to December, 1998);
                                                             Director since September 1, 2000, President and Vice
                                                             Chairman of SR&F since January, 2000 (formerly Assistant
                                                             Chairman from August, 1998 to January, 2000) (formerly
                                                             Managing Director of Marketing of Putnam Investments from
                                                             June, 1992 to July, 1996).

William J. Ballou               35        Secretary          Secretary of the Liberty Funds and of the Liberty
                                                             All-Star Funds since October, 2000 (formerly Assistant
                                                             Secretary from October, 1997 to October, 2000); Secretary
                                                             of the Liberty-Stein Roe Mutual Funds since November,
                                                             2000 (formerly Assistant Secretary from May, 2000 to
                                                             October, 2000); Vice President, Assistant Secretary and
                                                             Counsel of Colonial since October, 1997; Vice President
                                                             and Counsel since April, 2000, and Assistant Secretary
                                                             since December, 1998 of LFG (formerly Associate Counsel,
                                                             Massachusetts Financial Services Company from May, 1995
                                                             to September, 1997).

Kevin M. Carome                 44        Executive Vice     Executive Vice President of Liberty Funds and of the
                                          President          Liberty All-Star Funds since October, 2000; Executive
                                                             Vice  President  of  the   Liberty-Stein
                                                             Roe  Mutual   Funds since   May,   1999
                                                             (formerly      Vice President      from
                                                             April, 1998 to May,  1999,     Assistant
                                                             Secretary      from  April,    1998   to
                                                             February,  2000 and  Secretary      from
                                                             February,  2000  to May,  2000);  Chief
                                                             Legal   Officer  of Liberty   Financial
                                                             Companies,     Inc.(Liberty Financial)
                                                             since August, 2000;  Senior Vvice
                                                             President,    Legal since January, 1999
                                                             of   LFG;   General Counsel and
                                                             Secretary  of Stein Roe & Farnham, Inc.
                                                             since      January, 1998;     Associate
                                                             General Counsel and Vice  President  of
                                                             Liberty   Financial through    January,
                                                             1999.

</TABLE>


-------------------------------------

*Denotes those Trustees who are "interested persons" (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Fund or
Stein Roe.  Mr. Palombo is an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act
because of his affiliation with Liberty Financial Companies, Inc., an indirect
parent company of the Advisor.  Mr. Mayer is an "interested person" as defined
in the 1940 Act because he is a director of Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, a
registered broker-dealer.


The Trustees of the Fund are also directors or trustees,  as the case may be, of
Liberty Funds Trust I, Liberty Funds Trust II, Liberty Funds Trust III,  Liberty
Funds Trust IV,  Liberty  Funds Trust V, Liberty  Funds Trust VI,  Liberty Funds
Trust VII, Liberty Funds Trust VIII, Liberty Variable Investment Trust ("LVIT"),
Colonial Municipal Income Trust,  Colonial High Income Municipal Trust, Colonial
Investment Grade Municipal Trust,  Colonial  California  Insured Municipal Fund,
Colonial  Insured  Municipal  Fund,  Colonial New York Insured  Municipal  Fund,
Colonial  Intermediate High Income Fund, and Colonial InterMarket Income Trust I
(collectively, each trust or any series thereof termed the "Liberty Funds").


The  Trustees  serve as  trustees of all  Liberty  Funds for which each  Trustee
(except Mr. Palombo)  receives an annual retainer of $45,000 and attendance fees
of $8,000 for each  regular  joint  meeting  and $1,000 for each  special  joint
meeting.  Committee  chairs and the lead Trustee  receive an annual  retainer of
$1,000 and Committee  chairs receive $1,000 for each special meeting attended on
a day other than a regular  joint  meeting  day.  Committee  members  receive an
annual retainer of $1,000 and $1,000 for each special meeting  attended on a day
other than a regular  joint  meeting  day.  Two-thirds  of the Trustee  fees are
allocated  among the Liberty  Funds based on each  Liberty  Fund's  relative net
assets, and one-third of the fees are divided equally among the Liberty Funds.


Trustees and Trustees' Fees

The  Trustees  received  the  amounts  set  forth  below  for  the  fiscal  year
endedAugust  31, 2000.  For the  calendar  year ended  December  31,  1999,  the
Trustees  received the  compensation  set forth below for serving as trustees of
the Liberty Funds. (a)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Total Compensation From the Fund Complex Paid
                                          Compensation From the Fund for the     to the Trustees for the Calendar Year Ended
Trustees                                  Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2000      December 31, 2000(c)
--------                                  ----------------------------------     ----------------------------------------------


<S>                                                   <C>                                   <C>
Tom Bleasdale                                         $239(d)                               $103,000(e)
John V. Carberry (f)(g)                                N/A                                     N/A
Lora S. Collins                                        204                                    96,000
James E. Grinnell                                      216                                   100,000
Richard W. Lowry                                       221                                    97,000
Salvatore Macera                                       210                                    95,000
William E. Mayer                                       213                                   101,000
James L. Moody, Jr.                                     233(h)                                91,000(i)
John J. Neuhauser                                      217                                   101,252
Joseph R. Palombo (j)(k)                               N/A                                     N/A
Thomas E. Stitzel                                      210                                    95,000
Robert L. Sullivan(l)                                  44                                    104,100
Anne-Lee Verville                                      207(m)                                 96,000(n)

</TABLE>

(a)      Neither the Fund nor the Fund Complex currently provides pension or
         retirement plan benefits to the Trustees.
(b)      Since the Fund has not completed its first full fiscal year,
         compensation is estimated based upon future payments
         to be made and upon estimated relative Fund net assets.
(c)      At December  31,  1999,  the complex  consisted  of 63 open-end  and 10
         closed-end  management  investment  portfolios  in  the  Liberty  Funds
         (together, the "Fund Complex").

(d)      Include $77 payable in later years as deferred compensation.
(e)      Includes $52,000 payable in later years as deferred compensation.
(f)      Did not receive compensation because he is an affiliated Trustee and
         employee of Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. ("Liberty Financial").
(g)      Resigned as Trustee of the Trust on August 4. 2000.
(h)      Total compensation of $233 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000,
         will be payable in later years as deferred  compensation.
(i)      Total  compensation of $91,000 for the calendar year ended December 31,
         1999, will be payable in later years as deferred compensation.
(j)      Elected by the Trustees of the Liberty Funds on August 23, 2000.
(k)      Does not receive compensation because he is an affiliated Trustee and
         employee of the Advisor.
(l)      Retired as a Trustee of the Liberty Funds on April 30, 2000.
(m)      Total compensation of $207 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000,
         will be payable in later years as deferred
         compensation.
(n)      Total  compensation of $96,000 for the calendar year ended December 31,
         1999, will be payable in later years as deferred compensation.




<PAGE>


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,  some of the Trustees  received the
following  compensation in their  capacities as trustees or directors of Liberty
All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and Liberty Funds Trust
IX (together, the "Liberty All-Star Funds").

                                         Total Compensation From
                                   Liberty All-Star Funds For The Calendar Year
Trustee                                  Ended December 31, 1999(o)
--------                           --------------------------------------------


John V. Carberry(p)(q)                                N/A
James E. Grinnell                                   $25,000
Richard W. Lowry                                     25,000
William E. Mayer                                     25,000
John J. Neuhauser                                    25,000

(o)      The Liberty All-Star Funds are advised by Liberty Asset Management
         Company ("LAMCO").  LAMCO is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
         Liberty Financial (an intermediate parent of the Advisor).
(p)      Did not receive compensation because he was an affiliated trustee and
         employee of Liberty Financial.
(q)      Resigned as a Trustee/Director of the Liberty All-Star Funds on
         August 4, 2000.




                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

          Please  refer  to the  Fund's  August  31,  2000  Financial Statements
(statement of assets and  liabilities and investment portfolio as of August
31, 2000 and the  statements  of  operations,  changes in net assets, and notes
thereto) and the report of independent  accountants  contained in the August 31,
2000  Annual  Report of the Fund.  The  Financial  Statements  and the report of
independent  accountants  (but no other  material  from the Annual  Report)  are
incorporated herein by reference. The Annual Report may be obtained at no charge
by telephoning 800-422-3737.




                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS



       As of November  30, 2000,  the only  persons  known by the Fund to own of
record  or  "beneficially"  5% or  more of its  outstanding  shares  within  the
definition of that term as contained in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 were as follows:

                                      Approximate % of Outstanding Shares Held
            Name and Address





                     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES


         Stein Roe provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Stein Roe
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stein Roe Services Inc., which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. ("Liberty Financial"),  which is
a majority owned  subsidiary of Liberty  Corporate  Holdings,  Inc.,  which is a
wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  LFC  Holdings,  Inc.,  which  is a  wholly  owned
subsidiary  of  Liberty  Mutual  Equity  Corporation,  which is a  wholly  owned
subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
is a mutual insurance company,  principally in the  property/casualty  insurance
field,  organized under the laws of  Massachusetts  in 1912. As of September 30,
2000, Stein Roe managed over $24.2 billion in assets.

         On November 1, 2000,  Liberty Financial  announced that it had retained
CS  First  Boston  to help it  explore  strategic  alternatives,  including  the
possible sale of Liberty Financial.

         The directors of Stein Roe are C. Allen Merritt,  Jr., J. Andrew
Hilbert,  Stephen E. Gibson and Joseph R. Palombo.  Mr. Merritt is Chief
Operating  Officer of Liberty  Financial.  Mr. Hilbert is Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of Liberty  Financial.  The positions held by
Messrs.  Gibson and Palombo are listed above.  The business  address of Messrs.
Merritt and Hilbert is Federal  Reserve  Plaza,  Boston,  MA 02210.  The
business address of Messrs. Gibson and Palombo is One Financial Center, Boston,
MA 02111.

       Please  refer  to the  descriptions  of Stein  Roe,  the  management  and
administrative  agreements,   fees,  expense  limitation,  and  transfer  agency
services under  "Management of the Fund" and "Fund  Expenses" in the Prospectus,
which are  incorporated  herein by  reference.  For the period  ended August 31,
2000, the Fund paid Stein Roe $142 (in thousands) in management fees.



         Stein Roe provides  office space and executive  and other  personnel to
the Fund and bears any sales or promotional expenses. The Fund pays all expenses
other than those paid by Stein Roe,  including  but not limited to printing  and
postage  charges,  securities  registration  and  custodian  fees,  and expenses
incidental to its organization.

         The management agreement provides that neither Stein Roe nor any of its
directors,  officers,  stockholders (or partners of  stockholders),  agents,  or
employees  shall have any liability to the Fund or any  shareholder  of the Fund
for any  error  of  judgment,  mistake  of law or any  loss  arising  out of any
investment,  or for any other act or omission in the performance by Stein Roe of
its duties under the  agreement,  except for  liability  resulting  from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its
duties or from  reckless  disregard by Stein Roe of its  obligations  and duties
under the agreement.

         Any  expenses  that  are  attributable   solely  to  the  organization,
operation,  or  business  of the Fund  shall be paid  solely  out of the  Fund's
assets.  Any expenses  incurred by the Fund that are not solely  attributable to
the Fund are  apportioned  in such  manner as Stein Roe  determines  is fair and
appropriate, unless otherwise specified by the Board.

Administrative Services


         Pursuant  to a  separate  agreement  with the Fund,  Colonial  provides
administrative and accounting services to the Fund. For these services, Colonial
receives  an  annual  fee of 0.20%  of  average  net  assets,  including  assets
representing  leverage.  For the period  ended  August 31,  2000,  the Fund paid
Colonial $64 (in thousands) for services performed under this agreement.




<PAGE>


Bookkeeping and Accounting


         Pursuant to a separate agreement with the Fund, Colonial receives a fee
for performing certain bookkeeping and accounting services.  For these services,
Colonial  receives  an annual  fee of $27,000  plus  .035% of average  net
assets over $50 million.  For the period  ended  August 31, 2000,  the Fund paid
Colonial $15 (in thousands) for services performed under this agreement.


                                   DISTRIBUTOR

         Shares of the Fund are distributed by Liberty Funds  Distributor,  Inc.
("Distributor"  or "LFD"),  One  Financial  Center,  Boston,  MA 02111,  under a
Distribution  Agreement (the  "Agreement").  The  Distributor is a subsidiary of
Colonial,  which is an indirect  subsidiary of Liberty Financial.  The Agreement
continues in effect from year to year,  provided  such  continuance  is approved
annually  (1) by a  majority  of the Board or by a majority  of the  outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, and (2) by a majority of the trustees who are not
parties to the Agreement or interested  persons of any such party.  The Fund has
agreed to pay all expenses in connection  with  registration  of its shares with
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  auditing  and  filing  fees  in
connection with registration of its shares under the various state blue sky laws
and assumes the cost of preparation of the prospectus and other expenses.


Sales-related  expenses (in thousands) of the  Distributor  relating to the Fund
for the period ended August 31, 2000 were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Class A Shares      Class B Shares      Class C Shares
                                                                 --------------      --------------      --------------
<S>                                                                   <C>                <C>                  <C>
Fees to FSFs                                                          $425               $1,024               $35
Cost of sales material relating to the Fund (including
printing and Mailing expenses)                                         233                    46               54
Allocated travel, entertainment and other promotional
expenses (including advertising)                                       219                    43               51

</TABLE>


Distribution and Service Fees

         In addition to an early withdrawal charge, each of Class A, B, and C of
shares  is  authorized  under a  distribution  plan  (Plan)  to use  the  assets
attributable  to  a  class  to  finance  certain  activities   relating  to  the
distribution  of  shares  to  investors.   These  include  marketing  and  other
activities to support the  distribution  of the Class A, B, and C shares and the
services  provided to you by your financial  advisor.  The Plan was approved and
reviewed  in a manner  consistent  with Rule  12b-1  under  the 1940 Act,  which
regulates  the manner in which an open-end  investment  company may  directly or
indirectly  bear the expenses of distributing  its shares.  Although the Fund is
not an open-end  investment  company, it has undertaken to comply with the terms
of Rule 12b-1 as a condition of an exemptive  order under the 1940 Act to permit
it to have a multi-class  structure,  early withdrawal charges, and distribution
fees.

         Under the Plan,  distribution  and service fees paid by the Fund to the
Distributor  may equal up to an annual rate of 0.35% of average daily net assets
attributable to Class A shares,  0.70% of average daily net assets  attributable
to Class B shares, and 0.85% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C
shares,  respectively.  Since the  distribution  and  service  fees are  payable
regardless of the Distributor's  expenses,  the Distributor may realize a profit
from the  fees.  The  Plan  authorizes  any  other  payments  by the Fund to the
Distributor  and its  affiliates  to the  extent  that  such  payments  might be
construed to be indirect financing of the distribution of Fund shares.


         The trustees believe that the Plan could be a significant factor in the
growth and  retention of Fund assets  resulting in a more  advantageous  expense
ratio and  increased  investment  flexibility  which could benefit each class of
Fund shareholders. The Plan will continue in effect from year to year so long as
continuance  is  specifically  approved  at  least  annually  by a  vote  of the
trustees,  including the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and
who have no direct or indirect  financial  interest in the operation of the Plan
or in any agreements related to the Plan (Independent Trustees),  cast in person
at a meeting  called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.  The Plan may not be
amended to increase the fee materially  without approval by a vote of a majority
of the  outstanding  voting  securities of the relevant  class of shares and all
material  amendments  of the Plan must be approved by the trustees in the manner
provided in the foregoing sentence.  The Plan may be terminated at any time by a
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding  voting securities of the relevant class of shares.  The continuance
of the Plan  will only be  effective  if the  selection  and  nomination  of the
Independent  Trustees is effected by such Independent  Trustees.  For the period
ended August 31, 2000,  the Fund paid the following  fees (in  thousands) to the
Distributor:



                                    Distribution Fees             Service Fees


Class A                                 $12                           $31
Class B                                 $34                           $16
Class C                                 $20                            $8
Class Z                                 N/A                           N/A







         Early Withdrawal Charges (EWCs).  Certain investments in Class A, B and
C shares are  subject to an EWC.  You will pay the EWC only on shares you submit
for repurchase within a certain amount of time after purchase. The EWC generally
declines each year until there is no charge for repurchased  shares.  The EWC is
applied to the net asset value at the time of purchase or repurchase,  whichever
is lower.  For purposes of calculating  the EWC, the start of the holding period
is the first day of the month following each purchase.  Shares you purchase with
reinvested dividends or capital gains are not subject to an EWC. When shares are
repurchased,  the Fund will automatically repurchase those shares not subject to
an EWC and then those you have held the  longest.  This policy  helps reduce and
possibly  eliminate the potential  impact of the EWC. In certain  circumstances,
EWCs may be waived, as described in the Statement of Additional Information. For
the period ended August 31, 2000, the Fund paid $0 (Class A), $488 (Class B) and
$370 (Class C) to the Distributor on share redemptions.


         Conversion Feature.  Class B shares will automatically convert to Class
A shares after eight years and after that date  converted  shares will no longer
be subject to the  distribution  fees  applicable to Class B shares.  Conversion
will be on the basis of the  relative  net asset  values per share,  without the
imposition  of any  sales  charge,  fee or  other  charge.  The  purpose  of the
conversion  feature is to relieve the holders of Class B shares from asset-based
distribution  expenses  applicable  to such  shares  at such time as the Class B
shares have been  outstanding  for a duration  sufficient for the Distributor to
have been substantially  compensated for distribution-related  expenses incurred
in  connection  with  those  shares.  Class C shares do not  convert  to Class A
shares.  Therefore,  holders  of  Class C  shares  will  continue  to  bear  the
asset-based  distribution  fees on the  Class C shares  for as long as they hold
such shares.

                                 TRANSFER AGENT


         Liberty Funds Services,  Inc.  ("LFS") performs certain transfer agency
services  for the  Fund,  as  described  under  "Management  of the Fund" in the
Prospectus.  Under  the  Fund's  shareholders'  servicing  and  transfer  agency
agreement,  the Fund pays LFS a monthly  fee at the annual  rate of 0.07% of the
average  daily closing value of the total net assets of the Fund for such month.
In addition, total compensation, the Fund pays LFS the following fees:

1.       A transaction fee of $1.18 per transaction occurring in Fund accounts
during any month; PLUS
2.       An account fee for open  accounts of $4.00 per annum,  payable on a
 monthly  basis,  in an amount equal to
         1/12 the per annum charge; PLUS
3.       An account fee for closed  accounts of $1.50 per annum,  payable on a
 monthly basis, in an amount equal to
         1/12 the per annum charge; PLUS

The Fund's allocated share of LFS reimbursement out-of-pocket expenses.


The Board  believes  the charges by LFS to the Fund are  comparable  to those of
other  companies   performing  similar  services.   (See  "Investment   Advisory
Services.")  Under a separate  agreement,  SSI also  provides  certain  investor
accounting services to the Fund.

                                    CUSTODIAN

         State Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank"),  225 Franklin Street,
Boston,  MA 02101,  is the custodian for the Fund. It is responsible for holding
all  securities  and  cash,  receiving  and  paying  for  securities  purchased,
delivering against payment securities sold, receiving and collecting income from
investments,  making  all  payments  covering  expenses,  and  performing  other
administrative  duties, all as directed by authorized persons. The Bank does not
exercise  any  supervisory  function  in such  matters as  purchase  and sale of
portfolio securities, payment of dividends, or payment of expenses.

         The Fund may invest in obligations of the Bank and may purchase or sell
securities from or to the Bank.



<PAGE>


                             INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


         The independent accountants for the Fund are PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, 160 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.  The independent accountants audit
and report on the annual financial statements, review certain regulatory reports
and the federal income tax returns, and perform other professional accounting,
auditing, tax and advisory services when engaged to do so.


               PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING OR ELIMINATING SALES CHARGES

         Right of  Accumulation  and  Statement of Intent (Class A shares only).
Reduced  sales  charges on Class A shares can be effected by combining a current
purchase  with  prior  purchases  of  Class A, B, C and Z  shares  of the  funds
distributed by LFD. The  applicable  sales charge is based on the combined total
of:

         1.       the current purchase; and

         2.       the  value  at the  public  offering  price  at the  close  of
                  business on the previous day of all funds' Class A shares held
                  by the  shareholder  (except  shares of any money market fund,
                  unless  such shares  were  acquired  by exchange  from Class A
                  shares of  another  fund other  than a money  market  fund and
                  Class B, C and Z shares).

         LFD  must be  promptly  notified  of each  purchase  which  entitles  a
shareholder to a reduced sales charge. Such reduced sales charge will be applied
upon confirmation of the shareholder's  holdings by LFS. A fund may terminate or
amend this Right of Accumulation.

         Any person may qualify for reduced  sales charges on purchases of Class
A shares made within a  thirteen-month  period pursuant to a Statement of Intent
("Statement").  A shareholder may include,  as an accumulation credit toward the
completion of such  Statement,  the value of all Class A, B, C and Z shares held
by the  shareholder  on the date of the Statement in funds (except shares of any
money market  fund,  unless such shares were  acquired by exchange  from Class A
shares of another  non-money market fund). The value is determined at the public
offering price on the date of the Statement. Purchases made through reinvestment
of distributions do not count toward satisfaction of the Statement.

         During  the term of a  Statement,  LFS will  hold  shares  in escrow to
secure payment of the higher sales charge  applicable to Class A shares actually
purchased.  Dividends and capital gains will be paid on all escrowed  shares and
these shares will be released when the amount  indicated has been  purchased.  A
Statement  does not obligate the investor to buy or a fund to sell the amount of
the Statement.

         If a  shareholder  exceeds the amount of the  Statement  and reaches an
amount which would qualify for a further quantity discount,  a retroactive price
adjustment  will  be  made  at the  time of  expiration  of the  Statement.  The
resulting  difference in offering price will purchase  additional shares for the
shareholder's  account  at the  applicable  offering  price.  As a part  of this
adjustment,  the  financial  service firm ("FSF") shall return to LFD the excess
commission previously paid during the thirteen-month period.

         If the amount of the Statement is not purchased,  the shareholder shall
remit to LFD an amount equal to the difference between the sales charge paid and
the sales  charge that should have been paid.  If the  shareholder  fails within
twenty days after a written request to pay such difference in sales charge,  LFS
will redeem that number of escrowed Class A shares to equal such difference. The
additional  amount of FSF discount from the  applicable  offering price shall be
remitted to the shareholder's FSF of record.

         Additional  information about and the terms of Statements of Intent are
available from your FSF, or from LFS at 1-800-426-3750.

         Reinstatement  Privilege.  An investor who has redeemed Class A, B or C
shares  may,  upon  request,  reinstate  within one year a portion or all of the
proceeds  of such sale in  shares of the same  Class of any fund at the NAV next
determined after LFSI receives a written  reinstatement request and payment. Any
EWC paid at the time of the redemption will be credited to the shareholder  upon
reinstatement.  The period between the redemption and the reinstatement will not
be counted in aging the reinstated shares for purposes of calculating any EWC or
conversion date.  Investors who desire to exercise this privilege should contact
their FSF or LFS.  Shareholders  may exercise this Privilege an unlimited number
of times.  Exercise  of this  privilege  does not alter the  Federal  income tax
treatment of any capital gains realized on the prior sale of fund shares, but to
the extent any such shares  were sold at a loss,  some or all of the loss may be
disallowed for tax purposes. Consult your tax advisor.


         Privileges of Liberty Acorn Funds  Shareholders.  Any  shareholder  who
owned shares of any fund of Liberty  Acorn Trust on September 29, 2000 (when all
of the then outstanding shares of Liberty Acorn Trust were re-designated Class Z
shares)  and who  since  that  time  has  remained  a  shareholder  of any  fund
distributed by LFD, may purchase  Class A shares of any fund  distributed by LFD
at NAV in those  cases  where a  Liberty  Fund  Class Z share is not  available.
Qualifying  shareholders  will not be subject  to Class A initial or  contingent
deferred  sales  charges;  however,  they will be subject  to the  annual  12b-1
service fee.


         Privileges of Stein Roe Employees or Financial Service Firms.
Class A shares of  certain  funds  may be  sold  at NAV to the  following
individuals  whether currently employed or retired:  Trustees of funds advised
or administered by the Advisor;  directors,  officers  and  employees  of the
Advisor,  LFD and  other companies affiliated with the Advisor;  registered
representatives and employees of FSFs (including their  affiliates)  that are
parties to dealer  agreements or other  sales  arrangements  with  LFD;  and
such  persons'  families  and  their beneficial accounts.

         Sponsored  Arrangements.  Class A shares may be purchased at reduced or
no sales charge pursuant to sponsored arrangements, which include programs under
which an organization  makes  recommendations  to, or permits group solicitation
of, its employees,  members or  participants  in connection with the purchase of
shares of the Fund on an  individual  basis.  The  amount  of the  sales  charge
reduction  will reflect the  anticipated  reduction in sales expense  associated
with sponsored  arrangements.  The reduction in sales expense, and therefore the
reduction in sales charge,  will vary  depending on factors such as the size and
stability of the organization's group, the term of the organization's  existence
and certain  characteristics  of the members of its group. The Fund reserves the
right to revise the terms of or to  suspend or  discontinue  sales  pursuant  to
sponsored plans at any time.

         Class A shares may also be  purchased  at reduced or no sales charge by
clients of dealers,  brokers or registered investment advisors that have entered
into  agreements  with LFD pursuant to which the Fund is included as  investment
options  in  programs  involving  fee-based  compensation  arrangements,  and by
participants in certain retirement plans.

         Waiver  of  Early  Withdrawal  Charges  (EWCs).  EWCs  may be  waived
 on  redemptions  in  the  following situations with the proper documentation:

1.      Death.  EWCs may be waived on redemptions  within one year following
the death of (i) the sole shareholder on
        -----
        an individual  account,  (ii) a joint tenant where the surviving  joint
        tenant is the deceased's  spouse,  or (iii) the  beneficiary  of a
        Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA),  Uniform  Transfers to Minors Act
        (UTMA) or other custodial  account.  If, upon the occurrence of one of
        the foregoing,  the account is transferred to an account  registered in
        the name of the deceased's  estate,  the EWC will be waived on any
        redemption from the estate account  occurring  within one year after
        the death. If the Class B shares are not redeemed within one
        year of the death,  they will remain  subject to the  applicable
        EWC, when  redeemed  from the  transferee's account.  If the account is
        transferred  to a new  registration  and then a  redemption  is
        requested,  the applicable EWC will be charged.

2.      Disability.  EWCs may be waived on redemptions occurring within one year
        after the sole shareholder on an individual account or a joint tenant on
        a spousal joint tenant account  becomes  disabled (as defined in Section
        72(m)(7) of the Internal  Revenue Code). To be eligible for such waiver,
        (i) the disability  must arise after the purchase of shares and (ii) the
        disabled  shareholder  must  have  been  under age 65 at the time of the
        initial determination of disability.  If the account is transferred to a
        new registration and then a redemption is requested,  the applicable EWC
        will be charged.

3.      Death of a trustee.  EWCs may be waived on  redemptions  occurring  upon
        dissolution of a revocable  living or grantor trust  following the death
        of the sole  trustee  where  (i) the  grantor  of the  trust is the sole
        trustee and the sole life  beneficiary,  (ii) death occurs following the
        purchase and (iii) the trust  document  provides for  dissolution of the
        trust upon the trustee's  death.  If the account is transferred to a new
        registration (including that of a successor trustee), the applicable EWC
        will be charged upon any subsequent redemption.

4.      Returns  of excess  contributions.  EWCs may be  waived  on  redemptions
        required to return  excess  contributions  made to  retirement  plans or
        individual  retirement accounts, so long as the FSF agrees to return the
        applicable portion of any commission paid by Colonial.

5.      Qualified  Retirement Plans. EWCs may be waived on redemptions  required
        to make distributions  from qualified  retirement plans following normal
        retirement (as stated in the Plan document). EWCs also will be waived on
        SWP  redemptions  made  to  make  required  minimum  distributions  from
        qualified  retirement  plans that have invested in funds  distributed by
        LFDI for at least two years.

         The EWC also may be  waived  where the FSF  agrees to return  all or an
agreed upon  portion of the  commission  earned on the sale of the shares  being
redeemed.


          For the period  ended  August 31,  2000,  the Fund paid the  following
sales charges:

Sales Charge (in thousands):
Aggregate initial sales charges on Fund share sales            $479
Initial sales charge retained by the Distributor                  7

Sales Charge:                                   Class A    Class B     Class C
Aggregate contingent deferred sales charge        $0        $488        $370



                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

         Stein Roe  places the orders  for the  purchase  and sale of  portfolio
securities and options and futures contracts for its clients,  including private
clients and mutual fund clients  ("Clients").  Purchases  and sales of portfolio
securities  are ordinarily  transacted  with the issuer or with a primary market
maker acting as principal or agent for the  securities  on a net basis,  with no
brokerage  commission.  Transactions  placed through  dealers reflect the spread
between the bid and asked prices.  Occasionally,  the Fund may make purchases of
underwritten  issues at prices that  include  underwriting  discounts or selling
concessions.

         Stein Roe's  overriding  objective in selecting  brokers and dealers to
effect  portfolio  transactions is to seek the best combination of net price and
execution.  The best net price, giving effect to brokerage commissions,  if any,
is an important factor in this decision;  however,  a number of other judgmental
factors may also enter into the  decision.  These  factors  include  Stein Roe's
knowledge of negotiated  commission rates currently  available and other current
transaction  costs; the nature of the security being purchased or sold; the size
of the transaction; the desired timing of the transaction; the activity existing
and expected in the market for the  particular  security;  confidentiality;  the
execution,  clearance  and  settlement  capabilities  of the  broker  or  dealer
selected and others considered; Stein Roe's knowledge of the financial condition
of the broker or dealer  selected and such other brokers and dealers;  and Stein
Roe's  knowledge  of actual or  apparent  operation  problems  of any  broker or
dealer.

         Recognizing the value of these factors, Stein Roe may cause a Client to
pay a  brokerage  commission  in excess of that  which  another  broker may have
charged for effecting the same transaction.  Stein Roe has established  internal
policies  for the  guidance of its  trading  personnel,  specifying  minimum and
maximum  commissions to be paid for various types and sizes of transactions  and
effected for Clients in those cases where Stein Roe has discretion to select the
broker  or  dealer by which the  transaction  is to be  executed.  Stein Roe has
discretion  for all  trades  of the  Fund.  Transactions  which  vary  from  the
guidelines  are subject to periodic  supervisory  review.  These  guidelines are
reviewed  and  periodically   adjusted,  and  the  general  level  of  brokerage
commissions  paid is  periodically  reviewed  by Stein Roe.  Evaluations  of the
reasonableness of brokerage  commissions,  based on the factors described in the
preceding  paragraph,  are made by Stein Roe's trading personnel while effecting
portfolio  transactions.  The general  level of  brokerage  commissions  paid is
reviewed by Stein Roe, and reports are made annually to the Board of Trustees.

         Stein Roe maintains and periodically updates a list of approved brokers
and dealers which, in Stein Roe's judgment,  are generally  capable of providing
best price and execution  and are  financially  stable.  Stein Roe's traders are
directed to use only  brokers and dealers on the  approved  list,  except in the
case of Client  designations  of brokers or dealers to effect  transactions  for
such Clients' accounts.  Stein Roe generally posts certain Client information on
the  "Alert"  broker  database  system  as a means  of  facilitating  the  trade
affirmation and settlement process.

         It is Stein Roe's practice,  when feasible,  to aggregate for execution
as a single transaction orders for the purchase or sale of a particular security
for the accounts of several Clients, in order to seek a lower commission or more
advantageous  net  price.  The  benefit,  if any,  obtained  as a result of such
aggregation  generally is allocated pro rata among the accounts of Clients which
participated in the aggregated transaction.  In some instances, this may involve
the use of an "average price" execution  wherein a broker or dealer to which the
aggregated  order has been given  will  execute  the order in  several  separate
transactions  during the course of a day at differing  prices and, in such case,
each Client  participating  in the aggregated order will pay or receive the same
price and commission, which will be an average of the prices and commissions for
the several separate transactions executed by the broker or dealer.

         Stein Roe sometimes makes use of an indirect  electronic  access to the
New York  Stock  Exchange's  "SuperDOT"  automated  execution  system,  provided
through a NYSE member floor  broker,  W&D  Securities,  Inc.,  a  subsidiary  of
Jeffries & Co., Inc., particularly for the efficient execution of smaller orders
in NYSE listed equities.  Stein Roe sometimes uses similar  arrangements through
Billings & Co.,  Inc. and  Driscoll & Co.,  Inc.,  floor  broker  members of the
Chicago Stock Exchange,  for  transactions  to be executed on that exchange.  In
using these arrangements,  Stein Roe must instruct the floor broker to refer the
executed transaction to another brokerage firm for clearance and settlement,  as
the  floor  brokers  do not deal  with the  public.  Transactions  of this  type
sometimes are referred to as "step-in" or "step-out" transactions. The brokerage
firm to which the executed  transaction is referred may include,  in the case of
transactions  effected  through W&D  Securities,  brokerage  firms which provide
Stein Roe investment research or related services.

         Stein Roe places  certain  trades for the Fund  through  its  affiliate
AlphaTrade,  Inc.  ("ATI").  ATI  is  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Colonial
Management  Associates,  Inc. ATI is a fully disclosed  introducing  broker that
limits its activities to electronic  execution of  transactions in listed equity
securities. The Fund pays ATI a commission for these transactions.  The Fund and
the Fund have adopted  procedures  consistent with  Investment  Company Act Rule
17e-1 governing such transactions. Certain of Stein Roe's officers also serve as
officers, directors and/or employees of ATI.

         Consistent  with the Rules of Fair Practice of National  Association of
Securities  Dealers,  Inc. and subject to seeking best  executing and such other
policies as the trustees of the Fund may determine, Stein Roe may consider sales
of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of  broker-dealers to execute
such mutual fund securities transactions.

Investment Research Products and Services Furnished by Brokers and Dealers

         Stein Roe engages in the long-standing practice in the money management
industry of acquiring  research and brokerage  products and services  ("research
products") from  broker-dealer  firms in return for directing  trades for Client
accounts to those firms.  In effect,  Stein Roe is using the commission  dollars
generated  from these Client  accounts to pay for these research  products.  The
money management industry uses the term "soft dollars" to refer to this industry
practice.  Stein Roe may engage in soft dollar  transactions on trades for those
Client   accounts  for  which  Stein  Roe  has  the  discretion  to  select  the
broker-dealer.

         The ability to direct  brokerage  for a Client  account  belongs to the
Client and not to Stein Roe.  When a Client  grants Stein Roe the  discretion to
select  broker-dealers for Client trades,  Stein Roe has a duty to seek the best
combination of net price and execution.  Stein Roe faces a potential conflict of
interest  with this  duty when it uses  Client  trades  to  obtain  soft  dollar
products.  This conflict exists because Stein Roe is able to use the soft dollar
products in managing its Client  accounts  without paying cash ("hard  dollars")
for the product. This reduces Stein Roe's expenses.

         Moreover,  under a provision of the federal  securities laws applicable
to soft  dollars,  Stein Roe is not  required to use the soft dollar  product in
managing those accounts that generate the trade.  Thus, the Client accounts that
generate the brokerage  commission  used to acquire the soft dollar  product may
not benefit  directly from that  product.  In effect,  those  accounts are cross
subsidizing  Stein  Roe's  management  of the  other  accounts  that do  benefit
directly from the product. This practice is explicitly sanctioned by a provision
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  which creates a "safe harbor" for soft
dollar transactions  conducted in a specified manner.  Although it is inherently
difficult,  if not  impossible,  to document,  Stein Roe believes that over time
most,  if not all,  Clients  benefit from soft dollar  products  such that cross
subsidizations even out.

         Stein Roe  attempts to reduce or eliminate  this  conflict by directing
Client  trades for soft dollar  products  only if Stein Roe  concludes  that the
broker-dealer supplying the product is capable of providing a combination of the
best net price and execution on the trade.  As noted above,  the best net price,
while significant,  is one of a number of judgmental factors Stein Roe considers
in determining  whether a particular broker is capable of providing the best net
price and  execution.  Stein Roe may cause a Client  account to pay a  brokerage
commission in a soft dollar trade in excess of that which another  broker-dealer
might have charged for the same transaction.

         Stein Roe  acquires  two types of soft dollar  research  products:  (i)
proprietary  research created by the broker-dealer  firm executing the trade and
(ii) other  products  created by third  parties  that are  supplied to Stein Roe
through the broker-dealer firm executing the trade.

         Proprietary   research  consists  primarily  of  traditional   research
reports, recommendations and similar materials produced by the in house research
staffs  of  broker-dealer   firms.  This  research   includes   evaluations  and
recommendations of specific companies or industry groups, as well as analyses of
general  economic and market  conditions and trends,  market data,  contacts and
other  related  information  and  assistance.   Stein  Roe's  research  analysts
periodically  rate the  quality  of  proprietary  research  produced  by various
broker-dealer  firms.  Based on these  evaluations,  Stein Roe  develops  target
levels of  commission  dollars on a  firm-by-firm  basis.  Stein Roe attempts to
direct trades to each firm to meet these targets.

         Stein Roe also uses soft dollars to acquire  products  created by third
parties  that are  supplied to Stein Roe through  broker-dealers  executing  the
trade (or other  broker-dealers  who "step in" to a  transaction  and  receive a
portion of the brokerage  commission for the trade).  These products include the
following:

o    Database   Services--comprehensive   databases  containing  current  and/or
     historical  information  on  companies  and  industries.  Examples  include
     historical securities prices,  earnings estimates,  and SEC filings.  These
     services  may  include  software  tools  that  allow the user to search the
     database  or to prepare  value-added  analyses  related  to the  investment
     process  (such as  forecasts  and models used in the  portfolio  management
     process).
o    Quotation/Trading/News Systems--products that provide real time market data
     information,  such as pricing of individual  securities and  information on
     current trading, as well as a variety of news services.
o    Economic Data/Forecasting  Tools--various macro economic forecasting tools,
     such as economic  data and economic  and  political  forecasts  for various
     countries or regions.
o    Quantitative/Technical Analysis--software tools that assist in quantitative
     and technical analysis of investment data.
o  Fundamental  Industry   Analysis--industry-specific   fundamental  investment
research.
o    Fixed Income  Security  Analysis--data  and  analytical  tools that pertain
     specifically  to fixed  income  securities.  These tools assist in creating
     financial  models,   such  as  cash  flow  projections  and  interest  rate
     sensitivity analyses, that are relevant to fixed income securities.
o    Other Specialized  Tools--other  specialized products,  such as specialized
     economic   consulting   analyses  and  attendance  at  investment  oriented
     conferences.

         Many third-party  products  include  computer  software or on-line data
feeds.  Certain  products also include  computer  hardware  necessary to use the
product.

         Certain of these third party  services may be available  directly  from
the  vendor  on  a  hard  dollar  basis.   Others  are  available  only  through
broker-dealer  firms for soft  dollars.  Stein Roe  evaluates  each  product  to
determine a cash ("hard  dollars")  value of the product to Stein Roe. Stein Roe
then on a product-by-product basis targets commission dollars in an amount equal
to a  specified  multiple  of the hard dollar  value to the  broker-dealer  that
supplies the product to Stein Roe. In general,  these  multiples range from 1.25
to 1.85 times the hard dollar value. Stein Roe attempts to direct trades to each
firm to meet these targets. (For example, if the multiple is 1.5:1.0, assuming a
hard  dollar  value of  $10,000,  Stein  Roe will  target  to the  broker-dealer
providing the product trades generating $15,000 in total commissions.)

         The targets that Stein Roe  establishes  for both  proprietary  and for
third party research products typically will reflect  discussions that Stein Roe
has  with  the  broker-dealer  providing  the  product  regarding  the  level of
commissions  it expects to receive for the product.  However,  these targets are
not binding commitments, and Stein Roe does not agree to direct a minimum amount
of commissions to any broker-dealer  for soft dollar products.  In setting these
targets,  Stein  Roe makes a  determination  that the  value of the  product  is
reasonably  commensurate  with the  cost of  acquiring  it.  These  targets  are
established on a calendar year basis. Stein Roe will receive the product whether
or not commissions directed to the applicable broker-dealer are less than, equal
to or in excess of the  target.  Stein Roe  generally  will  carry  over  target
shortages and excesses to the next year's  target.  Stein Roe believes that this
practice  reduces  the  conflicts  of  interest   associated  with  soft  dollar
transactions,   since  Stein  Roe  can  meet  the  non-binding  expectations  of
broker-dealers providing soft dollar products over flexible time periods. In the
case of third party products,  the third party is paid by the  broker-dealer and
not by Stein  Roe.  Stein Roe may enter  into a  contract  with the third  party
vendor to use the product. (For example, if the product includes software, Stein
Roe will enter into a license to use the software from the vendor.)

         In certain cases,  Stein Roe uses soft dollars to obtain  products that
have both research and non-research purposes.  Examples of non-research uses are
administrative  and  marketing  functions.  These are referred to as "mixed use"
products. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information,  Stein Roe
acquires  two mixed use  products.  These are (i) a fixed income  security  data
service and (ii) a mutual fund performance  ranking service. In each case, Stein
Roe makes a good faith evaluation of the research and non-research uses of these
services.  These evaluations are based upon the time spent by Firm personnel for
research  and  non-research  uses.  Stein Roe pays the  provider  in cash ("hard
dollars") for the non-research portion of its use of these products.

         Stein Roe may use  research  obtained  from soft  dollar  trades in the
management of any of its discretionary accounts.  Thus, consistent with industry
practice,  Stein Roe does not require that the Client account that generates the
trade  receive any benefit  from the soft dollar  product  obtained  through the
trade.  As noted above,  this may result in cross  subsidization  of soft dollar
products among Client  accounts.  As noted therein,  this practice is explicitly
sanctioned by a provision of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, which creates
a "safe harbor" for soft dollar transactions conducted in a specified manner.

         In certain  cases,  Stein Roe will direct a trade to one  broker-dealer
with the  instruction  that it  execute  the trade and pay over a portion of the
commission from the trade to another broker-dealer who provides Stein Roe with a
soft dollar research product. The broker-dealer  executing the trade "steps out"
of a portion of the commission in favor of the other broker-dealer providing the
soft dollar product.  Stein Roe may engage in step out  transactions in order to
direct soft dollar  commissions to a broker-dealer  which provides  research but
may not be able  to  provide  best  execution.  Brokers  who  receive  step  out
commissions  typically are brokers  providing a third party soft dollar  product
that is not available on a hard dollars basis. Stein Roe has not engaged in step
out transactions as a manner of compensating  broker-dealers that sell shares of
investment companies managed by Stein Roe.


         For the period ended August 31,  2000,  the Fund did not pay  brokerage
commissions on any transactions.


                      ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

         The Fund intends to comply with the special  provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code that relieve the Fund of federal  income tax to the extent of their
respective  net  investment  income and capital gains  currently  distributed to
their respective shareholders.

         Because  capital  gain  distributions  reduce  net  asset  value,  if a
shareholder  purchases  shares shortly before a record date, he will, in effect,
receive  a return of a  portion  of his  investment  in such  distribution.  The
distribution would nonetheless be taxable to him, even if the net asset value of
shares were reduced below his cost. However, for federal income tax purposes the
shareholder's original cost would continue as his tax basis.
         The Fund  expects  that  none of its  dividends  will  qualify  for the
deduction for dividends received by corporate shareholders.

                             INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

         The Fund may quote yield figures from time to time.  The "Yield" of the
Fund is computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a
30-day period (using the average number of shares entitled to receive dividends)
by the net  asset  value  per  share on the last day of the  period.  The  Yield
formula  provides for semiannual  compounding  which assumes that net investment
income is earned and  reinvested at a constant rate and annualized at the end of
a six-month period.

         The Yield formula is as follows:  YIELD = 2[((a-b/cd) +1)6 -1].

            Where:      a    =   dividends and interest earned during the
                                 period.  (For this purpose, the Fund will
                                 recalculate the yield to maturity based on
                                 market value of each portfolio security on
                                 each business day on which net asset value is
                                 calculated.)
                        b    =   expenses accrued for the period (net of
                                 reimbursements).
                        c    =   the average daily number of shares outstanding
                                 during the period that were entitled to
                                 receive dividends.
                        d    =   the ending net asset value of the Fund for the
                                 period.


         The 30-day yields as of August 31, 2000 were:

                                                             Yield
Class A                                                      9.23%
Class B                                                      9.00%
Class C                                                      8.85%
Class Z                                                      9.70%


         The Fund may quote total  return  figures  from time to time.  A "Total
Return" on a per share basis is the amount of dividends  received per share plus
or minus  the  change in the net  asset  value per share for a period.  A "Total
Return Percentage" may be calculated by dividing the value of a share at the end
of a period (including  reinvestment of distributions) by the value of the share
at the  beginning  of the period and  subtracting  one. For a given  period,  an
"Average  Annual  Total  Return" may be  computed by finding the average  annual
compounded  rate that would equate a  hypothetical  initial  amount  invested of
$1,000 to the ending redeemable value.

       Average Annual Total Return is computed as follows: ERV = P(1+T)n

       Where:         P       =  a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
                      T       =  average annual total return
                      n       =  number of years
                      ERV        = ending  redeemable  value  of a  hypothetical
                                 $1,000  payment  made at the  beginning  of the
                                 period at the end of the period (or  fractional
                                 portion).


       For example, for a $1,000 investment in the Fund, the "Total Return," the
"Total Return  Percentage,"  and the "Average Annual Total Return" at August 31,
2000 were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                     Ending Redeemable    Total Return            Average Annual
                                          Value($)        Percentage (%)          Total Return(%)
                                     -------------------  --------------          ----------------

<S>                                    <C>                        <C>                  <C>
Class A
       Life of the Fund*               $1,060.45                   6.04%               None
------------------------
Class B
        Life of the Fund*              $1,056.93                   5.69%               None
-------------------------
Class C
         Life of the Fund*             $1,056.17                   5.62%               None
Class Z
        Life of  the Fund*             $1,061.11                   6.11%               None

</TABLE>

 *Since commencement of operations on January 13, 2000.

         Performance  results reflect any waiver of reimbursement by the Advisor
of  expenses.  Absent  this  waiver or  reimbursement  arrangement,  performance
results would have been lower. See Prospectus for details.  The Fund may provide
information  about the Advisor and its  affiliates  and other  related  funds in
sales material or advertisements provided to investors or prospective investors.
Sales  materials or  advertisements  also may provide  information on the use of
investment professionals by investors. For further information, see "Performance
Information" in the Prospectus.






<PAGE>


                                APPENDIX--RATINGS

Ratings  in  General.  A rating of a rating  service  represents  the  service's
opinion as to the credit  quality of the  security  being  rated.  However,  the
ratings are general and are not absolute  standards of quality or  guarantees as
to the  creditworthiness of an issuer.  Consequently,  the Adviser believes that
the  quality  of debt  securities  should  be  continuously  reviewed  and  that
individual analysts give different weightings to the various factors involved in
credit analysis.  A rating is not a recommendation  to purchase,  sell or hold a
security because it does not take into account market value or suitability for a
particular  investor.  When a security  has received a rating from more than one
service,  each rating  should be evaluated  independently.  Ratings are based on
current  information  furnished by the issuer or obtained by the rating services
from  other  sources  that  they  consider  reliable.  Ratings  may be  changed,
suspended  or  withdrawn  as a result of  changes in or  unavailability  of such
information,  or for  other  reasons.  The  following  is a  description  of the
characteristics of ratings used by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's")
and Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P").

Corporate Bond Ratings
         Ratings  By  Moody's.  Aaa.  Bonds  rated Aaa are judged to be the best
quality.  They carry the smallest  degree of  investment  risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edge."  Interest  payments  are  protected by a large or an
exceptionally  stable  margin and  principal  is secure.  Although  the  various
protective  elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
more unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such bonds.

         Aa. Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high  quality by all  standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade
bonds.  They are rated lower than the best bonds  because  margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa bonds or fluctuation of protective elements may be
of  greater  amplitude  or there may be other  elements  present  which make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa bonds.

         A. Bonds rated A possess many favorable  investment  attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade  obligations.  Factors giving security to
principal  and interest  are  considered  adequate,  but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

         Baa. Bonds rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations;  i.e.,
they are neither  highly  protected nor poorly  secured.  Interest  payments and
principal  security  appear  adequate  for the present  but  certain  protective
elements may be lacking or may be  characteristically  unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics  and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.

         Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have  speculative  elements;
their future  cannot be  considered  as well  assured.  Often the  protection of
interest  and  principal  payments  may be very  moderate  and  thereby not well
safeguarded  during  both good and bad times  over the  future.  Uncertainty  of
position characterizes bonds in this class.

         B.  Bonds  which  are rated B  generally  lack  characteristics  of the
desirable  investment.  Assurance  of  interest  and  principal  payments  or of
maintenance  of other terms of the contract  over any long period of time may be
small.

         Caa.  Bonds  which are rated Caa are of poor  standing.  Such  issues
 may be in  default  or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.

         Ca. Bonds which are rated Ca represent  obligations  which are
speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.

         C.  Bonds  which are rated C are the  lowest  rated  class of bonds and
issues so rated can be  regarded  as having  extremely  poor  prospects  of ever
attaining any real investment standing.

         NOTE:  Moody's applies  numerical  modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic
rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The
modifier 1 indicates  that the  security  ranks in the higher end of its generic
rating category;  the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier
3  indicates  that  the  issue  ranks in the  lower  end of its  generic  rating
category.

         Ratings  by S&P.  AAA.  Debt  rated  AAA has the  highest  rating.
Capacity  to pay  interest  and  repay principal is extremely strong.

         AA. Debt rated AA has a very strong  capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

         A.  Debt  rated A has a  strong  capacity  to pay  interest  and  repay
principal  although it is somewhat more  susceptible  to the adverse  effects of
changes in  circumstances  and  economic  conditions  than debt in higher  rated
categories.

         BBB.  Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate  capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate  protection
parameters,  adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are more
likely to lead to a weakened  capacity to pay interest and repay  principal  for
debt in this category than for debt in higher rated categories.

         BB, B, CCC, CC and C. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC, or C is  regarded,  on
balance,  as predominantly  speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest
and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates
the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation.  While
such debt will likely have some quality and  protective  characteristics,  these
are  outweighed  by large  uncertainties  or major  risk  exposures  to  adverse
conditions.

         C1.  This rating is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is
 being paid.

         D. Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment
of  principal  is in  arrears.  The D rating is also  used upon the  filing of a
bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.

         NOTES:  The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a
plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show  relative  standing  within the major ratings
categories.  Foreign debt is rated on the same basis as domestic debt  measuring
the  creditworthiness  of the issuer;  ratings of foreign  debt do not take into
account currency exchange and related uncertainties.

         The "r" is attached to highlight derivative,  hybrid, and certain other
obligations that S&P believes may experience high volatility or high variability
in expected returns due to non-credit  risks.  Examples of such obligations are:
securities   whose   principal  or  interest  return  is  indexed  to  equities,
commodities,  or  currencies;  certain swaps and options;  and interest only and
principal only mortgage  securities.  The absence of an "r" symbol should not be
taken  as an  indication  that an  obligation  will  exhibit  no  volatility  or
variability in total return.

Commercial Paper Ratings
         Ratings by Moody's.  Moody's employs the following three  designations,
all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative  repayment  capacity
of rated issuers:

                  Prime-1  Highest Quality
                  Prime-2  Higher Quality
                  Prime-3  High Quality

         If  an  issuer   represents  to  Moody's  that  its  commercial   paper
obligations are supported by the credit of another entity or entities,  Moody's,
in assigning  ratings to such issuers,  evaluates the financial  strength of the
indicated  affiliated  corporations,   commercial  banks,  insurance  companies,
foreign  governments  or other  entities,  but only as one  factor  in the total
rating assessment.

         Ratings By S&P.  A brief description of the applicable rating symbols
and their meaning follows:

         A.  Issues  assigned  this  highest  rating are  regarded as having the
greatest  capacity  for timely  payment.  Issues in this  category  are  further
refined with the  designations  1, 2, and 3 to indicate  the relative  degree of
safety.

         A-1. This  designation  indicates  that the degree of safety  regarding
timely payment is very strong.  Those issues determined to possess  overwhelming
safety characteristics will be denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.


--------
 1 A "majority of the outstanding  voting  securities" means the approval of the
lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares at a meeting if the holders of more than
50% of the  outstanding  shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more
than 50% of the outstanding shares.
<PAGE>

PART C.

Other Information.

Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (1)  Financial Statements:
                             Included in Part A:

                             Financial statements included in Part A of this
                             registration statement: Financial Highlights

                             Included in Part B:

                             Financial statements included in Part B of this
                             registration statement:  8/31/00 Annual Report

      (2)  Exhibits

             (a)(1)          Agreement and Declaration of Trust(1)

             (a)(2)          Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Declaration of
                             Trust(2)

             (a)(3)          Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Declaration of
                             Trust(4)

             (b)             By-Laws

             (c)             Not Applicable

             (d)             Form of  Specimen of Share  Certificate  - filed as
                             Exhibit 4 in Part C, Item  24(b) of  Post-Effective
                             Amendment No. 45 to the  Registration  Statement on
                             Form  N-1A of  Liberty  Funds  Trust  IV  (formerly
                             Colonial   Trust  IV)  (File   Nos.   2-62492   and
                             811-2865),  filed with the  Commission  on or about
                             March  21,  1997,  and is  hereby  incorporated  by
                             reference  and  made a part  of  this  Registration
                             Statement

             (e)             Not Applicable

             (f)             Not Applicable

             (g)(1)          Management Agreement between Liberty Floating Rate
                             Advantage Fund (formerly Liberty-Stein Roe Advisor
                             Floating Rate Advantage Fund) and Stein Roe &
                             Farnham Incorporated(2)

             (g)(2)          Expense Reimbursement Agreement between Liberty
                             Floating Rate Advantage Fund (formerly
                             Liberty-Stein Roe Advisor Floating Rate Advantage
                             Fund) and Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated(2)

             (h)             Underwriting Agreement between Liberty Floating
                             Rate Advantage Fund (formerly Liberty-Stein Roe
                             Advisor Floating Rate Advantage Fund) and Liberty
                             Funds Distributor, Inc.(3)

             (i)             Not Applicable

             (j)(1)          Custodian Contract between the Registrant and
                             State Street Bank and Trust Company(3)

             (j)(2)          Addendum to Custodian Contract between the
                             Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
                             Company(3)

             (j)(3)          Loan Services Addendum to Custodian Contract
                             between the Registrant and State Street
                             Bank and Trust Company(3)

             (j)(4)          Schedule A to Custodian Contract between the
                             Registrant and State Street Bank and
                             Trust Company(3)

             (k)(1)          Amended and Restated Shareholders' Servicing and
                             Transfer Agent Agreement as amended -
                             filed as Exhibit No. 9.(b) in Part C, Item 24(b)
                             of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to
                             the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty
                             Funds Trust VI (formerly Colonial
                             Trust VI)(File Nos. 33-45117 & 811-6529), filed
                             with the Commission on or about
                             September 27, 1996, and is hereby incorporated by
                             reference and made a part of this
                             Registration Statement

             (k)(2)          Amendment No. 18 to Schedule A of Amended and
                             Restated Shareholders' Servicing and
                             Transfer Agent Agreement as amended - filed as
                             Exhibit (h)(2) in Part C, Item 23 of
                             Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
                             Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty
                             Funds Trust I (File Nos. 33-41251 & 811-2214),
                             filed with the Commission on or about
                             May 17, 2000, and is hereby incorporated by
                             reference and made a part of this
                             Registration Statement

             (k)(3)          Amendment No. 23 to Appendix I of Amended and
                             Restated Shareholders' Servicing and
                             Transfer Agent Agreement as amended - filed as
                             Exhibit (h)(3) in Part C, Item 23 of
                             Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registration
                             Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty
                             Funds Trust I (File Nos. 33-41251 & 811-2214),
                             filed with the Commission on or about
                             July 19, 2000, and is hereby incorporated by
                             reference and made a part of this
                             Registration Statement

             (k)(4)          Administration Agreement between Registrant and
                             Colonial Management Associates, Inc.(2)

             (k)(5)          Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the Investment
                             Company  Act of 1940 - filed as Exhibit (o) in Part
                             C, Item 23 of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 63 to
                             the Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty
                             Funds  Trust I (File  Nos.  33-41251  &  811-2214),
                             filed  with the  Commission  on or  about  July 19,
                             2000, and is hereby  incorporated  by reference and
                             made a part of this Registration Statement

             (k)(6)          Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan - filed as Exhibit (m)
                             in Part C, Item 23 of Post-Effective  Amendment No.
                             117 to the  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of
                             Liberty  Funds  Trust  III (File  Nos. 2-15184  &
                             811-0881),  filed with the  Commission  on or about
                             December 22, 2000, and  is hereby  incorporated  by
                             reference  and  made a part  of  this  Registration
                             Statement

             (l)             Opinion and Consent of Counsel(4)

             (m)             Not Applicable

             (n)             Consent of Independent Accountants

             (o)             Not Applicable

             (p)             Subscription Agreement with Colonial Management
                             Associates, Inc.(3)

             (q)             Not Applicable

             (r)             Code of Ethics of the Liberty Financial Companies,
                             Inc. - filed in Part C, Item 23 of
                             Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration
                             Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty
                             Funds Trust V (File Nos. 33-12109 and 811-5030),
                             filed with the Commission on or about
                             August 31, 2000, and is hereby incorporated and
                             made a part of this Registration Statement

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Power of Attorney  for: Tom  Bleasdale,  Lora S.  Collins,  James E.  Grinnell,
Richard W. Lowry,  Salvatore Macera, William E. Mayer, James L. Moody, Jr.,
John J. Neuhauser,  Thomas E. Stitzel, and Anne-Lee Verville -
filed in Part C, Item 23 of  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 62 to the
Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of Liberty Funds Trust I (File Nos.
2-41251 and  811-2214),  filed with the Commission on or about May 17, 2000
and is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Registration
Statement

Power  of  Attorney  for:  Joseph  R.  Palombo  - filed  in  Part C,  Item 23 of
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 27 to the  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of
Liberty  Funds  Trust V (File  Nos.  33-12109  and  811-5030),  filed  with  the
Commission on or about August 21, 2000 and is hereby  incorporated  by reference
and made a part of this Registration Statement
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement filed with the
     Commission via EDGAR on or about November 24, 1999.
(2)  Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed with the
     Commission via EDGAR on or about January 14, 2000.
(3)  Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 filed with the
     Commission via EDGAR on or about January 24, 2000.
(4)  Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement filed with the
     Commission via EDGAR on or about December 13, 2000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 25.          Marketing Arrangements
                  Not applicable.

Item 26.          Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

                  None

Item 27.         Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

                 None

Item 28.         Number of Holders of Securities
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Title of Class                                                          Number of Record
               --------------                                                          Holders as of 10/31/00
                                                                                       -----------------------

              <S>                                                                              <C>
              Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund - Class A                                   2,074

              Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund - Class B                                     478

              Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund - Class C                                     656

              Liberty Floating Rate Advantage Fund - Class Z                                       2

</TABLE>

Item 29.         Indemnification

                 The Agreement and  Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit (a) to
                 this Registration  Statement  provides for  indemnification  to
                 each of the  Registrant's  Trustees  and  officers  against all
                 liabilities  and  expenses  incurred  in acting as  Trustee  or
                 officer, except in the case of willful misfeasance,  bad faith,
                 gross  negligence or reckless  disregard of the duties involved
                 in the conduct of such Trustees and officers.

                 Insofar as  indemnification  for  liability  arising  under the
                 Securities  Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  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  trustee,  officer  or  controlling  person of the
                 Registrant  in the  successful  defense of any action,  suit or
                 proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, 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.

                 The Registrant,  its advisor, Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated,
                 and its Administrator,  Colonial  Management  Associates,  Inc.
                 (Colonial),  and  their  respective   trustees,   directors and
                 officers  are insured by a Directors  and  Officers/Errors  and
                 Omissions   Liability   insurance  policy  through  ICI  Mutual
                 Insurance Company.

Item 30.         Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor

                 Stein Roe & Farnham  Incorporated ("Stein Roe"), the Investment
                 Advisor, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SteinRoe Services Inc.
                 ("SSI"),  which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty
                 Financial Companies, Inc., which is a majority owned subsidiary
                 of Liberty Corporation Holdings,  Inc., which is a wholly owned
                 subsidiary of LFC Holdings, Inc., which in turn is a subsidiary
                 of  Liberty  Mutual  Equity  Corporation,  which  in  turn is a
                 subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.  Stein Roe acts
                 as investment  advisor to  individuals,  trustees,  pension and
                 profit  sharing  plans,  charitable  organizations,  and  other
                 investors.   In  addition  to  Registrant,   it  also  acts  as
                 investment   advisor  to  other  investment   companies  having
                 different investment policies.

                 For a two-year  business  history of officers and  directors of
                 Stein Roe,  please refer to the Form ADV of Stein Roe & Farnham
                 Incorporated  and to the section of the Statement of Additional
                 Information (Part B) entitled "Investment Advisory Services."

                 Certain directors and officers of Stein Roe also serve and have
                 during  the past two years  served  in  various  capacities  as
                 officers,  directors,  or  trustees  of  SSI  and  of  Colonial
                 Management  Associates,  Inc. (which is a subsidiary of Liberty
                 Financial  Companies,  Inc.),  and of the  Registrant and other
                 investment companies managed by Stein Roe. (The listed entities
                 are located at One South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606,
                 except  for  LFS and Colonial  Management  Associates,  Inc.,
                 which is located at One Financial Center,  Boston, MA 02111
                 and SteinRoe Variable  Investment Trust, which is located at
                 Federal Reserve Plaza,  Boston,  MA 02210.) A list of such
                 capacities is given below.

                                                              POSITION FORMERLY
                                                               HELD WITHIN
                                        CURRENT POSITION       PAST TWO YEARS
                                        -------------------    --------------
                 STEINROE SERVICES INC.
                 ----------------------
                 Kevin M. Carome       Assistant Clerk
                 Kenneth J. Kozanda    Vice President; Treasurer
                 Kenneth R. Leibler    Director
                 Karl J. Maurer        Comptroller
                 C. Allen Merritt, Jr. Director; Vice President

                 COLONIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
                 -------------------------------------
                 Ophelia L. Barsketis  Senior Vice President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Senior Vice President
                 William M. Garrison   Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     Chairman President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer
                 Loren A. Hansen       Senior Vice President
                 Clare M. Hounsell     Vice President
                 Deborah A. Jansen     Senior Vice President
                 North T. Jersild      Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Executive Vice President
                 Yvonne T. Shields     Vice President

                 SR&F BASE TRUST
                 ---------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 David P. Brady        Vice-President
                 Daniel K. Cantor      Vice-President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP;               Secy., VP
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Erik P. Gustafson     Vice-President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Harvey B. Hirschhorn  Vice-President
                 Gail N. Knudsen       Vice President
                 Michael T. Kennedy    Vice-President
                 Stephen F. Lockman    Vice-President
                 Jane M. Naeseth       Vice-President
                 Maureen G. Newman     Vice-President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee
                 Veronica M. Wallace   Vice-President

                 LIBERTY-STEIN ROE FUNDS INCOME TRUST; LIBERTY-STEIN ROE FUNDS
                 INSTITUTIONAL TRUST; AND LIBERTY-STEIN ROE FUNDS TRUST
                 --------------------------------------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP              VP; Secy.
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Michael T. Kennedy    Vice-President
                 Gail D. Knudsen       Vice President
                 Stephen F. Lockman    Vice-President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Jane M. Naeseth       Vice-President
                 Nicholas S. Norton         Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo          Trustee

                 LIBERTY-STEIN ROE FUNDS INVESTMENT TRUST
                 ----------------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 David P. Brady        Vice-President
                 Daniel K. Cantor      Vice-President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP        VP; Sec; Asst. Secy.
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 William M. Garrison   Vice-President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Erik P. Gustafson     Vice-President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Harvey B. Hirschhorn  Vice-President
                 Gail D. Knudson       Vice President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee

                 LIBERTY-STEIN ROE ADVISOR TRUST
                 --------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 David P. Brady        Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 Daniel K. Cantor      Vice-President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP;         VP;Sec; Asst. Secy.
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Erik P. Gustafson     Vice-President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Harvey B. Hirschhorn  Vice-President
                 Gail D. Knudson       Vice President
                 Michael T. Kennedy    Vice-President
                 Stephen F. Lockman    Vice-President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Maureen G. Newman     Vice-President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee

                 LIBERTY-STEIN ROE FUNDS MUNICIPAL TRUST
                 ----------------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP        VP; Sec; Asst. Secy.
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Brian M. Hartford     Vice-President
                 Gail D. Knudsen       Vice President
                 William C. Loring     Vice-President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Maureen G. Newman     Vice-President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee
                 Veronica M. Wallace   Vice-President

                 STEINROE VARIABLE INVESTMENT TRUST
                 -----------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP         VP; Sec; Asst. Secy.
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 William M. Garrison   Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Erik P. Gustafson     Vice President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Harvey B. Hirschhorn  Vice President
                 Michael T. Kennedy    Vice President
                 Gail D. Knudsen       Vice President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Jane M. Naeseth       Vice President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee
                 William M. Wadden IV       Vice President

                 LIBERTY-STEIN ROE ADVISOR FLOATING RATE FUND; LIBERTY-STEIN ROE
                 INSTITUTIONAL FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND,STEIN ROE FLOATING RATE
                 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                 William D. Andrews    Executive Vice-President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Executive VP        VP;Sec; Asst. Secy.
                 Christine Balzano     Vice President
                 Denise E. Chasmer     Vice President
                 Stephen E. Gibson     President
                 Brian W. Good         Vice-President
                 James R. Fellows      Vice-President
                 Loren A. Hansen       Executive Vice-President
                 Gail D. Knudsen       Vice President
                 Mary D. McKenzie      Vice President
                 Nicholas S. Norton    Vice President
                 Joseph R. Palombo     Trustee

                 LIBERTY VARIABLE INVESTMENT TRUST
                 ----------------------------------
                 Ophelia L. Barsketis  Vice President
                 Deborah A. Jansen     Vice President
                 Kevin M. Carome       Vice President


Item 31.      Location of Accounts and Records:

              Registrant  maintains the records  required to be maintained by it
              under Rules 31a-1(a),  31a-1(b), and 31a-2(a) under the Investment
              Company  Act of 1940 at its  principal  executive  offices  at One
              Financial  Center,  Boston, MA 02111.  Certain records,  including
              records  relating to  Registrant's  shareholders  and the physical
              possession of its securities,  may be maintained  pursuant to Rule
              31a-3  at the  main  office  of  Registrant's  transfer  agent  or
              custodian.

Item 32.      Management Services

              None

Item 33.      Undertakings


                 (1)  The Registrant undertakes:

                 (a) To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are
                 being made,  a  post-effective  amendment  to the  Registration
                 Statement:

                      (1)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)
                 (3) of the 1933 Act;

                      (2) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after
                 the effective date of the  Registration  Statement (or the most
                 recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
                 in  the  aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental  change  in  the
                 information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

                      (3) To include any  material  information  with respect to
                 the  plan  of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the
                 Registration   Statement  or  any   material   change  to  such
                 information in the Registration Statement.

                 (b) That,  for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
                 the 1933  Act,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be
                 deemed  to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to  the
                 securities   offered   therein,   and  the  offering  of  those
                 securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                 fide offering thereof;

                 (c) To remove from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
                 amendment any of the securities  being  registered which remain
                 unsold at the termination of the offering; and

                 (d) To send by first  class  mail or other  means  designed  to
                 ensure  equally  prompt  delivery,  within two business days of
                 receipt  of  a  written  or  oral  request,  any  Statement  of
                 Additional Information.

                 (2)(a) For the purposes of determining  any liability under the
                 Securities Act of 1933, the  information  omitted from the form
                 of prospectus filed as part of this  registration  statement in
                 reliance  upon Rule 430A and  contained in a form of prospectus
                 filed by the Registrant  under Rule 497(h) under the Securities
                 Act of 1933  shall be  deemed  to be part of this  registration
                 statement as of the time it was declared effective.


<PAGE>

                             SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  the  Registrant  certifies that it
meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this  Registration  Statement
pursuant to Rule  486(b)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this  Registration  Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27th day of December, 2000.

                                      LIBERTY FLOATING RATE ADVANTAGE FUND


                                             /s/ STEPHEN E. GIBSON
                                       By:   --------------------
                                             /s/ Stephen E. Gibson
                                                 President

Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,  this  Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their capacities and
on the date indicated.

SIGNATURES                              TITLE                 DATE
----------                              -----                 ----




/s/STEPHEN E. GIBSON                President (chief          December 27, 2000
--------------------                executive officer)
/s/Stephen E. Gibson


/s/J. KEVIN CONNAUGHTON             Treasurer (principal     December 27, 2000
------------------------            financial officer and
/s/J. Kevin Connaughton             principal accounting officer)

<PAGE>

TOM BLEASDALE*         Trustee
--------------
Tom Bleasdale


LORA S. COLLINS*       Trustee
----------------
Lora S. Collins


JAMES E. GRINNELL*     Trustee
------------------
James E. Grinnell


RICHARD W. LOWRY*      Trustee                        */s/ WILLIAM J. BALLOU
-----------------                                      ----------------------
Richard W. Lowry                                           William J. Ballou
                                                           Attorney-in-fact
                                                           For each Trustee
SALVATORE MACERA*      Trustee                             December 27, 2000
-----------------
Salvatore Macera


WILLIAM E. MAYER*      Trustee
-----------------
William E. Mayer


JAMES L. MOODY, JR.*   Trustee
---------------------
James L. Moody, Jr.


JOHN J. NEUHAUSER*     Trustee
------------------
John J. Neuhauser


JOSEPH R. PALOMBO*     Trustee
------------------
Joseph R. Palombo


THOMAS E. STITZEL*     Trustee
------------------
Thomas E. Stitzel


ANNE-LEE VERVILLE*     Trustee
------------------
Anne-Lee Verville



<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT INDEX


(b)                By-Laws

(n)                Consent of Independent Accountants



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