SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT (No. 811-971)
UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 22
Fidelity Congress Street Fund
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
82 Devonshire St., Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Address Of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number: 617-563-7000
Eric D. Roiter, Secretary
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
FIDELITY(registered trademark)
CONGRESS STREET
FUND
PART A OF THE REGISTRATION STATE MENT
APRIL 19, 2000
(FIDELITY_LOGO_GRAPHIC)(registered trademark)
82 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON, MA 02109
CONTENTS
FUND BASICS 2 INVESTMENT DETAILS
2 VALUING SHARES
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 2 BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
3 ACCOUNT POLICIES
3 DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN
DISTRIBUTIONS
3 TAX CONSEQUENCES
FUND SERVICES 4 FUND MANAGEMENT
FUND BASICS
INVESTMENT DETAILS
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
CONGRESS STREET FUND seeks long-term growth of capital and income.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) normally invests the
fund's assets in equity securities.
FMR may invest the fund's assets in securities of foreign issuers in
addition to securities of domestic issuers.
FMR manages the fund using an investment strategy that is sensitive to
the potential impact of federal income tax on shareholders' investment
returns.
In buying and selling securities for the fund, FMR invests for the
long term and selects those securities it believes offer strong
opportunities for long-term growth of capital and are attractively
valued. When deciding whether to sell securities, FMR will
consider the negative tax impact of realized capital gains (and the
positive tax impact of realizing capital losses).
FMR may lend the fund's securities to broker-dealers or other
institutions to earn income for the fund.
FMR may use various techniques, such as buying and selling futures
contracts, to increase or decrease the fund's exposure to changing
security prices or other factors that affect security values. If FMR's
strategies do not work as intended, the fund may not achieve its
objective.
DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL SECURITY TYPES
EQUITY SECURITIES represent an ownership interest, or the right to
acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity
securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority
in the event of the bankruptcy of the issuer. Equity securities
include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities,
and warrants.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Many factors affect the fund's performance. The fund's share price
changes daily based on changes in market conditions and interest rates
and in response to other economic, political , or financial
developments. The fund's reaction to these developments will be
affected by the types of securities in which the fund invests,
the financial condition, industry and economic sector, and geographic
location of an issuer, and the fund's level of investment in the
securities of that issuer. When you sell your shares of the fund, they
could be worth more or less than what you paid for them.
The following factors can significantly affect the fund's
performance:
STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY. The value of equity securities fluctuates in
response to issuer, political, market , and economic
developments. In the short term, equity prices can fluctuate
dramatically in response to these developments. Different parts of the
market and different types of equity securities can react differently
to these developments. For example, large cap stocks can react
differently from small cap stocks, and "growth" stocks can
react differently from "value" stocks. Issuer, political, or
economic developments can affect a single issuer, issuers within an
industry or economic sector or geographic region, or the market as a
whole.
FOREIGN EXPOSURE. Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and
securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations
can involve additional risks relating to political , economic,
or regulatory conditions in foreign countries. These risks include
fluctuations in foreign currencies; withholding or other taxes ;
trading, settlement, custodial, and other operational risks; and the
less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of some
foreign markets. All of these factors can make foreign investments,
especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and potentially
less liquid than U.S. investments. In addition, foreign markets can
perform differently from the U.S. market.
ISSUER-SPECIFIC CHANGES. Changes in the financial condition of an
issuer, changes in specific economic or political conditions that
affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general
economic or political conditions can affect the value of an issuer's
securities. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known
issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
The policy discussed below is fundamental, that is, subject to change
only by shareholder approval.
CONGRESS STREET FUND seeks long-term growth of capital and income.
VALUING SHARES
The fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open.
The fund's net asset value per share (NAV) is the value of a single
share. Fidelity normally calculates the fund's NAV as of the close of
business of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. However, NAV
may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund's
assets are valued as of this time for the purpose of computing the
fund's NAV.
To the extent that the fund's assets are traded in other markets on
days when the NYSE is closed, the value of the fund's assets may be
affected on days when the fund is not open for business. In addition,
trading in some of the fund's assets may not occur on days when the
fund is open for business.
The fund's assets are valued primarily on the basis of market
quotations. Certain short-term securities are valued on the basis of
amortized cost. If market quotations are not readily available for a
security or if a security's value has been materially affected by
events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which
the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or
market), that security may be valued by another method that the Board
of Trustees believes accurately reflects fair value. A security's
valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining
value.
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
BUYING SHARES
Shares of the fund are not currently offered to the public.
SELLING SHARES
The price to sell one share of the fund is the fund's NAV.
Your shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after your order
is received in proper form.
Your redemption request must be in writing. Your redemption request
will be considered received in proper form if it is accompanied by
certificates for the shares to be redeemed (if certificates have
been issued) and a stock power (whether or not certificates have been
issued) signed by the hold er(s) of record exactly as the shares to
be redeemed are registered, with signature(s) guaranteed. Your
request must specify the number of shares to be redeemed and include
your fund account number. Further documentation may be required
if a redemption request is made by a shareholder who is not an
individual or by someone other than the holder of record.
You should be able to obtain a signature guarantee from a bank,
broker (including Fidelity Investor Centers), dealer, credit union (if
authorized under state law), securities exchange or association,
clearing agency, or savings association. A notary public cannot
provide a signature guarantee.
When you place an order to sell shares, note the following:
(small solid bullet) Normally, Fidelity will process redemptions by
the next business day, but Fidelity may take up to seven days to
process redemptions if making immediate payment would adversely affect
the fund.
(small solid bullet) Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates
postponed when the NYSE is closed (other than weekends or holidays),
when trading on the NYSE is restricted, or as permitted by the SEC.
In order to limit the realization of capital gains from the sale of
portfolio securities to meet redemptions of shares, the fund intends
to make redemption payments in whole or in part in readily marketable
securities or other property, valued for this purpose as they are
valued in computing the fund's NAV. To the extent it is not
practicable to redeem shares by a redemption in kind, the fund will
redeem its shares for cash. The portfolio securities that the fund
distributes in kind will tend to be those that FMR believes are least
likely to contribute to the realization of the fund's investment
objective and will tend to be the lowest tax cost lots of the
securities chosen.
Shareholders who wish to sell securities distributed to them will
have to make their own arrangements for sale and will incur the
brokerage or other costs involved. Neither the fund nor Fidelity
Service Company, Inc. (FSC) will arrange for the sale on behalf of a
shareholder of portfolio securities distributed in kind. The fund
will, however, arrange for the delivery of the securities to a broker
or dealer designated in advance by the redeeming shareholder.
ACCOUNT POLICIES
POLICIES
The following policies apply to you as a shareholder.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS that Fidelity sends to you include the
following:
(small solid bullet) Confirmation statements (after transactions
affecting your account balance except reinvestment of distributions in
the fun d).
(small solid bullet) Monthly or quarterly account statements
(detailing account balances and all transactions completed during the
prior month or quarter).
(small solid bullet) Financial reports (every six months).
To reduce expenses, only one copy of most financial reports will be
mailed to your household, even if you have more than one account in
the fund. Call Fidelity at 1-800-544-8544 if you need additional
copies of financial reports.
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS
The fund earns dividends, int er est, and other income from its
investments, and distributes this income (less expenses) to
shareholders as dividends. The fund also realizes capital gains from
its investments, and distributes these gains (less any losses) to
shareholders as capital gain distributions as described below.
The fund will not recognize any capital gains for federal income tax
purposes upon redeeming its shares through in kind distribution of
portfolio securities.
The fund normally pays dividends in June and December and pays capital
gain distributions in February and December.
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
Dividend and short-term capital gain distributions are payable in
shares of the fund computed at NAV or, at the election of each
shareholder, in cash.
Long-term capital gains are normally retained by the fund, but may
be distributed in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the
fund.
You will not receive interest on amounts represented by uncashed
distribution checks.
TAX CONSEQUENCES
As with any investment, your investment in the fund could have tax
consequences for you.
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions you receive from the fund are
subject to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or
local taxes.
For federal tax purposes, the fund's dividends and distributions of
short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary i ncom e,
while the fund's distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable
to you generally as capital gains.
Any taxable distributions you receive from the fund will normally be
taxable to you when you receive them, regardless of your distribution
option. If you elect to receive distributions in cash, you will
receive certain December distributions in January, but those
distributions will be taxable as if you received them on December 31.
When long-term capital gains are retained by the fund, the fund
pays federal corporate tax on the retained capital gains. If you hold
shares on December 31, you must report your proportionate share of the
retained capital gains as taxable long-term capital gains and the
taxes paid by the fund on those gains. The net asset value of the fund
will be reduced on December 31 by the estimated taxes to be paid by
the fund. You are allowed a credit on your federal tax return for your
proportionate share of the tax paid by the fund. The tax basis of your
shares currently increases by 65% of your proportionate share of the
retained capital gains. The amount that your tax basis increases will
decrease if the federal corporate tax rate increases.
TAXES ON TRANSACTIONS. Your redemptions may result in a capital gain
or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your
investment in the fund generally is the difference between the
cost basis of your shares and the price you receive when you
sell them.
FUND SERVICES
FUND MANAGEMENT
Fidelity Congress Street is a mutual fund, an investment that pools
shareholders' money and invests it toward a specified goal.
FMR is the fund's manager.
As of March 31, 2000, FMR had approximately $639.1
billion in discretionary assets under management.
As the manager, FMR is responsible for choosing the fund's investments
and handling its business affairs.
Beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. (FMRC) will serve as
sub-adviser for the fund. FMRC will be primarily responsible for
choosing investments for the fund. FMRC is a wholly owned subsidiary
of FMR.
Tim Heffernan is manager of Congress Street, which he has managed
since June 1997. He also manages other Fidelity funds, as well as
limited partnerships and structured equity investments. Mr. Heffernan
joined Fidelity in 1984.
From time to time a manager, analyst, or other Fidelity employee may
express views regarding a particular company, security, industry, or
market sector. The views expressed by any such person are the views of
only that individual as of the time expressed and do not necessarily
represent the views of Fidelity or any other person in the Fidelity
organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based
upon market or other conditions and Fidelity disclaims any
responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on
as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Fidelity
fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an
indication of trading intent on behalf of any Fidelity fund.
The fund pays a management fee to FMR.
Pursuant to the fund's management contract, the fund pays FMR a
monthly management fee computed monthly and paid quarterly at the
annual rate of 0.50% of its average net assets throughout the month.
The management contract also provides that, to the extent that the
aggregate average net assets of the funds advised by FMR exceed $4
billion in any month, the management fee payable by the fund for that
month on its portion of that excess (determined on the basis of the
fund's portion of the aggregate average net assets) will be reduced by
10%.
The total management fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
was 0.45% of the fund's average net assets.
FMR will pay FMRC for providing sub-advisory services.
FMR may, from time to time, agree to reimburse the fund for
management fees and other expenses above a specified limit. FMR
retains the ability to be repaid by the fund if expenses fall below
the specified limit prior to the end of the fiscal year. Reimbursement
arrangements, which may be discontinued by FMR at any time, can
decrease the fund's expenses and boost its performance.
1.740135.100 CST-pro-0400
FIDELITY (registered trademark) CONGRESS STREET FUND
A FUND OF FIDELITY CONGRESS STREET FUND
PART B OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
APRIL 19, 2000
This statement of additional information (SAI) is not a prospectus.
Portions of the fund's annual report are incorporated herein. The
annual report is supplied with this SAI.
To obtain a free additional copy of Part A of the Registration
Statement, dated April 19, 2000, or an annual report, please call
Fidelity (registered trademark) at 1-800-544-8544.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Investment Policies and 6
Limitations
Portfolio Transactions 11
Valuation 12
Performance 12
Additional Purchase and 16
Redemption Information
Distributions and Taxes 16
Trustees and Officers 17
Control of Investment Advisers 21
Management Contract 21
Transfer and Service Agent 21
Agreements
Description of the Fund 22
Financial Statements 22
Appendix 22
CST-ptb-0400
1.740136.100
(fidelity_logo_graphic)(registered trademark)
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in
Part A of the registration statement. Unless otherwise noted, whenever
an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the
fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or
sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or
percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a
result of the fund's acquisition of such security or other asset.
Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other
circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the
investment complies with the fund's investment policies and
limitations.
The fund's fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be
changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
1940 Act)) of the fund. However, except for the fundamental investment
limitations listed below, the investment policies and limitations
described in this Part B of the registration statement are not
fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS SET
FORTH IN THEIR ENTIRETY. THE FUND MAY NOT:
(1) purchase the securities of any issuer if such purchase, at the
time thereof, would cause more than 5% of the value of the fund's
total assets at market value to be invested in the securities of such
issuer (other than obligations of the United States, its agencies and
instrumentalities);
(2) purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result thereof, the
fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
such issuer;
(3) issue senior securities, except in connection with the insurance
program established by the fund pursuant to an exemptive order issued
by the Securities and Exchange Commission or as otherwise permitted
under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(4) engage in short sales of securities unless at all times while a
short position is open the fund owns or has the right to acquire the
same securities in an amount at least equal thereto; and provided
that, for this purpose, transactions in options and futures contracts
shall not constitute short sales of securities;
(5) buy any securities or other property on margin; provided that
payment of initial and variation margin in connection with
transactions in futures contracts or options on futures contracts
shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin;
(6) borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary
or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount
not exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the
amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any
borrowings that come to exceed 33 1/3% of the fund's total assets by
reason of a decline in net assets will be reduced within 3 days to the
extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation;
(7) underwrite securities issued by others except insofar as it may
technically be deemed to be an underwriter in selling a portfolio
security under circumstances which may require registration of the
same under the Securities Act of 1933;
(8) concentrate its investments in any one industry, except that it
may invest up to 25% of the value of its total assets in any one
industry. Emphasis on investments in securities of a particular
industry will be shifted whenever the Adviser believes that such
action is desirable for investment reasons;
(9) buy or sell real estate, except that the fund may purchase or hold
securities issued by companies such as real estate investment trusts
which deal in real estate or interests therein;
(10) buy or sell physical commodities (but this shall not prevent the
fund from purchasing and selling futures contracts or options on
futures contracts) unless acquired as a result of ownership of
securities;
(11) lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more
than 33 1/3% of the fund's total assets would be lent to other
parties, except (i) through the purchase of a portion of an issue of
debt securities in accordance with its investment objective, policies,
and limitations, or (ii) by engaging in repurchase agreements with
respect to portfolio securities;
(12) purchase securities issued by other investment companies or
trusts except in the open market where no commission other than the
ordinary broker's commission is paid, or as a part of a merger or
consolidation, and in no event may investments in such securities
exceed 10% of the value of the total assets taken at market of the
fund, nor may the fund purchase or retain securities issued by
open-end investment companies other than itself; or
(13) invest its assets in the securities of companies which, including
their predecessors, have a record of less than three years' continuous
operation, although it may invest up to 5% of the total assets of the
fund taken at market in (a) companies not meeting the above
requirements but substantially all of whose assets are either
securities of other companies with a record of at least three years'
continuous operation or assets of another company's independent
division which has such a record; or (b) regulated public utilities or
pipe-line companies which do not have such a record.
Investment limitation (6) is construed in conformity with the 1940
Act, and, accordingly, "3 days" means three days exclusive of Sundays
and holidays.
THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS ARE NOT FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE
CHANGED WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL:
(i) The fund may borrow money only (a) from a bank or from a
registered investment company or portfolio for which FMR or an
affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) by engaging in reverse
repurchase agreements with any party (reverse repurchase agreements
are treated as borrowings for purposes of fundamental investment
limitation (6)).
(ii) The fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if,
as a result, more than 10% of its net assets would be invested in
securities that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to
legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot be
sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at
approximately the prices at which they are valued.
(iii) The fund does not currently intend to lend assets other than
securities to other parties, except by (a) lending money (up to 15% of
the fund's net assets) to a registered investment company or portfolio
for which FMR or an affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b)
acquiring loans, loan participations, or other forms of direct debt
instruments and, in connection therewith, assuming any associated
unfunded commitments of the sellers. (This limitation does not apply
to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase agreements.)
With respect to limitation (ii), if through a change in values, net
assets, or other circumstances, the fund were in a position where more
than 10% of its net assets were invested in illiquid
securities, it would consider appropriate steps to protect liquidity.
For the fund's limitations on futures and options transactions, see
the section entitled "Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions"
on page 6 .
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of
instruments in which the fund may invest, strategies FMR may employ in
pursuit of the fund's investment objective, and a summary of related
risks. FMR may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these
techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the fund achieve
its goal.
AFFILIATED BANK TRANSACTIONS. A fund may engage in transactions with
financial institutions that are, or may be considered to be,
"affiliated persons" of the fund under the 1940 Act. These
transactions may involve repurchase agreements with custodian banks;
short-term obligations of, and repurchase agreements with, the 50
largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); municipal securities; U.S.
Government securities with affiliated financial institutions that are
primary dealers in these securities; short-term currency transactions;
and short-term borrowings. In accordance with exemptive orders issued
by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Board of Trustees
has established and periodically reviews procedures applicable to
transactions involving affiliated financial institutions.
BORROWING. The fund may borrow from banks or from other funds advised
by FMR or its affiliates, or through reverse repurchase agreements. If
the fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to greater
fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. If the fund makes
additional investments while borrowings are outstanding, this may be
considered a form of leverage.
CASH MANAGEMENT. A fund can hold uninvested cash or can invest it in
cash equivalents such as money market securities, repurchase
agreements or shares of money market funds. Generally, these
securities offer less potential for gains than other types of
securities.
COMMON STOCK represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.
In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the
claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the
claims of those who own common stock.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks
or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder
or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash
or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A
convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion
by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances
(including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible
security held by a fund is called for redemption or conversion, the
fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into
the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.
Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss
than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields
higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than
comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield,
convertible securities generally sell at prices above their
"conversion value," which is the current market value of the stock to
be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion
value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time
depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and
interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value,
convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent
because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of
principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.
However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of
the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same
extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the
underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible
securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time,
however, the difference between the market value of convertible
securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that
the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the
same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because
convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their
value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest
rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk,
and are often lower-quality securities.
DEBT SECURITIES are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer
usually pays a fixed, variable or floating rate of interest, and must
repay the amount borrowed at the maturity of the security. Some debt
securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay interest but are
sold at a deep discount from their face values. Debt securities
include corporate bonds, government securities, and mortgage and other
asset-backed securities.
EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN MARKETS. Foreign securities, foreign currencies,
and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign
operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks
inherent in U.S. investments.
Foreign investments involve risks relating to local political,
economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or
unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments, and may be affected by
actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S.
investors. Such actions may include expropriation or nationalization
of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or
on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S.
dollars, or other government intervention. Additionally, governmental
issuers of foreign debt securities may be unwilling to pay interest
and repay principal when due and may require that the conditions for
payment be renegotiated. There is no assurance that FMR will be able
to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects. In
addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies
and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities
will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
It is anticipated that in most cases the best available market for
foreign securities will be on an exchange or in over-the-counter (OTC)
markets located outside of the United States. Foreign stock markets,
while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as
developed as those in the United States, and securities of some
foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile than securities
of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading, settlement and
custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement
where fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are
often less developed than those in U.S. markets, and may result in
increased risk or substantial delays in the event of a failed trade or
the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker-dealer,
securities depository or foreign subcustodian. In addition, the costs
associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes,
brokerage commissions and custodial costs, are generally higher than
with U.S. investments.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S.
markets. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform
accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and
standards of practice comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers.
Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available,
and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding
corporate actions on a timely basis. In general, there is less overall
governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges,
brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. OTC markets
tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain
countries, may be totally unregulated. Regulatory enforcement may be
influenced by economic or political concerns, and investors may have
difficulty enforcing their legal rights in foreign countries.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the
United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such
transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less
liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject
to such restrictions.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other "hybrid" forms of
ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global
Depositary Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of
shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by
depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the
United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by
a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer's home
country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the
underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various
services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate
actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying
foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However,
ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with
investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign
exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the
underlying issuer's country.
The risks of foreign investing may be magnified for investments in
emerging markets. Security prices in emerging markets can be
significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets,
reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established
markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets
may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of
nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and
prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less
protection of property rights than more developed countries. The
economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a
few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global
trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt
burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small
number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to
increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of
holdings difficult or impossible at times.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. A fund may conduct foreign currency
transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by
entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign
currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge
a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the
difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling
various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign
currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should
the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward
contracts are customized transactions that require a specific amount
of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a
specific date or range of dates in the future. Forward contracts are
generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency
traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The
parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the
contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and
complete the contemplated currency exchange.
The following discussion summarizes the principal currency management
strategies involving forward contracts that could be used by a fund. A
fund may also use swap agreements, indexed securities, and options and
futures contracts relating to foreign currencies for the same
purposes.
A "settlement hedge" or "transaction hedge" is designed to protect a
fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the
date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is
made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or
sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying
security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars "locks in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts to purchase or
sell a foreign currency may also be used by a fund in anticipation of
future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign
currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected
by FMR.
A fund may also use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in
the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For
example, if a fund owned securities denominated in pounds sterling, it
could enter into a forward contract to sell pounds sterling in return
for U.S. dollars to hedge against possible declines in the pound's
value. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a "position hedge,"
would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations,
but would not offset changes in security values caused by other
factors. A fund could also hedge the position by selling another
currency expected to perform similarly to the pound sterling. This
type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a "proxy hedge," could offer
advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would
not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S.
dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to
hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged
securities are denominated.
A fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment
exposure from one currency into another. This may include shifting
exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign
currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes
known as a "cross-hedge," will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to
the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that
is purchased, much as if a fund had sold a security denominated in one
currency and purchased an equivalent security denominated in another.
Cross-hedges protect against losses resulting from a decline in the
hedged currency, but will cause a fund to assume the risk of
fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases.
Successful use of currency management strategies will depend on FMR's
skill in analyzing currency values. Currency management strategies may
substantially change a fund's investment exposure to changes in
currency exchange rates and could result in losses to a fund if
currencies do not perform as FMR anticipates. For example, if a
currency's value rose at a time when FMR had hedged a fund by selling
that currency in exchange for dollars, a fund would not participate in
the currency's appreciation. If FMR hedges currency exposure through
proxy hedges, a fund could realize currency losses from both the hedge
and the security position if the two currencies do not move in tandem.
Similarly, if FMR increases a fund's exposure to a foreign currency
and that currency's value declines, a fund will realize a loss. There
is no assurance that FMR's use of currency management strategies will
be advantageous to a fund or that it will hedge at appropriate times.
FUND'S RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. The fund does not intend to direct or
administer the day-to-day operations of any company. A fund, however,
may exercise its rights as a shareholder and may communicate its views
on important matters of policy to management, the Board of Directors,
and shareholders of a company when FMR determines that such matters
could have a significant effect on the value of the fund's investment
in the company. The activities in which a fund may engage, either
individually or in conjunction with others, may include, among others,
supporting or opposing proposed changes in a company's corporate
structure or business activities; seeking changes in a company's
directors or management; seeking changes in a company's direction or
policies; seeking the sale or reorganization of the company or a
portion of its assets; or supporting or opposing third-party takeover
efforts. This area of corporate activity is increasingly prone to
litigation and it is possible that a fund could be involved in
lawsuits related to such activities. FMR will monitor such activities
with a view to mitigating, to the extent possible, the risk of
litigation against a fund and the risk of actual liability if a fund
is involved in litigation. No guarantee can be made, however, that
litigation against a fund will not be undertaken or liabilities
incurred.
FUTURES AND OPTIONS. The following paragraphs pertain to futures and
options: Combined Positions, Correlation of Price Changes, Futures
Contracts, Futures Margin Payments, Limitations on Futures and Options
Transactions, Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts, Options and
Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies, OTC Options, Purchasing Put
and Call Options, and Writing Put and Call Options.
COMBINED POSITIONS involve purchasing and writing options in
combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward
contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the
overall position. For example, purchasing a put option and writing a
call option on the same underlying instrument would construct a
combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to
selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would
involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call
option at a lower price, to reduce the risk of the written call option
in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options
positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction
costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
CORRELATION OF PRICE CHANGES. Because there are a limited number of
types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely
that the standardized contracts available will not match a fund's
current or anticipated investments exactly. A fund may invest in
options and futures contracts based on securities with different
issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in
which the fund typically invests, which involves a risk that the
options or futures position will not track the performance of the
fund's other investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their
underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match a
fund's investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by
such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates,
changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time
remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect
security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result
from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and
the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and
futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price
fluctuation limits or trading halts. A fund may purchase or sell
options and futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the
securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to
attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the
contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in
all cases. If price changes in a fund's options or futures positions
are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may
fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not
offset by gains in other investments.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. In purchasing a futures contract, the buyer agrees
to purchase a specified underlying instrument at a specified future
date. In selling a futures contract, the seller agrees to sell a
specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. The price
at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the buyer
and seller enter into the contract. Some currently available futures
contracts are based on specific securities, such as U.S. Treasury
bonds or notes, and some are based on indices of securities prices,
such as the Standard & Poor's 500SM Index (S&P 500)(registered
trademark). Futures can be held until their delivery dates, or can be
closed out before then if a liquid secondary market is available.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in
tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore,
purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase a fund's exposure
to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying
instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument
directly. When a fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value
of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to
the market. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset
both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the
underlying instrument had been sold.
FUTURES MARGIN PAYMENTS. The purchaser or seller of a futures contract
is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless
the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the
purchaser and seller are required to deposit "initial margin" with a
futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (FCM), when the
contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically equal
to a percentage of the contract's value. If the value of either
party's position declines, that party will be required to make
additional "variation margin" payments to settle the change in value
on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive
all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments
do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of a
fund's investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy of an
FCM that holds margin on behalf of a fund, the fund may be entitled to
return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received
by the FCM's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the
fund.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. The fund has filed a
notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association, which regulate
trading in the futures markets. The fund intends to comply with Rule
4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act, which limits the extent to which
the fund can commit assets to initial margin deposits and option
premiums.
In addition, the fund will not: (a) sell futures contracts, purchase
put options, or write call options if, as a result, more than 25% of
the fund's total assets would be hedged with futures and options under
normal conditions; (b) purchase futures contracts or write put options
if, as a result, the fund's total obligations upon settlement or
exercise of purchased futures contracts and written put options would
exceed 25% of its total assets under normal conditions; or (c)
purchase call options if, as a result, the current value of option
premiums for call options purchased by the fund would exceed 5% of the
fund's total assets. These limitations do not apply to options
attached to or acquired or traded together with their underlying
securities, and do not apply to securities that incorporate features
similar to options.
The above limitations on the fund's investments in futures contracts
and options, and the fund's policies regarding futures contracts and
options discussed elsewhere in this SAI are not fundamental policies
and may be changed as regulatory agencies permit.
LIQUIDITY OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES CONTRACTS. There is no assurance a
liquid secondary market will exist for any particular options or
futures contract at any particular time. Options may have relatively
low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are not close
to the underlying instrument's current price. In addition, exchanges
may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures
contracts, and may halt trading if a contract's price moves upward or
downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days
when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is
imposed, it may be impossible to enter into new positions or close out
existing positions. If the secondary market for a contract is not
liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it could
prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially
could require a fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or
expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, a fund's
access to other assets held to cover its options or futures positions
could also be impaired.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCIES. Currency futures
contracts are similar to forward currency exchange contracts, except
that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and
are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency
futures contracts call for payment or delivery in U.S. dollars. The
underlying instrument of a currency option may be a foreign currency,
which generally is purchased or delivered in exchange for U.S.
dollars, or may be a futures contract. The purchaser of a currency
call obtains the right to purchase the underlying currency, and the
purchaser of a currency put obtains the right to sell the underlying
currency.
The uses and risks of currency options and futures are similar to
options and futures relating to securities or indices, as discussed
above. A fund may purchase and sell currency futures and may purchase
and write currency options to increase or decrease its exposure to
different foreign currencies. Currency options may also be purchased
or written in conjunction with each other or with currency futures or
forward contracts. Currency futures and options values can be expected
to correlate with exchange rates, but may not reflect other factors
that affect the value of a fund's investments. A currency hedge, for
example, should protect a Yen-denominated security from a decline in
the Yen, but will not protect a fund against a price decline resulting
from deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness. Because the value
of a fund's foreign-denominated investments changes in response to
many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to
match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the
fund's investments exactly over time.
OTC OPTIONS. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized
with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract
size, and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded
on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the
other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement
allows the purchaser or writer greater flexibility to tailor an option
to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater credit risk than
exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing
organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
PURCHASING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. By purchasing a put option, the
purchaser obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the
option's underlying instrument at a fixed strike price. In return for
this right, the purchaser pays the current market price for the option
(known as the option premium). Options have various types of
underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of
securities prices, and futures contracts. The purchaser may terminate
its position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by exercising
the option. If the option is allowed to expire, the purchaser will
lose the entire premium. If the option is exercised, the purchaser
completes the sale of the underlying instrument at the strike price. A
purchaser may also terminate a put option position by closing it out
in the secondary market at its current price, if a liquid secondary
market exists.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if
security prices fall substantially. However, if the underlying
instrument's price does not fall enough to offset the cost of
purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss
(limited to the amount of the premium, plus related transaction
costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put
options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right
to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the
option's strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate
in potential price increases of the underlying instrument with risk
limited to the cost of the option if security prices fall. At the same
time, the buyer can expect to suffer a loss if security prices do not
rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.
WRITING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. The writer of a put or call option takes
the opposite side of the transaction from the option's purchaser. In
return for receipt of the premium, the writer assumes the obligation
to pay the strike price for the option's underlying instrument if the
other party to the option chooses to exercise it. The writer may seek
to terminate a position in a put option before exercise by closing out
the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the
secondary market is not liquid for a put option, however, the writer
must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option
is outstanding, regardless of price changes. When writing an option on
a futures contract, a fund will be required to make margin payments to
an FCM as described above for futures contracts.
If security prices rise, a put writer would generally expect to
profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the
premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it
is likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able
to close out the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the
put writer would expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less
than the loss from purchasing the underlying instrument directly,
however, because the premium received for writing the option should
mitigate the effects of the decline.
Writing a call option obligates the writer to sell or deliver the
option's underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon
exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options
are similar to those of writing put options, except that writing calls
generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall.
Through receipt of the option premium, a call writer mitigates the
effects of a price decline. At the same time, because a call writer
must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for
the strike price, even if its current value is greater, a call writer
gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary
course of business at approximately the prices at which they are
valued. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or may
be costly to a fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
FMR determines the liquidity of a fund's investments and, through
reports from FMR, the Board monitors investments in illiquid
securities. In determining the liquidity of a fund's investments, FMR
may consider various factors, including (1) the frequency and volume
of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective
purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a
market , and (4) the nature of the security and the market in
which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the
mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit
or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of
holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose
of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and
obligations of the security).
INDEXED SECURITIES are instruments whose prices are indexed to the
prices of other securities, securities indices, currencies, or other
financial indicators. Indexed securities typically, but not always,
are debt securities or deposits whose value at maturity or coupon rate
is determined by reference to a specific instrument or statistic.
Currency-indexed securities typically are short-term to
intermediate-term debt securities whose maturity values or interest
rates are determined by reference to the values of one or more
specified foreign currencies, and may offer higher yields than U.S.
dollar-denominated securities. Currency-indexed securities may be
positively or negatively indexed; that is, their maturity value may
increase when the specified currency value increases, resulting in a
security that performs similarly to a foreign-denominated instrument,
or their maturity value may decline when foreign currencies increase,
resulting in a security whose price characteristics are similar to a
put on the underlying currency. Currency-indexed securities may also
have prices that depend on the values of a number of different foreign
currencies relative to each other.
The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on the
performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to which
they are indexed, and may also be influenced by interest rate changes
in the United States and abroad. Indexed securities may be more
volatile than the underlying instruments. Indexed securities are also
subject to the credit risks associated with the issuer of the
security, and their values may decline substantially if the issuer's
creditworthiness deteriorates. Recent issuers of indexed securities
have included banks, corporations, and certain U.S. Government
agencies.
INTERFUND BORROWING AND LENDING PROGRAM. Pursuant to an exemptive
order issued by the SEC, a fund may lend money to, and borrow money
from, other funds advised by FMR or its affiliates. A fund will lend
through the program only when the returns are higher than those
available from an investment in repurchase agreements, and will borrow
through the program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the
cost of bank loans. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend
overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be
called on one day's notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a
higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed.
Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost
investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.
INVESTMENT-GRADE DEBT SECURITIES. Investment-grade debt securities are
medium and high-quality securities. Some may possess speculative
characteristics and may be more sensitive to economic changes and to
changes in the financial conditions of issuers. A debt security is
considered to be investment-grade if it is rated investment-grade by
Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's, Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Co., or Fitch IBCA Inc., or is unrated but considered to be of
equivalent quality by FMR.
LOANS AND OTHER DIRECT DEBT INSTRUMENTS. Direct debt instruments are
interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other
borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (loans and loan
participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or
other receivables), or to other parties. Direct debt instruments
involve a risk of loss in case of default or insolvency of the
borrower and may offer less legal protection to the purchaser in the
event of fraud or misrepresentation, or there may be a requirement
that a fund supply additional cash to a borrower on demand.
Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend
primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of
interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or
principal payments are not made, the value of the instrument may be
adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured provide more
protections than an unsecured loan in the event of failure to make
scheduled interest or principal payments. However, there is no
assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would
satisfy the borrower's obligation, or that the collateral could be
liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor
involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative.
Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off
their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount
owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also involves a risk
that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the
debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal
when due.
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial
institution's interests with respect to a loan may involve additional
risks. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the purchaser could
become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and
liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In
addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of
lender liability, a purchaser could be held liable as a co-lender.
Direct debt instruments may also involve a risk of insolvency of the
lending bank or other intermediary.
A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution
that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of
the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms
of the loan or other indebtedness, the purchaser has direct recourse
against the borrower, the purchaser may have to rely on the agent to
apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. If assets held
by the agent for the benefit of a purchaser were determined to be
subject to the claims of the agent's general creditors, the purchaser
might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on the loan
or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or
interest.
Direct indebtedness may include letters of credit, revolving credit
facilities, or other standby financing commitments that obligate
purchasers to make additional cash payments on demand. These
commitments may have the effect of requiring a purchaser to increase
its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise
have done so, even if the borrower's condition makes it unlikely that
the amount will ever be repaid.
The fund limits the amount of total assets that it will invest in any
one issuer or in issuers within the same industry (see the fund's
investment limitations). For purposes of these limitations, a fund
generally will treat the borrower as the "issuer" of indebtedness held
by the fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other
lending institution serves as financial intermediary between a fund
and the borrower, if the participation does not shift to the fund the
direct debtor-creditor relationship with the borrower, SEC
interpretations require a fund, in appropriate circumstances, to treat
both the lending bank or other lending institution and the borrower as
"issuers" for these purposes. Treating a financial intermediary as an
issuer of indebtedness may restrict a fund's ability to invest in
indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of
intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying
borrowers represent many different companies and industries.
LOWER-QUALITY DEBT SECURITIES. Lower-quality debt securities have poor
protection with respect to the payment of interest and repayment of
principal, or may be in default . These securities are often
considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of loss or price
changes due to changes in the issuer's capacity to pay. The market
prices of lower-quality debt securities may fluctuate more than those
of higher-quality debt securities and may decline significantly in
periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of
rising interest rates.
The market for lower-quality debt securities may be thinner and less
active than that for higher-quality debt securities, which can
adversely affect the prices at which the former are sold. Adverse
publicity and changing investor perceptions may affect the liquidity
of lower-quality debt securities and the ability of outside pricing
services to value lower-quality debt securities.
Because the risk of default is higher for lower-quality debt
securities, FMR's research and credit analysis are an especially
important part of managing securities of this type. FMR will attempt
to identify those issuers of high-yielding securities whose financial
condition is adequate to meet future obligations, has improved, or is
expected to improve in the future. FMR's analysis focuses on relative
values based on such factors as interest or dividend coverage, asset
coverage, earnings prospects, and the experience and managerial
strength of the issuer.
A fund may choose, at its expense or in conjunction with others, to
pursue litigation or otherwise to exercise its rights as a security
holder to seek to protect the interests of security holders if it
determines this to be in the best interest of the fund's shareholders.
PREFERRED STOCK represents an equity or ownership interest in an
issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence
over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an
issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of
bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and
common stock.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS. Equity real estate investment trusts
own real estate properties, while mortgage real estate investment
trusts make construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans.
Their value may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying
property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property
taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as
those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are dependent
upon management skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy
cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the
possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under
the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the
1940 Act.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS involve an agreement to purchase a security and
to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon
price. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an
agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate
or maturity of the purchased security. As protection against the risk
that the original seller will not fulfill its obligation, the
securities are held in a separate account at a bank, marked-to-market
daily, and maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus
the accrued incremental amount. The value of the security purchased
may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has
agreed to purchase the security. In addition, delays or losses could
result if the other party to the agreement defaults or becomes
insolvent. The fund will engage in repurchase agreement transactions
with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found
satisfactory by FMR.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES are subject to legal restrictions on their sale.
Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or be costly to
a fund. Restricted securities generally can be sold in privately
negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, or in a registered public offering.
Where registration is required, the holder of a registered security
may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a
considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek
registration and the time it may be permitted to sell a security under
an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse
market conditions were to develop, the holder might obtain a less
favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of
the security.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a
fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or
broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that
security at an agreed-upon price and time. The fund will enter into
reverse repurchase agreements with parties whose creditworthiness has
been reviewed and found satisfactory by FMR. Such transactions may
increase fluctuations in the market value of fund assets and may be
viewed as a form of leverage.
SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES, including shares of
closed-end investment companies, unit investment trusts, and open-end
investment companies, represent interests in professionally managed
portfolios that may invest in any type of instrument. Investing in
other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as
investing directly in the underlying instruments, but may involve
additional expenses at the investment company-level, such as portfolio
management fees and operating expenses. Certain types of investment
companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed
number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at
a premium or a discount to their net asset value. Others are
continuously offered at net asset value, but may also be traded in the
secondary market.
The extent to which a fund can invest in securities of other
investment companies is limited by federal securities laws.
SECURITIES LENDING. A fund may lend securities to parties such as
broker-dealers or other institutions, including Fidelity Brokerage
Services, Inc. (FBSI). FBSI is a member of the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) and a subsidiary of FMR Corp.
Securities lending allows a fund to retain ownership of the
securities loaned and, at the same time, earn additional income. The
borrower provides the fund with collateral in an amount at least equal
to the value of the securities loaned. The fund maintains the ability
to obtain the right to vote or consent on proxy proposals involving
material events affecting securities loaned. If the borrower defaults
on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of
insolvency or other reasons, a fund could experience delays and costs
in recovering the securities loaned or in gaining access to the
collateral. These delays and costs could be greater for foreign
securities. If a fund is not able to recover the securities loaned, a
fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in
the market. The value of the collateral could decrease below the value
of the replacement investment by the time the replacement investment
is purchased. Loans will be made only to parties deemed by FMR to be
in good standing and when, in FMR's judgment, the income earned would
justify the risks.
Cash received as collateral through loan transactions may be
invested in other eligible securities. Investing this cash subjects
that investment, as well as the securities loaned, to market
appreciation or depreciation.
SHORT SALES "AGAINST THE BOX" are short sales of securities that a
fund owns or has the right to obtain (equivalent in kind or amount to
the securities sold short). If a fund enters into a short sale against
the box, it will be required to set aside securities equivalent in
kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities
convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required
to hold such securities while the short sale is outstanding. The fund
will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in
connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales against
the box.
SWAP AGREEMENTS can be individually negotiated and structured to
include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or
market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may
increase or decrease a fund's exposure to long- or short-term interest
rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values,
mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such
as security prices or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many
different forms and are known by a variety of names.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments
only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a
fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap
obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified
interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an
interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a
specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest
rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift a fund's investment exposure from
one type of investment to another. For example, if the fund agreed to
exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency, the
swap agreement would tend to decrease the fund's exposure to U.S.
interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and
interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or
writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may
increase or decrease the overall volatility of a fund's investments
and its share price.
The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is
the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors
that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a fund. If a
swap agreement calls for payments by the fund, the fund must be
prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the
counterparty's creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap
agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
A fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement
either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an
offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly
creditworthy party.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POLICIES. The fund reserves the right to invest
without limitation in preferred stocks and investment-grade debt
instruments for temporary, defensive purposes.
WARRANTS. Warrants are instruments which entitle the holder to buy an
equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.
Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to
changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a
warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying
security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital
appreciation as well as capital loss.
Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with
respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in
the assets of the issuing company. A warrant ceases to have value if
it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can
make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.
ZERO COUPON BONDS do not make interest payments; instead, they are
sold at a discount from their face value and are redeemed at face
value when they mature. Because zero coupon bonds do not pay current
income, their prices can be more volatile than other types of
fixed-income securities when interest rates change. In calculating a
fund's dividend, a portion of the difference between a zero coupon
bond's purchase price and its face value is considered income.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
All orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed
on behalf of the fund by FMR pursuant to authority contained in the
management contract. FMR is also responsible for the placement of
transaction orders for other investment companies and investment
accounts for which it or its affiliates act as investment adviser. In
selecting broker-dealers, subject to applicable limitations of the
federal securities laws, FMR considers various relevant factors,
including, but not limited to: the size and type of the transaction;
the nature and character of the markets for the security to be
purchased or sold; the execution efficiency, settlement capability,
and financial condition of the broker-dealer firm; the broker-dealer's
execution services rendered on a continuing basis; the reasonableness
of any commissions; and, if applicable, arrangements for payment of
fund expenses.
Generally, commissions for investments traded on foreign exchanges
will be higher than for investments traded on U.S. exchanges and may
not be subject to negotiation.
Futures transactions are executed and cleared through FCMs who
receive commissions for their services.
The fund may execute portfolio transactions with broker-dealers who
provide research and execution services to the fund or other
investment accounts over which FMR or its affiliates exercise
investment discretion. Such services may include advice concerning the
value of securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or
selling securities; and the availability of securities or the
purchasers or sellers of securities. In addition, such broker-dealers
may furnish analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries,
securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and
performance of investment accounts; and effect securities transactions
and perform functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and
settlement).
The selection of such broker-dealers for transactions in equity
securities is generally made by FMR (to the extent possible consistent
with execution considerations) in accordance with a ranking of
broker-dealers determined periodically by FMR's investment staff based
upon the quality of research and execution services provided.
For transactions in fixed-income securities, FMR's selection of
broker-dealers is generally based on the availability of a security
and its price and, to a lesser extent, on the overall quality of
execution and other services, including research, provided by the
broker-dealer.
The receipt of research from broker-dealers that execute transactions
on behalf of a fund may be useful to FMR in rendering investment
management services to that fund or its other clients, and conversely,
such research provided by broker-dealers who have executed transaction
orders on behalf of other FMR clients may be useful to FMR in carrying
out its obligations to a fund. The receipt of such research has not
reduced FMR's normal independent research activities; however, it
enables FMR to avoid the additional expenses that could be incurred if
FMR tried to develop comparable information through its own efforts.
Fixed-income securities are generally purchased from an issuer or
underwriter acting as principal for the securities, on a net basis
with no brokerage commission paid. However, the dealer is compensated
by a difference between the security's original purchase price and the
selling price, the so-called "bid-asked spread." Securities may also
be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting
fees.
Subject to applicable limitations of the federal securities laws, the
fund may pay a broker-dealer commissions for agency transactions that
are in excess of the amount of commissions charged by other
broker-dealers in recognition of their research and execution
services. In order to cause the fund to pay such higher commissions,
FMR must determine in good faith that such commissions are reasonable
in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services
provided by such executing broker-dealers, viewed in terms of a
particular transaction or FMR's overall responsibilities to that fund
or its other clients. In reaching this determination, FMR will not
attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and research
services provided, or to determine what portion of the compensation
should be related to those services.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, FMR is authorized to
allocate portfolio transactions in a manner that takes into account
assistance received in the distribution of shares of the fund or other
Fidelity funds and to use the research services of brokerage and other
firms that have provided such assistance. FMR may use research
services provided by and place agency transactions with National
Financial Services Corporation (NFSC) and Fidelity Brokerage Services
Japan LLC (FBSJ), indirect subsidiaries of FMR Corp., if the
commissions are fair, reasonable, and comparable to commissions
charged by non-affiliated, qualified brokerage firms for similar
services.
FMR may allocate brokerage transactions to broker-dealers (including
affiliates of FMR) who have entered into arrangements with FMR under
which the broker-dealer allocates a portion of the commissions paid by
a fund toward the reduction of that fund's expenses. The transaction
quality must, however, be comparable to those of other qualified
broker-dealers.
Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prohibits members
of national securities exchanges from executing exchange transactions
for investment accounts which they or their affiliates manage, unless
certain requirements are satisfied. Pursuant to such requirements, the
Board of Trustees has authorized NFSC to execute portfolio
transactions on national securities exchanges in accordance with
approved procedures and applicable SEC rules.
The Trustees periodically review FMR's performance of its
responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio
transactions on behalf of the fund and review the commissions paid by
the fund over representative periods of time to determine if they are
reasonable in relation to the benefits to the fund.
For the fiscal periods ended December 31, 1999, and 1998, the fund's
portfolio turnover rates were 1% and 0%.
For the fiscal years ended December 31 , 1999, 1998, and 1997,
the fund paid brokerage commissions of $234, $0, and $0, respectively.
Significant changes in brokerage commissions paid by the fund from
year to year may result from changing asset levels throughout the
year. The fund may pay both commissions and spreads in connection with
the placement of portfolio transactions.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 , the fund paid
no brokerage commissions to firms that provided research services.
The Trustees of the fund have approved procedures in conformity with
Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act whereby a fund may purchase securities
that are offered in underwritings in which an affiliate of FMR
participates. These procedures prohibit the fund from directly or
indirectly benefiting an FMR affiliate in connection with such
underwritings. In addition, for underwritings where an FMR affiliate
participates as a principal underwriter, certain restrictions may
apply that could, among other things, limit the amount of securities
that the fund could purchase in the underwriting.
From time to time the Trustees will review whether the recapture for
the benefit of the fund of some portion of the brokerage commissions
or similar fees paid by the fund on portfolio transactions is legally
permissible and advisable. The fund seeks to recapture soliciting
broker-dealer fees on the tender of portfolio securities, but at
present no other recapture arrangements are in effect. The Trustees
intend to continue to review whether recapture opportunities are
available and are legally permissible and, if so, to determine in the
exercise of their business judgment whether it would be advisable for
the fund to seek such recapture.
Although the Trustees and officers of the fund are substantially the
same as those of other funds managed by FMR or its affiliates,
investment decisions for the fund are made independently from those of
other funds or investment accounts managed by FMR or its
affiliates. It sometimes happens that the same security is held in the
portfolio of more than one of these funds or investment accounts.
Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several funds and
investment accounts are managed by the same investment adviser,
particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment
objective of more than one fund or investment account.
When two or more funds are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or
sale of the same security, the prices and amounts are allocated in
accordance with procedures believed to be appropriate and equitable
for each fund. In some cases this system could have a detrimental
effect on the price or value of the security as far as the fund is
concerned. In other cases, however, the ability of the fund to
participate in volume transactions will produce better executions and
prices for the fund. It is the current opinion of the Trustees that
the desirability of retaining FMR as investment adviser to the fund
outweighs any disadvantages that may be said to exist from exposure to
simultaneous transactions.
VALUATION
The fund's net asset value per share (NAV) is the value of a single
share. The NAV of the fund is computed by adding the value of the
fund's investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting its
liabilities, and dividing the result by the number of shares
outstanding.
Portfolio securities are valued by various methods depending on the
primary market or exchange on which they trade. Most equity securities
for which the primary market is the United States are valued at last
sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the closing bid price. Most
equity securities for which the primary market is outside the United
States are valued using the official closing price or the last sale
price in the principal market in which they are traded. If the last
sale price (on the local exchange) is unavailable, the last evaluated
quote or closing bid price normally is used.
Fixed-income securities and other assets for which market quotations
are readily available may be valued at market values determined by
such securities' most recent bid prices (sales prices if the principal
market is an exchange) in the principal market in which they normally
are traded, as furnished by recognized dealers in such securities or
assets. Or, fixed-income securities and convertible securities may be
valued on the basis of information furnished by a pricing service that
uses a valuation matrix which incorporates both dealer-supplied
valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Use of pricing
services has been approved by the Board of Trustees. A number of
pricing services are available, and the fund may use various pricing
services or discontinue the use of any pricing service.
Futures contracts and options are valued on the basis of market
quotations, if available.
Independent brokers or quotation services provide prices of foreign
securities in their local currency. Fidelity Service Company
( FSC ) gathers all exchange rates daily at the close of the
NYSE using the last quoted price on the local currency and then
translates the value of foreign securities from their local currencies
into U.S. dollars. Any changes in the value of forward contracts due
to exchange rate fluctuations and days to maturity are included in the
calculation of NAV. If an event that is expected to materially affect
the value of a portfolio security occurs after the close of an
exchange or market on which that security is traded, then that
security will be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by the
Board of Trustees.
Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less
for which market quotations and information furnished by a pricing
service are not readily available are valued either at amortized cost
or at original cost plus accrued interest, both of which approximate
current value.
The procedures set forth above need not be used to determine the value
of the securities owned by the fund if, in the opinion of a committee
appointed by the Board of Trustees, some other method would more
accurately reflect the fair value of such securities. For example,
securities and other assets for which there is no readily available
market value may be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by
the Board of Trustees. In making a good faith determination of the
value of a security, the committee may review price movements in
futures contracts and ADRs, market and trading trends, the bid/ask
quotes of brokers and off-exchange institutional trading.
PERFORMANCE
The fund may quote performance in various ways. All performance
information supplied by the fund in advertising is historical and is
not intended to indicate future returns. The fund's share price and
return fluctuate in response to market conditions and other factors,
and the value of fund shares when redeemed may be more or less than
their original cost.
RETURN CALCULATIONS. Returns quoted in advertising reflect all aspects
of the fund's return, including the effect of reinvesting dividends
and capital gain distributions, and any change in the fund's NAV over
a stated period. A cumulative return reflects actual performance over
a stated period of time. Average annual returns are calculated by
determining the growth or decline in value of a hypothetical
historical investment in the fund over a stated period, and then
calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that would have
produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had
been constant over the period. For example, a cumulative return of
100% over ten years would produce an average annual return of 7.18%,
which is the steady annual rate of return that would equal 100% growth
on a compounded basis in ten years. While average annual returns are a
convenient means of comparing investment alternatives, investors
should realize that the fund's performance is not constant over time,
but changes from year to year, and that average annual returns
represent averaged figures as opposed to the actual year-to-year
performance of the fund.
In addition to average annual returns, the fund may quote unaveraged
or cumulative returns reflecting the simple change in value of an
investment over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative returns
may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount, and may be
calculated for a single investment, a series of investments, or a
series of redemptions, over any time period. Returns may be broken
down into their components of income and capital (including capital
gains and changes in share price) in order to illustrate the
relationship of these factors and their contributions to return.
Returns may be quoted on a before-tax or after-tax basis. After-tax
returns reflect the return of a hypothetical account after payment of
federal and/or state taxes using assumed tax rates. After-tax returns
may assume that taxes are paid at the time of distribution or once a
year or are paid in cash or by selling shares, that shares are held
through the entire period, sold on the last day of the period, or sold
at a future date, and distributions are reinvested or paid in cash.
Returns and other performance information may be quoted
numerically or in a table, graph, or similar illustration.
NET ASSET VALUE. Charts and graphs using the fund's NAVs, adjusted
NAVs, and benchmark indexes may be used to exhibit performance. An
adjusted NAV includes any distributions paid by the fund and reflects
all elements of its return. Unless otherwise indicated, the fund's
adjusted NAVs are not adjusted for sales charges, if any.
MOVING AVERAGES. A fund may illustrate performance using moving
averages. A long-term moving average is the average of each week's
adjusted closing NAV for a specified period. A short-term moving
average is the average of each day's adjusted closing NAV for a
specified period. Moving Average Activity Indicators combine adjusted
closing NAVs from the last business day of each week with moving
averages for a specified period to produce indicators showing when an
NAV has crossed, stayed above, or stayed below its moving average. On
December 31, 1999, the 13-week and 39-week long-term moving averages
were $400.67 and $399.18, respectively, for Fidelity Congress
Street Fund .
HISTORICAL FUND RESULTS. The following table shows the fund's return
for the fiscal period ended December 31, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average Annual Returns Cumulative Returns
One Year Five Years Ten Years One Year Five Years Ten Years
Fidelity Congress Street 11.05% 23.59% 16.12% 11.05% 188.32% 345.70%
</TABLE>
The following table shows the income and capital elements of the
fund's cumulative return. The table compares the fund's return to the
record of the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and
the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
over the same period. The S&P 500 and DJIA comparisons are provided to
show how the fund's return compared to the record of a market
capitalization-weighted index of common stocks and a narrower set
of stocks of major industrial companies, respectively, over the same
period. The fund has the ability to invest in securities not included
in either index, and its investment portfolio may or may not be
similar in composition to the indexes. The S&P 500 and DJIA returns
are based on the prices of unmanaged groups of stocks and, unlike the
fund's returns, do not include the effect of brokerage commissions or
other costs of investing.
During the 10-year period ended December 31, 1999, a hypothetical
$10,000 investment in Fidelity Congress Street Fund would have
grown to $44,570, assuming all distributions were reinvested. Returns
are based on past results and are not an indication of future
performance. Tax consequences of different investments have not been
factored into the figures below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONGRESS STREET INDEXES
Fiscal Year
Ended Value of Initial $10,000 Value of Reinvested Dividend Value of Reinvested Capital Total Value S&P 500
Investment Distributions Gain Distributions
1999 $ 35,394 $ 8,614 $ 562 $ 44,570 $ 53,289
1998 $ 32,224 $ 7,398 $ 512 $ 40,134 $ 44,024
1997 $ 26,186 $ 5,592 $ 416 $ 32,194 $ 34,240
1996 $ 21,647 $ 4,224 $ 344 $ 26,215 $ 25,674
1995 $ 18,033 $ 3,112 $ 286 $ 21,431 $ 20,880
1994 $ 13,310 $ 1,938 $ 211 $ 15,459 $ 15,177
1993 $ 12,918 $ 1,480 $ 205 $ 14,603 $ 14,980
1992 $ 12,271 $ 1,049 $ 195 $ 13,515 $ 13,608
1991 $ 12,667 $ 731 $ 201 $ 13,599 $ 12,642
1990 $ 9,806 $ 296 $ 156 $ 10,258 $ 9,688
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
CONGRESS STREET INDEXES
Fiscal Year Ended DJIA Cost of Living
1999 $ 53,747 $ 13,347
1998 $ 42,276 $ 12,998
1997 $ 35,805 $ 12,791
1996 $ 28,677 $ 12,577
1995 $ 22,281 $ 12,173
1994 $ 16,297 $ 11,872
1993 $ 15,525 $ 11,562
1992 $ 13,270 $ 11,253
1991 $ 12,367 $ 10,936
1990 $ 9,946 $ 10,611
</TABLE>
Explanatory Notes: With an initial investment of $10,000 in the fund
on January 1, 1990, the net amount invested in fund shares was
$10,000. The cost of the initial investment ($10,000) together with
the aggregate cost of reinvested dividends and capital gain
distributions for the period covered (their cash value at the time
they were reinvested) amounted to $14,230. If distributions had not
been reinvested, the amount of distributions earned from the fund over
time would have been smaller, and cash payments for the period would
have amounted to $3,536 for dividends and $151 for capital gain
distributions.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS. The fund's performance may be compared to the
performance of other mutual funds in general, or to the performance of
particular types of mutual funds. These comparisons may be expressed
as mutual fund rankings prepared by Lipper Inc. (Lipper), an
independent service located in Summit, New Jersey that monitors the
performance of mutual funds. Generally, Lipper rankings are based on
return, assume reinvestment of distributions, do not take sales
charges or trading fees into consideration, and are prepared without
regard to tax consequences. In addition to the mutual fund rankings,
the fund's performance may be compared to stock, bond, and money
market mutual fund performance indexes prepared by Lipper or other
organizations. When comparing these indexes, it is important to
remember the risk and return characteristics of each type of
investment. For example, while stock mutual funds may offer higher
potential returns, they also carry the highest degree of share price
volatility. Likewise, money market funds may offer greater stability
of principal, but generally do not offer the higher potential returns
available from stock mutual funds.
From time to time, the fund's performance may also be compared to
other mutual funds tracked by financial or business publications and
periodicals. For example, the fund may quote Morningstar, Inc. in its
advertising materials. Morningstar, Inc. is a mutual fund rating
service that rates mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted
performance. Rankings that compare the performance of Fidelity funds
to one another in appropriate categories over specific periods of time
may also be quoted in advertising.
The fund's performance may also be compared to that of the benchmark
index representing the universe of securities in which the fund may
invest. The return of the index reflects reinvestment of all dividends
and capital gains paid by securities included in the index. Unlike the
fund's returns, however, the index's returns do not reflect brokerage
commissions, transaction fees, or other costs of investing directly in
the securities included in the index.
The fund may compare its performance to that of the Standard & Poor's
500 Index, a market capitalization-weighted index of common stocks.
The fund may be compared in advertising to Certificates of Deposit
(CDs) or other investments issued by banks or other depository
institutions. Mutual funds differ from bank investments in several
respects. For example, the fund may offer greater liquidity or higher
potential returns than CDs, the fund does not guarantee an
investor's principal or return, and fund shares are not FDIC
insured.
Fidelity may provide information designed to help individuals
understand their investment goals and explore various financial
strategies. Such information may include information about current
economic, market, and political conditions; materials that describe
general principles of investing, such as asset allocation,
diversification, risk tolerance, and goal setting; questionnaires
designed to help create a personal financial profile; worksheets used
to project savings needs based on assumed rates of inflation and
hypothetical rates of return; and action plans offering investment
alternatives. Materials may also include discussions of Fidelity's
asset allocation funds and other Fidelity funds, products, and
services.
Ibbotson Associates of Chicago, Illinois (Ibbotson) provides
historical returns of the capital markets in the United States,
including common stocks, small capitalization stocks, long-term
corporate bonds, intermediate-term government bonds, long-term
government bonds, Treasury bills, the U.S. rate of inflation (based on
the CPI), and combinations of various capital markets. The performance
of these capital markets is based on the returns of different indexes.
Fidelity funds may use the performance of these capital markets in
order to demonstrate general risk-versus-reward investment scenarios.
Performance comparisons may also include the value of a hypothetical
investment in any of these capital markets. The risks associated with
the security types in any capital market may or may not correspond
directly to those of the funds. Ibbotson calculates returns in the
same method as the funds. The funds may also compare performance to
that of other compilations or indexes that may be developed and made
available in the future.
In advertising materials, Fidelity may reference or discuss its
products and services, which may include other Fidelity funds;
retirement investing; brokerage products and services; model
portfolios or allocations; saving for college or other goals; and
charitable giving. In addition, Fidelity may quote or reprint
financial or business publications and periodicals as they relate to
current economic and political conditions, fund management, portfolio
composition, investment philosophy, investment techniques, the
desirability of owning a particular mutual fund, and Fidelity services
and products. Fidelity may also reprint, and use as advertising and
sales literature, articles from Fidelity Focus (registered
trademark) , a quarterly magazine provided free of charge to
Fidelity fund shareholders.
The fund may present its fund number, Quotron(trademark) number, and
CUSIP number, and discuss or quote its current portfolio manager.
VOLATILITY. The fund may quote various measures of volatility and
benchmark correlation in advertising. In addition, the fund may
compare these measures to those of other funds. Measures of volatility
seek to compare the fund's historical share price fluctuations or
returns to those of a benchmark. Measures of benchmark correlation
indicate how valid a comparative benchmark may be. All measures of
volatility and correlation are calculated using averages of historical
data.
MOMENTUM INDICATORS indicate the fund's price movements over specific
periods of time. Each point on the momentum indicator represents the
fund's percentage change in price movements over that period.
The fund may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment
plans, including the principle of dollar cost averaging. In such a
program, an investor invests a fixed dollar amount in a fund at
periodic intervals, thereby purchasing fewer shares when prices are
high and more shares when prices are low. While such a strategy does
not assure a profit or guard against loss in a declining market, the
investor's average cost per share can be lower than if fixed numbers
of shares are purchased at the same intervals. In evaluating such a
plan, investors should consider their ability to continue purchasing
shares during periods of low price levels.
As of February 29, 2000 , FMR advised over $35 billion in
municipal fund assets, $14 1 billion in taxable fixed-income
fund assets, $14 8 billion in money market fund assets,
$63 8 billion in equity fund assets, $2 3 billion in
international fund assets, and $4 2 billion in Spartan fund
assets. The fund may reference the growth and variety of money market
mutual funds and the adviser's innovation and participation in the
industry. The equity funds under management figure represents the
largest amount of equity fund assets under management by a mutual fund
investment adviser in the United States, making FMR America's leading
equity (stock) fund manager. FMR, its subsidiaries, and affiliates
maintain a worldwide information and communications network for the
purpose of researching and managing investments abroad.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Shares of the fund are not currently offered to the public.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
DIVIDENDS. A portion of the fund's income may qualify for the
dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders to
the extent that the fund's income is derived from qualifying
dividends. Because the fund may earn other types of income, such as
interest, short-term capital gains, and non-qualifying dividends, the
percentage of dividends from the fund that qualifies for the deduction
generally will be less than 100%. A portion of the fund's dividends
derived from certain U.S. Government securities and securities of
certain other investment companies may be exempt from state and local
taxation.
CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. The fund's long-term capital gain
distributions are federally taxable to shareholders generally as
capital gains.
Long-term capital gains are normally retained by the fund, but may
be distributed in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the fund.
When long-term capital gains are retained by the fund, the fund pays
federal corporate tax on the retained capital gains. If you hold
shares on December 31, you must report your proportionate share of the
retained capital gains as taxable long-term capital gains and the
taxes paid by the fund on those gains. The net asset value of the fund
will be reduced on December 31 by the estimated taxes to be paid by
the fund. You are allowed a credit on your federal tax return for your
proportionate share of the tax paid by the fund. The tax basis of your
shares currently increases by 65% of your proportionate share of the
retained capital gains. The amount that your tax basis increases will
decrease if the federal corporate tax rate increases.
As of December 31, 1999, the fund had an aggregate capital loss
carryforward of approximately $400. This loss carryforward, all of
which will expire on December 31, 2000, is available to offset future
capital gains.
RETURNS OF CAPITAL. If the fund's distributions exceed its taxable
income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a
portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be
recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of
capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce
each shareholder's cost basis in the fund and result in a higher
reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares
on which the distribution was received are sold.
FOREIGN TAX CREDIT OR DEDUCTION. Foreign governments may withhold
taxes on dividends and interest earned by the fund with respect to
foreign securities. Foreign governments may also impose taxes on other
payments or gains with respect to foreign securities. Because the fund
does not currently anticipate that securities of foreign issuers will
constitute more than 50% of its total assets at the end of its fiscal
year, shareholders should not expect to be eligible to claim a foreign
tax credit or deduction on their federal income tax returns with
respect to foreign taxes withheld.
TAX STATUS OF THE FUND. The fund intends to qualify each year as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code so that it will not be liable for federal tax on income
and capital gains distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify as
a regulated investment company, and avoid being subject to federal
income or excise taxes at the fund level, the fund intends to be
deemed to distribute substantially all of its net investment income
and net realized capital gains within each calendar year as well as on
a fiscal year basis, and intends to comply with other tax rules
applicable to regulated investment companies.
OTHER TAX INFORMATION. The information above is only a summary of some
of the tax consequences generally affecting the fund and its
shareholders, and no attempt has been made to discuss individual tax
consequences. It is up to you or your tax preparer to determine
whether the sale of shares of the fund resulted in a capital gain or
loss or other tax consequence to you. In addition to federal income
taxes, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on fund
distributions, and shares may be subject to state and local personal
property taxes. Investors should consult their tax advisers to
determine whether a fund is suitable to their particular tax
situation.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees, Members of the Advisory Board, and executive officers of
the trust and fund, as applicable, are listed below. The Board
of Trustees governs the fund and is responsible for protecting the
interests of shareholders. The Trustees are experienced executives who
meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the fund's
activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that
provide services to the fund, and review the fund's performance.
Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or
other offices in the same company for the last five years. All persons
named as Trustees and Members of the Advisory Board also serve in
similar capacities for other funds advised by FMR or its affiliates.
The business address of each Trustee, Member of the Advisory Board,
and officer who is an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, which is also
the address of FMR. The business address of all the other Trustees is
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 9235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9235.
Those Trustees who are "interested persons" by virtue of their
affiliation with either the trust or FMR are indicated by an asterisk
(*).
*EDWARD C. JOHNSON 3d (69), Trustee, is President of Fidelity
Congress Street Fund. Mr. Johnson also serves as President of other
Fidelity funds. He is Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and a
Director of FMR Corp.; a Director and Chairman of the Board and of the
Executive Committee of FMR; Chairman and a Director of Fidelity
Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. and of Fidelity Management &
Research (Far East) Inc.; Chairman (1998) and a Director (1997) of
Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc.; Chairman and
Representative Director of Fidelity Investments Japan Limited (1997);
and a Director of FDC and of FMR Co., Inc. (2000). Abigail Johnson,
Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Congress Street Fund, is Mr.
Johnson's daughter.
ABIGAIL P. JOHNSON (38), Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity
Congress Street Fund (1999), is Vice President of certain Equity Funds
(1997), and is a Director of FMR Corp. (1994). Before assuming her
current responsibilities, Ms. Johnson managed a number of Fidelity
funds. Edward C. Johnson 3d, Trustee and President of the Funds, is
Ms. Johnson's father.
J. MICHAEL COOK (57), Member of the Advisory Board (2000). Prior to
Mr. Cook's retirement in May 1999, he served as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Chairman of the Deloitte &
Touche Foundation, and a member of the Board of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu. He currently serves as an Executive in Residence of the
Columbia Business School and as a Director of Dow Chemical Company
(2000), Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation (1999), and Children First
(1999). He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Securities
Regulation Institute, a member of the Advisory Board of Boardroom
Consultants, a Director of the National Forum for Health Care Quality,
Measurement and Reporting, past chairman and a member of the Board of
Catalyst (a leading organization for the advancement of women in
business), and is a Director of the STAR Foundation (Society to
Advance the Retarded and Handicapped). He also serves as a member of
the Board and Executive Committee and as Co-Chairman of the Audit and
Finance Committee of the Center for Strategic & International Studies,
a member of the Board of Overseers of the Columbia Business School,
and a Member of the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Business
of the University of Florida.
RALPH F. COX (67), Trustee, is President of RABAR Enterprises
(management consulting-engineering industry, 1994). Prior to February
1994, he was President of Greenhill Petroleum Corporation (petroleum
exploration and production). Until March 1990, Mr. Cox was President
and Chief Operating Officer of Union Pacific Resources Company
(exploration and production). He is a Director of Waste Management
Inc. (non-hazardous waste, 1993), CH2M Hill Companies (engineering),
and Bonneville Pacific (independent power and petroleum production).
In addition, he is a member of advisory boards of Texas A&M University
and the University of Texas at Austin.
PHYLLIS BURKE DAVIS (68), Trustee. Mrs. Davis is retired from Avon
Products, Inc. where she held various positions including Senior Vice
President of Corporate Affairs and Group Vice President of U.S. sales,
distribution, and manufacturing. She is currently a Director of
BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications), Eaton Corporation
(manufacturing), and the TJX Companies, Inc. (retail stores), and
previously served as a Director of Hallmark Cards, Inc., Nabisco
Brands, Inc., and Standard Brands, Inc. In addition, she is a member
of the Board of Directors of the Southampton Hospital in Southampton,
N.Y. (1998).
ROBERT M. GATES (56), Trustee (1997), is a consultant, author, and
lecturer (1993). Mr. Gates was Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) from 1991-1993. From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Gates served as
Assistant to the President of the United States and Deputy National
Security Advisor. Mr. Gates is a Director of Charles Stark Draper
Laboratory (non-profit), NACCO Industries, Inc. (mining and
manufacturing), and TRW Inc. (automotive, space, defense, and
information technology). Mr. Gates previously served as a Director of
LucasVarity PLC (automotive components and diesel engines). He is
currently serving as Dean of the George Bush School of Government and
Public Service at Texas A & M University (1999-2000). Mr. Gates also
is a Trustee of the Forum for International Policy and of the
Endowment Association of the College of William and Mary. In addition,
he is a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of
America.
DONALD J. KIRK (67), Trustee, is Executive-in-Residence (1995) at
Columbia University Graduate School of Business. From 1987 to January
1995, Mr. Kirk was a Professor at Columbia University Graduate School
of Business. Prior to 1987, he was Chairman of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Kirk previously served as a Director
of General Re Corporation (reinsurance, 1987-1998) and as a Director
of Valuation Research Corp. (appraisals and valuations, 1993-1995). He
serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Arts
Stabilization Inc., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich
Hospital Association, Director of the Yale-New Haven Health Services
Corp. (1998), Vice Chairman of the Public Oversight Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' SEC Practice
Section (1995), and as a Public Governor of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. (1996).
NED C. LAUTENBACH (55), Trustee (2000), has been a partner of Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (private equity investment firm) since September
1998. Mr. Lautenbach was Senior Vice President of IBM Corporation from
1992 until his retirement in July 1998. From 1993 to 1995 he was
Chairman of IBM World Trade Corporation. He also was a member of IBM's
Corporate Executive Committee from 1994 to July 1998. He is a Director
of PPG Industries Inc. (glass, coating and chemical manufacturer),
Dynatech Corporation (global communications equipment), Eaton
Corporation (global manufacturer of highly engineered products) and
ChoicePoint Inc. (data identification, retrieval, storage, and
analysis).
*PETER S. LYNCH (56), Trustee, is Vice Chairman and a Director
of FMR ; and a Director of FMR Co., Inc. (2000) . Prior to May
31, 1990, he was a Director of FMR and Executive Vice President of FMR
(a position he held until March 31, 1991); Vice President of Fidelity
Magellan (registered trademark) Fund and FMR Growth Group
Leader; and Managing Director of FMR Corp. Mr. Lynch was also Vice
President of Fidelity Investments Corporate Services (1991-1992). In
addition, he serves as a Trustee of Boston College, Massachusetts Eye
& Ear Infirmary, Historic Deerfield (1989) and Society for the
Preservation of New England Antiquities, and as an Overseer of the
Museum of Fine Arts of Boston.
WILLIAM O. McCOY (66), Trustee (1997), is the Interim Chancellor for
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Previously he had
served from 1995 through 1998 as Vice President of Finance for the
University of North Carolina (16-school system). Prior to his
retirement in December 1994, Mr. McCoy was Vice Chairman of the Board
of BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications, 1984) and President of
BellSouth Enterprises (1986). He is currently a Director of Liberty
Corporation (holding company, 1984), Duke-Weeks Realty Corporation
(real estate, 1994), Carolina Power and Light Company (electric
utility, 1996), the Kenan Transport Company (trucking, 1996), and
Dynatech Corporation (electronics, 1999). Previously, he was a
Director of First American Corporation (bank holding company,
1979-1996). In addition, Mr. McCoy served as a member of the Board of
Visitors for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(1994-1998) and currently serves on the Board of Visitors of the
Kenan-Flager Business School (University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, 1988).
GERALD C. McDONOUGH (71), Trustee and Chairman of the non-interested
Trustees, is Chairman of G.M. Management Group (strategic advisory
services). Mr. McDonough is a Director and Chairman of the Board of
York International Corp. (air conditioning and refrigeration),
Commercial Intertech Corp. (hydraulic systems, building systems, and
metal products, 1992), CUNO, Inc. (liquid and gas filtration products,
1996), and Associated Estates Realty Corporation (a real estate
investment trust, 1993). Mr. McDonough served as a Director of
ACME-Cleveland Corp. (metal working, telecommunications, and
electronic products) from 1987-1996 and Brush-Wellman Inc. (metal
refining) from 1983-1997.
MARVIN L. MANN (66), Trustee (1993), is Chairman Emeritus of
Lexmark International, Inc. (office machines, 1991) where he still
remains a member of the Board. Prior to 1991, he held the positions of
Vice President of International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM")
and President and General Manager of various IBM divisions and
subsidiaries. Mr. Mann is a Director of M.A. Hanna Company (chemicals,
1993), Imation Corp. (imaging and information storage, 1997). He is a
Board member of Dynatech Corporation (electronics, 1999).
* ROBERT C. POZEN (53), Trustee (1997), is Senior Vice President of
Fidelity Congress Street Fund (1997). Mr. Pozen also serves as Senior
Vice President of other Fidelity funds (1997). He is President and a
Director of FMR (1997), Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc.
(1997), Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc. (1997),
Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (1998), and FMR Co., Inc.
(2000); and a Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (1999). Previously,
Mr. Pozen served as General Counsel, Managing Director, and Senior
Vice President of FMR Corp.
THOMAS R. WILLIAMS (71), Trustee, is President of The Wales Group,
Inc. (management and financial advisory services). Prior to retiring
in 1987, Mr. Williams served as Chairman of the Board of First
Wachovia Corporation (bank holding company), and Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Atlanta and First
Atlanta Corporation (bank holding company). He is currently a Director
of National Life Insurance Company of Vermont and American Software,
Inc. Mr. Williams was previously a Director of ConAgra, Inc.
(agricultural products), Georgia Power Company (electric utility), and
Avado, Inc. (restaurants).
ROBERT A. LAWRENCE (47), is Vice President of Fidelity Congress
Street Fund (1997). Mr. Lawrence serves as Vice President of certain
High Income Bond Funds (2000), Vice President of Fidelity Real Estate
High Income Fund (1995) and Fidelity Real Estate High Income Fund II
(1996), Vice President of certain Equity Funds (1997), and Senior Vice
President of FMR (1993).
ERIC D. ROITER (51), is Secretary of Fidelity Congress Street Fund
(1998). He also serves as Secretary of other Fidelity funds (1998);
Vice President, General Counsel, and Clerk of FMR (1998); and Vice
President and Clerk of FDC (1998). Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr.
Roiter was with the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, as an associate
(1981-1984) and as a partner (1985-1997), and served as an Assistant
General Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(1979-1981). Mr. Roiter was an Adjunct Member, Faculty of Law, at
Columbia University Law School (1996-1997).
ROBERT A. DWIGHT (41), is Treasurer of Fidelity Congress Street
Fund (2000). Mr. Dwight also serves as Treasurer of other Fidelity
funds (2000) and is an employee of FMR. Prior to becoming Treasurer of
the Fidelity funds, he served as President of Fidelity Accounting and
Custody Services (FACS). Before joining Fidelity, Mr. Dwight was
Senior Vice President of fund accounting operations for The Boston
Company.
MARIA F. DWYER (41), is Deputy Treasurer of Fidelity Congress
Street Fund (2000). She also serves as Deputy Treasurer of other
Fidelity funds (2000) and is a Vice President (1999) and an employee
(1996) of FMR. Prior to joining Fidelity, Ms. Dwyer served as Director
of Compliance for MFS Investment Management.
MATTHEW N. KARSTETTER (38), is Deputy Treasurer of Fidelity
Congress Street Fund (1998). He also serves as Deputy Treasurer of
other Fidelity funds (1998) and is an employee of FMR (1998).
Before joining FMR, Mr. Karstetter served as Vice President of
Investment Accounting and Treasurer of IDS Mutual Funds at American
Express Financial Advisors (1996-1998). Prior to 1996, Mr. Karstetter
was Vice President, Mutual Fund Services at State Street Bank & Trust
(1991-1996).
JOHN H. COSTELLO (53), is Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Congress
Street Fund. Mr. Costello also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other
Fidelity funds and is an employee of FMR.
The following table sets forth information describing the compensation
of each Trustee and Member of the Advisory Board of the fund for his
or her services for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, as
applicable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
COMPENSATION TABLE
Trustees and Members of the Aggregate Compensation from Total Compensation from the
Advisory Board Congress Street FundB Fund Complex*,A
Edward C. Johnson 3d** $ 0 $ 0
J. Michael Cook***** $ 0 $ 0
Abigail P. Johnson** $ 0 $ 0
Ralph F. Cox $ 31 $ 217,500
Phyllis Burke Davis $ 30 $ 211,500
Robert M. Gates $ 31 $ 217,500
E. Bradley Jones**** $ 31 $ 217,500
Donald J. Kirk $ 31 $ 217,500
Ned C. Lautenbach*** $ 7 $ 54,000
Peter S. Lynch** $ 0 $ 0
William O. McCoy $ 30 $ 214,500
Gerald C. McDonough $ 38 $ 269,000
Marvin L. Mann $ 31 $ 217,500
Robert C. Pozen** $ 0 $ 0
Thomas R. Williams $ 30 $ 213,000
</TABLE>
* Information is for the calendar year ended December 31, 1999 for 236
funds in the complex.
** Interested Trustees of the fund and Ms. Johnson are compensated by
FMR.
*** During the period from October 14, 1999 through December 31, 1999,
Mr. Lautenbach served as a Member of the Advisory Board. Effective
January 1, 2000, Mr. Lautenbach serves as a Member of the Board of
Trustees.
**** Mr. Jones served on the Board of Trustees through December 31,
1999.
***** Effective March 16, 2000, Mr. Cook serves as a Member of the
Advisory Board.
A Compensation figures include cash, amounts required to be deferred,
and may include amounts deferred at the election of Trustees. For the
calendar year ended December 31, 1999, the Trustees accrued required
deferred compensation from the funds as follows: Ralph F. Cox,
$75,000; Phyllis Burke Davis, $75,000; Robert M. Gates, $75,000; E.
Bradley Jones, $75,000; Donald J. Kirk, $75,000; William O. McCoy,
$75,000; Gerald C. McDonough, $87,500; Marvin L. Mann, $75,000; and
Thomas R. Williams, $75,000. Certain of the non-interested Trustees
elected voluntarily to defer a portion of their compensation as
follows: Ralph F. Cox, $53,735; William O. McCoy, $53,735; and Thomas
R. Williams, $62,319.
B Compensation figures include cash, and may include amounts required
to be deferred and amounts deferred at the election of Trustees.
Under a deferred compensation plan adopted in September 1995 and
amended in November 1996 and January 2000 (the Plan), non-interested
Trustees must defer receipt of a portion of, and may elect to defer
receipt of an additional portion of, their annual fees. Amounts
deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar
amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of Fidelity
funds including funds in each major investment discipline and
representing a majority of Fidelity's assets under management (the
Reference Funds). The amounts ultimately received by the Trustees
under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance
of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan
will have a negligible effect on a fund's assets, liabilities, and net
income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services
of any Trustee or to pay any particular level of compensation to the
Trustee. A fund may invest in the Reference Funds under the Plan
without shareholder approval.
As of February 29, 2000, the Trustees, Members of the Advisory
Board, and officers of the fund owned, in the aggregate, less than
1 % of the fund's total outstanding shares.
As of February 29, 2000, the following owned of record or
beneficially 5% or more (up to and including 25%) of the fund's
outstanding shares: Walter S. Rosenberry III, St. Paul, MN
(9.01%).
CONTROL OF INVESTMENT ADVISER S
FMR Corp., organized in 1972, is the ultimate parent company of FMR
and FMR Co. , Inc. (FMRC). The voting common stock of FMR Corp.
is divided into two classes. Class B is held predominantly by members
of the Edward C. Johnson 3d family and is entitled to 49% of the vote
on any matter acted upon by the voting common stock. Class A is held
predominantly by non-Johnson family member employees of FMR Corp. and
its affiliates and is entitled to 51% of the vote on any such matter.
The Johnson family group and all other Class B shareholders have
entered into a shareholders' voting agreement under which all Class B
shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Class B
shares. Under the 1940 Act, control of a company is presumed where one
individual or group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting
stock of that company. Therefore, through their ownership of voting
common stock and the execution of the shareholders' voting agreement,
members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the 1940 Act, to
form a controlling group with respect to FMR Corp.
At present, the principal operating activities of FMR Corp. are those
conducted by its division, Fidelity Investments Retail Marketing
Company, which provides marketing services to various companies within
the Fidelity organization.
The fund, FMR, FMRC, and FDC have adopted a code of ethics under
Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that sets forth employees' fiduciary
responsibilities regarding the fund, establishes procedures for
personal investing, and restricts certain transactions. Employees
subject to the code of ethics, including Fidelity investment
personnel, may invest in securities for their own investment accounts,
including securities that may be purchased or held by the fund.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
The fund has entered into a management contract with FMR, pursuant to
which FMR furnishes investment advisory and other services.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES. Under the terms of its management contract with
the fund, FMR acts as investment adviser and, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the
fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and
limitations. FMR also provides the fund with all necessary office
facilities and personnel for servicing the fund's investments,
compensates all officers of the fund and all Trustees who are
"interested persons" of the trust or of FMR, and all personnel of the
fund or FMR performing services relating to research, statistical and
investment activities.
In addition, FMR or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the
Board of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services
necessary for the operation of the fund. These services include
providing facilities for maintaining the fund's organization;
supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents,
accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the fund;
preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting
shareholder relations; maintaining the fund's records and the
registration of the fund's shares under federal securities laws and
making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing
management and shareholder services for the fund; and furnishing
reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the
Trustees.
MANAGEMENT-RELATED EXPENSES. In addition to the management fee payable
to FMR and the fees payable to the transfer, dividend disbursing, and
shareholder servicing agent, pricing and bookkeeping agent, and the
costs associated with securities lending, the fund pays all of its
expenses that are not assumed by those parties. The fund pays for the
typesetting, printing, and mailing of its proxy materials to
shareholders, legal expenses, and the fees of the custodian,
auditor , and non-interested Trustees. The fund's management
contract further provides that the fund will pay for typesetting,
printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional
information, notices, and reports to shareholders; however, under the
terms of the fund's transfer agent agreement, the transfer agent bears
the costs of providing these services to existing shareholders. Other
expenses paid by the fund include interest, taxes, brokerage
commissions, the fund's proportionate share of insurance premiums and
Investment Company Institute dues, and the costs of registering shares
under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state
securities laws. The fund is also liable for such non-recurring
expenses as may arise, including costs of any litigation to which the
fund may be a party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify its
officers and Trustees with respect to litigation.
MANAGEMENT FEE. For the services of FMR under the management contract,
the fund pays FMR a monthly management fee computed monthly and paid
quarterly at the annual rate of 0.50% of its average net assets
throughout the month. The management contract also provides that, to
the extent that the aggregate average net assets of the funds advised
by FMR exceed $4 billion in any month, the management fee payable by
the fund for that month on its portion of that excess (determined on
the basis of the fund's portion of the aggregate average net assets)
will be reduced by 10%.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997, the fund
paid FMR management fees of $489,439, $429,997, and $390,825,
respectively.
FMR may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of
the fund's operating expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, certain
securities lending costs, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary
expenses), which is subject to revision or discontinuance. FMR
retains the ability to be repaid for these expense reimbursements in
the amount that expenses fall below the limit prior to the end of the
fiscal year.
Expense reimbursements by FMR will increase the fund's returns, and
repayment of the reimbursement by the fund will lower its returns.
SUB-ADVISER. On January 1, 2001, FMR will enter into a
sub-advisory agreement with FMRC on behalf of the fund pursuant to
which FMRC will have primary responsibility for choosing investments
for the fund.
Under the terms of the sub-advisory agreement for the fund, FMR
will pay FMRC fees equal to 50% of the management fee payable to FMR
under its management contract with the fund. The fees paid to FMRC
will not be reduced by any voluntary or mandatory expense
reimbursements that may be in effect from time to time.
FDC may compensate intermediaries (such as banks, broker-dealers
and other service-providers) that satisfy certain criteria established
from time to time by FDC relating to the level or type of services
provided by the intermediary, the sale or expected sale of significant
amounts of shares, or other factors.
TRANSFER AND SERVICE AGENT AGREEMENTS
The fund has entered into a transfer agent agreement with FSC, an
affiliate of FMR. Under the terms of the agreement, FSC performs
transfer agency, dividend disbursing, and shareholder services for the
fund.
For providing transfer agency services, FSC receives an account fee
and an asset-based fee each paid monthly with respect to each account
in the fund. For retail accounts and certain institutional accounts,
these fees are based on account size and fund type. For certain
institutional retirement accounts, these fees are based on fund type.
For certain other institutional retirement accounts, these fees are
based on account type and fund type. The account fees are subject to
increase based on postage rate changes.
The asset-based fees are subject to adjustment if the year-to-date
total return of the S&P 500 exceeds a positive or negative 15%.
FSC pays out-of-pocket expenses associated with providing transfer
agent services. In addition, FSC bears the expense of typesetting,
printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional
information, and all other reports, notices, and statements to
existing shareholders, with the exception of proxy statements.
The fund has also entered into a service agent agreement with
FSC. Under the terms of the agreement, FSC calculates the NAV and
dividends for the fund, maintains the fund's portfolio and general
accounting records, and administers the fund's securities lending
program.
For providing pricing and bookkeeping services, FSC receives a monthly
fee based on the fund's average daily net assets throughout the month.
The annual rates for pricing and bookkeeping services for the fund are
0.0365% of the first $500 million of average net assets, 0.0155% of
average net assets between $500 million and $3 billion, 0.0040% of
average net assets between $3 billion and $25 billion, and 0.00075% of
average net assets in excess of $25 billion. The fee, not including
reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, is limited to a minimum of
$60,000 per year.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997, the fund
paid FSC pricing and bookkeeping fees, including reimbursement for
related out-of-pocket expenses, of $60,514, $60,686, and $60,446,
respectively.
For administering the fund's securities lending program, FSC is
paid based on the number and duration of individual securities
loans.
F or the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and
1997, the fund did not pay FSC for securities lending.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
TRUST ORGANIZATION. Fidelity Congress Street Fund is a fund of
Fidelity Congress Street Fund, an open-end management investment
company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on September 7,
1984. C urrently, there is one fund in the trust: Fidelity Congress
Street Fund. The Trustees are permitted to create additional funds in
the trus t and to create additional classes of the fund .
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of
each fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
subject to the rights of creditors, are allocated to such fund, and
constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The underlying assets
of each fund in the trust shall be charged with the liabilities and
expenses attributable to such fund. Any general expenses of the trust
shall be allocated between or among any one or more of the funds.
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY. The fund is an entity commonly known as a
"Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law,
shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held
personally liable for the obligations of the trust.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the fund shall not have any
claim against shareholders except for the payment of the purchase
price of shares and requires that each agreement, obligation, or
instrument entered into or executed by the fund or the Trustees
relating to the fund shall include a provision limiting the
obligations created thereby to the fund and its assets.
The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the
fund's property of any shareholder or former shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the fund solely by reason of
his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his
or her acts or omissions or for some other reason. The Declaration of
Trust also provides that the fund shall, upon request, assume the
defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or
obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the
risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the fund
itself would be unable to meet its obligations. FMR believes that, in
view of the above, the risk of personal liability to shareholders is
remote.
VOTING RIGHTS. The fund's capital consists of shares of beneficial
interest. As a shareholder, you are entitled to one vote for each
share you own. The voting rights of shareholders can be changed only
by a shareholder vote. Shares may be voted in the aggregate and by
class.
The shares have no preemptive rights or conversion rights. Shares are
fully paid and nonassessable, except as set forth under the heading
"Shareholder Liability" above.
The fund may be terminated upon the sale of its assets to another
open-end management investment company, or upon liquidation and
distribution of its assets, if approved by a vote of shareholders
of the fund . In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the
fund, shareholders of that fund are entitled to receive the
underlying assets of the fund available for distribution.
CUSTODIAN S . Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian of the assets of the fund.
The custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of the fund's assets
and the appointment of any subcustodian banks and clearing agencies.
The Bank of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank, each headquartered
in New York, also may serve as special purpose custodians of certain
assets in connection with repurchase agreement transactions.
FMR, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, and members
of the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, conduct transactions
with various banks, including banks serving as custodians for certain
funds advised by FMR. The Boston branch of the fund's custodian leases
its office space from an affiliate of FMR at a lease payment which,
when entered into, was consistent with prevailing market rates.
Transactions that have occurred to date include mortgages and personal
and general business loans. In the judgment of FMR, the terms and
conditions of those transactions were not influenced by existing or
potential custodial or other fund relationships.
AUDITOR. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 160 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, serves as independent accountant for the fund. The
auditor examines financial statements for the fund and provides other
audit, tax, and related services.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The fund's financial statements and financial highlights for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, and report of the auditor, are
included in the fund's annual report and are incorporated herein by
reference.
APPENDIX
Fidelity, Fidelity Investments & (Pyramid ) Design, Fidelity
Focus, Fidelity Investments, and Magellan are registered trademarks of
FMR Corp.
The third party marks appearing above are the marks of their
respective owners.
Fidelity Congress Street Fund
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. Exhibits
(a) Restated Declaration of Trust, dated April 18, 1996, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 16.
(b) Bylaws of the Trust, as amended and dated May 19, 1994, are
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2(a) of Fidelity
Union Street Trust's (File No. 2-50318) Post-Effective Amendment
No. 87.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) (1) Management Contract between Fidelity Congress Street Fund
and Fidelity Management & Research Company, dated September
1, 1989, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
5(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 15.
(d) (2) Form Of Sub-Advisory Contract between FMR CO., Inc., on
behalf of Fidelity Congress Street Fund, and Fidelity
Management & Research Company is filed herein as Exhibit
d(2).
(e) Not applicable.
(f) (1) Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Person Trustees,
Directors or General Partners, as amended on November 16,
1995, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 7(a)
of Fidelity Select Portfolio's (File No. 2-69972)
Post-Effective Amendment No. 54.
(2) The Fee Deferral Plan for Non-Interested Person Directors
and Trustees of the Fidelity Funds, effective as of
September 14, 1995 and amended through November 14, 1996,
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 7(b) of
Fidelity Aberdeen Street Trust's (File No. 33-43529)
Post-Effective Amendment No. 19.
(g) (1) Custodian Agreement and Appendix C, dated September 1,
1994, between Brown Brothers Harriman & Company and the
Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
8(a) of Fidelity Commonwealth Trust's (File No. 2-52322)
Post-Effective Amendment No. 56.
(2) Appendix A, dated August 11, 1999, to the Custodian
Agreement, dated September 1, 1994, between Brown Brothers
Harriman & Company and the Registrant is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit g(6) of Fidelity Advisor
Series I's (File No. 2-84776) Post-Effective Amendment No.
50.
(3) Appendix B, dated March 16, 2000, to the Custodian
Agreement, dated September 1, 1994, between Brown Brothers
Harriman & Company and the Registrant is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit g(3) of Fidelity
Commonwealth Trust's (File No. 2-52322) Post-Effective
Amendment No. 69.
(4) Addendum, dated October 21, 1996, to the Custodian
Agreement, dated September 1, 1994, between Brown Brothers
Harriman & Company and the Registrant is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit g(4) of Fidelity
Commonwealth Trust's (File No. 2-52322) Post-Effective
Amendment No. 68.
(5) Fidelity Group Repo Custodian Agreement among The Bank of
New York, J. P. Morgan Securities, Inc., and the
Registrant, dated February 12, 1996, is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 8(d) of Fidelity Institutional Cash
Portfolios' (File No. 2-74808) Post-Effective Amendment No.
31.
(6) Schedule 1 to the Fidelity Group Repo Custodian Agreement
between The Bank of New York and the Registrant, dated
February 12, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 8(e) of Fidelity Institutional Cash Portfolios'
(File No. 2-74808) Post-Effective Amendment No. 31.
(7) Fidelity Group Repo Custodian Agreement among Chemical
Bank, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., and the Registrant,
dated November 13, 1995, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 8(f) of Fidelity Institutional Cash
Portfolios' (File No. 2-74808) Post-Effective Amendment No.
31.
(8) Schedule 1 to the Fidelity Group Repo Custodian Agreement
between Chemical Bank and the Registrant, dated November
13, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
8(g) of Fidelity Institutional Cash Portfolios' (File No.
2-74808) Post-Effective Amendment No. 31.
(9) Joint Trading Account Custody Agreement between The Bank of
New York and the Registrant, dated May 11, 1995, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(h) of
Fidelity Institutional Cash Portfolios' (File No. 2-74808)
Post-Effective Amendment No. 31.
(10) First Amendment to Joint Trading Account Custody Agreement
between The Bank of New York and the Registrant, dated July
14, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
8(i) of Fidelity Institutional Cash Portfolios' (File No.
2-74808) Post-Effective Amendment No. 31.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, dated April 17, 2000, is
filed herein as Exhibit j(1).
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Not applicable.
(m) Not applicable.
(n) Not applicable.
(o) Not applicable.
(p)(1) Code of Ethics, dated January 1, 2000, adopted by the fund,
Fidelity Management & Research Company, FMR Co., Inc., and
Fidelity Distributors Corporation pursuant to Rule 17j-1 is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Fidelity
Commonwealth Trust's (File No. 2-52322) Post-Effective
Amendment No. 69.
Item 24. Trusts Controlled by or under Common Control with this Trust
The Board of Trustees of the Trust is the same as the board of other
Fidelity funds, each of which has Fidelity Management & Research
Company, or an affiliate, as its investment adviser. In addition, the
officers of the Trust are substantially identical to those of the
other Fidelity funds. Nonetheless, the Trust takes the position that
it is not under common control with other Fidelity funds because the
power residing in the respective boards and officers arises as the
result of an official position with the respective trusts.
Item 25. Indemnification
Article XI, Section 2 of the Declaration of Trust sets forth the
reasonable and fair means for determining whether indemnification
shall be provided to any past or present Trustee or officer. It states
that the Trust shall indemnify any present or past trustee or officer
to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability, and all
expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any
claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she is involved by
virtue of his or her service as a trustee or officer and against any
amount incurred in settlement thereof. Indemnification will not be
provided to a person adjudged by a court or other adjudicatory body to
be liable to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
or her duties (collectively, "disabling conduct"), or not to have
acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action
was in the best interest of the Trust. In the event of a settlement,
no indemnification may be provided unless there has been a
determination, as specified in the Declaration of Trust, that the
officer or trustee did not engage in disabling conduct.
Pursuant to the agreement by which Fidelity Service Company, Inc.
("FSC") is appointed transfer agent, the Trust agrees to indemnify and
hold FSC harmless against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting
from:
(1) any claim, demand, action or suit brought by any person other
than the Trust, including by a shareholder, which names FSC and/or the
Trust as a party and is not based on and does not result from FSC's
willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or reckless disregard of
duties, and arises out of or in connection with FSC's performance
under the Transfer Agency Agreement; or
(2) any claim, demand, action or suit (except to the extent
contributed to by FSC's willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence
or reckless disregard of its duties) which results from the negligence
of the Trust, or from FSC's acting upon any instruction(s) reasonably
believed by it to have been executed or communicated by any person
duly authorized by the Trust, or as a result of FSC's acting in
reliance upon advice reasonably believed by FSC to have been given by
counsel for the Trust, or as a result of FSC's acting in reliance upon
any instrument or stock certificate reasonably believed by it to have
been genuine and signed, countersigned or executed by the proper
person.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment AdviserS
(1) FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH COMPANY (FMR)
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
FMR serves as investment adviser to a number of other investment
companies. The directors and officers of the Adviser have held,
during the past two fiscal years, the following positions of a
substantial nature.
Edward C. Johnson 3d Chairman of the Board and
Director of FMR; Chief
Executive Officer, Chairman
of the Board, and Director
of FMR Corp., Fidelity
Investments Money
Management, Inc. (FIMM),
Fidelity Management &
Research (U.K.) Inc. (FMR
U.K.), Fidelity Management &
Research (Far East) Inc.
(FMR Far East), and Fidelity
Management & Research Co.,
Inc. (FMRC); Chairman of the
Executive Committee of FMR;
Chairman and Representative
Director of Fidelity
Investments Japan Limited
(FIJ); President and Trustee
of funds advised by FMR.
Robert C. Pozen President and Director of
FMR; Senior Vice President
and Trustee of funds advised
by FMR; President and
Director of FIMM, FMRC, FMR
U.K., and FMR Far East;
Director of Strategic
Advisers, Inc.; Previously,
General Counsel, Managing
Director, and Senior Vice
President of FMR Corp.
Peter S. Lynch Vice Chairman of the Board
and Director of FMR and FMRC.
John Avery Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Robert Bertelson Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
John H. Carlson Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Robert C. Chow Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Dwight D. Churchill Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of Bond
Funds advised by FMR; Vice
President of FIMM.
Laura B. Cronin Vice President of FMR and
Treasurer of FMR, FIMM, FMR
U.K., FMRC and FMR Far East.
Barry Coffman Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Arieh Coll Vice President of FMR.
Catherine Collins Vice President of FMR.
Frederic G. Corneel Tax Counsel of FMR.
William Danoff Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of funds
advised by FMR.
Scott E. DeSano Vice President of FMR.
Penelope Dobkin Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Walter C. Donovan Vice President of FMR.
Bettina Doulton Senior Vice President of FMR
and of funds advised by FMR.
Stephen DuFour Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Maria F. Dwyer Vice President of FMR and
Deputy Treasurer of the
Fidelity funds.
Margaret L. Eagle Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
William R. Ebsworth Vice President of FMR.
David Felman Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Richard B. Fentin Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of a fund
advised by FMR.
Karen Firestone Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Michael B. Fox Assistant Treasurer of FMR,
FIMM, FMR U.K., and FMR Far
East; Vice President and
Treasurer of FMR Corp. and
Strategic Advisers, Inc.;
Vice President of FMR U.K.,
FMR Far East, and FIMM.
Gregory Fraser Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Jay Freedman Assistant Clerk of FMR; Clerk
of FMR Corp., FMR U.K., FMR
Far East, FMRC, and
Strategic Advisers, Inc.;
Secretary of FIMM; Vice
President and Deputy General
Counsel of FMR Corp.
David L. Glancy Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Barry A. Greenfield Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Boyce I. Greer Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of Money
Market Funds advised by FMR;
Vice President of FIMM.
Bart A. Grenier Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of
High-Income Funds advised by
FMR.
Robert J. Haber Vice President of FMR.
Richard C. Habermann Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of funds
advised by FMR.
Fred L. Henning Jr. Senior Vice President of FMR;
Senior Vice President of
FIMM; Vice President of
Fixed-Income Funds advised
by FMR.
Bruce T. Herring Vice President of FMR.
Robert F. Hill Vice President of FMR and
Director of Technical
Research.
Frederick Hoff Vice President of FMR.
Abigail P. Johnson Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of funds
advised by FMR; Director of
FMR Corp.; Associate
Director and Senior Vice
President of Equity Funds
advised by FMR.
David B. Jones Vice President of FMR.
Steven Kaye Senior Vice President of FMR
and of a fund advised by FMR.
Francis V. Knox Vice President of FMR;
Compliance Officer of FMR
U.K. and FMR Far East.
Harris Leviton Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Bradford E. Lewis Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Richard R. Mace Jr. Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Shigeki Makino Vice President of FMR.
Charles A. Mangum Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Kevin McCarey Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
James McDowell Senior Vice President of FMR.
Neal P. Miller Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Jacques Perold Vice President of FMR.
Stephen Petersen Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of funds
advised by FMR.
Alan Radlo Vice President of FMR.
Eric D. Roiter Vice President, General
Counsel, and Clerk of FMR
and Secretary of funds
advised by FMR.
Lee H. Sandwen Vice President of FMR.
Patricia A. Satterthwaite Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Fergus Shiel Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Richard A. Silver Vice President of FMR.
Carol A. Smith-Fachetti Vice President of FMR.
Steven J. Snider Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Thomas T. Soviero Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Richard Spillane Senior Vice President of FMR;
Associate Director and
Senior Vice President of
Equity Funds advised by FMR;
Previously, Senior Vice
President and Director of
Operations and Compliance of
FMR U.K.
Thomas M. Sprague Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Robert E. Stansky Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of a fund
advised by FMR.
Scott D. Stewart Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
Beth F. Terrana Senior Vice President of FMR
and Vice President of funds
advised by FMR.
Yoko Tilley Vice President of FMR.
Joel C. Tillinghast Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Robert Tuckett Vice President of FMR.
Jennifer Uhrig Vice President of FMR and of
funds advised by FMR.
George A. Vanderheiden Senior Vice President of FMR
and Director of FMR Corp.
Jason Weiner Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
Steven S. Wymer Vice President of FMR and of
a fund advised by FMR.
(2) FMR CO., INC. (FMRC)
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
FMRC provides investment advisory services to Fidelity Management &
Research Company. The directors and officers of the Sub-Adviser have
held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past
two fiscal years.
Edward C. Johnson 3d Chairman of the Board and
Director of FMRC, FMR U.K.,
FMR, FMR Corp., FIMM, and
FMR Far East; President and
Chief Executive Officer of
FMR Corp.; Chairman of the
Executive Committee of FMR;
Chairman and Representative
Director of Fidelity
Investments Japan Limited
(FIJ); President and Trustee
of funds advised by FMR.
Robert C. Pozen Senior Vice President and
Trustee of funds advised by
FMR; President and Director
of FMRC, FIMM, FMR, FMR
U.K., and FMR Far East;
Director of Strategic
Advisers, Inc.; Previously,
General Counsel, Managing
Director, and Senior Vice
President of FMR Corp.
Peter S. Lynch Vice Chairman of the Board
and Director of FMR and FMRC.
Brian Clancy Vice President.
Laura B. Cronin Treasurer of FMRC, FMR U.K.,
FMR Far East, FMR, and FIMM
and Vice President of FMR.
Jay Freedman Assistant Clerk of FMR; Clerk
of FMR Corp., FMR U.K., FMR
Far East, FMRC, and
Strategic Advisers, Inc.;
Secretary of FIMM; Vice
President and Deputy General
Counsel of FMR Corp.
Item 27. Principal Underwriters
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules promulgated thereunder are
maintained by Fidelity Management & Research Company, Fidelity Service
Company, Inc. or Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations
Company, Inc., 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109, or the fund's
custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, MA.
Item 29. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 30. Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
the Fund has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston,
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the day of April 17, 2000.
FIDELITY CONGRESS STREET FUND
By /s/Robert Dwight
Robert A. Dwight, Treasurer
Exhibit (d) 2
[FORM OF]
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
FMR CO., INC. and
FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH COMPANY
AGREEMENT made this____day of _______,____, by and between FMR Co.,
Inc., a Massachusetts corporation with principal offices at 82
Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts (hereinafter called the
``Sub-Adviser") and Fidelity Management & Research Company, a
Massachusetts corporation with principal offices at 82 Devonshire
Street, Boston, Massachusetts (hereinafter called the ``Adviser").
WHEREAS the Adviser has entered into a Management Contract with
Fidelity Congress Street Fund, a Massachusetts business trust which
may issue one or more series of shares of beneficial interest
(hereinafter called the ``Fund"), on behalf of its single existing
series of shares of beneficial interest (hereinafter called the
``Portfolio"), pursuant to which the Adviser is to act as investment
manager and adviser to the Portfolio, and
WHEREAS the Sub-Adviser was formed for the purpose of providing
investment management of equity and high income funds and advising
generally with respect to equity and high income instruments.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises hereinafter set forth, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree
as follows:
1. (a) The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the
Adviser, direct the investments of all or such portion of the
Portfolio's assets as the Adviser shall designate in accordance with
the investment objective, policies and limitations as provided in the
Portfolio's Prospectus or other governing instruments, as amended from
time to time, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rules thereunder,
as amended from time to time (the ``1940 Act"), and such other
limitations as the Portfolio may impose by notice in writing to the
Adviser or Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish for the
use of the Portfolio office space and all necessary office facilities,
equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the
Portfolio; and shall pay the salaries and fees of all personnel of the
Sub-Adviser performing services for the Portfolio relating to
research, statistical and investment activities. The Sub-Adviser is
authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the
Portfolio or the Adviser, to buy, sell, lend and otherwise trade in
any stocks, bonds and other securities and investment instruments on
behalf of the Portfolio. The investment policies and all other
actions of the Portfolio are and shall at all times be subject to the
control and direction of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish such reports, evaluations,
information or analyses to the Fund and the Adviser as the Fund's
Board of Trustees or the Adviser may request from time to time or as
the Sub-Adviser may deem to be desirable. The Sub-Adviser shall make
recommendations to the Fund's Board of Trustees with respect to
Portfolio policies, and shall carry out such policies as are adopted
by the Trustees. The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to review by the
Board of Trustees, furnish such other services as the Sub-Adviser
shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to perform
its obligations under this Agreement and which are not otherwise
furnished by the Adviser.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale
of portfolio securities for the Portfolio's account with brokers or
dealers selected by the Sub-Adviser, which may include brokers or
dealers affiliated with the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser
shall use its best efforts to seek to execute portfolio transactions
at prices which are advantageous to the Portfolio and at commission
rates which are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. In
selecting brokers or dealers qualified to execute a particular
transaction, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide
brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934) to the Portfolio and/or
the other accounts over which the Sub-Adviser, Adviser or their
affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Sub-Adviser is
authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and
research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction
for the Portfolio which is in excess of the amount of commission
another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such
amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer.
This determination may be viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and
its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise
investment discretion. The Trustees of the Fund shall periodically
review the commissions paid by the Portfolio to determine if the
commissions paid over representative periods of time were reasonable
in relation to the benefits to the Portfolio.
2. As compensation for the services to be furnished by the
Sub-Adviser hereunder, the Adviser agrees to pay the Sub-Adviser a
monthly fee equal to 50% of the management fee (including performance
adjustments, if any) that the Portfolio is obligated to pay the
Adviser under the Portfolio's Management Contract with the Adviser in
respect of that portion of the Portfolio's assets managed by the
Sub-Adviser during such month. Such fee shall not be reduced to
reflect expense reimbursements or fee waivers by the Adviser, if any,
in effect from time to time.
3. It is understood that Trustees, officers, and shareholders of the
Fund are or may be or become interested in the Adviser or the
Sub-Adviser as directors, officers or otherwise and that directors,
officers and stockholders of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser are or may
be or become similarly interested in the Fund, and that the Adviser or
the Sub-Adviser may be or become interested in the Fund as a
shareholder or otherwise.
4. It is understood that the Portfolio will pay all its expenses
other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Sub-Adviser
hereunder or by the Adviser under the Management Contract with the
Portfolio, which expenses payable by the Portfolio shall include,
without limitation, (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions
and other costs in connection with the purchase or sale of securities
and other investment instruments; (iii) fees and expenses of the
Fund's Trustees other than those who are ``interested persons" of the
Fund, the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser; (iv) legal and audit expenses;
(v) custodian, registrar and transfer agent fees and expenses; (vi)
fees and expenses related to the registration and qualification of the
Fund and the Portfolio's shares for distribution under state and
federal securities laws; (vii) expenses of printing and mailing
reports and notices and proxy material to shareholders of the
Portfolio; (viii) all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of
the Portfolio's shareholders, including proxy solicitations therefor;
(ix) a pro rata share, based on relative net assets of the Portfolio
and other registered investment companies having Advisory and Service
or Management Contracts with the Adviser, of 50% of insurance premiums
for fidelity and other coverage; (x) its proportionate share of
association membership dues; (xi) expenses of typesetting for printing
Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information and supplements
thereto; (xii) expenses of printing and mailing Prospectuses and
Statements of Additional Information and supplements thereto sent to
existing shareholders; and (xiii) such non-recurring or extraordinary
expenses as may arise, including those relating to actions, suits or
proceedings to which the Portfolio is a party and the legal obligation
which the Portfolio may have to indemnify the Fund's Trustees and
officers with respect thereto.
5. The Services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser are not to be
deemed to be exclusive, the Sub-Adviser being free to render services
to others and engage in other activities, provided, however, that such
other services and activities do not, during the term of this
Agreement, interfere, in a material manner, with the Sub-Adviser's
ability to meet all of its obligations with respect to rendering
investment advice hereunder. The Sub-Adviser shall for all purposes
be an independent contractor and not an agent or employee of the
Adviser or the Fund.
6. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part
of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall not be subject to liability
to the Advisor, the Trust or to any shareholder of the Portfolio for
any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering
services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the
purchase, holding or sale of any security.
7. (a) Subject to prior termination as provided in sub-paragraph (d)
of this paragraph 7, this Agreement shall continue in force until July
31,_____, and indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as the
continuance after such period shall be specifically approved at least
annually by vote of the Fund's Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio.
(b) This Agreement may be modified by mutual consent subject to the
provisions of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, as modified by or
interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or any rules or regulations
adopted by, or interpretive releases of, the Commission.
(c) In addition to the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this paragraph 7, the terms of any continuance or modification of the
Agreement must have been approved by the vote of a majority of those
Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to such Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(d) Either the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the Portfolio may, at any
time on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other parties,
terminate this Agreement, without payment of any penalty, by action of
its Board of Trustees or Directors, or by vote of a majority of its
outstanding voting securities. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically upon the termination of the Management Contract between
the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, and the Adviser. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
8. The Sub-Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the
limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Declaration of
Trust or other organizational document of the Fund and agrees that any
obligations of the Fund or the Portfolio arising in connection with
this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Portfolio and its
assets, and the Sub-Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such
obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Portfolio.
Nor shall the Sub-Adviser seek satisfaction of any such obligation
from the Trustees or any individual Trustee.
9. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
The terms ``registered investment company," ``vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities," ``assignment," and ``interested
persons," when used herein, shall have the respective meanings
specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now in effect or as
hereafter amended.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be signed in their behalf by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, and their respective seals to be hereunto affixed, all as
of the date written above.
[SIGNATURE LINES OMITTED]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No.
22 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Fidelity Congress
Street Fund, of our report dated February 8, 2000 on the financial
statements and financial highlights included in the December 31, 1999
Annual Report to Shareholders of Fidelity Congress Street Fund.
We further consent to the references to our Firm under the heading
"Auditor" in the Part B of this Amendment.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
April 17, 2000
