HILLIARD LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND INC
485BPOS, 2000-12-01
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<PAGE>


  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2000.

                                                        Registration No. 2-68290
                                                        File No. 811-3070
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                   Form N-1A

                        Post-Effective Amendment No. 22
                                      to
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                      and
                               Amendment No. 24

                                      to
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                      THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

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

                     Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc.
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                             Hilliard Lyons Center
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                 Registrant's Telephone Number: (502) 588-8400
                           William G. Strench, Esq.
                          Brown, Todd & Heyburn PLLC
                          400 West Market, 32nd Floor
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
            [X] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

            [_] on December 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)

            [_] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
            [_] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
            [_] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
            [_] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
 If appropriate, check the following box:
            [_] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
 for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

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

     Registrant has registered an indefinite amount of securities under the
Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 24f-2. The Rule 24f-2 Notice for
Registrant's most recent fiscal year was filed on November 21, 2000.

================================================================================

<PAGE>

                             FOR MORE INFORMATION

                Existing Shareholders or Prospective Investors

               Call your financial consultant or (800) 444-1854
   from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday.

                     Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc.

                             Hilliard Lyons Center
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202

                      Investment Advisor and Distributor

                     J. J. B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc.
                             Hilliard Lyons Center
                        Louisville, Kentucky 40202-2517

                         Custodian and Transfer Agent

                      State Street Bank and Trust Company
                              225 Franklin Street
                                 P.O. Box 1912
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02266

                                 Legal Counsel

                             Frost Brown Todd LLC
                            400 West Market Street
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202

                             Independent Auditors

                               Ernst & Young LLP
                            400 West Market Street
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202


                     HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.

  Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is an open-ended,
diversified management investment company. Its goal is to provide investors
with liquidity and the highest possible level of current income consistent
with the preservation of capital. The Fund seeks to achieve its goals by
investing exclusively in short-term securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities or in repurchase
agreements collateralized by such securities, or in a combination of both.

  As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has
not approved or disapproved the Fund's shares, nor has the SEC determined that
this prospectus is complete or accurate. It is a criminal offense to state
otherwise.

                  This prospectus is dated December 1, 2000.

<PAGE>

                               Table of Contents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Risk/Return Summary........................................................   3
Annual Performance.........................................................   4
Average Annual Total Returns...............................................   5
Fees and Expenses of the Fund..............................................   5
Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks..................................   6
  Investment Objectives....................................................   6
  Investment Policies......................................................   6
  Investment Risks.........................................................   7
Management of the Fund.....................................................   7
  Directors................................................................   7
  Investment Adviser.......................................................   7
  Distributor..............................................................   8
  Portfolio Management.....................................................   8
Shareholder Information....................................................   8
  Pricing of the Fund's Shares.............................................   8
  Purchasing Shares........................................................   9
  Redemption of Shares.....................................................  10
  Dividends and Distributions..............................................  11
  Taxes....................................................................  11
Financial Highlights.......................................................  13
</TABLE>

  No dealer, sales person or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this
Prospectus in connection with the offer contained in this Prospectus and, if
given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied
upon as having been authorized by the Fund, the Fund's investment adviser or
the Fund's distributor. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer by the
Fund or by the Fund's distributor to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy
any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom
it is unlawful for the Fund to make such an offer in such jurisdiction.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                              Risk/Return Summary

  This section highlights key information about the Hilliard-Lyons Government
Fund, Inc., which we refer to as "the Fund." Additional information follows
this summary.

  Fund Investment Objectives. The Fund seeks preservation of capital,
liquidity and the highest possible level of current income consistent with
these objectives. Its goal is to provide investors with liquidity and the
highest possible level of current income consistent with the preservation of
capital.

  Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund seeks to meet its investment
objectives by investing its assets under normal circumstances, exclusively in
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities (which, except for securities covered by repurchase
agreements, will mature in six months or less) or in repurchase agreements
collateralized by such securities or in a combination of both.

  Principal Investment Risks. The Fund is subject to credit risk, which is the
chance that the issuer of a security will fail to pay interest and principal
in a timely manner. Credit risk, which has the potential to hurt the Fund's
performance, should be low for the Fund. The Fund is also subject to interest
rate risk, which is the risk that prices of money market securities generally
decrease when interest rates increase. The Fund is also subject to redemption
risk, which is the risk that due to the high demand for redemptions, some of
the Fund's portfolio may be liquidated prior to maturity.

  Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00
per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An
investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                              Annual Performance

  A number of factors--including risk--affect how the Fund performs. The
following bar chart shows the average annual returns of the Fund's shares for
the past ten calendar years. The table following the bar chart shows the
average annual total returns of the Fund for the periods shown. The bar chart
and table demonstrate how the Fund's performance has varied and gives some
indication of the risk of investing in the Fund./1/ Past performance does not
mean that the Fund will achieve similar results in the future.


  During the ten year period shown in the bar chart, the highest quarterly
return was 1.93% (for the quarter ended March 31, 1990) and the lowest
quarterly return was .61% (for the quarter ended June 30, 1993).
--------
/1/The Fund's returns are after deduction of expenses. The total return of the
Fund's shares from January 1, 2000 to September 30, 2000 was 4.34%.

                                       4
<PAGE>

                         Average Annual Total Returns

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    Average Annual Total
      Returns for the
 Periods Ended December 31,            Past One Past Three Past Five Past Ten
            1999                         Year     Years      Years    Years
 --------------------------            -------- ---------- --------- --------
 <S>                                   <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>
 Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc.    4.70%     4.92%     4.98%     4.70%
</TABLE>

  The Fund's 7-day yield on August 31, 2000 was 6.12%. For the Fund's current
yield, call toll-free (800) 444-1854.

                         Fees and Expenses of the Fund

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund.

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                    <C>
     Annual Fund Operating Expenses:
      (as a percentage of average net assets)
      Management Fees...................................................... .30%
      Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Fee........................................ None
      Other Expenses....................................................... .18%
                                                                            ----
      Total Operating Expenses............................................. .48%
                                                                            ====
</TABLE>


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

  Example. You would pay the following total expenses on a $10,000 investment,
assuming 5% annual return and redemption at the end of each time period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
                       ------ ------- ------- --------
                 <S>   <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>
                        $49    $154    $269     $604
</TABLE>

  This table is provided to assist an investor in understanding the various
costs and expenses that an investor will bear, directly or indirectly, as a
shareholder of the Fund. It should not be considered a representation of past
or future expenses, as actual expenses fluctuate and may be greater or less
than these shown. While the example assumes a 5% annual return, the Fund's
actual performance will vary and may result in an actual return greater or
less than 5%.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                   Investment Objectives, Policies and Risks

  Investment Objectives. The Fund seeks preservation of capital, liquidity and
the highest possible level of current income consistent with these objectives.
The Fund can change these objectives only with prior shareholder approval.
There is no guarantee that the Fund's objectives will be attained.

  Investment Policies. The Fund has adopted a policy of investing its assets
exclusively in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities (which, except for securities covered by
repurchase agreements, will mature in six months or less) or in repurchase
agreements collateralized by such securities or in a combination of both.
Securities subject to repurchase agreements may bear maturities in excess of
six months, but the term of the repurchase agreement is normally not more than
a few days. The Fund will not enter into a repurchase agreement having a
duration of more than seven business days if, as a result, more than 10% of
the value of the Fund's total assets would be so invested.

  The types of U.S. Government securities in which the Fund may invest include
a variety of U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ primarily in their
interest rates and lengths of maturities, and obligations issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, including
mortgage-related securities.

  Obligations of certain of these agencies and instrumentalities are supported
by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the
right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others are supported by the
discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's
obligations; and still others, are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality. The Fund normally holds its portfolio securities to maturity.
Historically, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies and instrumentalities have involved minimal risk of loss of principal
or interest, if held to maturity.

  The Fund may purchase the above-described debt securities outright or invest
in securities by means of repurchase agreements with any member bank of the
Federal Reserve System and dealers with which the Federal Reserve conducts
open market transactions. A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which
the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires ownership of an obligation (debt
security) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the
obligation at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The term of such an
agreement is generally quite short, possibly overnight or a few days, although
it may extend over a number of months not to exceed six months from its
delivery. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price, reflecting an
agreed upon rate of interest, which is effective for the period of time the
Fund holds the purchased security and is not related to the coupon rate on the
purchased security. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the
sellers collateralized by the underlying securities.

  In pursuing its objectives, the Fund may engage in trading activity in order
to take advantage of opportunities to enhance yield, protect principal or
improve liquidity. This trading activity, and the relatively short maturity of
the obligations purchased by the Fund, may result in high portfolio turnover,
but such turnover should not increase the Fund's expenses since there are
normally no brokerage commissions paid in connection with the purchase or sale
of the types of securities in which the Fund invests.

  The yield differential between the securities the Fund invests in and other
high quality, short-term investments such as certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances and high-grade commercial paper is normally quite small. Should
this differential widen to in excess of 1 3/4%, management may recommend to
the Fund's

                                       6
<PAGE>

Board of Directors that it consider authorizing investments in securities
other than those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or in repurchase agreements collateralized by such
securities.

  At all times during its most recent fiscal year ended August 31, 2000, the
Fund's net assets were invested exclusively in securities issued by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or in repurchase agreements
collateralized by such securities, or a combination of both. Under normal
circumstances, the Fund exclusively invests its net assets in such securities
and repurchase agreements.

  The Fund is managed so that the average maturity of all its investments does
not exceed 90 days. The average maturity of the Fund's investments at any
specific point in time is determined by Hilliard-Lyons based on an assessment
of existing and prospective money market conditions. The weighted average
maturity of the portfolio on August 31, 2000 was 55 days.

  Investment Risks. The Fund endeavors to exercise due care in the selection
of its portfolio securities, and the risks associated with the securities the
Fund purchases are nominal. Nevertheless, an investment in the Fund is not
completely risk-free. Under a repurchase agreement, the Fund's risk is limited
to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed upon sum on the delivery date.
In the opinion of management, however, such risk is not material because in
the event of default the securities underlying the repurchase agreement serve
as collateral for the seller's repurchase obligation and the market value of
such underlying securities will at all times equal or exceed the face amount
of the seller's obligation, including the accrued interest earned thereon. The
Fund's portfolio can depreciate in value if short-term interest rates
increase. There is also a risk that demand for redemptions may require that
some of the Fund's portfolio be liquidated prior to maturity at a price less
than original cost, face amount or maturity value. If these events occur, they
could cause a reduction in the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund's shares
and a loss to the Fund's shareholders.

                            Management Of The Fund

  Directors. The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the
direction of its Board of Directors. The Statement of Additional Information
contains general background information about each director and officer of the
Fund.

  Investment Adviser. Hilliard-Lyons serves as the Fund's investment adviser.
Hilliard-Lyons is a wholly owned subsidiary of PNC Bank Corp. ("PNC").
Hilliard-Lyons has its principal offices at Hilliard Lyons Center, Louisville,
Kentucky 40202. PNC, a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, is one of the largest financial service organizations in the
United States. PNC's address is One PNC Plaza, 249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15222-2707. Hilliard-Lyons has been retained by the Fund as its
investment adviser under an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Agreement").
Under the Agreement, Hilliard-Lyons supervises investment operations of the
Fund and the composition of its portfolio and furnishes advice and
recommendations with respect to investments and the purchase and sale of
securities in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions; subject, however, to the general supervision and control of the
Fund's Board of Directors. The Agreement also requires Hilliard-Lyons to
furnish office facilities to the Fund at its own expense and to pay certain
other expenses of the Fund.

                                       7
<PAGE>

  Hilliard-Lyons is a registered broker-dealer and a member of the New York,
American and Chicago Stock Exchanges, the Chicago Board Options Exchange and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Hilliard-Lyons maintains
an Investment Advisory Department and is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an investment adviser, rendering advice to both
individual and institutional clients. Assets under management in this
department on October 31, 2000 were over $3,600,000,000.

  For the services Hilliard-Lyons renders, and the facilities it furnishes,
the Fund pays Hilliard-Lyons an annual advisory fee. The annual advisory fee
paid for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000 was .30% of the Fund's average
daily net assets for that fiscal year.

  Certain affiliated persons of the Fund are also affiliated persons of
Hilliard-Lyons. Mr. Donald F. Kohler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Fund, is a former Executive Vice President and Director of Hilliard-Lyons.
Mr. Joseph C. Curry, Jr., President of the Fund, is a Senior Vice President of
Hilliard-Lyons. Ms. Dianna P. Wengler, Vice President and Treasurer of the
Fund, is a Vice President of Hilliard-Lyons.

  Distributor. Hilliard-Lyons (the "Distributor"), Hilliard Lyons Center,
Louisville, Kentucky 40202, acts as the principal distributor of the Fund's
shares. PNC Brokerage Corp. ("PNC Brokerage") and Hilliard-Lyons have entered
into a Broker-Dealer Agreement to sell shares of the Fund.

  Portfolio Management. Dianna P. Wengler is the portfolio manager of the
Fund. Ms. Wengler is Vice President and Treasurer of the Fund, as well as a
Vice President of Hilliard-Lyons. Ms. Wengler has managed the Fund for the
past seventeen years.

                            Shareholder Information

  Pricing of the Fund's Shares. The price of the Fund's shares is based on its
NAV. The NAV per share of the Fund for purposes of pricing orders for both the
purchase and redemption of Fund shares is determined once daily on each day
except Saturdays, Sundays and certain legal holidays. NAV is determined as of
12:00 noon Boston time for the purpose of pricing orders received prior to
that time. NAV per share is calculated by adding the value of all securities
in the portfolio and other assets, subtracting liabilities and dividing by the
number of shares outstanding. Expenses, including the fees payable to
Hilliard-Lyons, are accrued daily.

  Portfolio securities are valued using the amortized cost method.

                                       8
<PAGE>

  Since realized and unrealized changes in the value of the Fund's portfolio
securities are ordinarily reflected in dividends rather than NAV per share,
such NAV per share will ordinarily be maintained at $1.00.

  Purchasing Shares. The Fund's shares are offered in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. Shareholders may purchase shares of the Fund through
Hilliard-Lyons or PNC Brokerage. For information on how to purchase shares of
the Fund through PNC Brokerage, please contact a PNC broker. Orders for the
Fund's shares may be placed through Hilliard-Lyons as follows:

       Initial Investment. To open an account, complete and mail to
     J. J. B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc., Hilliard Lyons Center,
     Louisville, Kentucky 40202, an application together with a
     check made payable to Hilliard-Lyons. The minimum initial
     investment is $1000. An account with the Fund can also be
     opened in person at any office of Hilliard-Lyons. To shorten
     the time before the purchase becomes effective, payment may be
     made with immediately available funds on account at Hilliard-
     Lyons, including the proceeds of a trade that has completely
     settled on a prior day which therefore are immediately
     available to Hilliard-Lyons.

       For assistance in opening an account, contact a financial
     consultant of Hilliard-Lyons. For convenience in effecting
     purchases and redemptions of Fund shares, an account will
     automatically be opened at Hilliard-Lyons for each investor
     opening an account with the Fund.

       Subsequent Investments. Subsequent investments may be made
     by sending a check payable to Hilliard-Lyons, accompanied by a
     letter indicating the dollar value of the shares to be
     purchased and identifying the Fund, the account number, and
     the name or names in which the account is registered to
     Hilliard-Lyons, P.O. Box 32760, Louisville, Kentucky 40232. A
     shareholder also may deliver a check payable to the Fund to
     any office of Hilliard-Lyons and thereby add to his account,
     or may instruct Hilliard-Lyons in writing, by telephone or in
     person to purchase Fund shares with immediately available
     funds on account at Hilliard-Lyons. Shareholders who have
     brokerage accounts with Hilliard-Lyons may participate in a
     "sweep" program whereby Hilliard-Lyons automatically invests
     their account dividends and interest income in Fund shares on
     a daily basis, thus avoiding loss of interest from idle cash.
     To participate in the "sweep" program, shareholders should
     contact a financial consultant of Hilliard-Lyons.

  If a shareholder does not have an account with Hilliard-Lyons, they may
call: (800) 444-1854.

  The Fund is offering its shares without sales charge at a public offering
price equal to the NAV next determined after receipt of a purchase order. If
Federal funds are available to Hilliard-Lyons before 12:00 noon Boston time on
any business day, the purchase order will be effective on that day. If Federal
funds are available to Hilliard-Lyons after 12:00 noon on any business day,
the purchase order will be effective on the next business day. (For purposes
of this prospectus, the term "business day" means every day except Saturdays,
Sundays and certain legal holidays.)

                                       9
<PAGE>

  Checks delivered to Hilliard-Lyons for investment in shares of the Fund
normally do not become converted into Federal funds available to Hilliard-
Lyons until approximately two business days after the check is deposited. If
Hilliard-Lyons is instructed to purchase shares with immediately available
funds on account at Hilliard-Lyons, Federal funds will be available to
Hilliard-Lyons at the time it receives the instruction. A wire transfer of
Federal funds will be available to Hilliard-Lyons at the time the Custodian
receives the wire transfer. Each order accepted will be fully invested in
whole and fractional shares.

  Each investment is confirmed by a monthly statement which provides the
details of any transactions that took place that month. The information
furnished includes the dollar amount invested, the number of shares purchased
or redeemed, the price per share, and the aggregate shares owned.

  The shares which a shareholder purchases are held in an open account,
thereby relieving the shareholder of the responsibility of providing for the
safekeeping of a negotiable share certificate. Shareholders have the same
rights of ownership with respect to such shares as if certificates had been
issued.

  If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the
purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of
such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to
redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled, and such
purchaser may be prohibited from or restricted in the manner of placing
further orders.

  The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to withdraw all or any
part of the offering made by this prospectus or to reject purchase orders
when, in the judgment of management, such withdrawal or rejection is in the
best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund also reserves the
right at any time to waive or increase the minimum requirements applicable to
initial or subsequent investments with respect to any person or class of
persons.

  Redemption of Shares. Shareholders may redeem shares of the Fund at their
NAV. A shareholder may elect to use either the telephone or mail redemption
procedures or, if checks have been issued in respect of the shareholder's
account, redemption by check. If a shareholder desires to utilize check
redemption procedures this should be indicated on the shareholder's Fund
application. The redemption price will be the NAV per share of the Fund next
determined after receipt by the Custodian of a redemption request in proper
form or, with respect to redemption by telephone, at the NAV per share next
determined after receipt of a redemption request by Hilliard-Lyons.

       Redemption by Telephone. A shareholder may withdraw any
     amount in excess of $100 from his account by calling Hilliard-
     Lyons at (800) 444-1854. If the redemption request is received
     at any office of Hilliard-Lyons before 12:00 noon Boston time
     on any business day, the redemption order will be forwarded to
     the Custodian and the redemption will be effective as of 12:00
     noon Boston time on that day. If the redemption request is
     received at any office of Hilliard-Lyons after 12:00 noon
     Boston time, the redemption will be effective on the following
     business day.

       Redemption by Mail. To redeem shares by mail, a shareholder
     must submit a written redemption request to Hilliard-Lyons,
     P.O. Box 32760, Louisville, Kentucky 40232, in proper form,
     specifying the number of shares to be redeemed and signed by
     the shareholder(s) in the same way as the account is
     registered, with signature(s) guaranteed

                                      10
<PAGE>

     by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or by a
     commercial bank or trust company (not a savings bank) which is
     a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

       Redemption by Check. The Fund will provide shareholders,
     upon request, with forms of checks drawn on the State Street
     Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank"). The Bank will establish a
     checking account for the shareholder. These checks may be made
     payable to any person in any amount of not more than
     $5,000,000. When such a check is presented to the Bank for
     payment, the Bank, as the shareholder's agent, will request
     the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional
     shares in the shareholder's account to cover the amount of the
     check. The shareholder will continue earning daily income
     dividends until the check is cleared and such shares are
     redeemed.

       Redemption by Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic
     withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for
     shareholders of the Fund. The Withdrawal Plan allows for
     monthly or quarterly payments to the participating shareholder
     in amounts not less than $100. Shareholders desiring to
     utilize the Withdrawal Plan procedure should so indicate on
     their Fund application.

       Redemption by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to
     redeem shares of your account if you do not maintain a total
     investment value of more than $1. The Fund may redeem these
     shares without your permission and will send you the proceeds
     if these shares are redeemed.

  Redemption by check or by telephone is not available for shares purchased by
personal or corporate checks which have been on the books of the Fund for less
than 2 business days.

  If a shareholder has any questions concerning the procedures for redeeming
shares the shareholder should call Hilliard-Lyons or contact their financial
consultant prior to submitting a redemption request.

  Dividends and Distributions. The net income of the Fund is determined as of
12:00 noon Boston time on each day on which the NAV is determined and is
declared as a dividend payable to holders of record immediately prior to the
time of determination of NAV on such day. Dividends declared since the
preceding dividend payment date are distributed monthly. Monthly dividend
distributions may be reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, as the
shareholder requests, and are payable to shareholders as of the fifteenth day
of each month if the fifteenth is a day on which the net asset value is
determined, or, if not, as of the preceding day on which the net asset value
is determined. A monthly statement summarizing account activity will be mailed
to each shareholder who has elected to receive dividends in additional shares
of the Fund. Shareholders who have not elected to invest their dividends in
shares of the Fund will receive a check with an attached stub providing
information on that dividend. Shares begin earning income at 12:00 noon Boston
time on the date the purchase becomes effective. Income earned on weekends,
holidays, and other days which are not business days, will be declared as a
dividend on the next business day.

  Taxes. The Fund has elected to qualify under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended ("Code"), as a regulated investment company and to distribute
all of its taxable income to shareholders, thereby relieving it of Federal
income tax liability. To qualify for this treatment, it is necessary for the
Fund to derive at least 90%

                                      11
<PAGE>

of its gross income from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or other
disposition of securities and certain other types of passive income; invest in
securities within certain limits; and distribute to its shareholders at least
90% of its net income earned in any year.

  Since all net income is being distributed as dividends, it is taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income, except for such portion as may exceed a
shareholder's ratable share of the Fund's earnings and profits as determined
for tax purposes, which excess will be applied against and reduce the
shareholder's cost or other tax basis for his shares. If the excess described
above were to exceed the shareholder's tax basis for his shares, the amount
would be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such shares.

  Dividends paid by the Fund from its net investment income, and distributions
of the Fund's net realized short-term capital gains, are taxable to the
shareholder whether they are paid in cash or additional shares. The Fund
intends to make distributions, most of which will be taxed as ordinary income
although the Fund may occasionally make distributions which will be taxed as
capital gains as well. At present, no portion of the dividends paid by the
Fund is expected to qualify for the dividends received deduction for
corporations. To avoid being subject to a 31% Federal withholding tax on
taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and proceeds of redemptions,
shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and certified
as to accuracy.

  Information concerning the tax status of dividends and distributions is
mailed to shareholders annually.

  The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable
provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations presently in effect. For the
complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections
and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and these
Regulations are subject to change by legislative or administrative action,
respectively.

  The Fund may be subject to state or local tax in certain jurisdictions where
the Fund may be deemed to be doing business. Shareholders are urged to consult
their own tax advisers regarding specific questions as to Federal, state or
local taxes.

                                      12
<PAGE>

                             Financial Highlights

  The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the last five years. Certain information reflects
financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the
Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This
information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with
the Fund's financial statements, are included in the Statement of Additional
Information, which is available upon request.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Year Ended August 31,
                          ---------------------------------------------------------
                             2000         1999        1998       1997       1996
                          -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of year......   $     1.00   $     1.00   $   1.00   $   1.00   $   1.00
                          -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net investment income...          .05          .05        .05        .05        .05
                          -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Total from investment
  operations............          .05          .05        .05        .05        .05
Less Distributions:
 Dividend distributions.  (       .05) (       .05) (     .05) (     .05) (     .05)
                          -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Total distributions....  (       .05) (       .05) (     .05) (     .05) (     .05)
                          -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net asset value, end of
 year...................   $     1.00   $     1.00   $   1.00   $   1.00   $   1.00
                          ===========  ===========  =========  =========  =========
Total investment return.        5.52%        4.65%      5.11%      4.96%      4.96%
SIGNIFICANT RATIOS AND
 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
 Net assets, end of year
  (000's omitted).......   $1,366,422   $1,108,817   $944,966   $587,080   $427,494
 Operating expenses to
  average net assets....         .48%         .46%       .51%       .57%       .61%
 Net investment income
  to average net assets.        5.41%        4.55%      4.99%      4.86%      4.84%
</TABLE>


                                      13
<PAGE>

                             [HILLIARD LYONS LOGO]
                     Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc.

                                  Prospectus

                               December 1, 2000

A Statement of Additional Information, which contains more details about the
Fund, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus.

You will find additional information about the Fund in its annual and semi-
annual reports, which explain the market conditions and the investment
strategies significantly affecting the Fund's performance for its last fiscal
year.

You can ask questions or obtain a free copy of the Fund's reports or its
Statement of Additional Information by calling (800) 444-1854 from 8:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., eastern standard time, Monday through Friday.

Information about the Fund, including its reports and statement of additional
information, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
It can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, D.C. This information is also available online at the SEC's
website (http://www.sec.gov). For more information, please call the SEC at
(202) 942-8090. You can also request these materials by writing the Public
Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102, and paying a
duplication fee or by electronic request at the following email address:
[email protected].

                        Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund

                    Investment Company Act File # 811-3070
<PAGE>

                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                            Dated December 1, 2000

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

                     HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.

                             Hilliard Lyons Center
                          Louisville, Kentucky 40202
                                (502) 588-8400

  Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc. is an open-end, diversified management
investment company. Its goal is to provide investors with liquidity and the
highest possible level of current income consistent with the preservation of
capital. The Fund seeks to achieve its goals by investing exclusively in
short-term securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies and instrumentalities or in repurchase agreements collateralized by
such securities, or in a combination of both.

  This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It contains
information in addition to that set forth in the prospectus for the Fund dated
December 1, 2000 and is to be read in conjunction with such prospectus (the
"Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained from the Fund at no
cost from Hilliard-Lyons by calling toll free 1-800-444-1854.
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
FUND HISTORY...............................................................   3
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES.........................................   3
 Investment Objectives.....................................................   3
 Investment Restrictions...................................................   3
 Change in Investment Policies.............................................   4
MANAGEMENT.................................................................   5
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES.....................................   6
 Investment Adviser........................................................   6
 Distributor...............................................................   8
 Custodian.................................................................   8
 Independent Auditors......................................................   8
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS.....................................................   9
CODE OF ETHICS.............................................................   9
NET ASSET VALUE............................................................  10
REDEMPTION.................................................................  10
 Redemption by Telephone...................................................  11
 Redemption by Mail........................................................  12
 Redemption by Check.......................................................  12
 Redemption by Systematic Withdrawal Plan..................................  12
YIELD INFORMATION..........................................................  12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.....................................................  13
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.......................................................  14
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.............................................  19
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                 FUND HISTORY

  The Fund was incorporated under the laws of Maryland on June 5, 1980, and
has an authorized capital consisting of 1,500,000,000 shares of common stock,
$.01 par value per share. All shares have equal non-cumulative voting rights
and equal rights with respect to dividends, distributions, redemptions and
liquidation. The shares are fully paid and non-assessable when issued and have
no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights.

                      INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

  The following information supplements the discussion under~ "Investment
Objectives, Policies and Risks" in the Fund's prospectus.

Investment Objectives

  Some of the government agencies and instrumentalities which issue or
guarantee securities in which the Fund may invest include the Federal Housing
Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United
States, Small Business Administration, Government National Mortgage
Association, General Services Administration, Federal Farm Credit Banks,
Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate, Credit Banks, Federal Land
Banks, Maritime Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, The
Tennessee Valley Authority and the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.

Investment Restrictions

  The Fund may not purchase a security if, as a result: (a) more than 5% of
the value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of a
single issuer, except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,
or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, and repurchase agreements
collateralized by such securities; (b) 10% or more of the outstanding
securities of any class of any issuer would be held by the Fund (for this
purpose, all indebtedness of an issuer is deemed to be of a single class),
except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or any of its
agencies or instrumentalities, and repurchase agreements collateralized by
such securities; (c) 25% or more of the value of the Fund's total assets would
be invested in the securities of issuers having their principal business
activities in the same industry, provided that this limitation does not apply
to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or its agencies or
instrumentalities, or to repurchase agreements collateralized by such
securities, or to certificates of deposit or domestic bankers' acceptances;
(d) more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in
the securities (taken at cost) of issuers which, at the time of purchase, had
been in operation less than three years, including predecessors and
unconditional guarantors, except investments in obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, and repurchase agreements collateralized by such
securities.

  The Fund may not: (1) purchase any common stock or other equity securities,
or securities convertible into equity securities; (2) purchase securities with
legal or contractual restrictions on resale (except repurchase agreements) or
securities which are otherwise not readily marketable; (3) purchase or sell
real estate (although it may purchase money market securities secured by real
estate or interests therein, or issued by companies which invest in real
estate or interests therein); (4) purchase securities of other investment
companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or
reorganization; (5) purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts; (6)
purchase participations or other direct interests in oil, gas, or other
mineral exploration

                                       3
<PAGE>

or development programs; (7) purchase securities on margin, except for use of
short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases of portfolio
securities; (8) make loans, although it may purchase money market securities
and enter into repurchase agreements; (9) borrow money, except as a temporary
measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, and then only from banks in
amounts not exceeding the lesser of 10% of its total assets valued at cost or
5% of its total assets valued at market; (10) mortgage, pledge, hypothecate,
or in any other manner transfer as security for indebtedness any security
owned by the Fund, except as may be necessary in connection with permissible
borrowings mentioned in (9) above, and then such mortgaging, pledging, or
hypothecating may not exceed 15% of the Fund's assets, taken at cost;
provided, however, that as a matter of operating policy, the Fund will limit
any such mortgaging, pledging or hypothecating to 10% of its net assets, taken
at market; (11) underwrite securities issued by other persons; (12) purchase
or retain the securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund's
management, those officers and directors of the Fund, and of its investment
adviser, each of whom owns beneficially more than .5% of the outstanding
securities of such issuer, together own beneficially more than 5% of such
securities; (13) invest in companies for the purpose of exercising management
or control; or (14) invest in puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any
combination thereof. The Fund will not borrow in order to increase income
(leveraging), but only to facilitate redemption requests which might otherwise
require untimely disposition of portfolio securities. Accordingly, the Fund
will not purchase securities while borrowings are outstanding.

  All of these investment restrictions, except that described as an operating
policy in (10), are fundamental policies and may not be changed without the
approval of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund or, if
it is less, 67% of the shares represented at a meeting of shareholders at
which the holders of 50% or more of the shares are represented. Operating
policies are subject to change by the Board of Directors without shareholder
approval. However, the operating policy of investing exclusively in securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities
and repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities, which securities
(except those covered by repurchase agreements) will mature in six months or
less, may be changed by the Board of Directors only if 30 days written notice
is forwarded to shareholders. Likewise, such notice must be given if the Fund
is to change its policy of investing not more than 10% of its total assets in
repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven business days.

Change in Investment Policies

  Should the yield differential between the securities in which the Fund
invests and other high quality, short-term investments widen to in excess of 1
3/4%, management may recommend to the Fund's Board of Directors that it
consider authorizing investments in securities other than those issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or in
repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities. The Board of
Directors may, at its discretion, but only after 30 days written notice to the
shareholders, authorize this change in investment policy, provided such
investments are not prohibited by the Fund's investment restrictions or by
applicable law. If such policy is changed (after 30 days written notice to
shareholders) the Fund will only invest in the following: (i) short-term
(maturing in one year or less) debt obligations which are payable in dollars,
issued or guaranteed by the Federal government, Federal governmental agencies
or instrumentalities, or certain banks, savings and loan associations, and
corporations; (ii) certificates of deposit issued by domestic banks (but not
foreign branches thereof) and savings and loan associations which have total
assets in excess of $1 billion; (iii) bankers' acceptances or letters of
credit guaranteed by U.S. commercial banks having total assets in excess of $1
billion; (iv) commercial paper which is rated A-2 or higher by Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("Standard & Poor's") or rated P-2 or higher by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or, if not rated, will be issued by a
corporation having an existing debt security rated AA or higher by Standard &
Poor's or Aa or higher by Moody's; (v) other debt instruments (including
bonds) issued by domestic corporations which either mature

                                       4
<PAGE>

within one year or have been called for redemption by the issuer, with such
redemption to be effective within one year, and which are rated AA or higher
by Standard & Poor's or Aa or higher by Moody's; (vi) obligations issued by
other entities, if the obligation is accompanied by a guarantee of principal
and interest of a bank or corporation whose certificates of deposit or
commercial paper may otherwise be purchased by the Fund; and (vii) repurchase
agreements collateralized by any of the foregoing types of securities.
Although securities underlying the repurchase agreements may have maturities
longer than one year, no repurchase agreements will be entered into with a
duration of more than seven business days, if as a result more than 10% of the
Fund's total assets would be so invested. The Fund has no present plans to
change its policy with regard to the types or maturities of the securities in
which it invests, and the Fund's prospectus will be supplemented to give
further information should the Fund's Board of Directors authorize such a
change.

                                  MANAGEMENT

  Directors and officers of the Fund, together with information as to their
principal occupations during the past five years and affiliations, if any,
with Hilliard-Lyons, are set forth below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Position(s) Held          Principal Occupation(s)
   Name and Address      Age        With the Fund              During Past 5 Years
   ----------------      ---       ----------------          -----------------------
<S>                      <C> <C>                          <C>
Donald F. Kohler*        69     Chairman of the Board     Retired, former Executive
 Hilliard Lyons Center                                     Vice President and
 Louisville, Kentucky                                      Director, J. J. B.
 40202                                                     Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc.
J. Henning Hilliard+     84            Director           Retired, former Senior
 4506 River Road                                           Executive and Director, J.
 Louisville, Kentucky                                      J. B. Hilliard, W. L.
 40207                                                     Lyons, Inc.
J. Robert Shine+         76            Director           Chairman and Certified
 222 East Market Street                                    Public Accountant, Monroe
 New Albany, Indiana                                       Shine & Co., Inc.
 47150
Samuel G. Miller+        75            Director           Retired, former Chairman of
 402 Wynfield Close                                        Vineyard Village
 Court
 Louisville, Kentucky
 40206
Lindy B. Richardson+     54            Director           Retired, former Senior Vice
 406 Wynfield Close                                        President of Marketing &
 Court                                                     Public Affairs of
 Louisville, Kentucky                                      Columbia/HCA Healthcare
 40206                                                     Corporation
Joseph C. Curry, Jr.*    55           President           Senior Vice President, J. J.
 Hilliard Lyons Center                                     B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons,
 Louisville, Kentucky                                      Inc.
 40202
Dianna P. Wengler*       40  Vice President and Treasurer Vice President, J. J. B.
 Hilliard Lyons Center                                     Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc.
 Louisville, Kentucky
 40202
Penny L. Wellinghurst*   44           Secretary           Investment Advisory
 Hilliard Lyons Center                                     Department, J. J. B.
 Louisville, Kentucky                                      Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc.
 40202
</TABLE>
--------
*An "interested person", as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
+Member of Audit Committee.

                                       5
<PAGE>

  No compensation is paid by the Fund to officers of the Fund and directors
who are affiliated with Hilliard-Lyons. The Fund pays each unaffiliated
director an annual retainer of $5,000, a fee of $1,000 for each meeting
of the Board of Directors and of the Audit Committee attended and all expenses
the directors incur in attending meetings. For the year ended August 31, 2000,
unaffiliated directors received, in the aggregate, $26,385 from the Fund,
excluding reimbursed expenses.

  The Fund's officers and directors together own less than 1% of its
outstanding shares.

  The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund
to the Directors of the Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PENSION OR    ESTIMATED
                                         RETIREMENT      ANNUAL   TOTAL COMPENSATION
                          AGGREGATE       BENEFITS      BENEFITS  FROM FUND AND FUND
                         COMPENSATION ACCRUED AS PART     UPON     COMPLEX PAID TO
                          FROM FUND   OF FUND EXPENSES RETIREMENT     DIRECTORS
     NAME OF PERSON      ------------ ---------------- ---------- ------------------
<S>                      <C>          <C>              <C>        <C>
Donald F. Kohler(1).....    $    0            0             0           $    0

J. Henning Hilliard.....    $7,750            0             0           $7,750

Samuel J. Miller........    $7,750            0             0           $7,750

J. Robert Shine.........    $7,750            0             0           $7,750

Lindy B. Richardson(2)..    $3,135            0             0           $3,135
</TABLE>
--------
(1) Directors who are "interested" do not receive compensation from the Fund.
(2) Appointed to the Fund following the end of the fiscal year ended August
    31, 1999.

                    INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Investment Adviser

  Hilliard-Lyons has been retained by the Fund as its investment adviser under
an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Agreement") dated December 1, 1998.

  The Agreement was approved by the Board of Directors, including a majority
of the directors who are not interested persons of Hilliard-Lyons on September
17, 1998 and by the shareholders of the Fund on November 23, 1998. The
Agreement was reapproved for one year on October 4, 2000, by the Board of
Directors, including a majority of the directors who are not interested
persons of Hilliard-Lyons. The Agreement will continue in effect from year to
year, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually (a) by a
majority of the Fund's directors who are not interested persons of Hilliard-
Lyons and (b) by either the Fund's Board of Directors of by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940).

  The Agreement may be terminated by Hilliard-Lyons at any time without
penalty upon giving the Fund 60 days' written notice and may be terminated by
the Fund at any time without penalty upon giving Hilliard-Lyons 60 days'
written notice, provided that such termination by the Fund is directed or
approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Fund or by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940). The Agreement will
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.


                                       6
<PAGE>

  The Agreement requires Hilliard-Lyons at its own expense to furnish office
space to the Fund and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and
personnel for managing the assets of the Fund. Hilliard-Lyons pays all other
expenses incurred by it in connection with managing the assets of the Fund,
including, but not limited to, the cost and expense of research, analysis and
supervision of the investment portfolio. Hilliard-Lyons pays the expense of
determining the daily price of shares of the Fund and the related bookkeeping
expenses (other than for such services as are provided by the Fund's
Custodian) and one-half of the fees of any trade association of which the Fund
may be a member. Hilliard-Lyons paid all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the Fund's organization, the initial registration for offer
and sale of the Fund's shares under the Securities Act of 1933 and under
applicable state securities laws and the initial registration of the Fund
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including legal, accounting and
printing expenses.

  Under the Agreement, the Fund pays all charges of depositories, custodians,
and other agencies for the safekeeping and servicing of its cash, securities,
and other property, and of its transfer, shareholder record- keeping, dividend
disbursing, and redemption agents. The Fund pays all charges of legal counsel
and of independent auditors, other than those described in the preceding
paragraph. The Fund is responsible for all interest expense. The expense of
notices, proxy solicitation material, reports to its shareholders and of all
prospectuses furnished from time to time to existing shareholders or used for
regulatory purposes are the Fund's responsibility. The Fund pays for any bond
and insurance coverage required by law, all brokers' commissions and other
normal charges incident to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The
Fund pays all taxes and corporate fees payable to Federal, state, or other
governmental agencies and all stamp or other transfer taxes. The Fund bears
all expenses of complying with Federal, state, and other laws regulating the
issue or sale of shares except for those expenses that were attributable to
initial Federal and state securities law compliance and those deemed to be
sales or promotional expenses. The Fund also bears one-half of the fees of any
trade association of which the Fund may be a member and all of the Fund's
extraordinary expenses as may arise including expenses incurred in connection
with litigation, proceedings and claims and expenses incurred in connection
with the legal obligation of the Fund to indemnify its directors, employees,
shareholders and agents with respect to any claims or litigation. In general,
the Fund bears all expenses incidental to its operations not assumed by
Hilliard-Lyons, with the exception of sales and promotional expenses which are
borne by Hilliard-Lyons.

  For the services Hilliard-Lyons renders and facilities it furnishes pursuant
to the Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay Hilliard-Lyons an annual advisory
fee of 1/2 of 1% of the first $200 million of average daily net assets, 3/8 of
1% of the next $100 million of average daily net assets, and 1/4 of 1% of
average daily net assets in excess of $300 million. The fee accrues daily and
is paid monthly. For the fiscal years ended August 31, 1998, 1999 and 2000,
Hilliard-Lyons earned advisory fees, based on the formula described above,
totalling $2,550,536, $3,309,576 and $3,804,254, respectively.

  Hilliard-Lyons has agreed to reimburse the Fund if total operating expenses
of the Fund, excluding taxes, interest and extraordinary expenses, exceed on
an annual basis 1 1/2% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets
and 1% of average daily net assets over $30,000,000. Hilliard-Lyons reimburses
the Fund for such excess expenses monthly as an offset against any amounts
receivable from the Fund. All such reimbursements and offsets are subject to
adjustments as of the end of each fiscal year. There were no reimbursements
necessary in the fiscal years ended August 31, 1998, 1999, or 2000.

  The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations thereunder,
Hilliard-Lyons is not liable for any act or omission in the course of or in

                                       7
<PAGE>

connection with its rendering of services thereunder. Hilliard-Lyons has
reserved the right to grant its name to other mutual funds and if the
Agreement is terminated to withdraw its consent to the continuing use of its
name by the Fund.

  Mr. Donald F. Kohler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund, is a
former Executive Vice President and a Director of Hilliard-Lyons. Mr. Joseph
C. Curry, Jr., President of the Fund, is a Senior Vice President of Hilliard-
Lyons. Ms. Dianna P. Wengler, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Fund, is a
Vice-President of Hilliard-Lyons. Ms. Penny Wellinghurst, Secretary of the
Fund, is an employee of Hilliard-Lyons.

  The senior officers and directors of Hilliard-Lyons are: James W. Stuckert,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; James R. Allen, Executive Vice President
and Director; E. Neal Cory II, Executive Vice President and Director; James M.
Rogers, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director; Ralph
S. Michael III, Director, Chief Executive Officer--Corporate Banking PNC,
Executive Vice President--PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.; Thomas K.
Whitford, Director, Chief Executive Officer--PNC Advisors, Executive Vice
President--PNC Financial Services Group Inc.; Paul J. Moretti, Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, and Kenneth L. Wagner, Senior Vice
President and Secretary.

  The directors and officers of Hilliard-Lyons, including the aforementioned
officers and directors of the Fund, may be deemed to control Hilliard-Lyons by
reason of their position with Hilliard-Lyons.

Distributor

  The Fund entered into a Distribution Agreement dated as of April 30, 2000
(the "Distribution Agreement") with Hilliard-Lyons (the "Distributor"). The
terms of the Distribution Agreement were approved on April 27, 2000, by
unanimous written action of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a
majority of the directors of the Fund who are not "interested persons" (as
such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) or any party
thereto. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor
serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund's shares.
There is no fee payable by the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.
The agreement also provides that Hilliard-Lyons bears the cost of all sales
and promotional expenses, including the expenses of printing all sales
literature and prospectuses, other than those utilized for regulatory purposes
and those furnished from time to time to existing shareholders of the Fund.
The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be approved by a majority
of the Fund's Board of Directors including a majority of the directors, who
are not "interested persons". The Agreement will terminate automatically if
assigned by either party thereto and is terminable upon 60 days written notice
by the Fund and/or the Distributor.

Custodian

  State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, P.O. Box 1912,
Boston, Massachusetts 02105, is the Fund's custodian. As such, it is
responsible for maintaining books and records with respect to the Fund's
portfolio transactions and holds the Fund's portfolio securities and cash
pursuant to a Custodian Agreement with the Fund. It also maintains the Fund's
accounting and portfolio transaction records and computes the Fund's net asset
value, net income and dividends daily. State Street Bank and Trust Company
may, for settlement purposes, enter into sub-custodian agreements with other
banks.

Independent Auditors

  Ernst & Young LLP, 400 West Market Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, have
been selected as independent auditors of the Fund, and such firm also prepares
the Fund's Federal income tax returns.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                            PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

  Hilliard-Lyons, as investment adviser, places orders for all purchases and
sales of portfolio securities. As a consequence of its investment policies and
restrictions, the Fund does not generally purchase securities for which a
brokerage commission is paid, but purchases securities from dealers at current
market prices, or directly from the issuer. Purchases from underwriters of
portfolio securities will include a commission or concession paid by the
issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers
will include a dealer's mark-up.

  Although the Fund does not seek but may nonetheless make profits through
short-term trading, Hilliard-Lyons may, on behalf of the Fund, dispose of any
portfolio security prior to its maturity if it believes such disposition
advisable. The Fund's policy of generally investing in securities with
maturities of six months or less results in high portfolio turnover.

  Portfolio securities are not purchased from or through or sold to or through
Hilliard-Lyons or any affiliated person (as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940) of Hilliard-Lyons when Hilliard-Lyons is acting as principal.
Hilliard-Lyons is a frequent dealer in U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency
securities. In addition, the Fund does not purchase securities during the
existence of any underwriting or selling group related thereto of which
Hilliard-Lyons is a member. As a result, substantially all of the Fund's
purchases of Federal agency securities are made in the secondary market. Such
limitation, in the opinion of the Fund, does not affect the Fund's ability to
pursue its investment objectives. However, under certain circumstances, the
Fund may be at a disadvantage because of this limitation in comparison with
other funds with similar investment objectives but not subject to such
limitation.

  No affiliated person of the Fund, including Hilliard-Lyons, may serve as a
dealer in connection with transactions with the Fund. However, affiliated
persons of the Fund may serve as its broker in any transactions conducted on
an agency basis.

  The Adviser's overriding objective in placing orders for the purchase and
sale of the Fund's portfolio securities with a particular bank, dealer or
broker is to seek to obtain the best combination of price and execution. The
best net price, giving effect to transaction and other costs, is normally an
important factor in this decision, but a number of other judgmental
considerations also enter into the decision. These considerations include, but
are not limited to: (1) trading and operational capability; (2) financial
condition and stability; and (3) reliability and integrity. Accordingly, the
Fund may not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or commission available.
When more than one broker or dealer is believed to be capable of providing the
best combination of price and execution with respect to a particular portfolio
transaction, Hilliard-Lyons may select a broker or dealer primarily on the
basis of its ability to furnish research, statistical or similar services to
Hilliard-Lyons. Since such information and services will be only supplementary
to Hilliard-Lyons' own research efforts, the receipt of research information
is not expected to significantly reduce Hilliard-Lyons' expenses. Research
information furnished by brokers or dealers may be useful to Hilliard-Lyons in
serving other clients, as well as the Fund. Conversely, the Fund may benefit
from research information obtained by Hilliard-Lyons from the placement of
portfolio transactions of other clients.

                                CODE OF ETHICS

  Pursuant to Rule 17j-1(b)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1990, the Fund
has adopted a Code of Ethics (the "Code") that governs the conduct of
directors and officers who may have access to information about the Fund's
securities transactions. The Code recognizes that such persons owe a fiduciary
duty to the Fund's shareholders and must place the interests of shareholders
ahead of their own interests. Under the Code, officers and directors may
purchase or sell directly or indirectly, securities held or to be acquired by
the Fund.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                                NET ASSET VALUE

  As stated in the Fund's prospectus, net asset value ("NAV") per share as of
a given date is calculated by adding the value of all securities in the
portfolio and other assets of the Fund, subtracting liabilities and dividing
by the number of shares outstanding. Expenses, including the fees payable to
Hilliard-Lyons, are accrued daily.

  Portfolio securities are valued by use of the amortized cost method of
valuation. The amortized cost method of valuation involves valuing a security
at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant
amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact
of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While
this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during
which value, as determined by this method, is higher or lower than the price
the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument. During such periods the
yield to investors in the Fund may differ somewhat from that obtained in a
similar company which uses other methods to determine the fair market value of
its portfolio securities.

  The relationship between the amortized cost value per share and the NAV per
share based upon available indications of market value is monitored. The Board
of Directors will decide what, if any, steps should be taken if there is a
difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between the two. The Board of Directors will
take any steps they consider appropriate to minimize any material dilution or
other unfair results arising from differences between the two methods of
determining net asset value.

  In connection with its attempt to maintain its NAV per share of $1.00, the
Fund has received an order of exemption from the Securities and Exchange
Commission permitting the Fund to round its NAV per share to the nearest one
cent. In connection with the order of exemption, the Fund has agreed: (i) that
its Board of Directors will undertake to assure, to the extent reasonably
practicable, taking into account current market conditions affecting its
investment objectives, that the Fund's price per share, rounded to the nearest
one cent, will not deviate from $1.00; (ii) that it will maintain a dollar-
weighted average portfolio maturity appropriate to its objective of
maintaining a stable price per share and not, in any event, in excess of 90
days; and (iii) that its purchases of portfolio securities will be limited to
those United States dollar denominated instruments which its Board of
Directors determines present minimal credit risks and which are of high
quality as determined by any major rating service or, in the case of any
instrument that is not so rated, of comparable quality as determined by its
Board of Directors.

                                  REDEMPTION

  The redemption price will be the NAV per share of the Fund next determined
after receipt by the Custodian of a redemption request in proper form or, with
respect to redemption by telephone, at the NAV per share next determined after
receipt of a redemption request by Hilliard-Lyons.

  In no event will payment be delayed more than seven days, except payment may
be delayed (generally not in excess of 15 days) if the check in payment of all
or a portion of the shares being redeemed has not cleared at the time the
redemption request is received. The Fund may suspend the right of redemption
or delay payment more than seven days during any period when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings),
when trading in the markets customarily utilized by the Fund is restricted or
when an emergency exists so that disposal of investments or determination of
net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or for such other period as the
Securities and Exchange Commission by order may permit for protection of
shareholders.

                                      10
<PAGE>

  Although the Fund will attempt to maintain a consistent share price of
$1.00, it is possible that the value of the shares upon redemption may be more
or less than the shareholder's cost, depending upon the market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities at the time of redemption.

  The Board of Directors has authorize redemption of all of the shares in any
account which does not maintain a total investment value of more than $1.00.

Redemption by Telephone

  The following information regarding redemption by telephone is for
shareholders with Hilliard-Lyons' accounts. If your account was established
through PNC Brokerage, please contact your PNC broker for information
regarding redemption by telephone.

  Depending upon what was specified in the shareholder's application, the
proceeds of a telephone redemption will be wired either to the shareholder's
account at Hilliard-Lyons or to the shareholder's bank account. Shareholders
desiring to utilize the redemption by telephone procedure should so indicate
on their Fund application. Further documentation may be required from
corporations, fiduciaries and institutional investors. If a shareholder should
desire the Fund to wire the proceeds of any telephone redemption request
directly to the shareholder's bank and he has not so indicated on his Fund
application, the shareholder will be required to furnish to the Fund, in
advance of or concurrently with the request, a new Fund application
identifying the bank and indicating the shareholder's account number. The
signature(s) on any such instructions must be guaranteed by a member firm of
the New York Stock Exchange or by a commercial bank or trust company (not a
savings bank) which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Notaries Public are not acceptable guarantors. There will be a $10.00 charge
for each wiring of proceeds over $5,000 and a $25.00 charge for each wiring of
proceeds under $5,000, of redeemed shares if wired otherwise than to a
shareholder's account at Hilliard-Lyons. This charge will be deducted from the
proceeds to be wired and will be paid to Hilliard-Lyons to cover the
administrative expenses of processing the redemption.

  Funds will normally be transmitted on the business day on which the
redemption becomes effective and credited to the shareholder's Hilliard-Lyons
account on the same day. If a shareholder so desires, a check representing the
proceeds of such redemption will be available to the shareholder at Hilliard-
Lyons after such proceeds have been credited to the shareholder's Hilliard-
Lyons account. Alternatively, and normally no later than the next business
day, Hilliard-Lyons will mail a check representing such proceeds to the
shareholder if so instructed.

  The Fund and Hilliard-Lyons reserve the right to reject a telephone request
and the Fund, at its option, may limit the frequency or amount of such
redemptions. The Fund in its discretion may honor telephonic withdrawal
requests in amounts less than $100.

                                      11
<PAGE>

Redemption by Mail

  When redeeming shares by mail, notaries Public are not acceptable
guarantors. A shareholder should also include any documents required by
special situations. Shareholders may request that proceeds from the redemption
of shares be wired to their brokerage account at Hilliard-Lyons. Normally,
payment will be made by check mailed within one business day after receipt of
a redemption request in proper form.

Redemption by Check

  When redeeming shares by check, shareholders will be subject to all
applicable Bank rules and regulations including the right of the Bank not to
honor checks in amounts exceeding the value of the account at the time the
check is presented for payment. The Fund and the Bank each reserve the right
to modify or terminate this service at any time after giving notice to the
shareholders. If a shareholder wishes to use this method of redemption this
should be indicated on the shareholder's Fund application. Checks should not
be used to close a shareholder's account since the amount in the account,
including accrued dividends, may not equal the amount of the check.
Shareholders will receive their canceled checks for record keeping purposes
monthly.

Redemption by Systematic Withdrawal Plan

  Dividend distributions on shares held under the Withdrawal Plan are
reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the Fund at net asset
value. The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in redeeming
sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount of the systematic
withdrawal payment. The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated by any time.
Withdrawal payments should not be considered to be dividends or income. If
periodic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested dividend distributions,
the shareholder's original investment will be correspondingly reduced and
ultimately exhausted. Furthermore, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of
shares, and any gain or loss realized must be reported for federal and state
income tax purposes. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser regarding
the tax consequences of participating in the Withdrawal Plan.

                               YIELD INFORMATION

  The Fund's yield is its current net investment income expressed in
annualized terms. Yield is computed by dividing the Fund's average per share
net investment income for a current period (for example, seven calendar days)
by the Fund's average per share NAV for the same period and annualizing the
result on a 365-day basis. The Fund's net investment income changes in
response to fluctuations in interest rates and in the expenses of the Fund.
Any given yield quotation should not be considered as representative of what
the Fund's yield may be for any specified period in the future. Because the
yield will fluctuate, it cannot be compared with yields on savings accounts or
other investment alternatives that provide an agreed to or guaranteed fixed
yield for a stated period of time. However, yield information may be useful to
an investor considering temporary investments in money market instruments. In
comparing the yield of one money market fund to another, consideration should
be given to each fund's investment policies, including the types of
investments made, lengths of maturities of the portfolios, the method used by
each fund to compute the yield (which may differ) and whether there are any
special account charges which may reduce the effective yield.

                                      12
<PAGE>

  The following is an example of the yield calculation. The yield shown
represents the average annualized net investment income per share for the
seven calendar days ended August 31, 2000.

<TABLE>
      <S>                                                             <C>
      Total dividends per share from net investment income (seven
       days ended August 31, 2000)................................... $ .00117
      Annualized (365 day basis)..................................... $ .06117
      Average NAV per share.......................................... $1.00
      Annualized net yield per share for seven calendar days ended
       August 31, 2000...............................................  6.12%
</TABLE>

                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  The prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain
all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to the securities offered hereby, certain portions of which have been
omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed
therewith, may be examined at the office of the Securities and Exchange
Commission in Washington, D.C. and is also available online at the SEC's
website (http://www.sec.gov). For more information, please call the SEC at
(800)-SEC-0330. You can also request these materials by writing the Public
Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-6009, and paying a
duplication fee.

  Statements contained in the prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to
are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the
copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which the prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information form a part, each such statement being qualified in all
respects by such reference.

                                      13
<PAGE>

                      HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                            SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
                                August 31, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Principal                             Purchase Maturity
   Amount                                Yield     Date      Value
 -----------                            -------- -------- -----------
 <C>         <S>                        <C>      <C>      <C>
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS--100.3%
 $15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.629%  09/01/00 $15,000,000
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.386   09/01/00  15,000,000
   9,690,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.620   09/01/00   9,690,000
  24,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.639   09/05/00  23,982,880
  20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.635   09/06/00  19,982,167
  14,796,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.617   09/07/00  14,780,218
  10,166,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.419   09/08/00  10,153,863
  12,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.656   09/08/00  11,984,973
  27,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.600   09/11/00  26,952,150
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.620   09/12/00  14,970,667
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.656   09/13/00  17,961,360
   9,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.633   09/13/00   8,980,680
  17,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.748   09/14/00  16,960,097
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.666   09/15/00  14,962,375
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.680   09/15/00  14,962,258
  14,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.752   09/18/00  13,957,028
  30,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.633   09/19/00  29,903,850
  16,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.677   09/20/00  15,945,449
  12,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.688   09/20/00  11,958,960
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.612   09/21/00  14,946,750
  25,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.687   09/22/00  24,905,646
  25,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.622   09/25/00  24,893,333
  25,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.547   09/26/00  24,889,410
  30,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.713   09/27/00  29,859,275
  17,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.540   09/28/00  16,919,038
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.656   09/29/00  17,909,840
  15,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.573   10/02/00  14,917,592
  22,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.564   10/03/00  21,875,236
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.621   10/04/00  17,894,565
  23,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.610   10/06/00  22,856,889
  10,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.694   10/10/00   9,930,017
  28,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.603   10/11/00  27,801,200
  18,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.578   10/12/00  17,869,210
  20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.614   10/13/00  19,850,667
  24,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.518   10/16/00  23,809,800
  13,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.534   10/17/00  12,894,519
  34,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.645   10/18/00  33,714,579
  10,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.531   10/19/00   9,915,200
  24,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.635   10/20/00  23,790,280
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.582   10/23/00  17,834,380
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.613   10/25/00  17,827,470
  25,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.852   10/27/00  24,745,667
  29,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.560   10/30/00  28,696,773
  19,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.650   11/01/00  18,792,829
  27,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.739   11/02/00  26,698,913
</TABLE>

                       See notes to financial statements.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                      HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                            SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
                                August 31, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Principal                             Purchase Maturity
   Amount                                Yield     Date       Value
 -----------                            -------- -------- --------------
 <C>         <S>                        <C>      <C>      <C>
 $20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.614%  11/03/00 $   19,776,000
  24,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.716   11/06/00     23,716,200
  18,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.567   11/07/00     17,786,605
  25,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.582   11/08/00     24,699,194
  18,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.582   11/10/00     17,777,050
  22,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.583   11/13/00     21,714,935
  20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.603   11/15/00     19,733,750
  21,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.578   11/16/00     20,717,153
  16,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.603   11/17/00     15,781,320
  30,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.712   11/20/00     29,570,667
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.557   11/21/00     14,786,025
  24,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.603   11/22/00     23,650,680
  29,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.582   11/24/00     28,568,963
  16,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.586   11/28/00     15,751,644
  23,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.624   11/29/00     22,635,520
  15,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.587   12/04/00     14,750,900
  12,000,000 Federal Farm Credit Bank    6.656   12/08/00     11,791,260
  20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.632   12/11/00     19,643,694
  10,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.668   12/12/00      9,818,950
  11,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.690   12/12/00     10,800,533
  10,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.699   01/02/01      9,782,017
   8,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.735   01/03/01      7,822,542
  10,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.798   01/03/01      9,777,144
  24,415,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.737   01/05/01     23,864,686
  20,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.674   01/12/01     19,527,850
  15,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.666   01/16/01     14,635,808
  26,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.709   01/24/01     25,329,778
  23,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank      6.749   01/26/01     22,396,115
                                                          --------------
             TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
             OBLIGATIONS
             (amortized cost--$1,370,735,036)              1,370,735,036
                                                          --------------
             TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.3%) (cost--
             $1,370,735,036*)                             $1,370,735,036
                                                          ==============
</TABLE>
*Also represents cost for federal income tax purposes.
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that
category as a percentage of the total net assets of the Fund.

                       See notes to financial statements.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                      HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
                                August 31, 2000

<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
ASSETS
 Investments in money market instruments, at value:
  United States Government Agency Obligations, at value
   (amortized cost--$1,370,735,036).............................  $1,370,735,036
                                                                  --------------
   Total Investments............................................   1,370,735,036
 Cash...........................................................           2,961
 Prepaid expenses...............................................           5,027
                                                                  --------------
   TOTAL ASSETS.................................................   1,370,743,024
                                                                  --------------
LIABILITIES
 Dividends payable..............................................       3,685,797
 Due to J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.--Note B...............         343,600
 Miscellaneous accrued expenses.................................         291,503
                                                                  --------------
   TOTAL LIABILITIES............................................       4,320,900
                                                                  --------------
 NET ASSETS (equivalent to $1.00 per share; 1,500,000,000 shares
  authorized and 1,366,422,124 shares issued and outstanding)--
  Note C........................................................  $1,366,422,124
                                                                  ==============

                      HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                       For the year ended August 31, 2000

INVESTMENT INCOME
 Interest income................................................  $   74,648,995
EXPENSES
 Investment Advisory fee--Note B................................       3,804,254
 Shareholder servicing fees--Note B.............................       1,608,934
 Transfer agent fees............................................          94,066
 Custodian fees.................................................         213,390
 Printing and other expenses....................................         156,477
 Filing fees....................................................         127,700
 Insurance expense..............................................          30,467
 Legal and audit fees...........................................          71,880
 Directors' fees................................................          26,930
                                                                  --------------
  Total expenses................................................       6,134,098
                                                                  --------------
  Net investment income.........................................      68,514,897
                                                                  --------------
  Net increase in net assets resulting from operations..........  $   68,514,897
                                                                  ==============
</TABLE>

                       See notes to financial statements.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                     HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                      STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 For the year ended August 31,
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                      2000            1999
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS:                          --------------  --------------
<S>                                              <C>             <C>
FROM OPERATIONS
 Net investment income.......................... $   68,514,897  $   48,811,417
                                                 --------------  --------------
  Net increase in net assets resulting from
   operations...................................     68,514,897      48,811,417
 Dividends to shareholders ($.053838 and
  $.045545 per share, respectively).............  (  68,514,897)   ( 48,811,417)
                                                 --------------  --------------
 Undistributed net investment income............              0               0
                                                 --------------  --------------
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
 Net capital share transactions (at $1.00 per
  share)--Note C................................    257,605,168     163,851,133
NET ASSETS
 Beginning of year..............................  1,108,816,956     944,965,823
                                                 --------------  --------------
 End of year.................................... $1,366,422,124  $1,108,816,956
                                                 ==============  ==============
</TABLE>

                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  The following table includes selected data for a share of capital stock
outstanding throughout each year and other performance information derived
from the financial statements. It should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and notes thereto.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   For the year ended August 31,
                          ----------------------------------------------------
                             2000        1999       1998      1997      1996
                          ----------  ----------  --------  --------  --------
<S>                       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of year.......      $1.00       $1.00     $1.00     $1.00     $1.00
                          ----------  ----------  --------  --------  --------
Net investment income....        .05         .05       .05       .05       .05
                          ----------  ----------  --------  --------  --------
 Total from investment
  operations.............        .05         .05       .05       .05       .05
Less distributions:
 Dividend distributions..       (.05)       (.05)     (.05)     (.05)     (.05)
                          ----------  ----------  --------  --------  --------
 Total distributions.....       (.05)       (.05)     (.05)     (.05)     (.05)
                          ----------  ----------  --------  --------  --------
Net asset value, end of
 year....................      $1.00       $1.00     $1.00     $1.00     $1.00
                          ==========  ==========  ========  ========  ========
Number of shares
 outstanding (000's
 omitted)................  1,366,422   1,108,817   944,966   587,080   427,494
Total investment return..       5.52%       4.65%     5.11%     4.96%     4.96%
SIGNIFICANT RATIOS AND
 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
 Net assets, end of year
  (000's omitted)........ $1,366,422  $1,108,817  $944,966  $587,080  $427,494
 Operating expenses to
  average net assets.....        .48%        .46%      .51%      .57%      .61%
 Net investment income to
  average net assets.....       5.41%       4.55%     4.99%     4.86%     4.84%
</TABLE>

                      See notes to financial statements.

                                      17
<PAGE>

                     HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                AUGUST 31, 2000
NOTE A--ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a diversified open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended. The following is a summary of significant accounting
policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation: The Fund employs the amortized cost method of security
valuation for U.S. Government securities which, in the opinion of the Board of
Directors, represents fair value of the particular security. The Board
monitors deviations between net asset value per share as determined by using
available market quotations and the amortized cost method of security
valuation. If the deviation in the aggregate is significant, the Board
considers what action, if any, should be initiated to provide fair valuation.

The Fund values repurchase agreements at cost and accrues interest into
interest receivable. Normally, repurchase agreements are not subject to
trading. Repurchase agreements are fully collateralized by U.S. Treasury and
U.S. Government Agency obligations valued at bid prices plus accrued interest.
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency obligations pledged as collateral for
repurchase agreements are held by the Fund's custodian bank until maturity of
the repurchase agreements. Provisions of the agreements provide that the
market value of the collateral plus accrued interest on the collateral is
greater than or equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest at all
times. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to the
agreements, the Fund maintains the right to sell the underlying securities at
market value; however, realization and/or retention of the collateral may be
subject to legal proceedings.

Federal Income Taxes: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify
under the Internal Revenue Code as a regulated investment company and to
distribute all of its taxable income to shareholders, thereby relieving the
Fund of federal income tax liability.

Dividends to Shareholders: The net investment income of the Fund is determined
on each business day and is declared as a dividend payable to shareholders of
record immediately prior to the time of determination of net asset value on
each such day. Dividends declared since the preceding dividend payment date
are distributed monthly.

The Fund's net investment income for dividend purposes includes accrued
interest and accretion of original issue and market discounts earned and
amortization of premiums, plus or minus any net realized gain or loss on
portfolio securities, if any, occurring since the previous dividend
declaration, less the accrued expenses of the Fund for such period.

Investment Transactions: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date
the securities are bought or sold. Net realized gains and losses on sales of
investments, if any, are determined on the basis of identified cost.

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions,
deemed to be credit worthy by J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. (the
"Adviser"), subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase and the Fund's
agreement to sell such security at a mutually agreed upon date and price.

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.

NOTE B--INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES & OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Under the investment advisory agreement, the Adviser supervises investment
operations of the Fund and the composition of its portfolio, and furnishes
advice and recommendations with respect to investments and the purchase and
sale of securities in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives,
policies and restrictions; subject, however, to the general supervision and
control of the Fund's Board of Directors. For the services the Adviser
renders, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser an annual advisory fee of 1/2
of 1% of the first $200 million of average daily net assets, 3/8 of 1% of the
next $100 million of average daily net assets, and 1/4 of 1% of the average
daily net assets in excess of $300 million. Such fee is accrued daily and paid
monthly. The Adviser has agreed to reimburse the Fund if total operating
expenses of the Fund, excluding taxes, interest and extraordinary expenses (as
defined), exceed on an annual basis 1 1/2% of the first $30 million of average
daily net assets and 1% of average daily net assets over $30 million. There
was no reimbursement required for the year ended August 31, 2000.

The Fund contracted with the Adviser to provide shareholder accounting
services. The Adviser is paid a fee of $1.00 per open account each month.

No compensation is paid by the Fund to officers of the Fund and Directors who
are affiliated with the Adviser. The Fund pays each unaffiliated director an
annual retainer of $5,000, a fee of $1,000 for each Board of Directors or
committee meeting attended, and all expenses the Directors incur in attending
meetings.

NOTE C--CAPITAL STOCK

The Fund was incorporated in June 1980 under the laws of the state of
Maryland. At August 31, 2000, there were 1,500,000,000 shares of $.01 par
value Common Stock authorized, and capital paid in aggregated $1,352,757,903.
Transactions in Fund shares at $1.00 per share were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                For the year ended August 31,
                                                ------------------------------
                                                     2000            1999
                                                --------------  --------------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>
Shares sold....................................  5,027,027,063   3,681,335,182
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment
 of dividends..................................     65,686,096      47,633,042
                                                --------------  --------------
                                                 5,092,713,159   3,728,968,224
Less shares repurchased........................ (4,835,107,991) (3,565,117,091)
                                                --------------  --------------
Net increase in capital shares.................    257,605,168     163,851,133
                                                ==============  ==============
</TABLE>

                                      18
<PAGE>

                         Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the schedule of portfolio investments, of the Hilliard-Lyons Government Fund,
Inc. (the Fund) as of August 31, 2000, and the related statement of operations
for the year then ended, statement of changes in net assets for each of the two
years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the
five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial
highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights
based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2000, by correspondence with
the custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Fund as of August 31, 2000, the results of its operations for the year then
ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the
period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States.


                       [SIGNATURE LOGO FOR ERNST & YOUNG]

September 26, 2000
Louisville, Kentucky

                                       19
<PAGE>

                           PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 23. EXHIBITS


  (A) EXHIBITS

      (1) Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant.*

    (1.1) Articles Supplementary to Articles of Incorporation.*

      (2) Amended By-Laws of Registrant.*

      (3) Not applicable.

      (4) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and
          J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.*

      (5) Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and J.J.B. Hilliard,
          W.L. Lyons, Inc.

      (6) Not applicable.

      (7) Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street
          Bank and Trust Company.*

      (8) Form of Transfer Agent's Agreement between Registrant and State
          Street Bank and Trust Company.*

      (9) Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

     (10) Not applicable.


     (11) Not applicable.

     (12) Not applicable.

     (13) Not applicable.

     (14) Not applicable.

     (15) Code of Ethics

                                      C-1

<PAGE>


    (19) Consent of Frost Brown Todd LLC.

    (20) Power of Attorney executed by Lindy B. Richardson

    -----------
    * Previously filed

ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

  None.

ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION

  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, between the Fund and J.J.B. Hillard,
W.L. Lyons, Inc. (the "Distributor"), the Fund is required to indemnify and hold
harmless the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor
against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable
cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), arising
by reason of any person acquiring any shares of the Fund, which may be based
upon the Securities Act of 1933, or on any other statute or at common law, on
the ground that the Fund's Registration Statement or related Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, as from time to time amended and
supplemented, or an annual or interim report to stockholders of the Fund,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in connection
therewith by or on behalf of the Distributor.


ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER

  J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc., the Investment Adviser of the Registrant
("Hilliard-Lyons"), is an investment banking and securities brokerage firm
headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Hilliard-Lyons is a registered broker-
dealer and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the AMEX
Commodities Exchange, the Midwest Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options
Exchange and the New York Futures Exchange. It has 113 offices and more than 648
financial consultants doing business in 49 states. Hilliard-Lyons maintains an
investment advisory department and is registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940. For information as to the business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature of each of the directors and officers of
Hilliard-Lyons, reference is made to Part I, Schedule D and Part II, Item 6,
Schedule F of Form ADV (revised August 30, 2000) filed on or about August 30,
2000 for Hilliard-Lyons.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Name and Address of Company
Name and Title of Officers of J.J.B.    with which officer or Director
Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.              is connected                       Capacity
<S>                                     <C>                                <C>
James W. Stuckert                       Royal Gold, Inc.                   Director
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    1600 Wynkoop Street, Suite 1000
Chief Executive Officer                 Denver, CO 80202

James W. Stuckert                       Thomas Transportation Group, Inc.  Director
                                        3600 Chamberlain Lane, Suite 610
                                        Louisville, KY 40241

James M. Rogers                         None
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer and Director

James R. Allen                          None
Executive Vice President,
and Director

E. Neal Cory, II                        None
Executive Vice President,
and Director

Paul J. Moretti                         None
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer

Kenneth L. Wagner                       None
Senior Vice President and Secretary

Ralph S. Michael III                    T.H.E., Inc.                       Director
Director, Chief Executive Officer-      2545 E. 11th Street
Corporate Banking PNC, Executive        Tulsa, OK 74104
Vice President-PNC Financial
Services Group, Inc.

Thomas K. Whitford, Director,           None
Chief Executive Officer-PNC Advisors,
Executive Vice President-PNC
Financial Services Group, Inc.
</TABLE>

ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

  (a) J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc. is Registrant's principal underwriter.
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc. currently serves as distributor and principal
underwriter of Hilliard Lyons Growth Fund, Inc., an open-end non-diversified
mutual fund.

  (b) Set forth below is certain information pertaining to the directors and
officers of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc., the Registrant's principal
underwriter:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             POSITION WITH
            NAME AND PRINCIPAL                UNDERWRITER         POSITION WITH
             BUSINESS ADDRESS                (DISTRIBUTOR)         REGISTRANT
            ------------------               -------------        -------------
   <S>                                  <C>                      <C>
          James M. Rogers                Executive Vice President,      None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          Chief Operating Officer,
          Louisville, KY 40202           Director
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          James R. Allen                 Executive Vice President,      None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          Director, Branch and
          Louisville, KY 40202           Marketing Administration,
                                         Director
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          James W. Stuckert              Chief Executive Officer,       None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          Chairman
          Louisville, KY 40202
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          E. Neal Cory, II               Executive Vice President,      None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          Director Investment
          Louisville, KY 40202           Management Group, Director
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Paul J. Moretti                Senior Vice President          None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          and Chief Financial
          Louisville, KY 40202           Officer
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Kenneth L. Wagner              Senior Vice President          None
          Hilliard Lyons Center          and Secretary
          Louisville, KY 40202
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Ralph S. Michael III           Director                       None
          One PNC Plaza
          Pittsburgh, PA 15222
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Thomas K. Whitford             Director                       None
          One PNC Plaza
          Pittsburgh, PA 15222
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

  The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and rules
promulgated thereunder are in the possession of State Street Bank and Trust
Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02105 and J.J.B. Hilliard,
W.L. Lyons, Inc., Hilliard Lyons Center, Louisville, KY 40202.

ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

  Registrant is not a party to any management related service contract not
discussed in Parts A or B of this Form.

ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS

  Not Applicable.

                                      C-3
<PAGE>


                                  SIGNATURES

  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, THE REGISTRANT, HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT
FUND, INC., CERTIFIES THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVENESS
OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 485 (b) UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
TO BE SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE UNDERSIGNED, THERETO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE
CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND THE STATE OF KENTUCKY ON THE 27/th/ DAY OF NOVEMBER,
2000.

                                          HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.


                                          By: /s/    DONALD F. KOHLER
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Donald F. Kohler, Chairman of the
                                                           Board

  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS AMENDMENT
OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS
IN SUCH CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATE INDICATED:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURE                           TITLE                    DATE
             ---------                           -----                    ----

<S>                                  <C>                            <C>
      /s/ DONALD F. KOHLER           Chairman of the Board          November 27, 2000
------------------------------------  (Principal Executive
          Donald F. Kohler            Officer)



      /s/ J. Henning Hilliard        Director*                      November 27, 2000
------------------------------------
        J. Henning Hilliard


      /s/ J. Robert Shine            Director*                      November 27, 2000
------------------------------------
          J. Robert Shine


      /s/ Samuel G. Miller           Director*                      November 27, 2000
------------------------------------
          Samuel G. Miller


      /s/ Lindy B. Richardson        Director*                      November 27, 2000
------------------------------------
          Lindy B. Richardson



*By: /s/ DONALD F. KOHLER
    --------------------------------
         Donald F. Kohler
         Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>

                                      C-4
<PAGE>


                     HILLIARD-LYONS GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit
  No.                        Description
-------                      -----------
<S>                          <C>
1*    Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant............................
1.1*  Articles Supplementary to Articles of Incorporation.........................
2*    Amended By-Laws of Registrant...............................................
3     Not applicable..............................................................
4*    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and
      J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc............................................
5     Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and J.J.B. Hilliard,
      W.L. Lyons, Inc.............................................................
6     Not applicable..............................................................
7*    Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and
      Trust Company...............................................................
8*    Form of Transfer Agent's Agreement between Registrant and State Street
      Bank and Trust Company......................................................
9     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors..........................
10    Not applicable..............................................................
11    Not applicable..............................................................
12    Not applicable..............................................................
13    Not applicable..............................................................
14    Not applicable..............................................................
15    Code of Ethics
19    Consent of Frost Brown Todd LLC.............................................
20    Power of attorney executed by Lindy B. Richardson
</TABLE>
--------------
*Previously filed


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