Please read this prospectus before investing, and keep it on file for
future reference. It contains important information, including how the
fund invests and the services available to shareholders.
To learn more about the fund and its investments, you can obtain a
copy of the fund's most recent financial report and portfolio listing,
or a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated
January 19, 1998. The SAI has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and is available along with other related
materials on the SEC's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov). The SAI
is incorporated herein by reference (legally forms a part of the
prospectus). For a free copy of either document, call Fidelity at
1-800-544-8888.
Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed
by, any depository institution. Shares are not insured by the FDIC,
Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency, and are subject to
investment risks, including possible loss of principal amounted
invested.
LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT
BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
BSO-pro-0198
(fund number 353, trading symbol FBSOF)
The fund seeks to increase the value of your investment over the
long-term by investing mainly in equity securities of companies within
a particular industry.
FIDELITY
SELECT BUSINESS SERVICES
AND OUTSOURCING
PORTFOLIO
PROSPECTUS
JANUARY 19, 1998(FIDELITY_LOGO_GRAPHIC) 82 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON,
MA 02109
CONTENTS
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KEY FACTS THE FUND AT A GLANCE
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
EXPENSES THE FUND'S SALES CHARGE (LOAD) AND ITS YEARLY
OPERATING EXPENSES.
PERFORMANCE
THE FUND IN DETAIL CHARTER HOW THE FUND IS ORGANIZED.
INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES AND RISKS THE FUND'S OVERALL APPROACH
TO INVESTING.
BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES HOW OPERATING COSTS ARE CALCULATED
AND WHAT THEY INCLUDE.
YOUR ACCOUNT DOING BUSINESS WITH FIDELITY
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS DIFFERENT WAYS TO SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT,
INCLUDING TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS.
HOW TO BUY SHARES OPENING AN ACCOUNT AND MAKING
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS.
HOW TO SELL SHARES TAKING MONEY OUT AND CLOSING YOUR
ACCOUNT.
INVESTOR SERVICES SERVICES TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT.
SHAREHOLDER AND ACCOUNT POLICIES DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS, AND TAXES
TRANSACTION DETAILS SHARE PRICE CALCULATIONS AND THE TIMING
OF PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS.
EXCHANGE RESTRICTIONS
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
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KEY FACTS
THE FUND AT A GLANCE
GOAL: Capital appreciation (increase in the value of a fund's shares).
As with any mutual fund, there is no assurance that a fund will
achieve its goal.
MANAGEMENT: Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) is the
management arm of Fidelity Investments, which was established in 1946
and is now America's largest mutual fund manager. Foreign affiliates
of FMR may help choose investments for the fund.
STRATEGY: Invests mainly in equity securities of companies that
provide business-related services to companies and other
organizations.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
The fund may be appropriate for investors who want to pursue growth
aggressively by concentrating their investment on domestic and foreign
securities within an industry. The fund is designed for those who are
interested in actively monitoring the progress, and can accept the
risks, of industry-focused investing. Because the fund is so narrowly
focused, changes in a particular industry can have a substantial
impact on the fund's share price. The fund is a non-diversified fund
and may invest a greater portion of its assets in securities of
individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in
the market value of a single issuer could cause greater fluctuations
in share value than would occur in a more diversified fund.
The value of the fund's investments will vary from day to day, and
generally reflect market conditions, interest rates, and other
company, political, or economic news both here and abroad. In the
short-term, stock prices can fluctuate dramatically in response to
these factors. The securities of small, less well-known companies may
be more volatile than those of larger companies. Over time, however,
stocks have shown greater growth potential than other types of
securities. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks in
addition to those of U.S. investments, including increased political
and economic risk, as well as exposure to currency fluctuations. When
you sell your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you
paid for them. By itself, the fund does not constitute a balanced
investment plan.
EXPENSES
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES are charges you may pay when you buy,
sell, or exchange shares of the fund. In addition, you may be charged
an annual account maintenance fee if your account balance falls below
$2,500. Lower sales charges may be available for accounts over
$250,000. See "Transaction Details," page , and "Sales Charge
Reductions and Waivers," page , for an explanation of how and when
these charges apply.
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MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE ON PURCHASES 3.00%
(AS A % OF OFFERING PRICE)
SALES CHARGE ON REINVESTED DISTRIBUTIONS NONE
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON REDEMPTIONS NONE
REDEMPTION FEE (TRADING FEE) 0.75%
ON SHARES HELD 29 DAYS OR LESS (AS A % OF AMOUNT REDEEMED)
ON SHARES HELD 30 DAYS OR MORE 0.75%
FOR REDEMPTION AMOUNTS OF UP TO $1,000 (AS A % OF AMOUNT REDEEMED) $7.50
FOR REDEMPTION AMOUNTS OF $1,000 OR MORE
EXCHANGE FEE $7.50
ANNUAL ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEE (FOR ACCOUNTS UNDER $2,500) $12.00
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES are paid out of the fund's assets. The
fund pays a management fee to FMR. It also incurs other expenses for
services such as maintaining shareholder records and furnishing
shareholder statements and financial reports. The fund's expenses are
factored into its share price or dividends and are not charged
directly to shareholder accounts (see "Breakdown of Expenses," page ).
The following figures are based on estimated expenses of the fund and
are calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the fund.
MANAGEMENT FEE 0.60%
12B-1 FEE NONE
OTHER EXPENSES 1.41%
TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 2.01%
UNDERSTANDING EXPENSES
Operating a mutual fund involves a variety of expenses for portfolio
management, shareholder statements, tax reporting, and other services.
These expenses are paid from the fund's assets, and
their effect is already factored into any quoted share price or
return. Also, as an investor, you may pay certain expenses directly
(for example, the fund's 3% sales charge).
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EXAMPLES: Let's say, hypothetically, that the fund's annual return is
5% and that your shareholder transaction expenses and the fund's
annual operating expenses are exactly as just described. For every
$1,000 you invested, here's how much you would pay in total expenses
if you close your account after the number of years indicated:
1 YEAR $ 50
3 YEARS $ 91
These examples illustrate the effect of expenses, but are not meant to
suggest actual or expected expenses or returns, all of which may vary.
FMR has voluntarily agreed to reimburse the fund to the extent that
total operating expenses exceed 2.50% of its average net assets.
Expenses eligible for reimbursement do not include interest, taxes,
brokerage commissions, or extraordinary expenses.
PERFORMANCE
This section would normally show how the fund has performed over time.
Because the fund was new when this prospectus was printed, its
performance is not included. Twice a year, you will receive a report
detailing the fund's recent strategies, performance, and holdings. For
current performance or a free annual report, call 1-800-544-8888.
Performance history will be available for the fund after it has been
in operation for six months.
TOTAL RETURN is the change in value of an investment over a given
period, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains. A
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN reflects actual performance over a stated
period of time. An AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is a hypothetical rate
of return that, if achieved annually, would have produced the same
cumulative total return if performance had been constant over the
entire period. Average annual total returns smooth out variations in
performance; they are not the same as actual year-by-year results.
Average annual total returns covering periods of less than one year
assume that performance will remain constant for the rest of the year.
Other illustrations of fund performance may show moving averages over
specified periods.
TOTAL RETURNS ARE BASED ON PAST RESULTS AND ARE NOT AN INDICATION OF
FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
THE FUND IN DETAIL
CHARTER
BUSINESS SERVICES AND OUTSOURCING PORTFOLIO IS A MUTUAL FUND: an
investment that pools shareholders' money and invests it toward a
specified goal. The fund is a non-diversified fund of Fidelity Select
Portfolios, an open-end management investment company organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on November 20, 1980.
THE FUND IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders. The trustees are experienced
executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the
fund's activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that
provide services to the fund, and review the fund's performance. The
trustees serve as trustees for other Fidelity funds. The majority of
trustees are not otherwise affiliated with Fidelity.
THE FUND MAY HOLD SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS AND MAIL PROXY
MATERIALS. These meetings may be called to elect or remove trustees,
change fundamental policies, approve a management contract, or for
other purposes. Shareholders not attending these meetings are
encouraged to vote by proxy. Fidelity will mail proxy materials in
advance, including a voting card and information about the proposals
to be voted on. The number of votes you are entitled to is based upon
the dollar value of your investment.
FMR AND ITS AFFILIATES
The fund is managed by FMR, which chooses the fund's investments and
handles its business affairs. Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.)
Inc. (FMR U.K.), in London, England, and Fidelity Management &
Research (Far East) Inc. (FMR Far East), in Tokyo, Japan, assist FMR
with foreign investments.
Michael Tarlowe is manager of Business Services and Outsourcing, which
he has managed since inception. Mr. Tarlowe joined Fidelity as an
analyst in 1994, after receiving a bachelor of business administration
degree from the University of Michigan.
Fidelity investment personnel may invest in securities for their own
accounts pursuant to a code of ethics that establishes procedures for
personal investing and restricts certain transactions.
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) distributes and markets
Fidelity's funds and services.
Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC) performs transfer agent servicing
functions for the fund.
FMR Corp. is the ultimate parent company of FMR, FMR U.K., and FMR Far
East. Members of the Edward C. Johnson 3d family are the predominant
owners of a class of shares of common stock representing approximately
49% of the voting power of FMR Corp. Under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the 1940 Act), control of a company is presumed where one
individual or group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting
stock of that company; therefore, the Johnson family may be deemed
under the 1940 Act to form a controlling group with respect to FMR
Corp.
FMR may use its broker-dealer affiliates and other firms that sell
fund shares to carry out the fund's transactions, provided that the
fund receives brokerage services and commission rates comparable to
those of other broker-dealers.
INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES AND RISKS
THE FUND invests primarily in companies that provide business-related
services to companies and other organizations. Business-related
services may include for example, data processing, consulting,
outsourcing, temporary employment, market research or database
services, printing, advertising, computer programming, credit
reporting, claims collection, mailing and photocopying. Typically,
these services are provided on a contract or fee basis.
The success of companies that provide business-related services is, in
part, subject to continued demand for such services as companies and
other organizations seek alternative, cost effective means to meet
their economic goals. Competitive pressures, such as technological
developments, fixed-rate pricing, and the ability to attract and
retain skilled employees, also may have a significant impact on the
financial condition of companies in the business services and
outsourcing industry.
The fund seeks capital appreciation by concentrating its investments
in the securities of companies in a particular industry. Under normal
conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in
securities of companies principally engaged in the business activities
of its named industry. The fund will invest primarily in equity
securities, although it may invest in other types of instruments as
well.
An issuer is considered to be principally engaged in a business
activity if at least 50% of its assets, gross income, or net profits
are committed to, or derived from, that activity.
The fund may involve significantly greater risks and therefore may
experience greater volatility than a mutual fund that does not
concentrate its investments. Because of its narrow focus, the fund's
performance is closely tied to and affected by, its industry.
Companies in an industry are often faced with the same obstacles,
issues, or regulatory burdens, and their securities may react
similarly to and move in unison with these or other market conditions.
This is especially true for a fund with a particularly narrow industry
focus. Also, because the fund is non-diversified, it is further
exposed to increased volatility. A non-diversified fund may have
greater investments in a single issuer than a diversified fund, so the
performance of a single issuer can have a substantial impact on a
fund's share price. Finally, the fund's strategy in seeking to achieve
its investment objectives may lead to investments in smaller
companies. Securities of smaller companies, especially those whose
business involves emerging products or concepts, may be more volatile
due to their limited product lines, markets, or financial resources;
or their susceptibility to major setbacks or downturns.
The value of the fund's domestic and foreign investments varies in
response to many factors. Stock values fluctuate in response to the
activities of individual companies and general market and economic
conditions. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks in
addition to those of U.S. investments, including increased political
and economic risk, as well as exposure to currency fluctuations.
FMR may use various investment techniques to hedge a portion of the
fund's risks, but there is no guarantee that these strategies will
work as FMR intends. Of course, when you sell your shares of the fund,
they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them.
FMR normally invests the fund's assets according to its investment
strategy. When FMR considers it appropriate for defensive purposes,
the fund may temporarily invest substantially in investment-grade debt
securities.
SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of
instruments in which the fund may invest, strategies FMR may employ in
pursuit of the fund's investment objective, and a summary of related
risks. Any restrictions listed supplement those discussed earlier in
this section. A complete listing of the fund's limitations and more
detailed information about the fund's investments are contained in the
fund's SAI. Policies and limitations are considered at the time of
purchase; the sale of instruments is not required in the event of a
subsequent change in circumstances.
FMR may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these
techniques unless it believes that they are consistent with the fund's
investment objective and policies and that doing so will help the fund
achieve its goal. Fund holdings and recent investment strategies are
detailed in the fund's financial reports, which are sent to
shareholders twice a year. For a free SAI call 1-800-544-8888.
EQUITY SECURITIES may include common stocks, preferred stocks,
convertible securities, and warrants. Common stocks, the most familiar
type, represent an equity (ownership) interest in a corporation.
Although equity securities have a history of long-term growth in
value, their prices fluctuate based on changes in a company's
financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.
Smaller companies are especially sensitive to these factors.
DEBT SECURITIES. Bonds and other debt instruments are used by issuers
to borrow money from investors. The issuer generally pays the investor
a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest, and must repay the
amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon
bonds, do not pay current interest, but are sold at a discount from
their face values.
Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in
interest rates and varying degrees of credit quality. In general, bond
prices rise when interest rates fall, and fall when interest rates
rise. Longer-term bonds and zero coupon bonds are generally more
sensitive to interest rate changes.
In addition, bond prices are also affected by the credit quality of
the issuer. Investment-grade debt securities are medium- and
high-quality securities. Some, however, may possess speculative
characteristics, and may be more sensitive to economic changes and to
changes in the financial condition of issuers.
RESTRICTIONS: Purchase of a debt security is consistent with the
fund's debt quality policy if it is rated at or above the stated level
by Moody's or rated in the equivalent categories by S&P, or is unrated
but judged to be of equivalent quality by FMR. The fund currently
intends to limit its investments in lower than Baa-quality debt
securities to 5% of its assets.
EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN MARKETS. Foreign securities, foreign currencies,
and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign
operations may involve additional risks and considerations. These
include risks relating to political or economic conditions in foreign
countries, fluctuations in foreign currencies, withholding or other
taxes, operational risks, increased regulatory burdens, and the
potentially less stringent investor protection and disclosure
standards of foreign markets. Additionally, governmental issuers of
foreign debt securities may be unwilling to pay interest and repay
principal when due and may require that the conditions for payment be
renegotiated. All of these factors can make foreign investments,
especially those in developing countries, more volatile than U.S.
investments.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the fund buys a
security at one price and simultaneously agrees to sell it back at a
higher price. Delays or losses could result if the other party to the
agreement defaults or becomes insolvent.
ADJUSTING INVESTMENT EXPOSURE. The fund can use various techniques to
increase or decrease its exposure to changing security prices,
interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices, or other
factors that affect security values. These techniques may involve
derivative transactions such as buying and selling options and futures
contracts, entering into currency exchange contracts or swap
agreements, and purchasing indexed securities.
FMR can use these practices to adjust the risk and return
characteristics of the fund's portfolio of investments. If FMR judges
market conditions incorrectly or employs a strategy that does not
correlate well with the fund's investments, these techniques could
result in a loss, regardless of whether the intent was to reduce risk
or increase return. These techniques may increase the volatility of
the fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the
magnitude of the risk assumed. In addition, these techniques could
result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction does not
perform as promised.
ILLIQUID AND RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Some investments may be determined
by FMR, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, to be
illiquid, which means that they may be difficult to sell promptly at
an acceptable price. The sale of some illiquid securities, and some
other securities, may be subject to legal restrictions. Difficulty in
selling securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the fund.
RESTRICTIONS: The fund may not purchase a security if, as a result,
more than 10% of its assets would be invested in illiquid securities.
OTHER INSTRUMENTS may include securities of closed-end investment
companies and real estate-related instruments.
CASH MANAGEMENT. The fund may invest in money market securities, in
repurchase agreements, and in a money market fund available only to
funds and accounts managed by FMR or its affiliates, whose goal is to
seek a high level of current income while maintaining a stable $1.00
share price. A major change in interest rates or a default on the
money market fund's investments could cause its share price to change.
DIVERSIFICATION. Diversifying a fund's investment portfolio can reduce
the risks of investing. This may include limiting the amount of money
invested in any one issuer or, on a broader scale, in any one
industry. A fund that is not diversified may be more sensitive to
changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry.
RESTRICTIONS: The fund is considered non-diversified. Generally, to
meet federal tax requirements at the close of each quarter, the fund
does not invest more than 25% of its total assets in any issuer and,
with respect to 50% of total assets, does not invest more than 5% of
its total assets in any issuer. These limitations do not apply to U.S.
Government securities or to securities of other investment companies.
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets, but always
invests at least 25% of its total assets, in securities of companies
principally engaged in the business activities identified for the
fund.
BORROWING. The fund may borrow from banks or from other funds advised
by FMR, or through reverse repurchase agreements. If the fund borrows
money, its share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the
borrowing is paid off. If the fund makes additional investments while
borrowings are outstanding, this may be considered a form of leverage.
RESTRICTIONS: The fund may borrow only for temporary or emergency
purposes, but not in an amount exceeding 331/3% of its total assets.
LENDING securities to broker-dealers and institutions, including
Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc. (FBSI), an affiliate of FMR, is a
means of earning income. This practice could result in a loss or a
delay in recovering the fund's securities. The fund may also lend
money to other funds advised by FMR.
RESTRICTIONS: Loans, in the aggregate, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the
fund's total assets.
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS
Some of the policies and restrictions discussed on the preceding pages
are fundamental, that is, subject to change only by shareholder
approval. The following paragraphs restate all those that are
fundamental. All policies stated throughout this prospectus, other
than those identified in the following paragraphs, can be changed
without shareholder approval.
THE FUND seeks capital appreciation. The fund invests primarily in
companies that provide business-related services to companies and
other organizations.
The fund invests at least 25% of its total assets in securities of
companies principally engaged in the business activities identified
for the fund.
The fund may borrow only for temporary or emergency purposes, but not
in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets.
Loans, in the aggregate, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the fund's total
assets.
BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES
Like all mutual funds, the fund pays fees related to its daily
operations. Expenses paid out of the fund's assets are reflected in
its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to
shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.
The fund pays a MANAGEMENT FEE to FMR for managing its investments and
business affairs. FMR in turn pays fees to affiliates who provide
assistance with these services. The fund also pays OTHER EXPENSES,
which are explained on page .
FMR may, from time to time, agree to reimburse the fund for management
fees and other expenses above a specified limit. FMR retains the
ability to be repaid by the fund if expenses fall below the specified
limit prior to the end of the fiscal year. Reimbursement arrangements,
which may be terminated at any time without notice, can decrease the
fund's expenses and boost its performance.
MANAGEMENT FEE
The management fee is calculated and paid to FMR every month. The fee
is calculated by adding a group fee rate to an individual fund fee
rate, and multiplying the result by the fund's average net assets.
The group fee rate is based on the average net assets of all the
mutual funds advised by FMR. This rate cannot rise above 0.52%, and it
drops as total assets under management increase.
For November 1997, the group fee rate was 0.2947%. The individual fund
fee rate is 0.30%.
The total annual management fee rate is estimated to be 0.60%.
FMR HAS SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS with FMR U.K. and FMR Far East. These
sub-advisers provide FMR with investment research and advice on
issuers based outside the United States. Under the sub-advisory
agreements, FMR pays FMR U.K. and FMR Far East fees equal to 110% and
105%, respectively, of the costs of providing these services.
The sub-advisers may also provide investment management services. In
return, FMR pays FMR U.K. and FMR Far East a fee equal to 50% of its
management fee rate with respect to the fund's investments that the
sub-adviser manages on a discretionary basis.
OTHER EXPENSES
While the management fee is a significant component of the fund's
annual operating costs, the fund has other expenses as well.
The fund contracts with FSC to perform transfer agency, dividend
disbursing, shareholder servicing, and accounting functions. These
services include processing shareholder transactions, valuing the
fund's investments, handling securities loans, and calculating the
fund's share price and dividends.
UNDERSTANDING THE MANAGEMENT FEE
The management fee FMR receives is designed to be responsive to
changes in FMR's total assets under management. Building this variable
into the fee calculation assures shareholders that they
will pay a lower rate as FMR's assets under management increase.
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The fund also pays other expenses, such as legal, audit, and custodian
fees; in some instances, proxy solicitation costs; and the
compensation of trustees who are not affiliated with Fidelity. A
broker-dealer may use a portion of the commissions paid by the fund to
reduce the fund's custodian or transfer agent fees.
The fund's annualized portfolio turnover rate is not expected to
exceed 200% in the first fiscal period ending February 1998. This rate
varies from year to year. High turnover rates increase transaction
costs and may increase taxable capital gains. FMR considers these
effects when evaluating the anticipated benefits of short-term
investing.
YOUR ACCOUNT
DOING BUSINESS WITH FIDELITY
Fidelity Investments was established in 1946 to manage one of
America's first mutual funds. Today, Fidelity is the largest mutual
fund company in the country, and is known as an innovative provider of
high-quality financial services to individuals and institutions.
In addition to its mutual fund business, the company operates one of
America's leading discount brokerage firms, FBSI. Fidelity is also a
leader in providing tax-sheltered retirement plans for individuals
investing on their own or through their employer.
Fidelity is committed to providing investors with practical
information to make investment decisions. Based in Boston, Fidelity
provides customers with complete service 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year, through a network of telephone service centers around the
country.
To reach Fidelity for general information, call these numbers:
(small solid bullet) For mutual funds, 1-800-544-8888
(small solid bullet) For brokerage, 1-800-544-7272
If you would prefer to speak with a representative in person, Fidelity
has over 80 walk-in Investor Centers across the country.
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS
You may set up an account directly in the fund or, if you own or
intend to purchase individual securities as part of your total
investment portfolio, you may consider investing in the fund through a
brokerage account.
You may purchase or sell shares of the fund through an investment
professional, including a broker, who may charge you a transaction fee
for this service. If you invest through FBSI, another financial
institution, or an investment professional, read their program
materials for any special provisions, additional service features or
fees that may apply to your investment in the fund. Certain features
of the fund, such as the minimum initial or subsequent investment
amounts, may be modified.
FIDELITY FACTS
Fidelity offers the broadest selection of mutual funds in the world.
(solid bullet) Number of Fidelity mutual funds: over 227
(solid bullet) Assets in Fidelity mutual funds: over $521 billion
(solid bullet) Number of shareholder accounts: over 34 million
(solid bullet) Number of investment analysts and portfolio managers:
over 275
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The different ways to set up (register) your account with Fidelity are
listed in the table that follows.
The account guidelines that follow may not apply to certain retirement
accounts. If you are investing through a retirement account or if your
employer offers the fund through a retirement program, you may be
subject to additional fees. For more information, please refer to your
program materials, contact your employer, or call your retirement
benefits number or Fidelity directly, as appropriate.
WAYS TO SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT
INDIVIDUAL OR JOINT TENANT
FOR YOUR GENERAL INVESTMENT NEEDS
Individual accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts can have
two or more owners (tenants).
RETIREMENT
FOR TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT SAVINGS
Retirement plans provide individuals with tax-advantaged ways to save
for retirement, either with tax-deductible contributions or tax-free
growth. Retirement accounts require special applications and typically
have lower minimums.
(solid bullet) TRADITIONAL INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS (IRAS) allow
individuals under 70 with compensation to contribute up to $2,000 per
tax year. Married couples can contribute up to $4,000 per tax year,
provided no more than $2,000 is contributed on behalf of either
spouse. (These limits are aggregate for Traditional and Roth IRAs.)
Contributions may be tax deductible, subject to certain income limits.
(solid bullet) ROTH IRAS allow individuals to make non-deductible
contributions of up to $2,000 per tax year. Married couples can
contribute up to $4,000 per tax year, provided no more than $2,000 is
contributed on behalf of either spouse. (These limits are aggregate
for Traditional and Roth IRAs.) Eligibility is subject to certain
income limits. Qualified distributions are tax-free.
(solid bullet) ROTH CONVERSION IRAS allow individuals with assets held
in a Traditional IRA or Rollover IRA to convert those assets to a Roth
Conversion IRA. Eligibility is subject to certain income limits.
Qualified distributions are tax-free.
(solid bullet) ROLLOVER IRAS help retain special tax advantages for
certain eligible rollover distributions from employer-sponsored
retirement plans.
(solid bullet) PROFIT SHARING OR MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLANS (KEOGHS)
allow self-employed individuals or small business owners to make
tax-deductible contributions for themselves and any eligible
employees.
(solid bullet) SIMPLIFIED EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS (SEP-IRAS) provide
small business owners or those with self-employment income (and their
eligible employees) with many of the same advantages as a Keogh, but
with fewer administrative requirements.
(solid bullet) SALARY REDUCTION SEP-IRAS (SARSEPS) allow employees of
businesses with 25 or fewer employees to contribute a percentage of
their wages on a tax-deferred basis. These plans must have been
established by the employer prior to January 1, 1997.
(solid bullet) SIMPLE IRAS provide small business owners and those
with self-employment income (and their eligible employees) with many
of the advantages of a 401(k) plan, but with fewer administrative
requirements.
(solid bullet) 403(B) CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS are available to employees of
501(c)(3) tax-exempt institutions, including schools, hospitals, and
other charitable organizations.
(solid bullet) 401(K) PLANS allow employees of organizations of all
sizes to contribute a percentage of their wages on a tax-deferred
basis. These accounts need to be established by the trustee of the
plan.
(solid bullet) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS (457 PLANS) are available
to employees of most state and local governments and their agencies
and to employees of tax-exempt institutions.
GIFTS OR TRANSFERS TO A MINOR (UGMA, UTMA)
TO INVEST FOR A CHILD'S EDUCATION OR OTHER FUTURE NEEDS
These custodial accounts provide a way to give money to a child and
obtain tax benefits. An individual can give up to $10,000 a year per
child without paying federal gift tax. Depending on state laws, you
can set up a custodial account under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
(UGMA) or the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA).
TRUST
FOR MONEY BEING INVESTED BY A TRUST
The trust must be established before an account can be opened.
BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION
FOR INVESTMENT NEEDS OF CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, OR
OTHER GROUPS
Requires a special application.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
THE PRICE TO BUY ONE SHARE of the fund is the fund's offering price or
the fund's net asset value per share (NAV), depending on whether you
pay a sales charge. If you pay a sales charge, your price will be the
fund's offering price. When you buy shares of the fund at the offering
price, Fidelity deducts the appropriate sales charge and invests the
rest in the fund. If you qualify for a sales charge waiver, your price
will be the fund's NAV. See "Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers,"
page , for an explanation of how and when the sales charge and waivers
apply.
Your shares will be purchased at the next offering price or NAV, as
applicable, calculated after your investment is received in proper
form. The fund's offering price and NAV are normally calculated
hourly, each business day from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
The fund reserves the right to reject any specific purchase order,
including certain purchases by exchange. See "Exchange Restrictions"
on page . Purchase orders may be refused if, in FMR's opinion, they
would disrupt management of the fund.
IF YOU ARE NEW TO FIDELITY, complete and sign an account application
and mail it along with your check. You may also open your account in
person or by wire as described on page . If there is no application
accompanying this prospectus, call 1-800-544-8888.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE MONEY INVESTED IN A FIDELITY FUND, you can:
(small solid bullet) Mail in an application with a check, or
(small solid bullet) Open your account by exchanging from another
Fidelity fund.
IF YOU ARE INVESTING THROUGH A TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLAN, such as
an IRA, for the first time, you will need a special application.
Retirement investing also involves its own investment procedures. Call
1-800-544-8888 for more information and a retirement application.
If you buy shares by check or Fidelity Money Line(registered
trademark), and then sell those shares by any method other than by
exchange to another Fidelity fund, the payment may be delayed for up
to seven business days to ensure that your previous investment has
cleared.
MINIMUM INVESTMENTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT $2,500
For certain Fidelity retirement accounts(double dagger) $500
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT $250
For certain Fidelity retirement accounts(double dagger) $250
Through regular investment plans* $100
MINIMUM BALANCE $2,000
For certain Fidelity retirement accounts(double dagger) $500
(double dagger)THESE LOWER MINIMUMS APPLY TO FIDELITY TRADITIONAL IRA,
ROTH IRA, ROTH CONVERSION IRA, ROLLOVER IRA, SEP-IRA, AND KEOGH
ACCOUNTS.
*FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT REGULAR INVESTMENT PLANS, PLEASE REFER TO
"INVESTOR SERVICES," PAGE .
These minimums may vary for investments through Fidelity Portfolio
Advisory Services. There is no minimum account balance or initial or
subsequent investment minimum for certain retirement accounts funded
through salary deduction, or accounts opened with the proceeds of
distributions from Fidelity retirement accounts. Refer to the program
materials for details.
UNDERSTANDING OFFERING PRICE
Let's say you invest $2,500 at an offering price of $10. Of the $10
offering price, 3% ($.30) is the sales charge, and 97% ($9.70)
represents the NAV. The value of your initial investment will be
$2,425 (250 shares worth $9.70 each), and you will have paid a sales
charge of $75.
(checkmark)
$2,500 Investment
Row: 1, Col: 1, Value: 25.0
Row: 1, Col: 2, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 3, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 4, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 5, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 6, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 7, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 8, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 9, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 10, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 11, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 12, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 13, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 14, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 15, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 16, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 17, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 18, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 19, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 20, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 21, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 22, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 23, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 24, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 25, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 26, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 27, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 28, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 29, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 30, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 31, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 32, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 33, Value: 75.0
Row: 1, Col: 34, Value: 75.0
3% sales charge = $75
Value of Investment = $2,425
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TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
PHONE 1-800-544-7777
(PHONE_GRAPHIC) (SMALL SOLID BULLET)
EXCHANGE FROM ANOTHER
FIDELITY FUND ACCOUNT
WITH THE (SMALL SOLID BULLET) EXCHANGE FROM ANOTHER FIDELITY FUND ACCOUNT WITH THE SAME
SAME REGISTRATION,
INCLUDING NAME,
ADDRESS, AND TAXPAYER REGISTRATION, INCLUDING NAME, ADDRESS, AND TAXPAYER ID
ID NUMBER. NUMBER.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) USE FIDELITY MONEY LINE TO TRANSFER FROM YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT. CALL BEFORE YOUR FIRST USE TO VERIFY THAT THIS SERVICE
IS IN PLACE ON YOUR ACCOUNT. MAXIMUM MONEY LINE: UP TO
$100,000.
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MAIL
(MAIL_GRAPHIC) (SMALL SOLID BULLET) COMPLETE
AND SIGN THE APPLICATION. MAKE
YOUR CHECK (SMALL SOLID BULLET) MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO THE COMPLETE NAME OF THE
PAYABLE TO FIDELITY SELECT
PORTFOLIOS AND SPECIFY THE
FUND FUND. INDICATE YOUR FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK AND
YOU ARE INVESTING IN ON THE
APPLICATION.
MAIL TO THE ADDRESS MAIL TO THE ADDRESS PRINTED ON YOUR ACCOUNT STATEMENT.
INDICATED ON THE APPLICATION.
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IN PERSON
(HAND_GRAPHIC) (SMALL SOLID BULLET)
BRING YOUR APPLICATION
AND CHECK TO A
FIDELITY INVESTOR (SMALL SOLID BULLET) BRING YOUR CHECK TO A FIDELITY INVESTOR CENTER. CALL
CENTER. CALL
1-800-544-9797
FOR THE CENTER NEAREST
YOU. 1-800-544-9797 FOR THE CENTER NEAREST YOU.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) ORDERS WILL BE EXECUTED AT THE NEXT HOURLY PRICE DETERMINED
AFTER YOUR INVESTMENT IS RECEIVED IN PROPER FORM.
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WIRE
(WIRE_GRAPHIC) (SMALL SOLID BULLET) NOT AVAILABLE FOR
RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. (SMALL SOLID BULLET) NOT AVAILABLE FOR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) CALL 1-800-544-7777 TO
SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT AND TO (SMALL SOLID BULLET) WIRE TO:
ARRANGE A WIRE TRANSACTION. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) WIRE WITHIN 24 HOURS TO: BANK ROUTING #021001033,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, ACCOUNT #00163053.
BANK ROUTING #021001033, SPECIFY THE COMPLETE NAME OF THE FUND AND INCLUDE YOUR
ACCOUNT #00163053. ACCOUNT NUMBER AND YOUR NAME.
SPECIFY THE COMPLETE NAME OF THE
FUND AND INCLUDE YOUR
NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER AND YOUR NAME.
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AUTOMATICALLY
(AUTOMATIC_GRAPHIC) (SMALL SOLID BULLET)
NEW ACCOUNTS CANNOT
BE OPENED WITH
THESE SERVICES. (SMALL SOLID BULLET) USE FIDELITY AUTOMATIC ACCOUNT BUILDER OR DIRECT DEPOSIT TO
AUTOMATICALLY PURCHASE MORE SHARES. SIGN UP FOR THESE
SERVICES WHEN OPENING YOUR ACCOUNT, OR CALL
1-800-544-6666 TO ADD IT. DIRECT DEPOSIT IS NOT AVAILABLE
FOR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) USE DIRECTED DIVIDENDS OR FIDELITY AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE
SERVICE TO AUTOMATICALLY SEND MONEY FROM ONE FIDELITY FUND
INTO ANOTHER. CALL 1-800-544-6666 FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
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(TDD_GRAPHIC) TDD - SERVICE FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED: 1-800-544-0118
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HOW TO SELL SHARES
You can arrange to take money out of your fund account at any time by
selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
THE PRICE TO SELL ONE SHARE of the fund is the fund's NAV minus the
applicable trading fee. If you sell shares of the fund after holding
them 29 days or less, the fund will deduct a trading fee equal to
0.75% of the value of those shares. If you sell shares of the fund
after holding them 30 days or more, the fund will deduct a trading fee
equal to the lesser of $7.50 or 0.75% of the value of those shares
redeemed. In addition, you may pay a $7.50 fee for each exchange out
of the fund.
Your shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after your order
is received in proper form, minus the applicable trading fee. The
fund's NAV is normally calculated hourly, each business day from 10:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
TO SELL SHARES IN A NON-RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, you may use any of the
methods described on these two pages.
TO SELL SHARES IN A FIDELITY RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, your request must be
made in writing, except for exchanges to other Fidelity funds, which
can be requested by phone or in writing. Call 1-800-544-6666 for a
retirement distribution form.
IF YOU ARE SELLING SOME BUT NOT ALL OF YOUR SHARES, leave at least
$2,000 worth of shares in the account to keep it open ($500 for
retirement accounts).
TO SELL SHARES BY BANK WIRE OR FIDELITY MONEY LINE, you will need to
sign up for these services in advance.
CERTAIN REQUESTS MUST INCLUDE A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. It is designed to
protect you and Fidelity from fraud. Your request must be made in
writing and include a signature guarantee if any of the following
situations apply:
(small solid bullet) You wish to redeem more than $100,000 worth of
shares,
(small solid bullet) Your account registration has changed within the
last 30 days,
(small solid bullet) The check is being mailed to a different address
than the one on your account (record address),
(small solid bullet) The check is being made payable to someone other
than the account owner, or
(small solid bullet) The redemption proceeds are being transferred to
a Fidelity account with a different registration.
You should be able to obtain a signature guarantee from a bank, broker
(including Fidelity Investor Centers), dealer, credit union (if
authorized under state law), securities exchange or association,
clearing agency, or savings association. A notary public cannot
provide a signature guarantee.
SELLING SHARES IN WRITING
Write a "letter of instruction" with:
(small solid bullet) Your name,
(small solid bullet) The fund's name,
(small solid bullet) Your fund account number,
(small solid bullet) The dollar amount or number of shares to be
redeemed, and
(small solid bullet) Any other applicable requirements listed in the
table that follows.
Unless otherwise instructed, Fidelity will send a check to the record
address. Deliver your letter to a Fidelity Investor Center, or mail it
to:
Fidelity Investments
P.O. Box 660602
Dallas, TX 75266-0602
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ACCOUNT TYPE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
IF YOU SELL SHARES OF THE FUND AFTER HOLDING THEM 29 DAYS OR LESS, THE FUND
WILL DEDUCT A TRADING FEE EQUAL TO 0.75% OF THE VALUE OF THOSE SHARES. IF
YOU SELL SHARES OF THE FUND AFTER HOLDING THEM 30 DAYS OR MORE, THE FUND WILL
DEDUCT A TRADING FEE EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF $7.50 OR 0.75% OF THE
AMOUNT REDEEMED. IN ADDITION, YOU MAY PAY A $7.50 FEE FOR EACH EXCHANGE
OUT OF THE FUND.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
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PHONE 1-800-544-7777
(PHONE_GRAPHIC) ALL ACCOUNT TYPES EXCEPT RETIREMENT (SMALL SOLID BULLET) MAXIMUM CHECK REQUEST: $100,000.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) FOR MONEY LINE TRANSFERS TO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT; MINIMUM: $10; MAXIMUM:
UP TO $100,000.
ALL ACCOUNT TYPES (SMALL SOLID BULLET) YOU MAY EXCHANGE TO OTHER FIDELITY FUNDS IF
BOTH ACCOUNTS ARE REGISTERED
WITH THE SAME NAME(S), ADDRESS, AND TAXPAYER ID NUMBER.
MAIL OR IN PERSON
(MAIL_GRAPHIC)
(HAND_GRAPHIC) INDIVIDUAL, JOINT TENANT, SOLE
PROPRIETORSHIP, (SMALL SOLID BULLET) THE LETTER OF INSTRUCTION MUST BE SIGNED
BY ALL PERSONS REQUIRED TO SIGN FOR
UGMA, UTMA TRANSACTIONS, EXACTLY AS THEIR NAMES APPEAR ON THE ACCOUNT.
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (SMALL SOLID BULLET) THE ACCOUNT OWNER SHOULD COMPLETE A
RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION FORM. CALL
1-800-544-6666 TO REQUEST ONE.
TRUST (SMALL SOLID BULLET) THE TRUSTEE MUST SIGN THE LETTER INDICATING
CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE. IF THE TRUSTEE'S
NAME IS NOT IN THE ACCOUNT REGISTRATION, PROVIDE A COPY OF THE
TRUST DOCUMENT
CERTIFIED WITHIN THE LAST 60 DAYS.
BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION (SMALL SOLID BULLET) AT LEAST ONE PERSON AUTHORIZED BY CORPORATE
RESOLUTION TO ACT ON THE
ACCOUNT MUST SIGN THE LETTER.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) INCLUDE A CORPORATE RESOLUTION WITH CORPORATE
SEAL OR A SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE.
EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR,
CONSERVATOR, GUARDIAN (SMALL SOLID BULLET) CALL 1-800-544-6666 FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
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WIRE
(WIRE_GRAPHIC) ALL ACCOUNT TYPES
EXCEPT RETIREMENT (SMALL SOLID BULLET) YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE WIRE FEATURE BEFORE USING IT. TO
VERIFY THAT IT IS IN
PLACE, CALL 1-800-544-6666. MINIMUM WIRE: $5,000.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) YOUR WIRE REDEMPTION REQUEST MUST BE RECEIVED IN PROPER FORM BY
FIDELITY
BEFORE 4:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME FOR MONEY TO BE WIRED ON THE NEXT
BUSINESS DAY.
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(TDD_GRAPHIC) TDD - SERVICE FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED: 1-800-544-0118
</TABLE>
INVESTOR SERVICES
Fidelity provides a variety of services to help you manage your
account.
INFORMATION SERVICES
FIDELITY'S TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES are available 24 hours a day, 365
days a year. Whenever you call, you can speak with someone equipped to
provide the information or service you need.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS that Fidelity sends to you include the
following:
(small solid bullet) Confirmation statements (after every transaction,
except reinvestments, that affects your account balance or your
account registration)
(small solid bullet) Account statements (quarterly)
(small solid bullet) Financial reports (every six months)
To reduce expenses, only one copy of most financial reports and
prospectuses will be mailed to your household, even if you have more
than one account in the fund. Call 1-800-544-6666 if you need copies
of financial reports, prospectuses, or historical account information.
TRANSACTION SERVICES
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. You may sell your fund shares and buy shares of
other Fidelity funds by telephone or in writing. The shares you
exchange will carry credit for any sales charge you previously paid in
connection with their purchase. You may pay a $7.50 fee for each
exchange out of the funds, unless you place your transaction through
Fidelity's automated exchange services. This fee would apply in
addition to the trading fee which you would pay every time you sell
your shares.
24-HOUR SERVICE
ACCOUNT ASSISTANCE 1-800-544-6666
ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS 1-800-544-7777
PRODUCT INFORMATION 1-800-544-8888
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT ASSISTANCE 1-800-544-4774
TOUCHTONE XPRESSSM 1-800-544-5555
AUTOMATED SERVICE
(checkmark)
For exchanges made by mail or phone orders are executed:
(small solid bullet) Between Select funds or from a Fidelity money
market fund generally at the next hourly price calculated after your
order is received in proper form.
(small solid bullet) From another Fidelity stock or bond fund,
generally at the 4:00 p.m. price calculated after your order is
received in proper form.
Note that exchanges between Select funds are unlimited, but exchanges
out of the funds to other Fidelity funds are limited to four per
calendar year. Exchanges may have tax consequences for you. For
details on policies and restrictions governing exchanges, including
circumstances under which a shareholder's exchange privilege may be
suspended or revoked, see page .
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLANS let you set up periodic redemptions from
your account. Because of the fund's sales charge, you may not want to
set up a systematic withdrawal plan during a period when you are
buying shares on a regular basis.
FIDELITY MONEY LINE(registered trademark) enables you to transfer
money by phone between your bank account and your fund account. Most
transfers are complete within three business days of your call.
REGULAR INVESTMENT PLANS
One easy way to pursue your financial goals is to invest money
regularly. Fidelity offers convenient services that let you transfer
money into your fund account, or between fund accounts, automatically.
While regular investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not
protect you against loss in a declining market, they can be an
excellent way to invest for retirement, a home, educational expenses,
and other long-term financial goals. Certain restrictions apply for
retirement accounts. Call 1-800-544-6666 for more information.
REGULAR INVESTMENT PLANS
FIDELITY AUTOMATIC ACCOUNT BUILDERSM
TO MOVE MONEY FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO A FIDELITY FUND
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MINIMUM FREQUENCY SETTING UP OR CHANGING
$100 MONTHLY OR
QUARTERLY (SMALL SOLID BULLET) FOR A NEW ACCOUNT, COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE SECTION ON THE FUND APPLICATION.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) FOR EXISTING ACCOUNTS, CALL 1-800-544-6666 FOR AN APPLICATION.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OR FREQUENCY OF YOUR INVESTMENT, CALL 1-800-544-6666 AT LEAST
THREE BUSINESS DAYS
PRIOR TO YOUR NEXT SCHEDULED INVESTMENT DATE.
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DIRECT DEPOSIT
TO SEND ALL OR A PORTION OF YOUR PAYCHECK OR GOVERNMENT CHECK TO A
FIDELITY FUNDA
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MINIMUM FREQUENCY SETTING UP OR CHANGING
$100 EVERY PAY PERIOD (SMALL SOLID BULLET) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX ON THE FUND APPLICATION, OR CALL 1-800-544-6666 FOR
AN AUTHORIZATION FORM.
(SMALL SOLID BULLET) CHANGES REQUIRE A NEW AUTHORIZATION FORM.
</TABLE>
FIDELITY AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE SERVICE
TO MOVE MONEY FROM A FIDELITY MONEY MARKET FUND TO ANOTHER FIDELITY
FUND
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MINIMUM FREQUENCY SETTING UP OR CHANGING
$100 Monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, (small solid bullet) Check the appropriate box on the fund application, or
call 1-800-544-6666 for an authorization form.
or annually (small solid bullet) To change the amount or frequency of your investment,
call 1-800-544-6666.
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A BECAUSE ITS SHARE PRICE FLUCTUATES, THE FUND MAY NOT BE AN
APPROPRIATE CHOICE FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT OF YOUR ENTIRE CHECK.
SHAREHOLDER AND ACCOUNT POLICIES
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS, AND TAXES
The fund distributes substantially all of its net income and capital
gains to shareholders each year. Normally, dividends and capital gains
are distributed in April and December.
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
When you open an account, specify on your application how you want to
receive your distributions. If the option you prefer is not listed on
the application, call 1-800-544-6666 for instructions. The fund offers
four options:
1. REINVESTMENT OPTION. Your dividend and capital gain distributions
will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the fund. If
you do not indicate a choice on your application, you will be assigned
this option.
2. INCOME-EARNED OPTION. Your capital gain distributions will be
automatically reinvested, but you will be sent a check for each
dividend distribution.
3. CASH OPTION. You will be sent a check for your dividend and capital
gain distributions.
4. DIRECTED DIVIDENDS(registered trademark) OPTION. Your dividend and
capital gain distributions will be automatically invested in another
identically registered Fidelity fund.
SHARES PURCHASED THROUGH REINVESTMENT of dividend and capital gain
distributions are not subject to a sales charge. If you direct
distributions to a fund with a 3.00% sales charge, you will not pay a
sales charge on those purchases.
For the fund, distributions will be reinvested, or deducted from the
share price, at 10:00 a.m. on the ex-dividend date. Shareholders of
record at 4:00 p.m. on the business day before the ex-dividend will be
entitled to receive the distribution. Cash distribution checks will be
mailed within seven days.
TAXES
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the
fund will be taxed. If your account is not a tax-advantaged retirement
account, you should be aware of these tax implications.
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions are subject to federal income
tax, and may also be subject to state or local taxes. If you live
outside the United States, your distributions could also be taxed by
the country in which you reside. Your distributions are taxable when
they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them.
However, distributions declared in December and paid in January are
taxable as if they were paid on December 31.
For federal tax purposes, the fund's income and short-term capital
gains are distributed as dividends and taxed as ordinary income;
capital gain distributions are taxed as long-term capital gains. Every
January, Fidelity will send you and the IRS a statement showing the
tax characterization of distributions paid to you in the previous
year.
TAXES ON TRANSACTIONS. Your redemptions - including exchanges to other
Fidelity funds - are subject to capital gains tax. A capital gain or
loss is the difference between the cost of your shares and the price
you receive when you sell them.
Whenever you sell shares of the fund, Fidelity will send you a
confirmation statement showing how many shares you sold and at what
price. You will also receive a consolidated transaction statement
every January. However, it is up to you or your tax preparer to
determine whether this sale resulted in a capital gain and, if so, the
amount of tax to be paid. Be sure to keep your regular account
statements; the information they contain will be essential in
calculating the amount of your capital gains.
"BUYING A DIVIDEND." If you buy shares when the fund has realized but
not yet distributed income or capital gains, you will pay the full
price for the shares and then receive a portion of the price back in
the form of a taxable distribution.
EFFECT OF FOREIGN TAXES. Foreign governments may impose taxes on the
fund and its investments, and these taxes generally will reduce the
fund's distributions. However, if you meet certain holding period
requirements with respect to your fund shares, an offsetting tax
credit may be available to you. If you do not meet such holding period
requirements, you may still be entitled to a deduction for certain
foreign taxes. In either case, your tax statement will show more
taxable income or capital gains than were actually distributed by the
fund, but will also show the amount of the available offsetting credit
or deduction.
There are tax requirements that all funds must follow in order to
avoid federal taxation. In its effort to adhere to these requirements,
the fund may have to limit its investment activity in some types of
instruments.
TRANSACTION DETAILS
THE FUND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS each day the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open. FSC normally calculates the fund's NAV and offering
price hourly, from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time each business
day of the NYSE.
THE FUND'S NAV is the value of a single share. The NAV is computed by
adding the value of the fund's investments, cash, and other assets,
subtracting its liabilities, and then dividing the result by the
number of shares outstanding.
The fund's assets are valued primarily on the basis of market
quotations. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty
days or less for which quotations are not readily available are valued
on the basis of amortized cost. This method minimizes the effect of
changes in a security's market value. Foreign securities are valued on
the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are
traded, and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars
using current exchange rates. In addition, if quotations are not
readily available, or if the values have been materially affected by
events occurring after the closing of a foreign market, assets may be
valued by another method that the Board of Trustees believes
accurately reflects fair value.
THE OFFERING PRICE of the fund is its NAV divided by the difference
between one and the applicable sales charge percentage. The maximum
sales charge is 3.00% of the offering price.
WHEN YOU SIGN YOUR ACCOUNT APPLICATION, you will be asked to certify
that your social security or taxpayer identification number is correct
and that you are not subject to 31% backup withholding for failing to
report income to the IRS. If you violate IRS regulations, the IRS can
require the fund to withhold 31% of your taxable distributions and
redemptions.
YOU MAY INITIATE MANY TRANSACTIONS BY TELEPHONE OR ELECTRONICALLY.
Fidelity will not be responsible for any losses resulting from
unauthorized transactions if it follows reasonable security procedures
designed to verify the identity of the investor. Fidelity will request
personalized security codes or other information, and may also record
calls. For transactions conducted through the Internet, Fidelity
recommends the use of an Internet browser with 128-bit encryption. You
should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately
after you receive them. If you do not want the ability to redeem and
exchange by telephone, call Fidelity for instructions.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH FIDELITY BY PHONE (for example, during
periods of unusual market activity), consider placing your order by
mail or by visiting a Fidelity Investor Center.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT to suspend the offering of shares for a
period of time.
WHEN YOU PLACE AN ORDER TO BUY SHARES, your shares will be purchased
at the next offering price or NAV, as applicable, calculated after
your investment is received in proper form. Note the following:
(small solid bullet) All of your purchases must be made in U.S.
dollars and checks must be drawn on U.S. banks.
(small solid bullet) Fidelity does not accept cash.
(small solid bullet) When making a purchase with more than one check,
each check must have a value of at least $50.
(small solid bullet) The fund reserves the right to limit the number
of checks processed at one time.
(small solid bullet) If your check does not clear, your purchase will
be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees the fund or
its transfer agent has incurred.
(small solid bullet) If you do not specify the name of the fund, your
investment will be made in the Select Money Market Portfolio until FSC
receives instructions in proper form from you.
TO AVOID THE COLLECTION PERIOD associated with check and Money Line
purchases, consider buying shares by bank wire, U.S. Postal money
order, U.S. Treasury check, Federal Reserve check, or direct deposit
instead.
FBSI ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM permitting customers with Fidelity
brokerage accounts to sell short shares of certain Select stock funds.
FMR reserves the right to suspend the short selling program at any
time in the future.
CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS that have entered into sales agreements
with FDC may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of customers by
phone, with payment to follow no later than the time when the fund is
priced on the following business day. If payment is not received by
that time, the financial institution could be held liable for
resulting fees or losses.
WHEN YOU PLACE AN ORDER TO SELL SHARES, your shares will be sold at
the next NAV calculated after your order is received in proper form,
minus the applicable trading fee for the fund. Note the following:
(small solid bullet) Normally, redemption proceeds will be mailed to
you on the next business day, but if making immediate payment could
adversely affect the fund, it may take up to seven days to pay you.
(small solid bullet) Fidelity Money Line redemptions generally will be
credited to your bank account on the second or third business day
after your phone call.
(small solid bullet) The fund may hold payment on redemptions until it
is reasonably satisfied that investments made by check or Fidelity
Money Line have been collected, which can take up to seven business
days.
(small solid bullet) Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates
postponed when the NYSE is closed (other than weekends or holidays),
when trading on the NYSE is restricted, or as permitted by the SEC.
A TRADING FEE of $7.50 or 0.75%, depending on how long you held your
shares, will be deducted from the redemption amount when you sell your
shares. For shares held 29 days or less, the trading fee is equal to
0.75% of the redemption amount. For shares held 30 days or more, the
trading fee is equal to the lesser of $7.50 or 0.75% of the redemption
amount. The trading fee is paid to the fund rather than Fidelity, and
is designed to offset the brokerage commissions, market impact, and
other costs associated with fluctuations in fund asset levels and cash
flow caused by shareholder trading.
The trading fee will be charged on exchanges out of the fund, in
addition to the exchange fee which you pay for each exchange out of
the fund unless you place your transaction through Fidelity's
automated exchange services. If you bought shares on different days,
the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of
determining the fund's trading fee. The trading fee does not apply to
shares that were acquired through reinvestment of distributions.
FIDELITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DEDUCT AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEE of
$12.00 from accounts with a value of less than $2,500 (including any
amount paid as a sales charge), subject to an annual maximum charge of
$24.00 per shareholder. It is expected that accounts will be valued on
the second Friday in November of each year. Accounts opened after
September 30 will not be subject to the fee for that year. The fee,
which is payable to the transfer agent, is designed to offset in part
the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts. This fee
will not be deducted from Fidelity brokerage accounts, retirement
accounts (except non-prototype retirement accounts), accounts using
regular investment plans, or if total assets with Fidelity exceed
$30,000. Eligibility for the $30,000 waiver is determined by
aggregating Fidelity accounts maintained by FSC or FBSI which are
registered under the same social security number or which list the
same social security number for the custodian of a Uniform
Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act account.
IF YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE FALLS BELOW $2,000, you will be given 30 days'
notice to reestablish the minimum balance. If you do not increase your
balance, Fidelity reserves the right to close your account and send
the proceeds to you. Your shares will be redeemed at the NAV, minus
the applicable trading fee, on the day your account is closed.
THE SELECT CASH RESERVES ACCOUNT no longer accepts new investments. If
you have an investment in this account, you may leave it there, redeem
your investment, or exchange your shares for shares of a Select fund
or another Fidelity fund. The 1% deferred sales charge will apply to
shares in the Select Cash Reserves Account redeemed or exchanged to
another Fidelity fund, since these shares were available for purchase
only when the 1% deferred sales charge was still in effect. If you
redeem by check from Select Cash Reserves, and the amount of the check
is greater than the value of your account, your check will be returned
to you and you may be subject to extra charges.
FIDELITY MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, such as providing
historical account documents, that are beyond the normal scope of its
services.
FDC collects the proceeds from the fund's 3.00% sales charge and may
pay a portion of them to securities dealers who have sold the fund's
shares, or to others, including banks and other financial institutions
(qualified recipients), under special arrangements in connection with
FDC's sales activities. The sales charge paid to qualified recipients
is 1.50% of the fund's offering price.
FDC may, at its own expense, provide promotional incentives to
qualified recipients who support the sale of shares of the fund
without reimbursement from the fund. In some instances, these
incentives may be offered only to certain institutions whose
representatives provide services in connection with the sale or
expected sale of significant amounts of shares.
EXCHANGE RESTRICTIONS
As a shareholder, you have the privilege of exchanging shares of the
fund for shares of other Fidelity funds. However, you should note the
following:
(small solid bullet) The fund you are exchanging into must be
available for sale in your state.
(small solid bullet) You may only exchange between accounts that are
registered in the same name, address, and taxpayer identification
number.
(small solid bullet) Before exchanging into a fund, read its
prospectus.
(small solid bullet) If you exchange into a fund with a sales charge,
you pay the percentage-point difference between that fund's sales
charge and any sales charge you have previously paid in connection
with the shares you are exchanging. For example, if you had already
paid a sales charge of 2% on your shares and you exchange them into a
fund with a 3% sales charge, you would pay an additional 1% sales
charge.
(small solid bullet) Exchanges may have tax consequences for you.
(small solid bullet) Although there is no limit on the number of
exchanges you may make between the Select funds, the funds reserve the
right to enact limitations in the future. Because excessive trading
can hurt fund performance and shareholders, the fund reserves the
right to temporarily or permanently terminate the exchange privilege
of any investor who makes more than four exchanges out of the Select
funds to other Fidelity funds per calendar year. Accounts under common
ownership or control, including accounts with the same taxpayer
identification number, will be counted together for purposes of the
four exchange limit.
(small solid bullet) The fund reserves the right to reject exchange
purchases in excess of 1% of its net assets or $1 million, whichever
is less. For purposes of this policy, accounts under common ownership
or control will be aggregated.
(small solid bullet) The exchange limit may be modified for accounts
in certain institutional retirement plans to conform to plan exchange
limits and Department of Labor regulations. See your plan materials
for further information.
(small solid bullet) The fund reserves the right to refuse exchange
purchases by any person or group if, in FMR's judgment, the fund would
be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its
investment objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be
adversely affected.
(small solid bullet) Your exchanges may be restricted or refused if
the fund receives or anticipates simultaneous orders affecting
significant portions of the fund's assets. In particular, a pattern of
exchanges that coincides with a "market timing" strategy may be
disruptive to the fund.
(small solid bullet) For cash management purposes, up to three
business days may pass before exchange proceeds are paid from one
Select fund to another, or to another Fidelity equity fund. Exchange
proceeds are recorded in your shareholder account when the transaction
occurs. Therefore, when you exchange from a stock fund to the money
market fund, you will earn money market dividends immediately. When
you exchange from the money market fund to a stock fund, you will not
earn money market dividends during the three business-day period. This
policy could increase the volatility of the money market fund's yield.
Although the fund will attempt to give you prior notice whenever it is
reasonably able to do so, it may impose these restrictions at any
time. The fund reserves the right to terminate or modify the exchange
privilege in the future.
OTHER FUNDS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT EXCHANGE RESTRICTIONS, and may impose
administrative fees of up to 1.00%, and trading fees of up to 1.50% of
the amount exchanged. Check each fund's prospectus for details.
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
REDUCTIONS. The fund's sales charge may be reduced if you invest
directly with Fidelity or through prototype or prototype-like
retirement plans sponsored by FMR or FMR Corp. The amount you invest,
plus the value of your account, must fall within the ranges shown
below. Purchases made with assistance or intervention from a financial
intermediary are not eligible for a sales charge reduction. Call
Fidelity to see if your purchase qualifies.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Sales Charge
Ranges As a % of Offering Price As an approximate % of net amount invested
$0 - 249,999 3.00% 3.09%
$250,000 - 499,999 2.00% 2.04%
$500,000 - 999,999 1.00% 1.01%
$1,000,000 or more none none
</TABLE>
The sales charge will also be reduced by the percentage of any sales
charge you previously paid on investments in other Fidelity funds or
by the percentage of any sales charge you would have paid if the
reductions in the table above had not existed. These sales charge
credits only apply to purchases made in one of the ways listed below,
and only if you continuously owned Fidelity fund shares, maintained a
Fidelity brokerage core account, or participated in The CORPORATEplan
for Retirement Program.
1. By exchange from another Fidelity fund.
2. With proceeds from a transaction in a Fidelity brokerage core
account, including any free credit balance, core money market fund, or
margin availability, to the extent such proceeds were derived from
redemption proceeds from another Fidelity fund.
3. As a participant in The CORPORATEplan for Retirement Program when
shares are purchased through plan-qualified loan repayments, and for
exchanges into and out of the Managed Income Portfolio.
WAIVERS. The fund's sales charge will not apply:
1. If you buy shares as part of an employee benefit plan having more
than 200 eligible employees or a minimum of $3 million in plan assets
invested in Fidelity mutual funds.
2. To shares in a Fidelity account purchased with the proceeds of a
distribution from an employee benefit plan, provided that at the time
of the distribution, the employer or its affiliate maintained a plan
that both qualified for waiver (1) above and had at least some of its
assets invested in Fidelity-managed products. (Distributions
transferred to an IRA account must be transferred within 60 days from
the date of the distribution. All other distributions must be
transferred directly into a Fidelity account).
3. If you are a charitable organization (as defined for purposes of
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) investing $100,000 or
more.
4. If you purchase shares for a charitable remainder trust or life
income pool established for the benefit of a charitable organization
(as defined for purposes of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code).
5. If you are an investor participating in the Fidelity Trust
Portfolios program.
6. To shares purchased by a mutual fund for which FMR or an affiliate
serves as investment manager.
7. To shares purchased through Portfolio Advisory Services or Fidelity
Charitable Advisory Services.
8. If you are a current or former trustee or officer of a Fidelity
fund or a current or retired officer, director, or regular employee of
FMR Corp. or Fidelity International Limited or their direct or
indirect subsidiaries (a Fidelity trustee or employee), the spouse of
a Fidelity trustee or employee, a Fidelity trustee or employee acting
as custodian for a minor child, or a person acting as trustee of a
trust for the sole benefit of the minor child of a Fidelity trustee or
employee.
9. If you are a bank trust officer, registered representative, or
other employee of a qualified recipient, as defined on page .
These waivers must be qualified through FDC in advance. More detailed
information about waivers (1), (2), (5) and (9) is contained in the
Statement of Additional Information. A representative of your plan or
organization should call Fidelity for more information.
This prospectus is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.
FIDELITY SELECT BUSINESS SERVICES AND OUTSOURCING PORTFOLIO
A FUND OF FIDELITY SELECT PORTFOLIOS(registered trademark)
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
JANUARY 19, 1998
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus but
should be read in conjunction with the fund's current Prospectus
(dated January 19, 1998). Please retain this document for future
reference. To obtain a free additional copy of this SAI or a
prospectus, please call Fidelity at 1-800-544-8888.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Investment Policies and Limitations
Portfolio Transactions
Valuation
Performance
Additional Purchase, Exchange and Redemption Information
Distributions and Taxes
FMR
Trustees and Officers
Management Contract
Contracts with FMR Affiliates
Description of the Trust
Appendix
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISERS
Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (FMR U.K.)
Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc. (FMR Far East)
DISTRIBUTOR
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC)
TRANSFER AGENT
Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC)
BSO-ptb-0198
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in
the Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy
or limitation states a maximum percentage of the fund's assets that
may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy
regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation
will be determined immediately after and as a result of the fund's
acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any
subsequent change in values, net assets, or other circumstances will
not be considered when determining whether the investment complies
with the fund's investment policies and limitations.
The fund's fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be
changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ( the
1940 Act) of the fund. However, except for the fundamental
investment limitations listed below, the investment policies and
limitations described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be
changed without shareholder approval.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS SET
FORTH IN THEIR ENTIRETY. THE FUND MAY NOT:
(1) issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment
Company Act of 1940;
(2) borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary
or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount
not exceeding 33% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed)
less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to
exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including
Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33%
limitation;
(3) underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that
the fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities;
(4) purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, less than
25% of the fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of
issuers principally engaged in the business activities having the
specific characteristics denoted by the fund;
(5) purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments
backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real
estate business);
(6) purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result
of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
prevent the fund from purchasing or selling options and futures
contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed
by physical commodities); or
(7) lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more
than 33% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this
limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to
repurchase agreements.
(8) The fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment
policy or limitation, invest all of its assets in the securities of a
single open-end management investment company managed by Fidelity
Management & Research Company or an affiliate or successor with
substantially the same fundamental investment objective, policies, and
limitations as the fund.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUND'S NON-FUNDAMENTAL LIMITATIONS WHICH MAY BE
CHANGED WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.
(i) In order to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the
fund currently intends to comply with certain diversification limits
imposed by Subchapter M.
(ii) The fund does not currently intend to sell securities short,
unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in
kind and amount to the securities sold short, and provided that
transactions in futures contracts and options are not deemed to
constitute selling securities short.
(iii) The fund does not currently intend to purchase securities on
margin, except that the fund may obtain such short-term credits as are
necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that margin
payments in connection with futures contracts and options on futures
contracts shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
(iv) The fund does not currently intend to hedge more than 40% of its
total assets with short sales against the box under normal conditions.
(v) The fund may borrow money only (a) from a bank or from a
registered investment company or portfolio for which FMR or an
affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) by engaging in reverse
repurchase agreements with any party (reverse repurchase agreements
are treated as borrowings for purposes of fundamental investment
limitation (2)). The fund will not borrow from other funds advised by
FMR or its affiliates if total outstanding borrowings immediately
after such borrowing would exceed 15% of the fund's total assets.
(vi) The fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if,
as a result, more than 10% of its net assets would be invested in
securities that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to
legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot be
sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at
approximately the prices at which they are valued.
(vii) The fund does not currently intend to lend assets other than
securities to other parties, except by (a) lending money (up to 5% of
the fund's net assets) to a registered investment company or portfolio
for which Fidelity Management & Research Company or an affiliate
serves as investment adviser, or (b) acquiring loans, loan
participations, or other forms of direct debt instruments and, in
connection therewith, assuming any associated unfunded commitments of
the sellers. (This limitation does not apply to purchases of debt
securities or to repurchase agreements.)
(viii) The fund does not currently intend to invest all of its assets
in the securities of a single open-end management investment company
managed by Fidelity Management & Research Company or an affiliate or
successor with substantially the same fundamental investment
objective, policies, and limitations as the fund.
For purposes of limitation (i), Subchapter M generally requires a fund
to invest no more than 25% of its total assets in securities of any
one issuer and to invest at least 50% of its total assets so that no
more than 5% of a fund's total assets are invested in securities of
any one issuer. However, Subchapter M allows unlimited investments in
cash, cash items, government securities (as defined in Subchapter M)
and securities of other investment companies. These tax requirements
are generally applied at the end of each quarter of a fund's taxable
year.
With respect to limitation (vi), if through a change in values, net
assets, or other circumstances, the fund were in a position where more
than 10% of its net assets was invested in illiquid securities, it
would consider appropriate steps to protect liquidity.
For the fund's limitations on futures and options transactions, see
the section entitled "Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions"
beginning on page .
FUND DESCRIPTION
THE FUND INVESTS PRIMARILY WITHIN THE INVESTMENT AREAS DESCRIBED
BELOW.
BUSINESS SERVICES AND OUTSOURCING PORTFOLIO: companies that provide
business-related services to companies and other organizations.
Business-related services may include for example, data processing,
consulting, outsourcing, temporary employment, market research or
database services, printing, advertising, computer programming, credit
reporting, claims collection, mailing and photocopying. Typically,
these services are provided on a contract or fee basis.
The success of companies that provide business-related services is, in
part, subject to continued demand for such services as companies and
other organizations seek alternative, cost-effective means to meet
their economic goals. Competitive pressures, such as technological
developments, fixed-rate pricing, and the ability to attract and
retain skilled employees, also may have a significant impact on the
financial condition of companies in the business services and
outsourcing industry.
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of
instruments in which the fund may invest, strategies FMR may employ in
pursuit of the fund's investment objective, and a summary of related
risks. FMR may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these
techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the fund achieve
its goal.
AFFILIATED BANK TRANSACTIONS. A fund may engage in transactions
with financial institutions that are, or may be considered to be,
"affiliated persons" of the fund under the 1940 Act. These
transactions may in volve repurchase agreements with custodian
banks; short-term obligations of, and repurchase agreements with, the
50 largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); municipal securities;
U.S. Government securities with affiliated financial institutions that
are primary dealers in these securities; short-term currency
transactions; and short-term borrowings. In accordance with exemptive
orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the
Board of Trustees has established and periodically reviews procedures
applicable to transactions involving affiliated financial
institutions.
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES are investment companies that issue
a fixed number of shares which trade on a stock exchange or
over-the-counter. Closed-end investment companies are professionally
managed and may invest in any type of security. Shares of closed-end
investment companies may trade at a premium or a discount to their net
asset value A fund may purchase shares of closed-end investment
companies to facilitate investment in certain foreign countries.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred
stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the
holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock
(or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange
ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or
conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain
circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If
a convertible security held by a fund is called for redemption or
conversion, the fund could be required to tender it for redemption,
convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third
party.
Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or
loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide
yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower
than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher
yield, convertible securities generally sell at prices above their
"conversion value," which is the current market value of the stock to
be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion
value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time
depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and
interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value,
convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent
because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of
principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.
However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of
the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same
extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the
underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible
securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time,
however, the difference between the market value of convertible
securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that
the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the
same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because
convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their
value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest
rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk,
and are often lower-quality securities.
EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN MARKETS. Foreign securities, foreign currencies,
and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign
operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks
inherent in U.S. investments. The value of securities denominated in
foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to
such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the
U.S. dollar.
Foreign investments involve a risk of local political, economic, or
social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic
developments, and may be affected by actions of foreign governments
adverse to the interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include
the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets,
confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the
ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or
other government intervention. There is no assurance that FMR will be
able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects.
These risks are magnified for investments in developing countries,
which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on
only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small
number of securities.
Economies of particular countries or areas of the world may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the economy of the United States.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S.
markets. It is anticipated that in most cases the best available
market for foreign securities will be on an exchange or in
over-the-counter markets located outside of the United States. Foreign
stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are
generally not as developed as those in the United States, and
securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in
developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than
securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading
practices, including those involving securities settlement where fund
assets may be released prior to receipt of payment, may result in
increased risk in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a
foreign broker-dealer, and may involve substantial delays. In
addition, the costs of foreign investing, including withholding taxes,
brokerage commissions and custodial costs, are generally higher than
for U.S. investors. In general, there is less overall governmental
supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and
listed companies than in the United States. It may also be difficult
to enforce legal rights in foreign countries. Foreign issuers are
generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial
reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those
applicable to U.S. issuers.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the
United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such
transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less
liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject
to such restrictions.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other "hybrid" forms of
ADRs , including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global
Depositary Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of
shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by
depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the
United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by
a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer's home
country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the
underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various
services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate
actions. ADRs are alternative s to directly purchasing the
underlying foreign securities in their national markets and
currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks
associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks
include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic
risks of the underlying issuer's country.
The risks of foreign investing may be magnified for investments in
emerging markets. Security prices in emerging markets can be
significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets,
reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established
markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets
may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of
nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and
prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less
protection of property rights than more developed countries. The
economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a
few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global
trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt
burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small
number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to
increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of
holdings difficult or impossible at times.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. A fund may conduct foreign currency
transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by
entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign
currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge
a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the
difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling
various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign
currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should
the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward
contracts are customized transactions that require a specific amount
of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a
specific date or range of dates in the future. Forward contracts are
generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency
traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The
parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the
contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and
complete the contemplated currency exchange. A fund may use currency
forward contracts for any purpose consistent with its investment
objective.
The following discussion summarizes the principal currency management
strategies involving forward contracts that could be used by a fund. A
fund may also use swap agreements, indexed securities, and options and
futures contracts relating to foreign currencies for the same
purposes.
A "settlement hedge" or "transaction hedge" is designed to protect a
fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the
date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is
made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or
sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying
security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars "locks in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts to purchase or
sell a foreign currency may also be used by a fund in anticipation of
future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign
currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected
by FMR.
A fund may also use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in
the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For
example, if a fund owned securities denominated in pounds sterling, it
could enter into a forward contract to sell pounds sterling in return
for U.S. dollars to hedge against possible declines in the pound's
value. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a "position hedge,"
would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations,
but would not offset changes in security values caused by other
factors. A fund could also hedge the position by selling another
currency expected to perform similarly to the pound sterling. This
type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a "proxy hedge," could offer
advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would
not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S.
dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to
hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged
securities are denominated.
A fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment
exposure from one currency into another. This may include shifting
exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign
currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes
known as a "cross-hedge," will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to
the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that
is purchased, much as if a fund had sold a security denominated in one
currency and purchased an equivalent security denominated in another.
Cross-hedges protect against losses resulting from a decline in the
hedged currency, but will cause a fund to assume the risk of
fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases.
Under certain conditions, SEC guidelines require mutual funds to set
aside appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account to
cover currency forward contracts. As required by SEC guidelines, a
fund will segregate assets to cover currency forward contracts, if
any, whose purpose is essentially speculative. A fund will not
segregate assets to cover forward contracts entered into for hedging
purposes, including settlement hedges, position hedges, and proxy
hedges.
Successful use of currency management strategies will depend on FMR's
skill in analyzing currency values. Currency management strategies may
substantially change a fund's investment exposure to changes in
currency exchange rates and could result in losses to a fund if
currencies do not perform as FMR anticipates. For example, if a
currency's value rose at a time when FMR had hedged a fund by selling
that currency in exchange for dollars, a fund would not participate in
the currency's appreciation. If FMR hedges currency exposure through
proxy hedges, a fund could realize currency losses from both the hedge
and the security position if the two currencies do not move in tandem.
Similarly, if FMR increases a fund's exposure to a foreign currency
and that currency's value declines, a fund will realize a loss. There
is no assurance that FMR's use of currency management strategies will
be advantageous to a fund or that it will hedge at appropriate times.
FUND'S RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. The fund does not intend to direct or
administer the day-to-day operations of any company. A fund,
however, may exercise its rights as a shareholder and may communicate
its views on important matters of policy to management, the Board of
Directors, and shareholders of a company when FMR determines that such
matters could have a significant effect on the value of the fund's
investment in the company. The activities in which a fund may
engage, either individually or in conjunction with others, may
include, among others, supporting or opposing proposed changes in a
company's corporate structure or business activities; seeking changes
in a company's directors or management; seeking changes in a company's
direction or policies; seeking the sale or reorganization of the
company or a portion of its assets; or supporting or opposing
third - party takeover efforts. This area of corporate activity
is increasingly prone to litigation and it is possible that the fund
could be involved in lawsuits related to such activities. FMR will
monitor such activities with a view to mitigating, to the extent
possible, the risk of litigation against a fund and the risk of
actual liability if a fund is involved in litigation. No
guarantee can be made, however, that litigation against a fund
will not be undertaken or liabilities incurred.
FUTURES AND OPTIONS. The following paragraphs pertain to
futures and options: Asset Coverage for Futures and Options Positions,
Combined Positions, Correlation of Price Changes, Futures Contracts,
Futures Margin Payments, Limitations on Futures and Options
Transactions, Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts, Options and
Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies, OTC Options, Purchasing Put
and Call Options, and Writing Put and Call Options.
ASSET COVERAGE FOR FUTURES AND OPTIONS POSITIONS. The fund will comply
with guidelines established by the S EC with respect to coverage
of options and futures strategies by mutual funds and , if the
guidelines so require , will set aside appropriate liquid assets
in a segregated custodial account in the amount prescribed. Securities
held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures or
option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other
suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation
of a large percentage of the fund's assets could impede portfolio
management or the fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other
current obligations.
COMBINED POSITIONS involve purchasing and writ ing
options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures
or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of
the overall position. For example, purchasing a put option and
writ ing a call option on the same underlying instrument
would construct a combined position whose risk and return
characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another
possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one
strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, to reduce the
risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price
increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades,
they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to
open and close out.
CORRELATION OF PRICE CHANGES. Because there are a limited number of
types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely
that the standardized contracts available will not match the fund's
current or anticipated investments exactly. A fund may invest
in options and futures contracts based on securities with different
issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in
which the fund typically invests, which involves a risk that
the options or futures position will not track the performance of the
fund's other investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their
underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the
fund's investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by
such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates,
changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time
remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect
security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result
from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and
the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and
futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price
fluctuation limits or trading halts. The fund may purchase or sell
options and futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the
securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to
attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the
contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in
all cases. If price changes in the fund's options or futures positions
are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may
fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not
offset by gains in other investments.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. In purchas ing a futures contract,
the buyer agrees to purchase a specified underlying instrument
at a specified future date. In selling a futures contract,
the seller agrees to sell a specified underlying
instrument at a specified future date. The price at which the purchase
and sale will take place is fixed when the buyer and seller
enter into the contract. Some currently available futures
contracts are based on specific securities, such as U.S. Treasury
bonds or notes, and some are based on indices of securities prices,
such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500). Futures can be held
until their delivery dates, or can be closed out before then if a
liquid secondary market is available.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in
tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore,
purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase the fund's exposure
to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying
instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument
directly. When the fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the
value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction
contrary to the market. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will
tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much
as if the underlying instrument had been sold.
FUTURES MARGIN PAYMENTS. The purchaser or seller of a futures contract
is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless
the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the
purchaser and seller are required to deposit "initial margin" with a
futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (FCM), when the
contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically equal
to a percentage of the contract's value. If the value of either
party's position declines, that party will be required to make
additional "variation margin" payments to settle the change in value
on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive
all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments
do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the
fund's investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy of an
FCM that holds margin on behalf of the fund, the fund may be entitled
to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount
received by the FCM's other customers, potentially resulting in losses
to the fund.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. The fund intends to
file a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the
term "commodity pool operator" with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association, which regulate
trading in the futures markets, before engaging in any purchases or
sales of futures contracts or options on futures contracts. The fund
intends to comply with Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act,
which limits the extent to which the fund can commit assets to initial
margin deposits and option premiums.
In addition, the fund will not: (a) sell futures contracts, purchase
put options, or write call options if, as a result, more than 25% of
the fund's total assets would be hedged with futures and options under
normal conditions; (b) purchase futures contracts or write put options
if, as a result, the fund's total obligations upon settlement or
exercise of purchased futures contracts and written put options would
exceed 25% of its total assets; or (c) purchase call options if, as a
result, the current value of option premiums for call options
purchased by the fund would exceed 5% of the fund's total assets.
These limitations do not apply to options attached to or acquired or
traded together with their underlying securities, and do not apply to
securities that incorporate features similar to options.
The above limitations on the fund's investments in futures contracts
and options, and the fund's policies regarding futures contracts and
options discussed elsewhere in this SAI, may be changed as regulatory
agencies permit.
LIQUIDITY OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES CONTRACTS. There is no assurance a
liquid secondary market will exist for any particular options or
futures contract at any particular time. Options may have relatively
low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are not close
to the underlying instrument's current price. In addition, exchanges
may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures
contracts, and may halt trading if a contract's price moves upward or
downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days
when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is
imposed, it may be impossible for the fund to enter into new positions
or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a
contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or
otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable
positions, and potentially could require the fund to continue to hold
a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its
value. As a result, the fund's access to other assets held to cover
its options or futures positions could also be impaired.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCIES. Currency futures
contracts are similar to forward currency exchange contracts, except
that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and
are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency
futures contracts call for payment or delivery in U.S. dollars. The
underlying instrument of a currency option may be a foreign currency,
which generally is purchased or delivered in exchange for U.S.
dollars, or may be a futures contract. The purchaser of a currency
call obtains the right to purchase the underlying currency, and the
purchaser of a currency put obtains the right to sell the underlying
currency.
The uses and risks of currency options and futures are similar to
options and futures relating to securities or indices, as discussed
above. A fund may purchase and sell currency futures and may
purchase and write currency options to increase or decrease its
exposure to different foreign currencies. Currency options may
also be purchase d or written in conjunction with each
other or with currency futures or forward contracts. Currency futures
and options values can be expected to correlate with exchange rates,
but may not reflect other factors that affect the value of a
fund's investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a
Yen-denominated security from a decline in the Yen, but will not
protect a fund against a price decline resulting from
deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness. Because the value of
a fund's foreign-denominated investments changes in response to
many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to
match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the
fund's investments exactly over time.
OTC OPTIONS. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized
with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract
size, and strike price, the terms of over-the-counter (OTC) options
(options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through
negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this
type of arrangement allows the purchaser or writer greater
flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options generally
involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which are
guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they
are traded.
PURCHASING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. By purchasing a put option, the
purchaser obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell
the option's underlying instrument at a fixed strike price. In return
for this right, the purchaser pays the current market price for
the option (known as the option premium). Options have various types
of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of
securities prices, and futures contracts. The purchaser may
terminate its position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by
exercising the option. If the option is allowed to expire, the
purchaser will lose the entire premium. If the option is
exercised, the purchaser completes the sale of the
underlying instrument at the strike price. A purchaser may also
terminate a put option position by closing it out in the secondary
market at its current price, if a liquid secondary market exists.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if
security prices fall substantially. However, if the underlying
instrument's price does not fall enough to offset the cost of
purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss
(limited to the amount of the premium, plus related transaction
costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put
options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right
to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the
option's strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate
in potential price increases of the underlying instrument with risk
limited to the cost of the option if security prices fall. At the same
time, the buyer can expect to suffer a loss if security prices do not
rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.
WRITING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. The writer of a put or call
option takes the opposite side of the transaction from the
option's purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, the
writer assumes the obligation to pay the strike price for the
option's underlying instrument if the other party to the option
chooses to exercise it. The writer may seek to terminate
a position in a put option before exercise by closing out the
option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary
market is not liquid for a put option, however, the writer must
continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is
outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to set
aside assets to cover its position. When writing an option on a
futures contract, the fund will be required to make margin payments to
an FCM as described above for futures contracts.
If security prices rise, a put writer would generally expect to
profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the
premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it
is likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able
to close out the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the
put writer would expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less
than the loss from purchasing the underlying instrument directly,
however, because the premium received for writing the option should
mitigate the effects of the decline.
Writing a call option obligates the fund to sell or deliver the
option's underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon
exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options
are similar to those of writing put options, except that writing calls
generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall.
Through receipt of the option premium, a call writer mitigates the
effects of a price decline. At the same time, because a call writer
must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for
the strike price, even if its current value is greater, a call writer
gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS are investments that cannot be sold or disposed
of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at
which they are valued. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
FMR determines the liquidity of the fund's investments and, through
reports from FMR, the Board monitors investments in illiquid
instruments. In determining the liquidity of the fund's investments,
FMR may consider various factors, including (1) the frequency of
trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective
purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a
market, (4) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender
features), and (5) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including
the ability to assign or offset the fund's rights and obligations
relating to the investment).
Investments currently considered by FMR to be illiquid include
repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to re payment of
principal and payment of interest within seven days,
over-the-counter options, and non-government stripped fixed-rate
mortgage-backed securities. Also, FMR may determine some restricted
securities, government-stripped fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities,
loans and other direct debt instruments, emerging market securities,
and swap agreements to be illiquid. However, with respect to
over-the-counter options the fund writes, all or a portion of the
value of the underlying instrument may be illiquid depending on the
assets held to cover the option and the nature and terms of any
agreement the fund may have to close out the option before expiration.
In the absence of market quotations, illiquid investments are priced
at fair value as determined in good faith by a committee appointed by
the Board of Trustees.
INDEXED SECURITIES are instruments whose prices are indexed to the
prices of other securities, securities indices, currencies, precious
metals or other commodities, or other financial indicators. Indexed
securities typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits
whose value at maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a
specific instrument or statistic.
Currency-indexed securities typically are short-term to
intermediate-term debt securities whose maturity values or interest
rates are determined by reference to the values of one or more
specified foreign currencies, and may offer higher yields than U.S.
dollar-denominated securities. Currency-indexed securities may be
positively or negatively indexed; that is, their maturity value may
increase when the specified currency value increases, resulting in a
security that performs similarly to a foreign-denominated instrument,
or their maturity value may decline when foreign currencies increase,
resulting in a security whose price characteristics are similar to a
put on the underlying currency. Currency-indexed securities may also
have prices that depend on the values of a number of different foreign
currencies relative to each other.
The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on
the performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to
which they are indexed, and may also be influenced by interest rate
changes in the United States and abroad. Indexed securities may be
more volatile than the underlying instruments. Indexed securities are
also subject to the credit risks associated with the issuer of the
security, and their values may decline substantially if the issuer's
creditworthiness deteriorates. Recent issuers of indexed securities
have included banks, corporations, and certain U.S. Government
agencies.
INTERFUND BORROWING AND LENDING PROGRAM. Pursuant to an exemptive
order issued by the SEC, a fund may lend money to, and borrow money
from, other funds advised by FMR or its affiliates. A fund will lend
through the program only when the returns are higher than those
available from an investment in repurchase agreements, and will borrow
through the program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the
cost of bank loans. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend
overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be
called on one day's notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a
higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed.
Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost
investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.
LOANS AND OTHER DIRECT DEBT INSTRUMENTS . Direct Debt
instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate,
governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates
(loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services
(trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. Direct debt
instruments involve a risk of loss in case of default or insolvency of
the borrower and may offer less legal protection to the
purchaser in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. In
addition, loan participations involve a risk of insolvency of the
lending bank or other financial intermediary. Direct debt instruments
may also include standby financing commitments that obligate the
purchaser to supply additional cash to the borrower on demand.
LOWER-QUALITY DEBT SECURITIES. L ower-quality debt securities
have poor protection with respect to the payment of interest and
repayment of principal or may be in default. These securities are
often considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of loss or
price changes due to changes in the issuer's capacity to pay. The
market prices of lower-quality debt securities may fluctuate more than
those of higher-quality debt securities and may decline significantly
in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of
rising interest rates.
While the market for high-yield corporate debt securities has been in
existence for many years and has weathered previous economic
downturns, the 1980s brought a dramatic increase in the use of such
securities to fund highly leveraged corporate acquisitions and
restructurings. Past experience may not provide an accurate indication
of the future performance of the high-yield bond market, especially
during periods of economic recession.
The market for lower-quality debt securities may be thinner and less
active than that for higher-quality debt securities, which can
adversely affect the prices at which the former are sold. If market
quotations are not available, lower-quality debt securities will be
valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board of
Trustees, including the use of outside pricing services. Judgment
plays a greater role in valuing high-yield debt securities than is the
case for securities for which more external sources for quotations and
last-sale information are available. Adverse publicity and changing
investor perceptions may affect the liquidity of lower-quality
debt securities and the ability of outside pricing services to
value lower-quality debt securities.
Since the risk of default is higher for lower-quality debt securities,
FMR's research and credit analysis are an especially important part of
managing securities of this type . FMR will attempt to identify
those issuers of high-yielding securities whose financial condition is
adequate to meet future obligations, has improved, or is expected to
improve in the future. FMR's analysis focuses on relative values based
on such factors as interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage,
earnings prospects, and the experience and managerial strength of the
issuer.
A fund may choose, at its expense or in conjunction with
others, to pursue litigation or otherwise to exercise its rights as a
security holder to seek to protect the interests of security holders
if it determines this to be in the best interest of the fund's
shareholders.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS. Equity real estate investment trusts
own real estate properties, while mortgage real estate investment
trusts make construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans.
Their value may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying
property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property
taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as
those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are dependent
upon management skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy
cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the
possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under
the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the
1940 Act.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, a fund
purchases a security and simultaneously commits to sell that security
back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price. The resale price
reflects the purchase price plus an agreed-upon incremental amount
which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased
security. As protect ion against the risk that the
original seller will not fulfill its obligation, the securities are
held in a separate account at a bank, marked-to-market daily,
and maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus the
accrued incremental amount. While it does not presently appear
possible to eliminate all risks from these transactions (particularly
the possibility that the value of the underlying security will be less
than the resale price, as well as delays and costs to the fund in
connection with bankruptcy proceedings), the fund's will engage
in repurchase agreement transactions with parties whose
creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by FMR.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES generally can be sold in privately negotiated
transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, or in a registered public offering. Where
registration is required, the fund may be obligated to pay all or part
of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse
between the time it decides to seek registration and the time it may
be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration
statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to
develop, the fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed
when it decided to seek registration of the security.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a reverse repurchase agreement,
a fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank
or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that
security at a n agreed-upon price and time. While a reverse
repurchase agreement is outstanding, a fund will maintain
appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account to cover
its obligation under the agreement. The fund will enter into reverse
repurchase agreements with parties whose creditworthiness has been
reviewed and found satisfactory by FMR. Such transactions may
increase fluctuations in the market value of fund assets and may be
viewed as a form of leverage.
SECURITIES LENDING. A fund may lend securities to parties such
as broker-dealers or institutional investors, including Fidelity
Brokerage Services, Inc. (FBSI). FBSI is a member of the New York
Stock Exchange and a subsidiary of FMR Corp.
Securities lending allows a fund to retain ownership of the
securities loaned and, at the same time, to earn additional income.
Since there may be delays in the recovery of loaned securities, or
even a loss of rights in collateral supplied should the borrower fail
financially, loans will be made only to parties deemed by FMR to be of
good standing. Furthermore, they will only be made if, in FMR's
judgment, the consideration to be earned from such loans would justify
the risk.
FMR understands that it is the current view of the SEC Staff that a
fund may engage in loan transactions only under the following
conditions: (1) the fund must receive 100% collateral in the form of
cash or cash equivalents (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills or notes) from the
borrower; (2) the borrower must increase the collateral whenever the
market value of the securities loaned (determined on a daily basis)
rises above the value of the collateral; (3) after giving notice, the
fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the fund must
receive reasonable interest on the loan or a flat fee from the
borrower, as well as amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest, or
other distributions on the securities loaned and to any increase in
market value; (5) the fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in
connection with the loan; and (6) the Board of Trustees must be able
to vote proxies on the securities loaned, either by terminating the
loan or by entering into an alternative arrangement with the borrower.
Cash received through loan transactions may be invested in other
eligible securities. Investing this cash subjects that investment,
as well as the security loaned, to market forces (i.e., capital
appreciation or depreciation).
SHORT SALES "AGAINST THE BOX." The fund may sell securities short when
it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind or
amount to the securities sold short. Such short sales are known as
short sales "against the box." If the fund enters into a short sale
against the box, it will be required to set aside securities
equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or
securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will
be required to hold such securities while the short sale is
outstanding. The fund will incur transaction costs, including interest
expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short
sales against the box.
SWAP AGREEMENTS. Swap agreements can be individually negotiated and
structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of
investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap
agreements may increase or decrease a fund's exposure to long-
or short-term interest rates securities (in the United States
or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate
borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation
rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by
a variety of names.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments
only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a
fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap
obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified
interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an
interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a
specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest
rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift a fund's investment exposure
from one type of investment to another. For example, if the fund
agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign
currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the fund's
exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign
currency and interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to
buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap
agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a
fund's investments and its share price.
The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is
the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors
that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the fund. If a
swap agreement calls for payments by the fund, the fund must be
prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the
counterparty's creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap
agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
A fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under
a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by
entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a
similarly creditworthy party.
A fund will maintain appropriate liquid assets in a segregated
custodial account to cover its current obligations under swap
agreements. If a fund enters into a swap agreement on a net
basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to
the excess, if any, of the fund's accrued obligations under the swap
agreement over the accrued amount the fund is entitled to receive
under the agreement. If a fund enters into a swap agreement on
other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to
the full amount of the fund's accrued obligations under the agreement.
WARRANTS . Warrants are instruments which entitle the
holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific
period of time. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily
correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security. The
price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its
underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for
capital appreciation as well as capital loss.
Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with
respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in
the assets of the issuing company. A warrant ceases to have value if
it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can
make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
All orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed
on behalf of the fund by FMR pursuant to authority contained in the
management contract. If FMR grants investment management authority to
the sub-advisers (see the section entitled "Management Contract"), the
sub-advisers are authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale
of portfolio securities, and will do so in accordance with the
policies described below. FMR is also responsible for the placement of
transaction orders for other investment companies and accounts for
which it or its affiliates act as investment adviser. In selecting
broker-dealers, subject to applicable limitations of the federal
securities laws, FMR considers various relevant factors, including,
but not limited to: the size and type of the transaction; the nature
and character of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold;
the execution efficiency, settlement capability, and financial
condition of the broker-dealer firm; the broker-dealer's execution
services rendered on a continuing basis; the reasonableness of any
commissions; and arrangements for payment of fund expenses. Generally,
commissions for investments traded on foreign exchanges will be higher
than for investments traded on U.S. exchanges and may not be subject
to negotiation.
The fund may execute portfolio transactions with broker-dealers who
provide research and execution services to the fund or other accounts
over which FMR or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. Such
services may include advice concerning the value of securities; the
advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities; and
the availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of
securities. In addition, such broker-dealers may furnish analyses and
reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors
and trends, portfolio strategy, and performance of accounts; effect
securities transactions, and perform functions incidental thereto
(such as clearance and settlement). The selection of such
broker-dealers generally is made by FMR (to the extent possible
consistent with execution considerations) in accordance with a ranking
of broker-dealers determined periodically by FMR's investment staff
based upon the quality of research and execution services provided.
The receipt of research from broker-dealers that execute transactions
on behalf of the fund may be useful to FMR in rendering investment
management services to the fund or its other clients, and conversely,
such research provided by broker-dealers who have executed transaction
orders on behalf of other FMR clients may be useful to FMR in carrying
out its obligations to the fund. The receipt of such research has not
reduced FMR's normal independent research activities; however, it
enables FMR to avoid the additional expenses that could be incurred if
FMR tried to develop comparable information through its own efforts.
Subject to applicable limitations of the federal securities laws,
broker-dealers may receive commissions for agency transactions that
are in excess of the amount of commissions charged by other
broker-dealers in recognition of their research and execution
services. In order to cause the fund to pay such higher commissions,
FMR must determine in good faith that such commissions are reasonable
in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services
provided by such executing broker-dealers, viewed in terms of a
particular transaction or FMR's overall responsibilities to the fund
and its other clients. In reaching this determination, FMR will not
attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and research
services provided, or to determine what portion of the compensation
should be related to those services.
FMR is authorized to use research services provided by and to place
portfolio transactions with brokerage firms that have provided
assistance in the distribution of shares of the fund or shares of
other Fidelity funds to the extent permitted by law. FMR may use
research services provided by and place agency transactions with
National Financial Services Corporation (NFSC) and Fidelity Brokerage
Services (FBS), indirect subsidiaries of FMR Corp., if the commissions
are fair, reasonable, and comparable to commissions charged by
non-affiliated, qualified brokerage firms for similar services. From
September 1992 through December 1994, FBS operated under the name
Fidelity Brokerage Services Limited (FBSL). As of January 1995, FBSL
was converted to an unlimited liability company and assumed the name
FBS.
FMR may allocate brokerage transactions to broker-dealers who have
entered into arrangements with FMR under which the broker-dealer
allocates a portion of the commissions paid by the fund toward payment
of the fund's expenses, such as transfer agent fees or custodian fees.
The transaction quality must, however, be comparable to those of other
qualified broker-dealers.
Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prohibits members
of national securities exchanges from executing exchange transactions
for accounts which they or their affiliates manage, unless certain
requirements are satisfied. Pursuant to such requirements, the Board
of Trustees has authorized NFSC to execute portfolio transactions on
national securities exchanges in accordance with approved procedures
and applicable SEC rules.
The Trustees periodically review FMR's performance of its
responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio
transactions on behalf of the fund and review the commissions paid by
the fund over representative periods of time to determine if they are
reasonable in relation to the benefits to the fund.
Business Services and Outsourcing's annualized turnover rate for its
first fiscal period is not expected to exceed 200%. Because a high
turnover rate increases transaction costs and may increase taxable
gains, FMR carefully weighs the anticipated benefits of short-term
investing against these consequences.
From time to time the Trustees will review whether the recapture for
the benefit of the fund of some portion of the brokerage commissions
or similar fees paid by the fund on portfolio transactions is legally
permissible and advisable. The fund seeks to recapture soliciting
broker-dealer fees on the tender of portfolio securities, but at
present no other recapture arrangements are in effect. The Trustees
intend to continue to review whether recapture opportunities are
available and are legally permissible and, if so, to determine in the
exercise of their business judgment whether it would be advisable for
the fund to seek such recapture.
Although the Trustees and officers of the fund are substantially the
same as those of other funds managed by FMR, investment decisions for
the fund are made independently from those of other funds managed by
FMR or accounts managed by FMR affiliates. It sometimes happens that
the same security is held in the portfolio of more than one of these
funds or accounts. Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when
several funds and accounts are managed by the same investment adviser,
particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment
objective of more than one fund or account.
When two or more funds are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or
sale of the same security, the prices and amounts are allocated in
accordance with procedures believed to be appropriate and equitable
for each fund. In some cases this system could have a detrimental
effect on the price or value of the security as far as the fund is
concerned. In other cases, however, the ability of the fund to
participate in volume transactions will produce better executions and
prices for the fund. It is the current opinion of the Trustees that
the desirability of retaining FMR as investment adviser to the fund
outweighs any disadvantages that may be said to exist from exposure to
simultaneous transactions.
VALUATION
Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC) normally determines the fund's
net asset value (NAV) hourly during business hours observed by the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Currently, the NYSE is open from 9:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. The Board has
approved the following "valuation times" for the determination of the
fund's net asset value: 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m.,
2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The valuation of portfolio
securities is determined as of these times for the purpose of
computing the fund's NAV.
Portfolio securities are valued by various methods depending on the
primary market or exchange on which they trade. Most equity securities
for which the primary market is the United States are valued at last
sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the closing bid price. Most
equity securities for which the primary market is outside the United
States are valued using the official closing price or the last sale
price in the principal market in which they are traded. If the last
sale price (on the local exchange) is unavailable, the last evaluated
quote or last bid price normally is used. Securities of other open-end
investment companies are valued at their respective NAVs.
Fixed-income securities and other assets for which market quotations
are readily available may be valued at market values determined by
such securities' most recent bid prices (sales prices if the principal
market is an exchange) in the principal market in which they normally
are traded, as furnished by recognized dealers in such securities or
assets. Or, fixed-income securities and convertible securities may be
valued on the basis of information furnished by a pricing service that
uses a valuation matrix which incorporates both dealer-supplied
valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Use of pricing
services has been approved by the Board of Trustees. A number of
pricing services are available, and the fund may use various pricing
services or discontinue the use of any pricing service.
Futures contracts and options are valued on the basis of market
quotations, if available.
Foreign securities are valued based on prices furnished by independent
brokers or quotation services which express the value of securities in
their local currency. FSC gathers all exchange rates daily at the
close of the NYSE using the last quoted price on the local currency
and then translates the value of foreign securities from their local
currencies into U.S. dollars. Any changes in the value of forward
contracts due to exchange rate fluctuations and days to maturity are
included in the calculation of NAV. If an extraordinary event that is
expected to materially affect the value of a portfolio security occurs
after the close of an exchange on which that security is traded, then
that security will be valued as determined in good faith by a
committee appointed by the Board of Trustees.
Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less
for which market quotations and information furnished by a pricing
service are not readily available are valued either at amortized cost
or at original cost plus accrued interest, both of which approximate
current value. In addition, securities and other assets for which
there is no readily available market value may be valued in good faith
by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees. The procedures set
forth above need not be used to determine the value of the securities
owned by the fund if, in the opinion of a committee appointed by the
Board of Trustees, some other method would more accurately reflect the
fair market value of such securities.
PERFORMANCE
The fund may quote performance in various ways. All performance
information supplied by the fund in advertising is historical and is
not intended to indicate future returns. The fund's share price and
total return fluctuate in response to market conditions and other
factors, and the value of fund shares when redeemed may be more or
less than their original cost.
TOTAL RETURN CALCULATIONS. Total returns quoted in advertising reflect
all aspects of the fund's return, including the effect of reinvesting
dividends and capital gain distributions, and any change in the fund's
NAV over a stated period. Average annual total returns are calculated
by determining the growth or decline in value of a hypothetical
historical investment in the fund over a stated period, and then
calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that would have
produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had
been constant over the period. For example, a cumulative total return
of 100% over ten years would produce an average annual total return of
7.18%, which is the steady annual rate of return that would equal 100%
growth on a compounded basis in ten years. Average annual total
returns covering periods of less than one year are calculated by
determining the/a fund's total return for the period, extending that
return for a full year (assuming that return remains constant over the
year), and quoting the result as an annual return. While average
annual total returns are a convenient means of comparing investment
alternatives, investors should realize that the fund's performance is
not constant over time, but changes from year to year, and that
average annual total returns represent averaged figures as opposed to
the actual year-to-year performance of the fund.
In addition to average annual total returns, the fund may quote
unaveraged or cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in
value of an investment over a stated period. Average annual and
cumulative total returns may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar
amount, and may be calculated for a single investment, a series of
investments, or a series of redemptions, over any time period. Total
returns may be broken down into their components of income and capital
(including capital gains and changes in share price) in order to
illustrate the relationship of these factors and their contributions
to total return. Total returns may be quoted on a before-tax or
after-tax basis and may be quoted with or without taking the fund's 3%
maximum sales charge into account, and may or may not include the
effect of the fund's trading fee. Excluding the fund's sales charge or
trading fee from a total return calculation produces a higher total
return figure. Total returns, yields, and other performance
information may be quoted numerically or in a table, graph, or similar
illustration.
NET ASSET VALUE. Charts and graphs using the fund's net asset values,
adjusted net asset values, and benchmark indices may be used to
exhibit performance. An adjusted NAV includes any distributions paid
by the fund and reflects all elements of its return. Unless otherwise
indicated, the fund's adjusted NAVs are not adjusted for sales
charges, if any.
MOVING AVERAGES. The fund may illustrate performance using moving
averages. A long-term moving average is the average of each week's
adjusted closing NAV for a specified period. A short-term moving
average is the average of each day's adjusted closing NAV for a
specified period. Moving Average Activity Indicators combine adjusted
closing NAVs from the last business day of each week with moving
averages for a specified period to produce indicators showing when an
NAV has crossed, stayed above, or stayed below its moving average.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS. The fund may compare its total return to the
record of the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and
the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
over the same period. The S&P 500 and DJIA comparisons would show how
the fund's total return compared to the record of a broad unmanaged
index of common stocks and a narrower set of stocks of major
industrial companies, respectively. The fund has the ability to invest
in securities not included in either index, and its investment
portfolio may or may not be similar in composition to the indexes. The
S&P 500 and DJIA returns are based on the prices of unmanaged groups
of stocks and, unlike each fund's returns, do not include the effect
of brokerage commissions or other costs of investing.
The fund's performance may be compared to the performance of other
mutual funds in general, or to the performance of particular types of
mutual funds. These comparisons may be expressed as mutual fund
rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. (Lipper), an
independent service located in Summit, New Jersey that monitors the
performance of mutual funds. Generally, Lipper rankings are based on
total return, assume reinvestment of distributions, do not take sales
charges or trading fees into consideration, and are prepared without
regard to tax consequences. In addition to the mutual fund rankings,
the fund's performance may be compared to stock, bond, and money
market mutual fund performance indices prepared by Lipper or other
organizations. When comparing these indices, it is important to
remember the risk and return characteristics of each type of
investment. For example, while stock mutual funds may offer higher
potential returns, they also carry the highest degree of share price
volatility. Likewise, money market funds may offer greater stability
of principal, but generally do not offer the higher potential returns
available from stock mutual funds.
From time to time, the fund's performance may also be compared to
other mutual funds tracked by financial or business publications and
periodicals. For example, the fund may quote Morningstar, Inc. in its
advertising materials. Morningstar, Inc. is a mutual fund rating
service that rates mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted
performance. Rankings that compare the performance of Fidelity funds
to one another in appropriate categories over specific periods of time
may also be quoted in advertising.
The fund's performance may also be compared to that of a benchmark
index representing the universe of securities in which the fund may
invest. The total return of a benchmark index reflects reinvestment of
all dividends and capital gains paid by securities included in the
index. Unlike the fund's returns, however, the index returns do not
reflect brokerage commissions, transaction fees, or other costs of
investing directly in the securities included in the index.
The fund may compare its performance to that of the Standard & Poor's
500 Index, a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stocks.
The fund may be compared in advertising to Certificates of Deposit
(CDs) or other investments issued by banks or other depository
institutions. Mutual funds differ from bank investments in several
respects. For example, the fund may offer greater liquidity or higher
potential returns than CDs, the fund does not guarantee your principal
or your return, and fund shares are not FDIC insured.
Fidelity may provide information designed to help individuals
understand their investment goals and explore various financial
strategies. Such information may include information about current
economic, market, and political conditions; materials that describe
general principles of investing, such as asset allocation,
diversification, risk tolerance, and goal setting; questionnaires
designed to help create a personal financial profile; worksheets used
to project savings needs based on assumed rates of inflation and
hypothetical rates of return; and action plans offering investment
alternatives. Materials may also include discussions of Fidelity's
asset allocation funds and other Fidelity funds, products, and
services.
Ibbotson Associates of Chicago, Illinois (Ibbotson) provides
historical returns of the capital markets in the United States,
including common stocks, small capitalization stocks, long-term
corporate bonds, intermediate-term government bonds, long-term
government bonds, Treasury bills, the U.S. rate of inflation (based on
the CPI), and combinations of various capital markets. The performance
of these capital markets is based on the returns of different indices.
Fidelity funds may use the performance of these capital markets in
order to demonstrate general risk-versus-reward investment scenarios.
Performance comparisons may also include the value of a hypothetical
investment in any of these capital markets. The risks associated with
the security types in any capital market may or may not correspond
directly to those of the funds. Ibbotson calculates total returns in
the same method as the funds. The funds may also compare performance
to that of other compilations or indices that may be developed and
made available in the future.
In advertising materials, Fidelity may reference or discuss its
products and services, which may include other Fidelity funds;
retirement investing; brokerage products and services; model
portfolios or allocations; saving for college or other goals; and
charitable giving. In addition, Fidelity may quote or reprint
financial or business publications and periodicals as they relate to
current economic and political conditions, fund management, portfolio
composition, investment philosophy, investment techniques, the
desirability of owning a particular mutual fund, and Fidelity services
and products. Fidelity may also reprint, and use as advertising and
sales literature, articles from Fidelity Focus(Registered trademark),
a quarterly magazine provided free of charge to Fidelity fund
shareholders.
The fund may present its fund number, Quotron(trademark) number, and
CUSIP number, and discuss or quote its current portfolio manager.
VOLATILITY. The fund may quote various measures of volatility and
benchmark correlation in advertising. In addition, the fund may
compare these measures to those of other funds. Measures of volatility
seek to compare the fund's historical share price fluctuations or
total returns to those of a benchmark. Measures of benchmark
correlation indicate how valid a comparative benchmark may be. All
measures of volatility and correlation are calculated using averages
of historical data.
MOMENTUM INDICATORS indicate the fund's price movements over specific
periods of time. Each point on the momentum indicator represents the
fund's percentage change in price movements over that period.
The fund may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment
plans, including the principle of dollar cost averaging. In such a
program, an investor invests a fixed dollar amount in a fund at
periodic intervals, thereby purchasing fewer shares when prices are
high and more shares when prices are low. While such a strategy does
not assure a profit or guard against loss in a declining market, the
investor's average cost per share can be lower than if fixed numbers
of shares are purchased at the same intervals. In evaluating such a
plan, investors should consider their ability to continue purchasing
shares during periods of low price levels.
The fund may be available for purchase through retirement plans or
other programs offering deferral of, or exemption from, income taxes,
which may produce superior after-tax returns over time. For example, a
$1,000 investment earning a taxable return of 10% annually would have
an after-tax value of $1,949 after ten years, assuming tax was
deducted from the return each year at a 31% rate. An equivalent
tax-deferred investment would have an after-tax value of $2,100 after
ten years, assuming tax was deducted at a 31% rate from the
tax-deferred earnings at the end of the ten-year period.
As of November 30, 1997, FMR advised over $29 billion in tax-free fund
assets, $99 billion in money market fund assets, $388 billion in
equity fund assets, $71 billion in international fund assets, and $24
billion in Spartan fund assets. The fund may reference the growth and
variety of money market mutual funds and the adviser's innovation and
participation in the industry. The equity funds under management
figure represents the largest amount of equity fund assets under
management by a mutual fund investment adviser in the United States,
making FMR America's leading equity (stock) fund manager. FMR, its
subsidiaries, and affiliates maintain a worldwide information and
communications network for the purpose of researching and managing
investments abroad.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE, EXCHANGE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Pursuant to Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act, FDC exercises its right to
waive the fund's front-end sales charge on shares acquired through
reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions or in
connection with the fund's merger with or acquisition of any
investment company or trust. In addition, FDC has chosen to waive the
fund's sales charge in certain instances because of efficiencies
involved in those sales of shares. The sales charge will not apply:
1. to shares purchased in connection with an employee benefit plan
(including the Fidelity-sponsored 403(b) and corporate IRA programs
but otherwise as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act) maintained by a U.S. employer and having more than 200 eligible
employees, or a minimum of $3,000,000 in plan assets invested in
Fidelity mutual funds, or as part of an employee benefit plan
maintained by a U.S. employer that is a member of a parent-subsidiary
group of corporations (within the meaning of Section 1563(a)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code, with "50%" substituted for "80%") any member of
which maintains an employee benefit plan having more than 200 eligible
employees, or a minimum of $3,000,000 in plan assets invested in
Fidelity mutual funds, or as part of an employee benefit plan
maintained by a non-U.S. employer having 200 or more eligible
employees, or a minimum of $3,000,000 in assets invested in Fidelity
mutual funds, the assets of which are held in a bona fide trust for
the exclusive benefit of employees participating therein;
2. to shares purchased by an insurance company separate account used
to fund annuity contracts purchased by employee benefit plans
(including 403(b) programs, but otherwise as defined in the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act), which, in the aggregate, have either
more than 200 eligible employees or a minimum of $3,000,000 in assets
invested in Fidelity funds;
3. to shares in a Fidelity account purchased (including purchases by
exchange) with the proceeds of a distribution from an employee benefit
plan provided that: (i) at the time of the distribution, the employer,
or an affiliate (as described in exemption 1 above) of such employer,
maintained at least one employee benefit plan that qualified for
exemption 1 and that had at least some portion of its assets invested
in one or more mutual funds advised by FMR, or in one or more accounts
or pools advised by Fidelity Management Trust Company; and (ii) either
(a) the distribution is transferred from the plan to a Fidelity IRA
account within 60 days from the date of the distribution or (b) the
distribution is transferred directly from the plan into another
Fidelity account;
4. to shares purchased by a charitable organization (as defined for
purposes of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) investing
$100,000 or more;
5. to shares purchased for a charitable remainder trust or life income
pool established for the benefit of a charitable organization (as
defined for purposes of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code);
6. to shares purchased by an investor participating in the Fidelity
Trust Portfolios program (these investors must make initial
investments of $100,000 or more in the Trust Portfolios funds and
must, during the initial six-month period, reach and maintain an
aggregate balance of at least $500,000 in all accounts and subaccounts
purchased through the Trust Portfolios program);
7. to shares purchased by a mutual fund for which FMR or an affiliate
serves as investment manager;
8. to shares purchased through Portfolio Advisory Services or Fidelity
Charitable Advisory Services;
9. to shares purchased by a current or former Trustee or officer of a
Fidelity fund or a current or retired officer, director, or regular
employee of FMR Corp. or Fidelity International Limited or their
direct or indirect subsidiaries (a Fidelity Trustee or employee), the
spouse of a Fidelity Trustee or employee, a Fidelity Trustee or
employee acting as custodian for a minor child, or a person acting as
trustee of a trust for the sole benefit of the minor child of a
Fidelity Trustee or employee; or
10. to shares purchased by a bank trust officer, registered
representative, or other employee of a qualified recipient. Qualified
recipients are securities dealers or other entities, including banks
and other financial institutions, who have sold the fund's shares
under special arrangements in connection with FDC's sales activities.
The fund's sales charge may be reduced to reflect sales charges
previously paid, or that would have been paid absent a reduction for
some purchases made directly with Fidelity as noted in the prospectus,
in connection with investments in other Fidelity funds. This includes
reductions for investments in prototype-like retirement plans
sponsored by FMR or FMR Corp.: The Fidelity Traditional IRA, The
Fidelity Roth IRA, The Fidelity Roth Conversion IRA, The Fidelity
Rollover IRA, The Fidelity SEP-IRA and SARSEP, The Fidelity SIMPLE
IRA, The Fidelity Retirement Plan, Fidelity Defined Benefit Plan, The
Fidelity Group IRA, The Fidelity 403(b) Program, The Fidelity
Investments 401(a) Prototype Plan for Tax-Exempt Employers, and The
CORPORATEplan for Retirement (Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Plan).
The fund is open for business and its net asset value per share (NAV)
is calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for
trading. The NYSE has designated the following holiday closings for
1998: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day (observed), Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Although FMR expects the same
holiday schedule to be observed in the future, the NYSE may modify its
holiday schedule at any time. In addition, the fund will not process
wire purchases and redemptions on days when the Federal Reserve Wire
System is closed.
FSC normally determines the fund's NAV hourly, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., and the final determination of the fund's NAV will coincide with
the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). However, NAV
may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To the
extent that portfolio securities are traded in other markets on days
when the NYSE is closed, the fund's NAV may be affected on days when
investors do not have access to the fund to purchase or redeem shares.
In addition, trading in some of a fund's portfolio securities may not
occur on days when the fund is open for business.
If the Trustees determine that existing conditions make cash payments
undesirable, redemption payments may be made in whole or in part in
securities or other property, valued for this purpose as they are
valued in computing the fund's NAV. Shareholders receiving securities
or other property on redemption may realize a gain or loss for tax
purposes, and will incur any costs of sale, as well as the associated
inconveniences.
Pursuant to Rule 11a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
1940 Act), the fund is required to give shareholders at least 60 days'
notice prior to terminating or modifying its exchange privilege. Under
the Rule, the 60-day notification requirement may be waived if (i) the
only effect of a modification would be to reduce or eliminate an
administrative fee, redemption fee, or deferred sales charge
ordinarily payable at the time of an exchange, or (ii) the fund
suspends the redemption of the shares to be exchanged as permitted
under the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, or the
fund to be acquired suspends the sale of its shares because it is
unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its investment
objective and policies.
In the Prospectus, the fund has notified shareholders that it reserves
the right at any time, without prior notice, to refuse exchange
purchases by any person or group if, in FMR's judgment, the fund would
be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment
objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely
affected.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
DISTRIBUTIONS. If you request to have distributions mailed to you and
the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your checks, or if your checks
remain uncashed for six months, Fidelity may reinvest your
distributions at the then-current NAV. All subsequent distributions
will then be reinvested until you provide Fidelity with alternate
instructions.
DIVIDENDS. A portion of the fund's income may qualify for the
dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders to
the extent that the fund's income is derived from qualifying
dividends. Because the fund may earn other types of income, such as
interest, income from securities loans, non-qualifying dividends, and
short-term capital gains, the percentage of dividends from the fund
that qualifies for the deduction generally will be less than 100%. The
fund will notify corporate shareholders annually of the percentage of
fund dividends that qualifies for the dividends-received deduction. A
portion of the fund's dividends derived from certain U.S. Government
obligations may be exempt from state and local taxation. Gains
(losses) attributable to foreign currency fluctuations are generally
taxable as ordinary income, and therefore will increase (decrease)
dividend distributions. Short-term capital gains are distributed as
dividend income. The fund will send each shareholder a notice in
January describing the tax status of dividends and capital gain
distributions for the prior year.
CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. Long-term capital gains earned by the fund
on the sale of securities and distributed to shareholders are
federally taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length
of time shareholders have held their shares. If a shareholder receives
a capital gain distribution on shares of the fund, and such shares are
held six months or less and are sold at a loss, the portion of the
loss equal to the amount of the capital gain distribution will be
considered a long-term loss for tax purposes. Short-term capital gains
distributed by the fund are taxable to shareholders as dividends, not
as capital gains.
FOREIGN TAXES. Foreign governments may withhold taxes on dividends and
interest paid with respect to foreign securities. Foreign governments
may also impose taxes on other payments or gains with respect to
foreign securities. If, at the close of its fiscal year, more than 50%
of the fund's total assets are invested in securities of foreign
issuers, the fund may elect to pass through foreign taxes paid and
thereby allow shareholders to take a credit or deduction on their
individual tax returns.
TAX STATUS OF THE FUND. The fund intends to qualify each year as a
"regulated investment company" for tax purposes so that it will not be
liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to
shareholders. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company
and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the fund
level, the fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net
investment income and net realized capital gains within each calendar
year as well as on a fiscal year basis, and intends to comply with
other tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies.
If the fund purchases shares in certain foreign investment entities,
defined as passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) in the
Internal Revenue Code, it may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
a portion of any excess distribution or gain from the disposition of
such shares. Interest charges may also be imposed on the fund with
respect to deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.
Generally, the fund will elect to mark-to-market any PFIC shares.
Unrealized gains will be recognized as income for tax purposes and
must be distributed to shareholders as dividends.
The fund is treated as a separate entity from the other funds of
Fidelity Select Portfolios for tax purposes.
OTHER TAX INFORMATION. The information above is only a summary of some
of the tax consequences generally affecting the fund and its
shareholders, and no attempt has been made to discuss individual tax
consequences. In addition to federal income taxes, shareholders may be
subject to state and local taxes on fund distributions, and shares may
be subject to state and local personal property taxes. Investors
should consult their tax advisers to determine whether the fund is
suitable to their particular tax situation.
FMR
All of the stock of FMR is owned by FMR Corp., its parent organized in
1972. The voting common stock of FMR Corp. is divided into two
classes. Class B is held predominantly by members of the Edward C.
Johnson 3d family and is entitled to 49% of the vote on any matter
acted upon by the voting common stock. Class A is held predominantly
by non-Johnson family member employees of FMR Corp. and its affiliates
and is entitled to 51% of the vote on any such matter. The Johnson
family group and all other Class B shareholders have entered into a
shareholders' voting agreement under which all Class B shares will be
voted in accordance with the majority vote of Class B shares. Under
the 1940 Act, control of a company is presumed where one individual or
group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting stock of that
company. Therefore, through their ownership of voting common stock and
the execution of the shareholders' voting agreement, members of the
Johnson family may be deemed, under the 1940 Act, to form a
controlling group with respect to FMR Corp.
At present, the principal operating activities of FMR Corp. are those
conducted by its division, Fidelity Investments Retail Marketing
Company, which provides marketing services to various companies within
the Fidelity organization.
Fidelity investment personnel may invest in securities for their own
accounts pursuant to a code of ethics that sets forth all employees'
fiduciary responsibilities regarding the funds, establishes procedures
for personal investing and restricts certain transactions. For
example, all personal trades in most securities require pre-clearance,
and participation in initial public offerings is prohibited. In
addition, restrictions on the timing of personal investing in relation
to trades by Fidelity funds and on short-term trading have been
adopted.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees, Members of the Advisory Board, and executive officers of
the trust are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has
held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the
last five years. All persons named as Trustees and Members of the
Advisory Board also serve in similar capacities for other funds
advised by FMR. The business address of each Trustee, Member of the
Advisory Board, and officer who is an "interested person" (as defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940) is 82 Devonshire Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109, which is also the address of FMR. The
business address of all the other Trustees is Fidelity Investments,
P.O. Box 9235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9235. Those Trustees who
are "interested persons" by virtue of their affiliation with either
the trust or FMR are indicated by an asterisk (*).
*EDWARD C. JOHNSON 3d (67), Trustee and President, is Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and a Director of FMR Corp.; a Director and Chairman
of the Board and of the Executive Committee of FMR; Chairman and a
Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc.,
Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc., and Fidelity Management &
Research (Far East) Inc.
J. GARY BURKHEAD (56), Member of the Advisory Board (1997), is Vice
Chairman and a Member of the Board of Directors of FMR Corp. (1997)
and President of Fidelity Personal Investments and Brokerage Group
(1997). Previously, Mr. Burkhead served as President of Fidelity
Management & Research Company.
RALPH F. COX (65), Trustee, is President of RABAR Enterprises
(management consulting-engineering industry, 1994). Prior to February
1994, he was President of Greenhill Petroleum Corporation (petroleum
exploration and production). Until March 1990, Mr. Cox was President
and Chief Operating Officer of Union Pacific Resources Company
(exploration and production). He is a Director of USA Waste Services,
Inc. (non-hazardous waste, 1993), CH2M Hill Companies (engineering),
Rio Grande, Inc. (oil and gas production), and Daniel Industries
(petroleum measurement equipment manufacturer). In addition, he is a
member of advisory boards of Texas A&M University and the University
of Texas at Austin.
PHYLLIS BURKE DAVIS (65), Trustee (1992). Prior to her retirement in
September 1991, Mrs. Davis was the Senior Vice President of Corporate
Affairs of Avon Products, Inc. She is currently a Director of
BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications), Eaton Corporation
(manufacturing, 1991), and the TJX Companies, Inc. (retail stores),
and previously served as a Director of Hallmark Cards, Inc.
(1985-1991) and Nabisco Brands, Inc. In addition, she is a member of
the President's Advisory Council of The University of Vermont School
of Business Administration.
ROBERT M. GATES (53), Trustee (1997), is a consultant, author, and
lecturer (1993). Mr. Gates was Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) from 1991-1993. From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Gates served as
Assistant to the President of the United States and Deputy National
Security Advisor. Mr. Gates is currently a Trustee for the Forum For
International Policy, a Board Member for the Virginia Neurological
Institute, and a Senior Advisor of the Harvard Journal of World
Affairs. In addition, Mr. Gates also serves as a member of the
corporate board for LucasVarity PLC (automotive components and diesel
engines), Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (non-profit), NACCO
Industries, Inc. (mining and manufacturing), and TRW Inc. (original
equipment and replacement products).
E. BRADLEY JONES (70), Trustee. Prior to his retirement in 1984, Mr.
Jones was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LTV Steel Company.
He is a Director of TRW Inc. (original equipment and replacement
products), Consolidated Rail Corporation, Birmingham Steel
Corporation, and RPM, Inc. (manufacturer of chemical products), and he
previously served as a Director of NACCO Industries, Inc. (mining and
manufacturing, 1985-1995), Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
(1985-1995), and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (mining), and as a Trustee of
First Union Real Estate Investments. In addition, he serves as a
Trustee of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he has also been a
member of the Executive Committee as well as Chairman of the Board and
President, a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of
University School (Cleveland), and a Trustee of Cleveland Clinic
Florida.
DONALD J. KIRK (65), Trustee, is Executive-in-Residence (1995) at
Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a financial
consultant. From 1987 to January 1995, Mr. Kirk was a Professor at
Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Prior to 1987, he was
Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Kirk is a
Director of General Re Corporation (reinsurance), and he previously
served as a Director of Valuation Research Corp. (appraisals and
valuations, 1993-1995). In addition, he serves as Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the National Arts Stabilization Fund, Chairman
of the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Hospital Association, a
Member of the Public Oversight Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants' SEC Practice Section (1995), and as a
Public Governor of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (1996).
*PETER S. LYNCH (54), Trustee, is Vice Chairman and Director of FMR
(1992). Prior to May 31, 1990, he was a Director of FMR and Executive
Vice President of FMR (a position he held until March 31, 1991); Vice
President of Fidelity Magellan Fund and FMR Growth Group Leader; and
Managing Director of FMR Corp. Mr. Lynch was also Vice President of
Fidelity Investments Corporate Services (1991-1992). In addition, he
serves as a Trustee of Boston College, Massachusetts Eye & Ear
Infirmary, Historic Deerfield (1989) and Society for the Preservation
of New England Antiquities, and as an Overseer of the Museum of Fine
Arts of Boston.
WILLIAM O. McCOY (64), Trustee (1997), is the Vice President of
Finance for the University of North Carolina (16-school system, 1995).
Prior to his retirement in December 1994, Mr. McCoy was Vice Chairman
of the Board of BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications, 1984) and
President of BellSouth Enterprises (1986). He is currently a Director
of Liberty Corporation (holding company, 1984), Weeks Corporation of
Atlanta (real estate, 1994), Carolina Power and Light Company
(electric utility, 1996), and the Kenan Transport Co. (1996).
Previously, he was a Director of First American Corporation (bank
holding company, 1979-1996). In addition, Mr. McCoy serves as a member
of the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill (1994) and for the Kenan-Flager Business School
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1988).
GERALD C. McDONOUGH (68), Trustee and Chairman of the non-interested
Trustees, is Chairman of G.M. Management Group (strategic advisory
services). Mr. McDonough is a Director of York International Corp.
(air conditioning and refrigeration), Commercial Intertech Corp.
(hydraulic systems, building systems, and metal products, 1992), CUNO,
Inc. (liquid and gas filtration products, 1996), and Associated
Estates Realty Corporation (a real estate investment trust, 1993). Mr.
McDonough served as a Director of ACME-Cleveland Corp. (metal working,
telecommunications, and electronic products) from 1987-1996 and
Brush-Wellman Inc. (metal refining) from 1983-1997.
MARVIN L. MANN (64), Trustee (1993) is Chairman of the Board,
President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lexmark International, Inc.
(office machines, 1991). Prior to 1991, he held the positions of Vice
President of International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM") and
President and General Manager of various IBM divisions and
subsidiaries. Mr. Mann is a Director of M.A. Hanna Company (chemicals,
1993), Imation Corp. (imaging and information storage, 1997), and
Infomart (marketing services, 1991), a Trammell Crow Co. In addition,
he serves as the Campaign Vice Chairman of the Tri-State United Way
(1993) and is a member of the University of Alabama President's
Cabinet.
*ROBERT C. POZEN (51), Trustee (1997) and Senior Vice President, is
also President and a Director of FMR (1997); and President and a
Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (1997),
Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (1997), and Fidelity
Management & Research (Far East) Inc. (1997). Previously, Mr. Pozen
served as General Counsel, Managing Director, and Senior Vice
President of FMR Corp.
THOMAS R. WILLIAMS (69), Trustee, is President of The Wales Group,
Inc. (management and financial advisory services). Prior to retiring
in 1987, Mr. Williams served as Chairman of the Board of First
Wachovia Corporation (bank holding company), and Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Atlanta and First
Atlanta Corporation (bank holding company). He is currently a Director
of ConAgra, Inc. (agricultural products), Georgia Power Company
(electric utility), National Life Insurance Company of Vermont,
American Software, Inc., and AppleSouth, Inc. (restaurants, 1992).
ERIC D. ROITER (49), Secretary (1998), is Vice President (1998) and
General Counsel of FMR (1998). Mr. Roiter was an Adjunct Member,
Faculty of Law, at Columbia University Law School (1996-1997). Prior
to joining Fidelity, Mr. Roiter was a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton
(1981-1997) and served as Assistant General Counsel of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (1979-1981).
RICHARD A. SILVER (50), Treasurer (1997), is Treasurer of the Fidelity
funds and is an employee of FMR (1997). Before joining FMR, Mr. Silver
served as Executive Vice President, Fund Accounting & Administration
at First Data Investor Services Group, Inc. (1996-1997). Prior to
1996, Mr. Silver was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
at The Colonial Group, Inc. Mr. Silver also served as Chairman of the
Accounting/Treasurer's Committee of the Investment Company Institute
(1987-1993).
JOHN H. COSTELLO (51), Assistant Treasurer, is an employee of FMR.
LEONARD M. RUSH (51), Assistant Treasurer (1994), is an employee of
FMR (1994). Prior to becoming Assistant Treasurer of the Fidelity
funds, Mr. Rush was Chief Compliance Officer of FMR Corp. (1993-1994)
and Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc.
(1990-1993).
The following table sets forth information describing the compensation
of each Trustee and Member of the Advisory Board of the fund for his
or her services for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1998, or
calendar year ended December 31, 1997, as applicable.
COMPENSATION TABLE
Trustees Aggregate Total
and Compensation Compensation
Members of the Advisory Board from Business from the
Services and Fund Complex*A
OutsourcingB,C,+
J. Gary Burkhead ** $ 0 $ 0
Ralph F. Cox $ 5 $ 214,500
Phyllis Burke Davis $ 5 $ 210,000
Robert M. Gates *** $ 4 $ 176,000
Edward C. Johnson 3d ** $ 0 $ 0
E. Bradley Jones $ 5 $ 211,500
Donald J. Kirk $ 5 $ 211,500
Peter S. Lynch ** $ 0 $ 0
William O. McCoy**** $ 5 $ 214,500
Gerald C. McDonough $ 6 $ 264,500
Marvin L. Mann $ 5 $ 214,500
Robert C. Pozen** $ 0 $ 0
Thomas R. Williams $ 5 $ 214,500
* Information is for the calendar year ended December 31, 1997 for 230
funds in the complex.
** Interested Trustees of the funds and Mr. Burkhead are compensated
by FMR.
*** Mr. Gates was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Fidelity
Select Trust effective March 1, 1997.
**** Mr. McCoy was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Fidelity
Select Trust effective January 1, 1997.
+ Estimated
A Compensation figures include cash, amounts required to be deferred,
and may include amounts deferred at the election of Trustees. For the
calendar year ended December 31, 1997, the Trustees accrued required
deferred compensation from the funds as follows: Ralph F. Cox,
$75,000, Phyllis Burke Davis, $75,000, Robert M. Gates, $62,500, E.
Bradley Jones, $75,000, Donald J. Kirk, $75,000, William O. McCoy,
$75,000, Gerald C. McDonough, $87,500, Marvin L. Mann, $75,000, and
Thomas R. Williams, $75,000. Certain of the non-interested Trustees
elected voluntarily to defer a portion of their compensation: Ralph F.
Cox, $53,699, Marvin L. Mann, $53,699, and Thomas R. Williams,
$62,462.
B Compensation figures include cash.
Under a deferred compensation plan adopted in September 1995 and
amended in November 1996 (the Plan), non-interested Trustees must
defer receipt of a portion of, and may elect to defer receipt of an
additional portion of, their annual fees. Amounts deferred under the
Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested
in shares of a cross-section of Fidelity funds including funds in each
major investment discipline and representing a majority of Fidelity's
assets under management (the Reference Funds). The amounts ultimately
received by the Trustees under the Plan will be directly linked to the
investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in
accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund's
assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a
fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any particular
level of compensation to the Trustee. A fund may invest in the
Reference Funds under the Plan without shareholder approval.
The amounts required to be deferred by the non-interested Trustees'
Plan accounts are subject to vesting and are treated as though
equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of the Reference
Funds. The amounts ultimately received by the Trustees will be
directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds.
The termination of the retirement program and related crediting of
estimated benefits to the Trustees' Plan accounts did not result in a
material cost to the funds.
As of the public offering of shares of the fund, approximately 100% of
the fund's total outstanding shares was held by an FMR affiliate. FMR
Corp. is the ultimate parent company of this FMR affiliate. By virtue
of his ownership interest in FMR Corp., as described in the "FMR"
section on page , Mr. Edward C. Johnson 3d, President and Trustee of
the fund, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
FMR is the fund's manager pursuant to a management contract dated
December 18, 1997, which was approved by FMR, as the then sole
shareholder, on January 21, 1998.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES. The fund employs FMR to furnish investment
advisory and other services. Under the terms of its management
contract with the fund, FMR acts as investment adviser and, subject to
the supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of
the fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies, and
limitations. FMR also provides the fund with all necessary office
facilities and personnel for servicing the fund's investments,
compensates all officers of the fund and all Trustees who are
"interested persons" of the trust or of FMR, and all personnel of the
fund or FMR performing services relating to research, statistical, and
investment activities.
In addition, FMR or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the
Board of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services
necessary for the operation of the fund. These services include
providing facilities for maintaining the fund's organization;
supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents,
accountants, underwriters, and other persons dealing with the fund;
preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting
shareholder relations; maintaining the fund's records and the
registration of the fund's shares under federal securities laws and
making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing
management and shareholder services for the fund; and furnishing
reports, evaluations, and analyses on a variety of subjects to the
Trustees.
MANAGEMENT-RELATED EXPENSES. In addition to the management fee payable
to FMR and the fees payable to the transfer, dividend disbursing, and
shareholder servicing agent, pricing and bookkeeping agent, and
securities lending agent, the fund pays all of its expenses that are
not assumed by those parties. The fund pays for the typesetting,
printing, and mailing of its proxy materials to shareholders, legal
expenses, and the fees of the custodian, auditor and non-interested
Trustees. The fund's management contract further provides that the
fund will pay for typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses,
statements of additional information, notices, and reports to
shareholders; however, under the terms of the fund's transfer agent
agreement, the transfer agent bears the costs of providing these
services to existing shareholders. Other expenses paid by the fund
include interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, the fund's
proportionate share of insurance premiums and Investment Company
Institute dues, and the costs of registering shares under federal
securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities
laws. The fund is also liable for such non-recurring expenses as may
arise, including costs of any litigation to which the fund may be a
party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and
Trustees with respect to litigation.
MANAGEMENT FEE. For the services of FMR under the management contract,
the fund pays FMR a monthly management fee which has two components: a
group fee rate and an individual fund fee rate.
The group fee rate is based on the monthly average net assets of all
of the registered investment companies with which FMR has management
contracts.
GROUP FEE RATE SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE ANNUAL FEE RATES
Average Group Annualized Group Net Effective Annual Fee
Assets Rate Assets Rate
0 - $3 billion .5200% $ 0.5 billion .5200%
3 - 6 .4900 25 .4238
6 - 9 .4600 50 .3823
9 - 12 .4300 75 .3626
12 - 15 .4000 100 .3512
15 - 18 .3850 125 .3430
18 - 21 .3700 150 .3371
21 - 24 .3600 175 .3325
24 - 30 .3500 200 .3284
30 - 36 .3450 225 .3249
36 - 42 .3400 250 .3219
42 - 48 .3350 275 .3190
48 - 66 .3250 300 .3163
66 - 84 .3200 325 .3137
84 - 102 .3150 350 .3113
102 - 138 .3100 375 .3090
138 - 174 .3050 400 .3067
174 - 210 .3000 425 .3046
210 - 246 .2950 450 .3024
246 - 282 .2900 475 .3003
282 - 318 .2850 500 .2982
318 - 354 .2800 525 .2962
354 - 390 .2750 550 .2942
390 - 426 .2700
426 - 462 .2650
462 - 498 .2600
498 - 534 .2550
Over 534 .2500
The group fee rate is calculated on a cumulative basis pursuant to the
graduated fee rate schedule shown above on the left. The schedule
above on the right shows the effective annual group fee rate at
various asset levels, which is the result of cumulatively applying the
annualized rates on the left. For example, the effective annual fee
rate at $543 billion of group net assets - the approximate level for
November 1997 - was 0.2947%, which is the weighted average of the
respective fee rates for each level of group net assets up to $543
billion.
The fund's individual fund fee rate is 0.30%. Based on the average
group net assets of the funds advised by FMR for November 1997, the
fund's annual management fee rate would be calculated as follows:
Group Fee Rate Individual Fund Fee Rate Management Fee Rate
0.2947% + 0.30% = 0.594 7 %
One-twelfth of this annual management fee rate is applied to the
fund's net assets averaged for the most recent month, giving a dollar
amount, which is the fee for that month.
FMR may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of
the fund's operating expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage
commissions, and extraordinary expenses). FMR retains the ability to
be repaid for these expense reimbursements in the amount that expenses
fall below the limit prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Expense reimbursements by FMR will increase the fund's total returns,
and repayment of the reimbursement by the fund will lower its total
returns.
SUB-ADVISERS. On behalf of Business Services and Outsourcing, FMR has
entered into sub-advisory agreements with FMR U.K., FMR Far East.
Pursuant to the sub-advisory agreements, FMR may receive investment
advice and research services outside the United States from the
sub-advisers.
On behalf of the fund, FMR may also grant the sub-advisers investment
management authority as well as the authority to buy and sell
securities if FMR believes it would be beneficial to the fund.
Currently, FMR U.K. and FMR Far East each focus on issuers in
countries other than the United States such as those in Europe, Asia,
and the Pacific Basin.
FMR U.K. and FMR Far East, which were organized in 1986, are wholly
owned subsidiaries of FMR. Under the sub-advisory agreements FMR pays
the fees of FMR U.K. and FMR Far East. For providing non-discretionary
investment advice and research services, FMR pays FMR U.K. and FMR Far
East fees equal to 110% and 105%, respectively, of FMR U.K.'s and FMR
Far East's costs incurred in connection with providing investment
advice and research services.
On behalf of the fund, for providing discretionary investment
management and executing portfolio transactions, FMR pays FMR U.K. and
FMR Far East a fee equal to 50% of its monthly management fee rate
with respect to the fund's average net assets managed by the
sub-adviser on a discretionary basis.
CONTRACTS WITH FMR AFFILIATES
The fund has entered into a transfer agent agreement with FSC, an
affiliate of FMR. Under the terms of the agreements, FSC performs
transfer agency, dividend disbursing, and shareholder services for the
fund.
For providing transfer agency services, FSC receives an annual account
fee and an asset-based fee each based on account size and fund type
for each retail account and certain institutional accounts. With
respect to certain institutional retirement accounts, FSC receives an
annual account fee and an asset-based fee based on account type or
fund type. These annual account fees are subject to increase based on
postal rate changes.
The asset-based fees are subject to adjustment if the year-to-date
total return of the S&P 500 exceeds a positive or negative 15%.
FSC also collects small account fees from certain accounts with
balances of less than $2,500.
In addition, FSC receives the pro rata portion of the transfer agency
fees applicable to shareholder accounts in each Fidelity Freedom Fund,
a fund of funds managed by an FMR affiliate, according to the
percentage of the Freedom Fund's assets that is invested in a fund.
FSC pays out-of-pocket expenses associated with providing transfer
agent services. In addition, FSC bears the expense of typesetting,
printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional
information, and all other reports, notices, and statements to
existing shareholders, with the exception of proxy statements.
The fund has also entered into a service agent agreement with FSC.
Under the terms of the agreements, FSC calculates the NAV and
dividends for each fund, maintains each fund's portfolio and general
accounting records, and administers each fund's securities lending
program.
For providing pricing and bookkeeping services, FSC receives a monthly
fee based on the fund's average daily net assets throughout the month.
The annual rates for pricing and bookkeeping services are .1000% of
the first $500 million of average net assets and .0500% of average net
assets in excess of $500 million. The fee, not including reimbursement
for out-of-pocket expenses, is limited to a minimum of $60,000 and a
maximum of $800,000 per year.
For administering the fund's securities lending program, FSC receives
fees based on the number and duration of individual securities loans.
Currently, FSC is credited with a $7.50 exchange fee for each exchange
from the fund, including each exchange from the fund to another
Fidelity fund.
The fund has entered into a distribution agreement with FDC, an
affiliate of FMR organized as a Massachusetts corporation on July 18,
1960. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. The distribution agreement calls for FDC to use all
reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure
purchasers for shares of the fund, which are continuously offered.
Promotional and administrative expenses in connection with the offer
and sale of shares are paid by FMR.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
TRUST ORGANIZATION. Fidelity Select Business Services and Outsourcing
Portfolio is a fund of Fidelity Select Portfolios, an open-end
management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business
trust on November 20, 1980. Subsequent to the reorganization of
certain funds of the trust on October 26, 1990, Automation and
Machinery Portfolio, Life Insurance Portfolio, and Restaurant Industry
Portfolio no longer exist. Also due to the reorganization, Capital
Goods Portfolio was renamed "Industrial Technology Portfolio," and
Property and Casualty Insurance Portfolio was renamed "Insurance
Portfolio." Subsequent to an additional reorganization on February 25,
1994, Electric Utilities Portfolio no longer exists.
On July 18, 1996, Consumer Products Portfolio was renamed "Consumer
Industries."
On August 3, 1994 Utilities Portfolio was renamed "Utilities Growth
Portfolio."
On April 30, 1994, Broadcast and Media Portfolio was renamed
"Multimedia Portfolio."
On February 17, 1993, Savings and Loan Portfolio was renamed "Home
Finance Portfolio."
On June 29, 1992, Industrial Technology Portfolio was renamed
"Industrial Equipment Portfolio."
Currently there are forty funds of the trust: Air Transportation
Portfolio, American Gold Portfolio, Automotive Portfolio,
Biotechnology Portfolio, Brokerage and Investment Management
Portfolio, Business Services and Outsourcing Portfolio, Chemicals
Portfolio, Computers Portfolio, Construction and Housing Portfolio,
Consumer Industries Portfolio, Cyclical Industries Portfolio, Defense
and Aerospace Portfolio, Developing Communications Portfolio,
Electronics Portfolio, Energy Portfolio, Energy Service Portfolio,
Environmental Services Portfolio, Financial Services Portfolio, Food
and Agriculture Portfolio, Health Care Portfolio, Home Finance
Portfolio, Industrial Equipment Portfolio, Industrial Materials
Portfolio, Insurance Portfolio, Leisure Portfolio, Medical Delivery
Portfolio, Medical Equipment and Systems Portfolio, Multimedia
Portfolio, Natural Gas Portfolio, Natural Resources Portfolio, Paper
and Forest Products Portfolio, Precious Metals and Minerals Portfolio,
Regional Banks Portfolio, Retailing Portfolio, Software and Computer
Services Portfolio, Technology Portfolio, Telecommunications
Portfolio, Transportation Portfolio, Utilities Growth Portfolio, and
Money Market Portfolio. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees
to create additional funds.
In the event that FMR ceases to be the investment adviser to the trust
or a fund, the right of the trust or fund to use the identifying name
"Fidelity" may be withdrawn.
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of
each fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
subject only to the rights of creditors, are especially allocated to
such fund, and constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The
underlying assets of each fund are segregated on the books of account,
and are to be charged with the liabilities with respect to such fund
and with a share of the general expenses of the trust. Expenses with
respect to the trust are to be allocated in proportion to the asset
value of the respective funds, except where allocations of direct
expense can otherwise be fairly made. The officers of the trust,
subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, have the
power to determine which expenses are allocable to a given fund, or
which are general or allocable to all of the funds. In the event of
the dissolution or liquidation of the trust, shareholders of each fund
are entitled to receive as a class the underlying assets of such fund
available for distribution.
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY. The trust is an entity of the type
commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under
Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the
trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that the trust shall not have
any claim against shareholders except for the payment of the purchase
price of shares and requires that each agreement, obligation, or
instrument entered into or executed by the trust or the Trustees
include a provision limiting the obligations created thereby to the
trust and its assets. The Declaration of Trust provides for
indemnification out of each fund's property of any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the fund. The Declaration of
Trust also provides that each fund shall, upon request, assume the
defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or
obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the
risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which a fund
itself would be unable to meet its obligations. FMR believes that, in
view of the above, the risk of personal liability to shareholders is
remote.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees, if they
have exercised reasonable care, will not be liable for any neglect or
wrongdoing, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects Trustees
against any liability to which they would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their
office.
VOTING RIGHTS. Each fund's capital consists of shares of beneficial
interest. As a shareholder, you receive one vote for each dollar value
of net asset value you own. The shares have no preemptive or
conversion rights; the voting and dividend rights, the right of
redemption, and the privilege of exchange are described in the
Prospectus. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable, except as set
forth under the heading "Shareholder and Trustee Liability" above.
Shareholders representing 10% or more of the trust or a fund may, as
set forth in the Declaration of Trust, call meetings of the trust or a
fund for any purpose related to the trust or fund, as the case may be,
including, in the case of a meeting of the entire trust, the purpose
of voting on removal of one or more Trustees. The trust or any fund
may be terminated upon the sale of its assets to another open-end
management investment company, or upon liquidation and distribution of
its assets, if approved by vote of the holders of a majority of the
trust or the fund, as determined by the current value of each
shareholder's investment in the fund or trust. If not so terminated,
the trust and its funds will continue indefinitely.
CUSTODIAN. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, is custodian of the assets of the fund. The custodian
is responsible for the safekeeping of a fund's assets and the
appointment of any subcustodian banks and clearing agencies. The
custodian takes no part in determining the investment policies of a
fund or in deciding which securities are purchased or sold by a fund.
However, a fund may invest in obligations of the custodian and may
purchase securities from or sell securities to the custodian. The Bank
of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank, each headquartered in New
York, also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets
in connection with repurchase agreement transactions.
FMR, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, and the
Board of Trustees may, from time to time, conduct transactions with
various banks, including banks serving as custodians for certain funds
advised by FMR. The Boston branch of the fund's custodian leases its
office space from an affiliate of FMR at a lease payment which, when
entered into, was consistent with prevailing market rates.
Transactions that have occurred to date include mortgages and personal
and general business loans. In the judgment of FMR, the terms and
conditions of those transactions were not influenced by existing or
potential custodial or other fund relationships.
AUDITOR. Price Waterhouse LLP, 160 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts serves as the trust's independent accountant. The
auditor examines financial statements for the fund and provides other
audit, tax, and related services.
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE RATINGS OF CORPORATE BONDS
Moody's ratings for obligations with an original remaining maturity in
excess of one year fall within nine categories. They range from Aaa
(highest quality) to C (lowest quality). Moody applies numerical
modifiers of 1, 2, or 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa
through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the
higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks
on the lower end of its generic rating category.
AAA - Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure.
While the various protective elements are likely to change, such
changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AA - Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are
generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the
best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa
securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater
amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
A - Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment
attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations.
Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered
adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to
impairment sometime in the future.
BAA - Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade
obligations, (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly
secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for
the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such
bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
BA - Bonds that are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the
protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and
thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the
future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B - Bonds that are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or
of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of
time may be small.
CAA - Bonds that are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may
be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect
to principal or interest.
CA - Bonds that are rated Ca represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have
other marked short-comings.
C - Bonds that are rated C are the lowest-rated class of bonds and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
ever attaining any real investment standing.
DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS OF CORPORATE BONDS
Debt issues may be designated by Standard & Poor's as either
investment grade ("AAA" through "BBB") or speculative grade ("BB"
through "D"). While speculative grade debt will likely have some
quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large
uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions. Ratings from
AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus sign (+) or minus
sign (-) to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
AAA - Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay
principal is extremely strong.
AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal and differs from the higher-rated issues only in small
degree.
A - Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt
in higher rated categories.
BBB - Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay
interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in
higher-rated categories.
BB - Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely
interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used
for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied BBB- rating.
B - Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.
Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair
capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.
CCC - Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and
economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment
of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and
repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt
subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or
B- rating.
CC - Debt rated CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.
C - The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C
rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition
has been filed but debt service payments are continued.
CI - The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid.
D - Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date
due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P
believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The
D rating will also be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if
debt service payments are jeopardized.
