THE ALGER FUND
PROSPECTUS
MARCH 1, 1999
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
determined if the information in this Prospectus is accurate or complete, nor
has it approved or disapproved these securities. It is a criminal offense to
represent otherwise.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government
agency.
<PAGE>
THE ALGER FUND
PROSPECTUS
March 1, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 ........... Risk/Return Summary: Investments, Risks & Performance
2 ..... Investments
Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio 2
Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio 2
Alger Growth Portfolio 2
Alger Balanced Portfolio 3
Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio 3
Alger Money Market Portfolio 3
4 ..... Risks
Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio 4
Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio 4
Alger Growth Portfolio 4
Alger Balanced Portfolio 4
Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio 4
Alger Money Market Portfolio 5
5 ..... Performance
Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio 6
Alger Growth Portfolio 6
Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio 6
Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio 6
Alger Balanced Portfolio 7
Alger Money Market Portfolio 7
7 ........... Fees and Expenses
9 ........... Management & Organization
10 .......... Shareholder Information
Classes of Fund Shares 10
Sales Charges 11
Purchasing and Redeeming Fund Shares 11
Investment Instructions 12
Redemption Instructions 13
Financial Highlights 14
Back Cover: How to obtain more information
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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE
INVESTMENTS: THE ALGER FUND
The investment goal and primary approach of each portfolio is discussed
individually below. All of the portfolios (other than the Money Market Portfolio
and the fixed-income portion of the Balanced Portfolio) invest primarily in
equity securities, such as common or preferred stocks, which are listed on U.S.
exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. They invest primarily in "growth"
stocks. The Fund's Manager, Fred Alger Management, Inc., believes that these
companies tend to fall into one of two categories:
[] High Unit Volume Growth
Vital, creative companies which offer goods or services to a rapidly
expanding marketplace. They include both established and emerging firms,
offering new or improved products, or firms simply fulfilling an increased
demand for an existing line.
[] Positive Life Cycle Change
Companies experiencing a major change which is expected to produce
advantageous results. These changes may be as varied as new management,
products or technologies; restructuring or reorganization; or merger and
acquisition.
The company's market capitalization will dictate which portfolio(s) it will be
placed in. The market capitalization of a company is its price per share
multiplied by its number of outstanding shares.
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
APPROACH
It focuses on small, fast-growing companies that offer innovative products,
services or technologies to a rapidly expanding marketplace. Under normal
circumstances, the portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of small
capitalization companies. A small capitalization company is one that has a
market capitalization within the range of companies in the Russell(R) 2000
Growth Index or the S&P (R) SmallCap 600 Index.
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
APPROACH
It focuses on midsize companies with promising growth potential. Under normal
circumstances, the portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of
companies having a market capitalization within the range of companies in the
S&P(R) MidCap 400 Index.
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger Growth Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
APPROACH
It focuses on growing companies that generally have broad product lines,
markets, financial resources and depth of management. Under normal
circumstances, the portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of large
companies. The portfolio considers a large company to have a market
capitalization of $1 billion or greater.
2
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ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
APPROACH
Under normal circumstances, the portfolio invests in the equity securities of
companies of any size which demonstrate promising growth potential.
The portfolio can leverage, that is, borrow money, to buy additional securities.
By borrowing money, the portfolio has the potential to increase its returns if
the increase in the value of the securities purchased exceeds the cost of
borrowing, including interest paid for the money borrowed.
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger Balanced Portfolio seeks current income and long-term capital
appreciation.
APPROACH
It focuses on stocks of companies with growth potential and fixed-income
securities, with emphasis on income-producing securities which appear to have
some potential for capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the
portfolio invests in common stocks and fixed-income securities, which include
commercial paper and bonds rated within the 4 highest rating categories by an
established rating agency. Ordinarily, at least 25% of the portfolio's net
assets are invested in fixed-income securities.
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
GOAL
The Alger Money Market Portfolio seeks to earn high current income consistent
with preserving principal and liquidity.
APPROACH
The portfolio invests in money market securities which are rated within the 2
highest credit categories at the time of purchase. These money market securities
include commercial paper, certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers
acceptances, U.S. Government securities and corporate bonds having less than 397
days remaining until maturity.
3
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
RISKS
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALL EQUITY PORTFOLIOS
As with any fund that invests in stocks, your investment will go up or down in
value, and the loss of your investment is a risk of investing. A portfolio's
price per share will fluctuate due to changes in the market prices of its
investments. Also, a Fund investment may not grow as fast as the rate of
inflation and stocks tend to be more volatile than some other investments you
could make, such as bonds. Furthermore, the returns of a fund concentrating on
"growth" stocks tend to vary more widely over time than those of funds that
focus on "value" stocks; prices of growth stocks tend to be higher in relation
to their companies' earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political and
economic developments than other stocks, making their prices more volatile.
Based on the equity portfolios' investment styles and objectives, an investment
in them may be better suited to investors who seek long-term capital growth and
can tolerate fluctuations in their investment's value.
A portfolio's trading in some stocks may be relatively short-term, meaning the
Fund may buy a security and sell it a short time later to take advantage of
current gains if it is believed that an alternative investment may provide
greater future growth. This activity may create higher transaction costs due to
commissions and other expenses. In addition, a high level of short-term trading
may increase a portfolio's realized gains, thereby increasing the amount of
taxable distributions to shareholders at the end of the year.
There may be additional risks applicable to a specific portfolio because of its
investment approach.
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
A risk of investing in the portfolio is:
[] the possibility of greater risk by investing in smaller, less seasoned
companies rather than larger, more established companies owing to such
factors as inexperienced management and limited financial resources
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
A risk of investing in the portfolio is:
[] the possibility of greater risk by investing in medium-sized companies rather
than larger, more established companies owing to such factors as
inexperienced management and limited financial resources
Risks Applicable to Alger Growth Portfolio
The portfolio's primary risks are those summarized above in "Risks Applicable
to All Equity Portfolios."
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
A risk of investing in the portfolio is:
[] the risk that the cost of borrowing money to leverage will exceed the returns
for the securities purchased or that the securities purchased may actually go
down in value; thus, the portfolio's net asset value can decrease more
quickly than if the portfolio had not borrowed
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO
The primary risks arising from the fixed income portion of the portfolio are:
[] fixed income securities' sensitivity to interest rate movements; their market
values tend to fall when interest rates rise and to rise when rates fall
[] the potential for a decline in the portfolio's market value in the event of
an issuer's falling credit rating or actual default
The primary risks for the equity portion of the portfolio are those summarized
above in "Risks Applicable to All Equity Portfolios."
4
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This portfolio may appeal to investors who seek some long-term capital growth
while also maintaining exposure to more conservative income-producing
fixed-income investments.
RISKS APPLICABLE TO ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The main risks of investing in the portfolio are:
[] while the portfolio seeks to maintain price of $1.00 per share, an investment
in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other government agency, so it
is possible to lose money by investing in the portfolio
[] an investment in the portfolio may not keep pace with inflation
This portfolio may appeal to investors who seek maximum liquidity and capital
preservation together with current income.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
PERFORMANCE
The following bar charts show the changes in each portfolio's performance from
year to year and give you some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.
They assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The annual returns for
all portfolios but the Money Market Portfolio are for Class B shares, which are
generally subject to a sales charge upon redemption that is not reflected. The
Average Annual Total Return tables compare a portfolio's performance over
several periods with that of an appropriate benchmark index. They assume
reinvestment of dividends and distributions and redemption at the end of each
period shown and reflect all applicable sales charges. Remember that how a
portfolio has performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how it
will perform in the future.
Each index used in the tables is a broad index designed to track a particular
market or market segment. No expenses or fees are reflected in the returns for
the indexes, which are unmanaged. All returns for the indexes assume
reinvestment of dividends and interest of the underlying securities that make up
the respective index.
[] S&P 500 Index: An index of large company common stocks considered to be
representative of the U.S. stock market in general.
[] S&P Midcap 400 Index: An index of common stocks designed to track performance
of medium capitalization companies.
[] Russell 2000 Growth Index: An index of common stocks designed to track
performance of small capitalization companies.
[] Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index: An index designed to track
performance of government and corporate bonds.
5
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ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return for Class B Shares as of December 31 each year (%)
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
0.56 46.49 12.04 15.13 31.09
94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q4 1998 27.31%
Worst Quarter: Q3 1998 -14.47%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998
Since
1 Year 5 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A (Inception 1/1/97) 25.97% -- 20.84%
S&P MidCap 400 Index 19.11% -- 25.52%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (Inception 5/24/93) 26.09% 19.83% 22.98%
S&P MidCap 400 Index 19.11% 16.84% 18.57%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C (Inception 8/1/97) 29.94% -- 18.22%
S&P MidCap 400 Index 19.11% -- 18.30%
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return for Class B Shares as of December 31 each year (%)
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
35.05 2.19 43.40 11.10 20.26 -1.57 38.43 12.30 23.10 44.07
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q4 1998 24.98%
Worst Quarter: Q3 1990 -18.77%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998
Since
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A (Inception 1/1/97) 38.28% -- -- 30.97%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- -- 30.95%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (Inception 11/11/86) 39.07% 21.92% 21.90% 18.00%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% 24.06% 19.21% 17.42%
Class C (Inception 8/1/97) 42.97% -- -- 26.15%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- -- 21.46%
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return for Class B Shares
as of December 31 each year (%)
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
64.53 6.69 54.57 3.99 12.81 -4.62 48.92 4.17 9.17 9.91
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q1 1991 26.18%
Worst Quarter: Q3 1990 -22.41%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998
Since
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A (Inception 1/1/97) 5.50% -- -- 7.74%
Russell 2000 Growth Index 1.23% -- -- 6.94%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (Inception 11/11/86) 5.02% 11.91% 19.02% 16.53%
Russell 2000 Growth Index 1.23% 10.22% 11.54% 9.75%
Class C (Inception 8/1/97) 8.83% -- -- 4.44%
Russell 2000 Growth Index 1.23% -- -- 2.38%
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return for Class B Shares
as of December 31 each year (%)
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q2 1995 29.47%
Worst Quarter: Q3 1998 -12.50%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998
Since
1 Year 5 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A (Inception 1/1/97) 31.85% -- 26.38%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- 30.95%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (Inception 11/1/93) 32.38% 26.67% 28.62%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% 24.06% 23.26%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C (Inception 8/1/97) 36.33% -- 19.53%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- 21.46%
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return for Class B Shares
as of December 31 each year (%)
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
7.65 -6.62 31.31 6.63 18.97 32.49
93 94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q4 1998 17.54%
Worst Quarter: Q1 1994 -5.72%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998
Since
1 Year 5 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A (Inception 1/1/97) 27.09% -- 23.44%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- 30.95%
Lehman Gov't/Corp. Bond Index 9.46% -- 9.61%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (Inception 6/1/92) 27.49% 15.34% 13.65%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% 24.06% 20.71%
Lehman Gov't/Corp. Bond Index 9.46% 7.30% 8.22%
Class C (Inception 8/1/97) 31.52% -- 20.78%
S&P 500 Index 28.58% -- 21.46%
Lehman Gov't/Corp. Bond Index 9.46% -- 9.34%
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
Annual Total Return as of December 31 each year
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
9.69 8.70 6.45 3.92 3.05 4.20 5.94 5.16 4.92 4.78
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
Best Quarter: Q2 1989 2.48%
Worst Quarter: Q3 1993 0.73%
Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 1998 (%)
Since
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Inception
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Money Market
(Inception 11/11/86) 4.78% 5.00% 5.66% 6.12%
Seven-day yield ended December 31, 1998: 4.34%. For the portfolio's current
7-day yield, telephone 800-992-3863 toll-free.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Fees and Expenses
Investors incur certain fees and expenses in connection with an investment in
the Fund. The following table shows the fees and expenses that you may incur
if you buy and hold shares of the portfolios.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from Distribution Total Annual Fund
Class your investment) Management Fees (12 b-1) Fees Other Expenses Operating Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Alger Small A 4.75%* .85% None .52% 1.37%
Capitalization B 5.00%** .85% .75% .52% 2.12%
Portfolio C 1.00%** .85% .75% .51% 2.11%
Alger A 4.75%* .80% None .54% 1.34%
MidCap Growth B 5.00%** .80% .75% .55% 2.10%
Portfolio C 1.00%** .80% .75% .53% 2.08%
Alger A 4.75%* .75% None .50% 1.25%
Growth B 5.00%** .75% .75% .50% 2.00%
Portfolio C 1.00%** .75% .75% .50% 2.00%
Alger A 4.75%* .75% None 1.04% 1.79%
Balanced B 5.00%** .75% .75% 1.08% 2.58%
Portfolio C 1.00%** .75% .75% 1.03% 2.53%
Alger Capital A 4.75%* .85% None .64%+ 1.49%
Appreciation B 5.00%** .85% .75% .66%+ 2.26%
Portfolio C 1.00%** .85% .75% 65%+ 2.25%
Alger Money None .50% None .26% .76%
Market Portfolio
</TABLE>
* Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
** Maximum deferred sales charge (load), as a percentage of purchase price or
redemption proceeds, whichever is lower
+ Included in Other Expenses is 0.07% of interest expense.
7
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Examples
The following examples, which reflect the shareholder fees and operating
expenses listed previously, are intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The first example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time
periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year
and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. The second example
reflects the same assumptions except that redemption is not assumed. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs
would be:
You would pay the following expenses if you redeemed your shares:
<PAGE>
1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alger Small A $608 $888 $1,189 $2,043
Capitalization B $715 $964 $1,339 $2,452
Portfolio C $314 $661 $1,134 $2,441
Alger A $605 $879 $1,174 $2,011
MidCap Growth B $713 $958 $1,329 $2,431
Portfolio C $311 $652 $1,119 $2,410
Alger A $596 $853 $1,129 $1,915
Growth B $703 $927 $1,278 $2,327
Portfolio C $303 $627 $1,078 $2,327
Alger A $648 $1,012 $1,399 $2,480
Balanced B $761 $1,102 $1,570 $2,915
Portfolio C $356 $788 $1,345 $2,866
Alger Capital A $619 $924 $1,250 $2,170
Appreciation B $729 $1,006 $1,410 $2,595
Portfolio C $328 $703 $1,205 $2,585
Alger Money $78 $243 $422 $942
Market Portfolio
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alger Small A $608 $888 $1,189 $2,043
Capitalization B $215 $664 $1,139 $2,452
Portfolio C $214 $661 $1,134 $2,441
Alger A $605 $879 $1,174 $2,011
MidCap Growth B $213 $658 $1,129 $2,431
Portfolio C $211 $652 $1,119 $2,410
Alger A $596 $853 $1,129 $1,915
Growth B $203 $627 $1,078 $2,327
Portfolio C $203 $627 $1,078 $2,327
Alger A $648 $1,012 $1,399 $2,480
Balanced B $261 $802 $1,370 $2,915
Portfolio C $256 $788 $1,345 $2,866
Alger Capital A $619 $924 $1,250 $2,170
Appreciation B $229 $706 $1,210 $2,595
Portfolio C $228 $703 $1,205 $2,585
Alger Money $78 $243 $422 $942
Market Portfolio
8
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Each portfolio other than the Money Market Portfolio pays the Distributor, Fred
Alger & Company, Incorporated, a shareholder servicing fee of .25% of the value
of the portfolio's average daily net assets for service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts. The Distributor may pay some of this fee to other
organizations that also provide service and maintenance of shareholder accounts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
Each portfolio other than the Money Market Portfolio may invest up to 100% of
its assets in cash, high-grade bonds, or cash equivalents for temporary
defensive reasons if the Manager believes that adverse market or other
conditions warrant. This is to attempt to protect the portfolio's assets from a
temporary unacceptable risk of loss, rather than directly to promote the
portfolio's investment objective.
Other securities the portfolios may invest in are discussed in the Fund's
Statement of Additional Information (see back cover).
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
MANAGER
Fred Alger Management, Inc.
1 World Trade Center
Suite 9333
New York, NY 10048
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 1964, and manages investments
totaling (at 12/31/98) $6.64 billion in mutual fund assets as well as $3.95
billion in other assets. The Manager makes investment decisions for the
portfolios and continuously reviews and administers their investment programs.
These management responsibilities are subject to the Fund's Board of Trustees'
supervision. The Fund has had the same Manager since inception, and the
portfolios pay the Manager fees at these annual rates based on a percentage of
average daily net assets: Money Market Portfolio-- .50%; Small Capitalization
and Capital Appreciation Portfolios-- .85%; MidCap Growth Portfolio--.80%;
Growth and Balanced Portfolios-- .75%.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
David Alger, Seilai Khoo, Ron Tartaro and Steven Thumm are the individuals
responsible for the day-to-day management of portfolio investments. Mr. Alger, a
comanager of all of the portfolios since their inceptions, has been employed by
the Manager as Executive Vice President and Director of Research since 1971, and
as President since 1995. Ms. Khoo, a comanager of the Small Capitalization and
Capital Appreciation Portfolios, has been employed by Alger Management since
1989, as a senior research analyst until 1995 and as a Senior Vice President and
portfolio manager since 1995. Mr. Tartaro, a comanager of the MidCap Growth,
Growth and Balanced Portfolios, has been employed by Alger Management since
1990, as a senior research analyst until 1995 and as a Senior Vice President and
portfolio manager since 1995. Steven Thumm has served as comanager of the
Balanced and Money Market Portfolios since 1995. He has been employed by the
Manager as a fixed income analyst since 1991.
YEAR 2000
The Fund's Manager and Distributor have advised the Fund that they are
implementing a Year 2000 plan to address any issues arising from computer
systems' potentially erroneous reading of dates in the year 2000. Specifically,
they are in the process of confirming that the Fund's service providers are
resolving any Year 2000 issues as the millennium approaches. While there can be
no assurance that there will be no impairment of services at that time,
currently it is not anticipated that shareholders' investments in the Fund will
be impacted negatively as a result of the Fund's Year 2000 transition. However,
people and resources have been devoted to this important review.
9
<PAGE>
Year 2000 issues, real or perceived, may also adversely affect stock prices. The
Manager intends to review SEC filings and other Year 2000 readiness information
from companies in which the Fund may invest significantly, as well as readiness
information from other sources. The Manager and the Fund have no reason to
believe that such measures will not be sufficient to avoid a material adverse
effect on the Fund's investments, although there can be no assurance that they
will be.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTOR
Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated
30 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
TRANSFER AGENT
Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
30 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
NET ASSET VALUE
The price of one share is its "net asset value", or NAV. The NAV for each
portfolio other than the Money Market Portfolio is calculated as of the close of
business (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) every day the New York Stock Exchange
is open; the NAV for the Money Market Portfolio is calculated as of 12:00 noon
on each of those days. Generally, the Exchange is closed on weekends and various
national holidays. It may close on other days from time to time.
The Fund generally values the assets of each portfolio except the Money Market
Portfolio on the basis of market quotations or, where market quotations are not
readily available, on the basis of fair value as determined by the Manager under
procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees. The assets of the Money
Market Portfolio (and short-term money market instruments held by other
portfolios) are valued on the basis of amortized cost.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
All portfolios other than the Money Market Portfolio declare and pay dividends
and distributions annually. The Fund expects that these annual payments to
shareholders will consist of both capital gains, which may be taxable to you at
different rates depending upon how long the portfolio held the securities that
it sold to create the gains, and net investment income, which is taxable as
ordinary income. Dividends and distributions may differ between classes of
shares of a portfolio. Payments by the Money Market Portfolio, which normally
consist solely of net investment income, are declared daily and paid monthly.
Unless you choose to receive cash payments by checking the box on your New
Account Application, dividends and distributions will be reinvested
automatically at the NAV on their payment dates. If you have chosen cash
payments and a payment is returned to the Fund as undeliverable, upon receipt
that payment will be reinvested in Fund shares at the next NAV. All subsequent
payments will be reinvested until you reinstate your cash election and provide a
valid mailing address.
Regardless of whether you choose to take distributions in cash or reinvest them
in the portfolio, they may be subject to federal and state taxes. Because
everyone's tax situation is unique, see a tax advisor about federal, state and
local tax consequences of investing in the Fund.
NAV (net asset value) is computed by adding together the value of the
portfolio's investments plus cash and other assets, subtracting its liabilities
and then dividing the result by the number of its outstanding shares.
CLASSES OF FUND SHARES
All portfolios other than the Money Market Portfolio offer three classes of
shares, each subject to a sales charge. Shares of the Money Market Portfolio are
not subject to a sales charge. The differences between the classes are described
in the following chart:
10
<PAGE>
Class A Shares
Sales Charges
When you buy Class A Shares, you may pay the following sales charge:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Purchase Sales Charge as a Dealer Allowance as Sales Charge as
Amount % of Offering Price % of Offering Price % of Net Asset Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $100,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
$100,000 - $249,999 4.00% 4.17% 3.25%
$250,000 - $499,999 3.00% 3.09% 2.50%
$500,000 - $999,999 2.25% 2.30% 1.75%
$1,000,000 and over * * *
</TABLE>
*Purchases of Class A Shares, which when combined with current holdings of Class
A Shares offered with a sales charge equal to or exceeding $1,000,000 in the
aggregate may be made at net asset value without any initial sales charge, but
will be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% on redemptions made within 12 months of
purchase. The CDSC is waived in certain circumstances.
DISTRIBUTION (12B-1) FEES
Not subject to distribution (12b-1) fees
MINIMUM/MAXIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNT
No minimum or maximum investment limit.
Class B Shares
When you redeem Class B Shares, you may pay the following contingent deferred
sales charge:
Years Contingent
Shares Deferred Sales
Were Held Charge (CDSC)
Less than one 5%
One but less than two 4%
Two but less than three 3%
Three but less than four 2%
Four but less than five 2%
Five but less than six 1%
Six or more 0%
Subject to distribution (12b-1) fees* for eight years, after which time your
shares are automatically converted to Class A Shares. There are no sales charges
imposed on the conversion.
No minimum investment amount.
Maximum permitted investment amount: $249,999
Class C Shares
When you redeem Class C shares, you may pay the following contingent deferred
sales charge:
Years Contingent
Shares Deferred Sales
Were Held Charge (CDSC)
- -----------------------------
Less than 1 year 1%
One year or more 0%
Subject to distribution (12b-1) fees* for 12 years, after which time your shares
are automatically converted to Class A Shares. There are no sales charges
imposed on the conversion.
No minimum investment amount. Maximum permitted investment amount: $999,999
Under certain circumstances, the above requirements may be waived. These
circumstances are discussed in the Statement of Additional Information.
*Each portfolio other than Alger Money Market Portfolio has adopted a plan under
Rule 12b-1 that allows Class B and C shares to pay distribution fees out of
their assets on an on-going basis for the sale and distribution of their shares.
These fees will increase the cost of your investment in Class B or C shares and
may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
In calculating a CDSC, the Fund assumes, first, that the redemption is of
shares, if any, that are not subject to any CDSC and, second, that the remaining
shares redeemed are those that are subject to the lowest charge.
Purchasing and Redeeming Fund Shares
You can purchase or redeem some or all of your shares on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. They will be processed at the NAV next calculated after
your purchase or redemption request is received in good order by the transfer
agent. Ordinarily, the Fund will issue your redemption check within 7 days after
the Transfer Agent accepts your redemption request. However, when you buy shares
with a check or via TelePurchase or Automatic Investment Plan, no check will be
issued against those funds for 15 days. The Transfer Agent or Fund may reject
any purchase order.
You may aggregate all the Class A shares you purchase in the Fund in order to
obtain a reduced sales charge (as indicated above) if you provide sufficient
information at the time of purchase for verification of your eligibility for the
lower charge.
If you intend to make an aggregate purchase of $100,000 or more over a period of
13 months or less, you can complete a letter of intent and return it to the
Fund. Please contact the Fund for details before you buy the shares.
11
<PAGE>
Different ways to purchase and redeem are listed below and on the next page. For
telephone redemptions, the Fund and Transfer Agent have reasonable procedures in
place to determine that the instructions are genuine. They include requesting
personal identification and recording calls. If the Fund and Transfer Agent
follow these procedures, they are not liable for acting in good faith on
telephone instructions.
Minimum Investments
Initial Subsequent
Investment Investment
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular account* $0 $25
Traditional IRA $0 $25
Roth IRA $0 $25
Education IRA $0 $25
SIMPLE IRA $0 $25
Keogh $0 $25
401(k) $0 $25
403(b) $0 $25
Automatic Investment $25 $25
*The minimum initial investment amount for the Money Market Portfolio (only)
is $500. The minimum subsequent purchase amount for the portfolio is $25.
INVESTMENT INSTRUCTIONS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT:
By Mail:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(make checks payable to The Alger Fund)
Mail your completed application and check to:
Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
30 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
By Fed Wire:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have your bank wire funds to State Street Bank & Trust Company. Contact Alger
Shareholder Services at 800-992-3863 for details.
Forward the completed New Account Application to Alger Shareholder Services
stating that the account was established by wire transfer and the date and
amount of the transfer.
Contact:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call or visit your broker dealer, investment adviser, or bank or other financial
institution.
Automatically:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complete the Automatic Investment option on your account application. Minimum
automatic investment is $25.
Via The Internet:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit The Alger Fund website to download a new account application -
www.algerfund.com.
Mail completed application with your investment to Alger Shareholder
Services, Inc.
To make additional investments in an existing account:
By Mail:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complete and return the Invest by Mail slip attached to your Alger Fund
Statement and return slip with your investment to:
Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
30 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
By Telephone or Fed Wire:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TelePurchase* allows you to purchase shares by telephone (minimum $500, maximum
$50,000) by filling out the appropriate section of the New Account Application
or returning the Telephone Services Form. The funds will be transferred from
your designated bank account to your Fund account normally within one business
day. Wire - Have your bank wire funds to State Street Bank & Trust Company.
Contact Alger Shareholder Services for details.
* Not available for retirement plans.
Contact:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call or visit your broker dealer, investment adviser, or bank or other financial
institution.
12
<PAGE>
Automatically:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Alger Fund Automatic Investment Plan allows you to make automatic purchases
on the 15th and/or the last business day of each month. Fill out appropriate
information on the New Account Application or contact The Alger Fund to receive
an Additional Services Form. Minimum automatic investment is $25.
Government Direct Deposit* allows you to arrange direct deposit of U.S. federal
government payments into your Fund account and Payroll Savings Plan* allows you
to arrange direct deposit of a portion of your payroll directly to your Alger
Fund Account. Call for a Payroll Savings Plan Form.
*NOT AVAILABLE FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Via The Internet:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Alger Fund website to download all forms to add services to your
account - www.algerfund.com Mail your completed forms to Alger Shareholder
Services, Inc.
Exchanges
You can exchange shares of any portfolio for shares of another portfolio,
subject to certain restrictions.Sales charges will apply in certain exchanges
from the Money Market Portfolio. Remember that for tax purposes an exchange is
considered a sale and a purchase, so you may realize a taxable gain when you
exchange shares. For more information, call the Fund toll-free at (800) 992-3863
or consult the Statement of Additional Information (see back cover).
The Fund may redeem some of your shares "in kind", which means that some of the
proceeds will be paid with securities the Fund owns instead of cash.
For tax purposes, shares may be worth more or less than they were at the time
you buy them. This means that you may realize a taxable gain or loss when
you sell shares.
To Redeem Shares of the Fund:
By Mail:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send a letter of instruction to Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. which includes
- your name
- account number
- portfolio name (and class, if applicable)
- number of shares or dollar amount of redemption
- where to send the proceeds
- a signature guarantee is required if
-- your redemption is for more than $5,000; or
-- you want the check sent to a different address than the one we have
on file; or
-- you have changed your address on file within the past 60
days.
By Telephone:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call 800-992-3863 to sell shares (unless you refuse this service on your New
Account Application). The Fund will send you a check for amounts up to $5,000.
You can choose to receive a check or a wire for amounts over $5,000. Note, you
cannot request a check if you have changed your address on file within the past
60 days.
TeleRedemption* allows you to redeem shares by telephone by filling out the
appropriate section of the New Account Application or returning the
Telephone Services Form. The funds will be transferred to your bank account in
an amount between $500 and $50,000, normally within 2 business days.
*NOT AVAILABLE FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Contact:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call or visit your broker dealer, investment adviser, or bank or other financial
institution.
Automatically:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Systematic Withdrawal Plan allows you to receive regular monthly, quarterly or
annual payments. Your account value must be at least $10,000, and the payments
must be for $50 or more.The maximum monthly withdrawal is 1% of the account
value in the Fund at the time you begin participation in the Plan.
Via The Internet:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Alger Fund website to download all forms to add redemption privileges
to your existing account - www.algerfund.com
Mail your completed forms to Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
13
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each
portfolio's financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information
reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an
investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions). The financial highlights for the years ended October 31, 1990
through 1998 have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, the Fund's independent
public accountants. The financial highlights, with the exception of the total
return information, for the year ended October 31, 1989 were audited by other
independent accountants, who have expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Arthur Andersen LLP's report, along with the Fund's financial statements, are
included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class C(i) Class A(i)
------------------------- ------------------------
Year Three Months Year Ten Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997(vi) 1998 1997(vi)
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.29 $ 10.38 $ 10.35 $ 9.21
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income (loss) (.10)(iv) (.03) (.06)(iv) (.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (1.09) (.06) (1.04) 1.18
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations (1.19) (.09) (1.10) 1.14
Distributions from net realized gains (.51) -- (.51) --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $ 8.59 $ 10.29 $ 8.74 $ 10.35
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (v) (11.8%) (.9%) (10.9%) 12.4%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $ 4,838 $ 338 $59,516 $ 25,996
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.11% 2.09% 1.37% 1.38%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.36%) (1.71%) (.71%) (.93%)
======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 157.26% 120.27% 157.26% 120.27%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(i) Class C Shares were initially offered August 1, 1997. Class A Shares were
initially offered January 1, 1997.
(ii) Per share data have been adjusted to reflect the effect of a 3 for 1 stock
split which occurred September 27, 1995.
(iii) Unaudited.
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B (ii)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended October 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.29 $ 10.86 $ 11.13 $ 7.62 $ 8.65 $ 6.88
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Net investment income (loss) (.14)(iv) (.11) (.09) (.13) (.09) (.08)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (1.03) 1.28 .42 3.64 (.02) 1.85
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations (1.17) 1.17 .33 3.51 (.11) 1.77
Distributions from net realized gains (.51) (1.74) (.60) -- (.92) --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $ 8.61 $ 10.29 $ 10.86 $ 11.13 $ 7.62 $ 8.65
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (v) (11.6%) 12.9% 3.2% 46.2% (1.1%) 25.8%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $460,788 $580,651 $553,872 $463,718 $294,890 $300,108
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.12% 2.14% 2.13% 2.11% 2.18% 2.13%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.51%) (1.67%) (1.59%) (1.75%) (1.51%) (1.52%)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 157.26% 120.27% 153.35% 97.37% 131.86% 148.49%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B (ii)
-------------------------------------------
Year Ended October 31,
-------------------------------------------
1992 1991 1990 1989
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 6.97 $ 4.33 $ 5.91 $ 3.58
-------- -------- -------- -------
Net investment income (loss) (.11)(iv) (.03) (.06)(iv) --
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments .37 2.76 (.25) 2.33
-------- -------- -------- -------
Total from investment operations .26 2.73 (.31) 2.33
Distributions from net realized gains (.35) (.09) (1.27) --
-------- -------- -------- -------
Net asset value, end of period $ 6.88 $ 6.97 $ 4.33 $ 5.91
======== ======== ======== =======
Total Return (v) 3.4% 63.7% (7.1%) 65.1%(iii)
======== ======== ======== =======
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $182,432 $61,273 $23,628 $11,990
======== ======== ======== =======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.17% 2.23% 2.66% 3.25%
======== ======== ======== =======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.64%) (1.37%) (1.17%) (1.92%)
======== ======== ======== =======
Portfolio Turnover Rate 121.00% 171.04% 252.66% 441.42%
======== ======== ======== =======
</TABLE>
(iv) Amount was computed based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(v) Does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
(vi) Ratios have been annualized; total return has not been annualized.
15
<PAGE>
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class C(i) Class A(i)
------------------------ -------------------------
Year Three Months Year Ten Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31,
Year Ended October 31, October 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997(ii) 1998 1997(ii)
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $22.33 $22.49 $ 22.46 $18.92
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income (loss) (.28)(iii) (.03) (.10)(iii) (.10)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 1.27 (.13) 1.31 3.64
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations .99 (.16) 1.21 3.54
Distribution from net realized gains (2.46) -- (2.46) --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $20.86 $22.33 $ 21.21 $22.46
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (iv) 6.1% (.7%) 7.2% 18.7%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $1,759 $ 84 $32,447 $5,436
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.08% 1.97% 1.34% 1.40%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.26%) (1.55%) (.53%) (.83%)
======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 180.98% 160.09% 180.98% 160.09%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(i) Class C Shares were initially offered August 1, 1997. Class A Shares were
initially offered January 1, 1997.
(i) Ratios have been annualized; total return has not been annualized.
16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B
----------------------------------------------------------------
From
May 24, 1993
(commencement
Year Ended October 31, of operations) to
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993(ii)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 22.33 $ 18.87 $ 18.94 $ 12.77 $ 12.48 $10.00
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income (loss) (.29)(iii) (.29) (.25)(iii) (.08) (.11) (.09)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 1.31 4.23 1.35 6.25 .68 2.57
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations 1.02 3.94 1.10 6.17 .57 2.48
Distribution from net realized gains (2.46) (.48) (1.17) -- (.28) --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $ 20.89 $ 22.33 $ 18.87 $ 18.94 $ 12.77 $12.48
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (iv) 6.2% 21.4% 6.4% 48.3% 4.7% 24.8%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $191,934 $166,475 $125,686 $54,016 $18,516 $3,836
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.10% 2.19% 2.27% 2.39% 3.20%(v) 3.73%(v)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.38%) (1.58%) (1.33%) (1.71%) (2.32%) (2.86%)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 180.98% 160.09% 113.95% 121.60% 127.40% 57.64%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(iii) Amount was computed based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(iv) Does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
(v) Amounts have been reduced by 0.07% and 0.80% for the periods ended October
31, 1994 and 1993, respectively, due to expense reimbursements made
pursuant to applicable state expense limits.
17
<PAGE>
Alger Growth Portfolio
For a share outstanding throughout the period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class C(i) Class A(i)
------------------------ ------------------------
Year Three Months Year Ten Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997(vi) 1998 1997(vi)
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.50 $11.98 $ 11.58 $ 9.40
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income (loss) (.11)(v) (.02) (.03)(v) (.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 2.10 (.46) 2.13 2.20
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations 1.99 (.48) 2.10 2.18
Distributions from net realized gains (1.49) -- (1.49) --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $12.00 $11.50 $ 12.19 $ 11.58
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (iv) 20.5% (4.0%) 21.4% 23.2%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $3,312 $ 199 $121,930 $52,307
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.00% 2.02% 1.25% 1.30%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (.97%) (1.43%) (.23%) (.39%)
======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 146.64% 128.26% 146.64% 128.26%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
18
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B (ii)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended October 31,
==================================================================================================================================
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 11.50 $ 9.49 $ 9.38 $ 6.97 $ 7.43 $ 5.76 $ 5.77 $ 4.25 $ 4.42 $ 3.48
- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------
(.11)(v) (.13) (.08)(v) (.02) (.07)(v) (.02) (.06)(v) (.02) (.02) (.05)
2.10 2.44 .78 2.59 .35 1.70 .61 1.86 (.15) .99
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
1.99 2.31 .70 2.57 .28 1.68 .55 1.84 (.17) .94
(1.49) (.30) (.59) (.16) (.74) (.01) (.56) (.32) -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 12.00 $ 11.50 $ 9.49 $ 9.38 $ 6.97 $ 7.43 $ 5.76 $ 5.77 $ 4.25 $ 4.42
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
20.5% 24.9% 8.1% 37.8% 4.1% 29.2% 9.7% 45.8% (4.0%) 27.0%(iii)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
$390,885 $304,984 $266,207 $154,284 $76,390 $37,988 $19,379 $10,213 $5,667 $5,463
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
2.00% 2.08% 2.08% 2.09% 2.20% 2.20% 2.32% 2.70% 3.09% 3.32%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
(.98%) (1.13%) (.84%) (1.03%) (1.01%) (1.16%) (1.07%) (1.06%) (.68%) (.70%)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
146.64% 128.26% 94.91% 118.16% 103.86% 108.54% 69.28% 76.06% 86.06% 106.73%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(i) Class C Shares were initially offered August 1, 1997. Class A Shares were
initially offered January 1, 1997.
(ii) Per share data have been adjusted to reflect the effect of a 3 for 1
stock split which occurred September 27, 1995.
(iii) Unaudited.
(iv) Does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
(v) Amount was computed based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(vi) Ratios have been annualized; total return has not been annualized.
19
<PAGE>
lger Growth Portfolio
For a share outstanding throughout the period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class C(i) Class A(i)
------------------------ -----------------------
Year Three Months Year Ten Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997(ii) 1998 1997(ii)
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.49 $16.88 $16.58 $13.99
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income (loss) .04(iv) (.01) .16(iv) .05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 2.33 (.38) 2.35 2.54
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations 2.37 (.39) 2.51 2.59
-------- -------- -------- --------
Dividends from net investment income -- -- (.06) --
Distributions from net realized gains (2.20) -- (2.20) --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Distributions (2.20) -- (2.26) --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $16.66 $16.49 $16.83 $16.58
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return (iii) 16.8% (2.31%) 17.7% 18.5%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $ 334 $ 48 $1,354 $ 459
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.53% 2.77% 1.79% 2.10%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets .23% (.84%) .98% .72%
======== ======== ======== ========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 93.23% 109.26% 93.23% 109.26%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(i) Class C Shares were initially offered August 1, 1997. Class A Shares were
initially offered January 1, 1997.
(ii) Ratios have been annualized; total return has not been annualized.
(iii) Does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
20
<PAGE>
Alger Balanced Portfolio
For a share outstanding throughout the period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From
June 1, 1992
(commencement
of operations)
Year Ended October 31, to October 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992(ii)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 16.48 $ 14.21 $ 13.59 $10.65 $11.18 $ 9.95 $10.00
------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Net investment income (loss) .03(iv) -- .12 (.02)(iv) (.05) (.01) (.12)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments 2.34 2.67 .72 2.96 (.39) 1.24 .07
------- -------- ------- ------- ------ ------ --------
Total from investment operations 2.37 2.67 .84 2.94 (.44) 1.23 (.05)
------- -------- ------- ------- ------ ------ --------
Dividends from net investment income (.01) (.06) (.01) -- -- -- --
Distributions from net realized gains (2.20) (.34) (.21) -- (.09) -- --
------- -------- ------- ------- ------ ------ --------
Total Distributions (2.21) (.40) (.22) -- (.09) -- --
------- -------- ------- ------- ------ ------ --------
Net asset value, end of period $ 16.64 $ 16.48 $ 14.21 $ 13.59 $10.65 $11.18 $ 9.95
======= ======== ======= ======= ====== ====== ========
Total Return (iii) 16.9% 19.3% 6.3% 27.6% (4.0%) 12.4% (0.5%)
======= ======== ======= ======= ====== ====== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $19,282 $12,653 $13,492 $6,214 $3,073 $3,125 $ 1,370
======= ======== ======= ======= ====== ====== =======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets 2.58% 2.89% 2.70% 3.34%(v) 3.18% 3.82%(v) 5.62%(v)
======= ======== ======= ======= ====== ====== =======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets .19% .04% .47% (.13%) (.41%) (.97%) (3.07%)
======= ======== ======= ======= ====== ====== =======
Portfolio Turnover Rate 93.23% 109.26% 85.51% 84.06% 84.88% 115.17% 17.07%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
</TABLE>
(iv) Amount was computed based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(v) Amounts have been reduced by 0.24%, 0.75% and 0.75% for the periods ended
October 31, 1995, 1993 and 1992, respectively, due to expense
reimbursements made pursuant to applicable state expense limits.
21
<PAGE>
Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio (i)
For a share outstanding throughout the period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class C(ii) Class A(ii)
------------------------ ------------------------
Year Three Months Year Ten Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997(v) 1998 1997(v)
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 26.00 $ 27.67 $ 26.17 $ 21.59
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net investment income (loss) (.37)(iii) (.05) (.16)(iii) (.09)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 2.67 (1.62) 2.68 4.67
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total from investment operations 2.30 (1.67) 2.52 4.58
Distributions from net realized gains (1.61) -- (1.61) --
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value, end of period $ 26.69 $ 26.00 $ 27.08 $ 26.17
========== ========== ========== ==========
Total Return (iv) 9.9% (6.0%) 10.7% 21.2%
========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $2,967 $ 631 $ 54,415 $ 15,572
========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of expenses excluding interest to
average net assets 2.18% 2.18% 1.42% 1.45%
========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of expenses including interest to
average net assets 2.25% 2.25% 1.49% 1.53%
========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (1.46%) (1.80%) (.67%) (.85%)
========== ========== ========== ==========
Portfolio Turnover Rate 184.07% 157.63% 184.07% 157.63%
========== ========== ========== ==========
Amount of debt outstanding at end of period -- -- -- --
========== ========== ========== ==========
Average amount of debt outstanding during the period $2,814,493 $2,940,097 $2,814,493 $2,940,097
========== ========== ========== ==========
Average daily number of shares outstanding
during the period 9,670,951 7,739,199 9,670,951 7, 543,270
========== ========== ========== ==========
Average amount of debt per share during the period $0.29 $ 0.38 $0.29 $ 0.38
========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
(i) Prior to March 27, 1995, the Capital Appreciation Portfolio was the
Leveraged AllCap Portfolio.
(ii) Class C Shares were initially offered August 1, 1997. Class A Shares were
initially offered January 1, 1997.
(iii) Amount was computed based on average shares outstanding during the year.
22
<PAGE>
Class B
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended October 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
$ 26.00 $ 21.62 $ 18.62 $ 11.11 $ 10.00
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
(.39)(iii) (.33) (.34)(iii) (0.47)(iii) (0.47)
2.69 4.85 3.88 7.98 1.58
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
2.30 4.52 3.54 7.51 1.11
(1.61) (.14) (.54) -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
$ 26.69 $ 26.00 $ 21.62 $ 18.62 $ 11.11
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
9.9% 21.0% 19.5% 67.6% 11.1%
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
$ 242,941 $ 212,895 $ 150,258 $ 33,640 $ 2,369
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
2.19% 2.27% 2.44% 3.26% 4.13%(vi)
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
2.26% 2.38% 2.46% 3.54% 5.53%(vi)
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
(1.48%) (1.72%) (1.61%) (3.02%) (5.12%)
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
184.07% 157.63% 162.37% 197.65% 231.99%
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
-- -- $7,700,000 -- $651,000
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
$2,814,493 $2,940,097 $ 239,966 $293,153 $406,864
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
9,670,951 7,739,199 4,852,286 543,270 191,676
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
$0.29 $0.38 $ 0.05 $ 0.54 $ 2.12
========== ========== ========== ======== ========
(iv) Does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
(v) Ratios have been annualized; total return has not been annualized.
(vi) Amount has been reduced by 0.85% due to expense reimbursements made
pursuant to applicable state expense limits.
23
<PAGE>
Alger Money Market Portfolio
For a share outstanding throughout the period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended October 31,
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment income .0476 .0479 .0521 .0573
Dividends from net investment income (.0476) (.0479) (.0521) (.0573)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of period $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Return 4.9% 4.9% 5.3% 5.9%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) $172,862 $179,407 $285,702 $185,822
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of expenses to average net assets .76% .81% .41% .29%
======== ======== ======== ========
Decrease reflected in above expense
ratios due to expense reimbursements
and management fee waivers -- -- .38% .50%
======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 4.84% 4.76% 5.18% 5.73%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
$ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $1.0000
- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
.0374 .0304 .0424 .0671 .0844 .0927
(.0374) (.0304) (.0424) (.0671) (.0844) (.0927)
- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
$ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $ 1.0000 $1.0000
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
3.8% 3.1% 4.3% 6.9% 8.8% 9.7%(i)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
$163,170 $126,567 $135,288 $160,898 $143,420 $69,581
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
.27% .41% .25% .18% .03% --
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
.50% .50% .60% .63% .84% .93%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
3.78% 3.04% 4.30% 6.76% 8.37% 9.45%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
(i) Unaudited.
25
<PAGE>
FOR FUND INFORMATION:
By telephone: 1-800-992-3863
By mail: The Alger Fund
1 World Trade Center
Suite 9333
New York, NY 10048
By Internet: Text versions of Fund documents can be
downloaded from the following sources:
> The Fund: http://www.algerfund.com
> SEC: http://www.sec.gov
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more detailed information about the Fund and its policies, please read the
Statement of Additional Information, which is incorporated by reference into (is
legally made a part of) this Prospectus. You can get a free copy of the
Statement of Additional Information by calling the Fund's toll-free number or by
writing to the address above. The Statement of Additional Information is on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund's annual report you
will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during the period covered by the
report. You can receive free copies of these reports by calling the Fund's
toll-free number or by writing to the address above.
Another way you can obtain copies is by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room
or by forwarding your request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public
Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-6009. Information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room is available by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
DISTRIBUTOR: FRED ALGER & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
The Alger Fund
SEC File #811-6880
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- ----------------------
THE |
ALGER | 1 World Trade Center
FUND | Suite 9333
New York, New York 10048
(800) 992-FUND (992-3863)
================================================================================
The Alger Fund (the "Fund") is a registered investment company--a mutual
fund--that presently offers interests in the following six portfolios (the
"Portfolios"):
* Alger Money Market Portfolio
* Alger Balanced Portfolio
* Alger Growth Portfolio
* Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio
* Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio
* Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio
With the exception of the Alger Money Market Portfolio, each Portfolio
offers three classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales
charges, ongoing fees and other features.
The Fund's financial statements for the year ended October 31, 1998 are
contained in its annual report to shareholders and are incorporated by reference
into this Statement of Additional Information.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This document
contains additional information about The Alger Fund and supplements information
in the Prospectus dated March 1, 1999. It should be read together with the
Prospectus which may be obtained free of charge by writing or calling the Fund
at the address or toll-free number shown above.
CONTENTS
The Portfolios............................................................. 2
Investment Strategies and Policies......................................... 3
Net Asset Value............................................................ 11
Classes of Shares.......................................................... 12
Purchases.................................................................. 13
Redemptions................................................................ 16
Exchanges and Conversions.................................................. 18
Management................................................................. 21
Taxes...................................................................... 24
Dividends.................................................................. 25
Custodian and Transfer Agent............................................... 25
Certain Shareholders....................................................... 25
Organization............................................................... 27
Determination of Performance............................................... 28
Appendix................................................................... A-1
March 1, 1999
<PAGE>
THE PORTFOLIOS
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The Portfolio may invest in "money market" instruments, including certificates
of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances; U.S. Government securities;
corporate bonds having less than 397 days remaining to maturity; and commercial
paper, including variable rate master demand notes. The Portfolio may also enter
into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and firm commitment
agreements.
The Portfolio will invest at least 95% of its total assets in money market
securities which are rated within the highest credit category assigned by at
least two established rating agencies (or one rating agency if the security is
rated by only one) and will only invest in money market securities rated at the
time of purchase within the two highest credit categories or, if not rated, of
equivalent investment quality as determined by Fred Alger Management, Inc.
("Alger Management"), the Fund's investment manager. Alger Management subjects
all securities eligible for investment to its own credit analysis and considers
all securities purchased by the Portfolio to present minimal credit risks.
The Portfolio has a policy of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00.
This policy has been maintained since its inception; however, the $1.00 price is
not guaranteed or insured, nor is its yield fixed. The Portfolio generally
purchases securities which mature in 13 months or less. The average maturity of
the Portfolio will not be greater than 90 days.
The Portfolio's minimum initial and subsequent investments may be waived under
certain circumstances.
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO
Except during temporary defensive periods, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of
its total assets in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase
of the securities, have total market capitalization within the range of
companies included in the Russell 2000 Growth Index or the S&P SmallCap 600
Index, updated quarterly. Both indexes are broad indexes of small capitalization
stocks. The Portfolio may invest up to 35% of its total assets in equity
securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, have total market
capitalization outside this combined range, and in excess of that amount (up to
100% of its assets) during temporary defensive periods.
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Except during temporary defensive periods, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of
its total assets in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase
of the securities, have total market capitalization within the range of
companies included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, updated quarterly. The S&P
MidCap 400 Index is designed to track the performance of medium capitalization
companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 35% of its total assets in equity
securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, have total market
capitalization outside the range of companies included in the S&P MidCap 400
Index and in excess of that amount (up to 100% of its assets) during temporary
defensive periods.
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Except during temporary defensive periods, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of
its total assets in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase
of the securities, have total market capitalization--present market value per
share multiplied by the total number of shares outstanding--of $1 billion or
greater. Accordingly, the Portfolio may invest up to 35% of its total assets in
equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, have total market
capitalization of less than $1 billion.
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO
The Portfolio intends to invest based on combined considerations of risk,
income, capital appreciation and protection of capital value. Normally, it will
invest in common stocks and investment grade fixed income securities (preferred
stock and debt securities), as well as securities convertible into common
stocks. Except during temporary defensive periods, the Portfolio will maintain
at least 25% of its net assets in fixed income (senior) securities. With respect
to debt securities, the Portfolio will invest only in instruments which are
rated in one of the four highest rating categories by any established rating
agency, or if not rated, which are determined by Alger Management to be of
comparable quality to instruments so rated.
The Portfolio may invest up to 35% of its total assets in money market
instruments and repurchase agreements and in excess of that amount (up to 100%
of its assets) during temporary defensive periods.
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
Except during temporary defensive periods, the Portfolio invests at least 85% of
its net assets in equity securities of companies of any size.
The Portfolio may purchase put and call options and sell (write) covered call
and put options on securities and securities indexes to increase gain and to
hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements, and
-2-
<PAGE>
may enter into futures contracts on securities indexes and purchase and sell
call and put options on these futures contracts. The Portfolio may also borrow
money (leverage) for the purchase of additional securities. The Portfolio may
borrow only from banks and may not borrow in excess of one-third of the market
value of its total assets, less liabilities other than such borrowing. These
practices are deemed to be speculative and may cause the Portfolio's net asset
value to be more volatile than the net asset value of a fund that does not
engage in these activities.
IN GENERAL
Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio, Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio, Alger
Growth Portfolio, Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio, and the equity portion
of Alger Balanced Portfolio seek to achieve their objectives by investing in
equity securities, such as common or preferred stocks, or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for equity securities, including warrants and rights. The
Portfolios will invest primarily in companies whose securities are traded on
domestic stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. These companies may
be in the developmental stage, may be older companies that appear to be entering
a new stage of growth progress owing to factors such as management changes or
development of new technology, products or markets or may be companies providing
products or services with a high unit volume growth rate. In order to afford the
Portfolios the flexibility to take advantage of new opportunities for
investments in accordance with their investment objectives and to meet
redemptions, they may hold up to 15% of their net assets (35% of total assets,
in the case of Alger Balanced Portfolio) in money market instruments and
repurchase agreements and in excess of that amount (up to 100% of their assets)
during temporary defensive periods. This amount may be higher than that
maintained by other funds with similar investment objectives.
There is no guarantee that any Portfolio's objectives will be achieved.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND POLICIES
CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
The Prospectus discusses the investment objectives of each Portfolio and the
primary strategies to be employed to achieve those objectives. This section
contains supplemental information concerning the types of securities and other
instruments in which the Portfolios may invest, the investment policies and
portfolio strategies that the Portfolios may utilize and certain risks attendant
to those investments, policies and strategies.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
Bills, notes, bonds, and other debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury are
direct obligations of the U.S. Government and differ mainly in the length of
their maturities.
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY SECURITIES
These securities are issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government sponsored
enterprises and federal agencies. These include securities issued by the Federal
National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal
Home Loan Bank, Federal Land Banks, Farmers Home Administration, Banks for
Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Financing Bank, Farm
Credit Banks, the Small Business Administration, Federal Housing Administration
and Maritime Administration. Some of these securities are supported by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; and the remainder are supported only by
the credit of the instrumentality, which may or may not include the right of the
issuer to borrow from the Treasury.
BANK OBLIGATIONS
These are certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, and other short-term
debt obligations. Certificates of deposit are short-term obligations of
commercial banks. A bankers' acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial
bank by a borrower, usually in connection with international commercial
transactions. Certificates of deposit may have fixed or variable rates.
The Portfolios will not invest in any debt security issued by a commercial bank
unless (i) the bank has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent
in other currencies, or, in the case of domestic banks which do not have total
assets of at least $1 billion, the aggregate investment made in any one such
bank is limited to $100,000 and the principal amount of such investment is
insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (ii) in the case
of U.S. banks, it is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and
(iii) in the case of foreign banks, the security is, in the opinion of Fred
Alger Management, Inc. ("Alger Management"), the Fund's investment manager, of
an investment quality comparable to other debt securities which may be purchased
by the Portfolios. These limitations do not prohibit investments in securities
issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks, provided such U.S. banks meet the
foregoing requirements.
FOREIGN BANK OBLIGATIONS
Investments by the Portfolios in foreign bank obligations and obligations of
foreign branches of domestic banks present certain risks, including the impact
of future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of
withholding taxes on interest income, the possible
-3-
<PAGE>
seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of
exchange controls and/or the addition of other foreign governmental restrictions
that might affect adversely the payment of principal and interest on these
obligations. In addition, there may be less publicly available and reliable
information about a foreign bank than about domestic banks owing to different
accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping standards. In view of these
risks, Alger Management will carefully evaluate these investments on a
case-by-case basis.
SHORT-TERM CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES
These are outstanding nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and
debentures) which have one year or less remaining to maturity. Corporate notes
may have fixed, variable, or floating rates.
COMMERCIAL PAPER
These are short-term promissory notes issued by corporations primarily to
finance short-term credit needs.
VARIABLE RATE MASTER DEMAND NOTES
These are unsecured instruments that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary
and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. Because these notes
are direct lending arrangements between the Portfolio and the issuer, they are
not normally traded. Although no active secondary market may exist for these
notes, the Portfolio may demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any
time or may resell the note to a third party. While the notes are not typically
rated by credit rating agencies, issuers of variable rate master demand notes
must satisfy Alger Management that the same criteria for issuers of commercial
paper are met. In addition, when purchasing variable rate master demand notes,
Alger Management will consider the earning power, cash flows and other liquidity
ratios of the issuers of the notes and will continuously monitor their financial
status and ability to meet payment on demand. In the event an issuer of a
variable rate master demand note were to default on its payment obligations, the
Portfolio might be unable to dispose of the note because of the absence of a
secondary market and could, for this or other reasons, suffer a loss to the
extent of the default.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Under the terms of a repurchase agreement, a Portfolio would acquire a high
quality money market instrument for a relatively short period (usually not more
than one week) subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and the
Portfolio to resell, the instrument at an agreed price (including accrued
interest) and time, thereby determining the yield during the Portfolio's holding
period. Repurchase agreements may be seen to be loans by the Portfolio
collateralized by the underlying instrument. This arrangement results in a fixed
rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuations during the Portfolio's
holding period and not necessarily related to the rate of return on the
underlying instrument. The value of the underlying securities, including accrued
interest, will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the
repurchase obligation, including interest. A Portfolio bears a risk of loss in
the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its
obligations and the Portfolio is delayed in or prevented from exercising its
rights to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible
decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period in which the
Portfolio seeks to assert these rights, the risk of incurring expenses
associated with asserting these rights and the risk of losing all or part of the
income from the agreement. Alger Management, acting under the supervision of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, reviews the credit worthiness of those banks and
dealers with which the Portfolios enter into repurchase agreements to evaluate
these risks and monitors on an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject
to repurchase agreements to ensure that the value is maintained at the required
level.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (ALGER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO AND ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO)
Reverse repurchase agreements are the same as repurchase agreements except that,
in this instance, the Portfolio would assume the role of seller/borrower in the
transaction. Each Portfolio will maintain segregated accounts consisting of cash
or liquid securities that at all times are in an amount equal to its obligations
under reverse repurchase agreements. The Portfolios will invest the proceeds in
money market instruments or repurchase agreements maturing not later than the
expiration of the reverse repurchase agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements
involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Portfolio may
decline below the repurchase price of the securities. Under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), reverse repurchase agreements may
be considered borrowings by the seller; accordingly, the Portfolio will limit
its investments in reverse repurchase agreements and other borrowings to no more
than one-third of its total assets.
FIRM COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS AND
WHEN-ISSUED PURCHASES
Firm commitment agreements and "when-issued" purchases call for the purchase of
securities at an agreed
-4-
<PAGE>
price on a specified future date and would be used, for example, when a decline
in the yield of securities of a given issuer is anticipated and a more
advantageous yield may be obtained by committing currently to purchase
securities to be issued later. When the Portfolio purchases a security under a
firm commitment agreement or on a when-issued basis it assumes the risk of any
decline in value of the security occurring between the date of the agreement or
purchase and the settlement date of the transaction. The Portfolio will not use
these transactions for leveraging purposes and, accordingly, will segregate cash
or liquid securities in an amount sufficient at all times to meet its purchase
obligations under these agreements.
WARRANTS AND RIGHTS
Each Portfolio may invest in warrants and rights. A warrant is a type of
security that entitles the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock
at a specified price, usually higher than the market price at the time of
issuance, for a period of years or to perpetuity. In contrast, rights, which
also represent the right to buy common shares, normally have a subscription
price lower than the current market value of the common stock and a life of two
to four weeks. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on the major
securities exchanges.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES
Each Portfolio may invest in restricted securities governed by Rule 144A under
the Securities Act of 1933. In adopting Rule 144A, the Securities and Exchange
Commission specifically stated that restricted securities traded under Rule 144A
may be treated as liquid for purposes of investment limitations if the board of
trustees (or the fund's adviser acting subject to the board's supervision)
determines that the securities are in fact liquid. The Board of Trustees has
delegated its responsibility to Alger Management to determine the liquidity of
each restricted security purchased pursuant to the Rule, subject to the Board of
Trustees' oversight and review. Examples of factors that will be taken into
account in evaluating the liquidity of a Rule 144A security, both with respect
to the initial purchase and on an ongoing basis, will include, among others: (1)
the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers
willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential
purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4)
the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the
time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the
mechanics of transfer). If institutional trading in restricted securities were
to decline to limited levels, the liquidity of the Fund's Portfolio could be
adversely affected.
SHORT SALES
Each Portfolio other than Alger Money Market Portfolio may sell securities
"short against the box." While a short sale is the sale of a security the
Portfolio does not own, it is "against the box" if at all times when the short
position is open the Portfolio owns an equal amount of the securities or
securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for,
securities of the same issue as the securities sold short.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Each Portfolio may lend securities to brokers, dealers and other financial
organizations. The Portfolios will not lend securities to Alger Management or
its affiliates. By lending its securities, a Portfolio can increase its income
by continuing to receive interest or dividends on the loaned securities as well
as by either investing the cash collateral in short-term securities or by
earning income in the form of interest paid by the borrower when U.S. Government
securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Each Portfolio will
adhere to the following conditions whenever its securities are loaned: (a) the
Portfolio must receive at least 100 percent cash collateral or equivalent
securities from the borrower; (b) the borrower must increase this collateral
whenever the market value of the securities including accrued interest exceeds
the value of the collateral; (c) the Portfolio must be able to terminate the
loan at any time; (d) the Portfolio must receive reasonable interest on the
loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned
securities and any increase in market value; (e) the Portfolio may pay only
reasonable custodian fees in connection with the loan; and (f) voting rights on
the loaned securities may pass to the borrower; provided, however, that if a
material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund's Board of
Trustees must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. A
Portfolio bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a stock loan
transaction defaults on its obligations and the Portfolio is delayed in or
prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral including the
risk of a possible decline in the value of the collateral securities during the
period in which the Portfolio seeks to assert these rights, the risk of
incurring expenses associated with asserting these rights and the risk of losing
all or a part of the income from the transaction.
-5-
<PAGE>
FOREIGN SECURITIES
Each Portfolio other than Alger Money Market Portfolio may invest up to 20% of
the value of its total assets in foreign securities (not including American
Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Shares or U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of foreign issuers). Foreign securities investments may be affected
by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United States
and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealing between nations. Dividends paid
by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes that
may decrease the net return on these investments as compared to dividends paid
to the Portfolio by domestic corporations. It should be noted that there may be
less publicly available information about foreign issuers than about domestic
issuers, and foreign issuers are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and
financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those of domestic
issuers. Securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile
than securities of comparable domestic issuers and foreign brokerage commissions
are generally higher than in the United States. Foreign securities markets may
also be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to government supervision
than those in the United States. Investments in foreign countries could be
affected by other factors not present in the United States, including
expropriation, confiscatory taxation and potential difficulties in enforcing
contractual obligations. Securities purchased on foreign exchanges may be held
in custody by a foreign branch of a domestic bank.
OPTIONS (ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO)
The Portfolio may purchase put and call options and sell (write) covered put and
call options on securities and securities indexes to increase gain or to hedge
against the risk of unfavorable price movements, although, as in the past, it
does not currently intend to rely on these strategies extensively, if at all.
A call option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option
the right, in return for a premium paid, to buy from the writer (seller) of the
call option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise price at
any time during the term of the option. The writer of the call option has the
obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon
payment of the exercise price during the option period. A put option on a
security is a contract that, in return for the premium, gives the holder of the
option the right to sell to the writer (seller) the underlying security at a
specified price during the term of the option. The writer of the put, who
receives the premium, has the obligation to buy the underlying security upon
exercise at the exercise price during the option period.
The Portfolio will not sell options that are not covered. A call option written
by the Portfolio on a security is "covered" if the Portfolio owns the underlying
security covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire
that security without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash
consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other
securities held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Portfolio
holds a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price
of the call held is (1) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call
written or (2) greater than the exercise price of the call written if the
difference is maintained by the Portfolio in cash, U.S. Government securities or
other high grade short-term obligations in a segregated account. A put option is
"covered" if the Portfolio maintains cash or other high grade short-term
obligations with a value equal to the exercise price in a segregated account, or
else holds a put on the same security as the put written where the exercise
price of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put
written.
If the Portfolio has written an option, it may terminate its obligation by
effecting a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing an
option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the
Portfolio has been assigned an exercise notice, the Portfolio will be unable to
effect a closing purchase transaction. Similarly, if the Portfolio is the holder
of an option it may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale
transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option of the same series as the
option previously purchased. There can be no assurance that either a closing
purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Portfolio so desires.
The Portfolio will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of
the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or is
more than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Portfolio will realize a
loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is less than the
premium paid to purchase the option. Since call option prices generally reflect
increases in the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the
repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized
appreciation of the underlying security. Other principal factors affecting the
market value of a put or a call option include
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supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price and price volatility
of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.
An option position may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a
secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Portfolio will
generally not purchase or write options that appear to lack an active secondary
market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will
exist for any particular option. In such event it might not be possible to
effect closing transactions in particular options, so that the Portfolio would
have to exercise its option in order to realize any profit and would incur
brokerage commissions upon the exercise of the options. If the Portfolio, as a
covered call option writer, is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until
the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise or
otherwise covers the position.
In addition to options on securities, the Portfolio may also purchase and sell
call and put options on securities indexes. A stock index reflects in a single
number the market value of many different stocks. Relative values are assigned
to the stocks included in an index and the index fluctuates with changes in the
market values of the stocks. The options give the holder the right to receive a
cash settlement during the term of the option based on the difference between
the exercise price and the value of the index. By writing a put or call option
on a securities index, the Portfolio is obligated, in return for the premium
received, to make delivery of this amount. The Portfolio may offset its position
in stock index options prior to expiration by entering into a closing
transaction on an exchange or it may let the option expire unexercised.
Use of options on securities indexes entails the risk that trading in the
options may be interrupted if trading in certain securities included in the
index is interrupted. The Portfolio will not purchase these options unless Alger
Management is satisfied with the development, depth and liquidity of the market
and Alger Management believes the options can be closed out.
Price movements in the Portfolio's securities may not correlate precisely with
movements in the level of an index and, therefore, the use of options on indexes
cannot serve as a complete hedge and would depend, in part, on the ability of
Alger Management to predict correctly movements in the direction of the stock
market generally or of a particular industry. Because options on securities
indexes require settlement in cash, Alger Management might be forced to
liquidate portfolio securities to meet settlement obligations.
Although Alger Management will attempt to take appropriate measures to minimize
the risks relating to any trading by the Portfolio in put and call options,
there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will succeed in any option trading
program it undertakes.
STOCK INDEX FUTURES AND OPTIONS ON STOCK
INDEX FUTURES (ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO)
Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they
are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The
sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the Portfolio, as
seller, to deliver to the buyer the net cash amount called for in the contract
at a specific future time. Put options on futures might be purchased to protect
against declines in the market values of securities occasioned by a decline in
stock prices and securities index futures might be sold to protect against a
general decline in the value of securities of the type that comprise the index.
Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an
option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the
premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller
to deliver such position.
A stock index future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take)
an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between
the value of a specific stock index at the close of the last trading day of the
contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of
the underlying stocks in the index is made. While incidental to its securities
activities, the Portfolio may use index futures as a substitute for a comparable
market position in the underlying securities.
If the Fund uses futures, or options thereon, for hedging, the risk of imperfect
correlation will increase as the composition of the Portfolio varies from the
composition of the stock index. In an effort to compensate for the imperfect
correlation of movements in the price of the securities being hedged and
movements in the price of the stock index futures, the Portfolio may, if it uses
a hedging strategy, buy or sell stock index futures contracts in a greater or
lesser dollar amount than the dollar amount of the securities being hedged if
the historical volatility of the stock index futures has been less or greater
than that of the securities. Such "over
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hedging" or "under hedging" may adversely affect the Portfolio's net investment
results if market movements are not as anticipated when the hedge is
established.
An option on a stock index futures contract, as contrasted with the direct
investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, in return for the
premium paid, to assume a position in a stock index futures contract at a
specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.
The Portfolio will sell options on stock index futures contracts only as part of
closing purchase transactions to terminate its options positions. No assurance
can be given that such closing transactions can be effected or that there will
be correlation between price movements in the options on stock index futures and
price movements in the Portfolio's securities which are the subject of the
hedge. In addition, any purchase by the Portfolio of such options will be based
upon predictions as to anticipated market trends, which could prove to be
inaccurate.
The Portfolio's use, if any, of stock index futures and options thereon will in
all cases be consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and in
particular the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
and will be entered into only, if at all, for bona fide hedging, risk management
or other portfolio management purposes. Typically, maintaining a futures
contract or selling an option thereon will require the Portfolio to deposit with
a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or
other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10%
of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances).
Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited
thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract
fluctuates. The purchase of an option on stock index futures involves payment of
a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the
Portfolio. If the Portfolio exercises an option on a futures contract it will be
obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for
the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures
contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an
offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be
offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will
occur.
The Portfolio will not enter into a futures contract or related option (except
for closing transactions) if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the amount of
its initial margin and premiums on open futures contracts and options thereon
would exceed 5% of the Portfolio's total assets (taken at current value);
however, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of the
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation.
BORROWING
Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio may borrow money from banks and use it to
purchase additional securities. This borrowing is known as leveraging. Leverage
increases both investment opportunity and investment risk. If the investment
gains on securities purchased with borrowed money exceed the interest paid on
the borrowing, the net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will rise faster
than would otherwise be the case. On the other hand, if the investment gains
fail to cover the cost (including interest) of borrowings, or if there are
losses, the net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will decrease faster than
would otherwise be the case. The Portfolio may also borrow from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes. The Portfolio is required to maintain
continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less
liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed. If such
asset coverage should decline below 300% as a result of market fluctuations or
other reasons, the Portfolio may be required to sell some of its portfolio
holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset
coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to
sell securities at that time.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The investment restrictions numbered 1 through 13 below have been adopted by the
Fund with respect to each of the Portfolios as fundamental policies. Under the
Act, a "fundamental" policy may not be changed without the vote of a "majority
of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund, which is defined in the Act
as the lesser of (a) 67 percent or more of the shares present at a Fund meeting
if the holders of more than 50 percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund are
present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50 percent of the outstanding
shares. The Portfolios' investment objectives are fundamental policies. A
fundamental policy affecting a particular Portfolio may not be changed without
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected
Portfolio. Investment restrictions 14 through 19 may be changed by vote of a
majority of the Fund's Board of Trustees at any time.
The investment policies adopted by the Fund prohibit each Portfolio from:
1. Purchasing the securities of any issuer, other than U.S. Government
securities, if as a result more than five percent of the value of the
Portfolio's total assets would
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be invested in the securities of the issuer, except that up to 25 percent of the
value of the Portfolio's (other than Alger Money Market Portfolio's) total
assets may be invested without regard to this limitation.
2. Purchasing more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of any
one issuer or more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of any
class of any one issuer. This limitation shall not apply to investments in U.S.
Government securities.
3. Selling securities short or purchasing securities on margin, except that the
Portfolio may obtain any short-term credit necessary for the clearance of
purchases and sales of securities. These restrictions shall not apply to
transactions involving selling securities "short against the box."
4. Borrowing money, except that (a) all Portfolios may borrow for temporary or
emergency purposes including the meeting of redemption requests that might
otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities, in an amount not
exceeding 10 percent of the value of the Portfolio's total assets (including the
amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not
including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made; (b) Alger
Money Market Portfolio and Alger Balanced Portfolio may engage in transactions
in reverse repurchase agreements; and (c) Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio
may borrow from banks for investment purposes in order to leverage (see
"Borrowing" above). Whenever borrowings described in (a) exceed five percent of
the value of the Portfolio's total assets, the Portfolio will not make any
additional investments. Immediately after any borrowing, including reverse
repurchase agreements, the Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of not- less
than 300 percent with respect to all borrowings.
5. Pledging, hypothecating, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering more than 10
percent of the value of the Portfolio's total assets except in connection with
borrowings as noted in 4(c) above. These restrictions shall not apply to
transactions involving reverse repurchase agreements or the purchase of
securities subject to firm commitment agreements or on a when-issued basis.
6. Issuing senior securities, except in connection with borrowings permitted
under restriction 4.
7. Underwriting the securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Portfolio
may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.
8. Making loans to others, except through purchasing qualified debt obligations,
lending portfolio securities or entering into repurchase agreements.
9. Investing in securities of other investment companies, except as they may be
acquired as part of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, acquisition of
assets or offer of exchange.
10. Purchasing any securities that would cause more than 25 percent of the value
of the Portfolio's total assets to be invested in the securities of issuers
conducting their principal business activities in the same industry; provided
that (a) there shall be no limit on the purchase of U.S. Government securities,
and (b) there shall be no limit on the purchase by Alger Money Market Portfolio
of obligations issued by bank and thrift institutions described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information.
11. Investing in commodities, except that Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio
may purchase or sell stock index futures contracts and related options thereon
if, thereafter, no more than 5 percent of its total assets are invested in
margin and premiums.
12. Investing more than 10 percent (15 percent in the case of Alger Capital
Appreciation Portfolio) of its net assets in securities which are illiquid by
virtue of legal or contractual restrictions on resale or the absence of a
readily available market. However, securities with legal or contractual
restrictions on resale may be purchased by Alger Money Market Portfolio if they
are determined to be liquid, and such purchases would not be subject to the 10
percent limit stated above. The Board of Trustees will in good faith determine
the specific types of securities deemed to be liquid and the value of such
securities held in Alger Money Market Portfolio. Alger Money Market Portfolio
will not purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven calendar days and
will limit to no more than 10 percent of its assets its investment in time
deposits maturing in excess of two business days, together with all other
illiquid securities.
13. Purchasing or selling real estate or real estate limited partnerships,
except that the Portfolio may purchase and sell securities secured by real
estate, mortgages or interests therein and securities that are issued by
companies that invest or deal in real estate.
14. Writing or selling puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations thereof,
except that Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio may buy and sell (write)
options.
15. Investing in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs,
except that the Portfolio may invest in the securities of companies that invest
in or sponsor those programs.
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16. Purchasing any security if, as a result, the Portfolio would then have more
than five percent of its total assets invested in securities of issuers
(including predecessors) that have been in continual operation for less than
three years. This limitation shall not apply to investments in U.S. Government
securities.
17. Making investments for the purpose of exercising control or management.
18. Investing in warrants, except that the Portfolio may invest in warrants if,
as a result, the investments (valued at the lower of cost or market) would not
exceed five percent of the value of the Portfolio's net assets, of which not
more than two percent of the Portfolio's net assets may be invested in warrants
not listed on a recognized domestic stock exchange. Warrants acquired by the
Portfolio as part of a unit or attached to securities at the time of acquisition
are not subject to this limitation.
19. Purchasing or retaining the securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of
the Fund, any of the officers, directors or trustees of the Fund or Alger
Management individually owns more than .5 percent of the outstanding securities
of the issuer and together they own beneficially more than five percent of the
securities.
Shares of Alger Growth Portfolio, Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio and Alger
MidCap Growth Portfolio are registered for sale in Germany. As long as Alger
Growth Portfolio, Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio and Alger MidCap Growth
Portfolio are registered in Germany, these Portfolios may not without prior
approval of their shareholders:
a. Invest in the securities of any other domestic or foreign investment
company or investment fund except in connection with a plan of merger or
consolidation with or acquisition of substantially all the assets of such
other investment company or investment fund;
b. Purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein, and real estate
mortgage loans, except that the Portfolios may invest in securities of
corporate or governmental entities secured by real estate or marketable
interests therein or securities issued by companies (other than real estate
limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts and real estate funds)
that invest in real estate or interests therein;
c. Borrow money, except for temporary or emergency (but not leveraging)
purposes including the meeting of redemption requests that might otherwise
require the untimely disposition of securities, in an amount not exceeding
10 percent of the value of the Portfolio's total assets (including the
amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities
(not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made;
d. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber their assets except to
secure indebtedness permitted under section c.;
e. Purchase securities on margin or make short sales; or;
f. Redeem their securities in kind.
These Portfolios will comply with the more restrictive policies required by the
German regulatory authorities, as stated above, as long as such Portfolios are
registered in Germany.
Except in the case of the 300 percent limitation set forth in Investment
Restriction No. 4 and as may be stated otherwise, the percentage limitations
contained in the foregoing restrictions and in the Fund's other investment
policies apply at the time of the purchase of the securities and a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in the values of the
securities or in the amount of the Portfolio's assets will not constitute a
violation of the restriction.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Decisions to buy and sell securities and other financial instruments for a
Portfolio are made by Alger Management, which also is responsible for placing
these transactions, subject to the overall review of the Fund's Board of
Trustees. Although investment requirements for each Portfolio are reviewed
independently from those of the other accounts managed by Alger Management and
those of the other Portfolios, investments of the type the Portfolios may make
may also be made by these other accounts or Portfolios. When a Portfolio and one
or more other Portfolios or accounts managed by Alger Management are prepared to
invest in, or desire to dispose of, the same security or other financial
instrument, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated
in a manner believed by Alger Management to be equitable to each. In some cases,
this procedure may affect adversely the price paid or received by a Portfolio or
the size of the position obtained or disposed of by a Portfolio.
Transactions in equity securities are in many cases effected on U. S. stock
exchanges and involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. There is
generally no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the
over-the-counter markets, but the
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prices of those securities include undisclosed commissions or mark-ups.
Purchases and sales of money market instruments and debt securities usually are
principal transactions. These securities are normally purchased directly from
the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. The cost
of securities purchased from underwriters includes an underwriting commission or
concession and the prices at which securities are purchased from and sold to
dealers include a dealer's mark-up or mark-down. U. S. Government securities are
generally purchased from underwriters or dealers, although certain newly-issued
U. S. Government securities may be purchased directly from the U. S. Treasury or
from the issuing agency or instrumentality.
To the extent consistent with applicable provisions of the Act and the rules and
exemptions adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
thereunder, as well as other regulatory requirements, the Fund's Board of
Trustees has determined that portfolio transactions will be executed through
Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated ("Alger Inc.") if, in the judgment of Alger
Management, the use of Alger Inc. is likely to result in price and execution at
least as favorable as those of other qualified broker-dealers and if, in
particular transactions, Alger Inc. charges the Portfolio involved a rate
consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar
transactions. Such transactions will be fair and reasonable to the Portfolio's
shareholders. Over-the-counter purchases and sales are transacted directly with
principal market makers except in those cases in which better prices and
executions may be obtained elsewhere. Principal transactions are not entered
into with affiliates of the Fund except pursuant to exemptive rules or orders
adopted by the SEC.
In selecting brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of a
Portfolio, Alger Management seeks the best overall terms available. In assessing
the best overall terms available for any transaction, Alger Management will
consider the factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in
the investment, the price of the investment, the financial condition and
execution capability of the broker or dealer and the reasonableness of the
commission, if any, for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In
addition, Alger Management is authorized, in selecting parties to execute a
particular transaction and in evaluating the best overall terms available, to
consider the brokerage and research services, as those terms are defined in
section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, provided to the Portfolio
involved, the other Portfolios and/or other accounts over which Alger Management
or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Fund will consider sales
of its shares as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute
over-the-counter transactions, subject to the requirements of best price and
execution. Alger Management's fees under its agreements with the Portfolios are
not reduced by reason of its receiving brokerage and research service. The
Fund's Board of Trustees will periodically review the commissions paid by the
Portfolios to determine if the commissions paid over representative periods of
time are reasonable in relation to the benefits inuring to the Portfolios.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, the Fund paid an
aggregate of approximately $1,691,123, $2,948,963 and $4,649,613 in brokerage
commissions, of which approximately $1,554,261, $2,875,727 and $4,603,119
respectively was paid to Alger Inc. The commissions paid to Alger Inc. during
the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 constituted 99% of the aggregate
brokerage commissions paid by the Fund; during that year, 98% of the aggregate
dollar amount of transactions by the Fund involving the payment of brokerage
commissions was effected through Alger Inc. Alger Inc. does not engage in
principal transactions with the Fund and, accordingly, received no compensation
in connection with securities purchased or sold in that manner, which include
securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, money market investments and
most debt securities.
NET ASSET VALUE
The price of one share of a class is based on its "net asset value." The net
asset value is computed by adding the value of the Portfolio's investments plus
cash and other assets allocable to the class, deducting applicable liabilities
and then dividing the result by the number of its shares outstanding. The net
asset value of a share of a given class may differ from that of one or more
other classes. Net asset value is calculated as of the close of business
(normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or, for Alger Money Market Portfolio, as of
12:00 noon Easternc time on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is
open.
Purchases for Alger Money Market Portfolio will be processed at the net asset
value calculated after your order is received and accepted. If your purchase is
made by wire and is received by 12:00 noon Eastern time, your account will be
credited and begin earning dividends on the day of receipt. If your wire
purchase is received after 12:00 noon Eastern time, it will be credited and
begin earning dividends the next business day. Exchanges are credited the day
the request is received by mail or telephone, and begin earning dividends the
next business day. If your purchase is made by check,
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and received by the close of business of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time), it will be credited and begin earning dividends the next business day.
Purchases for the other Portfolios will be based upon the next net asset value
calculated for each class after your order is received and accepted. If your
purchase is made by check, wire or exchange and is received by the close of
business of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), your account will be
credited on the day of receipt. If your purchase is received after such time, it
will be credited the next business day.
Third-party checks will not be honored except in the case of employer-sponsored
retirement plans. You will be charged a fee for any check returned by your bank.
The NYSE is generally open on each Monday through Friday, except (i) New Year's
Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day (the third Monday in
February), Good Friday, Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), Independence Day,
Labor Day (the first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday
in November) and Christmas Day.
The assets of the Portfolios other than Alger Money Market Portfolio are
generally valued on the basis of market quotations. Securities whose principal
market is on an exchange or in the over-the-counter market are valued at the
last reported sales price or, in the absence of reported sales, at the mean
between the bid and asked price or, in the absence of a recent bid or asked
price, the equivalent as obtained from one or more of the major market makers
for the securities to be valued. Bonds and other fixed income securities may be
valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when the Fund's
Board of Trustees believes that these prices reflect the fair market value of
the securities. Other investments and other assets, including restricted
securities and securities for which market quotations are not readily available,
are valued at fair value under procedures approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees. Short-term securities with maturities of 60 days or less are valued
at amortized cost, as described below, which constitutes fair value as
determined by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
The valuation of the securities held by Alger Money Market Portfolio, as well as
money market instruments with maturities of 60 days or less held by the other
Portfolios, is based on their amortized cost which does not take into account
unrealized capital gains or losses. Amortized cost valuation involves initially
valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant
amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of
fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. Although this
method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which
value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price a
Portfolio would receive if it sold the instrument.
Alger Money Market Portfolio's use of the amortized cost method of valuing its
securities is permitted by a rule adopted by the SEC. Under this rule, the
Portfolio must maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days
or less, purchase only instruments having remaining maturities of less than 397
days, as determined in accordance with the provisions of the rule, and invest
only in securities determined by Alger Management, acting under the supervision
of the Fund's Board of Trustees, to be of high quality with minimal credit
risks.
Pursuant to the rule, the Fund's Board of Trustees also has established
procedures designed to stabilize, to the extent reasonably possible, Alger Money
Market Portfolio's price per share as computed for the purpose of sales and
redemptions at $1.00. These procedures include review of the Portfolio's
holdings by the Fund's Board of Trustees, at such intervals as it deems
appropriate, to determine whether the Portfolio's net asset value calculated by
using available market quotations or market equivalents deviates from $1.00 per
share based on amortized cost.
The rule also provides that the extent of any deviation between the Portfolio's
net asset value based on available market quotations or market equivalents and
$1.00 per share net asset value based on amortized cost must be examined by the
Fund's Board of Trustees. In the event the Fund's Board of Trustees determines
that a deviation exists that may result in material dilution or other unfair
results to investors or existing shareholders, pursuant to the rule the Fund's
Board of Trustees must cause the Portfolio to take such corrective action as the
Fund's Board of Trustees regards as necessary and appropriate, including:
selling portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or
losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends or paying
distributions from capital or capital gains, redeeming shares in kind or
establishing net asset value per share by using available market quotations.
CLASSES OF SHARES
As described in the Prospectus, the equity portfolios of the Fund have three
classes of shares: Class A Shares, which are generally subject to a front-end
load, and Class B and Class C Shares, which are generally subject to a back-end
load.
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CLASS A SHARES
From time to time, Alger Inc. may reallow to brokers or financial intermediaries
all or substantially all of the initial sales charge. To the extent that it does
so, such persons may be deemed to be underwriters of the Fund as defined in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
CONVERSION OF CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES
Class B and Class C Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares eight
and twelve years, respectively, after the end of the calendar month in which the
order to purchase was accepted and will thereafter not be subject to the
original Class's Rule 12b-1 fees. The conversion will be completed on the basis
of the relative net asset values per share without the imposition of any sales
charge, fee or other charge. At conversion, a proportionate amount of shares
representing reinvested dividends and reinvested capital gains will also be
converted into Class A Shares. Because Alger Money Market Portfolio is not
subject to any distribution fees, the running of the applicable conversion
period is suspended for any period of time in which shares received in exchange
for Class B or Class C Shares are held in that Portfolio. For purposes of
determining the conversion date of Class B Shares outstanding prior to August 1,
1997, such shares will be deemed to have been held for either eight years or the
period (adjusted as set forth in the preceding sentence) since their purchase
acceptance, whichever is shorter. Accordingly, all Class B Shares outstanding
for at least eight years as of August 28, 1997 were converted to Class A Shares
on August 28, 1997.
The conversion of Class B Shares and Class C Shares is subject to the continuing
availability of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the conversion of
shares does not constitute a taxable event under Federal income tax laws. The
conversion of Class B and Class C Shares may be suspended if such an opinion is
no longer available.
PURCHASES
Shares of the Portfolios are offered continuously by the Fund and are
distributed on a best efforts basis by Alger Inc. as principal underwriter for
the Fund pursuant to distribution agreements (the "Distribution Agreements").
Under the Distribution Agreements, Alger Inc. bears all selling expenses,
including the costs of advertising and of printing prospectuses and distributing
them to prospective shareholders. Each of the officers of the Fund and Messrs.
David D. Alger and Fred M. Alger III, Trustees of the Fund, are "affiliated
persons," as defined in the Act, of the Fund and of Alger Inc.
DISTRIBUTION PLANS
As stated in the Prospectus, in connection with the distribution activities of
Alger Inc. in respect of the Fund's Class B and Class C Shares, respectively,
the Fund has adopted two Distribution Plans (the "Plans") pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act, one for each class. In each case, the Rule 12b-1 fee, sometimes
described as an "asset-based sales charge," allows investors to buy shares
without an initial sales charge while allowing Alger Inc. to compensate dealers
that sell Class B or C Shares of the Portfolios. Typically, Alger Inc., in its
discretion or pursuant to dealer agreements, pays sales commissions of up to
4.75% of the amount invested in Class B Shares, and up to 1% of the amount
invested in Class C Shares, to dealers from its own resources at the time of
sale and pays continuing commissions after purchase to dealers selling Class C
Shares. For Class B Shares, Alger Inc. retains the asset-based sales charge to
recoup the sales commissions and other sales-related expenses its pays. For
Class C Shares, the asset-based sales charge is retained by Alger Inc. in the
first year after purchase; in subsequent years, all or a portion of it typically
is paid to the dealers who sold the Class C Shares. In some cases, the selling
dealer is Alger Inc. Any CDSCs on Class B Shares received by Alger Inc. will
reduce the amount to be reimbursed under the Class B Plan. Under the Class B
Plan, any excess distribution expenses may be carried forward, with interest,
and reimbursed in future years. At October 31, 1998, the following approximate
amounts were carried forward under the Class B Plan: Alger Small Capitalization
Portfolio--$16,063,000 (3.1% of net assets); Alger MidCap Growth
Portfolio--$3,520,000 (1.6% of net assets); Alger Growth Portfolio--$8,039,000
(1.6% of net assets); Alger Balanced Portfolio--$204,000 (1.0% of net assets);
and Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio--$1,781,000 (0.6% of net assets).
Reimbursable distribution expenses covered under the Class B Plan may include
payments made to and expenses of persons who are engaged in, or provide support
services in connection with, the distribution of the class's shares, such as
answering routine telephone inquiries for prospective shareholders; compensation
in the form of sales concessions and continuing compensation paid to securities
dealers whose customers hold shares of the class; costs related to the
formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities,
including direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and
other mass media advertising; costs of printing and distributing prospectuses
and reports to prospective shareholders of the class; costs involved in
preparing, printing and distributing sales
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<PAGE>
literature for the class; and costs involved in obtaining whatever information,
analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities on
behalf of the class that the Fund deems advisable.
Historically, distribution expenses incurred by Alger Inc. have exceeded the
Class B assets available for reimbursement under the Plan; it is possible that
in the future the converse may be true. Distribution expenses incurred in a year
in respect of Class B Shares of a Portfolio in excess of contingent deferred
sales charges ("CDSCs") received by Alger Inc. relating to redemptions of shares
of the class during that year and .75 percent of the class' average daily net
assets may be carried forward and sought to be reimbursed in future years.
Interest at the prevailing broker loan rate may be charged to the applicable
Portfolio's Class B Shares on any expenses carried forward and those expenses
and interest will be reflected as current expenses on the Portfolio's statement
of operations for the year in which the amounts become accounting liabilities,
which is anticipated to be the year in which these amounts are actually paid.
Although the Fund's Board of Trustees may change this policy, it is currently
anticipated that payments under the Plan in a year will be applied first to
distribution expenses incurred in that year and then, up to the maximum amount
permitted under the Plan, to previously incurred but unreimbursed expenses
carried forward plus interest thereon.
The Plan for Class C Shares annually pays a flat percentage (up to .75 percent)
of the class's average daily net assets to Alger Inc., regardless of whether the
associated distribution expenses incurred are higher or lower than the fee. No
excess distribution expense shall be carried forward to subsequent years under
this Plan. Distribution services for which Alger Inc. is compensated under the
Class C Plan may include, but are not limited to, organizing and conducting
sales seminars, advertising programs, payment of finders' fees, printing of
prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports for other than
existing shareholders, preparation and distribution of advertising material and
sales literature, overhead, supplemental payments to dealers and other
institutions as asset-based sales charges or as payments of commissions or
service fees, and the costs of administering the Plan.
Alger Inc. has acknowledged that payments under the Plans are subject to the
approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees and that no Portfolio is contractually
obligated to make payments in any amount or at any time, including payments in
reimbursement of Alger Inc. for expenses and interest thereon incurred in a
prior year.
Under their terms, the Plans remain in effect from year proved in each case
annually by vote of the Fund's Board of Trustees, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan ("Independent
Trustees"). A Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be
spent for the services provided by Alger Inc. without the approval of
shareholders of the applicable class, and all material amendments of a Plan must
be approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. A Plan may be
terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or, with respect to the Class B or Class C Shares of any
Portfolio to which a Plan relates, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the class, on not more than thirty days' written notice to
any other party to the Plan. If a Plan is terminated, or not renewed with
respect to any one or more Portfolios, it may continue in effect with respect to
the Class B or Class C Shares of any Portfolio as to which it has not been
terminated, or has been renewed. Alger Inc. will provide to the Board of
Trustees quarterly reports of amounts expended under each Plan and the purpose
for which such expenditures were made. During the fiscal year ended October 31,
1998, the Fund reimbursed approximately $9,453,000 to Alger Inc. as the Fund's
underwriter, under the provisions of the Class B Shares' Plan. Alger Inc.'s
selling expenses during that period totaled $12,702,626 which consisted of
$654,476 in printing and mailing of prospectuses and other sales literature to
prospective investors; $1,634,110 in advertising; $6,696,722 in compensation to
dealers; $1,395,985 in compensation to sales personnel; $183,467 in other
marketing expenses; and $2,137,866 in interest, carrying or other financing
charges. If in any month, the costs incurred by Alger Inc. are in excess of the
distribution expenses charged to Class B Shares of a Portfolio, the excess may
be carried forward, with interest, and sought to be paid in future periods.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund paid approximately
$45,000 to Alger Inc. under the provisions of the Class C Shares' plan.
The Fund has not adopted a Distribution Plan for the Money Market Portfolio;
however, Alger Inc. or the Inc., may, from its own resources without
reimbursement by the Fund, compensate dealers that have sold shares of the
Portfolio.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT
Payments under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement are not tied exclusively to
the shareholder servicing expenses actually incurred by Alger Inc. and the
payments may exceed expenses actually incurred by Alger Inc. The Fund's Board of
Trustees evaluates the appropriateness of the Shareholder Servicing Agreement
and its payment terms on a continuing basis and in doing so considers all
relevant factors, including expenses
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<PAGE>
borne by Alger Inc. and the amounts it receives under the Shareholder Servicing
Agreement. During the Fund's fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund paid
approximately $3,581,000 to Alger Inc. under the Shareholder Servicing
Agreement.
EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Each Portfolio will bear its own expenses. Operating expenses for each Portfolio
generally consist of all costs not specifically borne by Alger Management,
including investment management fees, fees for necessary professional and
brokerage services, costs of regulatory compliance and costs associated with
maintaining legal existence and shareholder relations. In addition, Class B and
Class C of each Portfolio other than Alger Money Market Portfolio may pay Alger
Inc. for expenses incurred in distributing shares of that class and each such
Portfolio may compensate Alger Inc. for servicing shareholder accounts. Fundwide
expenses not identifiable to any particular portfolio or class will be allocated
in a manner deemed fair and equitable by the Board of Trustees. From time to
time, Alger Management, in its sole discretion and as it deems appropriate, may
assume certain expenses of one or more of the Portfolios while retaining the
ability to be paid by the applicable Portfolio for such amounts prior to the end
of the fiscal year. This will have the effect of lowering the applicable
Portfolio's overall expense ratio and of increasing yield to investors, or the
converse, at the time such amounts are assumed or reimbursed, as the case may
be.
PURCHASES THROUGH PROCESSING ORGANIZATIONS
When shares are purchased this way, the Processing Organization, rather than its
customer, may be the shareholder of record of the shares. The minimum initial
and subsequent investments in classes of the Portfolios for shareholders who
invest through a Processing Organization will be set by the Processing
Organization. Processing Organizations may charge their customers a fee in
connection with services offered to customers.
TELEPURCHASE PRIVILEGE
The price the shareholder will receive will be the price next computed after
Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") receives the investment
from the shareholder's bank, which is normally one banking day. While there is
no charge to shareholders for this service, a fee will be deducted from a
shareholder's Fund account in case of insufficient funds. This privilege may be
terminated at any time without charge or penalty by the shareholder, the Fund,
the Transfer Agent or Alger Inc. Class A Share purchases will remain subject to
the initial sales charge.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
While there is no charge to shareholders for this service, a fee will be
deducted from a shareholder's Fund account in the case of insufficient funds. A
shareholder's Automatic Investment Plan may be terminated at any time without
charge or penalty by the shareholder, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or Alger Inc.
Class A Share purchases will remain subject to the initial sales charge.
AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE PLAN
The Fund also offers an Automatic Exchange Plan which permits you to exchange a
specified amount from your Alger Money Market Portfolio account into one or more
of the other Portfolios on or about the fifteenth day of the month. The minimum
monthly exchange amount is $25 per Portfolio.
There is no charge to shareholders for this service. A shareholder's Automatic
Exchange Plan may be terminated at any time without charge or penalty by the
shareholder, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or Alger Inc. If the automatic
exchange amount exceeds the Alger Money Market Portfolio balance, any remaining
balance in Alger Money Market Portfolio will be exchanged. Shares held in
certificate form are not eligible for this service. Class A Share purchases will
remain subject to the front-end load.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION (CLASS A SHARES)
Class A Shares of the Fund may be purchased by "any person" at a reduced sales
charge as determined by aggregating the dollar amount of the new purchase and
the current value (at offering price) of all Class A Shares of the Fund then
held by such person and applying the sales charge applicable to such aggregate.
In order to obtain such discount, the purchaser must provide sufficient
information at the time of purchase to permit verification that the purchase
qualifies for the reduced sales charge. The right of accumulation is subject to
modification or discontinuance at any time with respect to all shares purchased
thereafter.
LETTER OF INTENT (CLASS A SHARES)
A Letter of Intent ("LOI") contemplating aggregate purchases of $100,000 or more
provides an opportunity for an investor to obtain a reduced sales charge by
aggregating investments over a 13-month period, provided that the investor
refers to such LOI when placing orders. For purposes of a LOI, the "Purchase
Amount" as referred to in the preceding sales charge table includes purchases of
all Class A Shares of the Fund offered with a sales charge over the following 13
months. An alternative is to compute the 13-month period starting up to 90 days
before the date of execution of the LOI.
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<PAGE>
The minimum initial investment under the LOI is 5% of the total LOI amount. Each
investment made during the period receives the reduced sales charge applicable
to the total amount of the investment goal. Shares purchased with the first 5%
of the total LOI amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent to assure
any necessary payment of a higher applicable sales charge if the investment goal
is not met. If the goal is not achieved within the period, the investor must pay
the difference between the sales charges applicable to the purchases made and
the charges previously paid, or an appropriate number of escrowed shares will be
redeemed.
REDEMPTIONS
The right of redemption of shares of a Portfolio may be suspended or the date of
payment postponed for more than seven days (a) for any periods during which the
NYSE is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), (b) when
trading in the markets the Portfolio normally utilizes is restricted, or an
emergency, as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC, exists, making
disposal of the Portfolio's investments or determination of its net asset values
not reasonably practicable or (c) for such other periods as the SEC by order may
permit for protection of the Fund's shareholders.
No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or
redemption checks.
CHECK REDEMPTION PRIVILEGE (ALGER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO)
You may redeem shares in your Alger Money Market Portfolio account by writing a
check for at least $500. Dividends are earned until the check clears. If you
mark the appropriate box on the New Account Application and sign the signature
card, the Fund will send you redemption checks. There is no charge for the first
five checks you write in any one calendar year. You will be charged $2.50 for
each additional check you write.
Your redemption may be reduced by any applicable CDSC (see "Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge"). If your account is not adequate to cover the amount of your
check and any applicable CDSC, the check will be returned marked insufficient
funds. As a result, checks should not be used to close an account. Shares held
in any Alger retirement plan and shares issued in certificate form are not
eligible for this service.
Unless investors elect otherwise, checks drawn on jointly-owned accounts will be
honored with the signature of either of the joint owners. Shareholders should be
aware that use of the check redemption procedure does not give rise to a banking
relationship between the shareholder and the Transfer Agent, which will be
acting solely as transfer agent for the Portfolio; nor does it create a banking
relationship between the shareholder and the Fund. When a check is presented to
the Transfer Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent, as the investor's agent,
will cause the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of shares from the investor's
account to cover the amount of the check.
Shares for which stock certificates have been issued may not be redeemed by
check. An investor's account with Alger Money Market Portfolio will be reduced
by any CDSC applicable to any redemption, including a redemption by check. The
check redemption privilege may be modified or terminated at any time by the Fund
or by the Transfer Agent.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS
You automatically have the ability to make redemptions by telephone unless you
refuse the telephone redemption privilege. To sell shares by telephone, please
call (800) 992-3863. If your redemption request is received before 12:00 noon
Eastern time for Alger Money Market Portfolio, your redemption proceeds will
generally be mailed on the next business day. Redemption requests for Portfolios
other than Alger Money Market Portfolio received prior to the close of business
of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) will generally be mailed on the
next business day. Requests received after 12:00 noon Eastern time for Alger
Money Market Portfolio will generally be mailed on the business day following
the next business day. Shares held in any Alger retirement plan and shares
issued in certificate form are not eligible for this service.
Redemption proceeds are mailed to the address of record. Any request for
redemption proceeds to be sent to the address of record must be in writing with
the signature(s) guaranteed if made within 60 days of changing your address.
Redemption requests made before 12:00 noon Eastern time for Alger Money Market
Portfolio will not receive a dividend for that day.
The Fund, the Transfer Agent and their affiliates are not liable for acting in
good faith on telephone instructions relating to your account, so long as they
follow reasonable procedures to determine that the telephone instructions are
genuine. Such procedures may include recording the telephone calls and requiring
some form of personal identification. You should verify the accuracy of
telephone transactions immediately upon receipt of your confirmation statement.
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<PAGE>
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
Payment for shares tendered for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However,
if the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines that it would be detrimental to
the best interest of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio to make payment
of a redemption order wholly or partly in cash, the Portfolio may pay the
redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of
securities from the Portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with applicable
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Fund has elected to be
governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Act, pursuant to which a Portfolio is obligated
to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
assets of the Portfolio during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If
shares are redeemed in kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or
other costs in selling the securities for cash. The method of valuing securities
used to make redemptions in kind will be the same as the method the Fund uses to
value its portfolio securities and such valuation will be made as of the time
the redemption price is determined.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
No CDSC is imposed on the redemption of shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio,
except that shares of the Portfolio acquired in exchange for shares of the other
Portfolios will bear any CDSC that would apply to the exchanged shares.
With respect to Class B Shares, there is no initial sales charge on purchases of
shares of any Portfolio, but a CDSC may be charged on certain redemptions. The
CDSC is imposed on any redemption that causes the current value of your account
in the Class B shares of the Portfolio to fall below the amount of purchase
payments made during a six-year holding period.
Certain Class A Shares also are subject to a CDSC. Those Class A Shares
purchased in an amount of $1 million or more which have not been subject to the
Class's initial sales charge and which have not been held for a full year are
subject to a CDSC of 1% at the time of redemption. Class C Shares have no
initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1% if redeemed within one year
of purchase.
For purposes of the CDSC, it is assumed that the shares of the Portfolio from
which the redemption is made are the shares of that Portfolio which result in
the lowest charge, if any.
Redemptions of shares of each of the Portfolios are deemed to be made first from
amounts, if any, to which a CDSC does not apply. There is no CDSC on redemptions
of (i) shares that represent appreciation on your original investment, or (ii)
shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Since no
charge is imposed on shares purchased and retained in Alger Money Market
Portfolio, you may wish to consider redeeming those shares, if any, before
redeeming shares that are subject to a CDSC.
WAIVERS OF SALES CHARGES
No initial sales charge (Class A) or CDSC (Class A, B or C) is imposed on
purchases or redemptions (1) by (i) employees of Alger Inc. and its affiliates,
(ii) IRAs, Keogh Plans and employee benefit plans for those employees and (iii)
spouses, children, siblings and parents of those employees and trusts of which
those individuals are beneficiaries, as long as orders for the shares on behalf
of those individuals and trusts were placed by the employees; (2) by (i)
accounts managed by investment advisory affiliates of Alger Inc. that are
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (ii)
employees, participants and beneficiaries of those accounts, (iii) IRAs, Keogh
Plans and employee benefit plans for those employees, participants and
beneficiaries and (iv) spouses and minor children of those employees,
participants and beneficiaries as long as orders for the shares were placed by
the employees, participants and beneficiaries; (3) by directors or trustees of
any investment company for which Alger Inc. or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser or distributor; (4) of shares held through defined
contribution plans as defined by ERISA; (5) by an investment company registered
under the 1940 Act in connection with the combination of the investment company
with the Fund by merger, acquisition of assets or by any other transaction; (6)
by registered investment advisers for their own accounts; (7) by registered
investment advisers, banks, trust companies and other financial institutions on
behalf of their clients; (8) by a Processing Organization, as shareholder of
record on behalf of (i) investment advisers or financial planners trading for
their own accounts or the accounts of their clients and who charge a management,
consulting or other fee for their services and clients of such investment
advisers or financial planners trading for their own accounts if the accounts
are linked to the master account of such investment adviser or financial planner
on the books and records of the Processing Organization, and (ii) retirement and
deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans; (9) by
registered representatives of broker-dealers which have entered into Selected
Dealer Agreements with Alger Inc., and their spouses, children, siblings and
par-
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<PAGE>
ents; and (10) of Class A shares purchased with he proceeds of a redemption of
shares of a mutual fund other than the Fund, if an initial or deferred sales
charge was paid in connection with the investment in the other fund and the
redemption from the other fund occurred within 90 days of the purchase of Class
A shares.
Investors purchasing Class A Shares subject to one of the foregoing waivers are
required to claim and substantiate their eligibility for the waiver at the time
of purchase. It is also the responsibility of shareholders redeeming shares
otherwise subject to a CDSC but qualifying for a waiver of the charge to assert
this status at the time of redemption. Information regarding these procedures is
available by contacting the Fund at (800) 992-3863.
CERTAIN WAIVERS OF THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED
SALES CHARGE
Any CDSC which otherwise would be imposed on redemptions of Fund shares will be
waived in certain instances, including (a) redemptions of shares held at the
time a shareholder becomes disabled or dies, including the shares of a
shareholder who owns the shares with his or her spouse as joint tenants with
right of survivorship, provided that the redemption is requested within one year
after the death or initial determination of disability, (b) redemptions in
connection with the following retirement plan distributions: (i) lump-sum or
other distributions from a qualified corporate or Keogh retirement plan
following retirement, termination of employment, death or disability (or in the
case of a five percent owner of the employer maintaining the plan, following
attainment of age 70l/2); (ii) required distributions from an Individual
Retirement Account ("IRA") following the attainment of age 70l/2 or from a
custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
following the later of retirement or attainment of age 70l/2; and (iii) a
tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA, and (c) systematic
withdrawal payments. For purposes of the waiver described in (a) above, a person
will be deemed "disabled" if the person is unable to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued
and indefinite duration.
Shareholders claiming a waiver must assert their status at the time of
redemption.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE
A shareholder who has redeemed shares in the Fund may reinvest all or part of
the redemption proceeds in the Fund without an initial sales charge and receive
a credit for any CDSC paid on the redemption, provided the reinvestment is made
within 30 days after the redemption. Reinvestment will be at the net asset value
of the Portfolio next determined upon receipt of the proceeds and letter
requesting this privilege be exercised, subject to confirmation of the
shareholder's status or holdings, as the case may be. You will also receive a
pro rata credit for any CDSC imposed. This reinstatement privilege may be
exercised only once by a shareholder. Reinstatement will not alter any capital
gains tax payable on the redemption and a loss may not be allowed for tax
purposes.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available to
shareholders who own shares of a Portfolio with a value exceeding $10,000 and
who wish to receive specific amounts of cash periodically. Withdrawals of at
least $50 monthly (but no more than one percent of the value of a shareholder's
shares in the Portfolio) may be made under the Withdrawal Plan by redeeming as
many shares of the Portfolio as may be necessary to cover the stipulated
withdrawal payment. To the extent that withdrawals exceed dividends,
distributions and appreciation of a shareholder's investment in the Portfolio,
there will be a reduction in the value of the shareholder's investment and
continued withdrawal payments may reduce the shareholder's investment and
ultimately exhaust it.
Withdrawal payments should not be considered as income from investment in a
Portfolio.
Shareholders who wish to participate in the Withdrawal Plan and who hold their
shares in certificated form must deposit their share certificates of the
Portfolio from which withdrawals will be made with Alger Shareholder Services,
Inc., as agent for Withdrawal Plan members. All dividends and distributions on
shares in the Withdrawal Plan are automatically reinvested at net asset value in
additional shares of the Portfolio involved. For additional information
regarding the Withdrawal Plan, contact the Fund.
EXCHANGES AND CONVERSIONS
IN GENERAL
Except as limited below, shareholders may exchange some or all of their shares
for shares of another portfolio. However, one class of shares may not be
exchanged for another class of shares. Alger Money Market Portfolio shares
acquired by direct purchase may be exchanged for Class A, B or C Shares of
another portfolio; however, any applicable sales charge will apply to the shares
acquired, depending upon their class. Shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio
acquired by exchange
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<PAGE>
rather than by direct purchase may be exchanged for shares of another portfolio,
but only for shares of the same class as those originally exchanged for Alger
Money Market Portfolio shares. Once an initial sales charge has been imposed on
a purchase of Class A Shares, no additional charge is imposed in connection with
their exchange. For example, a purchase of Alger Money Market Portfolio shares
and subsequent exchange to Class A Shares of Alger Small Capitalization
Portfolio, Alger Midcap Portfolio, Alger Growth Portfolio, Alger Balanced
Portfolio or Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio (each a "Charge Portfolio")
would result in the imposition of an initial sales charge at the time of
exchange; but if the initial purchase had been of Class A Shares in a Charge
Portfolio, an exchange to Class A Shares of any other Portfolio would not result
in an additional initial sales charge. No CDSC is assessed in connection with
exchanges at any time. In addition, no CDSC is imposed on the redemption of
reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions or on increases in the net
asset value of shares of a Portfolio above purchase payments made with respect
to that Portfolio during the six-year holding period for Class B Shares and the
one-year holding period for Class C Shares and certain Class A Shares.
For purposes of calculating the applicable holding periods for automatic
conversion of Class B (eight years) and Class C (twelve years) Shares to Class A
Shares, shares acquired in an exchange are deemed to have been purchased on the
date on which the shares given in exchange were purchased, provided, however,
that if Class B or Class C Shares are exchanged for shares of Alger Money Market
Portfolio, the period during which the Alger Money Market Portfolio shares are
held will not be included in the holding period for purposes of determining
eligibility for automatic conversion, and the running of the holding period will
recommence only when those shares are reexchanged for shares of the original
class.
You automatically have the ability to make exchanges by telephone unless you
refuse the telephone exchange privilege. Exchanges can be made among Portfolios
of the same class of shares for identically registered accounts. For tax
purposes, an exchange of shares is treated as a sale of the shares exchanged
and, therefore, you may realize a taxable gain or loss when you exchange shares.
Shares exchanged prior to the close of business of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time) from Alger Money Market Portfolio to any other Portfolio will
receive dividends from Alger Money Market Portfolio for the day of the exchange.
Shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio received in exchange for shares of any
other Portfolio will earn dividends beginning on the next business day after the
exchange.
You may make up to six exchanges annually by telephone or in writing. The Fund
may charge a transaction fee for each exchange, although it does not intend to
do so at present. You will be notified at least 60 days in advance if the Fund
decides to impose this fee. The Fund reserves the right to terminate or modify
the exchange privilege upon notice to shareholders.
FOR SHAREHOLDERS MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT ON OCTOBER 17, 1992. Shares
acquired in an exchange are deemed to have been purchased on, and continuously
held since, the date on which the shares given in exchange were purchased; thus,
an exchange would not affect the running of any CDSC-related holding period. No
initial sales charge or CDSC would apply to an exchange of shares of a Charge
Portfolio for shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio, but redemptions of shares
of that Portfolio acquired by exchange of shares from one or more of the Charge
Portfolios are subject to any applicable CDSC on the same terms as the shares
given in exchange. If shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio are exchanged for
shares of any of the Charge Portfolios, any later redemptions of those shares
would be subject to any applicable CDSC based on the period of time since the
shares given in exchange were purchased.
The following example illustrates the operation of the CDSC for active accounts
established prior to October 17, 1992. Assume that on the first day of year 1 an
investor purchases $1,000 of shares of each of Alger Money Market Portfolio and
Alger Growth Portfolio, Class B. The shareholder may at any time redeem the
shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio without imposition of the charge. If in
year 3 the shareholder redeems all the Class B Shares of Alger Growth Portfolio
purchased in year 1, a charge of three percent of the current net asset value of
those shares would be imposed on the redemption. The shareholder could redeem
without imposition of the charge any of his or her shares of that Portfolio that
were purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions
as well as an amount of Class B Shares not exceeding any increase in the net
asset value of the $1,000 of shares originally purchased. The shareholder could
also at any time exchange the Class B Shares of Alger Growth Portfolio for Class
B Shares of any other Portfolio without imposition of the charge. If those
shares were later redeemed, however, the redemption would be subject to the
charge based on the current net asset value of the shares and the period of time
since the original purchase payment was made (with adjustments for partial
exchanges and redemptions and any accretions in the shareholder's account by
reason of increases in net asset value and reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains distribu-
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<PAGE>
tions). If the foregoing exchange were made by the shareholder for additional
shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio, any subsequent redemption of shares of
that Portfolio would be deemed to have been made first from the $1,000 of shares
of Alger Money Market Portfolio originally purchased in year 1, which are not
subject to the charge, and then from the shares acquired in the exchange, which
are subject to the charge. If instead the shareholder exchanged the shares of
Alger Money Market Portfolio originally purchased in year 1 for additional Class
B Shares of Alger Growth Portfolio (or of the other Charge Portfolios) any later
redemption of those shares would be subject to the charge in accordance with the
foregoing rules based on the period of time since the original purchase payment
was made. Thus, the period of time shares were held in Alger Money Market
Portfolio would be counted toward the six-year holding period.
FOR NEW SHAREHOLDERS OPENING AN ACCOUNT AFTER OCTOBER 17, 1992. Effective
October 17, 1992, new shareholders of the Fund are subject to the following
terms and conditions regarding the exchange of shares of the Fund's Portfolios.
A CDSC, if any, is assessed on redemptions of Class B and Class C Shares and
certain Class A Shares of the Charge Portfolios and of shares of Alger Money
Market Portfolio that have been acquired in exchange for shares of a Charge
Portfolio, based solely on the period of time the shares are retained in the
Charge Portfolio. Thus, the period of time shares are held in Alger Money Market
Portfolio will not be counted towards the holding period described above in the
calculation of a CDSC.
The following examples illustrate the operation of the CDSC for accounts opened
after October 17, 1992: (1) An investor purchases Class B Shares of Alger Growth
Portfolio on the first day of year 1 and exchanges those shares for shares of
Alger Money Market Portfolio in year 2. No charge is assessed at the time of the
exchange. If in year 4 the shareholder redeems all the shares, a charge of four
percent of the current net asset value of those shares would be imposed on the
redemption based on the period of time the shares were retained in Class B of
the Alger Growth Portfolio. The time period during which the shares of Alger
Money Market Portfolio are held is not included when the amount of the charge is
calculated. The shareholder could redeem without imposition of the charge any of
his shares that were purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains distributions as well as an amount of shares not exceeding any increase in
the net asset value of the original purchase. (2) An investor purchases shares
of Alger Money Market Portfolio on the first day of year 1 and exchanges those
shares for Class B Shares of Alger Growth Portfolio on the first day of year 2.
No charge is assessed at the time of the exchange. If in year 4 the shareholder
redeems all the shares, a charge of three percent of the current net asset value
of those shares would be imposed on the redemption based on the period of time
the shares were retained in Class B of Alger Growth Portfolio. The time period
during which the shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio are held is not included
when the amount of the charge is calculated. The shareholder could redeem
without imposition of the charge any of his or her shares that were purchased
through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions as well as an
amount of shares not exceeding any increase in the net asset value of the
original purchase.
CERTAIN ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO SHARES
Shares of Alger Money Market Portfolio that have been acquired in exchange for
shares of Spectra Fund (a mutual fund managed by Alger Management), together
with Alger Money Market Portfolio shares acquired through reinvestment of
dividends on such shares, may be exchanged for Spectra Fund shares. These
exchanges will be effected at the respective net asset values of Spectra Fund
and Alger Money Market Portfolio next determined after the exchange request is
accepted, with no sales charge or transaction fee imposed. For more information
about such exchanges, please call (800) 992-3863. The Alger Fund reserves the
right to terminate or modify this exchange privilege upon notice to
shareholders.
CERTAIN 401(K) PLANS
Alger Inc. has entered into an agreement with Merrill Lynch Group Employees
Services ("Merrill Lynch") pursuant to which Merrill Lynch will make Class A
Shares of the Portfolios available to participants in certain 401(k) plans (each
a "Plan") at net asset value with no contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
if:
(i) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch and, on
the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service
Agreement, the Plan has $3 million or more in assets invested in broker/dealer
funds not advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM")
each of which is made available pursuant to a Services Agreement between Merrill
Lynch and the fund's principal
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<PAGE>
underwriter or distributor and in funds advised or managed by MLAM
(collectively, the "Applicable Investments"): or
(ii) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by an independent
recordkeeper whose services are provided through a contract or alliance
arrangement with Merrill Lynch, and on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the
Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement, the Plan has $3 million or more
in assets, excluding money market funds, invested in Applicable Investments; or
(iii) the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees, as determined by the Merrill
Lynch plan conversion manager, on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill
Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement.
Plans recordkept on a daily basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent
recordkeeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch that are currently investing in
Class B shares of the Fund convert (by means of a CDSC-free redemption/purchase
at net asset value) to A shares once the Plan has reached $5 million invested in
Applicable Investments. The Plan will receive a Plan level share conversion.
Also under the agreement, Class B Shares of the Portfolios are to be made
available to Plan participants at net asset value with no CDSC if:
(i) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch and, on
the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service
Agreement, the Plan has less than $3 million in assets invested in broker/dealer
funds not advised or managed by MLAM each of which is made available pursuant to
a Services Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the fund's principal underwriter
or distributor and in funds advised or managed by MLAM (collectively, the
"Applicable Investments"); or
(ii) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by an independent
recordkeeper whose services are provided through a contract or alliance
arrangement with Merrill Lynch, and on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the
Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement, the Plan has less than $3 million
in assets, excluding money market funds, invested in Applicable Investments; or
(iii) the Plan has less than 500 eligible employees, as determined by the
Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager, on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the
Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement.
Plans recordkept on a daily basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent
recordkeeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch that are currently investing in
Class B shares of the Fund convert (by means of a CDSC-free redemption/purchase
at net asset value) to A shares once the Plan has reached $5 million invested in
Applicable Investments. The Plan will receive a Plan level share conversion.
MANAGEMENT
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE FUND
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees which is responsible for protecting
the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The names of the Trustees
and officers of the Fund, together with information concerning their principal
business occupations, are set forth below. Each of the officers of the Fund is
also an officer, and each of the Trustees is also a director or trustee, as the
case may be, of Castle Convertible Fund, Inc., a registered closed-end
investment company, and of The Alger American Fund, The Alger Retirement Fund
and Spectra Fund, registered open-end management investment companies, for all
of which Alger Management serves as investment adviser. Fred M. Alger III and
David D. Alger are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Fred
M. Alger III and David D. Alger are brothers. Unless otherwise noted, the
address of each person named below is 1 World Trade Center, Suite 9333, New
York, New York 10048.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE AND POSITION WITH
THE FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
<S> <C>
Fred M. Alger III (64) Chairman of the Boards of Alger Associates, Inc.
Chairman of the Board ("Associates"), Alger Inc., Alger Management,
Alger Properties, Inc.
("Properties"), Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
("Services"), Alger Life Insurance Agency, Inc.
("Agency"), Analysts Resources, Inc. ("ARI"),
The Alger American Asset Growth Fund ("Asset Growth")
and Fred Alger International Advisory S.
A. ("International").
David D. Alger (55) President and Director of Associates, Alger Management,
President and Trustee Alger Inc.,Properties, Services, International, ARI and
Agency; Director of Asset Growth.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Gregory S. Duch (47) Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Director of Alger
Treasurer President and Treasurer of Alger Inc., Management, Properties
and Associates; Executive Vice
ARI, Services and Agency; Treasurer and Director of International.
Mary E. Marsden-Cochran (46) Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Associates, Alger
Secretary Management, Alger Inc., Properties, ARI, Services, and Agency
(2/96-present); Secretary of International (7/97-present); Associate
General Counsel and Vice President, Smith Barney Inc.(12/94-2/96);
Blue Sky Attorney, AMT Capital (1/94-11/94).
Frederick A. Blum (45) Senior Vice President, Alger Inc.
Assistant Secretary
and Assistant Treasurer
Arthur M. Dubow (65) Trustee of the Arthur Dubow Foundation; private investor since 1985;
Trustee Director of Coolidge Investment Corporation; formerly Chairman of
P.O. Box 969 the Board of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. and President of
Wainscott, NY 11975 Fourth Estate, Inc.
Stephen E. O'Neil (66) Of Counsel to the law firm of Kohler & Barnes P.C.;
Trustee Private investor since 1981; Director of NovaCare, Inc. and
460 Park Avenue Brown-Forman Corporation; formerly President and Vice Chairman
New York, NY 10022 of City Investing Company and Director of Centerre Bancorporation
and Syntro Corporation.
Nathan E. Saint-Amand, M.D. (61) Medical doctor in private practice.
Trustee
2 East 88th Street
New York, NY 10128
John T. Sargent (74) Private investor since 1987; Director of Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co.;
Trustee formerly Director of River Bank America.
14 E. 69th Street
New York, NY 10021
B. Joseph White (53) Dean, University of Michigan Business School; President, William
Trustee Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan Business School;
University of Michigan Professor of Business Administration, University of Michigan Business
Business School School; Director, Gordon Food Service; Trustee and Chair,
701 Tappan Street Audit Committee, Equity Residential Properties Trust;
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Director and Chair, Compensation Committee, Kelly
Services, Inc.
</TABLE>
No director, officer or employee of Alger Management or its affiliates will
receive any compensation from the Fund for serving as an officer or Trustee of
the Fund. The Fund pays each independent Trustee of Alger Management or its
affiliates (a "Disinterested Trustee") a quarterly $2,000 for each meeting he
attends, to a maximum of $8000.
The Fund did not offer its Trustees any pension or retirement benefits during or
prior to the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998. The following table provides
compensation amounts paid to Disinterested Trustees of the Fund for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 1998. Mr. White, now a disinterested trustee, was not a
Trustee of the Fund during that period.
COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Compensation Paid to Trustees from
The Alger Retirement Fund,
Aggregate The Alger Fund,
Compensation The Alger American Fund,
from Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. and
Name of Person, Position The Alger Fund Spectra Fund
------------------------ ---------------- ---------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Arthur M. Dubow, Trustee $8,000 $28,250
Stephen E. O'Neil, Trustee $8,000 $28,250
Nathan E. Saint-Amand, Trustee $8,000 $28,250
John T. Sargent, Trustee $6,000 $21,250
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Alger Management serves as investment manager to each of the Portfolios pursuant
to separate written agreements (the "Management Agreements").
Alger Management is the Fund's investment manager and is responsible for the
overall administration of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of
Trustees. Alger Management makes investment decisions for the Portfolios,
provides administrative services, places orders to purchase and sell securities
on behalf of the Portfolios and selects broker-dealers that, in its judgment,
provide prompt and reliable execution at favorable prices and reasonable
commission rates. It is anticipated that Alger Inc. will serve as the Fund's
broker in effecting substantially all of the Portfolios' transactions on
securities exchanges and will retain commissions in accordance with certain
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, Alger
Management employs professional securities analysts who provide research
services exclusively to the Portfolios and other accounts for which Alger
Management or its affiliates serve as investment adviser or subadviser.
Alger Management pays the salaries of all officers who are employed by it. Alger
Management has agreed to maintain office facilities for the Fund, furnish the
Fund with statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping
services, and certain other services required by the Fund, and to compute the
net asset values, net income and realized capital gains or losses of the
Portfolios. Alger Management prepares semi-annual reports to the SEC and to
shareholders, prepares federal and state tax returns and filings with state
securities commissions, maintains the Fund's financial accounts and records and
generally assists in all aspects of the Fund's operations. Alger Management
bears all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under the
Management Agreements.
Alger Management has been in the business of providing investment advisory
services since 1964 and, as of December 31, 1998, had approximately $10.59
billion under management, $6.64 billion in mutual fund accounts and $3.95
billion in other advisory accounts. Alger Management is owned by Alger Inc.
which in turn is owned by Alger Associates, Inc., a financial services holding
company. Fred M. Alger, III and his brother, David D. Alger, are the majority
shareholders of Alger Associates, Inc. and may be deemed to control that company
and its subsidiaries. Each Management Agreement provides that if, in any fiscal
year, the aggregate expenses of the Portfolio (exclusive of certain specified
categories of expense) exceed the expense limitation of any state having
jurisdiction over the Portfolio, Alger Management will reimburse the Portfolio
for that excess expense to the extent required by state law. At the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, there is no state expense limitation
applicable to any Portfolio.
Each Portfolio pays Alger Management a management fee computed daily and paid
monthly at annual rates based on a percentage of the value of the relevant
Portfolio's average daily net assets, as follows: Alger Money Market
Portfolio--.50%; Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio and Alger Capital
Appreciation Portfolio--.85%; Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio--.80%; Alger Growth
Portfolio and Alger Balanced Portfolio--.75%. During the fiscal years ended
October 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, Alger Management earned under the terms of the
Management Agreements $1,214,904, $1,104,000, and $1,116,000, respectively, in
respect of the Alger Money Market Portfolio; $4,478,467, $4,715,000 and
$4,679,000 respectively, in respect of the Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio;
$1,654,488, $2,396,000 and $3,133,000 respectively, in respect of the Alger
Growth Portfolio; $82,116, $96,000 and $126,000, respectively, in respect of the
Alger Balanced Portfolio; $720,696, $1,236,000 and $1,517,000, respectively, in
respect of the Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio; and $861,617, $1,587,000 and
$2,192,000, respectively, in respect of the Alger Capital Appreciation
Portfolio. Some of these fees for Alger Money Market Portfolio, however, were
offset in whole or in part by various expense reimbursements and waivers.
DISTRIBUTOR
Alger Inc., the corporate parent of Alger Management, serves as the Fund's
principal underwriter, or distributor, and receives payments from the Fund under
the Fund's Distribution Plans (see "Purchases--Distribution Plans") and the
Shareholder Servicing Agreement (see "Purchases--Shareholder Servicing
Agreement"). It also receives brokerage commissions from the Fund (see
"Investment Objectives and Policies--Portfolio Transactions"). During the Fund's
fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, Alger Inc. retained approximately $3,258,000
in CDSCs and $52,000 in initial sales charges.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP serves as independent public accountant for the Fund.
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<PAGE>
TAXES
The following is a summary of selected federal income tax considerations that
may affect the Fund and its shareholders. The summary is not intended to
substitute for individual tax advice and investors are urged to consult their
own tax advisers as to the federal, state and local tax consequences of
investing in the Fund.
Each Portfolio intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If
qualified as a regulated investment company, a Portfolio will pay no federal
income taxes on its taxable net investment income (that is, taxable income other
than net realized capital gains) and its net realized capital gains that are
distributed to shareholders. To qualify under Subchapter M, a Portfolio must,
among other things: (1) distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its
taxable net investment income and net realized short-term capital gains; (2)
derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with
respect to loans of securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of
securities, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options,
futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to the Portfolio's business
of investing in securities; and (3) diversify its holdings so that, at the end
of each fiscal quarter of the Portfolio (a) at least 50% of the market value of
the Portfolio's assets is represented by cash, U.S. Government securities and
other securities, with those other securities limited, with respect to any one
issuer, to an amount no greater in value than 5% of the Portfolio's total assets
and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and
(b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Portfolio's assets is invested
in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or
securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers
that the Portfolio controls and that are determined to be in the same or similar
trades or businesses or related trades or businesses. In meeting these
requirements, a Portfolio may be restricted in the utilization of certain of the
investment techniques described above and in the Fund's prospectus. As a
regulated investment company, each Portfolio is subject to a non-deductible
excise tax of 4% with respect to certain undistributed amounts of income and
capital gains during the calendar year. The Fund expects each Portfolio to make
additional distributions or change the timing of its distributions so as to
avoid the application of this tax. Although the Fund expects each Portfolio to
make such distributions as are necessary to avoid the application of this tax,
certain of such distributions, if made in January, might be included in the
taxable income of shareholders in the year ended in the previous December.
Payments reflecting the dividend income of the Portfolios will not qualify for
the dividends-received deduction for corporations if the Portfolio sells the
underlying stock before satisfying a 46-day holding period requirement (91 days
for certain preferred stock). Dividends-received deductions will be allowed to a
corporate shareholder only if similar holding period requirements with respect
to shares of the Portfolio have been met. None of the dividends paid by Alger
Money Market Portfolio will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
In general, any gain or loss on the redemption or exchange of Portfolio shares
will be long-term capital gain or loss if held by the shareholder for more than
one year, and will be short-term capital gain or loss if held for one year or
less. However, if a shareholder receives a distribution taxable as long-term
capital gain with respect to Portfolio shares, and redeems or exchanges the
shares before holding them for more than six months, any loss on the redemption
or exchange up to the amount of the distribution will be treated as a long-term
capital loss.
Dividends of a Portfolio's net investment income and distributions of its
short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of
long-term capital gains will be taxable as such at the appropriate rate,
regardless of the length of time you have held shares of the Portfolio.
If a Portfolio is the holder of record of any stock on the record date for any
dividends payable with respect to such stock, such dividends are included in the
Portfolio's gross income as of the later of (a) the date such stock became
ex-dividend with respect to such dividends (i.e., the date on which a buyer of
the stock would not be entitled to receive the declared, but unpaid, dividends)
or (b) the date the Portfolio acquired such stock. Accordingly, in order to
satisfy its income distribution requirements, a Portfolio may be required to pay
dividends based on anticipated earnings and shareholders may receive dividends
in an earlier year than would otherwise be the case.
Investors considering buying shares of a Portfolio just prior to a record date
for a taxable dividend or capital gain distribution should be aware that,
regardless of whether the price of the Portfolio shares to be purchased reflects
the amount of the forthcoming dividend or distribution payment, any such payment
will be a taxable dividend or distribution payment.
If a shareholder fails to furnish a correct taxpayer identification number,
fails to fully report dividend or interest income, or fails to certify that he
or she has provided a correct taxpayer identification number and that he or she
is not subject to such withholding, then the shareholder
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<PAGE>
may be subject to a 31 percent "backup withholding tax" with respect to (i) any
taxable dividends and distributions and (ii) any proceeds of any redemption of
Fund shares. An individual's taxpayer identification number is his or her social
security number. The 31 percent backup withholding tax is not an additional tax
and may be credited against a shareholder's regular federal income tax
liability.
Shortly after the close of each calendar year, you will receive a statement
setting forth the dollar amounts of dividends and any distributions for the
prior calendar year and the tax status of the dividends and distributions for
federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser to assess the
federal, state and local tax consequences of investing in each Portfolio. This
discussion is not intended to address the tax consequences of an investment by a
nonresident alien.
DIVIDENDS
Each class will be treated separately in determining the amounts of dividends of
investment income and distributions of capital gains payable to holders of its
shares. Dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested at net
asset value on the payment date in additional shares of the class that paid the
dividend or distribution at net asset value, unless you elected in writing to
have all dividends and distributions paid in cash or reinvested at net asset
value into another identically registered Alger Portfolio account you have
established. In addition, accounts whose dividend/distribution checks have been
returned as undeliverable shall reinvest that dividend/distribution at the net
asset value next determined after the Transfer Agent receives the undelivered
check. Furthermore, all future dividend/distribution checks shall be reinvested
automatically at net asset value on the payment date until a written request for
reinstatement of cash distribution and a valid mailing address are provided by
the shareholder(s). Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and
distributions are not subject to a CDSC or front-end sales charge. Any dividends
of Alger Money Market Portfolio are declared daily and paid monthly, and any
dividends of the other Portfolios are declared and paid annually. Distributions
of any net realized short-term and long-term capital gains earned by a Portfolio
usually will be made annually after the close of the fiscal year in which the
gains are earned.
The classes of a Portfolio may have different dividend and distribution rates.
Class A dividends generally will be greater than those of Classes B and C due to
the Rule 12b-1 fees associated with Class B and C Shares. However, dividends
paid to each class of shares in a Portfolio will be declared and paid at the
same time and will be determined in the same manner as those paid to each other
class.
Shortly after the close of each calendar year, you will receive a statement
setting forth the dollar amounts of dividends and any distributions for the
prior calendar year and the tax status of the dividends and distributions for
federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser to assess the
federal, state and local tax consequences of investing in each Portfolio. This
discussion is not intended to address the tax consequences of an investment by a
nonresident alien.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02110 serves as custodian of the Fund assets pursuant to a custodian agreement
under which it holds the Portfolios' assets. Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.,
30 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, serves as transfer agent
for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement. Under the transfer agency
agreement Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. ("services") processes purchases and
redemptions of shares of the Fund, maintains the shareholder account records for
each Portfolio, handles certain communications between shareholders and the Fund
and distributes any dividends and distributions payable by the Fund. Pursuant to
the transfer agency agreement, services is compensated on a per-account and, for
certain transactions, a per-transaction basis. Certain record-keeping services
that would otherwise be performed by Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. may be
performed by other entities providing similar services to their customers who
invest in the Portfolios. The Fund, Alger Shareholder Services, Inc., Alger Inc.
or any of its affiliates may elect to enter into a contract to pay them for such
services.
CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS Set forth below is certain information regarding
significant shareholders of the Portfolios. At February 1, 1999, Dreyfus
Retirement Services owned beneficially or of record 24.12% of Alger Growth
Portfolio--Class A Shares. Also on February 1, 1999, Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner
& Smith FBO its Customers owned beneficially or of record 24.21% of Alger Growth
Portfolio--Class A Shares. On the same date, Charles Schwab Special Custody
Account held 31.57% of Alger Mid Cap Growth Portfolio--Class A Shares and 24.27%
of Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio--Class A Shares; and Merrill Lynch FBO
its customers held 26.79% of Alger Balanced Portfolio--Class C Shares and 31.50%
of Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio--Class C Shares. The shareholders
identified above may be deemed to control the specified Classes, which may have
the effect of proportionately diminishing the voting power of other shareholders
of these Classes.
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<PAGE>
The following table contains information regarding persons who own of record, or
are known to own beneficially, five percent or more of the shares of any
Portfolio. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each owner is 1 World Trade
Center, Suite 9333, New York, New York 10048. All holdings are expressed as a
percentage of a Portfolio's outstanding shares as of February 1, 1999 and record
and beneficial holdings are in each instance denoted as follows:
record/beneficial.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
FTC & Co. 6.46% / +
Attn: Datalynx
P.O. Box 173736
Denver, CO 80217
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
Alger Associates 5.57% / 5.57%
1 World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. 5.47 / +
Special Custody Account
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
MAC & CO. 8.96% / +
TYCF
P.O. Box 3198
Pittsburgh, PA 15230
INDEPENDENT TRUST CORP. 5.23% / +
Custodial Funds 82
15255 S 94th Avenue Ste 303
Orland Park, IL 60462-3897
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS B
Charles Schwab 5.49% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
ALGER SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
Merrill Lynch FBO 17.14% / +
its Customers 4800 Deer Lake
Drive East Jacksonville, FL 32246
B. Zaccaria 5.72% / 5.72%
3000 sand Hill Rd.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
Charles Schwab 14.22% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Mellon Bank as Agent 24.12% / +
Dreyfus Retirement
1 Cabot Rd. Medford, MA 02155
Merrill Lynch FBO 24.21% / +
its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO - CLASS B
Charles Schwab 8.09% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
ALGER GROWTH PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
Merrill Lynch FBO 18.40% / +
its Customers 4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
Charles Schwab 31.57% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Agawam Fund Corp. 19.79% / +
P.O. Box 55 Nassau, Bahamas
Independent Trust Corp. 7.40% / +
Custodial Funds 15255
S. 94th Ave.
Orland Park, FL 60452
ALGER MIDCAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
Merrill Lynch FBO 19.31% / +
its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Smith Barney 5.76% / +
388 Greenwich St.
New York, NY 10013
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
Charles Schwab 24.27% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Agawam Fund Corp. 5.56% / +
P.O. Box 55
Nassau, Bahamas
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS B
Charles Schwab 6.11% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
ALGER CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
Merrill Lynch FBO 31.50% / +
its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
Charles Schwab 5.07% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Richardson RevTr 6.41% / +
22994 El Toro Rd.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Donaldson Lufkin 8.21% / +
Jenrette Sec. Corp.
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO - CLASS B
Charles Schwab 10.27% / +
Special Custody Acct.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Merrill Lynch FBO 5.26% / +
its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
Merrill Lynch FBO 26.79% / +
its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
State Street Bank ITF 5.09% / +
K. Taylor IRA
372 Warren St.
Needham, MA 02192
+ The Fund regards the underlying participants as the beneficial owners.
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The Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, hold less than 1% of the
shares of any class of any Portfolio, except that they hold 3.68% of the Class A
shares of Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio and 1.60% of the Class A shares
of Alger Growth Portfolio.
ORGANIZATION
The Fund has been organized as an unincorporated business trust under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of
Trust dated March 20, 1986 (the "Trust Agreement"). Alger Money Market
Portfolio, Alger Small Capitalization Portfolio and Alger Growth Portfolio
commenced operations on November 11, 1986. Alger Balanced Portfolio commenced
operations on June 1, 1992, Alger MidCap Growth Portfolio commenced operations
on May 24, 1993 and Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio commenced operations on
November 1, 1993. Prior to March 27, 1995 Alger Capital Appreciation Portfolio
was known as Alger Leveraged AllCap Portfolio. The word "Alger" in the Fund's
name has been adopted pursuant to a provision contained in the Trust Agreement.
Under that provision, Alger Management may terminate the Fund's license to use
the word "Alger" in its name when Alger Management ceases to act as the Fund's
investment manager. On December 31, 1996, Class A Shares were added to all
portfolios of the Fund except Alger Money Market Portfolio. Class A shares have
an initial sales charge. The previously existing shares in those portfolios,
subject to a CDSC, were designated Class B Shares on that date. Class C Shares,
which are subject to a CDSC, were created on August 1, 1997. Shares of each
Portfolio other than Alger Money Market Portfolio are thus divided into three
classes, Class A, Class B and Class C. The classes differ in that: (a) each
class has a different class designation; (b) only the Class A Shares are subject
to an initial sales charge; (c) the Class B and Class C Shares are subject to
CDSCs, and certain Class A Shares may also be subject to a CDSC; (d) only the
Class B and Class C Shares (as described below) are subject to distribution fees
under plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (each, a "Rule 12b-1
Plan"); (e) to the extent that one class alone is affected by a matter submitted
to a vote of the shareholders, then only that class has voting power on the
matter; and (f) the exchange privileges and conversion rights of each class
differ from those of the others.
Although, as a Massachusetts business trust, the Fund is not required by law to
hold annual shareholder meetings, it may hold meetings from time to time on
important matters, and shareholders have the right to call a meeting to remove a
Trustee or to take other action described in the Trust's Declaration of Trust.
Meetings of shareholders normally will not be held for the purpose of electing
Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees
holding office have been elected by shareholders, at which time the Trustees
then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees.
Under the Act, shareholders of record of no less than two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of the Fund may remove a Trustee through a declaration in
writing or by vote cast in person or by proxy at a meeting called for that
purpose. Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustees are required to call a meeting
of shareholders for the purpose of voting on the question of removal of any such
Trustee when requested in writing to do so by the shareholders of record of not
less than 10 percent of the Fund's outstanding shares.
Shares do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that holders of more
than 50 percent of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect all
Trustees. Shares have equal voting rights, which cannot be adversely modified
other than by majority vote. Shares are transferable but have no preemptive,
conversion or subscription rights. Shareholders generally vote by Portfolio,
except with respect to the election of Trustees and the ratification of the
selection of independent accountants, and by class within a Portfolio on matters
in which the interests of one class differ from those of another; see also item
(e) in the preceding para-graph. In the interest of economy and convenience,
certificates representing shares of a Portfolio are physically issued only upon
specific written request of a shareholder.
Massachusetts law provides that shareholders could, under certain circumstances,
be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Trust
Agreement disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund
and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement,
obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or a Trustee. The
Trust Agreement provides for indemnification from the Fund's property for all
losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the
obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder's incurring financial
loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which
the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations, a possibility that the
Fund believes is remote. Upon payment of any liability incurred by the Fund, the
shareholder paying the liability will be entitled to reimbursement from the
general assets of the Fund. The
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Trustees intend to conduct the operations of the Fund in a manner so as to
avoid, as far as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for
liabilities of the Fund.
The Fund is classified as a "diversified" investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. A "diversified" investment company is required,
with respect to 75% of its assets, to limit its investment in any one issuer
(other than the U.S. government) to no more than 5% of the investment company's
total assets. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a "regulated investment
company" under the Internal Revenue Code; one of the requirements for such
qualification is a quarterly diversification test, applicable to 50% (rather
than 75%) of the Fund's assets, similar to the requirement stated above.
DETERMINATION OF PERFORMANCE
ALGER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The Alger Money Market Portfolio's "yield" and "effective yield" are calculated
according to formulas prescribed by the SEC. The Portfolio's seven-day "yield"
is computed by determining the net change, exclusive of capital changes and
income other than investment income, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing
account in the Portfolio having a balance of one share at the beginning of the
period, dividing the net change in account value by the value of the account at
the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
multiplying the base period return by (365/7). The Portfolio's "effective yield"
is computed by compounding the unannualized base period return (calculated as
above), by adding one to it, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by
seven, and subtracting one from the result. When Alger Money Market Portfolio
includes quotations of "yield" and "effective yield" that are based on income
generated by an investment in the Portfolio over a thirty-day, or one month,
period, it will calculate the "yield" and "effective yield" in the manner
described above except that, in annualizing the "yield" and "effective yield,"
the formula will be adjusted to reflect the proper period. For the seven-day
period ended October 31, 1998, the annualized yield was 4.22%, and the
compounded effective yield was 4.31%.
OTHER PORTFOLIOS
The "total return" and "yield" as to each of the Classes of the Portfolios,
other than Alger Money Market Portfolio, are also computed according to formulas
prescribed by the SEC. These performance figures are calculated in the following
manner:
A. Total Return--A Class' average annual total return described in the
Prospectus is computed according to the following formula:
P (1+T)n=ERV
Where: P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made
at the beginning of the 1, 5, or 10 year periods at the end of
the 1, 5 and 10 year periods (or fractional portion thereof);
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The average annual total returns for Class A, B and C Shares of the Portfolios,
other than Alger Money Market Portfolio, for the periods indicated below were as
follows:
PERIOD
FIVE TEN FROM
YEAR YEARS YEARS INCEPTION
ENDED ENDED ENDED THROUGH
10/31/98 10/31/98 10/31/98 10/31/98
-------- -------- -------- ---------
Alger Small Capitalization
Portfolio* --Class A++ (15.09)% N/A N/A (2.53)%
--Class B (15.82)% 7.98% 17.24% 14.89%
--Class C+++ (12.67)% N/A N/A (10.20)%
Alger Growth Portfolio*
--Class A++ 15.65% N/A N/A 21.30%
--Class B 15.50% 18.26% 19.48% 16.46%
--Class C+++ 19.50% N/A N/A 12.33%
Alger Balanced Portfolio**
--Class A++ 12.15% N/A N/A 16.79%
--Class B 11.87% 12.41% N/A 11.65%
--Class C+++ 15.83% N/A N/A 11.14%
Alger MidCap Growth
Portfolio*** --Class A++ 2.06% N/A N/A 11.04%
--Class B 1.57% 16.11% N/A 19.60%
--Class C+++ 5.16% N/A N/A 4.24%
Alger Capital Appreciation
Portfolio+ --Class A++ 5.42% N/A N/A 14.31%
--Class B 4.86% 24.05% N/A 24.05%
--Class C+++ 8.86% N/A N/A 2.57%
* Commenced operations on November 11, 1986.
** Commenced operations on June 1, 1992.
*** Commenced operations on May 24, 1993.
+ Commenced operations on November 1, 1993.
++ Initially offered January 1, 1997.
+++ Initially offered August 1, 1997.
B. Yield--a Class's net annualized yield described in the Prospectus is
computed according to the following formula:
a-b
YIELD = 2[(----- + 1)6 - 1]
cd
Where: a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
c = The average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
that were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
IN GENERAL
Current performance information for the Classes of the Portfolios may be
obtained by calling the Fund at (800) 992-3863. Quoted performance may not be
indicative of future performance. The performance of a Class will depend upon
factors such as its expenses and the types and maturities of securities held by
the Portfolio.
From time to time, advertisements or reports to shareholders may compare the
yield or performance of a Portfolio with that of other mutual funds with a
similar investment objective. The yield of the Alger Money Market Portfolio
might be compared with, for example, averages compiled by IBC/DONOGHUE'S MONEY
FUND REPORT, a widely recognized, independent publication that monitors the
performance of money market mutual funds. The
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<PAGE>
yield of the Alger Money Market Portfolio might also be compared with the
average yield reported by the Bank Rate Monitor for money market deposit
accounts offered by the 50 leading banks and thrift institutions in the top five
standard metropolitan areas. Similarly, the performance of the other Portfolios,
for example, might be compared with rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical
Services Inc., which is a widely recognized, independent service that monitors
the performance of mutual funds, as well as with various unmanaged indices, such
as the S&P 500 Index, the Russell 2000 Growth Index, the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,
the Wilshire Small Company Growth Index, the Lehman Brothers
Government/Corporate Bond Index or the S&P MidCap 400 Index. In addition,
evaluations of the Portfolios published by nationally recognized ranking
services or articles regarding performance, rankings and other Portfolio
characteristics may appear in national publications including, but not limited
to, BARRON'S, BUSINESS WEEK, FORBES, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS
DAILY, KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE, MONEY, MORNINGSTAR, THE NEW YORK TIMES, USA
TODAY AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and may be included in advertisements or
communications to shareholders. Any given performance comparison should not be
considered as representative of such Portfolio's performance for any future
period.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended October 31, 1998, are
contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for that fiscal year and are
hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of the Annual Report to Shareholders
may be obtained by telephoning (800) 992-3863.
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APPENDIX
Description of the highest commercial paper, bond and other short and long
term rating categories assigned by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"),
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), "Fitch" Investors Service, Inc.
("Fitch") and Duff and Phelps, Inc. ("Duff").
COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM RATINGS
The designation A-l by S&P indicates that the degree of safety reading
timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+)
designation. Capacity for timely payment on issues with an A-2 designation is
strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues
designated A-l.
The rating Prime-l (P-l) is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by
Moody's. Issuers of P-l paper must have a superior capacity for repayment of
short term promissory obligations and ordinarily will be evidenced by leading
market positions in well established industries, high rates of return of funds
employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt
and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed
financial charges and high internal cash generation, and well established access
to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Issues rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. This ordinarily will be evidenced by many of the
characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree Earnings trends and coverage
ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization
characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external
conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
The rating Fitch-l (Highest Grade) is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Fitch. Paper rated Fitch-l is regarded as having the strongest
degree of assurance for timely payment. The rating Fitch-2 (Very Good Grade) is
the second highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch which reflects an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest
issues.
The rating Duff-l is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Duff.
Paper rated Duff-l is regarded as having very high certainty of timely payment
with excellent liquidity factors which are supported by ample asset protection.
Risk factors are minor. Paper rated Duff-2 is regarded as having good certainty
of timely payment, good access to capital markets and sound liquidity factors
and company fundamentals. Risk factors are small.
BOND AND LONG-TERM RATINGS
Bonds rated AA by S&P are judged by S&P to be high-grade obligations and in
the majority of instances differ only in small degree from issues rated AAA
(S&P's highest rating). Bonds rated AAA are considered by S&P to be the highest
grade obligations and possess the ultimate degree of protection as to principal
and interest. With AA bonds, as with AAA bonds, prices move with the long-term
money market. Bonds rated A by S&P have a strong capacity to pay principal and
interest, although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions.
S&P's BBB rated bonds, or medium-grade category bonds, are borderline
between definitely sound obligations and those where the speculative elements
begin to predominate. These bonds have adequate asset coverage and normally are
protected by satisfactory earnings. Their susceptibility to changing conditions,
particularly to depressions, necessitates constant watching. These bonds
generally are more responsive to business and trade conditions than to interest
rates. This group is the lowest that qualifies for commercial bank investment.
Bonds rated Aa by Moody's are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with bonds rated Aaa (Moody's highest rating) they comprise what are
generally known as high-grade bonds. Aa bonds are rated lower than Aaa bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as those of Aaa bonds, or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude, or there may be
other elements present that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than
those applicable to Aaa securities. Bonds that are
A-1
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APPENDIX
(continued)
rated A by Moody's 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 that
suggest a susceptibility to impairment in the future.
Moody's Baa rated bonds 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.
Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 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 in the
lower end of its generic rating category.
Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be strictly high grade,
broadly marketable, suitable for investment by trustees and fiduciary
institutions and liable to but slight market fluctuation other than through
changes in the money rate. The prime feature of an AAA bond is a showing of
earnings several times or many times interest requirements, with such stability
of applicable earnings that safety is beyond reasonable question whatever
changes occur in conditions. Bonds rated AA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be
of safety virtually beyond question and are readily salable, whose merits are
not unlike those of the AAA class, but whose margin of safety is less strikingly
broad. The issue may be the obligation of a small company, strongly secured but
influenced as to rating by the lesser financial power of the enterprise and more
local type of market.
Bonds rated Duff-l are judged by Duff to be of the highest credit quality
with negligible risk factors; only slightly more than U.S. Treasury debt. Bonds
rated Duff-2, 3 and 4 are judged by Duff to be of high credit quality with
strong protection factors. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to
time because of economic conditions.
A-2
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INVESTMENT MANAGER:
Fred Alger Management, Inc.
1 World Trade Center
Suite 9333
New York, New York 10048
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DISTRIBUTOR:
Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated
30 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
- -----------------------------------
TRANSFER AGENT:
Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
30 Montgomery Street
Box 2001
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS:
Arthur Andersen LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
- -------------------------------------
COUNSEL:
Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell
Barrett Rockett Hines & Mone LLP
551 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10176
